The WebLink supports and interacts with WinControl (a Windows based application) automatically. In situations without a WebLink, WinControl typically communicates to the Lighting Control system via an RS-232 port serial connection from the PC running WinControl to an HLINK device, which provides an RS-232 port connection.

When a WebLink is in place, it is connected to the HLINK instead of the PC run WinControl. In turn, the WebLink is plugged into the Local Area Network (LAN). WinControl is then configured to communicate to the IP address (or DNS name) of the WebLink, instead of the name of the RS-232 port (COM1:, for example). When configured in this manner, WinControl communicates via a socket connection on port 3001 to the WebLink, which in turn forwards communications on to the HLINK device. With the WebLink in place, WinControl can function as it would connected via RS-232, yet over the network. In addition, the WebLink supports simultaneous connections from multiple copies of WinControl.

The WebLink does not replace WinControl. The WebLink is intended to enhance the operation of WinControl by allowing WinControl to be used from multiple locations simultaneously. In addition, the WebLink Scheduler option offers scheduling capabilities separate and beyond those implemented in WinControl. These Scheduling features on WebLink are accessible via Web Browser.

When WinControl is used to transfer data to the Lighting Control system (view "Transfer-New Data" in WinControl), the transfer takes place in a similar manner as without a WebLink. At the end of the transfer, a copy of the site data file is also transferred to the WebLink. This allows the optional WebLink Scheduler as well as the Administrators Manual Override feature to access the list of devices and groups in the system.

See Chapter 5, WebLink Scheduler Option and especially the section called “WebLink Scheduler Configuration - Using with WinControl” for more details on the Scheduler option.