Just Released:

Studio 7.0 !!!!!!!

Studio 7.0, based on Microsoft Visio 2002, is now available. This exciting release greatly improves the world's most complete HMI and Control software solution. Here is a sample of the new features in 7.0:

• Windows XP Support
• Remote Screens to access data from anywhere on the network!
• Libraries to manage large projects
• Project Sync for multi-user development
• Faster development

To purchase, click here to find your Entivity Solution Provider!

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ESS ZONE

The support and update program for Steeplechase and Think & Do customers is now called ESS - Entivity Support Subscription. The program includes unlimited technical support, updates, software improvement modules, replacement licenses (if lost or stolen) and web access to update and driver downloads.

For more information, check out the ESS section on the Entivity web site!

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Microsoft XP Support

Entivity has completed XP testing and will support Windows NT, 2000 and XP in all products with the following release schedules:

• VLC 6.0 - Available Now
• Studio 7.0 - July, 2002
• Live! - October, 2002

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Customer Profile of the Month

Read the entire story here!

Kellogg Crankshaft, located in Jackson, MI, wanted a more integrated control system that was reliable, supportable, and less expensive to maintain.

Kellogg saved time and money using Entivity Products.
Phil Raby, Kellogg's Information Systems and Controls Engineer, commented: "Having these functions well integrated is a powerful benefit to us. From a support standpoint, our technicians do not have to carry an armful of software or programming terminals for each function of control...I estimate that we saved 50-75% of the cost of a similar control solution."

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VLC 6.0 Cross Referencing Feature

Entivity has greatly improved both the speed and functionality of the cross-referencing feature in VLC 6.0.

In order to increase the speed, the cross-references are now generated in the background when the VLC Designer tool is open. The cross-references are constantly updated as changes are made to the project flowcharts.

These cross-references are stored in RAM and this makes them accessible almost instantaneously. The cross-reference results window also has a new 'tree-structure' look. This new tree-structure provides a graphical view of the path to the tag being cross-referenced, starting at the main flowchart down through any subroutines and into the particular flowchart element where the tag resides. This graphical view greatly improves the navigation to a particular instance of a tag. The cross-reference results window provides the flowchart name, the flowchart element type, flowchart element label and the code context in which the tag was used. A hyperlink from each cross-reference result to the actual line of code in the project greatly speeds up the code debug process. A cross reference is easily generated in the VLC Tag Window with a simple right-mouse click on the tag to be cross-referenced. A cross-reference can also be generated in the VLC Instant Watch Window of Maintainer with a right-mouse click on the tag to be cross-referenced.

The new improvements in speed and functionality of the VLC 6.0 cross-referencing feature will lead to greater productivity in both the design and commissioning stages of your project.

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Power User's Corner

Studio 7.0 now includes Library support for charts.

Power up at eAnswer!!!

This powerful new feature allows you to create and maintain frequently used charts in a single location. These Library charts can then be used by an unlimited number of projects and updated with the latest changes with the click of a button!

A Library project can be stored on a network location and included in any project with access to the network. If the network connection is not available after a Library chart is included in a project, the chart can still be used in the project it just can't be updated with any Library changes until the network connection is restored.

Library charts within the Library project can be updated to reflect any changes that might be needed. Projects using the updated Library charts are not able to access the changes until the Library chart version is incremented in the Library project. This prevents unwanted or unfinished changes from getting into projects using the Library chart.

Entivity Studio ships with several Library projects that perform common functions. These projects can be found in the Examples folder.

Got questions? we've got eAnswer.

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Microsoft Visio powers Studio's
HMI Screen Development System

Visio & Studio Integration

Entivity screen shapes and Microsoft Visio make an unbeatable combination when you use them to create Studio HMI screens.

Studio 7.0 has many great new HMI features. Studio now incorporates Microsoft Visio 2002, bringing superior graphical resolution, transparency support and VBA 6.3-to name a few of the new features. Per customers requests, we have added the ability to import HMI components from other projects, create and use Remote Screen Sets to graphically view and interact with any Studio runtime (even CE targets) using a standard Ethernet network.

Studio 7.0 now offers over 3500+ Smart shapes. These Entivity created shapes were created to provide the most efficient build, cross reference, and usability performance over standard Visio or user created shapes. A sample index of these shapes and their stencils can be found in "Entivity Stencil Samples" with any new Studio 7.0 project.

HEADS UP: Entivity is looking to create in the near future a utility to turn non-Studio shapes (Yes, your custom created shapes) into Smart shapes, thus providing the same shape performance as those created by Entivity.

Tip: The new "Entivity Stencil Sample" provides a fast visual sample of shapes found in each of the Entivity Stencils. Hover your mouse over a shape similar to the one you are looking for, and view the bubble description of stencil's name of where similar shapes are found. You can also try the new Find Shape Feature. This feature found under "File\Find Shape" will search you local drive and even the internet (this may take some time and can be disable) for key words describing a shape.

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Got Questions? eAnswer is the Place

Visit eAnswer on the Entivity Web Site!

The Entivity eAnswer system is a browser-based knowledgebase system that empowers Entivity's customers to find the information that they need, when they need it. eAnswer is available from the Support page on the Entivity Website.

All customers have had access to the eAnswer system since it's inception at the end of 1998. eAnswer has had almost 128,000 hits and almost 24,000 specific searches since then, helping customers across the globe find answers to issues even when their local time zones and holidays make contact difficult.

eAnswer is also an ideal way to submit technical support questions. When someone posts a new question here, emails are dispatched immediately to all Entivity support engineers notifying them of a new incident. It is not uncommon to receive responses to incidents posted late at night, weekends, and holidays.

Here are some tips on searching...

For step-by-step how-to info on these and other topics, visit eAnswer on the Entivity website.

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