Engineering Tip
When you install FL7, FL7.1 or FL7.2, you get a nice "starter" project for Client Builder. When you install FL7.5, you get a similar application called Examples. These are great tools to use as a reference to see how some configuration and setups are done. They are not the best starting place, however, for your application's project because of the many example mimics and VB code that you do not need in your project. These 20+ mimics and unused scripts are not necessary for your project.
Here is a clean Starter Project. It has a template, a mimic and the necessary default screens for the runmgr(s) and alarms.
To use this clean project, start Client Builder (don't open anything yet). If you have opened Client Builder before, it should be pointed to the directory that you used last time. Be sure that you are in the Client Builder\Projects folder (not already in a project) and press the NEW... button. Type your project name. The project name that you type will become both the directory as well as the project file. If you are working with FactoryLink version 7.2 or later, place the Client Builder project within your main application directory under the subdirectory named “cbproj.” By doing this, when making an .mps save of your application, the Client Builder project will be saved in the .mps file, thus eliminating the need to make two separate save files.
Now you are in Client Builder but this project has absolutely nothing (no mimics, or configuration). Now restore the starter.cba that you downloaded from above: Tools->Application->Save/Restore. Select restore and the starter.cba file as well as the directory that was created when you typed that project name (don't overwrite the original starter project).
To get the new configuration to take affect, leave Client Builder and start it up again. This should go directly into the overview mimic and you should see the time updating in the upper right corner (if your server is running on the same computer). Now you are ready to start developing your project without unnecessary mimics and scripting.
If you want to develop your graphics without the server running, you will need to make some changes. First we must tell the project where the application is located: Tools->Servers. Expand the ServerTypes and the OPCDA20. Click on FactoryLinkServer1. Configuration for this server will be displayed on the right. Edit the Storage Name field (the browse button ... does not work, you will have to type). Type in the application directory of the server in this field (i.e. d:\flapps\newone ). If this client will be on other computers, you will need to type the full UNC path (i.e. \\node\sharename\directory ). That will complete this dialog. Now open Tools->Options. Down a few topics you will find Connection for Variable Browsing, click Design Time Server. Close Client Builder again and restart. Now you can configure tags without the server running.