Converting a DirectLOGIC PLC Project to a Do-more PLC Project from AutomationDirect

DO more Designer can help you convert your Legacy Directlogic project to this more modern programming environment. There are some caveats to this process and realize that the Do-more platform is a completely unique environment as that of the Directlogic. With these difference that means that not all programming examples will directly convert and some might be easier to convert manually. Whenever there is a portion of ladder code that cannot be converted automatically the process will leave these stubs that will explain the next step to complete the migration. Let’s run through a few common samples that will show how to handle migrating various portions of Ladder code. The simplest to convert will be straight Boolean ladder code. This for the most part is straight forward and is completely converted in the migration process. The only thing to watch out is for address assignments. Here we have a Latching motor Start stop circuit in. Directlogic. To start the process of migration you will need to export the Directlogic Project to a Monic Text file. This is done by having the project open and then selecting File, export then Program. Give your Migration a Name and then Select Save. Here you will be prompted with these settings to save this file. On the Do more side of this Migration, have your Do more designer software open, and then select File -> Import then Migrate DirectSoft Project. As we step through this process the migration wizard will guide you through selecting or creating the file to import. Then you will be asked how to handle converting the various memory types From Directlogic to Do-More . I have found that the Defaults are the most practical options, and rarely will you need to select the other options. Next, You will then be prompted to select the Do more platform you will be using. When the conversion is complete you will be prompted to view a Log file. If there was an issue that needs to be addressed manually that information will be listed here. Through the migration process, I selected all defaults and if we do a side by side comparison of the original Directlogic project, to the Do-More project, the main difference we see is that Motor 3 which was y10 before is not y8 in Do more. This is also done with the X addressing. For straight Boolean migration, this will be all you need to do. Now let’s see a migration involving Timers and counters. All of this process will be the same as before. Open the Directlogic Project select Export -Program and then save the file with the options you select. In Do more Select File Import and then Migrate Directsoft Project. After Prompted navigate to the Text file created from the Directlogic Export. Once again I will use all the default settings in the migration. Now when we get to the end of the migration the Log file will look something like this. This is just informing me that the V address for the Preset in the Directlogic project was in tenths of seconds and now must be recalculated as miliseconds also it suggests that it would be best to use a D word for this preset in Do more. When viewed as a side by side comparison the logic again looks very similar. For the last Migration, I want to highlight analog setup. With the legacy Directlogic PLCs the Analog inputs and outputs had to be setup from ladder code. With Do more they are automagically setup. So select to create your export in Directlogic. In Do more select File Import and then Migrate Directlogic Project. Go through the same process as before. Now when you get complete you will see that there is no Anomalies in the Migration Log file but when you look at your Ladder code you see these Stubs. This is to inform you that the Analog is already setup in Do more and they map automatically to the WX for analog inputs and WY for analog outputs. Now you will just need delete these lines of logic. Hopefully this gave a good picture of what to expect when migrating a Directlogic Projects to the Do more Platform. If you have any questions about Migrating your Directlogic PLC, or questions on these PLCs in general, please contact AutomationDirect’s free award winning support team during regular business hours. They will be happy to help you. Click on this video to learn more about AutomationDirect’s many support options, click here to learn more or see more videos on our many products, and be sure to click here to subscribe to our YouTube channel.