User Interface

This chapter will provide the user with details of the ProTester user interface. First, the main GUI “look and feel” is presented. Then the functionality of each menu item is outlined. Following this is some detailed information about communication system definition, simulation and using the protocol parsers.

Parser Window Toolbar

Parsing  and saving the parsed buffer

Parsing begins automatically after starting the simulation. Each line has a separate log which may be selected in the combo box  .
If parsed data are irrelevant the parser output can be Cleared at any time.

Parser reconfiguration button  allows to change layer selection.
Find option (Ctrl+F) allows to search for a specified text in the parser output.
It is possible to Save already logged data into a file.

Color settings

The text in the parser window is colored based on the direction of frames. By default the frames from the master station are displayed on a blue background and the frames from the slave station are displayed on a green background. Errors are highlighted using a red background. Colors can be customized using the Color settings toolbar button, which opens the Colors window.

Text options

Protocol window displays the most recently captured data if Auto scroll option is selected. Otherwise, it is possible to browse through the parsed text using the scroll-bar. If the text line does not fit into the text area (is too long), the use of Word wrap option will break text lines automatically.

Clipboard

Any part of the displayed text can be marked using the pointing device and the copied to the clipboard by pressing CTRL+C. To mark whole parser output just press CTRL+A 

Status bar

The status bar is displayed on the bottom of the ProTester window. To display or hide the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu.

The status bar contains the following information

1. prompt (help information).
2. keyboard state indicators that display which of the following keys are latched down:

Indicator Description

• CAP   -  The Caps Lock key is latched down.
• NUM  - The Num Lock key is latched down.
• SCRL  - The Scroll Lock key is latched down.

License agreement

IMPORTANT-READ CAREFULLY: BY INSTALLING, COPYING OR OTHERWISE USING THE ENCLOSED INFO TECH SOFTWARE, WHICH INCLUDES COMPUTER SOFTWARE ("SOFTWARE") AND MAY INCLUDE ASSOCIATED MEDIA, PRINTED MATERIALS, AND "ONLINE" OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION ("DOCUMENTATION"), YOU (ON BEHALF OF YOURSELF OR AS AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF AN ENTITY) AGREE TO ALL THE TERMS OF THIS END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT ("LICENSE") REGARDING YOUR USE OF THE SOFTWARE.  IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH ALL OF THE TERMS OF THIS LICENSE, DO NOT INSTALL, COPY OR OTHERWISE USE THE SOFTWARE AND IMMEDIATELY CONTACT INFO TECH FOR RETURN OF THE SOFTWARE AND A REFUND OF THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SOFTWARE.

We are sorry about the formality of the language below, which our lawyers tell us we need to include to protect our legal rights.  If You have any questions, please contact INFO TECH.

Installation

Requirements

ProTester  has the following minimum system requirements:

• Intel Pentium class processor, 100 MHz or higher
• 64 Mb RAM
• 20 Mb free hard disk space
• Microsoft Windows 2000 (SP4 recommended) or Windows XP Professional
• At least one free serial port available
• At least one free USB port available

Overview

ProTester is installed on a PC and acts as a master station for a network of slave stations. The PC should have at least one serial port available.

There are two main approaches of connecting ProTester with the slave station. In the first one RS-232 terminal cable is used to connect the slave station to the available serial port. Second approach requires RS-232 / RS-485 converter and setting the flow control properties in order to communicate with the stations in the RS-485 network.

ProTester system overview

Welcome to programm ProTester IEC-101 Master

Welcome to the world of ProTester IEC-101 Master, an advanced master station simulator for IEC 60870-5-101 protocol. This program was originally developed to meet our own needs. Initially, the INFO TECH team found this tool helpful while testing protocol implementations in slave stations. 

This Help contains all necessary information you will need to install, configure and use ProTester to meet your needs. We hope that you will find our solution helpful in your product development environment, saving your time needed for development and test of communication protocol implementations and communication setup tuning. We are also convinced that ProTester will provide significant support in systems integration and commissioning, and in the diagnostics of the running systems. With all our experience INFO TECH will be very pleased to assist you in this process.