Inserting Third-Party Devices

For the fieldbus systems Profibus and DeviceNet there are device specific configuration files for the hardware to be connected, which are provided by the manufacturer of the respective hardware. Also with EtherCAT there are such configuration files for hardware to be connected. These serve to integrate these external devices into any control system that supports that fieldbus. This configuration data is called Device Master Data (GSD) for Profibus and Electronic Data Sheet (EDS) for DeviceNet.

By right-clicking on "Devices" and selecting "Add New Item…" a dialog opens, in which e.g. the fieldbus system Profibus can be selected.

By right-clicking on the Profibus fieldbus system inserted in the configuration in the I/O tree and selecting "Add New Item…" again, an entry for Generic Profibus Box GSD or DeviceNet Node EDS appears in the tree view of the "Inserting a box" selection dialog under Miscellaneous, depending on the selected fieldbus system.

If this entry is double-clicked or confirmed with the "OK" button, a Windows dialog for selecting the configuration file appears.

Device master data files provided by the manufacturer of this box are available for selection. After the desired file has been selected, press the "Open" button to add the desired device to the configuration.

No warranty for GSD, GSE and EDS The manufacturers of the respective hardware are responsible for the files containing GSD, GSE (device master data in English) and EDS. Beckhoff Automation GmbH does not provide GSD, GSE or EDS files for third-party devices and does not assume any warranty for the function of such configuration files.