Currently there are two major technologies used in order to configure, parametrize and operate intelligent field devices in larger plants. These are  EDD and FDT/DTM.

Both technologies, though often marketed as being "mutually exclusive", are driving at supporting the end user of field devices in configuring, engineering and maintaining its assets in a plant. Furthermore both technologies claim to be open, to support different vendors and protocols and to help the plant operator in protecting his investment. Most of these statements can be considered to be true for both technologies.

Different perspectives

From an end user's point of view two integration technologies are not the best solution, because it enlarges the training effort of its personnel as well as the administrative effort regarding updates, version management, archiving and validation (in certain industries). On the other hand, neither of the technologies will simply disappear in the near or mid-term future because there are a lot of investments made by device, DD-host and FDT- frame manufacturers.

Therefore the market has to deal with both technologies and so does CodeWrights.

But what is EDD and what is FDT/DTM? Please refer to the respective chapter to receive an overview of it.