Developer White Papers

• Improving User Experience with EDDL - May 2009
• Benefits of EDDL enhancements

Specifications

In addition to IEC 61804-3 and -4, and its EN and ANSI/ISA equivalent, there are a different companion documents to assist developers writing EDDL files and incorporating EDDL interpreters into software.

Protocol	EDDL Specification / Profile
HART	HCF_SPEC-500 and HCF_SPEC-501
Fieldbus Foundation	FF-900 and FF-901
PROFIBUS	Guideline 2.152 volume 2 and 2.362

Development Tools

Integrated Development Environment (IDE) tools are available to all device manufacturers to write, test, and debug EDDL files for devices all in one application. The IDE features method debugger and customizable tag files for quick code completion and customizable color-coding as the developer types.

The developer can use the method debugger feature of the IDE to help test and debug the methods. Breakpoints can be set within the methods to determine if the methods are operating properly in an incremental fashion. The value of variables and parameters can be seen in the watch window. The developer can see charts and graphs in the viewer window in real time if connected to a live device, or simulation files can be used for testing and to present data. The developer can also view menus in the IDE. They are represented as pull-down menu buttons in the viewer window.

The IDE allows the device developer to do more complete testing, to simulate user interaction, and results in improved quality assurance for the product and therefore a better user experience.

Protocol	EDDL Tool Suppliers	URL	E-mail
HART	HCF	www.hartcomm.org	ed.ladd@hartcomm.org
Fieldbus Foundation	FF	www.fieldbus.org	member.support@fieldbus.org
PROFIBUS	Ifak	www.ifak.eu	matthias.riedl@ifak.eu

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