The Tree Browser

The Tree Browser displays a hierarchical list of the I/O driver and its servers, groups, and items. The I/O driver is displayed at the top of the tree.

When you select an object in the Tree Browser, its properties display in the Properties Viewer. You can choose to view the object’s configuration or statistics properties with commands from the Display Mode menu.

Adding Objects

When you add servers, groups, and items to a driver configuration, labels and icons representing the objects automatically add to the Tree Browser. You can add servers to the driver, groups to each server, and items to each group.

Changing Objects

When you add or modify servers, groups, or items in the Power Tool or in iFIX Process Database, changes are made immediately to the I/O Server. Changes you make to the driver configuration while working with the I/O Driver Power Tool automatically display in the Tree Browser. For changes from Process Database to take effect, enable the Auto Create option first.

Refreshing the Tree Browser

To view changes made from another client application (such as iFIX Process Database, another I/O Driver Power Tool accessing the server, or a custom client application accessing the server), refresh the Tree Browser display by selecting an object in the Tree Browser and pressing the F5 key.

Collapsing and Expanding the Tree Browser

You can collapse or expand the tree under an object by double-clicking it. You can also use the right arrow key to expand an object and the left arrow key to collapse it, or click the plus and minus icons.

Navigating

Navigating through the Tree Browser can be done by selecting an object with a mouse click or by using the keyboard. Use the up or left arrow keys to move up in the Tree Browser. Similarly, use the down or right arrow keys to move down in the Tree Browser. You can also press a letter key to jump to the nearest object that begins with that letter.

Finding and Sorting

You can use the Find dialog box to locate a group or item in the Tree Browser, or you can sort the Tree Browser in ascending alphabetical order to make locating a group or item easier. If you have selected a server, you can search for or sort groups and items associated with that server. If you have selected a group, you can search for or sort items associated with that group.

Right-clicking

You can right-click any object displayed in the Tree Browser to access run-time commands for the selected object. The following table describes the commands available for each object type and the behavior of each command.

If you select...	The action performed is...	Available for
Start	The driver is started.	Driver, Server, Group, Item
Stop	The driver is stopped.	Driver, Server, Group, Item
Enable	The selected object is enabled.	Server, Group, Item
Disable	The selected object is disabled.	Server, Group, Item
Enable Children	The selected object and its associated sub-objects are enabled.	Server, Group
Disable Children	The selected object and its associated sub-objects are disabled.	Server, Group
Synchronous	The I/O data polling changes to synchronous communication.	Group
Asynchronous	The I/O data polling is changed to asynchronous communication.	Group

For more information about I/O data polling, see Feature: Asynchronous vs. Synchronous I/O.

Additional Features

Connection lines show the relationship between servers, groups, and items by displaying which groups are on a server and which items belong to a group. The plus and minus buttons indicate whether items are fully expanded or collapsed. The plus button shows the item is collapsed and the minus button indicates that the item is expanded. For example, a server with a plus sign next to it means that there are groups and possibly items configured on that server.

You can also display the driver’s server window using the Tree Browser. To learn how to display this window, refer to How do I view the driver’s I/O Server Window?