How to Work with Projects > Project Properties

Overview

The "Host/Aux" tab contains project information regarding communication settings via MCL-Net V4, Web Services (that may or may not require an Authorization profile) and/or TCP/IP (Host profiles) and communication settings with external devices using Serial, Bluetooth or Socket TCP connections (Aux profiles).

These options can be edited during project development (only unpublished projects can have their settings edited).

This tab includes two tables, one with the available Host profiles and another one with the Aux profiles.

Host profiles and Aux profiles can be added, deleted,edited or copied by using the buttons located to the right of the corresponding table.

Click to apply the modifications OR proceed to another tab.

To have more detailed information on creating and editing a Host profile, see:

To Create a Host Profile

To Edit a Host Profile

To Delete a Host Profile

The Host profiles of a "Web Service/Web Site" type may or may not require an authorization profile. For more information on Authorization Profiles, see:

Authorization Profiles

To have more detailed information on creating and editing an Aux profile, see:

To Create an Aux Profile

To Edit an Aux Profile

To Delete an Aux Profile

Host Profiles

The "Edit Host Profiles" table includes the default host profiles ("Primary_Server" and "Secondary_Server") and both use an MCL-Net V4 server.

The communication between application and host can be synchronous or asynchronous. Consider the best type of communication for your project when creating a host profile (server type selection) because it will affect the application's workflow. Check the details/behavior of a synchronous and an asynchronous communication within the MCL environment.

Synchronous Communication

Asynchronous Communication

Details

•Occurs in real time

•Is executed in the foreground

•Is affected by a defined time out (in the host profile)

•May or may not occur in real time

•Is executed in the background

•Application/host connection guaranteed by a background mechanism

•The time out and/or the retries (defined in the host profile) affect the background mechanism

Behavior

The application workflow stops until communication between application and host is successful or a communications error is established (ex: after a time out runs out)

The application workflow does NOT stop

The data being sent/received is put "in queue" and a background mechanism takes care of the communication to the host

To Create a Host Profile

Host profiles can be created in the "Host/Aux" tab of the "Project Properties" window but, also, within the processes included in the Host Services, Web Services and Remote Database process groups. See Working with Host Services Processes Group OR Working with Web Services Processes Group OR Working with Remote Database Processes Group.

Choose the most appropriate step-by-step according to your project requirements.

The Web Service/Web Site host type is used to call web services. Web Services related processes ONLY use "Web Service/Web Site" type Hosts.

Its default port is "80".

Step-by-Step

1. Use one of the following to access the host profiles' table:

a. Open the "Project" menu (located in the Menu Bar), select the "Properties" option and open the "Host/Aux" tab. The existing host profiles are displayed in a table.

b. Click (if available) in the properties window of a Host related process. This opens another window with a table displaying the host profiles that can be used with the currently open process.

2. Click (located to the left of the table) to open the properties window of the new host profile.

3. In the "General" tab (open by default), fill in the following options:

Server Settings
Host Name	Enter a name for the new host profile or maintain the suggestion.
Type	Select the "Web Service/Web Site" option. This enables the "Authorization" section. The default port value for this host type is "80".
Comment	As an option, add comments to the host profile connection.
Default Settings
Protocol	Select the appropriate Protocol (HTTP or HTTPS) from the drop-down.
Address	Enter the IP address for the host connection.
Port	Enter the required port or use the default value in parentheses. Ex: A "Web Service/Web Site" server type requires port "80" for an HTTP protocol and port "443" for an HTTPS protocol.
Authorization
Authorization Profile	If required, select an authorization profile from the drop-down or click to access the authorization profiles table so you can edit an existing profile or create a new one. See To Create an Authorization Profile or To Edit an Authorization Profile.

4. Open the "Options" tab.

5. Define a time out (in seconds) for the data communication to occur.See Time Out.

NOT applicable, if the option is inactive.

6. Click to conclude or to abort the operation.

To Edit a Host Profile

Step-by-Step

1. Use one of the following to access a host profiles' table:

Consider the host profile you want to edit before choosing a or b to access a host profile table. If you open the "Host/Aux" tab, you will view all the project's host profiles. If you use a process to open a host profiles table, only the host profiles that are compatible with that process will be available.

a. Open the "Project" menu (located in the Menu Bar), select the "Properties" option and open the "Host/Aux" tab. The existing host profiles are displayed in a table.

b. Click (if available) in the properties window of a host related process. This opens another table displaying the host profiles that can be used within the currently open process.

2. Select the host profile you want to edit.

3. Click (located to the right of the table) to open the corresponding properties window.

3. Edit the required options in the tab(s).

4. Click to apply your changes.

To Delete a Host Profile

Step-by-step

1. Use one of the following to access a host profiles' table:

Consider the host profile you want to delete before choosing a or b to access a host profile table. If you open the "Host/Aux" tab, you will view all the project's host profiles. If you use a process to open a host profiles' table, only the host profiles compatible with that process will be available.

a. Open the "Project" menu (located in the Menu Bar), select the "Properties" option and open the "Host/Aux" tab. The existing host profiles are displayed in a table.

b. Click (if available) in the properties window of a Host related process. This opens another window with a table displaying the host profiles that can be used within the currently open process.

2. Select the host profile you want to remove.

3. Click (located to the right of the table).

4. Click in the resulting window to confirm the deletion.

When deleting a Web Service/Web Site Host profile with an Authorization Profile (visible in the "Auth. Profile" column), the Authorization Profile is not deleted.

Authorization Profiles

An Authorization Profile defines the type of authorization/authentication required by the host profile (connection to web services that require identification from the user (User, Password)).

Authorization Profiles are NOT an autonomous element, they are always associated to/used by a Web Service/Web Site Host Profile. They are displayed in the Host Profiles table, specifically, in the "Auth. Profile" column, and can also be accessed in the properties window of Web Services processes. See Working with Web Services Processes Group.

To Create an Authorization Profile

All the Authorization Profiles you create are of the "Automatic (Basic or Digest)" type.

Authorization Profiles are always associated to Host Profiles so, to create one you must, first, create a Web Service/Web Site Host Profile, as this is the Host Profile type that uses Authorization Profiles.

You can reach the Host Profiles table:

•via the "Host/Aux" tab (a project properties tab). It provides access to ALL the Host Profiles and associated Authorization Profile within the current project.

•via a Web Services process, meaning, via its properties window. In this case, you ONLY have access to the Host Profiles (and attached Authorization Profile) that are compatible with the selected process.

Use one of the following step-by-steps to access the Host Profile table where you will create a "Web Service/Web Site" Host Profile and its Authorization Profile.

Step-by-Step

1. Access the "Project" menu (located in the Menu Bar), select the "Properties" option and open the "Host/Aux" tab. The available Authorization Profiles are displayed in the top table (related to the Host Profiles). Each Authorization Profile is attached to the Web Service/Web Site Host Profile that uses it (check the "Auth. Profile" column).

2. Click (located to the right of the table) to open the new Host Profile's properties window.

3. In the "General" tab (open by default), fill in the following options:

Server Settings
Host Name	Enter a name for the new host profile or maintain the suggestion. (Ex: "Host_Basic1")
Type	Select the "Web Service/Web Site" option (this enables the "Authorization" section). Web Services related processes always require a "Web Service/Web Site" type Host Profile.
Comment	As an option, add information on the current Host Profile.
Default Settings
Protocol	Select the appropriate Protocol (HTTP or HTTPS) from the drop-down.
Address	Enter the IP address for the Host's connection.
Port	Enter the required port or use the default value in parentheses. Ex: A Host Profile of the type "Web Service/Web Site" requires port "80" for an HTTP protocol and port "443" for an HTTPS protocol.

4. Click (located to the right of the "Authorization Profile" field) to open a list of the available Authorization Profiles.

5. Click (located to the right of the table) to open the properties window of the new Authorization Profile.

6. Fill in the following options:

Authorization Profile Settings
Name	Enter a name for the new authorization profile or maintain the suggestion (ex: Basic).
Method	Keep "Automatic (Basic or Digest)" as the method of authorization (it is the only one available).
Comment	As an option, add comments to the authorization profile.
Credentials
User	Enter a user name for a basic or digest authentication.
Password	Enter a user password for a basic or digest authentication.

7. Click to apply your choices and return to the "Authorization Profile List" window.

8. The profile you have created is selected so, click to continue and return to the Host profiles's properties window.

9. Open the "Options" tab.

10. Define a time out (in seconds) for the data communication to occur. See Time Out.

11. Click to complete the operation and return to the "Host/Aux" tab. The newly created Host/Authorization Profiles are displayed in the "Host/Aux" table.

Step-by-Step

1. Click (when available) in the properties window of a Web Services related process. This opens the "Select Host" window with a table displaying the host profiles that can be used within the currently open process.

2. Click (located to the right of the table) to open the "Edit Host Profile" window.

3. In the "General" tab (open by default), fill in the following options:

Server Settings
Host Name	Enter a name for the new host profile or maintain the suggestion (ex: "Host_Basic1").
Type	Keep "Web Service/Web Site" as the server type (all the other options are disabled as they are NOT compatible with the Web Services processes). Web Services related processes always require a "Web Service/Web Site" Host Profile.
Comment	As an option, add information regarding the Host Profile.
Default Settings
Protocol	Select the appropriate Protocol (HTTP or HTTPS) from the drop-down.
Address	Enter the IP address for the host connection.
Port	Enter the required port or use the default value in parentheses. Ex: A "Web Service/Web Site" Host Profile requires port "80" for an HTTP protocol and port "443 for an HTTPS protocol.

4. Click (located to the right of the "Authorization Profile" field) to open the "Authorization Profile List" window with a table displaying all the available Authorization Profiles.

5. Click (located to the right of the table).

6. Fill in the following options:

Authorization Profile Settings
Name	Enter a name for the new Authorization Profile or maintain the suggestion (ex: Basic).
Method	Maintain the "Automatic (Basic or Digest)" option as the method of authorization (it is the only one available).
Comment	As an option, add information on the Authorization Profile.
Credentials
User	Enter a user name for a basic or digest authentication.
Password	Enter a user password for a basic or digest authentication.

7. Click to apply your choices.

8. The profile you have created is selected in the Authorization Profile List so, click to continue and return to the properties window of the Host Profile.

9. Open the "Options" tab.

10. Define a time out (in seconds) for the data communication to occur. See Time Out.

11. Click to continue.

12. The newly created Host Profile (and related Authorization Profile) is selected so, click to complete the operation and return to the properties window of the currently selected Web Services process.

To Edit an Authorization Profile

An Authorization Profile is always associated to a Host Profile.

There are 2 ways to access the existing Authorization Profiles:

•via the "Host/Aux" tab (a project properties tab). It provides access to all the Host Profiles and associated Authorization Profile within the current project.

Choose the most appropriate step-by-step to access the Authorization Profile you want to edit.

To Delete an Authorization Profile

To delete an Authorization Profile you must first access the Host Profile it is associated to.

Use the "Host/Aux" tab (a project properties tab displaying all the Host Profiles and associated Authorization Profiles created within the current project) OR open the properties window of a Web Services process to access a table with Host Profiles (and related Authorization Profiles) that are compatible with that process.

Choose the most suitable step-by-step to access the Authorization Profile you want to delete.

Aux Profiles

The "Edit Aux Profiles" table displays the connection profiles of peripheral devices, such as a weight scale, mobile printers, etc., which can use bluetooth, serial or socket IP communication protocols.

All the Aux profiles displayed in this tab are made available to the Print/Aux related processes. See Working with Print/Aux Processes Group.

To Create an Aux Profile

Step-by-Step

1. Use one of the following to open the table with the existing Aux profiles:

a. Open the "Host/Aux" tab of the current project's properties window (Project menu ,in the Menu Bar>Properties option>Host/Aux tab tab).

b. Click , when available (in the properties window of the "Print/Aux" processes).

2. Click (located to the right of the table).

3. In the resulting window, enter a name for the aux profile in the "Aux Name" field.

A profile name is a logical name given by the developer and used to easily identify a profile for later use.

4. Select the communication type ("Serial", "Bluetooth" or Socket") from the drop-down list.

"Serial" type profiles are NOT supported when used in Android devices.

5. Depending on the selected communication type in the previous option, fill in the active tab with the desired configuration:

	Serial printer
	Device	Define the Com Device Communication Port ("Com 1" -> "Com 8").
	Speed	Define the communication speed (1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600 or 115200).
	Parity	Select a "Parity" (None, Even or Odd).
	Data Bits	Define the "Data Bits" by checking "7 bits" or "8 bits".
	Stop Bits	Define the "Stop Bits" by checking "1 bits" or "2 bits".
	Handshake	Select a "Handshake" (None, RTS/CTS or Xon/Xoff).
	Code Page	Select the best suited code page from the drop-down.

	Bluetooth printer
	Mac Address	Enter the device's "Mac Address".
	Pin Code	Enter the device's "Pin Code".
	Code Page	Select the best suited code page from the drop-down.

	Socket printer
	Type	Select a type of communication connection.
	Local Port	As an option, enter the mobile device's local port.
	Dest. Address	Enter the the Printer/Aux Device's IP address.
	Destination Port	Enter the Printer/Aux Device's port.
	Code Page	Select the best suited code page from the drop-down.

6. Click to apply your choices.

To Edit an Aux Profile

Step-by-Step

1. Use one of the following to open the table with the existing Aux profiles:

a. Open the "Host/Aux" tab of the current project's properties window (Project menu ,in the Menu Bar>Properties option>Host/Aux tab).

b. Click , when available (in the properties window of the "Print/Aux" processes).

2. Access the aux profile you want to edit. Double-click the intended Aux profile OR select it and click .

3. Maintain or edit the available options in the "Serial", "Bluetooth" or "Socket" tab (the active tab depends on the aux type you have previously selected).

4. Click to apply your modifications or to abort.

To Delete an Aux Profile

Step-by-Step

1. Use one of the following to open the table with the existing Aux profiles:

a. Open the "Host/Aux" tab of the current project's properties window (Project menu ,in the Menu Bar>Properties option>Host/Aux tab).

b. Click , when available (in the properties window of the "Print/Aux" processes).

2. Select the host profile you want to remove.

3. Click (located to the left of the table).

4. Click in the resulting window to confirm the deletion.