Engineering Tip

Running both 6 & 7

Many of us will be developing and upgrading our FactoryLink version 6.x applications and will need the ability to configure both FLECS 6.x and FactoryLink 7 applications. 

First, realize that you will be giving up your 6.x icons, they will have no use due to the difference in path.  You will be running all 6.x from the command line.  Also realize that once you convert an application to 7, you cannot go back.  For this reason, keep a 6.x copy before converting to FL7.

You must have FLECS 6.x installed first.   Any system-level knowledge of FLECS 6.x must be removed.

1. Remove icons (start->settings->task bar and start menu->start menu programs->advanced->all users->start menu->programs->FactoryLink ECS)
2. Ensure that all FL* environment variables (start->settings->control panel->system->environment) are also found in %FLINK%\bin\flsetup.bat (use this batch file to setup our 6.x system)
3. Remove all FL* environment variables  (start->settings->control panel->system->environment).  Be sure to remove HOME and clean up PATH.
4. Open a command prompt window, change directory to %FLINK%\bin and run flsetup.bat
5. Set the FLAPP to the 6.x flapp directory (set FLAPP=d:\flapps\flnew)
6. Use flrun to initiate the 6.x app and ensure that it is still working (should see FLECS 6.x splash bitmap, etc.)

The system should still be capable of running any FactoryLink 6 application that you were running before.   Some command line programs that you must now be familiar with are as follows:

• flrun - runs application so long as FLAPP is set correctly
• flrun -o  online restart
• flcm - runs Configuration Manager (set FLAPP first)
• appedit - runs Application Editor (set FLAPP first)
• fladmin - runs Security Administration
• flsave - starts flsave dialog (try:  flsave d:\flapps\flnew d:\flapps\flnew.mps /loc)
• flrest - starts flrestore dialog (try:  flrest d:\flapps\flnew.mps d:\flapps\flnew /loc)