ETS4 for Experts
December 2010
KNX Association
Why ETS4 ?
1. It’s EASY!
Lowering the threshold for newcomers with a new ETS4 user interface!
Easy ETS project setup/ project creation wizards for KNX newcomers
Better user interface, faster access to common functions
2. It’s FAST!
ETS4 speeds up project workflow and data exchange
 Project and product data import is at least twice faster
 Increased workflow efficiency from project creation up to download
3. It’s OPEN!
ETS4 allows access to import/ export data, even at runtime
Access to in-/ export data via XML based exchange format
New “add in” interface allows access to ETS4 data, even at runtime
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 2
October 2010
Overview
Part 1: ETS4 is easy & fast
Part 2: ETS4 is open
Part 3: Improvements in relation to ETS3
Part 4: Requirements & Licensing
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 3
October 2010
Part 1
ETS4 is easy & fast
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 4
October 2010
ETS4 is easy & fast
Project Assistant: Wizard for Functions & Groups
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 5
October 2010
ETS4 is easy & fast
Embedded Parameter Dialog
• parameter dialog = embedded control
• device parameter dialog ‘hopping’ = faster
• which contributes to the efficiency of the ETS4 workflow
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 6
October 2010
ETS4 is easy & fast
Dynamic Folders
• Requirement = to display resources according to specific filter criteria
• Solution = “Dynamic Folders”
- allow a nearly free listing of window content
- can be stored and hence re-used any time
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 7
October 2010
ETS4 is easy & fast
Tree Slider
• browsing by means of a simple slider
• which is far more powerful than expand/collapse
• e.g. Building -> Rooms -> Devices -> Communication Objects
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 8
October 2010
Part 2
ETS4 is open
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 9
October 2010
ETS4 is open: Project Linking
Data Exchange
• The average KNX installation is increasing
• And is often linked to other automation systems
• This linking involves data exchange
• ETS4 uses XML based exchange formats
• XML = open standard
• E.g. ETS4 projects can be read with any XML Viewer
• Conclusion: with ETS4 linking = easy
• In contrast to ETS3, where import/export formats are not open
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 10
October 2010
ETS4 is open: Dataflow
ETS3 Dataflow
Import/Export
ETS2 + ETS3
Projects/ Products
ETS3
Database
*.prα, *.vdα ─ α = x..5
Sybase (*.db)
ETS4 Dataflow
only one direction!
ETS2 + ETS3
Projects/ Products
Converter
*.prβ, *.vdβ, *.db ─ β = x..5
ETS4
Database
SQL (*.mdf)
Import/Export
ETS4
Projects/ Products
(*.knxproj,*.knxprod)
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 11
October 2010
ETS4 is open: Converter
ETS4 Converter
REMARK:
• creates new files (*.knxprod, *.knxproj)
• leaves original files unchanged (vd*, pr*, *.db)
• can be used as stand-alone (preparation)
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 12
October 2010
ETS4 is open: Data Structure
ETS4 Data Structure
 ETS4 Exchange Formats based on XML, this covers:
•
•
All Customer Projects = Project Data
Manufacturer Product Descriptions (Catalogs) = Product Data
 ETS4’ KNX “knowledge” based on XML, this covers:
•
•
•
Which manufacturer has which manufacturer code
Knowledge about the standardized KNX platforms (BCU2, System B)
KNX media: topology, address spaces, etc.
 so called KNX Master Data
 All data is structured according to the KNX XML Scheme, this covers:
•
•
•
KNX Association
KNX Master Data
Product Data
Project Data
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 13
October 2010
ETS4 is open: File Structure
(opened with e.g. winzip32.exe)
ETS4 File Structure
ETS4 File = XML + ZIP
<KNX>
…
…
…
…
<Signature>
</KNX>
+
.knxprod (products)
.knxproj (projects)
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 14
October 2010
ETS4 is open: File Content
ETS4 File Content
e.g. KNX Master Data (can be opened with any XML Viewer)
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 15
October 2010
Part 3
Improvements in relation to ETS3
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 16
October 2010
ETS4 Improvements: Overview
•
User Interface (Part 1)
•
Data Exchange: XML (Part 2)
•
Database:
1. Change without Closing
2. Central Repository (Server)
3. Automated Backup
•
Project:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
KNX Association
Project Files: store & attach non-ETS data (CAD)
Project Log: Descriptions + Titles/Headers
Free Group Address Structure + full 16-bit range
Embedded Parameter Dialog
Dynamic Folders
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 17
October 2010
Improvements: Database
Change Database without closing ETS
• database change can be done directly via the ETS4 user interface
• in ETS3 this operation requires a close and restart of the software
• this makes switching to other projects obviously much faster
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 18
October 2010
Improvements: Database
Central Database Repository
• ETS4 can open projects from a central server repository
• workflow optimization: >1 user can access projects
• once accessed, project status = “Checked out to” user = “XYZ”
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 19
October 2010
Improvements: Database
Automated Backup
ETS4 offers two ways to create backups:
- manually: during project edit
- automatically: as user request when closing ETS4
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 20
October 2010
Improvements: Projects
Extra Project Data
Possibility to add not ETS-related data (files) to projects:
- CAD drawings
- product specific documentation
- installation manuals
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 21
October 2010
Improvements: Projects
Improved Project Logging
• project log entries have been extended with their specific Titles
• project log entries also indicate the user (DB = central repository)
• this allows better structured project descriptions (sort by title)
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 22
October 2010
Improvements: Projects
Free Group Address Structure
• classic = 2 and 3 level Group Address structures
• this is for complex and/or big projects not always sufficient
• with ETS4 project specific Group Address structures can be defined
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 23
October 2010
Improvements: Projects
Free Group Address Structure
•16 bit = 65536
• GAs are set up as ‘plain’ numbers: 1..65536
• 0 is not valid
2 Steps:
• define ‘your’ structure of GA-ranges
• then add the actual GAs to the individual GA-ranges
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 24
October 2010
Improvements: Projects
Full 16-bit range for GAs
• Line Couplers: Filter Table = 1 bit / GA
• & per direction: main line to sub line and vice versa
• First series of LCs had limited memory
• & could therefore not support the complete 16 GA bit range
• In order to avoid legacy problems, ETS4 gives this warning:
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 25
October 2010
Further Improvements
Bus Access
• Parallel download for, via IP connected Twisted Pair segments
• Bus access also available in the free of charge ETS4 DEMO
User interface
• License overview directly available in main view, right after launch
• KNX News, also available in main view (can of course be disabled)
• Updated search & filter functions (e.g. product catalogue/finder, …)
Project editor/ analysis
• Updated „To Do“ list concept
• Dedicated folder for “recently used” products
• More powerful and configurable filter & record functions (bus/gr. monitor)
Project documentation
• Size of project export files has been reduced significantly
• Single device report possible
Automatic Updates
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 26
October 2010
Part 4
Requirements & Licensing
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 27
October 2010
ETS4 Requirements
Operating System:
MS Windows:
•
XP (min. SP3), Vista (min. SP2), 7, 2003 (min. SP2) / 2008 Server
•
For all: both 32-bit and 64-bit are supported
Hardware:
RAM:
HDD:
CPU:
Screen Resolution:
≥ 2 GB
> 5 GB (ETS4 setup = ~ 450MB)
≥ 2 GHz
≥ 1024x768 (Multi Monitor Support)
USB Slot:
for possible dongle
Recommended:
≥ 4GB RAM + higher screen resolution
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 28
October 2010
ETS4 Licensing
• All ETS3 dongles are supported by ETS4
• The ETS4 installation does not remove the
ETS3 installation, license or data
• Moreover, ETS3 and ETS4 can be used in
parallel with the same dongle
• Upgrade from ETS3 to ETS4 means however
that the ETS3 license will disappear from the
KNX online shop account
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 29
October 2010
ETS4 Licensing
ETS4 Licensing Dialog
Available
Licenses
Install
License
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 30
October 2010
Thank you very much for
your attention!
KNX Association
KNX: The worldwide STANDARD for home & building control
Page No. 31
October 2010