Once a hardware connection has been made to the external network of devices the design file can be put online to communicate directly with those devices. In online mode the design file is also switched into operate mode in order to start using controls immediately.
To go online either, press the 'Online' button on the bottom status bar (a green indicator with a tick shows that operate mode is engaged) or, use the Run command in the System menu and toolbar. The system can be 'Stopped' or 'Disconnected' from the network using the requisite commands in these menus.
o A warning dialog will appear if any of the required devices are missing on the network; this shows a list of the objects that should be connected up.
o When online to devices on the network, they will display an icon over their device in the layout window indicating which devices have been found and are online.
o The Open from device network option in the File menu enables the capability of downloading the current set up in the devices on the network to the design file. The design must have been previously saved to the network to facilitate this. This is a new feature in Architect implemented due to customer requests.