Configuring Properties for the Modbus Device
Original instructions
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Introduction
Use Control Expert to edit the settings for a Modbus device.
NOTE: To edit these settings, disconnect the DTM from a device.
Accessing the Device Properties
For Modbus TCP devices, navigate to the configuration tabs:
Step
Action
1
In the DTM Browser (Tools → DTM Browser), double-click the DTM that corresponds to the Ethernet communication module that is associated with DTM of the generic Modbus device (...MB1).
NOTE: These instructions assume that you selected Modbus Device from the Add window when you created a local slave instance.
2
In the navigation pane, expand (+) the Device List to see the associated Modbus TCP and EtherNet/IP devices.
3
Select the Modbus device in this example (MB1: <MBD:192.168.20.12>).
These configuration tabs are available for Modbus devices:
Properties
Configure the Properties tab to perform these tasks:
The descriptions for parameters in the Properties tab are described in the configuration chapter. Use these values and names from the sample configuration:
Field
Parameter
Description
Properties
Number
Accept the default.
Active Configuration
Accept the default (Enabled).
IO Structure Name
Structure Name
Control Expert automatically assigns a structure name based on the variable name, in this case T_MB1.
Variable Name
Variable Name: Accept the auto-generated variable name (based on the alias name): MB1.
Default Name
Press this button to restore the default variable and structure names. For this example, custom names are used.
Items Management
Import Mode
Select Manual.
Reimport Items
Press this button to import the I/O items list from the device DTM, overwriting any manual I/O item edits. Enabled only when Import mode is set to Manual.
Address Setting
When the DHCP client software is enabled in the Modbus device, it obtains its IP address from the DHCP server in the Ethernet communication module.
Configure the Address Setting page to perform these tasks:
NOTE: When the DHCP client software is enabled in a Modbus device, it obtains its IP address from the DHCP server in the Ethernet communication module.
The descriptions for parameters in the Address Setting tab are described in the configuration chapter. Use these values and names from the sample configuration:
Field
Parameter
Description
Change Address
IP Address
In our continuing example, type in the address 192.168.1.17.
Address Server
DHCP for this Device
Select Enabled.
Identified by
Select Device Name.
Identifier
Accept the default setting of NIP2212_01 (based on the Alias name).
Subnet Mask
Accept the default value (255.255.255.0).
Gateway
Accept the default value (0.0.0.0).
The next step is to configure the connection between the communication module and the Modbus device.
Request Setting
Configure the Request Setting tab to add, configure, and remove Modbus requests for the Modbus device. Each request represents a separate link between the communication module and the Modbus device.
NOTE: The Request Setting tab is available only when a Modbus TCP device is selected in the Device List.
These topics for the Request Setting tab are described in the configuration chapter: