Terminology

Please be aware of the following terms and their context:

• Simulation. Refers to either to the simulation of 3D world or the Visual Components Premium 4.9 product itself.
• Server. Refers to either a PLC or server.
• Simulation PC. The device running Visual Components Premium 4.9.
• Server PC. The device running a PLC/server.
• Simulation variable. A property or signal of a component in the 3D world.
• Server variable. A variable in a PLC/server.
• Variable pair. The connection between a simulation variable and a server variable.
• Plugin. A protocol adapter used by Visual Components Premium 4.9 to connect to a PLC/server and transport data.
• Connection. A connection between Visual Components Premium 4.9 and a PLC/server. This is sometimes referred to as a plugin connection.
• Variable group. A collection of variable pairs specific to a plugin connection. Grouping is used to allow different sets of variable pairs to have different update modes, transmission directions and active state.
• Update time. The total time it takes to update the value of a variable pair in a plugin connection.
• Plugin time. The amount time it takes the plugin to handle an update to a variable pair.
• Configuration. The configuration of all plugin connections and their variable groups, including variable pairs. A configuration is saved with a layout and can be imported/exported separately using the Configuration group.