HCF members approve enhanced HART DDL

HART Communication Foundation (HCF) reports that its member companies have approved enhancements to the HART Device Description Language (DDL) specification. The enhanced DDL simplifies and standardizes the presentation of intelligent device information for both automation suppliers and users worldwide. HCF says enhanced DDL greatly benefits users because it allows them to more easily configure, diagnose, and monitor performance of intelligent instrumentation. “The enhanced DDL updates the industry standard with new capabilities for describing advanced visualization of intelligent device information while maintaining the proven integrity of existing HART DDL technology,” says Ed Ladd, HCF’s technology programs director. “An enhanced DD registered with HCF will work on all enhanced DD-compliant host applications.”DD language enhancements have been incorporated into HCF’s standard DDL tools, including its Device Description Integrated Development Environment (DD-IDE) and the Smart Device Configurator (SDC-625). DD-IDE supports efficient development, testing and maintenance of enhanced DDs. SDC-625 is the HCF standard reference host supporting cost efficient development and testing of compliant enhanced DDs and DDL-enabled host applications. HCF executives and industry leaders expect enhanced EDDL to revolutionize the process automation industry. ABB, Emerson, Honeywell, Invensys, Siemens, Yokogawa and others have already announced plans to fully support the EDDL enhancements in their intelligent HART field devices and host application systems.HCF adds these enhancements allow manufacturers to easily incorporate graphical windows, menus, images, trends and other advanced data visualization features into the device description for an intelligent HART device. All information to define the window, the presentation of data in the window and interaction with the device is described entirely in the enhanced DD. The device information reportedly will appear essentially the same on all EDD-compliant host applications regardless of supplier or operating system.