MaticStudio

 

Getting Started with MaticStudio

Build distributed automation systems with event-driven logic — without writing a single line of code

System Requirements

• Windows XP, Vista, 7, 10, or 11 (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Recommended screen resolution: 1920 x 1080.
• Administrator privileges required for installing and registering components
• Optional: USB-to-RS232 adapter for programming physical NSC devices

Installing MaticStudio

1. Download the latest installer from the Downloads page
2. Run the setup as administrator
3. During installation, all components will be registered automatically
4. If prompted by Windows UAC, allow elevated privileges

Note: After installation, insert your USB-RS232 adapter (if applicable) and verify it appears correctly in the Device Manager. If not, install appropriate drivers before continuing.

Launching the IDE

1. Start MaticStudio from the Start Menu or desktop shortcut
2. On first launch, run MaticStudio with administative privileges:
• Set language
• MaticStudio automatically registers all Virtual Components
• Fill in the form with the required data (your company name, your name, etc.) and accept the license contract
• Configure the communication port from Tools → Bus and select Settings tab to set the COM port number used by your adapter or physical RS232 port.
  Go to Device Manager to see the port number.
  Remark: This step is optional, see also the note below.
3. You can now create a new project or open an existing one

Note: You can create a project or open an existing one even if the COM port is not configured, but you can't upload the program to the devices without it.

Note: As long as the COM port is not configured or cannot be opened (i.e., because the USB adapter is not connected) you will see an error message of "File not found".
This is normal and it should disappear when the adapter is inserted and the COM port configured.

Creating Your First Project

1. At start up MaticStudio offers to open an existing project or making a new one. Alternatively, select File → New Project
2. Enter the optional project's information
3. Choose the devices you plan to use from the list at the top-left. Give a name for each device and enter the serial number. The logical address is assigned automatically. Then press Add to Project.
   Notes:
• You can skip entering the serial number as you can enter it later or use the autodetect procedure.
• Each device it is also called 'object' in the project.
4. Click Continue to populate the input and output of each device with meaningful names. Click Automatic to let MaticStudio populate each I/O automatically. You can always change the automatically provided names.
   Note: Virtual outputs are outputs that physically do not exist, you can use them as status storage.
5. Once done click Continue, then use the graphical panels to link each event→action node (see below)
6. Add Virtual Components from the available COB library to extend logic or SCADA functions
7. Optionally, design SCADA screens and test using built-in simulation

Creating Your First Program Linking Events to Actions.

1. Click on an event (inputs) on the left pane, and then click on the action (outputs) on the center pane.
2. Once created, the link is shown on the right pane. You can link multiple outputs with the same input event. And multiple inputs with the same output.
3. To remove an output or an entire link starting from its input, click on the item on the right pane and select Delete.
4. If you link to a timer or add a Component that provides events, that ones become a source of new events. The new events are appended on the left pane, below the existing events for the object.
   For example, link a Click event to a Timer, the new (elapsed) timer event is added, so you can link this event with an action that will be executed when the timer expires.
5. If you add a Component that provides functions or events they are appended below the existing events (inputs column) and actions (outputs column).
   Then you can link these events and actions as already seen above.

Extend Your Program with Virtual Components.

On the top-left are listed all the available Components. For example let's add a Conditional Test that receives an event with status (e.g., an input change) and split this into two events that happens respectively if the input status is ON or OFF. The fired events can be linked with any other action (output).

1. On the top-left list choose the Component.
2. A dialog pops up and shows the properties, an abstract of what the component do, and a button to open a manual (if available). Click Next.
3. Select the object (device) that will host the Component, then click Next again.
4. A page of settings is shown: enter the proper settings. Some Components, like the Conditional Test don't have any settings. Click Next again.
5. Enter an optional instance name, then click Finish

The new component has been added to the list of Components per object. Click the orange button Connection I/O links to go back to the graphical panels.
(Now a violet button Components appears and let you move again to the list of components per object.)
The function Test now is appears among the actions for the object, and the events True and False appears among the events for the object.

Note: You can add more instances of the same Component or other Components into the same object (device), as long as enough memory is available and the Component allows multiple instances.

Deploying to Devices

You can first compile the project Project → Compile to check for any errors, or you can directly program the devices Project → Program devices

To upload program to your NSC devices:

1. Connect the RS232/USB interface to the network 485 adapter, or directly the USB-SFBP485 adapter
2. From MaticStudio make sure the "plugs" icon located at the top bar is connected (green), if it is not click on it.
3. Then from menu Project → Program devices select the device(s) to program and click Program
4. The program will be segmented and transferred automatically to each device.

Make sure each device has the correct serial number before uploading to avoid conflicts.

Next Steps

• Features of MaticStudio
• Learn about event-driven programming in NSC systems

from https://upower.artdevices.com/EN/gettingstarted.html