Date and Time from AB Controller with EIP driver

[Flick]

I'm trying to pick up the date and time from an Allen Bradley (AB) controller with the EIP driver. The problem is that AB does not have a predefined date and time data type, however it is possible to create a user defined data type that matches the OA time data type.

So I created a structure in AB to match the time data type definition given in the OA help “Time is the Unix time since 1.1.1970. 32Bits are used for the seconds. The milliseconds are saved in an additional unsigned short.” I’m able to connect to the structure but because of the EIP driver doesn’t support the time format the best I can do is pick up the first Dint (32-bits).

I understand I could pick the data up with two tags, but the project I’m working is tag critical. I know it’s possible to pick up the date and time via a single tag with the S7+ and OPC UA drivers. My other option would be to use a ulong, AB has a predefined Lint (a 64-bit word) but the EIP driver doesn’t support this either.

Is there a way I can get the info I need in a single tag? Are there any plans to make the date and time and/or the Lint accessible with the EIP driver?

Thanks for your time!

[Gertjan van Schijndel]

I think to only way to get the date and time in a single tag would be to use a blob or string. The string might be converted automatically to a time datapoint element type.