Echelon NodeBuilder FX - Manual (Page 87)

NodeBuilder FX User's Guide 73
Programmable
Application Image
Files
(.APB and .NXE)
The LonMaker tool and other LNS network tools use programmable
application image files to download the compiled application image to
a device. The programmable application image files have .APB,
.NDL, and .NXE extensions.
On a NodeBuilder computer, the programmable application image
files are stored in the Development or Release target folder within the
device template folder. For example, the application image files for
the development target in the quick-start exercise in this chapter are
stored in the C:\Lm\Source\NB_FX Exercise\NB FX Example
Device\Development folder.
Your installation executable must install the .APB files. The .NDL
file is used to support manufacture-time loading of devices and
therefore does not need to be installed; the .NXE file is used to
support legacy network tools and is usually not required. The .APB
file should be installed in a folder where it can be found by the LNS
network tool on the target computer. For the LonMaker tool, you can
find this location in the Windows registry in the following location
(by default, this location is C:\LonWorks\Import):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LonWorks\LonMaker
for Windows\NxeSearchPath
Your installation executable should install your .APB file in a
subdirectory labeled with your company name
(C:\LonWorks\Import\YourCompany, for example). Your
installation should search for your company’s folder and, if not found,
it should create a folder with your company’s name.
See Building an Application Image in Chapter 8 for more information
on these programmable application image files.
Device Interface Files
(.XIF, .XFO*, and
.XFB)
* .XFO file is
optional.
The LonMaker tool and other LNS network tools use device interface
files (also known as external interface files) to create LNS device
templates. Device interface files have .XIF, .XFO, and .XFB
extensions.
On a NodeBuilder computer, the device interface files are stored in
the same Development or Release target folder that contains the
programmable application image files for the device.
Your installation executable must install the .XIF and .XFB files.
Installing the .XFO file is optional; however, it speeds up device
template importing for tools that support it such as the LonMaker tool.
Your installation executable should install these device interface files
in a folder where it can be found by the LNS network tool on the
target computer. For the LonMaker tool, you can find this location in
the Windows registry in the following location (by default, this
location is C:\LonWorks\Import):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LonWorks\LonMaker
for Windows\XifSearchPath
Your installation executable should install your device interface files
in a subdirectory labeled with your company name
(C:\LonWorks\Import\YourCompany, for example). Your
installation should search for your company’s folder and, if not found,
it should create a folder with your company’s name.
See Building an Application Image in Chapter 8 for more information