4.3" Low-Cost HMI

The Standard Series HMIs now support VNC (EBPro v6.03.02.257 or later). Since the B-Series do not have the VNC tab in the System Settings window to enable VNC, it needs to be done with System Bits and Words.

LW-9530 to LW-9533 are used to store the VNC server password on the HMI in ASCII format. The easiest way to set the password is to place an ASCII Input object on a window where the operator can enter the password.

If you enable “Password from project” in the System Parameters > Remote tab, then you don’t need to enter the password with LW-9530 through LW-9533.

A Set Bit on the Common Window assigned to LB-12092 can be used to enable the VNC server. A Set Bit on the Common Window assigned to LB-12093 can be used to enable the Multi-Connection.

Note: LB-12092 must be turned OFF before LB-12093 can be toggled ON or OFF.

VNC-related System Tags

The software for Maple Systems HMI’s has changed and improved over the years, as such the file types and extensions have changed along with it.

Below is a list of file extensions associated with the relevant software and HMI model series:

 HMI5000 Series models:

*.emtp file – Working EBPro and EZwarePlus project file

*.ecmp file – Compressed EBPro and EZwarePlus file

*.exob file – Compiled EBPro and EZwarePlus runtime file

 cMT and cMT-X Series models:

*.cmtp file – Working EBPro and EZwarePlus project file

*.ccmp file – Compressed EBPro and EZwarePlus file

*.cxob file – Compiled EBPro and EZwarePlus runtime file

 HMI5000 Legacy models:

*.mtp file – Working EZware-5000 project file

*.cmp file – Compressed EZware-5000 file

*.xob file – Compiled runtime EZware-5000 file

 HMI500 Series models:

*.epj file – Working Ezware-500 project file

*.cmp file – Compressed EZware-500 file

*.eob file – Compiled runtime EZware-500 file

Setting up communication between a Maple Systems HMI and Maple Systems PLC is easy. We created a step by step tutorial showing you how to set up Modbus RTU and TCP communications.

Alarms are a two-part feature:

1. The Event (Alarm) Log itself is where the alarms are configured.
2. The Alarm Bar, Alarm Display, and Event Display Objects control how the alarms are viewed.

• The Alarm Bar displays the active alarms in a scrolling marquee, one after the other.
• The Event Display shows a history of the alarms including when the alarm was triggered, when it was acknowledged, and when it was cleared (returned to normal). It can also show the occurrence count and the elapsed time.

Because features and functionality vary between our Standard, Advanced, and High-Performance HMIs, refer to the software and programming manual for more information on this feature..

Yes. Maple Systems Basic HMI, Advanced HMI and cMT devices come with a built-in FTP server that allows you to remotely access data logs, event files, and recipe data via FTP (file transfer protocol).

Please see tech note 5090, “Using the HMI’s built-in FTP Server” for instructions on how to use the built-in FTP server on our Basic, Advanced and Smart cMT HMIs.

The vast majority of features in EBPro do not need additional licensing, but a few situations may require a license fee to activate specific functions.

For features like our built-in CODESYS runtime, OPC/UA messaging, or the EasyAccess 2.0 VPN service, users must pay a one-time activation fee to enable these functions on the HMI.

For the EasyAccess 2.0 application, which enables remote access features on your Maple HMI, the standard license includes up to 3 GB of monthly high-speed data at no extra charge. If the monthly data limit has been reached, top-up cards may be purchased to add additional bandwidth as needed.

If you know that you will need one of the features mentioned above before making a purchase, Maple Systems does offer HMI options that come with pre-activated licensing.

An HMI must belong to a domain in order to use EasyAccess 2.0. Anyone can create a new domain for free, all you need is a valid e-mail address. The Domain Management System is the basic system used to organize and handle HMI’s under a particular domain.

When you create a domain account, you become the domain’s administrator. It’s the administrator’s responsibility to create new user accounts and to assign HMIs to specific users and HMI groups. Your domain can contain multiple HMIs, groups, and users.

In order to use EasyAccess 2.0, you must activate the HMI in the domain. Some HMIs have EasyAccess 2.0 pre-installed and some require purchasing an activation card.

Download the EasyAccess 2.0 app on your PC/ iPad/ iPhone/ Android Tablet, Launch EasyAccess 2.0, enter the User ID and password. Once logged in, the program will list all HMIs assigned to this ID including all HMIs under an HMI group. Select an HMI and establish a remote connection. You can now monitor any HMI in your HMI list.

The program will be retained for the lifespan of the HMI. The program is stored in the non-volatile flash memory (solid state memory), which can last anywhere from 10 years to 100 years, depending on how many times the user writes to it.

Yes! Maple Systems programming software is completely free of charge. This includes EBPro, MAPware-7000, and MapleLogic—our flagship software tools for HMI, HMI + PLC combo, or PLC programming and configuration. There are no licensing fees, subscriptions, or activation codes required to download, install, or use these programs. Creating a free account on the Maple Systems website is all that is required.

Whether you’re developing your first HMI project or configuring a complex control system, you can access the full functionality of our software without any cost.

Maple Systems is committed to providing cost-effective solutions for our customers, and offering free software is a core part of that mission. Updates are also free, and support resources—including user manuals, video tutorials, and US-based technical support—are available at no additional cost. This makes it easy for engineers, integrators, and OEMs to start building and maintaining projects right away, without worrying about hidden expenses or recurring fees.