Crimson 3.x: Quick Start Guide

28 May 2025

Getting Started

Model Selection

  1. Click File-New.
  2. Select the model from the list.
  3. Click OK.

Crimson Window Layout

Fig_1.png

Figure 1.

The Navigation Pane

The left-hand portion of the window is called the Navigation Pane. It is used to move between different categories of items within a Crimson configuration file. Each category is represented by a bar at the base of the pane. Clicking on that bar will navigate to that section. The top section of the Navigation Pane shows the available items in the current category and provides a toolbar to allow those items to be manipulated.

The Resource Pane

The right-hand portion of the window is called the Resource Pane. It is used to access various items that are of use when editing the current category. Just like the Navigation Pane, it contains a number of categories which can be accessed via the category bars. Items in a given resource category can be drag-and-dropped to the places where you want to use them. For example; a data tag can be picked up from the Resource Pane and dropped on a configuration field to make that field dependent on the value of the selected tag. Many items can also be double-clicked, thereby setting the current field to that item.

The Editing Pane

The central portion of the window is used to edit the currently selected item. Depending on the selection, it may contain a number of tabs, each showing a given set of the properties for that item, or it may contain an editor specific to the item that you are working on.

Categories (that are referenced in this guide)

Fig_2.png

Figure 2.

Communications

This category specifies which protocols are to be used on the target device’s serial ports and Ethernet ports.

Data Tags

This category defines the data items that are to be used access data within the remote devices or to store information within the target device.

Display Pages

This category is used to create and edit display pages. The page editor allows you to display various graphical items known as primitives.

Data Logger

This category is used to create and manage data logs, each of which can record any number of variables to the target device’s memory card.

Communications

Protocol Selection

A. Serial Communications

1. Referring to Figure 3, click on the port to configure.

2. Click Pick… next to the Driver Selection.

3. Choose the Manufacturer/Protocol.

4. Choose the driver.

5. Click OK.

Fig_3.png

Figure 3.

6. Referring to Figure 4, configure the port settings to match the device that the unit will communicate with.

Fig_4.png

Figure 4.

B. Ethernet Communications

1. Referring to Figure 5, click on Network to configure the Red Lion unit’s Ethernet port.

2. Select the Port Mode and Configure IP information as needed.

Fig_5.png

Figure 5.

3. Click the first available Protocol.

4. Click Pick… next to the Driver Selection.

5. Choose the Manufacturer/Protocol.

6. Choose the driver.

7. Click OK.

Fig_6.png

Figure 6.

Device Configuration

1. Click on the device.

2. Configure the settings (if applicable) to match the device that the unit will communicate with.

a. Additional information for the driver can be found in the driver information sheet (http://www.redlion.net/cables-drivers) or in a Tech Note written specifically for the driver (http://www.redlion.net/support/documentation/red-lion-documentation/tech-notes)

Fig_7.png

Figure 7.

NOTE: When configuring a master driver more devices can be added by clicking on the port/protocol and choosing Add Additional Device.

Data Tags

Creating Tags

1. Click on Data Tags in the Navigation Page.

2. Create a new tag by clicking the black down arrow next to New in the upper-left of the Navigation Pane.

Fig_8.png

Figure 8.

A. Integer/Floating Point

1. Choose Numeric Tag.

2. Click on the tag.

3. Next to Source, click Internal.

4. Select the device to read from.

5. Select the address/register to be associated with this tag.

6. Click OK.

Fig_9.png

Figure 9.

B. Bits

1. Choose Flag Tag.

2. Click on the tag.

3. Next to Source, click Internal.

4. Select the device to read from.

5. Select the address/register to be associated with this tag.

6. Click OK.

NOTE: To access a bit within a word, change the Treat As to Bit Array Little-Endian and then select the bit from the Bit Number drop-down that appears.

Fig_10.png

Figure 10.

Display Pages

Simple Display

1. Click on Display Pages in the Navigation Page.

2. Click on Data Tags in the Resource Pane.

3. Click and drag a tag from the Resource Pane to the display.

Fig_11.png

Figure 11.

Data Logger

Create and Populate a Log

1. Referring to Figure 12, click on Data Logger in the Navigation Page.

2. Click the New Log icon in the upper-left of the Navigation Pane.

3. Click on Log1.

4. Adjust the Options as needed.

Fig_12.png

Figure 12.

5. Click on the Contents tab in the Editing Pane.

6. Click and drag tags from the Resource Pane into the Contents window of the Editing Pane.

Fig_13.png

Figure 13.

Programming the Device

Downloading to the Unit

1. Click on Link-Options.

2. Select the connection method.

3. Click OK.

4. Click Link-Update to send the file to the unit.

Fig_14.PNG

Figure 14.

Disclaimer

It is the customer's responsibility to review the advice provided herein and its applicability to the system. Red Lion makes no representation about specific knowledge of the customer's system or the specific performance of the system. Red Lion is not responsible for any damage to equipment or connected systems. The use of this document is at your own risk. Red Lion standard product warranty applies.

Red Lion Technical Support

If you have any questions or trouble contact Red Lion Technical Support by clicking here or calling 1-877-432-9908.

For more information: http://www.redlion.net/support/policies-statements/warranty-statement