FDT consists in principle of a Frame Application and various DTMs (Device Type Manager), which are loadable within this frame application. The DTMs encompass all slave-specific functions for the configuration of a slave and can be run during the frame application. Aside from the slave-specific DTMs there exist channel or communication DTMs, which serve to control f. ex. Profibus-Master Modules, Hart-Gateways or Ethernet components.

These communication DTMs can either already make part of the Frame Application or they can be intergrated into each Frame application just as slave-specific DTMs. Thus, every system manufacturer or manufacturer of communication system components is able to develop a DTM specifically suited for his system, which is loadable in the Frame Application.

The end user consequently receives a complete engineering tool for the system configuration, consisting of standard software and hardware components, without the use of system or manufacturer-specific configuration software. For the implementation of its PROFIBUS master products (DF PROFI, DF PROFI PCI und FNL) in a FDT 1.2 compatible Frame Application COMSOFT thus offers a communication DTM, which supports DP Master class 2 in connection with DP/V1 services.

As a result, the stand-alone Frame application PACTWARE by Pactware Assoc. and FNL, f. ex., can be easily combined into a network-capable engineering station, such as for the integration of complex Profibus PA Equipment.