Industry Focus: The Benefits of the GRAccess Toolkit for Solution Providers

by Jay S. David, Wonderware Senior Marketing Specialist

Wonderware's GRAccess Toolkit provides solution providers the ability to create solutions based on ArchestrA technology through a published application programmatic interface (API) to the Wonderware Industrial Application Server (IAS) Galaxy Repository (GR) Database. The GRAccess Toolkit is intended for IAS customers who require a customized development or runtime environment with additional development capabilities.

Solution providers including system integrators (SIs), value-added resellers (VARs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will find this a perfect tool — especially for cases in which an application requires access to an IAS Galaxy configuration without the use of the ArchestrA IDE.

The ArchestrA Integrated Development Environment (IDE) was created to facilitate the design, creation, deployment and maintenance of scalable, secure and standardized information and automation applications. The ArchestrA IDE works very well for most customers. Yet there are solution providers who would like to have these capabilities in a programmatic interface, instead of a software tool. Therefore, Wonderware now offers the GRAccess Toolkit, which gives developers the ability to customize and define how their applications interact with the IAS GR database.

The GRAccess Toolkit makes it significantly easier for developers to access configuration data in the IAS Galaxy Repository database (which is based on Microsoft SQL Server). Most of the SCADA, PLC and DCS systems available today do not provide this type of open API access to their configuration database. Furthermore, the inherent availability of the GR data provided by the GRAccess Toolkit empowers SIs, VARs and OEMs to create more powerful solutions.

What Exactly Is GRAccess?

The GRAccess Toolkit is designed to allow programmatic access using C++ or C# calls to the Industrial Application Server configuration environment. It is designed to mirror the functionality in the ArchestrA Integrated Development Environment (IDE). This API also permits clients to code and execute Galaxy Repository Backup and Restore functionality found in the Galaxy Database Manager of the System Management Console (SMC).
Using the GRAccess Toolkit, the ArchestrA Galaxy configuration is exposed to .NET and COM clients through a programmable object model. You can use the GRAccess object model to write programs that automate configuration of local and remote Galaxies using Industrial Application Server version 2.1 Patch 01 and higher.

The ArchestrA IDE and GRAccess API are both licensed for use in runtime through the purchase of the FactorySuite A2 Development License. For off-line development, the release of the GRAccess Toolkit allows customers to utilize this API as part of the Wonderware Toolkits Package and the corresponding support infrastructure.

Typical Applications Based on the GRAccess Toolkit

Multi-System Integration

The GRAccess Toolkit is a great tool to use when there is a requirement to configure multiple systems simultaneously. Some projects call for solution providers to create a single configuration and development solution that interacts with several systems concurrently.

A good example of this type of solution is when a developer uses the GRAccess Toolkit to develop an application that alters the configuration of a third-party MES System as well as an Industrial Application Server application through a single custom software tool.

Development or Deployment via an InTouch View Runtime

For some Wonderware solutions, it is not practical to provide the full ArchestrA IDE to an operator for simple tasks such as adding a new SCADA site for monitoring purposes.

In this situation, the GRAccess Toolkit can be used to create a new object instance in the Galaxy from a pre-defined template, deploy that instance and bring the new asset information into an InTouch View window without leaving the runtime environment.

Customer Example: The Benefits of the GRAccess Toolkit in the London Underground Rail System

The station management of London's Underground Rail System uses the GRAccess Toolkit. The project leverages a Wonderware SCADA Software Solution including the Wonderware Industrial Application Server, InTouch HMI, IndustrialSQL Server historian and ActiveFactory analysis and reporting software. The solution provides the London Underground's employees tools to manage and maintain 150 stations connected to the Bakerloo, Central, District and Victoria rail lines of the London Underground. The Wonderware Industrial Application Server provides centralized management, common services and development.

Each rail station management system is designed and developed by the Services division of Thales, a Registered Value-Added Reseller (VAR) in the Wonderware Solution Provider Program. These systems enable operators to monitor and control station assets and communication equipment including help points, closed-circuit televisions, elevators and escalators, public address (PA) systems, and passenger information displays. Each station management system includes industrial PCs as well as networking and data acquisition equipment, which can be configured to suit the individual needs of each station.

"The Galaxy Repository Access Toolkit has enabled us to automate the production of our database. This has saved us time on the production of each station database and that has proven to be invaluable to us," remarked Tony Johnson, Thales Project Manager, commenting on how the GRAccess Toolkit helped his company provide the rail station management system for the London Underground.

GRAccess Toolkit Licensing

In runtime, the GRAccess Toolkit requires a valid FactorySuite A2 Development License on the computer were the GRAccess calls are made. For Development, it requires a valid Wonderware Toolkits License.

In order to use GRAccess in a production environment, you must purchase a FactorySuite A² Development License, which is available in four variations:

• FactorySuite A² Development Edition Small
• FactorySuite A² Development Edition Medium
• FactorySuite A² Development Edition Large
• FactorySuite A² Development Edition Unlimited

Ordering the GRAccess Toolkit

All of the GRAccess Toolkit's components are provided on a single CD as part of the Wonderware Toolkit Package. Wonderware customers who have recently purchased or upgraded their Wonderware Toolkit can request the GRAccess Toolkit CD at no charge.

The key deliverables that are part of this GRAccess Toolkit release include the following:

1. ArchestrA GRAccess Toolkit API User's Guide
2. ArchestrA GRAccess Toolkit Installation Guide
3. GRAccess 2.1 Toolkit CD — includes the ArchestrA.GRAccess.dll, sample code and associated documentation including:
   
   a. GRAccess Deployment Guide Online Help
   b. About GRAccess Toolkit Help Guide
   c. Installing GRAccess Toolkit Guide
   d. Wonderware GRAccess Toolkit 2.1 ReadMe