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After six months of development we (the Lintouch Team) are proud to announce the availability of the new stable release of the Lintouch Server, Lintouch Runtime, and Lintouch Editor.
This version includes bug fixes plus several new important features. You are welcome to download, install, test, and use this version.
Please see Section 4, “What is Lintouch” for more information about Lintouch.
- New Visualization Objects
Lintouch Visualization Objects (called Templates) have been split into the following two Template Libraries:
- Display Templates
containing all templates related to visualization of different types of variables in different forms. This template library includes for example Chart, Meter, and Lamp templates.
- Input Templates
containing all templates related to control of different types of variables in different forms. This template library includes for example Slider, Button, and LineInput templates.
- New Connectivity Options
Support for Modbus/TCP connectivity is available via Lintouch ModbusTCP Plugin. The plugin is written in Python and although not optimized for time-critical tasks, it can be very effectively used for testing and teaching purposes.
- Industry Ready
Runtime has been enhanced to support full screen mode, and automatic reconnects to the server in case of connectivity problems. All the features (such as connecting to a new server, switching panels, etc.) can be disabled/enabled on demand according to concrete deployment requirements.
- Support for Local Projects
Runtime can be also used in a local mode in which no Lintouch Server is required. This mode is designed for devices without TCP/IP connectivity (small touch screen systems) that are connected via industry buses directly to the monitored system and always run only one controlling screen for one monitored system.
- Support for Connections and Variables editing
Editor has been enhanced to support full Connections and Variables editing. Users can design and test their projects comfortably from within the Lintouch Editor. The preview mode can verify the reaction of the screens to various variable changes.
- Support for Online Mode
When Editor preview mode is not enough to thoroughly test the screens, the online mode takes the project and executes it within Lintouch Runtime in the same way it will be finally executed on a target system.
Lintouch can be downloaded and installed directly on the Windows and Linux based platforms. The detailed instructions are available at our website.
The source code of Lintouch Runtime and Lintouch Server is distributed under the GNU General Public License 2. It can be downloaded and compiled by hand. The detailed instructions are available at our website.
Lintouch is a real-time data monitoring/controlling system used in automation industry and developed by S.W.A.C. GmbH Germany and S.W.A.C. Bohemia s.r.o.
Lintouch is an effort to build fully software-based open source control panel software suite. Control panels are usually called HMI - Human Machine Interface, or MMI - Man Machine Interface in the automation industry.
Lintouch supports variety of hardware/software platforms (Win32+Intel, Linux+Intel, Linux+PPC).
Lintouch has been designed with extensibility in mind. New Server Plugins can be developed to bring in new connectivity (ModBus/TCP, and Hilscher already available). New Templates (GUI Objects) can be implemented to define new control and visualization primitives (Buttons and Lamps already available).
To get more information about Lintouch please visit our website http://lintouch.org.
