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4 changes: 2 additions & 2 deletions content/en/docs/releasenotes/workstation/_index.md
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Expand Up @@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ For more information, see [Nanoflows](/mendix-workstation/build-app/#javascript-

#### New Features

* Enhanced bulk registration process - We have improved the bulk registration experience to make managing multiple workstations even more efficient and intuitive.
* Enhanced bulk registration process - We have improved the bulk registration experience to make managing multiple stations even more efficient and intuitive.

* New unassigned stations list - If a newly registered station cannot be automatically matched with a preconfigured station, it now appears in the new **Unassigned Stations** list. Before you can edit these unassigned stations, you must first either accept or manually assign them, giving you better control over station assignments.
* Code snippet copier - To simplify the registration process from the terminal, we have added a convenient code snippet copier, making the process quicker and less prone to errors.
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#### New Features

* Automatic suffixing for duplicate workstations - To make managing your workstations even smoother, we have implemented automatic suffixing for imported workstations that have duplicate names. This helps prevent naming conflicts and keeps your environment tidy.
* Automatic suffixing for duplicate stations - To make managing your stations even smoother, we have implemented automatic suffixing for imported stations that have duplicate names. This helps prevent naming conflicts and keeps your environment tidy.
* Feedback module replaced by the new Forum Space - We have removed the Feedback function in the Workstation Management. Don't worry, your voice is still incredibly important to us! Please share your questions, ideas, and feedback in the new dedicated [Mendix Forum Space for Mendix Workstation](https://community.mendix.com/link/spaces/mendix-workstation-client). This change will help us centralize discussions and provide better support.
* Special characters in Workspace names - You can now use special characters in your Workspace names, giving you more flexibility and personalization.
* Unique auto-accepted computer names - We have added a uniqueness validation to the **Auto-Accepted Computer Name** field used for bulk registration. This ensures that each computer name is distinct, preventing potential conflicts during the registration process.
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## Introduction

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Merged in #11455, adjusted a little in the Key Components section


Mendix Workstation is designed to help you build smarter, faster, and more operator-friendly applications for shop floor operators. It enables Mendix cloud applications to directly interact with peripheral devices on a local workstation, without relying on intermediate servers or heavy network traffic.
Mendix Workstation helps you build applications for shop floor operators. It enables Mendix applications to directly interact with peripheral devices on a local workstation, without relying on intermediate servers or heavy network traffic.

By connecting applications directly to the PC's local resources, Workstation allows for near real-time communication with devices like printers, barcode scanners, smart card readers, and industrial scales, all from within a Mendix app. This setup ensures low-latency performance and reduces infrastructure complexity.
By connecting applications directly to the PC's local resources, Workstation allows Mendix apps to communicate in near real-time with devices like printers, barcode scanners, smart card readers, and industrial scales. This setup ensures low-latency performance and reduces infrastructure complexity.

Workstation is especially valuable in manufacturing and industrial environments where precision, speed, and reliability are key to operator efficiency.

In addition to connectivity features, Workstation supports enterprise-grade deployment of projects across multiple environments and sites. It enables distributed teams to collaborate effectively and centrally manage connections to a wide range of heterogeneous equipment assets in a controlled and secure manner.
In addition to connectivity features, Workstation supports enterprise-grade deployment of projects across multiple environments and sites. It enables distributed teams to collaborate effectively and centrally manage connections to a wide range of equipment in a controlled and secure manner.

## Licensing Mendix Workstation

Mendix Workstation is [Limited Availability](/releasenotes/release-status/#limited-availability) for production use. Support is provided according to your Mendix SLA if you purchased a Workstation license. If you want to take Mendix Workstation into production, contact your CSM to see what arrangements are possible. Without a license you can use Mendix Workstation for development, but workspaces are individual and cannot be shared.

The following functionalities are only available with a license:

* [Bulk import of stations](/mendix-workstation/import-export/)
* [Bulk registration of Workstation Clients](/mendix-workstation/register/)
* [Inviting users](/mendix-workstation/build-app/#invite-users)

## Features of Mendix Workstation
## Capabilities Overview

Mendix Workstation has the following features:

* Direct local device access - Mendix Workstation allows Mendix client applications to send and receive messages directly from the PC's local hardware.
* No server detour - Communication happens between the client app and local devices — without routing through a central server, network overload, or any additional intermediate systems.
* Interactions with the local PC, such as sending and receiving on-event messages, are handled with Mendix nanoflows.
* Enables Mendix applications to communicate with local devices without routing through a central server, network overload, or any additional intermediate systems.
* Uses Mendix nanoflows to handle interactions with the local PC, such as sending and receiving on-event messages.
* Supports multiple interfaces:

* PCSC (smart card Reader) - APDU protocol
Expand All @@ -46,58 +35,45 @@ Mendix Workstation has the following features:

* Can emulate and simulate interfaces.

## Benefits of Using Mendix Workstation

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Why we deleting the part of the benefits? Or is it moved somewhere?

### Use Cases

* Improve operator user experience and efficiency.
* Renovate home-grown application and get control of legacy systems.
* Keep core systems clean.
* Create apps adapted to the operator's job, instead of forcing the operator to adapt their job to the software.
* Compose new forms of user experience tailored to manufacturing processes, equipment and environment.
* Expand to adjacent users and domains of your core systems and cross boundaries between silos.

## Use Cases

Mendix Workstation can be used to create apps that handle use cases such as the following:
You can use Mendix Workstation to create apps that handle use cases such as the following:

* Printing labels on an industrial thermal label printer (for example, a Zebra printer)
* Badge operators with an NFC smart card reader and PC/SC specification
* Scanning and parsing barcodes (for example, GS1 specifications)
* Weighing materials with an industrial scale (for example, a Mettler Toledo SICS-compatible scale)
* Connected smart tools (for example, screwdrivers with torque control)

## Components of Mendix Workstation

Mendix Workstation consists of the following components:

* [Workstation Management](https://workstation.home.mendix.com/) - Allows centralized configuration.
* [Workstation Client](https://marketplace.mendix.com/link/component/247448) - Allows real-time communication with local hardware.
* [Workstation Connector](https://marketplace.mendix.com/link/component/247460) - Allows app integration.
### Benefits

Together, these components enable Mendix applications to securely and efficiently integrate with local devices, bridging the gap between digital workflows and physical operations.
Using Mendix Workstation offers the following benefits for your organization:

### Architecture Diagram

{{< figure src="/attachments/workstation/WorkstationDiagram.png" class="no-border" >}}
* It improves operator user experience and efficiency by enabling Mendix applications to directly interact with devices on a local workstation.
* It allows for the renovation of home-grown applications and gaining control over legacy systems by providing a modern platform for Mendix applications to connect directly to existing devices.
* It helps keep core systems clean by allowing Mendix applications to communicate with devices without routing through any additional intermediate systems.
* It enables the creation of apps adapted to the operator's job with the exact devices they use, instead of forcing the operator to adapt their job to generic software limitations.
* It gives you the means to compose new forms of user experience tailored to manufacturing processes, equipment and environment, so that your applications can seamlessly integrate with new physical tools and processes on the shop floor.
* It facilitates expansion to adjacent users and domains and helps cross boundaries between silos by enabling deployment across multiple environments and sites.

### Workstation Management (Mendix Service)
## Key Components

Used by central IT and application support teams. Workstation Management is a Mendix Platform application which provides a centralized interface to configure and monitor all workstations and devices across the organization. Whether managing a few stations or hundreds across multiple global sites, administrators can register computers, assign devices, group them into workspaces, and remotely troubleshoot connection issues.

This makes it easier to manage a large, diverse fleet of devices without the need for manual setup or on-site support.
Mendix Workstation consists of the following components:

### Workstation Client (Native Application)
* [Workstation Management](/mendix-workstation/management/) - Allows centralized configuration.
* [Workstation Client](/mendix-workstation/client/) - Allows real-time communication with local hardware.
* [Workstation Connector](/mendix-workstation/connector/) - Allows app integration.

Used by central IT, support teams, operators, and supervisors. Installed on each local workstation, the Workstation Client acts as a bridge between the Mendix client app and local hardware. It handles the traffic between connected devices and the client application using the configurations provided by the Workstation Management.
{{< figure src="/attachments/workstation/WorkstationDiagram.png" class="no-border" >}}

### Workstation Connector (Mendix Module)
## Licensing Mendix Workstation

Used by Mendix developers. The App Connector is a plug-and-play Mendix module that allows developers to connect their apps to local devices using nanoflows. It establishes a connection with the Workstation Client, which acts as the intermediary between the Mendix app and the local devices. Once this connection is established, the module facilitates seamless data exchange by routing messages and events back and forth between the app and the devices.
Mendix Workstation is [Limited Availability](/releasenotes/release-status/#limited-availability) for production use. Support is provided according to your Mendix SLA if you purchased a Workstation license. If you want to take Mendix Workstation into production, contact your CSM to see what arrangements are possible. Without a license you can use Mendix Workstation for development, but workspaces are individual and cannot be shared.

The connector handles the following tasks:
The following functionalities are only available with a license:

* Retrieving local station configuration (name and device list)
* Connecting and disconnecting devices
* Exchanging messages with devices
* Subscribing for triggering app logic on event when receiving messages from a device
* [Bulk import of stations](/mendix-workstation/import-export/)
* [Bulk registration of Workstation Clients](/mendix-workstation/register/)
* [Inviting users](/mendix-workstation/build-app/#invite-users)

## Read More
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---

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Merged in #11455

title: "Mendix Workstation Management"
linktitle: "Workstation Management"
url: /mendix-workstation/management/
description: "Provides an overview of Mendix Workstation Management."
no_list: false
description_list: true
weight: 30
---

## Introduction

[Workstation Management](https://workstation.home.mendix.com/) is a tool for overseeing and optimizing Mendix Workstation deployments across your organization. Tailored for central IT and application support teams, this Mendix Platform service offers a centralized interface to streamline the configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of all Workstation Clients and their connected devices.

This document provides an overview of every facet of Workstation Management, so that you can discover how to perform initial setup, manage user access and roles, configure various device types with precise control, and implement robust monitoring and logging strategies. By mastering these functionalities, you can ensure seamless operation, enhance efficiency, and provide reliable support for your Mendix Workstation ecosystem, regardless of its scale or geographical distribution.

## Basic Concepts

For more information about the terms used in this document, such as *station* or *device*, refer to the [Mendix Workstation glossary](/mendix-workstation/glossary/).

## Users

Workstation Management is used by central IT and application support teams.

## Read More
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