> I have been given a job to design an automation
and monitoring system
> using PLCs.  I need to do custom software
screens in NT to monitor
> engines, generators and other systems and
control various systems.
> There will be a few hundred analog and digital
points.  The system
> should have programmable alarms and data logging
and graphing.  I was
> considering Labview software.  This is my first
time using this type of
> software and PLC systems.  Can anyone point me
in a direction or give
> any advice?
>

I did a project several years ago using Wonderware
as the Man-Machine Interface.  It was slow and not
very easy to use, although this was running under
Windows 3.1.  About three years ago I used Lookout
(like Labview from National Instruments) and found
it very easy to do the development.  It was also
fast and responsive to the the inputs.

MMI programs are generally pretty pricey (multiple
$1000) based on the number of I/O points they can
handle, but the time you save in development,
especially on one of a kind systems, can make them
cost effective.

Mark Walsh