OPC Data Client 是由三個部件構成：OPC Data.NET、OPC Data-COM與OPC Data-UA。OPC Data.NET 和OPC Data-COM組件提供了類似的功能和特性，可用於開發OPC Data Access (DA) 和OPC Alarms & Events (A&E) clients。OPC Data.NET和OPC Data-COM可單售，而OPC Data-UA目前不單售。

• Rapid OPC UA, DA, A&E, XML-DA Client Application Creation
• Develop x86 & x64 custom OPC client software applications for .NET Core, .NET Standard, and .NET Framework
• Support for Windows and Linux (.NET Core, OPC UA, XML-DA only) for flexible platform choice
• OPC Interoperability tested and lab certified for compliance
• Simple read, write, subscribe methods abstract and manage OPC details for fast implementation

特色

OPC DATA ACCESS (DA)
Read and write real-time data using the OPC DA standard
Used for reading/writing of real-time data with OPC DA 1.x, 2.x, and 3.x servers connected to control system devices such as PLC, DCS, etc. devices such as PLC, DCS, etc.

OPC ALARMS & EVENTS (A&E)
Access alarm and event notifications from OPC A&E Servers in your custom application
As supported by your OPC A&E server, access process alarms, operator actions, informational messages and tracking/auditing messages

OPC UA DATA ACCESS/GENERIC DATA
Read and write real-time data using OPC Unified Architecture (UA) Generic Data Standards
In OPC UA, the functionality of classic OPC Data Access (DA) is called generic data.  OPC Data Client supports full read/write subscribe capabilities and more. 

OPC UA ALARMS & CONDITIONS
Access Event Notifications, Alarm Acknowledgement and Condition Management in OPC UA Servers
OPC Data Client provides simple methods and event handlers provided to work with OPC UA servers that follow the Alarm & Condition Facet standards.

OPC UA COMPLEX DATA
Access Complex Data Models in OPC UA from Your Application
The OPC UA specifications provide for means for industry organizations and users to define complex data models where a node is no longer just a single value. A node might be a structure, also known as a User Defined Type (UDT) containing multiple values of differing data types. 
OPC Data Client provides methods for reading, writing, and subscribing to complex data within an OPC UA Server.  The Siemens S7-1500 PLC is an example of a device that has a built in OPC UA server that supports UDTs or structures.

OPC UA PUBSUB
Deliver OPC UA datasets using message-oriented transports 
Part 14 of the OPC Unified Architecture adds the ability to deliver data sets using message-oriented middleware. Starting with Version 2019.2 (5.56) and higher of the OPC Data Client toolkit, these features are supported in the Ultimate Edition product license.

• Subscribe to dataset messages with data or events from a publisher over UDP & MQTT transports with UADP and JSON message formats
• Included OPC UA Demo Publisher helps you test your client application
• Load and inspect PubSub configuration from a binary file, or access it live in an OPC UA server over its information model.

OPC XML-DA
Connecting to non-Windows devices made before OPC UA
OPC XML-DA was a predecessor to OPC UA that was widely adopted in applications where OPC XML-DA servers were placed into devices that were to be connected over radio networks and non-Windows environments.  Wind turbines from Siemens and others are the most common device where OPC XML-DA servers are found. 

COMPLIANCE TESTED & CERTIFIED
Assuring Interoperability Through Real Testing
Software Toolbox was a Charter Member of the OPC Foundation, joining back in 1996 when the standards were still being written, because we believed in what standards could do for industrial automation. 
Throughout our history, we and our partners have remained committed to the process of OPC Interoperability Testing and OPC Compliance Testing.  The OPC Data Client is regularly tested at the OPC Foundation's OPC Interoperability Workshops and has passed their independent lab testing process. These processes involve testing the toolkit and it's reference samples against many different OPC servers from other vendors, and working together with those suppliers to insure our products work well together. 

NO-CODE, LOW-CODE, & MORE
Different Approaches Deliver Choice for Your Application
Every application need is unique. If you were a carpenter, you would not use a hammer to insert a screw. We know development is no different, so OPC Data Client provides different development models for building your x86 and x64 applications.

• Procedural/Imperative - you are in control. Whether you use our low-code methods or some of our more complex APIs, you write the code that calls methods on OPC Data client objects, passing in arguments, receiving results, and is the traditional natural way to many developers.  You have control, but it will take more code than the other development models. 
• Live Binding - No-code also known as codeless development for binding the properties of visual or non-visual components to OPC data in Visual Studio
• Live Mapping - create logical objects in your code, then annotate them with attributes that are connected to OPC Data
• Reactive Programming - Microsoft Reactive Extensions allow you to produce event-based programs with OPC client data streams and LINQ-style operators

Each model is complemented by our developer productivity features and extensive documentation and help. 

DEVELOPER PRODUCTIVITY
Reducing Time to Market and Total Cost of Ownership
We understand the job of being a developer and want to go beyond just providing a set of tools that reduces your need to know the details of the OPC specifications.  The OPC Data Client delivers productivity in several areas

• Intellisense and Object Browser - XML comments with rich information about elements
• Contextual help
• ReSharper Annotations - on API members using attributes such as [CanBeNull] and [NotNull]. Annotations help ReSharper users catch improper usages early.
• Visual Studio Design/Property Grid awareness
• And the little details that make a difference
  • Use of FxCop Code Analysis rules in builds
  • Binary and XML serialization
  • Equality methods and operators where needed
  • Early argument checking
  • OPC Operations return a single type of exception to help you build robust applications

BROWSING DIALOGS & CONTROLS
Ready-to-Use Tools for Delivering Your Customer Experience
Don't reinvent the wheel, we have the tools. Browsing for OPC servers and items is common functionality you should not have to build yourself.
OPC Data Client includes ready-to-use, rich UI browsing dialogs that do not need to be placed on a form. They can be called from your code and used. 
Browsing controls are intended to be placed on your UI form and adjust the visual appearance and behavior to integrate more closely with your applications.

SPECIALIZED CLIENT OBJECTS
More Tools to Reduce Your Development Time and Cost
Working with OPC UA brings new concepts designed to aid in working with multiple OPC UA server applications and managing the certificate based trust and security provided by the standard. 
OPC Data Client provides several objects to help you avoid writing unnecessary code.

• OPC UA Global Discovery Client
• OPC UA Certificate Management Client
• OPC UA Client Application Service

CONNECTIVITY EXPLORER
Testing target OPC Servers is Easy with Connectivity Explorer
The Connectivity Explorer application allows you to connect to and browse the data hierarchy of OPC Data Access and OPC Unified Architecture servers and data nodes. You can subscribe to data changes, and view the results live. With the optional Excel Add-On you can setup Excel Real Time Data (RTD) links to data. 

EXCEL OPTION
Real-Time Two-Way for OPC to Excel
This optional feature can be added to any OPC Data Client License, allows you to drag/drop or copy/paste values from the OPC Data Client Connectivity Explorer into Excel.  
Data transfers are done using the Excel Real Time Data (RTD) function. This feature works with OPC DA, OPC XML-DA, and OPC UA Generic Data. 
 

系統需求

DEVELOPMENT PLATFORMS
Full details for all versions are provided in our knowledgebase. Below is a high level of currently supported platforms for your x86 or x86 development.

Windows

• Visual Studio 2022
• PyCharm
• .NET Framework 4.7.2 through 4.8.1
• .NET 6, 7, & 8

Linux and macOS

• .NET Core CLI Tools
• JetBrains Rider
• Visual Studio 2022
• Visual Studio Code (with C# extension)
• PyCharm
• .NET 6, 7, & 8

DEVELOPMENT LANGUAGES
OPC Data Client is specifically designed with broad development language support in mind, allowing you to develop an OPC client in a wide range of languages.

.NET Development

• C#
• Visual Basic
• Python.NET
• F#
• LINQPad

COM development -  including but not limited to:

• C/C++
• VBScript (ASP or Windows Script Host)
• Jscript
• PHP and more

OPERATING SYSTEMS
Most OPC client development is done on Windows, using .NET Core, .NET Standard, or .NET Framework.  Current supported platforms and .NET versions are detailed in our knowledgebase however here is a high level list.

Windows

• Windows 10 (x86 or x64)  version 1809 - 22H2
• Windows 11 (x64) version 21H2 - 22H2
• Windows Server 2016 and 2016 Core (x64)
• Windows Server 2019 and 2019 Core (x64)
• Windows Server 2022 (x64)

Linux
Any version of Linux supported by .NET Core versions that OPC Data Client supports see Development Platforms.