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OPC - OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) for Process Control :: The Industrial Interoperability Standard

OPC
Knowledge Base

Automation Media is dedicated to develop the awareness and understanding about interoperability in automation by providing best information about open specifications that standardize the communication of acquired process data, alarm and event records, historical data, and batch data to multi-vendor enterprise systems and between production devices. Production devices include sensors, instruments, PLCs, RTUs, DCSs, HMIs, historians, trending subsystems, alarm subsystems, and more as used in the process industry, manufacturing, and in acquiring and transporting oil, gas, and minerals.

OPC - What is it?
Based on Microsoft's OLE (now ActiveX),COM (component object model) and DCOM (distributed component object model) technologies, OPC consists of a standard set of interfaces, properties, and methods for use in process-control and manufacturing-automation applications.

The ActiveX/COM technologies define how individual software components can interact and share data. Backed by Microsoft’s NT technology, OPC provides a common interface for communicating with diverse process-control devices, regardless of the controlling software or devices in the process.

The goal of the standard is Plug-and-Play, a concept developed by Microsoft and a number of other companies a few years ago. By using a standard way of configuring computer hardware (and software interfaces) automatically, a device will easily connect to another and immediately work without the need for lengthy installation procedures or complex configuration. Instead of having to learn how to use 100 or more custom toolkits, users will only have to learn one set of tools, because all OPC drivers will work the same way. OPC’s purpose is to compel the automation industry suppliers to push all device drivers toward a standard form. Essentially, OPC defines a common interface that permits interface development work to be performed once and then easily reused.



OPC's purpose is to compel the automation industry suppliers to push all device drivers toward a standard form


OPC Foundation



The OPC standard requires hardware suppliers to provide front-line data collection and distribution. They are the most familiar with how to access the device's internal data efficiently.

These devices then become OPC servers, providing data to OPC client applications consistently.Application developers can then write code in any language deemed appropriate.
  • OPC - What is it?
  • OPC - History
  • COM - What is it?
  • OLE - What is it?
  • OLE Automation - What is it?
  • DCOM - What is it?
  • ActiveX - What is it?
  • DDE - What is it?
  • OPC - Benefits
  • OPC - Benefits to Vendors
  • OPC - Benefits to Users
  • OPC - Who should care about OPC?
  • OPC - How is OPC going to improve my bottom line?
  • OPC - With the DCOM, how does it handles the remote server being disconnected problem?
  • OPC - Can OPC implement safe shutdowns?
  • OPC - What is OPC Client?
  • API
  • OPC - Browse
  • Central Processing Unit
  • OPC - Component Object Model


    • Free OPC Clients   /   Free OPC Servers   /   Free OPC Utilities

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