Connect V02.07.00 Release Notes

Last updated: 26th July 2016

Getting Started - Installation

Install Connect on Microsoft Windows (7 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.

Product Overview Tour

To help you get started with Connect there are some tour and tutorial videos you may watch on the web.

Installation Notes

1. The installer will replace previous versions of Unidrive M Connect during the installation. Normally, there is no need to un-install older versions.
2. Installation can take quite some time to complete - whilst waiting why not look at the getting started videos online!
3. The installation supports the following recommended operating systems and their minimum service pack: Windows 7 with SP1, Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows 10.

Changes in version V02.07.00 (from V02.06.01)

English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese

• New feature added for downloading or uploading the parameters of all drives in a project.
• Option module parameters can now be shown in custom lists.
• Parameter compare (against defaults or file) now produces more appropriate results: By default it will now show all parameters classed as "setup" parameters - effectively these are parameters that you would need to set on another drive of the same type to configure it in the same way (writeable and non-volatile). It also always shows parameters that don't have a default value (previously these may have not been shown). The upshot of this is that the results will differ somewhat from previous versions of Connect in that:
  • If parameters are set to default the compare-with-defaults results may still report some parameter differences. This is because the parameters in question (e.g. 03.025, Position Feedback Phase Angle, on a M700 in RFC-S mode) don't have a default value, therefore even if the value is zero it will still be shown as you may need to check the value if copying setting to another drive. The compare column will show a dash "-" if there is no default value.
  • The "Show Read-only Parameters" toggle button has been changed to toggle the showing of "Non-setup parameters". Non-setup parameters are typically informational volatile ones and can be ignored if setting another drive up the same.
  • With show non-setup parameters off, fewer parameter differences may be shown than previous versions of Connect. Previously many volatile writeable parameters were shown which are not necessary to set when cloning the setup to another drive as their values are lost when the drive is powered down anyway.
  • A small number of parameters important to the drive setup may not have been shown in previous versions of Connect. This is now resolved (Pr03.025 in M700 for example.)
• When exporting comparison results to a CSV file you can now specify additional columns to be added such as units and data size, and also whether to export the raw (numeric) value instead of the display value.
• When printing parameter or macro files the user notes are now included.
• Improved support of parallel/multi-module drives.
• Fixed ratings mismatch warning when downloading parameters to F300/H300 drives.
• On-board scope tool is available for regen drives.
• SI-Univeral Encoder option is now supported in the motor feedback tool.
• The range of various voltage related parameters (e.g. Pr05.009 on M600+) has now been updated to match that supported by the drive. Note that older drives may not support the higher maximum value.
• Connect will now remember the path last used when loading or saving a parameter file (per drive, per session).
• Renaming of a project, drive and parameter files in the tree is now possible (via context menu or F2).
• Improvements to the network scanner dialog:
  • If there are multiple comms connection paths to the same drive it will now only appear as one entry.
  • The identify feature which flashes network port lights has been renamed to wink and will now flash a compatible LCD keypad backlight to aid visual identification of the connected drive (providing the device is reachable). This is also now supported for drives on serial RTU comms.
  • Minor improvements to the unreachable device address assignment dialog and added the ability to optionally save the drive's parameters so the new address is retained if the drive is powered down.
  • CT Ethernet SW100 switch device will no longer be shown as an unconfigured drive.
• Autotune: Pr06.043 (control word enable) won't now be reset to zero after running.
• Commander SK parameter file converter: Corrected conversion of fan control parameter 6.45 so SK value of 0 gets converted to 2 such that the fan runs normally whereas previously it was left as 0 meaning the fan was turned off.
• Fixed menu 3 block diagrams for M200-400 products not showing input/output frequency parameters.
• Fixed menu 14 PID block diagrams for M200-400 products and missing menu 8 diagram for M400.
• Fixed menu 19 parameter help links
• Double-clicking branch/folder items in the project tree now expands/collapses them apart from the drive and "Dashboard" items which will continue to work as a quick way to bring up the dashboard view. Holding the CTRL key down when double-clicking will swap the behaviour.

Changes in version V02.06.01 (from V02.06.00)

English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese

• Connect now adds support for French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese languages in the user interface. Switch languages using the File > Languages menu.
• When converting CTSoft SK parameter file to M200-M400 Connect was failing to convert parameter 06.040 - resolved.
• Trip log incorrectly reports slot 1 not fitted when a slot 3 error occurs - resolved.
• Default values for M200 parameters 10.030 and 10.031 incorrect - resolved in firmware V01.04.04.
• Some servo motors in motor database have zero current - resolved.
• Connect crashes when attempting Auto-tune for Powerdrive F300 - resolved.
• Print or PDF export of mnemonic based parameters can give incorrect data - resolved.
• Added latest firmware support for:
  • M200-M702 and HS30-HS72 drives in UnidriveM Connect.
  • F300 drive in Powerdrive Connect.
  • H300 and EVC drives in HVAC/R Connect.
  • SI-Ethernet option module and built-in Ethernet interface.

Changes in version V02.06.00 (from V02.05.03)

• The new Drives Explorer application is now installed with Connect. This provides a centralized place from where to launch all of the Connect variants as well as any other participating tools. As other PC tools are updated they will also appear in Drives Explorer. A new desktop icon is provided to launch Drives Explorer.
• Added support for new EVC drives and latest H300 in HVAC Connect.
• Added support for latest M200 - M701 in UnidriveM Connect.
• Added support for latest F300 in Powerdrive Connect.
• Added support for latest E200 - E300 in Elevator Connect.
• Added support for latest SI-IO, SI-Applications and SI-Ethernet.
• Deploy User Program command added to drive dashboard which allows on-board user programs (for drive that support this feature) to be programmed without needing to use Machine Control Studio.
• Deploy Web Page command added to Ethernet module desktop. This allows the web page package of files to be downloaded to the onboard Ethernet or SI-Ethernet module without needing to use a separate tool.
• New analog and digital I/O Setup tool added to drive dashboard.
• Encoder Output Setup (simulated encoder) tool added to drive dashboard.
• Machine Setup: Profile and Tuning tools added to Elevator Connect.
• Motor database: Added new U3 servo and HD motors.
• Motor database: LSRPM motor data sets parameter 04.015.
• Motor database: Added Elevator motors.
• Keypad Programming tool: Implemented firmware updating for keypads with V2 firmware or later. Keypads with V1 firmware do not support firmware programming.
• Keypad Programming tool: A problem where edited keypad caption strings were not saved in project has been fixed.
• Welcome screen: Projects can be removed from the Recent Projects list.
• Parameter Listings changes:
  • Compare with File can now compare different drive types, e.g. M700 and M701.
  • Compare with File and Compare with Defaults now have unambiguous column headings.
  • Compare with Defaults: Fixed issue where parameter 05.009 shows the wrong voltage.
  • An issue where the help panel could be empty has been fixed.
  • Parameter listings not updating correctly after parameter download when mode change occurs has been fixed.
  • An issue where the Source/Destination column was incorrect for the SI-Universal Encoder has been fixed.
• PDF print outs now have Project Notes included.
• Fixed current rating parameters (e.g. 5.007) having an incorrect default in certain locales with various drive model codes.
• Fixed ratings warning when downloading parameters to M200-M400 drives.
• Block diagrams: Numerous corrections have been made.
• Improved the New Parameter File function when online: Parameters will now be uploaded immediately, and fixed a crash that could occur if Connect was taken offline shortly after choosing to create a new parameter file.
• Drive Trip Log: Fixed an issue where the trip code and description can become miss-aligned.

Changes in version V02.05.03 (from V02.05.02)

• M400 Auto-tune crash - fixed.
• Firmware download, parameter values not restored after firmware download - fixed.
• Firmware download, parameter values lost after firmware download if drive power cycled - fixed.

Changes in version V02.05.02 (from V02.05.01)

• Parameter upload to File: From Ethernet version V01.06.00.22 and MCi2x0 version V01.05.01.10, the format of the parameter file from the option module has been modified. Older versions of Connect cannot read and convert this format correctly. If an upload is done the .parfile option menu numbers appear too large and parameters are missing - fixed.

Changes in version V02.05.01 (from V02.05.00)

• Installation: When upgrading from an earlier version of Connect to V02.05.00, the installer inadvertently removed Unidrive M documentation - fixed.

Changes in version V02.05.00 (from V02.04.01)

• Keypad programming tool:
• The keypad programming tool allows you to download keypad strings to local, or remote keypads, from keypad firmware version V1.2.0.
• Keypad strings can come from an existing keypad file, or from your project. To customise keypad strings in your project, you will need to enable the Caption for keypad column in the parameter listings view by using the Columns button.
• To show keypad strings in French, German, Italian, Spanish or Chinese, you will first need to switch Connect into the appropriate language, via the File > Language menu.
• Languages: You may now choose the working language via the File > Language menu. Currently, most parameter strings have been translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese. Translation of new parameters and Connect is in progress.
• Version: The version of Connect can be displayed by selecting File > About Connect.
• CTScope can be started from the dashboard.
• Option modules - latest firmware supported.
• Parameter listings are slow to respond - fixed. Improved overall performance when multiple listings views are open.
• Customised parameter captions are lost after uploading parameters from a drive - fixed.
• Motor database servo motors 250U2XXX number of poles incorrect - fixed.
• Parameter compare printout displays incorrect option module name - fixed.
• HVAC Connect F300 drive defaults incorrect - fixed.
• Onboard scope time base duration displays the wrong value - fixed.
• Drive name not added correctly to the tree - fixed.
• CTSoft file conversion incorrectly reports Pr 05.033 as non-existent in Unidrive M - fixed.
• Parameter listings, unable to edit numeric parameters under certain configurations - fixed.
• HS7X drive parameters 01.021 - 01.028 cannot be set to greater than 550 Hz - fixed.
• Windows XP: Crash when adding parameter files in the project tree - fixed.
• Windows 10: New Project dialog buttons get clipped - fixed.

Previous Changes

Release notes for previous versions are available online

Known Issues

• Custom lists: It is not possible to delete option module parameters from a custom list in view mode, instead you can only delete from the custom list editor tool.
• Custom lists: Deleting drive parameters from a custom list in view mode can be unreliable.
• German translations: The network scanner dialog does not show the range of drives being scanned during the scan process.
• Discovery over EoE: Connect fails to discover dives when connected to an EtherCAT module via EoE. Communication over EoE can be achieved by manually adding a drive to a project and configuring its address.
• M702 I/O: Unidrive M702 with V01.13.xx firmware contains parameters for analogue input 3 in readiness for a future hardware upgrade to the Unidrive M702 (currently these parameters have no effect). This results in Unidrive M Connect also showing these parameters in the parameter listings and I/O setup tool. Also, with this and previous firmware versions, the I/O setup tool in Connect does not show digital I/O terminals T7 and T8 however they are still fully configurable via the block diagrams or parameter listings views.
• 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.