Comparison of InTouch application types
Last updated: February 26th, 2025Description
- Author: Brian Schneider
- Published: February 26th, 2025
Details:
Overview
InTouch provides a few different application types (Stand-Alone, Managed, Published). This document will discuss these types and the differences between them.
Resolution
There are three types of InTouch applications. The type of application determines how the application is edited by the developer, as well as how it is distributed to users.
Stand alone:
This is the most basic and the original type of application that can be created with InTouch. This type of application only requires the InTouch WindowMaker software to develop an application, and can be run through InTouch WindowViewer. Distributing applications can be done by simply copying the application folder to the PCs where you want to run the application.
Managed:
Managed applications are used when the InTouch application is developed and distributed through the Industrial Application Server (aka ArchestrA IDE) software. Within the Application Server software Managed InTouch applications can be started from scratch, or stand alone applications can be imported and converted into managed applications. When distributing this type of InTouch application, the Industrial Application Server software would be used to deploy the application over the network to the target PC. These types of applications can only be modified by using the Industrial Application Server software.
The most noticeable advantage with Managed applications is the ability to use ArchestrA graphics. These graphics
Published:
Published applications are a hybrid between Stand-Alone and Managed applications, where a Managed application is developed and then exported for use on a Stand-Alone system. All development is done through a managed application in Industrial Application Server, and as such ArchestrA graphics can be used. When finished developing, the application is “Published” which exports it from Industrial Application Server’s Galaxy, and removes any dependencies between the galaxy and the Archestra Graphics.
Comparison of the three types:
| Stand-Alone InTouch | Managed InTouch | Published InTouch | |
| Create Application | WindowMaker started from Application Manager |
Archestra IDE
|
Not possible |
| Edit Application | WindowMaker started from Application Manager | WindowMaker started from IDE | WindowMaker started from the Application Manager |
| Delete Application | Delete folder and remove from Application Manager | Delete InTouchViewApp template | Delete folder and remove from Application Manager |
| Support of Archestra Symbols | No | Yes for all operations | Yes, but only for viewing, not for creating and editing |
| Support of DB Dump and DB Load | Yes, function within | Yes, function within the IDE | Yes, function within Application Manager |
| Editing applications in original resolution requires conversion | Yes | No | Yes |
| Management of Distributed Applications | Network Application Development (NAD) | Archestra IDE | Network Application Development (NAD) |
| Configuring how new InTouch application versions are accepted | Configured in (Network Application Development) | Configured in WindowMaker | Configured in Application Manager (Network Application Development) |
| Use Fast-Switch to test application | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Use tag value and tag parameter retention | Yes | Yes, also requires configuration of the local working directory | Yes |
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