Connect V02.03.00 Release Notes

Last updated: 8th May 2015

Getting Started - Installation

Install Connect on Microsoft Windows (Vista or later) by running the installation program provided. Your computer will need to have Microsoft .Net 4 installed too - in the unlikely event it hasn't the installer will download it from the internet, or you can obtain it directly from here. See known issues relating to Windows XP.

Note that installation may take some time, but please be patient - it will get there!

What's New in V2?

Version 2 is a major update to Connect containing many updates based on user feedback and testing over the past few months. The new user interface is designed to make it easier to navigate and organise data associated with your Control Techniques' drives. New tools have been added to help organise parameter and macro files and produce reports comparing parameter values against factor defaults or a file. Printing and generating PDFs for comparison reports is also implemented. Support has also been improved for the entire range of Control Techniques' drives.

Product Overview Tour

To help you get started with the features in this major new release there are some tour and tutorial videos you may watch on the web:

View Tour Video

Changes in version V02.03.00 (from V02.02.01)

Frame size 11 now supported for M600-M702, F300 and H300 drives.
Frame size 7, 8 and 9 now supported for M200-M300 drives.
HS30 drive added to UnidriveM Connect.
Supports latest firmware for M200-M702 drives.
AMC block diagrams updated for M700-M702 drives.
Connect now supports multiple power module drive systems for large frame M600-M702, F300 and H300 drives.
Can now add option module parameters to custom menus.
Parameters that have pole-pairs units are now displayed in poles units. These units align with those displayed by the keypad.
Parameters can be monitored by CTScope (from V02.01.00) by right clicking on a parameter in the parameter listings and selecting "Send to CTScope".
Parameter listings and Custom listings include alternative ways to view parameters: normal, large text, small tiles, tiles and large tiles. The tile format is similar to CTSoft's monitoring view
Onboard scope can now save and open files on the PC file system.
Parameter listings now displays binary parameters in the form "xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx".
M200-M400 drive name was "--------" by default, modified to empty string.
Defaulting Ethernet parameters from the Ethernet dashboard did not work - fixed.
M702, F300 and HS72, parameter listings displayed incorrect terminal numbers - fixed.
Elevator Connect (E200 and E300) drive settings could show the wrong online mode - fixed.
M200-M400 firmware download can fail because of fixed data packet size - fixed by making data packet size variable.
M200-M400 firmware download fails when node address is not default - fixed.
Firmware download does not display new firmware version after download - fixed.
Parameter listings displays incorrect default values for the current limits (4.005, 4.006, 4.007, 21.027, 21.028, 21.029) for HS72 drives - fixed.
M702 and HS72 difference from default can display erroneous differences when offline - fixed.

Changes in version V02.02.01 (from V02.02.00)

Parameter download did not update setup menus 15, 16 or 17. This issue was introduced in V02.02.00 and has been fixed.

Changes in version V02.02.00 (from V02.01.00)

Updated M200, M201, M300, M400, M600, M700, M701, M702, F300, H300, HS70, HS71 and HS72 drive databases to support latest firmware changes.
Updated MCi200 and MCi210 databases to support future firmware changes.
Updated SI-IO, SI-PROFIBUS, and SI-CANOpen databases to support latest firmware changes.
Added E200 and E300 drive databases to Elevator Connect.
Elevator Connect (E200 and E300 drives) mode displayed in Drive Settings can go out of synchronisation with the drive's current mode setting. This is a know issue that will be resolved in a future release.
Improved the operation of the Onboard Scope when triggering manually.
Onboard Scope displays the horizontal, X-position as well as Y-position of the measurement cursor.
Onboard Scope, change buffer duration units from microseconds to milliseconds.
Firmware download can be done via the SI-Ethernet port to the drive and other option modules. Note, the SI-Ethernet port cannot be used to update its own firmware.
Firmware download for MCi210 can be done via the MCi210 Ethernet port. Note, MCi210 Ethernet port cannot be used to update drive or other option module firmware.
Corrected several inaccuracies in the Block Diagrams.
When setting up LS-RPM motors, Motor Setup will now set Maximum Reference Clamp (01.006) to the maximum motor speed.
In Motor Setup tool, only show the motor types that can be used by the drive.
Dashboard showed old IP address after IP address was changed - fixed.
Parameter download can fail to update all values - fixed.
Going online and offline many times can give an out of memory exception. Improvements have been made to reduce the amount of orphaned memory.
Opening a Custom List from another project can cause Connect to crash - fixed.
Removed superfluous setup tools for CDS100.
Caption editing in Application menus 18-20 (M200, M201, M300 and M400) was not enabled - fixed.

Changes in version V02.01.00 (from V02.00.05)

Added HS70, HS71 and HS72 drive databases to Unidrive M Connect. Note: firmware download for these drives is not implemented.
Parameter listings, show terminal numbers in analogue and digital IO menus.
Parameter listings, when a parameter value refers to a source or destination parameter, show that parameter's name.
Parameter listings, allow users to change the name of parameters in application menus.
Parameter information in the project file can go out of date. When going online the user is notified if the drive/option information is newer than that in the project, the project is updated when next opened.
Motor setup database updated for Dyneo / LS-RPM motor parameters.
Disable firmware download when Ethernet communications not connected via front of drive.
Firmware download does not allow legal characters in file path - fixed.
Parameter download when including a mode change can fail to set parameters correctly - fixed.
Destination conflicts view reports parameter 08.021 as a destination conflict when made a source parameter - fixed.
Block diagrams, when local decimal separator is a comma, causes problems with diagrams - fixed.
SP parameter file conversion rules for hidden parameters and parameter 3.41 problematic - fixed.
SI-IO parameter listings, ss.mm.nnn format not supported - fixed.

Changes in version V02.00.05 (from V02.00.04)

Added H300 drive database to HVAC/R Connect.
Added F300 drive database to Powerdrive F300 Connect.
Updated CSD100, M600-M810 drive databases to support firmware V01.10.00.00
Updated MCi200, MCi200, SI-Ethernet, SI-Universal Encoder, SI-EtherCAT, SI-PROFINET and SI-CANopen option databases to support latest firmware.
Parameter file conversion utility: incorrect handling of SP parameter #3.41 and #3.48 - fixed

Changes in version V02.00.04 (from V02.00.03)

Option modules added manually to a project may not be the latest version - fixed.

Changes in version V02.00.03 (from V02.00.02)

Unidrive M Connect supports the latest Unidrive M drives and option modules.
Parameters are automatically backed up and restored when doing a firmware update.
Drive block diagrams updated.
Parameter file conversion tool now does conversions from SK to Unidrive M parameter files. The conversion tool has also been improved for SP to Unidrive M conversion.
Firmware download tool is only active when on-line.
Parameter 11.031 can display the wrong mode when project first created - fixed.
Adding parameter file then renaming it can cause a crash - fixed.
Macro file editor, adding an option adds all parameters - fixed.
Macro file editor, shows empty menus for option modules - fixed.
Macro file editor, always saves file even when closed without saving - fixed.
Motor Setup, changing model while motor setup is open does not update voltage and current settings - fixed.
SI-Universal Encoder firmware update fails - fixed.
Other minor bug fixes and improvements carried out.

Changes in version V02.00.02 (from V02.00.01)

New HVAC/R Connect application, to be used with the CSD100 drive, included alongside Unidrive M Connect.
Parameter and macro files can now be loaded / downloaded directly from within the parameter file editor tool.
Fixed visualisation of data points in scope tool when sample rate set to <1ms.
Faster and smaller installer.
Various block diagram fixes.
Various other bug fixes.

Changes in version V02.00.01 (from V02.00.00)

Fixed a problem where speed controller gain parameters (e.g. 03.010) may be scaled incorrectly after downloading a parameter file (occurred on PCs where decimal separator is a comma).
Fixed the 'Browse' button on the New Project dialog box.
Simplified the UI when building a project from network.
Added ability to 'Identify' a drive on Ethernet (flash network port LEDs) via the right-click context menu for a drive in the tree.
Fixed some Unidrive SP parameter file conversion issues. Note that conversion from Commander SK is not supported yet, but will be soon.
Additional block diagram updates.
Other minor bug fixes and improvements.

Changes in version V02.00.00 (from V01.05.02)

Major new version with a brand new user interface and significant improvements to overall usability and reliability.
New project tree and re-organised ribbon bar provide quick access to all major features.
- If desired, the ribbon can be minimised to make the most of screen space. All commands can then be accessed by right-clicking in the tree or the drive dashboards.
Ability to go on/offline to drives within a project and to go online with more than one drive at a time.
Simplified creating a project of drives that are connected to your PC.
New parameter file capabilities:
- Easier ways to create, compare, load and print parameter files
- New parameter file editor lets you view and edit contents of a file
New "Macro Files" feature which allows you to create a file with a small set of parameter for setting up particular drive features, e.g. you can create a file containing just the motor settings or just application menu 18 parameters.
New parameter compare tool:
- Compare parameter values against default values
- Compare values against a previously saved parameter or macro file
- Save to comma-delimited file
Improved custom list creation tool
Side-by-side views, e.g. look at two parameter listings for two drives side-by-side by switching the UI out of tabbed mode.
New printing capabilities
- Print parameter lists and parameter/macro files
- Print comparison results, e.g. a list of differences from default
- Export to PDF file
Improvements to block diagrams, e.g. double-click a parameter to edit its value and better support of M702, M200-400.
Improvements to firmware transfer tool
Improved compatibility with entire Unidrive M range
Support for latest Unidrive M drive firmware
Online tour videos
Many, many other fixes and improvements

Installation Notes

The installer will replace previous versions of Unidrive M Connect during the installation. Normally, there is no need to un-install older versions.
Installation can take quite some time to complete - whilst waiting why not look at the getting started videos online!
The installation supports the following operating systems and their minimum service pack: Windows XP with SP3, Windows Vista with SP2, Windows 7 with SP1, Windows 8 and 8.1.

Known Issues

Option module parameters appearing red: When you open a project created in a V1.x of Unidrive M Connect you may see option module parameter values appearing in red. This was due to a bug in older versions of Connect (which has since been fixed). To resolve this upload the values from the drive or default the option modules parameters (by going to the option module dashboard and selecting 'Default Parameters').
Error '0x80072ee7 - Unspecified error' during installation may happen if .Net Framework 4.0 is not installed and the installer cannot find it to install, or cannot connect to the internet to download it.
Connect gives an error when operating on Windows XP when the Open File dialog is called, reporting that an upgrade to Windows Vista or above is necessary. This is being investigated.