Updating the device description, Updating the device description -2 – National Instruments FP-3000 User Manual
Page 20
Chapter 2
Installation and Configuration
FieldPoint FP-3000 User Manual
2-2
www.ni.com
The next layer of folders is the device type. For example, the FP-3000
has a device type ID number of 4005.
Underneath this layer of directories you will find the individual device
description files (
.ffo
and
.sym
)
6.
If necessary, click on the Browse button to select the standard text
dictionary, provided with NI-FBUS. The text dictionary has a
.dct
extension.
7.
Click on the Import DD button. The Import DD dialog box appears.
8.
Click on the Browse button, browse to the
.ffo
device description file
path, and click on Open. The device description for your FP-3000 is
supplied on the disk. For each device, there are two device description
files, one that ends in
.ffo
and one that ends in
.sym
. Select the
.ffo
file, and the corresponding
.sym
file will be imported automatically.
The file name will be in the form
Digit Digit Digit Digit.ffo
(for example,
0101.ffo
).
Note
If you are importing device descriptions for multiple devices, you might see that they
can have the same filenames. Each file contains information about the device and its
manufacturer, and will be placed appropriately in the hierarchy under the base directory.
9.
Click on OK. A window will appear that gives the full path to which
the
.ffo
and
.sym
files were copied.
10. Click on OK.
You only need to install the device description file one time for a given
version of the firmware. You do not have to repeat the device description
installation for each FP-3000 connected to your computer. The computer
uses this device description for all FP-3000 network modules on the bus.
For more information on device descriptions, refer to the section Device
Descriptions in the F
OUNDATION
Fieldbus Overview document.
Updating the Device Description
Any enhancement to the FP-3000 functionality, such as the addition of new
function blocks or support of new types of I/O modules, results in a new
Device Description file describing the features of the FP-3000. You must
update the FP-3000 firmware and install the new Device Description files
to take advantage of the new features. Refer to the section
for instructions on downloading new firmware and
installing the new Device Description file.