MERLIC enables you to implement and integrate customized communication plug-ins for use with the MERLIC Runtime Environment (MERLIC RTE), the process integration mode of MERLIC. This enables using any device of your choice for MERLIC RTE.

For this, MERLIC comes with an SDK for the plug-in development including an API and libraries with various functions for the implementation of such plug-ins. The API itself is based around C functions which are documented in detail in the respective header file references.

This manual provides information on various aspects with respect to the development of custom communication plug-ins. In the pages listed below, you can find general information on the life cycle of a plug-in and the communication between MERLIC and a plug-in to control and monitor the vision system. You can further get information on how to implement and test a communication plug-in as well as information on how to provide the final plug-in for MERLIC RTE.

In addition, you can get information on the available data structures, API functions, and some further information on the required specifications, recipe files, and plug-in configuration.

For information about MERLIC and MERLIC RTE in general, for example, how to start MERLIC RTE and a plug-in, see the MERLIC Manual.

Among others, you can get information about the provided example plug-ins that might help you to get familiar with the usage of MERLIC RTE plug-ins.

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Prerequisites and Required Specifications

Get information about the prerequisites and the required includes and functions for the implementation of a plug-in. Get also information about the available capabilities of a plug-in.

Life Cycle of a Plug-in Instance

Get information about the life cycle of a plug-in instance.

Communication Between Plug-ins and MERLIC

Get information on the communication between communication plug-ins and MERLIC and the available actions and events.

Implementing Communication Plug-ins

Get information on the implementation of communication plug-ins.

Results

Get information about the available result formats and result images.

C++ Plug-in Support Library

Get information about the C++ support library that provides reusable abstractions and value wrappers around the C API's primitives to aid in the development of communication plug-ins.

API Reference Documentation

Data Structures

Get information about the available data structures of the API.

Header Files

Get information about the provided header files and C functions of the API.