MatrikonOPCHDA ExplorerUserManual

MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer
User's Manual
Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer
User's Manual
This manual is a product of Matrikon Inc.

Matrikon Inc.
Suite 1800, 10405 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 3N4
Canada
Phone: 780.448.1010
Fax: 780.448.9191
www.matrikonopc.com
Document Revision History:
Document
Date Description Author
Version
2009-01-08 1.0 Initial document. RMS
MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 2

SOFTWARE VERSION
Version: 1.1.0.0
DOCUMENT VERSION
Version: 1.0
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
© Copyright 1997 - 2009, Matrikon Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in
a retrieval system, translated, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without prior written permission of Matrikon Inc.
CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained herein is confidential and proprietary to Matrikon Inc. It may not be disclosed or transferred,
directly or indirectly, to any third party without the explicit written permission of Matrikon Inc.
LIMITATIONS
Matrikon has made its best effort to prepare this manual. Matrikon makes no representation or warranties of
any kind with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the contents herein and accepts no liability of any kind
including without limitation warranties of merchantable quality, satisfactory quality, merchantability and
fitness for a particular purpose on those arising by law, statute, usage of trade, course of dealing or otherwise.
Matrikon shall not be liable for any losses or damages of any kind caused or alleged to be caused directly or
indirectly from this manual.
LICENSE AGREEMENT
This document and the software described in this document are supplied under a license agreement and may only be used
in accordance with the terms of that agreement. Matrikon reserves the right to make any improvements and/or changes to
product specifications at any time without notice.
TRADEMARK INFORMATION
The following are either trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective organizations:
Matrikon and MatrikonOPC are trademarks or registered trademarks of Matrikon Inc.
OTHER
MatrikonOPC™ is a division of Matrikon™ Inc.

Table of Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 6
Who Should Use This Manual ............................................................................................ 6
Overview of Manual ......................................................................................................... 6
References ..................................................................................................................... 7
Document Terminology .................................................................................................... 7
Getting Started................................................................................................................. 8
System Requirements...................................................................................................... 8
Software Requirements ................................................................................................. 8
Hardware Requirements ................................................................................................ 8
Installation..................................................................................................................... 8
Installed Files ............................................................................................................... 14
Licensing ..................................................................................................................... 15
Contacting Support ....................................................................................................... 15
Configuration ................................................................................................................. 16
Starting the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer............................................................................ 16
HDA Explorer Main Window............................................................................................. 16
File Menu .................................................................................................................. 17
Server Menu .............................................................................................................. 17
Function Menu ........................................................................................................... 17
View Menu ................................................................................................................ 18
Help Menu ................................................................................................................. 18
Options Window ............................................................................................................ 19
Add Remote Server Window ........................................................................................... 19
Insert Item Window....................................................................................................... 20
Server Status Window ................................................................................................... 21
Read Raw Window......................................................................................................... 22
Read Processed Window................................................................................................. 23
Read Attribute Window .................................................................................................. 24
Read At Time Window .................................................................................................... 25
Insert Window .............................................................................................................. 26
Replace Window............................................................................................................ 27
Insert/Replace Window .................................................................................................. 28
Delete Raw Window....................................................................................................... 29
Delete At Time Window .................................................................................................. 30
Limitations ..................................................................................................................... 31
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................. 32
Problems and Solutions.................................................................................................. 32
Questions and Answers .................................................................................................. 33
Un-Installation ............................................................................................................... 34
Table of Appendices
Appendix A Distributed COM (DCOM) ........................................................................ 39
DCOM Configuration Utility ............................................................................................. 39
Default Properties ......................................................................................................... 39
Security Permissions...................................................................................................... 40
Server Identity ............................................................................................................. 43
Default Protocols........................................................................................................... 43

Remote Program ID....................................................................................................... 44
Table of Figures
Figure 1 - InstallAware Wizard Verification Window ........................................................ 9
Figure 2 - License Agreement Screen ............................................................................. 10
Figure 3 - Destination Folder Screen .............................................................................. 11
Figure 4 - Start Menu Screen.......................................................................................... 12
Figure 5 - Installing MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Screen................................................. 13
Figure 6 - MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Setup Complete Screen ....................................... 14
Figure 7 - HDA Explorer Main Window............................................................................ 16
Figure 8 - Options Window ............................................................................................. 19
Figure 9 - Add Remote Server Window........................................................................... 20
Figure 10 - Insert Item Window..................................................................................... 21
Figure 11 - Server Status Window.................................................................................. 22
Figure 12 - Read Raw Window ....................................................................................... 23
Figure 13 - Read Processed Window .............................................................................. 24
Figure 14 - Read Attribute Window ................................................................................ 25
Figure 15 - Read At Time Window .................................................................................. 26
Figure 16 - Insert Window ............................................................................................. 27
Figure 17 - Replace Window........................................................................................... 28
Figure 18 - Insert/Replace Window ............................................................................... 29
Figure 19 - Delete Raw Window ..................................................................................... 30
Figure 20 - Read At Time Window .................................................................................. 30
Figure 21 - Add or Remove Programs............................................................................. 34
Figure 22 - Welcome to MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Maintenance Screen....................... 35
Figure 23 - Ready to Uninstall Screen ............................................................................ 36
Figure 24 - Uninstalling MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Screen ........................................... 37
Figure 25 - MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Setup Complete Screen ..................................... 38
Figure 26 - Distributed COM Configuration Properties Window ...................................... 40
Figure 27 - Distributed COM Configuration Security Tab ................................................ 41
Figure 28 - Registry Value Permissions Window ............................................................ 42
Figure 29 - Add Users and Groups Window .................................................................... 42
Table of Tables
Table 1 - Terms and Definitions........................................................................................ 7
Table 2 - Files Installed in "HDA Explorer” Folder .......................................................... 15
Table 3 - File Menu Commands....................................................................................... 17
Table 4 - Server Menu Commands .................................................................................. 17
Table 5 - Function Menu Commands ............................................................................... 18
Table 6 - View Menu Commands..................................................................................... 18
Table 7 - Help Menu Commands ..................................................................................... 19

Introduction
The MatrikonOPC™ HDA Explorer utility allows you to connect to and view data held in a compliant
HDA OPC server. This utility allows the common HDA functionality to be preformed against an HDA
OPC server and the viewing of the results returned by the server.
HDA Explorer is not intended to be used in production or as part of the process data stream. This
utility is intended to test “Classic” OPC connections to HDA OPC servers and to verify the data
collection in the HDA OPC server. This utility does not support the OPC Unified Architecture
(OPCUA).
Who Should Use This Manual

This manual is intended for use by all users of the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer.
This manual explains how to install and configure the software, and how to perform common tasks.
Overview of Manual
This document uses icons to highlight valuable information. Remember these icons and what they
mean, as they will assist you throughout the manual.
This symbol denotes important information that must be

acknowledged. Failure to do so may result in the software not
functioning properly.
Font displayed in this color and style indicates a hyperlink to the

BOLD applicable/associated information within this document, or if
applicable, any external sources.
The User’s Manual has been designed as such so that you can click on references in the document
to jump to that referenced point without having to scroll through several pages (in some cases).
For example, if you were to see the sentence “Refer to Figure 1 for more information”, pressing the
CTRL key and clicking your mouse on the text “Figure 1” will automatically take you to the location
of Figure 1 within the document.
This manual consists of several sections and is structured as follows:
• Introduction – this introductory chapter.
• Getting Started – provides instructions for installing the server, and how to contact
MatrikonOPC’s Support team.
• Configuration – shows how to start and configure the server, and describes each
component in detail, including windows/screens, panels, tabs, and menu commands.
• Limitations – provides information on specific performance and operational limitations of
the software.
• Troubleshooting – provides solutions for common problems that may be encountered, and
answers to frequently asked questions.
• Un-installation – provides instructions on un-installing software.
• Appendices:
o A - DCOM

References
This document references information found within the following documents/sites:
• www.opcfoundation.org
• www.matrikonopc.com
• www.matrikonopc.com/support
Document Terminology
The terms screen and window are used interchangeably throughout this document.
Table 1 provides a list of definitions for terms used throughout this document.
Term/Abbreviation Description
Component Object Model. A method for organizing software, specifying
COM
how to build components that can be dynamically interchanged.
DA OPC Data Access. Provides access to real-time process data.
Distributed Component Object Model. An extension of COM that allows
DCOM
communication between COM components over a network.
HDA OPC Historical Data Access.
Matrikon Matrikon Inc.
MatrikonOPC Matrikon’s brand name for its OPC servers and clients.
A communication standard based on COM. Refer to
OPC
www.opcfoundation.org for more information.
A communication standard based on Web Services. Refer to
OPCUA
www.opcfoundation.org for more information.
“Classic” OPC A term used to differentiate OPC from OPCUA.
Table 1 - Terms and Definitions

Getting Started
This chapter contains important information about installing this utility and how to contact
Matrikon’s Support team.
The System Requirements section shows how to avoid future problems by ensuring that the
system meets the minimum software and hardware requirements. Detailed step-by-step
instructions in the Installation section walks you through the installation process and lists the files
that are installed during this process.
Once this utility has been installed, refer to the Licensing Procedures document that was installed
along with the server and this User’s Manual, to learn how to obtain the appropriate license. If any
problems are encountered during installation or licensing, refer to the Contacting Support section
for information about how to contact the MatrikonOPC Support team for assistance.
System Requirements
The software has minimum Software and Hardware system requirements. These requirements
must be met for the software to function properly.
Software Requirements
The server requires the following software:
• Microsoft Windows XP or 2003 or 2000
• Any compliant HDA OPC server
• OPC Foundation Redistributable proxy/stub DLLs (usually installed automatically with an
OPC server
Note: It is recommended that the most current service packs are

installed.
Hardware Requirements
The server requires the following hardware:
• Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor
• 512 MB RAM
• 40 GB 7200 RPM hard drive
Installation
Once the system requirements have been met, you are ready to install the software.

Notes:
• Prior to starting the installation process, it is recommended
that you make sure that the Data Execution Permissions (DEP)
is set to Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs
and services only. If not, you will need to re-install the
product. DEP does not affect all operating systems (i.e., DEP is
used in XP SP2 and 2003 SP1).
• As part of the installation process, the MatrikonOPC Analyzer
tool is installed and used to detect the system settings that
affect the use of this software. No information is communicated
back to Matrikon. Information is stored on this system only for
future use by MatrikonOPC Support to assist with
troubleshooting, if required.
To install the software:

1. Insert the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer CD into the CD drive.
2. If the MatrikonOPC Welcome screen does not automatically appear, double-click the
MatrikonOPCHDAExplorer.exe file. The InstallAware Wizard verifies its contents (Figure
1) and the License Agreement screen (Figure x) appears.
Notes:
• The Version number located in the lower left corner indicates the version number of
the software that is being installed. The text “X.X.X.X” will be replaced with the
specific product version.
• From the License Agreement screen, you have the option of selecting the I reject
the license agreement option. Selecting the I reject the license agreement
option button disables the Next button so your options are to cancel the install by
clicking on the Cancel button, or select the I accept the license agreement option
button enabling you to proceed through the install.
Figure 1 - InstallAware Wizard Verification Window

Figure 2 - License Agreement Screen
3. Read the Software License Agreement, using the scroll bar to view the entire message.
4. Select the I accept the license agreement option button.
5. Click on the Next button. The Destination Folder screen (Figure 3) appears.

Figure 3 - Destination Folder Screen
6. Select the folder in which to install MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer or accept the default location
displayed in the Folder path field.
Note: At this point, you have the option of specifying whether MatrikonOPC Analyzer is also
to be installed. The Install MatrikonOPC Analyzer checkbox is selected by default which
indicates that Analyzer is to be installed.
7. Click on the Next button. The Start Menu screen (Figure 4) appears.

Figure 4 - Start Menu Screen
8. Select the Start Menu group and then specify whether you want shortcuts created only for
yourself, or for all users, by selecting the applicable option button.
9. Click on the INSTALL button. The Installing MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer screen (Figure
5) appears, installation begins, and the product files are copied to the computer.
Note: Prior to starting the installation, you have the option of clicking on the Back button
to change any of the installation information. Click on the Cancel button if you wish to stop
or cancel the installation.

Figure 5 - Installing MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Screen
10. When the installation has finished, the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Setup Complete
screen (Figure 6) appears stating that the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer has been successfully
installed.

Figure 6 - MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Setup Complete Screen
11. Click on the Finish button to complete the installation and exit the Wizard.
12. The necessary files are copied to the target computer, the software components are
registered, and short-cut icons are created in the Start menu.
Note: At this point, it is recommended that you verify the DCOM

settings. Reference to the DCOM configuration can be found in the
DCOM Manual. This configuration varies for different operating
systems.
Installed Files
The installation program copies all necessary files to the target computer and creates short-cut
icons in the Start menu.
The files listed in Table 2 are installed by default, in the following location:
C:\Program Files\Matrikon\OPC\HDA Explorer
File Name Description

HDA Explorer Release Notes.pdf Release Notes for this product.

File Name Description
HDA Explorer User Manual.pdf This User’s Manual.
HDAExplorer.exe The product executable file.
MFC71.dll, MFC71ENU.dll,
MFC71u.dll, msvcp71.dll, Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) runtime libraries.
msvcr71.dll
Project Info.log Product version information for the current build.
Quick Start HDA Explorer.pdf Quick start guide for using HDA Explorer.
Table 2 - Files Installed in "HDA Explorer” Folder
Licensing
The MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer does not need to be licensed. It is fully functional after the
installation is complete.
Contacting Support
MatrikonOPC support is available through international offices Monday to Friday.
North America
Telephone: +1-780-945-4011
Fax: +1-780-448-9191
Email: support@matrikonopc.com
8:00AM - 5:00PM MST (GMT-7 hours)
Monday to Friday
Australia & Asia

Telephone: +61 2 4908 2198
9:00AM to 5:00PM Australian EST (GMT +10 hours)
Monday to Friday
Europe
Telephone: +49 (0)221 969 77-34
9:00AM to 5:00PM CET (UTC +1 hours)
Monday to Friday

Configuration
No configuration of the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer utility is required for it to function properly.
However, you can customize the product’s behaviour as required. This chapter shows you how to
start and configure the server, and describes each component in detail, including the windows,
panels, and menu commands.
Starting the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer

To launch the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer, choose the appropriate shortcut from the Start menu.
To start the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer:
1. Click on the Windows Start button and select Programs -> MatrikonOPC -> HDA
Explorer, and choose MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer.
HDA Explorer Main Window

The main application window of the HDA Explorer utility is shown in Figure 7. There are four
sections to the application window, and are labelled as such:
Section 1: The top of the application window hosts the menu bar and tool bar which control the
functionality of the utility.
Section 2: The upper left panel is the server window which lists the servers with current HDA
connections.
Section 3: The lower left panel lists the tags that are currently added to the server which is
highlighted in the server window.
Section 4: The right panel is the output window where the results of HDA operations will be
displayed.
Figure 7 - HDA Explorer Main Window

The following sections describe the menus available from the main window, and what they are used
for.
File Menu
Table 3 describes the File menu commands.
Command Description
Opens the Options window. For more information, refer to the Options
Options
Window section in this manual.
Exit Exits the utility.
Table 3 - File Menu Commands
Server Menu
Table 4 describes the Server menu commands.
Command Description
Creates a connection to a local HDA OPC server. The server connected
to, is the server shown in the server drop-down window.
Connect
Creates a connection to a remote HDA OPC server. For more

information, refer to the Add Remote Server Window section in this
Connect Remote manual. This option is available only when a server is selected in the
server window.
Disconnects from the HDA server highlighted in the server window. This
Disconnect option is available only when a server is selected in the server window.
Adds items to the HDA server currently highlighted in the server
window. For more information, refer to the Insert Item Window
Add Items section in this manual. This option is available only when a server is
selected in the server window.
Removes the item or items selected in the item window. This option is
Delete Selected Items available only when an item is selected in the item window.
Retrieves the status of the server selected in the server window. Refer
Server Status to the Server Status Window section in this manual. This option is
only available when a server is selected in the server window.
Table 4 - Server Menu Commands
Function Menu
Table 5 describes the Function menu commands that appear when you have an item selected in
the item window.
Command Description
Calls Read Raw on the server selected in the server window for the items
selected in the item window. For more information, refer to the Read Raw
Read Raw Window section in this manual. This option is available only when an item is
selected in the item window.

Command Description
Calls Read Processed on the server selected in the server window for the
items selected in the item window. For more information, refer to the Read
Read Processed Processed Window section in this manual. This option is available only
when an item is selected in the item window.
Calls Read Attribute on the server selected in the server window for the
Read Attribute Attribute Window section in this manual. This option is available only
when an item is selected in the item window.
Calls Read At Time on the server selected in the server window for the
Read At Time At Time Window section in this manual. This option is available only when
an item is selected in the item window.
Calls Insert on the server selected in the server window for the items
selected in the item window. For more information, refer to the Insert
Insert Window section in this manual. This option is available only when an item is
Calls Replace on the server selected in the server window for the items
selected in the item window. For more information, refer to the Replace
Replace Window section in this manual. This option is available only when an item is
Calls Insert/Replace on the server selected in the server window for the
items selected in the item window. For more information, refer to the
Insert/Replace Insert/Replace Window section in this manual. This option is available
only when an item is selected in the item window.
Calls Delete Raw on the server selected in the server window for the items
selected in the item window. For more information, refer to the Delete Raw
Delete Raw Window section in this manual. This option is available only when an item is
Calls Delete At Time on the server selected in the server window for the
items selected in the item window. For more information, refer to the Delete
Delete At Time At Time Window section in this manual. This option is available only when
an item is selected in the item window.
Table 5 - Function Menu Commands
View Menu
Table 6 describes the View menu commands.
Command Description
Status Bar Displays/hides the status bar at the bottom of the application window.
Table 6 - View Menu Commands
Help Menu
Table 7 describes the Help menu commands.

Command Description
Opens the About MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer window that displays
About HDA Explorer
product information.
Table 7 - Help Menu Commands
Options Window
The Options window displays only one option which limits the display of items in the output
window to the number of items configured. The OPC calls made by HDA Explorer are unaffected by
the value set in this option.
This option is used to limit the system resources needed to display the results of an OPC call. If this
value is set very high, a noticeable delay may occur when the results of an OPC call return large
amounts of data. The default value is 1000.
To view the Options window:
1. From the File menu, select Options.
2. The Options window (Figure 8) appears.
Figure 8 - Options Window
Add Remote Server Window

The Add Remote Server window allows HDA Explorer to connect to a remote HDA server through
DCOM. From the Add Remote Server window select the remote computer to connect to. If it
does not appear, enter the computer name or its IP address, manually. Select the server to which
you are connecting. If the server does not appear, manually enter the server’s PROGID.
To view the Add Remote Server window:
1. From the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer main window, select the Connect Remote option
from the Server menu.
2. The Add Remote Server window (Figure 9) appears.

Figure 9 - Add Remote Server Window
Insert Item Window

The Insert Item window allows you to add OPC items to a server. You can then perform
operations on the item after it has been added.
In the Browse screen section select the server branch that contains the item you want. You may
need to navigate to the item by navigating through the browse tree. Once you have navigated to
the correct browse location, the item you are interested in is displayed in the lower item window.
You can double-click your mouse on the item to move it into the Item Id field. If this is the correct
item, click on the Add arrow (i.e., blue arrow pointing to the right) to add the item to the tag list
window on the right. Or, when you have the item selected in the item window you can also add it
to the tag list window by right-clicking on it and selecting the Add To Tag List option from the
displayed menu.
If you want all the items in the item window to be added, right-click your mouse anywhere in the
tag list and select the Add All Items To List option from the displayed menu. Once all of the
required items you are adding to the server are in the tag list, you can validate them by selecting
the Validate option from the Item menu. Finish adding the items to the server by clicking on the
OK button.
To view the Insert Item window:
1. From the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer main window, in the server window, select the
server to which you wish to add OPC items.
2. From the Server menu, select the Add Item option.
3. The Insert Item window (Figure 10) appears.

Figure 10 - Insert Item Window
Server Status Window

The Server Status window retrieves the status of the server highlighted in the server window.
There are no editable options available in this window.
To view the Server Status window:

1. From the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer main window, in the server window (upper pane on
the left side of the window), select the server for which you wish to view its status.
2. From the Server menu, select the Server Status option.
3. The Server Status window (Figure 11) appears.

Figure 11 - Server Status Window
Read Raw Window

The Read Raw window allows you to query the server selected in the server window and retrieve
the raw data from the server. The query is made for each tag that is highlighted in the tag window.
The output window displays the results with one item per tab. The number of results shown in the
output window will be the lower of the number of entries returned from the HDA server for that
item, or the maximum number of entries to display as set in the options. For more information,
refer to the Options Window section in this manual.
To view the Read Raw window:
required server.
Note: If you wish to query one or more particular tags, select them in the tag list screen
section (lower pane on the left side of the window). If you wish to query all tags associated
to the selected server, simply select the required server and proceed with step 2.
2. From the Function menu, select the Read Raw option.
3. The Read Raw window (Figure 12) appears.

Figure 12 - Read Raw Window
Read Processed Window

The Read Processed window allows you to query the server selected in the server window and
retrieve processed data from the server. A query is made for each tag that is highlighted in the tag
window.
The output window displays the results with one tab per item. The number of results shown in the
output window will be the lower of the number of entries returned from the HDA server for that
item, or the maximum number of entries to display as set in the options. For more information,
refer to the Options Window section in this manual.
The processed data options available depend on the HDA OPC server implementation and can be
found in the Server HDA Aggregates screen section which appears at the bottom of the Read
Processed window.
To view the Read Processed window:
required server.
2. From the Function menu, select the Read Processed option.
3. The Read Processed window (Figure 13) appears.

Figure 13 - Read Processed Window
Read Attribute Window

The Read Attribute window allows you to query the server selected in the server window and
retrieve attribute data from the server. A query is made for the tag highlighted in the tag window.
This option is available when only one tag is selected.
To view the Read Attribute window:
required server.
2. From the Function menu, select the Read Attribute option.
3. The Read Attribute window (Figure 14) appears.

Figure 14 - Read Attribute Window
Read At Time Window

The Read At Time window allows you to query the server selected in the server window and
retrieve raw data from the server. A query is made for each tag that is highlighted in the tag
window.
The output window displays the results with one tab per item.
To view the Read At Time window:
required server.
2. From the Function menu, select the Read At Time option.
3. The Read At Time window (Figure 15) appears.

Figure 15 - Read At Time Window
Insert Window
The Insert window allows you to write new data to the server selected in the server window. The
write is made for each tag that is highlighted in the tag window.
The output window displays all of the results in one panel.
To view the Insert window:
server to which you wish to write new data.
Note: If you wish to write new data involving one or more particular tags, select them in
the tag list screen section. If you wish to use all tags associated to the selected server,
simply select the required server and proceed with step 2.
2. From the Function menu, select the Insert option.
3. The Insert window (Figure 16) appears.

Figure 16 - Insert Window
Replace Window
The Replace window allows you to overwrite existing data in the server selected in the server
window. A write is made for each tag that is highlighted in the tag window.
Note: Modifying data is permanent. There is no “undo” mechanism

allowing you to revert modified data.
To view the Replace window:

server to which you wish to overwrite existing data.
Note: If you wish to overwrite existing data involving one or more particular tags, select
them in the tag list screen section. If you wish to use all tags associated to the selected
server, simply select the required server and proceed with step 2.
2. From the Function menu, select the Replace option.
3. The Replace window (Figure 17) appears.

Figure 17 - Replace Window
Insert/Replace Window
The Insert/Replace window allows you to overwrite existing data or write new data to the server
selected in the server window. A write is made for each tag that is highlighted in the tag window.

To view the Insert/Replace window:

server to which you wish to overwrite existing data or write new data.
Note: If you wish to overwrite existing data or write new data to one or more particular
tags, select them in the tag list screen section. If you wish to use all tags associated to the
selected server, simply select the required server and proceed with step 2.
2. From the Function menu, select the Insert/Replace option.
3. The Insert/Replace window (Figure 18) appears.

Figure 18 - Insert/Replace Window
Delete Raw Window

The Delete Raw window allows you to remove a range of data from the server selected in the
server window. A deletion is made for each tag that is highlighted in the tag window.

To view the Delete Raw window:

server from which you wish to remove a range of data.
Note: If you wish to remove a range of data involving one or more particular tags, select
them in the tag list screen section. If you wish to use all tags associated to the selected
server, simply select the required server and proceed with step 2.
2. From the Function menu, select the Delete Raw option.
3. The Delete Raw window (Figure 19) appears.

Figure 19 - Delete Raw Window
Delete At Time Window

The Delete At Time window allows you to remove data from the server selected in the server
window. A deletion is made for each tag that is highlighted in the tag window.
The output window will display all the results in one panel.

To view the Delete At Time window:

server from which you wish to remove data.
Note: If you wish to remove data involving one or more particular tags, select them in the
tag list screen section. If you wish to use all tags associated to the selected server, simply
select the required server and proceed with step 2.
2. From the Function menu, select the Delete At Time option.
3. The Delete At Time window (Figure 20) appears.
Figure 20 - Read At Time Window

Limitations
MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer has the following limitations:
1. Cannot save or load configurations – when you have connected to an HDA OPC server
and have added tags, you are not able to save your current configuration and load it again
at a later date.
2. Cannot export results – after an HDA operation has been performed, you cannot export
the results for analysis in an external tool.
3. Connections limited to HDA OPC servers – the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer utility cannot
connect to DA OPC servers or OPCUA servers.

Troubleshooting
The following section addresses some of the most common problems encountered, and questions
asked, while using this utility. Please check the following Problems/Solutions and
Questions/Answers sections before contacting the MatrikonOPC Support team.
Problems and Solutions

HDA server does not show up in the list of locally available program IDs in HDA
Explorer
Problem: The server does not show up in a list of locally available program IDs in HDA Explorer.
Solution: Make sure that a user with local administrative rights installs the OPC server so that it
can create the necessary entries in the registry.
Ensure OPCEnum is registered as a service, DCOM permissions are configured
properly, and the OPCEnum service is running.
Also, especially for older OPC clients that do not use the OPC server browser, make
sure the client is running as a user that has read access to the registry.
HDA server does not show up as remote program in HDA Explorer
Problem: The OPC server does not show up in a list of remotely available program IDs in my
OPC client application.
Solution: Follow the steps found in Appendix A – Distributed COM (DCOM) to copy the
program ID from the server machine to the client machine. You may also type the
name of the remote program ID into the Manual field of the Add Remote Server
window.
Access denied or time-out error when connecting to remove server via DCOM
Problem: Access Denied error message appears, or time out occurs when trying to connect to
a remote OPC server via DCOM.
Solution: Ensure that the access and launch permissions for the OPC server are set correctly on
the server machine. For more information, refer to Appendix A – Distributed COM
(DCOM).
Server does not start up or client cannot connect
Problem: HDA Explorer tries to connect to the HDA server and fails, or the server does not start
up.
Solution: Ensure that the access and launch permissions for the HDA OPC server are set
correctly. For more information, refer to Appendix A – Distributed COM (DCOM).

Questions and Answers
How can I save/load my configuration?
Problem: I have added a number of items to my HDA server and would like to save the
configuration.
Solution: The utility does not allow you to save or load configurations. You will need to re-add
the items next time you run HDA Explorer.
How can I get OPC data into other applications?
Problem: How can I get OPC data into Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, or another application?
Solution: HDA Explorer does not support exporting data to another application. Data can be
viewed in the output window only.
Search the MatrikonOPC Support Knowledge Base at www.matrikonopc.com/support to find

the answers to other commonly-asked MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer questions.

Un-Installation
To successfully un-install MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer, using the Add or Remove Programs from
the Microsoft Windows Control Panel is recommended.
To un-install MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer:
1. Click on the Start button and highlight the Control Panel item.
2. From the displayed menu, select Add or Remove Programs.
3. The Add or Remove Programs window (Figure 21) is displayed.
4. Scroll through the list of currently installed programs and updates to find and select
MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer.
Figure 21 - Add or Remove Programs
5. Click on the Remove button associated with the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer program to
initiate the un-install process.
6. The MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer – InstallAware Wizard appears, and the Welcome to
MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Maintenance screen (Figure 22) is displayed.

Figure 22 - Welcome to MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Maintenance Screen
7. Select the Remove option button to un-install MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer entirely.
8. Click on the Next button. The Ready to Uninstall screen (Figure 23) is displayed.

Figure 23 - Ready to Uninstall Screen
9. Click on the Next button.

10. The Uninstalling MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer screen (Figure 24) appears and the un-
install takes place.

Figure 24 - Uninstalling MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Screen
11. When the un-install has finished, the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Setup Complete
screen (Figure 25) appears stating that MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer was successfully un-
installed.

Figure 25 - MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer Setup Complete Screen
12. Click on the Finish button to complete the un-install and exit the Wizard.
13. The program no longer appears listed in the Add or Remove Programs window.

Appendix A Distributed COM (DCOM)
DCOM is an object protocol that enables COM components (such as OPC clients and servers) to
communicate directly with each other across a network. A certain amount of configuration is
required on the system where the OPC server is installed to allow remote clients to connect to it
over the network.
The following steps are suggestions only. Ask your Windows NT/2000
System Administrator for more information about the settings that you
should use, especially between different domains.
Readers should be familiar with DCOM and with Windows 2000 security features and security
administration. Information regarding Distributed COM and various links to related sites, white
papers, specs, etc, can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/com/tech/DCOM.asp.
Specifications on DCOM/COM and release notes on COM+ can be found in the MSDN Online Library
at http://www.microsoft.com/com/resources/specs.asp.
DCOM Configuration Utility

Start the DCOM configuration utility either from the server configuration utility or from the
command-line (DCOMCNFG). Answer, yes to any message boxes that appear (allowing the utility to
assign application ID entries to those servers that don't already have them).
The main window for DCOMCNFG allows the user to either configure default settings for all COM
servers or else to configure settings for a specific server chosen from the list. The former will affect
all servers configured to use the default settings. The latter will affect the selected server only.
DCOM settings are stored in the registry and loaded by COM (and
OPC) servers at start-up. Therefore, server processes must be shut
down and re-started for these changes to take effect.
Default Properties
The Default Properties tab contains settings that affect all DCOM communication on the machine.
• First of all, ensure that the Enable Distributed COM on this computer is selected in
so that the machine is available to others via DCOM.
• Select the Enable COM Internet Services on this computer to allow DCOM access to
the machine from the Internet (check with your administrator).
• In general, the other settings do not need to be changed.
The Authentication Level specifies when COM should authenticate the identity of calling clients
(each call, each packet, etc).
• Normally, it should be set to Connect, indicating that COM should authenticate clients
when they first connect to a server. If it is set to None, then COM performs no
authentication and ignores any access permission settings.
The Impersonation Level specifies whether servers can ascertain the identity of calling clients
and whether they can then perform operations on the client's behalf (as if the server is the client).

• Normally, it should be set to Identify, allowing the server to identify the calling client to
see if it is allowed access to a certain resource but not to actually access any of these
resources as the client.
• Select the Provide additional security for reference tracking to make even the
reference counting on COM objects secure. This setting is not generally required.
Security Permissions
The most important DCOM settings for an OPC server are the security permissions. There are two
ways for you to set these:
1. Change the specific settings for the server (recommended).
2. Change the default settings (not recommended) and make sure that the OPC server will use
these.
Either way, be certain that the access and launch permissions are correct for the server.
Setting Security Permissions

To set the security permissions for an OPC Server:
1. Open the DCOM configuration utility.
2. Select the OPC server, and then click Properties.
3. The Distributed COM Configuration Properties window (Figure 26) appears.
Figure 26 - Distributed COM Configuration Properties Window
4. Click on the Security tab to set the security for the server.

5. The Distributed COM Configuration Security tab (Figure 27) appears.
Figure 27 - Distributed COM Configuration Security Tab
Notes:
• The Access Permissions contain an Access Control List of principals that are
allowed to interact with objects supplied by a server.
• The Launch Permissions contain an Access Control List of principals that are
allowed to start up a server process or service.
6. Include the names of users or user groups from trusted domains that you wish to be able to
use the OPC server on this machine. Include the Everyone group to allow access to all
users on a particular domain.
7. To set the Access permissions, click Use custom access permissions and then click Edit.
8. The Registry Value Permissions window (Figure 28) appears.

Figure 28 - Registry Value Permissions Window
9. To add users to the list click Add.

10. The Add Users and Groups window (Figure 29) appears.
Figure 29 - Add Users and Groups Window
11. To add a user to the list, select the user, and then click Add. If the user you wish to add
does not appear then click Show Users.

12. When you are done adding users, click OK to close the Add Users and Groups window.
You can then choose to Allow Access or Deny Access for each user.
Notes:
• The procedure to set the launch permissions is similar to the above, but instead of
choosing Allow Access for a user you would choose Allow Launch.
• The Configuration Permissions contain an Access Control List of principals that are
allowed to modify the configuration information for a server. In other words, it
indicates who is allowed to alter the registry entries for installed servers as well as
who is able to access the registry for the purposes of installing new servers. It is
usually simpler to install and configure servers as a user with local administrative
rights.
13. To connect to an OPC server from outside of the domain, create a local user account on
both the server and the client machine with identical username and password. Then, add
the local user on the OPC server to the DCOM permissions. Use the local account on the
client machine to connect to the OPC server.
Server Identity
The Identity tab for a selected COM (or OPC) server specifies the user account that should be
used when COM starts up the process. The available settings are different for servers that run as
local executables as opposed to those that run as NT services.
It is strongly recommended that OPC servers should be installed to

run as NT services if they are going to be accessed by remote clients
via DCOM. This ensures that the server can always be accessed even
if no one is presently logged on to the machine, and only one server
process ever starts up. It also adds a greater degree of security in
terms of who is able to shut down the server process.
Servers that run as local executables have the option of running as the launching user (the calling
client–this is the default), the interactive user (the one currently logged onto the machine), or a
specified user. It is usually best to use the interactive user or a specified user. Otherwise, remote
clients might start up multiple separate server processes that are not accessible to others.
Servers that run as NT services should generally run as the local System account. Alternatively,
the server can be set to run as a specified user, although this is usually done from the Service
Control Manager applet rather than DCOMCNFG. Access and Launch permissions are particularly
important when installing a server to run as an NT service.
Default Protocols
The Default Protocols tab specifies the communication protocols available to DCOM. The order
that protocols appear in the list indicates the priority in which they will be used (the topmost
having the highest priority).
The more protocols that appear in the list, the better the chances of connecting to an OPC server
on an unknown remote machine (such as at an OPC Interoperability Workshop). However, it may
also take longer for DCOM to time out if a server machine is not present since it has to try each
protocol in turn.
For most situations, it is best to remove all unused protocols from the list and only include those
that are necessary for your network. For example, on a TCP/IP network, one would include the
Connection-oriented TCP/IP protocol. Contact your IT personnel for more information about
your network.

Evidence indicates that there are problems with the datagram-
oriented protocols (such as UDP/IP) that can cause memory leaks in
DCOM. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that these protocols be
removed from the list of default protocols. Datagram-oriented
protocols are not supported under Windows 2000 at all (although the
DCOM configuration utility still allows you to configure them).
Remote Program ID
Before the OPC Server Browser became available, OPC client applications had to search the
registry to generate a list of available OPC servers. Therefore, some older OPC clients need to have
a program ID in the local registry in order to connect to a particular OPC server.
The simplest solution is to install the OPC server software on the client machine even if it is not
used. Alternatively, use the following steps to copy a program ID to the client machine.
Note: This method may not work for every OPC client. Please check the client documentation for
more information.
WARNING: Any changes made to the registry must be made with

extreme caution!
1. Back up your registry.

2. On the server machine, run REGEDIT as a user that has access rights to the local registry.
3. Expand the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key.
4. Find the program ID(s) for the desired OPC server(s).
Note: In the case of Matrikon OPC Servers, the ID has the form Matrikon.OPC.Device. If
you quickly type the first few letters then REGEDIT should jump to the location of that key.
Some servers may have both a version-specific as well as a version-independent program
ID. In this case both IDs should be copied to the client machine.
5. For each program ID, select the key and choose Export Registry File from the Registry
menu. Enter a file name, and then click Save. Be careful not to overwrite other export files
that you are creating.
6. Copy the exported REG files to the client machine.
7. Merge the REG files into the registry of the client machine.
Note: This should simply be a matter of double clicking on the file from the desktop of the
client machine. Alternatively, run REGEDIT on the client machine and choose Import
Registry File from the Registry menu, selecting each file in turn. This must be done as a
user who has write access to the local registry.
8. Use REGEDIT to check that the program IDs have in fact, been copied.
9. Delete the REG files since they are no longer needed.

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MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 2

Matrikon and MatrikonOPC are trademarks or registered trademarks of Matrikon Inc.

MatrikonOPC™ is a division of Matrikon™ Inc.

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 3

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 4

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 5

Who Should Use This Manual

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Font displayed in this color and style indicates a hyperlink to the

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 6

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 7

Note: It is recommended that the most current service packs are

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 8

To install the software:

Figure 1 - InstallAware Wizard Verification Window

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 9

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 10

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 11

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 12

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 13

Note: At this point, it is recommended that you verify the DCOM

File Name Description

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 14

Australia & Asia

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 15

Starting the MatrikonOPC HDA Explorer

HDA Explorer Main Window

Figure 7 - HDA Explorer Main Window

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 16

Creates a connection to a remote HDA OPC server. For more

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 17

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 18

Figure 8 - Options Window

Add Remote Server Window

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 19

Insert Item Window

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 20

Server Status Window

To view the Server Status window:

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 21

Read Raw Window

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 22

Read Processed Window

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 23

Read Attribute Window

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 24

Read At Time Window

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 25

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 26

Note: Modifying data is permanent. There is no “undo” mechanism

To view the Replace window:

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 27

Note: Modifying data is permanent. There is no “undo” mechanism

To view the Insert/Replace window:

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 28

Delete Raw Window

Note: Modifying data is permanent. There is no “undo” mechanism

To view the Delete Raw window:

MatrikonOPC Matrikon OPC HDA Explorer v1.1.0.0 User’s Manual 29

Delete At Time Window

Note: Modifying data is permanent. There is no “undo” mechanism