IXXAT is pleased to announce the availability of a new tool that enables the user to inspect respectively convert CANopen and POWERLINK device description files conforming to the CiA 306 and CiA 311, as well as the upcoming EPL V2.0 XML specifications.
In 2007 CAN in Automation (CiA), the international users' and manufacturers' group governing the development of the CANopen specifications introduced a new XML based device description file format as CiA 311 - CANopen device description. CiA 311 is based on the ISO 15745-1:2003 specification which defines generic elements and rules for describing integration models and application interoperability profiles.
A new and more flexible device description format was required due to the numerous enhancements introduced in CANopen that were not covered by the original EDS format as specified in CiA 306. In addition to the general benefits of a XML based syntax, the CiA 311 format has the particular advantage of allowing for localized device description files, a feature becoming increasingly important with the global acceptance of CANopen.
To facilitate the transition from the previously used EDS file format to CiA 311 compliant files, IXXAT offers the Device Description Explorer as an application that not only converts device description files between the two formats but also allows for a graphical user interface supported inspection of basic device functionality and the devices' object dictionary. In version 1.1 the IXXAT Device Description Explorer has been enhanced to support the most recent XML schema definitions as introduced by the CiA task force "XML".
The IXXAT Device Description Explorercan be downloaded free of charge on the IXXAT homepage http://www.ixxat.com.
In 2007 CAN in Automation (CiA), the international users' and manufacturers' group governing the development of the CANopen specifications introduced a new XML based device description file format as CiA 311 - CANopen device description. CiA 311 is based on the ISO 15745-1:2003 specification which defines generic elements and rules for describing integration models and application interoperability profiles.
A new and more flexible device description format was required due to the numerous enhancements introduced in CANopen that were not covered by the original EDS format as specified in CiA 306. In addition to the general benefits of a XML based syntax, the CiA 311 format has the particular advantage of allowing for localized device description files, a feature becoming increasingly important with the global acceptance of CANopen.
To facilitate the transition from the previously used EDS file format to CiA 311 compliant files, IXXAT offers the Device Description Explorer as an application that not only converts device description files between the two formats but also allows for a graphical user interface supported inspection of basic device functionality and the devices' object dictionary. In version 1.1 the IXXAT Device Description Explorer has been enhanced to support the most recent XML schema definitions as introduced by the CiA task force "XML".
The IXXAT Device Description Explorercan be downloaded free of charge on the IXXAT homepage http://www.ixxat.com.
