The Digital Toolbox

building automation distech controls honeywell webs

Here is a summary of the article bellow.

Building automation technicians rely on a variety of software tools to configure, program, commission, and maintain control systems. While Distech Controls, Johnson Controls FX, and Honeywell WEBs each have their own controller-specific software, they all share one common platform: Niagara Workbench, the industry's primary engineering environment for building automation.

This article provides an overview of the essential software used for each platform, including Distech's Software Center and EC-GFX, Johnson Controls' Software Manager and Controller Configuration Tool (CCT), and Honeywell's Optimizer software suite and Engineering Kit. Whether you're new to building automation or looking to expand your toolkit, understanding these core applications is key to working efficiently across today's BAS platforms.

[Product lines / DIGITAL Toolbox]

The Digital Toolbox of a Building Automation Technician

Stromquist represents three major brands of Building Automation.

The Specific product lines:

Distech Controls
Johnson Controls FX
Honeywell Webs

Each of these brands has software required for use by technicians. In this article we will discuss the main software required for use by technicians for each brand.

While they each have unique software programs for their controller hardware, they also all share one common software, Niagara workbench.

For those new to Building Automation, a Niagara Workbench session is a visual, drag-and-drop engineering environment where technicians discover devices, build control logic, configure points, and commission building automation systems within the Niagara Framework.

Below are the common control software programs a technician working on each brand would have on their computer.

Distech Controls

For licensed Distech contractors EC-GFX is free of charge and can be downloaded from the Software Center application.

Distech controls Niagara workbench part number: SDITR-SAXDEMOXX
Software Center: Distech Controls uses a single interface software to download, install and update all of their software programs and components.
This is call Software Center and it can be downloaded from this link: https://www.stromquist.com/software/distech
EC-GFX: is the main graphical programming tool for Distech’s Field Controllers that lets technicians create, simulate, and download control logic to controllers using drag-and-drop function blocks, live values, and built-in commissioning tools.

Distech Controls

For licensed Distech contractors EC-GFX is free of charge and can be downloaded from the Software Center application.

Productivity Enhancement tools : A utility suite that helps technicians quickly back up databases, batch-apply configurations, update firmware, and streamline commissioning across multiple controllers.
The EC-Net Facilities Unified package is a collection of files (compressed data including drivers, components and palette items) for use with EC-Net Facilities and Designer.
Both can be seen below on the EC-Net Platform tab of the software center.

Distech Controls

Lastly, we will briefly cover Distech Builder.

Distech Controls Builder is a cloud-based HVAC application engineering tool that automates the creation of:

Control sequences
Point lists
Test plans
Equipment drawings
Graphics
EC-gfxProgram code from user-selected equipment configurations.

These are the main software suites used by technicians for everyday use on Distech Controls sites.

Johnson Controls FX

Johnson Controls also uses an interface program to download software outside of the workbench called Software Manager.

The Johnson Controls workbench, part number is: FX-SLDEMO-0.
This can be downloaded from this link; https://www.stromquist.com/software/fx-software-tools#man
The software manager also displays a unique ID called a System ID used to license all the software in the Bundle as discussed below. The System ID can be seen in the bottom left corner of the screenshot below.
Controller Configuration Tool, also known as CCT is a software application used to configure, simulate, commission, and transfer application files to field controllers (such as PCx, F4 Unitary and VAV controllers) on a Facility Explorer com bus.

number for CCT is: TL-BUNDLEFX-0.

The software can be downloaded from this link; https://www.stromquist.com/software/CCT

In order to use CCT with Johnson Controls controllers a technician will need a special hardware connection tool, part number TL-CWCVT-0.
In addition to the above mentioned software there is a valuable tool for technicians on the solution navigator website: “Projects section” located under the Selection section after logging in.
This section allows for project creation including controls projects, VAV box builds and more.
These are the main software suites used by technicians for everyday use on Johnson Controls sites.

Honeywell Optimizer Software Suite:

Niagara based programming tools that live in the Niagara workbench environment.

The Honeywell workbench part number: WEB-S-DEMO-N4.
Optimizer Essential Software Tool which contains jar files and clean dist files for use with 4.15 with the opitimizer essential and advanced controllers.

Located here under resources: https://www.stromquist.com/software/webs-n4