Version Control Software

[becs]

So I'm looking at trying to organize the backup programs in my plant. Huge variety of controllers, want software that: 1) has version tracking/ability to look at previous versions. 2) can organize files into subsections of the plant/per machine. 3) can be used on multiple computers pointed towards a single server (and hopefully not spend a fortune on licences). 4) basic function of Check In/Out, Get, etc. 5) can put in notes when you check for the latest version change. I think there's a number of different software packages that can do this for me. One mentions was Visual Safe Source, but it would be nice to have something made more for PLC, HMI and drive files. I have recently looked at FTVersionTrak from FasTrak and it looks like it will do eveything I'm interested in but I would like to look at a few different pieces of software before purchasing. Edited February 22, 2013 by becs

[dmargineau]

I don't know if you are going to be successful at this task using only one software package. Since you are stating "Huge variety of controllers" you will most likely have to use the controller's manufacturers (affiliates) designated applications, if any available... For Allen-Bradley /Rockwell Automation I would choose FactoryTalk AssetCentre which was designed for and it is implemented for this exact purpose. http://www.rockwellautomation.com/rockwellsoftware/assetmgmt/assetcentre/overview.page

[RussB]

GE-IP has a software system called "Change Management" It will do a lot of vendors. The downside is that it is based on a Microsoft Library that is being phased out but GEIP is promising to continue the next generation as backwards compatible. Those who do use it like it. Contact your GEIP rep or distributor and ask them about it.

[becs]

I don't need something where I can open my backups in their appropriate editing software, I just need a system that's happy to hand me a file from a server to my local machine. I need a program that doesn't care what the file extension is. Russ - I set up a Proficy system years ago with another company. Super slick, we setup the front end with a HTML user interface and wrote the scripts to automatically launch the correct editing software and the file we selected. That was back in 2001 I think though so I'm not sure how much the software has changed. Also, I really don't need anything that complicated at this new plant. The most important thing is the version control. As long as I can keep track and access previous versions I should be good to go.

[Nathan]

Check out GIT or Mercurial. I used to use CVS, then SVN (with TortoiseSVN as a Windows GUI). I haven't used GIT or Mercurial, but they're both supposed to be better than (supercede) SVN. Both are free, BTW http://importantshock.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/git-vs-mercurial/ Edited February 28, 2013 by Nathan

[chas183]

Give this a look. http://www.mdt-software.com/ Kindest Regards, chas183

[panic mode]

i just did, and it looks like they misspelled Toyoda ;) i've used SVN with Tortoise client (still do) which seem to be ok. Had trouble on Linux though (different client, likely outdated). i'll take a closer look at GIT and Mercurial.... Thanks for mentioning them.

[kaiser_will]

One method I have used before is to dish out all program files from a common Web page. The administrator controls what content is available for download. Institute a written policy for technicians & engineers to get program copies from the Web page. It is not difficult to code a checkout tag into the process, to log who checks out and when. In the PLC programs, put a dummy rung in the first routine with a rung note of version. The written policy should include a version naming ability that takes into account date, version number, etc.

[funfrok]

They are referring to this company, i think. http://www.toyodausa.com/page/toyopuc It is merged into JTEKT, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyoda_Machine_Works