The Unified-E Client is installed on the operator device as HMI client software. The HMI visualization configured in the Unified‑E App Designer is registered there and then used for operating and monitoring a machine or plant.
The Unified-E Client application is installed on the operator device and runs the installed HMI visualizations or operator apps that were configured in the Unified-E App Designer.
The Unified-E Client is available for three platforms and can be downloaded free of charge as follows:
The Unified-E Client serves as the HMI client software for all use cases supported by Unified-E. For example, it communicates with PLC controllers for remote monitoring via smartphone or for plant operation using multiple operator devices through gateway communication handled by the Unified‑E App Manager as the HMI server. In direct communication scenarios, such as classic machine control, the operator device communicates directly with the PLC using communication drivers.
As a standalone application for displaying HMI visualizations, the Unified-E Client offers several advantages:
In direct communication mode, the app package file generated in the Unified‑E App Designer using the 'Publish' function is registered directly on the operator device. Registration in the HMI Client is done via 'Add new operator app' - 'Direct communication'. On a smartphone, registration can be done by scanning the URL of the app package file or by directly opening the file – for example, from an email or a local folder.
In gateway communication mode, the registration process for a new control app must be initiated in the Unified‑E App Manager. In the HMI Client, registration is done via 'Add new operator app' - 'Gateway communication'. On a smartphone, the app can be registered simply by scanning the registration QR code displayed in the App Manager. On a Windows-based operator device – or if no camera is available – the registration information must be entered manually. Once registered, the operator app can be launched. If the app is updated in the App Manager, the changes are automatically reflected in the HMI Client.
No license is required for development purposes. For production use with direct communication, a direct license is required. This is a hardware-bound, transferable license tied to the operator device. Without a license, the installed HMI visualization in the Unified-E Client remains valid for 48 hours. More information is available under Licensing and Pricing.