# About this Release

Cognex Designer 4.2 introduces multiple new or changed capabilities since the previous generally available (GA) release (4.1 PR2). For a brief summary of the key features in the new version, watch the following video. See the below list for more information.

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- Supports VisionPro 9.5 SR1
- Optional Communications Plugins - Enhance the industrial communications capabilities of your vision project with the following optional industrial communications protocols:
  - Modbus - With a set of new Devices, Task Blocks and $ functions, the Modbus plugin adds support for the general-purpose Modbus communications protocol in Cognex Designer.
  - OPC UA Server - Represented in the Devices node of the Project Explorer, the OPC UA Server functionality brings support for the OPC UA cross-platform machine to machine communication protocol, allowing you to read and write exposed project Tagsand $ Functions through OPC UA client applications on the network.
  - TwinCAT - Interact with Beckhoff® TwinCAT® 2 or 3 software systems through the ADS/AMS protocol by setting up a TwinCAT client device in Cognex Designer, and performing synchronous or asynchronous read/write operations through TwinCAT tags and $ functions.
- FTP Client Support- Avoid local storage limitations by setting up an authenticated FTP connection in the Project Explorer, and uploading acquired images to a remote FTP server with the enhanced Image Recorder task block.
- Image File Device Enhancements - Get a better picture of simulated image acquisition by utilizing the enhancements of the Image File device. Use the new device tags in tandem with the Watch list window to get up-to-date information on the number of images used for emulation, the currently loaded image, and more.

Note: See Release History for a complete list of all the major capabilities that were introduced in previous releases of Cognex Designer.