Working with SD Cards

Applies to: V02.08.00 and later.
Last updated: 2017-09-04
Applies to V02.08.00 and later.

Connect now supports reading and writing parameters to SD media cards on your PC. This provides a convenient way of preparing a configuration for transferring to a drive or multiple drives located elsewhere without the need to connect up a laptop or manually adjust parameter values using the keypad. It can also be used to store a backup of the drive's configuration.

With Connect you can:

Concepts

SD media cards must be formatted FAT32 to be usable in a drive. Most cards you purchase will already be formatted correctly. You will also need a suitable adapter for pluggin the SD card into the drive.

   
SD Card Adapter for larger
Unidrive M drives		 AI-Backup Adapter for M100-400

 

Parameter sets are stored on the SD card in numbered files starting with 001 up to 999. There are two distinct types of parameter files:

Connect will read and write both types of files.

Using the SD Card Manager in Connect

Within the "tools" collection for most drive types in Connect there is a SD Card Manager view that can be launched. This view is used to load and save files on a SD card that is plugged into your PC.

The view has five major sections:

  1. Card Selection
    This shows you the SD card(s) connected to your PC that may be used in a drive. For a card to be usable it must be formatted as FAT32 and you can use Windows Explorer to format it. Note that other removable storage devices could be shown in this list if they are formatted FAT32 so it is advised to label your SD card appropriately (using Windows Explorer). 
    The SD card must have certain directories and files on to be usable in a drive. If the card is missing these then pressing Prepare will prepare the card for use, otherwise if the card is already prepared, pressing Prepare will clear any existing drive data from the card.
     
  2. Card Information
    For a valid card this section shows you the size and free space of the card as well as two flags:
    - Read-ony - when set this means the drive won't be allowed to write to the card; it does not affect the PC writing to the card.
    - Suppress warnings - when set the drive won't trip on loading a parameter file that has a different configuration (e.g. different model or option modules)
     
  3. File List
    Here the numbered parameter files are shown.
     
  4. Selected File Information
    Select a file in (4) File List and this panel will show you some information about the file.
     
  5. Action Buttons
    Load, save or delete files.

Writing a Parameter File to the SD Card

A typical workflow will be as follows:

  1. Firstly prepare the drive in a Connect project - remember to set the correct model code, drive mode and option module configuration and set the parameter values how you want them on the drive.
  2. Insert a SD card into your PC
  3. Launch the SD Card Manager view.
  4. Press Save Parameters to Card
  5. Ensure the correct project drive is selected under the "Which parameters?" section.
  6. Choose the type of file you want to write. Usually this will just be "Parameter file"
  7. Enter in a file number from 1-999.
    Note: It is advisable to avoid file number 002 as it can cause problems when file 001 is bootable.
  8. Press OK.

The file will now be saved. Use Windows to safely eject the SD card then place the card into the appropriate adapter and then into the drive. Enter in the code 6nnn in parameter 0 and press reset to load the file into the drive.

Using Connect Parameter Files

You can convert a Connect parameter file into a SD card parameter file. To do this, in the save dialog you can either choose a parameter file associated with a project drive by first selecting the drive in (1) then selecting the file in (2), or by browsing to the file by pressing (3):

Bootable Parameter Files

It is possible to create a parameter file that the drive will always load when the drive is powered up. This is known as a bootable parameter file.

To create the file select Bootable parameter file in the Save Parameters to SD card dialog. Note that a bootable parameter file has to be numbered 001.

NOTE: With Unidrive M firmware V1.16 and above file number 002 is reserved for a on-board user program (as created in the MCS application) when file 001 is bootable, so avoid saving a parameter file as 002.

Loading SD card files into a drive

To load a parameter file into a drive enter in the code 6nnn in parameter 0 of any drive menu, where nnn is the file number then reset the drive, e.g. to load parameter file 004 then enter 6004 in PrX.00 and press the red stop/reset keypad button. The drive should be inactive to load a parameter file.

Saving SD card files from a drive

Enter in the value 4nnn in parameter 0 of any drive menu, where nnn is the file number, then press reset. So to save the parameters to file number 10, enter in 4010.

To create a macro file you must first set parameter Pr11.072 to 1.

To create a bootable parameter file use the code 2001.

Limitations and Known Issues