How to Build a Basic HMI and Connect it to a Modbus Slave

Name: How to Build a Basic HMI and Connect it to a Modbus Slave
Rating: 4.8 (266 reviews)

Build your very first Human Machine Interface and animate it by connecting it to a Modbus Slave device

Created byEmile Ackbarali

Last updated 5/2026

English

What you'll learn

Understand the basics of a Human Machine Interface
Become familiar with key software applications
Understand the basics of an HMI Development Application
Create an HMI Application
Add Data Points to an HMI Application
Add and Configure Graphical Objects to an HMI Application
Animate Graphical Objects in an HMI Application
Monitoring Communication between the HMI App and Modbus Slave

Course content

8 sections • 35 lectures • 1h 53m total length

Introduction & Course Guide3:08
Accessing Attached Resources and Setting Optimal Video Resolution2:23
What is a Human Machine Interface (HMI)?2:41
The lecture conveys the overall idea of what an HMI is and why it is used.
The Very Cool Stuff we are going to do in this course3:12
An overview of what we will be doing through the course and how we will be using the various software applications.
What is an HMI Development Application3:52
A look at what exactly an HMI Development Software Application is.

Downloading Modsim32 and Virtual Serial Port Kit3:33
Modsim32 is the Modbus slave simulator that will be used to simulate the Modbus slave in the course.
Downloading Winlog Lite2:22
Winlog Lite is the HMI development software application. It is the main application that will be used in the course.
Downloading the Winlog Lite Documentation2:51
Winlog Lite has a lot of documentation that goes along with it and it can be overwhelming. This lecture indicates what the are the most important documents to consider.

The Plan for our first Data Connection3:37
A look at the properties of Channel, Device, Gate and Object with respect to HMI applications.
Configuring Modsim32 and Virtual Serial Port for Single Data Point3:02
Virtual serial port kit and Modsim32 are both configured for the single data point example.
Creating A Winlog Lite Project3:45
In winlog lite, a project is essentially an HMI application. In this lecture, an empty project is created.
Configuring Channels and Devices3:18
Within the HMI application, Channels and Devices are configured. A channel describes the protocol and the physical communications port that will be used by the HMI application. Devices specify the addresses of the various modbus slaves on the network.
Configuring a Gate (Tag)5:10
Every data point that is to be read into the HMI application must have an equivalent gate as the object that holds the value of the data point. A gate is more often known as a Tag in other HMI Development Applications.
Modifying the Modbus Gate address due to Offset3:02
Modsim32 uses 1-based address whereas Winlog Lite uses 0-based addressing so to read address X in Modsim32, address X-1 has to be entered into Winlog Lite.
Creating a Template and LED Object5:27
Templates are windows and screens in an HMI. In this video, a new template is created and an LED object is configured to change colour based on the Modbus Input Status.
Running the HMI Application3:24
The configuration has been completed and in this video, the HMI application is run for the first time.
Making our Basic HMI more user-friendly4:36
In the lecture, a pump graphic as well as a label are added to the template to make it much easier for an operator to understand the process.

What we are going to do in this Section1:17
A diagrammatic overview of what is going to be done in this section.
Creating a New Gate for the Modbus Coil3:34
In this lecture, a new gate is created which maps to Coil 53.
Adding a Switch Graphical Object to the Template and Running the HMI3:59
The template is modified. A switch graphic is added and is linked to the new gate that was added in the previous video. The HMI application is then run.
Adding Output Feedback to the HMI4:07
An additional graphic is added to confirm set/reset of the output coil.

What we are going to do in this Section2:21
In this section we are going to simulate an Analog value as a water level and then introduce a tank graphic.
Adding a Numeric Gate linked to an Input Register (Analog Input)3:57
In this lecture, a numeric gate is added to store the value from the input register, which represents the tank level.
Adding a Gauge Graphic to show Tank Level3:21
A gauge graphical object is added to the template to show the tank level. The tank level gate is linked to the object.
Adding a Tank and Pipe Graphic for better Process Visualization3:58
A tank and pipe graphic are added. Both are static objects but allow for much better visualization of the process.
Running the HMI Application2:41
Considering an Analog Output (Holding Register) linked to a VFD2:20
In this lecture, we start down the road of using an Analog Output as the set point for a variable frequency drive.
Adding the Gate and modifying the Template to handle the Analog Output3:26
A new gate is added that is linked to the holding register and then an Edit object is placed on the template and linked to the gate.
Running the updated HMI Application2:35

The PLC DL05 set up that we will be using1:02
A video of the physical set up of the DL05 PLC is shown on the workbench.
Setting the PLC Modbus Port and Modifying the Channel/Device in the HMI2:28
The Port 2 in the DL05 PLC is set to Modbus RTU and then the Channels/Devices in the HMI application are modified.
Modifying the Gates and the Main Template in the HMI3:37
The numeric gates are deleted since the DL05 does not have analog support. The digital gates are modified by changing their Modbus mapped address.
Running the updated HMI Application3:42

Requirements

Basic working knowledge of the Modbus RTU protocol.
Familiarity with the installation of software applications on the Windows OS platform.

Description

First and foremost, this course is ultra-practical.

It walks you through the building of a Basic Human Machine Interface (HMI) application using software tools that you can download and use for free. The videos will walk you through the building of a live HMI Application that communicates with a Modbus slave simulator.

What makes this course very effective is that you can do everything that is shown in the course without purchasing any additional software tools. Once you do exactly what is instructed in the videos, at the end you will have a very firm grasp of HMI application development.

Furthermore, the HMI Development application used is a real product used in the industry and priced at only Euro 49.00. So if you are involved in the HMI Application development in your work or hobby areas, you can purchase the software to unleash it's full power and use it in your own projects.

The knowledge that you will gain here is not some set of abstract concepts floating around in space, but real skills that can be applied immediately and relevantly to the process automation industry.

Who this course is for:

Electrical Engineers
Electrical Technicians
Electrical Tech or Engineering Students
Process Control Technicians and Engineers
Process Automation Engineers

How to Build a Basic HMI and Connect it to a Modbus Slave

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Course content

Introduction5 lectures • 15min

Downloading the Software Applications3 lectures • 9min

Basic Concepts and an Initial Data Connection9 lectures • 35min

Adding a Graphical Link to a Modbus Coil (Output)4 lectures • 13min

Working with Analog Data Values8 lectures • 25min

Template Management and Communications Monitoring1 lecture • 4min

Connecting the HMI Application to the DL05 PLC4 lectures • 11min

Bonus Section - How to Always get the Lowest Prices for my Courses1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: