Industrial IDE Navigation with Context-Filtered Workspace Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial automation systems face challenges in integrated, multi-discipline programming and configuration due to segregated development environments and limited user interfaces, leading to cluttered workspaces and inefficient project development.
Innovation Solution
An integrated development environment (IDE) with a user interface component that renders a development interface with customizable workspace canvases and an explorer panel, allowing for focused tool selection and project management through an object-based data model, enabling integrated programming of control, visualization, and other aspects of industrial automation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple viewing categories are provided in the explorer panel, then the versatility of project browsing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The explorer panel dynamically changes its displayed categories based on the selected workspace canvas type. When a control canvas is selected, control-related categories are shown; when a HMI canvas is selected, HMI-related categories are shown. This dynamic adaptation allows the interface to provide multiple viewing categories without permanently displaying all options, thus maintaining versatility while reducing apparent complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the interface are optimized for different functions. The explorer panel displays context-relevant categories based on the active workspace, providing localized information appropriate to each development context. This ensures that users see only the categories relevant to their current task, reducing cognitive load while maintaining comprehensive functionality.
2Quantity of substance
If all tools and information are displayed in the workspace, then the completeness of development resources is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to cluttered workspace
Solution Approach 1:
The explorer panel extracts and displays tool categories and project elements separately from the main workspace canvas area. By moving the category selection and element browsing functions to a dedicated side panel, the main workspace remains clear and uncluttered, while all necessary tools and information remain accessible through the explorer panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The user interface is segmented into distinct functional areas: the workspace canvas for primary development activities and the explorer panel for resource management and navigation. This segmentation allows each area to serve its specific function without interference, maintaining workspace clarity while providing comprehensive access to all development resources.
3Adaptability or versatility
If segregated development environments are used for different disciplines, then the specialization of development tools is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to limited user interface integration
Solution Approach 1:
The explorer panel serves as a universal interface that adapts to multiple development disciplines (control programming, HMI design, etc.). By providing a single unified panel that displays context-relevant categories based on the active workspace type, the system eliminates the need for separate development environments while maintaining discipline-specific functionality through dynamic content adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial integrated development environment (IDE) comprises a development interface that affords a user a great deal of control over the editing tools, workspace canvases, and project information rendered at a given time. The industrial IDE system automatically filters the tools, panels, and information available for selection based on a current project development task, such that a focused subset of editing tools relevant to a current development task or context are made available for selection while other tools are hidden. The development interface also allows the user to selectively render or hide selected tools or information from among the relevant, filtered set of tools. This can reduce or eliminate unnecessary clutter and aid in quickly and easily locating and selecting a desired editing function. The IDE's development interface can also conform to a structured organization of workspace canvases and panels that facilitates intuitive workflow.