Cascade DataHub™ :  Version 6.4
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Chapter 2. Working With Data

Table of Contents

2.1. Data Points
2.1.1. Creating New Points
2.1.2. Deleting Points
2.1.3. Viewing Data Points
2.1.4. Point Size Limits
2.2. Data Communication Concepts
2.2.1. Send and Receive Data
2.2.2. Client - Server
2.2.3. Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication
2.3. Data Exchange Protocols
2.3.1. DDE Protocol
2.3.2. TCP and Mirroring
2.3.3. The DataHub API
2.4. Data Organization
2.4.1. Data Domains
2.4.2. Assemblies, Subassemblies, Attributes, and Properties
2.4.3. Attributes and Types
2.4.4. Example 1: Attributes and Types
2.4.5. Example 2: Private Attributes

This chapter gives an overview of how the Cascade DataHub handles data and the various protocols it works with.

2.1. Data Points

Each value stored in the Cascade DataHub is called a point. A point has the following attributes:

    Name: a character string. Currently the only limit on length is internal buffer size, about 1000 bytes by default.

    Value: an integer, floating-point number, or character string.

    Time: the date and time of the last significant change to the point's value, confidence, quality or other status information.

    Quality: the quality of the connection, assigned by the Cascade DataHub for this point, such as Good, Bad, Last known, Local override, etc.

    Confidence: a value from 0 to 100 that indicates as a percentage the probability that the value shown for the point is actually its true value. This feature can be accessed and changed only by using the API. the Cascade DataHub never uses confidence itself, but carries it for use by client applications.

2.1.1. Creating New Points

The Cascade DataHub automatically creates a point whenever a connecting program tries to read, write, or create a point that doesn't exist. When the point is created, the Cascade DataHub assigns its value, time, quality, and confidence.

It is possible to have the Cascade DataHub create points and assign values to them at startup. Sometimes referred to as seeding, this is done with supplemental configuration files. Please refer to Appendix B, Configuration Files for more details.

2.1.2. Deleting Points

It is not possible to directly delete points from the Cascade DataHub. Should a point no longer be in use by any of the participating programs, when the DataHub is shut down and restarted, the point will no longer appear.

2.1.3. Viewing Data Points

You can view the values of all data points with the Data Browser.

2.1.4. Point Size Limits

The Cascade DataHub itself does not limit the size of a point data message. The only limits are those imposed by the operating system, and in Windows there are no such limits. If, however, you intend to share data between with Linux or QNX computers, there is a limit of 64000 bytes for QNX and 128000 bytes for Linux. In any case, bear in mind that very large values will take some time to be transmitted over a network.

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1.6. Connect to remote data Home 2.2. Data Communication Concepts

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