Plug-ins
The ETS plug-in concept was a solution for offering specific device related functionality in ETS, e.g. an enhanced parameter dialog and/or e.g. a specific load procedure.
The disadvantage of this concept is however that the plug-in is not really part of ETS (i.e., it is not embedded). It is e.g. possible to end up in a situation where ETS itself supports Windows version x.y but the plug-in does not.
Application Note 174
According to this:
KNX Association stopped accepting new product applications for registration with target version ETS3 since July 2016.
KNX Association will continue to accept certification of corresponding plug-ins as updates or as upgrades of already existing plug-ins until October 2019.
Alternative 1: 'Plug-in replacement program'
In order to offer an alternative for plug-ins, KNX Association decided to enrich ETS (and Manufacturer Tool) with a set of new features. These new features have released with ETS v5.6. The most important new features are listed here:
ETS user interface |
Device parameter related |
System related |
Parameter page layout options: grid, table, nested pages |
Customer-adjustable |
Conditional Load Controls |
Icons |
Validation (for e.g. a parameter set) |
Master Reset upon CRC-mismatch |
Context Help |
Read from device |
Optimized property download |
Online button |
Write to device |
Customized download error message |
Offline button |
Increment value |
Customized download Progress message |
Parameter separator |
Customized error message |
Prompt before full download |
Object tree |
Raw data type |
Loadable Option (e.g. device not loadable via ETS) |
See also this video
Alternative 2: DCA
In case the ETS v5.6 (or higher) features do not fulfill, the use of the DCA concept is mandatory (instead of a plug-in). I.e. since October 2016 KNX Association only accepts certification applications based on the DCA concept.