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Chapter 5 Finder 1
Use the Finder ............................................................................................................. 2
Finder Window..................................................................................................... 3
Target Finds ......................................................................................................... 4
Contents i
Glossary of Terms 5
Index 13
Introduction
This manual describes the GE Control System Solutions products and the Control
System Toolbox, which is micro-processor-based software used to configure and
maintain Innovation Series control equipment. The toolbox is a Windows-based
application, which runs on a Pentium 166 or higher, personal computer (pc). Major
products that are configured with the toolbox include:
EX2100 Excitation Control
Innovation Series drives
Innovation Series and Speedtronic Mark VI Turbine controllers
Operator Console 2000 (OC2000)
AC/DC2000 Digital Adjustable Speed Drive & EX2000 Digital Exciter
(AcDcEx2000)
Tosvert Series Drives
LS2100 Static Starter Control
Primary functions of the toolbox include:
The toolbox software configures Graphic-based editor for configuring application code
various control equipment.
Therefore, each product package Block macros and module library support
can consist of the toolbox, Live data block flow diagrams
product files for the controller or
drive, Trend Recorder, Data Online code change
Historian, and product files for Online Help files
the System Database (SDB). To
order the toolbox software and I/O configuration and monitoring
specific product support files
refer to the Product Catalog, Signal management and signal trending
GEP-9145. Multi-user file management
Report generation
Batch operation mode
Target firmware upgrades
Convention Meaning
Bold Indicates that the word is being defined.
The following list presents some basic guidelines for working with menus:
When a menu is displayed, press the up/down arrow keys to highlight a command
name. Then press Enter to choose the menu command. The menu can also be
selected by clicking with a cursor-positioning device (CPD), such as a mouse.
When a command ends in an ellipsis (), the application displays a dialog box that
asks the user to supply more information.
If a command turns a feature on and off, a checkmark (9) is displayed by the
command name when the feature is on.
When a command ends with an arrow ( ), the menu cascades to display more
command names.
If a command name is grayed out, it indicates that the command does not apply to
the current situation or there is another selection or action before choosing the
command.
Related Documents
GE provides system instruction documents for the different components of each
product. For questions or additional documentation, contact the nearest GE sales
office or authorized GE sales representative.
Introduction
Setting options should be This chapter provides basic instructions for using the toolbox. It defines the toolbox
determined before starting a menu commands, including the Options menu, which has a Settings dialog tab for
configuration. each product. Methods of communication and toolbox connections are also
available.
Section Page
Computer Requirements...........................................................................................2-1
Installation ................................................................................................................2-2
Start the Toolbox ......................................................................................................2-3
Accessing Online Help .............................................................................................2-6
Privilege/Password ...................................................................................................2-6
Toolbox Options.......................................................................................................2-9
Connect the Toolbox ..............................................................................................2-24
Computer Requirements
The selected product combination and the pc topology configuration determines the
minimum requirements for CSS products:
300 MHz processor (Pentium II 500 or higher recommended)
A cursor-positioning device is Microsoft Windows
highly recommended.
95/98 (with 64 MB RAM), or
NT (with 64 MB RAM), or
2000 (with 128 MB RAM), or
XP (with 256 MB RAM)
SVGA display (800 x 600 x 256 color or gray scale)
Serial port for direct connection to a controller or drive
PCA198 (ARCNET) board (required if DLAN+ Devcom or Driver is
installed)
Network adapter (required for communication with the toolbox over a LAN)
Printer (with appropriate Windows driver installed)
Control System Solutions installs various products for control systems as selected in
the setup program. It is recommended that you exit all Windows programs before
beginning. A dialog box will prompt you for a license key, which can be found on
the actual CD. You must agree to the standard Software License Agreement for these
products.
To install the product
1. Place the Control System Solutions CD in the disk drive. The Setup program runs
automatically, or run the program setup.exe.
2. Follow the instructions from each screen. For more help press F1.
Work Area
If more than one device is open A device's runtime action is configured using the toolbox. From the File menu, begin
in the Work Area, each device a New configuration or Open a previously saved configuration file. The toolbox
will have a screen with an Work Area is the main screen and contains the following:
Outline View and Summary
Outline View displays the configuration in a hierarchy, with the device name as the
View.
first item and other configuration items listed in levels below it.
Summary View displays information based on the item highlighted in the Outline
View. For example, in a controller configuration, the item taskname displays a block
diagram. In a configuration, the item Diagram displays block diagrams (which can
be configured from this view). The Tracking command controls what displays in the
The Tracking button Summary View. When Tracking is on, it tracks or displays the item selected
toggles the command on and (highlighted) in the Outline View. When Tracking is off, it freezes the Summary
off. View of the last selected item.
Detached Summary View is a separate window from the Work Area window and
Click to display the displays a copy of the Summary View. Option settings for the Detached Summary
Detached Summary View. View are separate from the Summary View (see the section, Toolbox Options). This
window can be sized, configured, and edited.
Find the cause of an error by Log View displays configuration data for the item that is highlighted. This data
double-clicking on the error. compiles during toolbox functions, such as file imports, validations, builds, or errors.
For information on each Work Area commands can be accessed through the menu bar or the toolbar,
command, see Chapter 3. depending on the selected product file.
Note The following screen represents a basic toolbox Work Area format. Menu
commands, toolbar button, and Outline View items vary with the product installed.
Privilege/Password
Refer to the next section to The privilege/password system assigns different levels of access to the devices.
change the password. Then, passwords can be established for the different privilege levels, so that each
user can access a device at the level necessary for the job that person is assigned.
To set a privilege level
From the Options menu, select Privilege.
Enter a three-character
ID, such as your initials.
Click OK.
Note It is recommended that the password file be kept on the local pc to avoid loss
of access in the case of downtime on a remote node.
General
The General tab applies to all devices as noted and described below.
Select a font for the Finder.
Note: USDB is
not used by
Static Starter
Control
Enter the location of the SDB sub-directory on the server where the
data files are stored. The name must include the drive letter and at
least one sub-directory. The SDB cannot be located at the root of a
drive. For a USDB, the name is specified in the GEBHOST
environment variable on the LynxOS pc, such as ustst_usdb.
Note Existing controller libraries are referenced in the .prj file and override these
default libraries.
The Block Diagram Where Used Scope applies only to controllers. Specify
the scope of the signal cross-refrencing in the active block diagram.
Font size changes the font Change the Summary View tracking feature to display various levels
size of all text on the block of the hierarchy, when they are selected in the Outline View. Select
diagram. the item to display on the lowest level. The default is Task/Macro.
Select the
communication
port from the
drop-down menu.
Select to enable
revision tracking,
which allows you
to enter
information about
a document when
it is saved.
Select a
communications
port from the
drop-down list.
Select a
communications
port from the
drop-down menu.
Select to enable
revision tracking,
which allows you
to enter
information about
a change to a
document (file)
when it is saved.
Serial requires a
Baud Rate and
Com Port.
TCP/IP requires
either an IP address
or a host name in the
Gateway box. Host
names can be used
when a name server
is present.
Select the
communication port
from the drop-down
list.
Note The default communication setting can be changed for all devices using the
default. The settings must be changed using the Modify Device dialog box.
EX2100
The toolbox can be directly connected to a controller using Ethernet.
Windows PC
Modem/Ethernet
TCP/IP Gateway
Control System
Toolbox TCP/IP
Modem Modem
Ethernet
Windows PC EX2100 Control Rack
Introduction
For information on configuring This chapter provides basic instructions for using the GE Control System toolbox to
features not covered in this configure and monitor an EX2100 Excitation Control (exciter). It also contains
section, see Chapter 4, information on using other features of the toolbox specific to the exciter.
Advanced Configuration.
The EX2100 is represented as a unified device in the toolbox. The configuration has
a single binary file, even though physically there can be up to five separate
processors.
Section Page
Ethernet
ACL1 ACL2
DSPX1 Serial
DSPX3 DSPX2
Keypad1 Keypad2
Select EX2100
Exciter.
Click OK.
After the version is selected, all the tree files required to create the basic
configuration file are automatically imported into the new exciter configuration.
Select the
control type.
Click OK.
Enter a three-character
ID, such as your initials.
Click OK.
To modify a device
1. Click the device name to highlight it.
Or double-click the device 2. From the Edit menu, select Modify. The Device Properties dialog box
name. displays.
The following sections describe each tab in the dialog box.
Name identifies this exciter when communicating with the SDB. EX1 is the default
name. The name is saved in the .prj file.
Platform specifies the hardware platform on which the ocnfiguration operates. This
field is important for proper control execution records and for selecting hardware and
I/O. For more information on selecting the appropriate platform, refer to Chapter 9,
Hardware and I/O.
Select the interval (in milliseconds) that the I/O Mapper task runs. The I/O mapper
task transfers signals between different I/O points if the signals are not used in
blockware code.
Communications specifies the method that the toolbox uses to communicate with
the exciter.
System is the amount of memory used to store the configuration in the controller.
This number should not be increased above 2048, unless required. For example, a
110 error received during an online download indicates that the runtime does not
have enough memory available to keep two copies in memory, as is necessary to
perform an online download. Memory not allocated here is used by non-continual
processes, such as sending live data to toolbox sessions to to support diagnostic
explanations.
Capture Buffer is the amount of memory to be reserved for data storage by capture
buffer blocks. Set this value to zero if the configuration does not contain capture
buffers.
The NTP tab defines how to configure its NTP client. NTP is used to synchronize the
devices clock with that of another computer on the Ethernet.
NTP Client Disabled prevents the exciter from using NTP.
Broadcast starts the NTP Client and listens for broadcasts from an NTP server.
The Unicast option allows you to start the NTP Client and request time from the
servers specified as Primary Server and Backup Server.
Specify a Boolean signal that is set by the alarm system when one or more alarms are
present in the queue.
Specify an integer signal that the system will populate with the number of active
alarms currently in the queue.
Horn Driver specifies an output that can be attached to an external alarm horn
contact output.
Horn Silence specifies an input Boolean signal that can be used to turn off the
alarm horn with a discrete pushbutton.
Acknowledge specifies an input Boolean signal that can be used to acknowledge
alarms with a discrete pushbutton.
Alarm Reset specifies an input Boolean signal that can be used to reset alarms with
a discrete pushbutton.
For more detailed information Ethernet 1 is the only available network for all platforms earlier than the ACLE. A
on multiple Ethernet, refer to second Ethernet board can be configured for controllers with a ACLE platform.
the Mark VI Runtime Additional Ethernet selections display in the drop-down list. To make an additional
documentation in the Help Ethernet configurations available, the Enable option box must be selected
menu
Specify the Addressing Information , such as IP Name, Address and Subnet
Mask for this controller. Select the check box to use the Use Default Gateway.
Configuration Files
Exciter configuration file (.ecb) is a binary working file that contains an exact copy
of the EX2100 configuration used by the toolbox. Users generally work from exciter
configuration files. When the file is saved, the prior name.ecb is renamed to a
Backup of name.ecb file and used as a backup file. To restore the backup copy,
rename the file to name.ecb file.
Tree files (.tre) are text files that transport device menu, parameter, software and
hardware configurations to different versions of the toolbox.
Project files (.prj) are text files that keep track of the order of .tre files and hold
some device configuration information. They can be used in conjunction with other
tree files to transport configurations between different versions of the toolbox.
Note The .tre and .prj files are not normally used by users.
Configuration files generate output that can be downloaded to the exciter. Output
files include:
Exciter Keypad database files (.icd) describe the configuration for the keypad. This
file is downloaded to the exciter.
Pcode files (.pcd) are application files and describe the configuration for the device.
This file can be downloaded to the device.
Symbol files (.sym) describe the signals used by diagnostics to the device. This file
can be downloaded to the device.
Programmer Workstation
*.ecb file
Save
hardware,
Export
library, and File New Documentation
function .tre files
Import Open Print
Open
Note If an older version toolbox is used to open a exciter configuration file (.ecb)
that was saved with a newer version, a Warning box is displayed. Install the version
of toolbox the exciter configuration file (.ecb) was saved with.
To close a file
From the File menu, select Close.
Closing a file removes the configuration from the toolbox. If the configuration has
not been saved, a dialog box displays to prompt you to save the file.
Save Files
Saving a file writes the entire contents of the configuration to an exciter
configuration file (.ecb). The prior exciter configuration file (.ecb) is renamed to
Backup of .ecb file and used as a backup file.
To save a file
1. From the File menu, select Save. If the file has not been saved previously, the
Save As dialog box displays.
2. Enter the file name and click OK. (Once a configuration has been saved, the
Save button saves the new file without asking for a file name.)
Tip The Save button also indicates that a change was made to the configuration
by highlighting (red) and becoming enabled. If the computer fails when the button is
red, all changes since the last save is lost, so save files often.
If no source file is
defined for the file
export, the user is
prompted to name
a .tre file before this
dialog box displays.
If you select Yes, the Select Upgrade Version dialog box displays all newer
installed versions. Select a new version to upgrade.
The following message displays. Refer to the section, Download Product Code To
The Exciter for details on upgrading firmware in the device.
Toolbox
Revision
Exciter
properties
Files included
in this project
Validate Exciter
Also, any items in the hierarchy Validation checks for errors that might prevent successful operation of the exciter. If
that had problems during the configuration needs to be validated, the Outline View displays the items in red.
validation will display red after
the validation.
To validate the exciter configuration
From the Device menu, select Validate.
Or click .
The validation results display in the Log View at the bottom of the toolbox work
area.
File Menu
The File menu provides the following commands:
Or click . Import retrieves a file from the specified source. The values in the current
configuration are replaced with the imported values.
Import Generator Data retrieves an Electronic Datasheet file from the specified
source. The values in the current configuration are replaced with the imported
values.
Export sends specified items (such as parameters and files) to a designated file.
Compare Devices compares the currently open file with another, user-specified
file.
Upgrade automatically makes the required changes to upgrade a configuration to a
newer product version.
Print Setup allows you to select a printer and printer connection.
Tip The block diagram is designed to print best in Landscape Orientation. Refer
to the section, Block Diagrams/Printing Diagrams.
Edit Menu
The Edit menu allows you to modify the device with the commands listed.
Or click . Cut removes the highlighted item and places it on the clipboard.
Or click . Copy duplicates the highlighted item and places it on the clipboard.
Or click . Paste places the highlighted item from the clipboard into the current file.
Insert First inserts the first new item under the item highlighted in the hierarchy of
the Outline View.
Insert Next inserts the next new item under the item highlighted in the hierarchy of
the Outline View.
Instance updates a single item or select All to update the entire device/file.
Renumber changes the numbers of the highlighted blocks.
Or press Ctrl+F2 to toggle the Bookmarks allows you to mark major items in the Outline View by using the
mark and F2 to go to the next Toggle Bookmark option and then move between these items easily by using
bookmark. Goto Next Bookmark.
Or click . Tracking toggles the tracking feature of the Summary View on and off.
Close Outline reduces the hierarchy list of items displaying in the Outline View to
just the device level.
Or click . Zoom In enlarges the view of the block diagram area (Summary View).
The second part of the signal cross-reference is the actual cross-reference list.
Each signal-referenced location is listed for every signal. Each reference
consists of a section code for the task macro or macrodef, the block number, and
a flag (*) to show whether the signal is being written on the block. Examples
from a cross reference report are as follows:
Entry\Pump1\PumpEngine------------:
The signal Entry\Pump1\Start displays on two pins (one read, one write) on
block 30 of the same task.
Control Options displays control options and their values.
Version and Hardware Info displays the version of the exciter ACL and
DSPX processor cards and bar code information of the boards installed in the
control rack.
Parameters Differences displays all parameters whose values in the toolbox
are not the same as in the exciter.
Parameter Overrides lists settings in the exciter that are overridden from
their calculated state.
Change History displays changes made to the exciter configuration file.
Or click . Build generated the required files for download of the ACL.
Pack signals reassign address tokens when signals become fragmented.
Download ACL
Application Code sends the values of all the parameters from the loaded
exciter configuration files to the current exciter.
Product Code sends the exciter ACL firmware configuration to the current
exciter.
Reboot Command restarts the ACL processor.
Upload Parameter Values from Exciter reads all the parameter values from the
connected exciter and provides the option of replacing the values in the currently
loaded exciter configuration file in the toolbox.
Put Symbols Into Database places diagnostic symbol information into the
database.
Put Into Database places device information into the database.
Get From Database reads and gets information from the database.
Create Undefined Signals produces a signal definition for signals not defined.
Options Menu
The Options menu allows you to manage general options for toolbox operation.
Contents displays Help files for the toolbox. It also contains the Find tab with a
work list to search for specific topics.
Using Help displays general instructions on how to use Help.
Item Help displays help for the item selected in the Outline View.
Product Help displays the Help file for the currently loaded product. The file
contains help on parameters, faults, diagrams, and wizards.
Release Notes provides product changes in the toolbox.
Send Problem Report allows you to submit a system change request for the
toolbox.
Goto Toolbox Web Site takes you to the toolbox home page. (This feature is only
available if you have a connection to the GE intranet.)
About Toolbox displays the version number of the toolbox.
Parameters allow you to configure the exciter. Each parameter has a name with up
to 20 characters, which identifies it and helps to convey its use. A parameter also can
have units, such as RPM, displayed with the toolbox and keypad. The unit field is
limited to five characters. Each parameter contains a value, which can be a number
or a setting. The value is adjusted to modify the exciter performance.
Rules process inputs from parameters and produce values for other parameters that
the user does not normally edit.
Variables, similar to parameters, have a 20-character name and a 5-character unit
field. You cannot change variables. They are changed by the exciter as a result of the
product code performance.
Main menu structure in the toolbox represents the same information contained on
the keypad located on the front of the exciter.
Block diagrams provide an overall diagram of signal flow, sequencing, and
regulator control in the exciter. While communicating with the exciter, the diagrams
display exciter variables and their real time values. Contact and coil states are also
indicated. Certain exciter parameters can be modified from this view (refer to the
section, Block Diagrams).
Parameters
For detailed information about The exciter contains a set of parameters whose values, together with the product
a parameter, click the definition files and version, define the exciter performance. In the Outline View,
parameter (to highlight it) and parameters display as follows:
press F1.
To modify a parameter
Use the Finder to easily locate 1. From the Outline View, select the parameter to modify.
a specific parameter.
2. From the Edit menu, select Modify.
Or, double-click the parameter. The Edit Parameter dialog box displays (refer to
the next section).
Tip If you know the name of the parameter (or partial name), select the Finder
and enter the name in the text box. Click Find and a list of parameters and variables
display. Double-click the parameter to modify.
If the Browse for Var button is clicked, the Variable Selector dialog box
displays.
Click the Menus tab if you do not know
any part of the variable name.
Select an
option to
specify an
exact search.
Click Begin
Search.
Enter a note, if
desired, and click OK.
Tip Another item can be inserted by following the same steps, but select Insert
Next.
Toolbox/Exciter Communications
The toolbox can communicate with the exciter through a serial port or an Ethernet
connection.
To modify the serial communication settings.
1. From the Options menu, select Settings.
2. Click the tab, EX2100.
3. Modify the Serial Port Communication settings, as desired.
4. Click Select.dnl and click Open. All possible files that can be
downloaded display.
3. Wait until the red FLASH LED on the device has turned off.
4. Reboot the device.
Variables
Green values are valid numbers Variables can be monitored by the toolbox. Live values display in the color green.
received from the exciter.
Live value
Tip To view both the toolbox and the Trend Recorder, from the Window menu,
select Tile Horizontal or Tile Vertical and adjust the size of the windows.
5. From the Diagram, place the mouse pointer over the desired variable.
6. When the pointer changes to a hand, press and hold the left mouse button. The
pointer changes to the drag-and-drop cursor.
7. Continue to hold the left mouse button down and drag to the Trend
Recorderwindow. At the Trend Recorder, the cursor changes to the drop
pointer.
8. Release the mouse button and the variable will drop in the Trend Recorder.
Print Diagrams
Tip The block diagram(s) is designed to print in Landscape Orientation. From
the File menu, select Print Setup and click the option Landscape.
To print block diagrams
1. From the Outline View, select the item Diagram.
2. From the File menu, select Print. The Print dialog box displays.
Or click .
3. Select the number of copies to print and the page(s).
Tip To print a single block diagram, open that page, so that it displays on the
screen and click . Click OK. Live data can be printed out on the single page, if
the exciter is online.
Or click . From the View menu, select Exciter Controls. The Exciter Controls view
displays.
Click On to put
the exciter in the
run mode.
The following icons display on the exciter controls and represent the exciter's health
or state. The active function of an icon depends on which button is clicked on (as
described above).
Icon Function Indicates
Comm. OK The icon line is animated to show there is
communication between the toolbox and the exciter.
Introduction
This chapter provides instructions for using the toolbox to configure and monitor the
advanced settings of an EX2100 device. It also has information on using other
features of the toolbox specific to the device.
Section Page
Blockware Concepts.................................................................................................4-2
Configuration..........................................................................................................4-11
Device Menu Commands .......................................................................................4-45
Software Setup .......................................................................................................4-48
Software Modifications ..........................................................................................4-52
Monitoring..............................................................................................................4-56
Control Constant View ...........................................................................................4-61
Application Documentation....................................................................................4-64
There are two levels of blockware that can be reused and instanced any number of
times:
Macro(s) contain a collection of standard blocks.
Module(s) are more complex collection of tasks that have a defined scheduling
relationship.
In the toolbox, block, macro and module parameters are called pins (from their
likeness to the pins of an integrated-circuit chip). All pins have a name unique to
For more information, refer to
their block, macro or module. Pins are connected by signals, which are the basic unit
Chapter 10, Signals and the
for variable information. Signals are created with signal definitions, module pins,
Database.
and macro pins or block pins.
Macro pins have unique names and once inserted, they can be referenced just like
block pins. Macro pins are also signals that can be connected to the pins of the
constituent blocks and macros. Once inserted, these macro pins act as the parameters
of the macro whose behavior is specified based on how they are used in the code
inside the macros. The macro has one macro pin designated as an enable pin. The
enable pin is a logical or Boolean signal that makes the macros execution possible.
Macros are shown in the following Outline View. The item, Macro Definitions, is
located in both Functions and Macro and Module Libraries. The library provides a
main location for standard modules and macros. Functions provides a location for
modules and macros used in a particular function.
TaskA comes before Task B and TaskB comes before TaskC. If all three tasks are
scheduled with the same module period, period multiplier, and skew offset, TaskA
always runs before TaskB and TaskB always runs before TaskC.
0* 0
1 0 4 or 32 ms X X X X X X X X
2 0 1, 8, or 64 ms X X X X
2 1 1, 8, or 64 ms X X X X
4 0 2, 16, or 128 ms X X
4 1 2, 16, or 128 ms X X
4 2 2, 16, or 128 ms X X
4 3 2, 16, or 128 ms X X
8 0 4, 32, or 256 ms X
8 1 4, 32, or 256 ms X
8 2 4, 32, or 256 ms X
8 3 4, 32, or 256 ms X
8 4 4, 32, or 256 ms X
8 5 4, 32, or 256 ms X
8 6 4, 32, or 256 ms X
8 7 4, 32, or 256 ms X
* A task with a 0 period multiplier is only scheduled if an Event is executed.
Note There is no Modules item in Macro and Module Libraries level. However,
modules definitions are found there.
Libraries
The device has three types of libraries:
Block libraries provide a description of the runtime blocks.
Hardware Module libraries describe the different types of I/O that can be wired
into a device.
Macro and Module libraries provide a central location for standard macros and
modules.
The macro and module library .tre files have the same basic format as function .tre
files, except for the file descriptor at the beginning; there is also no Modules item,
only Macro and Module Definitions. Macro and module libraries can be imported
again, as needed.
For more information, refer to For block libraries, the .tre file must be imported and the runtime standard or
the section, Monitoring. industry software must be downloaded to the device. A mismatch of .tre file libraries
and the corresponding runtime software cause the device to stop running when the
device is downloaded. To import a new block library, you must export the entire
configuration, then import it with the new library .tre files located where the old files
used to be.
Modify the
function or
library Name.
Enter the
directory
related to the
function or
software
library.
Check if the
file is not to
be exported
Check to
enable
password
protection.
Enter a note
associated with
this function or
library.
The contents of a locked icon can be used within other items of the toolbox without
unlocking the icon by entering the correct password. However, to view contents of a
locked icon item, you must select that item and enter the password to unlock the
icon. Anytime a locked icon is accessed from the Outline View, the Enter
password dialog box displays.
Create/Delete Blockware
To insert blockware into a configuration
1. From the Outline View, select a blockware item.
Once an item exists, another item 2. From the Edit menu, select Insert First.
can be inserted by following the
Or, right-click and select Insert First. Depending on the item being configured, a
same steps, but select Insert
dialog box displays to name and define the item.
Next.
Note If a command name is grayed, it indicates that the command does not apply to
the current situation or that you need to make a selection or complete another action
before selecting the command.
Functions
A function is used to group inter-related modules. Each function can be exported to a
.tre file with the default name, funcname.tre.
To insert a function into a configuration
Once a function exists, another 1. From the Outline View, select Functions.
function can be inserted by
2. From the Edit menu, select Insert First.
following the same steps, but
select Insert Next. Or, right-click and select Insert First. The Function Name dialog box
displays (refer to the next section, Function Name).
Function items
display in the
Outline View.
Note Once a type definition exists, another can be inserted by following the same
steps, but select Insert Next. The item can also be deleted.
The Type Definition dialog box is also used to edit existing type definitions.
To edit a type definition
Or double-click the type 1. From the Outline View, select the type definition name.
definition name.
2. From the Edit menu, select Modify. The Type Definition dialog box displays.
3. From the Outline View, click the symbols next to the item System Data
and again next to Type Definitions to display the predefined type definitions
from the database.
Note Both scale and type definitions can be defined locally to a signal or pin and
display as -Custom- in the Signal Definition or Module Pin dialog list boxes.
These local definitions do not have names and do not display in the list boxes for
other signals (also, they cannot be put into the database because they do not have a
name).
Enter a description of
the scale definition
(50-character limit).
Signal
Definitions
Instanced and
override modules
are defined under
Module Definitions
Name Module
Check Inline to
Select an existing module insert an empty
definition. inline module and
define it later.
The same dialog box is used for both Module Pin and Macro Pin.
Refer to the section, Modules Inserting and editing module pins is limited to module definitions, inline modules,
Definitions and Modules. and override modules. Module pins are referenced in the modules blockware using
only the pin name. By maintaining the use of this name exclusively, the modules can
be re-used. This same method is used to make macro definitions re-usable.
Note Only the pin connection, period, and skew of an instanced module can be
changed from the module definition. Also, the module definition notes are not copied
to the instanced module. An instance specific note can be added to the instanced
module.
Select this box to Enter the Select these options to make the module pin a Hold,
mark the pin as a connection an Event, an I/O, or a Network. If the pin is connected
DLAN+ event. path for the to a Status_S signal and used in a task, that task is
pin. scheduled when the value of the signal changes, as
well as at the normally scheduled run times.
Revision allows you to keep track of changes to the macro definition. The
form of the revision must be V##.##.##A, where ## is at least two decimal
digits and the final A can be any alphabetic character. If the format is
entered incorrect, the toolbox replaces the revision string with V??.??.???.
Edit the name that was created
in the MacroDef Name dialog
box. It must not have more than
12 characters.
Enter the name of the pin that
enables the macro or select
from a list of defined pins in the
drop-down list box.
1. From the Outline View, under the item Macro Definitions, click beside
a module to display the item Pins.
2. Select Pins.
Or click the right-mouse button 3. From the Edit menu, select Insert First. The Macro Pin Name dialog box
and select Insert First. displays.
Change the name that was created in the Macro Pin Name dialog box. It can
Select from a list of data types, be up to seven characters long and must begin with an alphabetic character.
made up from all of the type Macro pins are not named with regions included.
definitions and basic types for this The text box below the name allows you to enter up to 50 characters to
controller. To create a locally describe the pin. Note: Sometimes this text box is used by HMI to describe
defined data type, select Custom diagnostic messages.
from the drop-down list. Then click
Editto add the specific
information for that locally defined
data type.
For more information, see the Note For Used and Wired pins, if just a macro instance is selected in the Outline
section, Macros, Macro View with tracking on, the Summary View displays all pins regardless of their
Definitions, and Macro Pins. visibility status.
Tip When either Pin or Signal is selected in the Enable options, a module pin or
signal name can also be typed in.
Macro
Task
Block
Macro
A macro in the item Macro Definitions displays as mac2. When the macro is inserted
in a task or another macro, it displays as a block because the name is preceded with a
block number and a colon (40:mac2). The pins display directly under the macro
name in its instanced form, instead of under the item Pins under the macro name.
Also, the item Blocks displays on the same level but below the instanced macro
items. Only one block or macro can be inserted at a time.
To insert a block or macro into a task
1. From the Outline View, select a task name.
Or right-click and select Insert 2. From the Edit menu, select Insert First. The Select Block/Macro Type
First. dialog box displays.
3. From the list, Category, select a block category, then select a block from the
block library. (The center text block displays either the Library or the Function
name.) Or, from the list Macros, select a macro.
4. Click OK or double-click the block/macro. The item is inserted under Task
name.
To delete a block or macro from a configuration
1. From the Outline View, select the desired item.
Or click 2. From the Edit menu, select Delete. Or, press the Delete key.
Note Blocks or macros that cannot be deleted (those that belong to either a macro
or an instanced module) disable the delete commands when they are selected in the
Outline View.
Rubber Blocks
When a block in inserted, all the block pins are included, except blocks with a
variable number of pins, known as rubber blocks, which insert only the first set of
pins. The block pins that are active only when they display are called rubber pins.
These blocks are handled differently because their functions can act on a number of
sets of pins, depending on how may pins are present. By showing only the active
pins, the diagrams are less cluttered and both the toolbox and runtime require less
memory.
An example of a rubber block with rubber pins is the _BENG block that is a relay
ladder diagram (RLD). The RLD can have from 1 to 16 different signals used in the
ladder. The block is a rubber block because it can stretch from using only one input
to using up to 16 inputs.
RLD Editor
To connect a block using the RLD editor
Or double-click the block name. 1. From the Summary View, select a Boolean block.
2. From the Edit menu, select Modify. The RLD editor displays.
Click To
Start the edit mode, where contacts can be moved, copied, and deleted.
Select a square, place the cursor over a grid square and click the left-mouse button.
Connect a contact to a signal or pin, double-click a contact. The Connect Contact dialog box
displays.
Move a contact, click the contact and drag-and-drop to the desired grid square.
Copy a contact, press and hold the Ctrl key, click the contact, and drag and drop to the desired
grid square.
Delete a contact or line segment, click a grid square and press Delete.
Start the drop mode, where a normally open contact can be dropped onto the grid square.
Connect a contact to a signal or pin, double-click a contact. The Connect Contact dialog box
displays.
Start the drop mode where a normally closed contact can be dropped onto the grid square.
Connect contacts, where as the cursor moves through the grid area, a green tracer segment
indicates where a line segment can be added. A red tracer segment indicates where a line
segment or a contact can be deleted (contacts cannot be moved or copied in this mode).
Validate and compress the RLD. Errors are identified with row and column numbers in the grid
square(s).
Select a pin and edit the note and connect any non-RLD related pins. This button displays the
Edit Block Connections dialog box.
Tip The drop-down list RLD Size provides different font sizes that enlarges or
reduces the RLD editor Work Area. If the Work Area is larger than the RLD window,
scroll bars display in order to access and view the entire workspace.
Note If the new numbers overlap with existing blocks, a dialog box displays to state
the overlap.
Pins can be effectively copied from one module type to a different module type or
from macro definition to macro definition. Currently, there is no way to transfer a
macro pin to a module or the reverse.
Another useful method using cut-and-paste is when two different devices are opened
in the same toolbox. The blockware items can be moved or copied from one device
to another. This makes moving entire functions very easy.
Also, portions of the blockware can be cut and pasted in a text editor, such as
Notepad using the Windows paste buffer. The text can be modified using the editor
and pasted back into the blockware (assuming none of the import rules are broken).
Tip Instead of using the Connect Block Pin dialog box, click a pin inside the
block work area. Drag-and-drop the pin.
Select this box to Enter the Select these options to make the module pin a Hold,
mark the pin as a connection an Event, an I/O, or a Network. If the pin is connected
DLAN+ event. path for the to a Status_S signal and used in a task, that task is
pin. scheduled when the value of the signal changes, as
well as at the normally scheduled run times.
To select an alarm in
CIMPLICITY, enter
the full path or the
file name (256-
character limit) in
CIMPLICITY Screen
or click Browse... .
Both macros and modules can be used to substitute specific portions of blockware at
instance time. This feature is called string substitution (refer to the next section,
String Substitution).
In the main part of the module definition, sub-strings to be substituted are keyed with
a %n where n = 0 through 9 or ^. Substitutions are most commonly made in the pin
connections to the macro or module with the substitution or connections of the
constituent blocks. Substitutions can also be made in notes or names like macros or
scales, although the normal rules of validation must not be broken.
Note When substitutions occur in the pin connections of the macro or module
definition, the pins must be disconnected at the inserted macro or module. Otherwise
the substitutions, as they are defined in the connections to the definition pins, will
not occur. This is because of the rule that all connections to macros and modules
must be respected. This also allows you to change these particular connections and
override them at the instance, if necessary.
Enter the initial substitution values that are applied as the module or macro is
inserted. To change the values that are substituted, reconnect the substitution pin and
instance the module or macro again. The result is shown in the following screen.
Database Commands
For more information, see Put Into Database writes signal and topology information to the database. Get
Chapter 10, Signals and the From database reads other devices information from the database and includes it in
Database. the device configuration. Both commands can be performed as Full or Incremental.
The toolbox must also put diagnostic symbol information into the database for other
devices in the system.
To put into database or get from database
If this command is not 1. From the Device menu, select Put Into Database or Get From Database.
available, verify the database
2. Select Full to include all information or Incremental for specific information.
and server name entered in the
Database options dialog box The Put Into database and Get From database commands allow devices to
(refer to Chapter 2, Using the share signals with other devices and drives on the network. The following table
Toolbox). defines the information that can be changed in either the device or the database by
these commands.
EX2100 Device Database Interface
Get from Put Topology Put Symbols
Information database into Database into Database
Note The toolbox can put diagnostic symbol information into the database. This is
signal information used by the HMI.
Or click From the Device menu, select Build. The Build options dialog box displays.
Click OK.
Note Errors sometimes occur during a build and like validation errors, the error
messages will display in the Log View.
Toolbox and
Serial Loader
Software
COM1 EX2100
Device Setup
The following steps define how to set up the device for the first time. It is assumed
that the toolbox and device are already installed in the pc.
To set up the device
1. Load the flash and configure TCP/IP with the Serial Loader over a serial cable
(see the section, Loading the Flash File System).
A soft reboot from the toolbox 2. Cycle power to activate the new IP settings.
is not sufficient.
3. From the toolbox, load the product code (runtime).
4. Then, load the application code (Pcode) and symbol files to permanent storage
only.
5. Cycle power again.
Controller PC
Pin Pin
Adapter Cable DCD 1 1 DCD
to Controller DSR 6 6 DSR
RD 2 2 RD
COM1 Port
RTS 7 7 RTS
TD 3 3 TD
CTS 8 8 CTS
DTR 4 4 DTR
RI 9 9 RI
GND 5 5 GND
A short adapter cable is required to plug into the device COM1 Micro-D size
connector. This cable can be ordered as part number 336A4929G1. The Serial
Loader can load the Flash File System and configure the TCP/IP software in the
device.
To connect the Loader serial cable
1. Connect the end of the cable to COM1 (9-pin connector) on the device.
2. Connect the end of the serial cable labeled UC2000 connector to the converter
cable.
3. Connect the end of the serial cable labeled pc COM Port to one of the pc COM
ports.
Click
to start the selected
commands.
Tip All IP addresses and masks are represented in dotted decimal notation,
within each of the four bytes of the address, separated with periods, such as
3.29.22.27. To determine the correct IP addresses and masks, see your network
administrator.
Note When all options are selected, the symbol table downloads first. The
application code is then downloaded to memory. If the download to memory
succeeds, the code is downloaded to permanent storage. If it fails, the download to
permanent storage is cancelled.
The device application files consists of Pcode files and diagnostic symbol table files.
Pcode can be downloaded to either the active RAM to replace the configuration that
is running, or to permanent storage. Permanent storage is flash memory for the
device and VME device.
Pcode can be downloaded to the device RAM in either an online mode, where the
configuration is switched over quickly, or offline where the device is completely
stopped and then restarted. It is usually beneficial to use the online download, but the
amount of configuration change could make this impossible.
A major difference means that the major revision in the toolbox is different from the
major revision in the device. A minor difference means that the minor revisions
differ, but the major revisions are the same. Equal means that both major and minor
revisions are the same. These differences all display in the Status Bar.
A bumpless download does not It is not always possible to download online. For example, when a change is made to
disrupt the control as a result the configuration that prevents the download from being bumpless, such as
of the download. numerous changes to signals in regard to their address tokens, or changes to scales or
I/O. In the toolbox, a major change is one that does not allow an online download.
These include changes caused by additions of hardware modules, or packing signals.
Packing involves reclaiming unused tokens (this does not include connecting signals
to points). Minor changes are any other changes to the configuration including
editing, inserting, or deleting blockware.
The status of changes to the configuration can be seen from the Summary View, as
shown below. The first example shows a configuration just built, the second has
minor changes, and the third has major changes.
Going Online/Offline
To see the live data from the Summary Views, it is necessary to be online
(communicating to an running device).
To go online
From the Device menu, select Online. Online blockware information can be
Or click monitored from the Status bar and the Summary View.
Status Bar
When online is initiated, it is indicated on the status bar in the lower right-hand
corner of the Device Window, shown below. The difference status and idle time of
the device replaces the word Offline when the device and toolbox are
communicating. The status bar also displays the enable value and heartbeat of any
tasks or blocks of tasks in the block flow diagram (Summary View) when the
diagram is active.
Click on the
element to
change.
Click Modify.
The Boolean or
Numeric Send
Value dialog
displays with
this element.
Right-click on the
window to access the
following shortcut
menu.
To insert a signal
1. From the Outline View, right-click on a signal to display a shortcut menu.
2. Select Insert Signal to open the toolbox Signal Selector dialog box.
3. Select a signal and click OK.
To delete a signal
From the Outline View, right-click on the signal, then select Delete Signal.
Or, select the signal and press the Delete button.
Note Signals can also be dragged-and-dropped into Watch Window from other
Watch Windows or the Outline View. Dragging an I/O point into a Watch Window
will display the point's attached signal, not the point.
File Menu
Device Menu
Online toggles the device online/offline to view live data values and enables the
Save Values command.
Save Values obtains the live values displaying in the Control Constant View and
puts them in the device configuration. Make these changes permanent by going to
the device window and saving the binary file.
Modes of Operation
The Control Constant View has two modes of operation, online and offline. The
offline view displays the Signal Name, Initial Value, Type, Scale, and Note for all
signals that are control constants.
To edit a control constant
Double-click a signal name. The Signal Edit dialog box displays.
In the online mode, the live Value displays (second column). Signal Names that have
differences between the live Value and Initial Value are marked with a red not-
equals symbol ().
Note In a control constant view, the live values can be saved to the configuration
online from the Device menu.
Block Diagrams
There are two types of block diagrams in the toolbox for a device configuration. The
annotated block diagram provides a large amount of information, such as a detail
description of the block, a diagram including pin names and data type, and
application notes. The block flow diagram can help you debug and troubleshoot the
system. This diagram can be used in an online mode together with other diagnostic
features in the toolbox.
Annotated Diagrams
The annotated diagram provides formal blockware documentation. The diagram can
be generated at many levels ranging from top level Function items to an individual
task or macro.
To create an annotated diagram
1. From the Outline View, select the desired Function, Module, Task, or Macro
for the diagram.
2. From File menu, select either Print (for a hard copy) or Print Preview (to
view from the screen).
The annotated diagram usually contains many items. Each function, module, module
definition, macro, macro definition, and task in the device will be identified as an
item. An item can contain other items or blocks on a lower level. For example, an
item with other items could be a function or module. A block that has other items
would be a task or macro definition. The number of items in a diagram depends on
the amount of code under the item, when selected from the Outline View.
Each item is assigned one or more sheets in the diagram. Each sheet has a unique
code for that particular item. The first page(s) of the diagram list all the items in the
If there are more than 26
diagram and their associated sheet codes. In each item, the sheets are designated A to
sheets, the code will designate
Z. The sheet codes display in the bottom right-hand corner of each sheet and all have
them AA to ZZ.
the same structure as follows:
Code Meaning
02:01A Sheet A of the first module in the second function.
05:02:03B Sheet B of the third task in the second module in the fifth function.
02:04:08CD Sheet CD of the eighth task, the fourth module in the second function.
The Comment block can be An item containing blocks can be logically divided into smaller items with a
found in the block library, Comment block (__COMMENT). This block causes a break in the block diagram,
Sblib.tre. which functionally creates level items in the task or macro definition level. All
blocks in the item after the Comment block display on a different sheet. If a note is
placed on the Comment block, it displays at the top of the new sheet. The block itself
does not display in the diagram.
Tip Many of the default printer settings can be edited before printing, such as
page orientation, resolution, margins, and paper sources. The type of printer and the
version of printer driver(s) installed determine editing choices. For more
information, see your printer or printer driver manual.
Page breaks divide the report The Block Flow diagram uses the Comment block to force page breaks. The pages of
information into orderly pages. the diagram are numbered in a row/column format. (This format makes it easy to
assemble the report on a wallboard.) The size and characteristic of the blocks can be
edited in the Block Diagram tab.
To edit the Block Diagram
1. From the Options menu, select Settings.
2. From the Settings dialog box, click the tab, Block Diagram.
Font size changes the font Change the Summary View tracking feature to display various levels
size of all text on the block of the hierarchy, when they are selected in the Outline View. Select
diagram. the item to display on the lowest level. The default is Task/Macro.
Introduction
This chapter defines the features of the Finder. The Finder is a separate window in
the toolbox, which contains several useful find tools. It can help you find items, such
as text, overrides, differences, and signal/variable usage from the different types of
devices.
Note The SDB Browser is another window that finds items, such as signal usage,
system topology, signals on the SDB, and more (refer to GEI-100506).
Section Page
5. Click . Once the search completes, the Output View and Status
bar display the results.
Tip By default, the Finder closes when the Find button is clicked or when you
click any part of the screen outside the Finder Window. Click to keep the
Finder open.
Toolbar
Output View
Status bar
The Finder target determines the device and area of the search. When the Finder is
activated, it automatically selects the current device as the target and displays it in
the Title bar. A target performs various finds, as follows:
Target Can find
SDB Signals
OC2000 Text
Hide the tabs and make the Finder window display only the Output View.
Target Finds
The Finder contains tabs that display according to the device selected in the drop-
down box, Target List and the tab selected (type of find). The following sections
describe each tab.
Refer to the SDB Browser in The Text/Address tab allows you to search for all text and address usage. It is
GEI-100506. available on all targets, except the SDB. The Signals/Variables tab allows you to
search for signals/variables in a controller, AcDcEx2000, EX2100, Mark VI or
Signals apply to a controller or
System Information. The Override tab and Differences tab displays only when the
System Information target.
target is an AcDcEx2000 device.
Variables apply to an
To perform a find
AcDcEx2000.
1. From the Outline View, click an item to search.
2. From the toolbar, click . The Finder displays to begin your search. Click
the desired tab as described in the following sections.
Status bar
Method allows you to qualify the find by selecting one of the following
from the drop-down box:
Anywhere In matches items that contain the find text anywhere within
their text.
Begins with matches items whose text begins with the find text.
Exact matches items whose text is exactly as the find text.
Address is for the AcDcEx2000 and matches items whose address is
the same as the find text. This method is also useful for finding
controller signal names related to token numbers, such as diagnostic
that have an out of date symbol file.
The Track
Item box is already
checked. This means
that the current
highlighted item in the
Outline View is the
signal/variable to find.
The signal/variable
items that are found
display in the Output
View.
Note When a different item is selected in the Outline View, the Find is performed
again. Click the option Track Highlighted Item to clear it and prevent the find
from performing each time the Outline View item changes.
Introduction
This chapter describes the Checkin/Checkout utility, which allows you to share files
contained in a master directory. The files in the Master Directory are checked out
into the specified Local Directory in either Share read (read-only) or Exclusive
(read/write) mode.
Initialization
Note This utility does not prevent the File Manager from overwriting the files in the
Master or Local Directory.
Note The Unlock command is unconditional (the file is not copied or changed in
any way). The user is responsible for managing the file. The read attribute is left
enabled on the master file.
Introduction
TXTV is the variable number of This chapter provides instructions for using the toolbox to configure System
parameters in the alarm Information. System Information is used to configure information global to a project.
message (TXT=text message This information includes data such as scale factors, DLAN+ groups,
V=variable). CIMPLICITY Human-Machine Interface (HMI) resource names, enumerations,
and broadcast (TXTV) alarm messages.
Once the configuration for System Information is defined, the data is put into the
System Database (SDB). This makes the global data available to other devices and
interfaces.
Section Page
Scale Definitions
Scale definitions are scale factors associated with signals. They are used to
Scale raw I/O into engineering units used internally by the blockware in a
controller or CIMPLICITY HMI system
Provide unit, precision, and limit information for a signal
The ownership of scale definitions, those of System Information as well as of other
devices, is maintained in the database.
Alarm Classes
An alarm class, which defines the attributes for a classification of alarms, is created
for each group of related alarms that share a common priority and color scheme.
Type Definitions
Resource Names
Resource names are stored within a special Type Definition named Resource. Any
signal put into the database can be associated with one resource name (just like a
signal can be associated with a scale definition). This Resource name groups signals
used by the CIMPLICITY HMI system. When some systems import signals into
CIMPLICITY, the resource name is used to determine which signals get imported.
(For example, you can import all the signals that have a resource name of Entry.)
The Resource name can also be used as a filter for displaying alarm/event data on a
CIMPLICITY HMI.
System Information defines and puts resource names into the database. This makes
the resource names available to other devices that can then assign them to
appropriate signals.
Enumerations
Type definitions defined as enumerations are stored in the system database when a
Put into Database command is started. These enumerations are global, and can be
used by other devices after they perform a Get from Database command. These
enumerations will be imported into CIMPLICITY and any enumerations associated
with signals will also be associated with the corresponding CIMPLICITY point.
Measurement System
The Measurement System defines the names of the two measurement systems. The
names are used for dual scales when creating a scale definition. Measurement
System 1 should be the primary measurement system used in the project. The default
name for System 1 is US, and the default name for System 2 is Metric.
Configuration
The following sections discuss System Information configuration.
Tip On many large processes, scales are defined in System Information, allowing
all controllers to use the global scale. To modify a scale, you can immediately open
the system information file instead of searching all the controllers to find the scale.
Note Both scale and type definitions can be defined locally to a signal or pin and
display as -Custom- in the Signal Definition or Module Pin dialog boxes. These
local definitions do not have names and do not display in the list boxes for other
signals. Also, a locally defined scale cannot be put into the database.
Enter a description of
the scale definition
(50-character limit).
DEFAULT (0)
PASSLINE2 (0)
PASSLINE1 (0)
EXIT (0)
PROCESS (0)
ENTRY (0)
After System Information puts its configuration into the SDB, values for each
resource name are assigned automatically by the database, as follows:
The enumerations are placed in the database with the Put into Database
command, which makes them available for use as a datatype by signals.
The HMI configuration will import all enumerations in the SDB into the
CIMPLICITY system. Any signals on EGD that use one of the global enumerations
as a datatype will have the corresponding CIMPLICITY point associated with the
CIMPLICITY enumeration.
Enter a Description of
up to 50 characters, if
desired.
Select Foreground
and Background
colors for the Normal
State, the Alarm State,
and the Acknowledge
State.
2. Click the Add button to display the Edit Overview Target Settings dialog
box.
The target
Name is the
name as it
appears on the
windows
metafile.
Two lines of
text can be
entered to
describe each
target.
Enter the
executable or
binary
configuration
file to be
associated with
the target.
The Summary View then displays the metafile with the target text. The command
associated with the target can be run by double-clicking the hyperlink in the metafile.
Introduction
This chapter describes the Graphics Window, which is used to create custom
graphics interfaces for customer and process requirements. It describes how to draw
the graphic objects and then attach animation and input data to the objects.
Section Page
Note If more than one device is open, you must select the one to configure for the
current Graphics Window.
Select Device
The default file name, Change the current device within the Graphics Window by selecting Device from
graphics_.grw can be changed the Draw menu.
when it is saved.
Click OK.
Edit Menu
The Edit menu commands allow you to modify graphic objects, and select animated
and input objects.
Or click . Cut removes the selected object and places it on the clipboard.
Or click . Copy duplicates the selected object and places it on the clipboard.
Or click . Paste inserts the object from the clipboard into the current file.
Or click . Delete removes the selected objects from the current file.
Or click . Push Back sends the selected object(s) behind other overlapping objects.
Or click . Pull Forward sends the selected object(s) in front of other overlapping objects.
View Menu
The View menu allows you to toggle the Toolbar and Status Bar.
Toolbars contains buttons to provide quick access to many commands and features.
There are five toolbars: Main, Drawing, Animation, Input, and Properties.
Status Bar displays information about a command, operation, or insertion point.
Online Substitution displays the current signal name aliases while connected to
a device (refer to the section, Signal Name Substitutions).
View Signal Summary displays a list of signals in use in the Graphics Window,
allowing quick changes.
Select selects an object(s). Click the object or press and hold the mouse button to
draw a box around the desired object(s). Multiple objects can also be selected by
Or click . pressing the Ctrl key while clicking on the objects. Then use one of the commands
listed below to create objects and backgrounds for the graphic interface.
Or click . Line creates a single line.
Insert Picture inserts a Windows metafile (.wmf) into the currently selected
Or click . rectangle object.
Device allows you to select the device for this graphic file (refer to the section,
Select Device).
Online connects the Graphics Window to the device over the network.
Or click . Bar Graph displays the value of a signal in bar graph form.
Or click . Trend displays the recent records of up to eight signals on a trend graph.
Or click . Text displays text strings based on the value of the source signal.
Or click . Color changes the color of the attached object based on the value of the source
signal.
Or click .
Property changes any property of the attached object based on the value of the
source signal.
Input Menu
The Input menu commands allow you to use graphics objects to change data online.
Or click . Initial Value makes the current signal value the initial signal value for all the
signals specified.
Or click .
Text selects a text string to define the value sent to the signal.
Or click .
Toggle inverts a signal from 0 to 1 or 1 to 0 (toggles state True/False).
Or click .
Event sets a signal as a result of an ActiveX Control event.
Or click .
Hyperlink... opens other applications, toolbox files, or help files.
Frame Size and Options allows you to set the height, width, background color,
and background image of the current screen. No objects can be drawn outside the
frame. Additional options include drawing a alignment grid, snapping objects to the
alignment grid, and suppressing undefined signal warnings when going online.
Or click . Pen Color sets the current pen color. This color is used for drawing the lines in all
objects. This includes the outside border around rectangles, circles, ellipses,
polygons, polylines, and text.
Or click . Pen Width sets the current width of all lines drawn (all objects except text).
Or click . Brush Color sets the current brush color and fills all objects used with the brush
command (also the background color for text).
Or click . Use Brush is a toggle command used to fill rectangles, circles, ellipses, and
polygons with the color selected in Brush Color.
Or click . Text Font selects the current font to use when drawing text.
Select Controls allows you to select which ActiveX objects can be inserted into
the Graphics Window with the Insert Object drawing tool.
Drag-and-Drop Data
The toolbox work area includes The drag-and-drop feature allows you to perform operations in the Graphics
the Outline and Summary Window by dragging objects on the screen with the mouse. For example, you can
Views. drag-and-drop a signal or pin from the toolbox work area to a Graphics Window.
Both the device and Graphics Window must be open.
To drag-and-drop a signal or pin to the Graphics Window
1. From the Graphics Window, select (highlight) an object with animation
attached, such as a rectangle.
2. From the Outline or Summary View, click a signal or pin and drag (hold the
mouse button down) it on top of the rectangle in the Graphics Window and drop
(release the mouse button).
Or, create a new numeric animation automatically by dragging the signal or pin onto
an empty space in the Graphics Window.
These objects can be moved, In the Graphics Window, the name of the signal or pin displays as a text object, and
sized, and modified. the value defaults to numeric animation, which displays the signal/pin data.
Properties Toolbar
Use the Properties toolbar to When you select an object, the properties toolbar is filled with named attributes of
quickly modify any drawing that object. This allows quick changes to drawing objects and inserted ActiveX
object. Controls. The following properties are common to all controls:
Or click . 1. From the Settings menu, select Pen Color. The Color palette box displays.
2. Click the desired color and click OK.
Or, create a custom color by clicking one of the custom color squares, and click
Define Custom Colors >>.
Or click . From the Settings menu, select Pen Width. The Pen Width dialog box
displays.
Enter an integer
between 1 and 10.
Click OK.
Note If the Brush Color (fill) and Pen Color are the same when text is added,
only the background will display. The text blends into the background.
Or click . 1. From the Settings menu, select Brush Color. The Color palette box
displays.
2. Click the desired color.
Or, create a custom color by clicking on one of the custom color squares, and click
Define Custom Colors >>.
To fill an object with color
A check mark ( Use Brush) 1. From the Settings menu, select Use Brush.
displays beside the command
2. From the Draw menu, select the desired object. The object will be filled with
when it is active.
the color selected in Brush Color.
Or click . From the Settings menu, select Text Font. The Font dialog box displays.
Select a Font, a
Font style, and a
Size.
Your selected
font displays in
the Sample text
box.
Click OK.
The text displays
in the Graphics
Window. It can be
selected and
moved, or edited.
Note To add a text background color, refer to the section, Brush Color and Use
Brush. Use Brush must be checked to show a background color.
Note ActiveX controls are frequently designed for a particular container. Such
controls may not work in Graphics Windows as expected, and may even cause the
toolbox to fail. The recommended use of ActiveX Graphics Window screens is for
custom functionality, such as alarm windows.
Note When a new Graphics Window is created, only the controls distributed with
toolbox are checked by default.
From the
Draw menu, Then,
select. . . Or click. . . click and hold the left-mouse button,
Line Drag to the desired line length and release the button. The line is drawn in the
current pen color and pen width.
Rectangle Move the mouse to the opposite corner of the rectangle and release the
button. The rectangle is drawn with the current pen color and pen width and
filled with the brush color*.
Circle At the center of the circle, drag the mouse to the outside radius, and release
the button. The circle is drawn with the current pen color and pen width and
filled with the brush color*.
Ellipse At the center of the ellipse, drag the mouse to the outside X and Y radius, and
release the button. The ellipse is drawn with the current pen color and pen
width and filled with the brush color*.
Polygon At the first vertex, release the mouse, and move to the next vertex and click
the button. Move the mouse to each of the other vertexes and click the button.
When the last vertex is drawn, click the right-mouse button. A line will be
drawn between the last vertex and the first vertex. The polygon is drawn with
the current pen color and pen width and filled with the brush color*.
Polyline At the first vertex, release the mouse and move to the next vertex and click the
button. Move the mouse to each of the other vertexes and click the button.
When the last vertex is drawn, click the right-mouse button. A polyline cannot
be filled with the brush color because it is not a closed object.
Text At the text location, release the mouse and enter text. Press Enter or click the
left-mouse button to end. The text is drawn using the current font and color.
The brush color will be used for the background (if selected).
Insert Object Use this tool in the same manner as the Rectangle tool. The ActiveX Control
will be inserted into the rectangular area you select. When you release the left-
mouse button, the Insert ActiveX Control dialog will appear to let you select
which object to insert.
* The Use Brush command must be selected to fill an object with the color selected
in the command Brush Color.
Or select multiple objects by 1. Click to select the draw tool and draw a box around all desired objects. The
pressing the Ctrl key while box must include all portions of all objects. All selected objects have handles.
clicking on the objects.
2. Click . A group outline box appears around the entire group.
3. Once the object has been grouped, it can be moved and resized just like any
other drawing object. Click the Group button again to ungroup the object.
Click OK.
Note The controls must be selected in the Select ActiveX Controls dialog.
Insert Picture
The Insert Picture command allows you to insert a custom graphic created in
Visio Technical. Use the following guidelines:
All drawings must be created using Visio Technical (Version 4.1 minimum).
Drawings must not include Visio text fields at the top of the drawing. The
Graphics Window inserts these text fields incorrectly.
Save the drawing as a Windows metafile (.wmf).
The .wmf must be inserted into a rectangle created in the Graphics Window.
Note Windows metafile images from other sources may not work.
To insert a picture
1. Draw a rectangle using the Graphics Window drawing tools. The rectangle
serves as a frame for the picture.
2. Click the rectangle to select it.
Or click . 3. From the Draw menu, select Insert Picture. The Insert Picture dialog box
displays.
3. Click Value Return and select a Return (value) for this object to
display a value of a signal (refer to the next section, Value and Enable Return).
4. Click Enable Return and select a Return (value) for this object
to enable and disable the object based on a value (refer to the next section, Value
and Enable Return).
5. Configure each object as directed by the field definition of the dialog box.
Compare
The Compare Return produces a value related to the first comparison that is True.
This is most useful in the text and color animation.
Return is used to
produce a value to this
Maximum Return.
Minimum
The Minimum Return produces the minimum value of the Returns that are attached
to it.
Return is used to
produce a value to this
Minimum Return.
Return is used to
produce a value to this
Average Return.
Numeric Animation
Numeric animation displays the live value of a signal. It must be attached to a text
object.
Note Brush colors (fill) only apply if the object is drawn with the Use Brush
setting active or if the Use Brush setting is active when the object is selected.
Click to attach and detach animation to the object. A checked box contains animation.
Note: If you detach (uncheck) this option and click OK, the animation is deleted unless
you previously saved the .grw file.
Note Brush (fill) colors only apply if the object is drawn with the Use Brush
setting active or if the Use Brush setting is active when the object is selected.
Click to attach and detach animation to the object. A checked box contains animation.
Note: If you detach (uncheck) this option and click OK, the animation is deleted unless
you previously saved the .grw file.
Note Brush colors (fill) only apply if the object is drawn with the Use Brush setting
active or if the Use Brush setting is active when the object is selected.
Click to attach and detach animation to the object. A checked box contains animation.
Note: If you detach (uncheck) this option and click OK, the animation is deleted
unless you previously saved the .grw file.
Tip To select an object, click or select Select from the Draw menu.
Or click the associated Input 2. From the Input menu, select an input to assign to the object.
button located on the Input
Toolbar.
To edit an input value
Double-click the input object. The assigned input dialog box displays to edit.
Numeric
The Numeric input field enters numerical data into a signal in the controller from the
object selected in the Graphics Window.
High Limit and Low Limit are used to set the maximum and minimum
value that is sent by this input field.
Off does no limit check.
On uses the values entered into high limit and low limit.
Auto uses the values from the scale data for signal.
Setpoint
The Setpoint input field sets a signal in the device to the assigned value of the object
selected in the Graphic Window.
Initial Value
The Initial Value input field makes the current signal value the initial value for all
the signals specified.
Toggle Command
The Toggle command performs a Boolean inversion, converting the signal from
True to False or False to True.
The Event Handler can send any property from any named object. An object is
Named if its Name property has been set.
To name an object
1. Select an object in the Graphics Window.
2. Make sure that the Property Toolbar is visible. If it is not visible, from the View
menu, select Toolbars, and Properties.
3. In the Properties toolbar, for the Name, click in the edit field (in the Values
column). Type a name of up to 32 characters.
To create a hyperlink
1. Select an object.
Click , then select Select
from the Draw menu. 2. From the Input menu, select Hyperlink. The HyperLink dialog box displays.
Or click .
Launches Program creates a hyperlink that runs a file type external to
toolbox, such as spreadsheets and drawings. It also allows hyperlinks to
execute DOS command lines, including processing switch parameters.
Open Toolbox File creates a hyperlink that opens only toolbox file types,
such as Trend Recorders (.trd) and Graphics Windows (.grw).
Open Help File creates a hyperlink that runs the Windows Help engine
and opens the help file.
Check to attach the hyperlink to the Automatically close source Graphics Window causes the current
object and uncheck to detach. screen to close before executing the hyperlink.
Tip If Launches Program is selected, you can enter a document file registered in
Windows. The associated application that opens the file will then run.
When entering the Command Line, you must place the switches and/or parameters in
double quotes to be recognized by DOS. (c:\acdcex.exe "/s /p /w /c:\directory")
7. Click Value Return to obtain a signal value for the animation. The Select
Return dialog box displays.
9. Enter the signal name or click Browse for signals in the current device.
10. Click OK to complete the signal, and click OK to complete the animation.
11. Place the device online to view the live values.
Click to go online.
3. Verify the high and low limits for the value. If necessary, change these limits.
4. Verify the direction. If necessary, change these settings.
5. Change the standard Alarm Colors to be different from the background color.
6. Place the device online to see the live values on the bar graph.
6. Modify the value and click Send to leave the dialog box active, or click OK to
close the dialog box.
2. Enter the desired value or signal name into each substitution field. Click OK.
When configuring animation or input return strings, enter the substitution
character(s) for the desired signal. When the controller goes online, the substitution
character(s) are replaced with the value(s) or signal name(s) entered in the dialog box
above.
Note Any number of characters (defined above) can be used in the Return
Value/Signal dialog box to form the signal name.
Double-click the live value to modify a live signal or point. For Boolean signals and
all points, this dialog box includes a checkbox to force the signal.
Note This is the same dialog box used to enter substitutions, except it cannot be
edited (refer to the previous section, Signal Substitutions).
Introduction
This chapter defines the device networks and I/O used in the toolbox. It includes
configuring a network interface, and signal and I/O connections used in blockware.
Section Page
I/O and Network Interface........................................................................................9-1
Dual Port Memory Interface.....................................................................................9-5
EGD Interface...........................................................................................................9-6
Main Board.............................................................................................................9-12
Register Network....................................................................................................9-16
Inputs written to
signal space before
a task runs
Outputs written
from signal space
after a task runs
A signal can be connected to more than one point. If one of the points is an input and
one is an output, the device transfers the value of the point from the input to the
output through the signal. This I/O transfer occurs regardless of whether the signal is
used in a task. The runtime process that performs this function periodically in the
background (during idle time) is called the I/O mapper, since it maps inputs to
outputs.
To insert I/O and network items, the correct platform must be selected from the
device properties.
To edit device properties
1. From the Outline View, double-click the device name. The Device
Properties dialog box displays.
2. Select the Platform from the drop-down list. Click OK.
Note Exchange is a CIMPLICITY term that means the same as the term page in
the toolbox. Exchanges provide a way to share live signals (variables) over Ethernet.
The network is assigned a default name (EGD1), number (0) and IP address. To edit
the settings, refer to the next section, Edit EGD.
Edit EGD
The dialog box displays a default name (EGD1), number (0) and IP address.
A default name is assigned when the EGD
is inserted. For the SDB, put the controller
name into the database to make it
available to other controllers (Refer to the
SDB Browser in the View menu).
Note Once the EGD network is inserted under Hardware and I/O Definitions in the
Outline View, the EGD exchanges must be inserted.
To insert an exchange
1. From the Outline View, click the EGD network name to highlight it.
Or right-click and select Insert 2. From the Edit menu, select Insert First.
First.
The item Exch1 is inserted under the item, EGD network. The default name of the
exchange is Exch# (where # is the number of exchanges owned by this device).
Note Once an exchange exists, another item can be inserted by following the same
steps, but select Insert Next.
Whenever a point is deleted from an exchange (in the Outline View), that space is
not reclaimed. All devices referencing that exchange must update from the database.
This loss of memory can be seen in the % Loss field of the Internal Exchange
Settings dialog box. To reclaim this lost space, compress the exchange. The
following Warning displays:
Note External Exchanges cannot be modified. A message box displays stating that
you are not the owner.
EGD external exchanges have two built-in diagnostic mechanisms: exchange healthy
and link presence. The link presence for a device is True whenever messages are
being received from that device. When the exchange healthy for a device is True,
feedback messages are being received from that device. When the health of a
variable (signal) connected exclusively to an EGD point is used in blockware, the
exchange healthy is actually the value used.
When the device gets information from the database, exchange zero is inserted into
the network and is called LINK. This exchange holds a list of signals called link
presence bits, which are set whenever an EGD message is received from a device. If
no messages arrive for a device in 1.28 seconds, the value of the link presence signal
goes to zero. These signals can be used in blockware like any other signal. The form
of the name is NET\DEV\HEALTHY where NET is the name of the network and DEV
is the name of the device.
The health address is provided Edit Signal displays the Signal Edit dialog
for signals that need health, such box. The button is only active when the
DLAN+ and Genius. point is being inserted.
Tip EGD points can be created in the Outline View by using drag-and-drop to
insert a signal definition in the exchange item. This point data type is compatible
with the data type of the signal being dropped. The direction is assumed to be a
feedback. Modify the point data type using the Internal EGD Point Settings
dialog box.
1. Click to go online.
2. From the Outline View, click the point. A diagram of the point and its
connection to a scale and signal display in the Summary View.
3. From the Summary View, double-click the actual point value or signal value.
The appropriate Edit dialog box displays.
The list of signals and their corresponding NOVRAM locations must be static for the
device to restore values to the proper signals. Therefore, never move NOVRAM
points. The NOVRAM Edit dialog box displays statistics on memory space. It also
displays the option to sort the page order and the command to compress the memory
space, if required.
Note Only compress the page if a large % space is lost and not enough % space is
free to add the required data.
Modifications to the NOVRAM are shown in the Version number, such as 1.0. The
major number (1) increases whenever the page is compressed. The minor number (0)
increases when a point is added or deleted. This version number is used by the
runtime to know when to initialize the signal from NOVRAM when the device starts
up. If the major number changes, nothing is transferred to local memory when the
device starts. If the minor number changes, then only the points that have not
changed are transferred to local memory.
Enter the name of the signal related to this View the signal note to make sure
point. Click Browse... to select a signal. this is the correct signal.
Sometimes a NOVRAM point is also mapped to another input point from a network.
When the device starts up, the signal is restored to the value stored in NOVRAM. In
addition, the input point is given the same restored value so that the first I/O transfer
from the point to the signal cannot give it meaningless values.
Signals that are forced in the device are saved in NOVRAM and are not lost when
the device is restarted. These force values are not restored if the major revision of the
application code changes because it is possible that the addresses of the signals may
have all changed. The NOVRAM is divided such that using all of the 512 points
available should not infringe on the memory available for forced points.
NOVRAM points can be added to the list of points using drag-and-drop. Drag the
signal onto the item NOVRAM in the Outline View. The point name and data types
are assigned automatically based on the signal that is dragged.
Select Ethernet
SRTP and click OK.
The SRTP
Interface Settings
dialog box displays
(refer to the next
section).
SRTP Settings
The ETH_SRTP Network Settings dialog box is shown below.
Click OK.
Pg1 is inserted.
Note To modify the pages and points, refer to the sections, Modify Page Settings
and Modify Point Settings.
Serial/Ethernet Modbus
Serial/Ethernet Modbus interface provides communication between the EX2100 and
non-GE controllers using the Serial RS-232C connection, Ethernet or both.
RS-485 is used for multiple
Communication with the remote controller is implemented using register pages. The
devices.
register maps may be independent or shared (overlapping).
To insert a Modbus
1. Click Hardware and I/O Definitions.
Or click the right-mouse button 2. From the Edit menu, select Insert First. The New I/O or Network
and select Insert First. Interface dialog box displays.
Select Serial/Ethernet
Modbus and click OK.
Right-mouse click on
<name> Serial Modbus
Interface. Select Insert
First.
Pg1 is inserted.
Note To modify the pages and points, refer to the sections, Modify Page Settings
and Modify Point Settings.
Right-mouse click on
Register Network.
Select Insert First.
Pg1 is inserted.
Tip To modify pages and points, refer to the following sections, Modify Page
Settings and Modify Point Settings.
% Allocated is the
percentage of page
memory that is
allocated.
% Free is the Click to keep the Click to unlock all signals and Click to reclaim all
percentage of page memory location of allow the memory location of lost memory.
memory remaining. points with signals points that have signals to
% Lost is the amount on the page. change.
of memory that is lost
by deleting signals in
the page and not
compressing.
Introduction
This chapter defines signals and their sources. It also defines the topological
information in the database. The database is a collection of signals, scales, and other
topological information, which all devices in a system share for communication.
Devices place information into the database with the command Put Into Database.
and obtain information with Get From Database. There are two databases:
System and Unified System.
System Database (SDB) is a Windows-based client/server database, which uses .dbf
files for storing data.
Unified System Database (USDB) is an Informix SQL relational client/server
database, which runs on a LynxOs-based PC.
Section Page
Signal Concepts......................................................................................................10-1
SDB ......................................................................................................................10-10
Signal Concepts
Signals are the placeholders for memory locations in the toolboxs different
platforms. Signals also connect both the pins in blockware and blockware to the
points in hardware. They are created by signal definitions and pins as part of
blockware. Every block, macro, or module that is inserted has a signal associated
with its pins.
For more information, refer to Signals exist in the database only when they are mapped (connected) to a network
the section, SDB. I/O point and the device configuration command, Put Into Database is used.
When a signal is put into the database, it is made available to other devices to get.
GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database 10-1
Signals can be created by:
Inserting a signal definition
Get From Database command
Inserting an item of blockware in a controller
EX2100 Signals
In the Outline View, controller signal definitions are inserted under the item Signal
Definitions (under the items Functions or Macro and Module Libraries). Signal
definitions are also placed under the item System Data, under the items External
Signal Definition and Undefined Signal Definition, using the command, Get From
Database. Also, in the item System Data, a list of LINK_OK signals are placed
under the item Network Signal Definitions.
System Data
Macro and
Module Libraries
Functions
10-2 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100
Macro Pin vs. Module Pin
An EX2100 signal is defined in a macro pin or module pin before instancing. The
following table provides guidelines on how and when to define a pin.
Signal/Pin Connection
Signals are created by signal definitions or for pins as part of blockware. Every
block, macro, or module that is inserted has a signal associated with its pins. When a
signal is created:
A block pin or instanced macro pin is automatically named based on the pin
name and block number. They are referenced from pins on other blocks using
# :pin_name (# is the block number : name of pin). There is no signal
description associated with this signal. This signal can only be used within the
same level of code. If the block is in a macro, it can only be used within that
macro and if the block is in a task, it can only be used within that task.
A module instanced pin or inline module pin are global to the device. They
can be connected to a Status_S variable or an I/O point. The signal name is in
the form R1\R2\R3\module_pin_name, where R1\R2\R3 was specified when the
module was instanced.
A signal definition is also global to the device. It can be connected to a
Status_S variable or an I/O point. The signal name is in the form
R1\R2\R3\signal_name. A scale factor can be attached to the signal.
GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database 10-3
Pins are connected to other pins or signals to make blockware function in a
prescribed way. A connection is generally indicated in the Outline View by a name
in parentheses following the pin name, such as:
For more information, refer to Pin connections display in a hierarchy that can be seen in the Finder under the
Chapter 5, Finder. Signal/Variable Usage tab, as shown.
The hierarchy reflects the way pins and signals are connected. Each item in the list
references the item in the level above it. A signal hierarchy, excluding I/O points, is
represented in Pcode by a single address token. This means that only one initial value
or scale is used and the top level is the source of such information.
It is important to recognize the directional nature of connections to obtain the correct
data type. Pins with a collection data type, such as Analog or Simple, must reference
For a list of data types, refer to
pins with non-collection data types. Referencing incorrectly causes a validation
Chapter 2, Using the Toolbox.
error. Correct the error by reversing the direction of the connection or by creating a
pin and referencing that pin.
10-4 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100
Attaching Signals to I/O
I/O points found under the item Hardware and I/O Definitions can be used in
blockware only when they are connected to signals. The Summary View below
displays an example of the connected signal and scale.
The I/O mapper task is a program that transfers inputs to outputs in the controller.
The toolbox creates I/O transfer Pcode records for any signal connected to both input
and output points. Similar records are also created for tasks that have signals with
I/O points connected to block pins.
More than one point can be connected to a signal. These multiple connections direct
the mapper task to move inputs to outputs using I/O transfers, although the signal is
not used in any task. To have more than one input point results in a validation error.
However, it is possible to connect multiple output points to this signal, along with a
single input point.
Scale factors are associated with signals and not points, so that all points connected
to a particular signal will all use the same scale factor. When the input transfer
occurs, the raw counts are converted to engineering units used by the blockware.
When the output transfer occurs, the engineering units are converted to raw counts.
GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database 10-5
Special Signal Properties
Properties of certain signals can be accessed in blockware and used as part of the
normal logic by preceding the name of the pin or signal, as follows:
Proceed the inverse of a Boolean signal with a tilde symbol ~.
Proceed the health of any signal connected to an I/O point, (Boolean value) with
the number symbol #.
A signals health status indicates whether the associated point is functioning as
intended. The value of the signal health varies depending on the points to which the
signal is connected.
For more information on A scale can be attached to either a signal definition or module pin definition. Any
defining scales, refer to signal can be mapped to a network page owned by the device. When the command
Chapter 4, the section, Scale Put Into Database is used, all the signals and any scales attached are put into the
Definitions. SDB. The scale is now available to other devices using the command Get From
Database. These scale definitions display under the items System Data/External
Scale Definitions, as shown below:
10-6 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100
Signal Selector
The Signal Selector dialog box allows you to select a signal for the various
functions in the toolbox.
To select a signal
1. In the Outline View, select Functions, Signal Definition, then right-click the
signal name and select Modify. The Edit Signal definition dialog box
displays.
2. Click the Browse... button to display the Signal Selector dialog box shown
below.
Double-click on the
region to select
signals from.
A list of available
signals displays.
Double-click to
select the desired
signal.
A description of the
selected signal
displays here.
GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database 10-7
In the example above, a specific Network, a Device, and a Data Type are selected
from drop-down menus to display just those selected signals.
Another method of selecting a desired filter region is to click the Browse Region
button. The Select a Region dialog box displays.
10-8 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100
Click the Attributes button on the SDB Signal Browser dialog
box to define the columns displayed in the list box in the Select Signal Fields to
View dialog box.
The Add All, Add, Remove, and Remove All buttons move signals from the left
list box to the right.
GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database 10-9
SDB
For more information, refer to The SDB is a client/server Windows-based database that uses .dbf files for storing
GEI-100506. data. Only the device that owns the topology and signal data can put that information
into the SDB. There is no separate import program.
Select the database from the Options menu, Settings option, and Database tab.
The SDB:
Can be created from the toolbox as long as the SDB server is running.
Is specified by a path-qualified sub-directory where the database is stored. The
SDB name must include a drive letter.
I/O points and internal signals that can be put into the database are stored in the
signal table.
10-10 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100
Put Into Database
The command Put Into Database provides information for other devices in the
system. The command Get From Database allows the devices to obtain this
information. All devices put the same information into the database depending on the
configuration (except the System Device). The following data can be put into the
database:
Device information (topology data), such as device name, type, and number.
Network information (topology data), such as the networks connected to the
device, pages associated with each network connection, and drop numbers when
applicable.
Signals owned by the device and mapped to pages owned by the device.
Scales owned by the device, which are attached to signals that get put into the
database.
The Put Into Database command puts the device signals that are connected to
networks into the SDB.
To put information into the database
1. From the Device menu, select Put Into Database. The toolbox displays the
message box shown below, indicating which server will be used and the
database. If any of this information is incorrect, click No to cancel the operation.
2. Click Yes to continue the command, Put Into Database. The Error Log
View displays the present state and status of the command.
GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database 10-11
Get From Database
This command also allows the The Get From Database command searches for undefined signals in the database.
device to obtain the actual Then, the database server returns signal attributes and the signals are assigned
value of the signal from the owners. The owners are the external devices on the same network as the device
network interface during performing the get. The signal attributes returned by the database are used for
runtime. building the devices Pcode. Get From Database also allows the device to obtain
the actual value of the signal from the network interface during runtime.
To get information from database
1. From the Device menu, select Get From Database. The toolbox displays the
following message box, indicating which server will be used and the database. If
any of this information is incorrect, click No to cancel the command.
2. Click Yes to continue the command. The Error Log View displays the present
state and status of the command.
An example is shown below. The signals are displayed under the item External
Signal Definitions.
Tip During the command Get From Database, the toolbox creates a list of all
signals that are used and not owned by the device. It then attempts to find them in the
database. The signals that are found are placed under System Data/External Signal
Definitions. They are also shown as points in the devices external page under
Hardware and I/O Definitions.
If signals are not found in the database, a message box displays to create Undefined
Signals Definitions. If undefined signals are created, they are displayed under the
item UnDefined Signal Definitions, as shown below.
10-12 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100
Signals found in the
database and not
owned by the
device are compiled
here.
Scale Results
When a scale is associated with a signal, the scale name and information is included
with the signal. Global scale definitions do not change as often as signal usage. So,
after getting topology and signals, a dialog box displays to Get Scales. Click No and
receive a warning that scales were not received and previously defined external
scales were not touched. Click Yes and the item Externally Defined Scales is
replaced with all the scales defined in the database.
Note Get scales returns all the scales in the SDB, including those owned by this
device. However, these scales are ignored by the device since it is the owner.
Global Enumerations
System Configuration can define Enumeration Type definitions, which are global.
When System Configuration performs a Put into Database command, these
enumerations are stored in the SDB. Any device that performs a Get from
Database command will get these global enumerations, along with signals, scales,
and other data. These global enumerations are stored as shown below.
GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database 10-13
Notes
10-14 Chapter 10 Signals and the Database GEH-6414D Toolbox for an EX2100
Glossary of Terms
AcDcEx2000
Refers to the dc drives (DC2000), ac drives (AC2000), and exciters (EX2000), which
are all referenced in the combined device type name. These three devices can use the
same application control boards and devices in the toolbox.
application code
Software that controls specific machines or processes.
ARCNET
Attached Resource Computer Network. A LAN communications protocol developed
by Datapoint Corporation. The physical (coax and chip) and datalink (token ring and
board interface) layer of a 2.5 MHz communication network which serves as the ba-
sis for DLAN+. See DLAN+.
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. An 8-bit code used for data.
attributes
Information, such as location, visibility, and type of data that sets something apart
from others. In signals, an attribute can be a field within a record.
baud
A unit of data transmission. Baud rate is the number of bits per second transmitted.
BIOS
Basic input/output system. Performs the boot-up, which includes hardware self-tests
and the file system loader. The BIOS is stored in EEPROM and is not loaded from
the toolbox.
bit
Binary Digit. The smallest unit of memory used to store only one piece of informa-
tion with two states, such as One/Zero or On/Off. Data requiring more than two
states, such as numerical values 000 to 999, requires multiple bits (see Word).
board
Printed wiring board.
Boolean
Digital statement that expresses a condition that is either True or False. In the tool-
box, it is a data type for logical signals.
bus
An electrical path for transmitting and receiving data.
bumpless
No disrupt to the control when downloading.
byte
A group of eight binary digits (bits) operated on a single unit.
CMOS
Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor.
collection
A group of signals found on the same network. The Trend Recorder can be config-
ured by adding collections.
COM port
Serial controller communication ports (two). COM1 is reserved for diagnostic infor-
mation and the Serial Loader. COM2 is used for I/O communication
configure
To select specific options, either by setting the location of hardware jumpers or load-
ing software parameters into memory.
datagrams
Messages sent from the controller to I/O blocks over the Genius network.
device
A configurable component of a process control system.
DLAN+
GE Industrial System's LAN protocol, using an ARCNET controller chip with modi-
fied ARCNET drivers. A communications link between exciters, drives, and control-
lers, featuring a maximum of 255 drops with transmissions at 2.5 MBs.
gateway
A device that connects two dissimilar LANs or connects a LAN to a wide-area net-
work (WAN), PC, or a mainframe. A gateway can perform protocol and bandwidth
conversion.
download gateway
A controller that communicates to Ethernet and DLAN+, running the special soft-
ware that can download an OC2000.
Ethernet
LAN with a 10/100 MB baud collision avoidance/collision detection system used to
link one or more computers together. Basis for TCP/IP and I/O services layers that
conforms to the IEEE 802.3 standard, developed by Xerox, Digital, and Intel.
event
A property of Status_S signals that causes a task to execute when the value of the
signal changes.
fault code
A message from the controller to the HMI indicating a controller warning or failure.
Finder
A subsystem of the toolbox for searching and determining the usage of a particular
item in a configuration.
firmware
The set of executable software that is stored in memory chips that hold their content
without electrical power, such as EEPROM.
flash
A non-volatile programmable memory device.
font
One complete collection of letters, punctuation marks, numbers, and special charac-
ters with a consistent and identifiable typeface, weight, posture, and size.
forcing
Setting a live signal to a particular value, regardless of the value blockware or I/O is
writing to that signal.
gateway
A device that connects two dissimilar LAN or connects a LAN to a wide-area net-
work (WAN), PC, or a mainframe. A gateway can perform protocol and bandwidth
conversion.
Genius bus
GE Fanucs distributed network of intelligent I/O blocks.
Graphic Window
A subsystem of the toolbox for viewing and setting the value of live signals.
groups
See Resources.
health
A term that defines whether a signal is functioning as expected.
heartbeat
A signal emitted at regular intervals by software to demonstrate that it is still active.
hexadecimal (hex)
Base 16 numbering system using the digits 0-9 and letters A-F to represent the deci-
mal numbers 0-15. Two hex digits represent 1 byte.
initialize
To set values (addresses, counters, registers, and such) to a beginning value prior to
the rest of processing.
I/O
Input/output interfaces that allow the flow of data into and out of a device.
I/O drivers
Interface the controller with input/output devices, such as sensors, solenoid valves,
and drives, using a choice of communication networks.
I/O mapping
Method for moving I/O points from one network type to another without needing an
interposing application task.
instance
Update an item with a new definition.
item
A line of the hierarchy of the Outline View of the toolbox, which can be inserted,
configured, and edited (such as Function or System Data).
logical
A statement of a true sense, such as a Boolean.
macro
A group of instruction blocks (and other macros) used to perform part of an applica-
tion program. Macros can be saved and reused.
model
Interactive setup data (recipe) that automatically adjusts to the process. This function
is usually used with hot mills or cold mills.
module
A collection of tasks that have a defined scheduling period.
non-volatile
The memory specially designed to store information even when the power is off.
online
Online mode provides full CPU communications, allowing data to be both read and
written. It is the state of the toolbox when it is communicating with the system for
which it holds the configuration. Also, a download mode where the device is not
stopped and then restarted.
pcode
A binary set of records created by the toolbox, which contain the controller applica-
tion configuration code for a device. Pcode is stored in RAM and Flash memory.
period
The time between execution scans for a Module or Task. Also a property of a Mod-
ule that is the base period of all of the Tasks in the Module.
period multiplier
A property of a Task that permits the Tasks execution rate to be a multiple of its
Modules period.
pin
Block, macro, or module parameter that creates a signal used to make interconnec-
tions.
PLC
Programmable Logic Controller. Designed for discrete (logic) control of machinery.
It also computes math (analog) function and performs regulatory control.
realtime
Immediate response. It refers to process control and embedded systems, and fast
transaction processing systems that must respond instantly to changing conditions.
reboot
To restart the controller.
recipe
Information for process line or paper mill that provides setup data, such as speed,
length, and tension.
register page
A form of shared memory that is updated over a network. Register pages can be cre-
ated and instanced in the controller and posted to the SDB.
Resources
Also known as groups. Resources are systems (devices, machines, or work stations
where work is performed) or areas where several tasks are carried out. Resource con-
figuration plays an important role in the CIMPLICITY system by routing alarms to
specific users and filtering the data users receive.
runtime
See product code.
runtime errors
controller problems indicated on the front panel by coded flashing LEDS and also in
the Log View of the toolbox.
sampling rate
The period that values are collected to put in a sample set.
Serial Loader
Connects the controller to the toolbox PC using the RS-232C COM ports. The Serial
Loader initializes the controller flash file system and sets its TCP/IP address to allow
it to communicate with the toolbox over Ethernet.
service
Functionality derived from a particular software program. For example, the Recorder
Service transmits and provides conversion of data in the SDB.
signal
The basic unit for variable information. Signals are the placeholders for memory lo-
cations in the toolboxs different platforms.
simulation
Running a system without all of the configured I/O devices by modeling the behavior
of those devices in software.
skew
A property of modules that allows a module to execute at a different time slice than
other modules with the same period.
skew offset
A property of tasks that allows a task to execute at a different time slice than other
tasks within the same module.
Status_S
GE proprietary communications protocol that provides a way of commanding and
presenting the necessary control, configuration, and feedback data for a device. The
protocol over DLAN+ is Status_S. It can send directed, group, or broadcast mes-
sages.
Status_S pages
Devices share data through Status_S pages. They make the addresses of the points on
the pages known to other devices through the system database.
symbols
Created by the toolbox and stored in the controller, the symbol table contains signal
names and descriptions for diagnostic messages.
task
A group of blocks and macros scheduled for execution by the user.
TCP/IP
Communications protocols developed to inter-network dissimilar systems. It is a de
facto UNIX standard, but is supported on almost all systems. TCP controls data
transfer and IP provides the routing for functions, such as file transfer and e-mail.
toolbox
A Windows-based software package used to configure controllers and drives.
trend
A time-based plot to show the history of values.
Trend Recorder
A subsystem of the toolbox that monitors and graphs signal values from a controller
or drive.
TrueType
Scaleable font technology that renders printer and screen fonts. Each TrueType font
contains its own algorithms for converting the outline into bitmaps.
validate
Makes certain that items or devices do not contain errors and verifies that the con-
figuration is ready to be built into pcode.
Windows NT
Windows New Technology. Advanced 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for
386s and above. It runs NT-specific applications as well as those written for DOS,
Windows 3.x (16 and 32-bit), OS/2 character mode (non-graphical) and POSIX. NT
does not use DOS; it is a self-contained operating system.
word
A unit of information composed of characters, bits, or bytes, that is treated as an en-
tity and can be stored in one location. Also, a measurement of memory length, usu-
ally 32 bit in length but van also be 4, 8, or 16-bits long.
Index Help
Menu 28
I
I/O Mapper 7
I/O Points 39, 2
Innovation Series Drive tab 23
L
A Libraries tab 12
AcDcEx2000 tab 21 License
Alarm Scanner tab 10 Agreement 2
Application Settings 32, 33
M
B Main Board
Block Diagram tab 14 Insert NOVRAM 13
Modify NOVRAM 14
NOVRAM Points 15
C Menu Commands
Checkin/Checkout utility 1 Device Menu 26
Configuration 1, 2, 14, 16, 18, 24, 30, 41 Edit Menu 22
Configure the Static Starter File Menu 21
Alarm Scanner Tab 10 Help Menu 28
Customer Information Tab 11 Options Menu 27
General Tab 7 View Menu 23
Memory Tab 8 Window Menu 28
Note Tab 12
NTP Tab 9 N
Note tab 12
D NOVRAM
Database Insert 13
SDB 7, 24, 3, 4, 1, 5, 16, 1, 6, 10, 11 Points 15
DLAN+ Interface NTP tab 9
Status_S pages 22
O
E OC2000 tab 20
EGD Interface
Edit EGD 6 P
EGD Exchanges 7
EGD Points 10, 11 Print tab 13
F R
Finder window Register network
Text/Address tab 4 Custom Register Network 16, 20
Ethernet Modbus 16, 18
Ethernet SRTP 17
G Serial Modbus 16
Get From Database command 2, 12 Reports
S
Settings
AcDcEx2000 21
Controller 15
Database 11, 10
EX2100 16
General 9
Innovation Series Drive 23
Libraries 12
OC2000 20
Print 13
Trend Recorder 22
Signals
Concepts 1
Pin connection 4
Status_S pages 22
T
Toolbox Options
AcDcEx2000 21
AVDV Series Drive 17
Block Diagram 14
Controller 15
Database 11, 10
EX2100 16
General 9
Innovation Series Drive 23
Libraries 12
OC2000 20
Print 13
Startup 10
Trend Recorder 22
W
Watch Windows 24
Work Area
Detached Summary View 3, 14, 40
Log View 3, 20, 11, 12
Status bar 23, 43
Summary View 3, 4, 14, 20, 23, 24, 40, 41, 44, 10, 8,
9, 11, 5
GEH-6414D
Revised 061006
Issued 000430