Trial License

In the first phase of going public with the Zeugwerk Framework environment we prohibit the execution of the libraries in a productive environment. This is done by a mechanism, which enables the functionality of those libraries only for a maximum of 7 days with a trial license. If you want to use it in real production, one has to buy a license.

This tutorial showcases the steps which have to be taken to try-out the Community-Edition. When you are using the PLC templates that are provided by the Community Edition, this is already done for you automatically by the template.

Create solution and add libraries

First we have to create a new solution, which we call ZeugwerkLibrariesTest, and add a PLC with the Standard PLC template provided by Beckhoff.

Create a solution named ZeugwerkLibrariesTest

Insert a new PLC by using the Twincat standard template — Insert a new PLC

Now we have to add the Zeugwerk Framework libraries. Right click on References and click on Add library.... Click on the Advanced button at the bottom of this dialog and then select the following libraries by a Multiple Selection

ZCore
ZPlatform
ZApplication
ZAux
ZEquipment

Click on Advanced Button at the bottom of this dialogue

Select ZApplication, ZAux, ZCore, ZEquipment and click on OK

The libraries are now added to the References of the PLC.

Add some testing code

To test our newly added program we have to add some code. Lets add a Step and an Actuator, which we will move to plus direction. Copy and Parse the following code snippet into your MAIN program.

PROGRAM MAIN
VAR
  Actuator : ZEquipment.ActuatorDigitalBiLsNoUM;
  Step : ZCore.Step(begin:=0, end:=100);
END_VAR
------------------------------------
Actuator.Cyclic();

CASE Step.Index OF
  0: // Actuator initialization
    Actuator.SetDelay(0, 0, 0, 0, 0);
    Actuator.SetMovementDuration(3, 3);
    Actuator.SetName('HorizontalActuator', 'Vor', 'Retour', 'Vorne', 'Hinten');
    Actuator.SetSimulation(ActuatorDigitalSimulation.Automatic);
    Actuator.SetSwitchDuration(0.5, 0.5);
    Actuator.SetTimeout(5, 5);
    Step.SetNext(1);
    
  1: // Idling
    ;
    
  2: // Move Forward
    Actuator.MovePlusAsync(0);
    Step.SetNext(3);
    
  3: // Wait till moving finished 
    IF Actuator.Done THEN
      Step.SetNext(1);
    END_IF

END_CASE

Install License-TMC file

TwinCAT only lists OEM licenses that it has already loaded from CustomConfig\Licenses. Twinpack copies the Zeugwerk Framework description file (.tmc) there when you restore or install a Framework package (for example Restore All in Twinpack Catalog). The Development Kit installer does not place this file.

Typical locations:

TwinCAT 4026: C:\ProgramData\Beckhoff\TwinCAT\3.1\CustomConfig\Licenses
TwinCAT 4024: C:\TwinCAT\3.1\CustomConfig\Licenses

TwinCAT reads that folder only when TwinCAT XAE Shell (or Visual Studio) starts. After the first restore, close and reopen the IDE. Then ZF1010 Zeugwerk Framework appears under SYSTEM → License → Manage Licenses. Restarting Twinpack does not reload the license catalog.

Note

If ZF1010 is missing after a restore, confirm the .tmc file exists in CustomConfig\Licenses and restart TwinCAT XAE Shell.

Activate a Trial license

If you directly activate the solution on a target or in TwinCATs Usermode Runtime without an activated license for the Zeugwerk-Framework you will have to add the Zeugwerk Framework license manually to the managed licenses via License -> Manage Licenses Tab. Scroll down to the very end of the list and activate Zeugwerk Framework license.

Add the Zeugwerk Framework license to the managed licenses of the project — Add Zeugwerk Framework license to the managed licenses of the project

TwinCAT will show a prompt during activation of the project where you have to enter some letters which are shown directly above the input field to activate a 7 day trial license. The Framework will work 7 days without limitation and after that period it will switch the Runtime into Config mode if no valid license is provided and the solution gets reactivated.

Twincat prompt to activate trial license

Insert letters from the field above to activate trial license for Zeugwerk Framework

Check validation status of The license

If you are not sure how long the trial period lasted, you can check this in Twincat by open the System node in the Solution Explorer and click on License. Now change to the Online Licenses tab and in the shown list there are all licenses shown, which are used by your application. For usual its an PLC license and maybe a NC-Motion or ControllerToolbox license.