Remote screen control is a feature that allows the supervisory control of one or more ComfileHMI panel PCs including UI interaction. This feature requires a ComfileHMI panel PC model with Ethernet (all ComfileHMI models with Ethernet ports support remote control) and the panel PC must be running firmware v2.72 or later.

Beginning with v2.97, it is possible to remotely view and control a ComfileHMI panel PC by simply visiting the IP address (default port 9138) of the panel PC from any device with a modern web browser, including smartphones and tablets. Android devices can also install the ComfileHMI Viewer app from the Google Play Store.

IMPORTANT: This feature does not utilize a secure network protocol. Please be sure to secure access to your Ethernet network before enabling this feature.

To use this remote control feature, follow the procedure below:

Connect the ComfileHMI panel PC to an Ethernet network.

Check the Run the Remote Control Server checkbox in the panel PC's Runtime Configuration > Server. The port number can be explicitly assigned if need be. By checking the Password checkbox, it is possible to authorize remote access to the screen.

The panel PC's IP settings can be configured in the panel PC's Runtime Configuration > Network settings. Typically one will configure the panel PC with a static IP address so its IP address can always be known.

From within Comfile Studio, select Tools > Change to Remote Control Mode and the remote control window will appear. Comfile Studio will remain in the remote control mode until explicitly selecting Return to Editor Mode.

From within the remote control window, one or more panel PCs can be remotely monitored and controlled.

1. Screen Scaling - Use the slider bar to adjust the size of each screen.
2. Add Viewer - Add a view into another panel PC. There is no explicit limit to the number of viewers that can be added. The remote control feature only allows one connection at a time, so to establish a different connection, any prior connections must be diconnected first.
3. Return to Editor Mode - Return to the ComfileHMI project editor. All remote control connections will be disconnected.
4. View Only - Establishes a remote connection for viewing only. Mouse/touch events are not processed.
5. Full Control - Establishes a remote control connection for viewing and UI interaction (e.g. processing mouse/touch events)
6. Configuration - Set connection settings including IP address, port, and password.
7. Delete - Removes the viewer from this window.
8. Status Monitoring - Displays the status monitoring message from the panel PC. The status monitoring message will always be displayed regardless of whether or not the Status Monitoring feature is enabled in the panel PC's runtime configuration.

In the Session Configuration, choose the Data Access connection type.

Then, configure where to write any data received.

Beginning with v2.97, the ComfileHMI panel PC can be viewed and operated remotely from any device with a modern web browser, including smartphones and tablets. Simply enable the Remote Control Server in the panel PC's runtime configuration screen, and then enter the panel PC's IP address and port number in a web browser's address bar (1), e.g. http://192.168.0.1:9138.

Once the web application downloads from the panel PC and displays in the web browser, the screen from which the web application was downloaded will be automatically added. Simply press the “View Only” or “Screen Control” buttons to begin viewing and controlling the panel PC.

It is even possible view and control multiple screens. Press the “New” button (1) to add a new screen, and arrange the screens in a grid 1×1, 2×2, 3×3, or 4×3 grid (2). Multiple screens can also be organized into multiple pages (3).

An Android app is also available from the Google Play Store, but its features are limited to only view one panel PC at a time.

Beginning with v2.95, it is now possible to create a standalone, distributable viewer so clients no longer need to install Comfile Studio. It even provides the ability to add your own branding to the executable file. To leverage this new feature simply invoke the wizard from the Tools–>Advanced Options–>Create a Standalone Remote Control Executable menu, and follow the on-screen instructions.

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