SCAN1000 Hexatec Release on Windows 2
Version 2 of SCAN1000 software, now more fully developed, worked fine on the new version of Windows and was the first to go on general release. This became the standard for several years to come.
Initially, although a specific design communicating with the Testo 84 hardware, we were able to keep the I/O software independent of the rest of the system and produce interfaces that allowed data transfer from many other systems. Initially the I/O software allowed some flexibilty in configuration but this was later (see below) replaced by more comprehensive software.
At this point in time (1987), Windows was largely an unknown in the industrial IT environment so we couldn’t use it to our advantage. We also needed more hardware companies to join with us in marketing our product. Initially we designed a stand-alone demonstration install to show the advantages of the software. From the outset, SCAN1000 was designed to be 'badge engineered' as required by 3rd parties. The demonstration system had its own configuration facilities. A set of documents were distributed along with the software to potential resellers / distributors:
We then designed an SDK (Software Development Kit) which included facilities to allow new hardware interfaces to be developed in C. Also, for systems which could be themselves programmed, a standard interface – HSP (Hexatec Standard protocol) which used simply, character readable commands and data which could be implemented in languages such as Basic and Forth in the data acquisition hardware itself.
The modular approach also allowed us to create other applications for the system and turn it into a fully fledged SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system.
The Recorder module display was enhanced to include bar graph displays of latest data and user designable mimic displays. The mimic displays were designed using a simple graphics language and associated compiler we created specifically for SCAN1000.
A new leaflet was produced for the enhanced product.
Back to 1987 - 1996