At a Glance
The FDT/DTM (Field Device Tool/Device Type Manager), an open-standard, in Control Expert integrates the configuration tools needed to build projects, with a mix of Schneider and Third Party intelligent devices, on heterogeneous networks.
Control Expert is now a FDT Container (Field Device Tool Container) for DTMs and, therefore, is a Generic Fieldbus Intergrater.
FDT Concept
The FDT defines the interfaces between device-specific software components (DTMs) and Control Expert. The focus of the current version of FDT is on engineering, commissioning, diagnostics and documentation of fieldbus based control systems.
The device-specific software component is called a DTM (Device Type Manager), which are supplied by the device manufacturer together with the device. Because the FDT technology used in Control Expert is based on an open standard, Control Expert accepts compliant DTM products from any DTM/device vendor.
Components
To create a Fieldbus network with Control Expert, its FDT Container uses:
The DTM Browser
The DTM Editor, which uses vendor supplied GUIs to configure the DTMs
NOTE: The DTM vendor is responsible for the DTM Configuration on-line Help, it is not available through the Control Expert on-line Help.