TRACE 1.11.0 Beta

TRACE 1.11.0 Beta

Free Windows desktop application to monitor, record, and replay Allen Bradley
PLC signals over EtherNet/IP, with Chain Map diagnostics, a connector pinout
reference, and a built-in simulation mode for practicing without a PLC.

What changed since 1.10.2 Beta

New:

• A PLC address can include a port, for example 127.0.0.1:44819. Use it to
  read the virtual PLC that a ladder viewer publishes when FactoryTalk Linx
  already holds port 44818 on the same PC. A plain IP still uses port 44818.
• ControlLogix over USB, read-only, through RSLinx Classic. The 5580 USB port
  can only be opened by Rockwell software, so TRACE reads through the RSLinx
  Classic OPC server using a topic you set up in RSLinx (DDE/OPC > Topic
  Configuration). Requires RSLinx Classic with OPC. Tested on a 1756-L81ES:
  the values match the Ethernet readings and the connection recovers after
  the cable is pulled.
• Browse PLC Tags has a Scope column and filter (Controller or
  Program:<Name>). Program-scoped tags are read by their full name.
• Browse PLC Tags lists arrays with their size (DINT[50]). Picking one asks
  for the element index and fills in Tag[8].
• Help has a "Supported PLCs & Connections" page, also in the user manual.

Fixed:

• Selected rows in tag lists were almost invisible on Windows 11. The
  selection now uses the theme color in all three color profiles.
• Tag-name labels on the chart were hard to read when a curve of the same
  color passed behind them. They now have a solid background and sit above
  the curves.
• For PLCs connected over USB, a lost connection is now visible in the
  Monitor panel: a "Communication lost, reconnecting" notice, an amber band
  over the gap and "NO DATA" labels. The Log gets one line when the
  connection drops and one when it comes back, with how long it was down.

Support for SLC/MicroLogix and Siemens S7 PLCs is included but turned off.
It has not been tested on real hardware yet.

TRACE is developed and distributed by Wilmer Ramirez Gutierrez, an
independent software developer, under the Siganor name.

Download

File	TRACE-1.11.0-Beta-Setup.exe
Size	47,935,797 bytes (45.7 MB)
SHA-256	a860da764c1afba5a037c37d38edcad3d1342577958e323aa6f045cf76bdc0ff

Check that the SHA-256 of the file you downloaded matches the value above
before running it.

Before you install

• This build is unsigned. Windows SmartScreen will most likely warn that it
  is an "unrecognized app". That is expected for an unsigned build from a
  small independent publisher. Do not disable SmartScreen or Defender to get
  past it; if that is not acceptable to you, don't install. The installer
  also shows this notice on its own page.
• This is Beta software. Check results independently before using them to
  make decisions about equipment or production. TRACE is not a safety system
  and does not replace approved engineering procedures. Simulation mode is
  for practice, not for validating real behavior.
• Per-user install, no admin rights required (%LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\TRACE).
  Your data lives in %LOCALAPPDATA%\TRACE and uninstalling does not touch it.
• The installer's license page shows EULA.md. Some fields in it (Licensor
  address, governing jurisdiction, liability cap amount) are still open.

Feedback

Bug reports and suggestions are welcome through the repo's issue templates.