The Integrated Development Environment (IDE) helps device manufacturers create FDI device packages for FF, HART,

PROFIBUS and PROFINET devices.  Additional communication protocols have been added over time, such as HART-IP, ISA100, Modbus, and Ethernet/IP.


Essentially, the tool has four components:

  • EDDs are created with the help of an editor and converted to the encoded file format by means of “tokenizing” (the binary coding of an EDD). 
  • The encoded EDD, the UIP developed using Visual Studio, and the attachments are combined to form the FDI Package. 
  • A runtime environment (RRTE reference host) imports the FDI Packages for developer testing and debugging. 
  • The test engine is used to automatically run FDI Package conformance tests (DPCTT). 


In order to use the IDE to build FDI Device Packages, the user must have a product license. The license may include one or more protocols depending on the purchased options. 


FDI Package IDE License Option
Protocols Enabled
Available RRTE Comm Servers
FDI Device Package Integrated Development Environment - Single Protocol HART
HARTHART-IP Comm Server
(included with license)
FDI Device Package Integrated Development Environment - Single Protocol Foundation Fieldbus
FF
FDI Device Package Integrated Development Environment - Single Protocol PROFIBUS
PROFIBUS & PROFINET
FDI Device Package Integrated Development Environment - Single Protocol ISA100
ISA100
FDI Device Package Integrated Development Environment - Single Protocol Generic Protocol Extension
Ethernet/IP
Ethernet/IP Communication Server
FDI Device Package Integrated Development Environment - Single Protocol Generic Protocol Extension
Modbus 
Third-party Comm Server needed (not included)

FDI Device Package Integrated Development Environment - Single Protocol Generic Protocol Extension
OPC UAOPC UA Communication Server
FDI Device Package Integrated Development Environment - Multi Protocols Bundle
(10, 20, or 40 licenses)
FF
HART
PROFIBUS & PROFINET
HART-IP Comm Server
(included with license)





The FDI Packages that a device manufacturer creates in this manner are submitted for test and registration by FieldComm Group or PROFIBUS & PROFINET International, together with the respective device hardware.