Input and Output Items
Original instructions
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Introduction
Create input and output items to support peer-to-peer data transfers between and among scanners. Use the Control Expert DTM to create input and output items and to define the name and data type of each item.
NOTE: The BMENOC0301 module peforms the function of a network scanner. However, you can enable its local slaves to make the BMENOC0301 perform the role of an EtherNet/IP adapter. In that case, network EtherNet/IP scanners can read from and write to CPU data through the enable local slaves.
Create input and output items in these groups:
The number of items you create depends upon the data type and size of each item.
Accessing Items
View the Items configuration tabs:
Step
Action
1
Open an M580 project in Control Expert.
2
Open the DTM Browser (Tools → DTM Browser).
3
In the DTM Browser, double-click the DTM that corresponds to the Ethernet commuication module.
4
device connections: Expand Device List and select Items for the appropriate connection.
local slaves: Expand EtherNet/IP Local Slaves and select Items for the appropriate local slave.
Creating Input Items
Follow these steps to create sample input items:
Step
Action
1
Select the Input tab.
2
In the Default Item Name Root field, enter a context-sensitive name.
3
Select the first two table rows (0 and 1).
4
Click Define Item(s) to open the Item Name Definition dialog box.
5
In the New Item(s) Data Type field, scroll to Word for this example.
NOTE: The number of selected rows conforms to the data type:
  • Byte: Select a single row.
  • WORD: Select two rows beginning with the next available whole word.
6
Click OK to see the new item on the Input tab.
7
Click Apply to save the new items and leave the page open.
8
Repeat these steps to create additional input items that consume the next available row(s) in the table.
9
Save your changes (File → Save).
Creating Input Bit Items
Follow these steps to create sample input bit items:
Step
Action
1
Select the Input (bit) tab.
2
In the Default Item Name Root field, enter a context-sensitive name to monitor the device status.
3
Press the Define Items button.
4
Enter a name in the Item Name (or accept the default name).
5
Click OK to see the new bit item on the Input tab.
6
Click Apply to save the new items and leave the page open.
7
Repeat these steps to create additional input bit items.
8
Save your changes (File → Save).
Creating Output Items
Follow these steps to create sample output items:
Step
Action
1
Select the Output tab.
2
In the Default Item Name Root field, enter a context-sensitive name.
3
Select the first two table rows (0 and 1).
NOTE: The number of selected rows conforms to the data type:
  • Byte: Select a s row.
  • WORD: Select two rows beginning with the next available whole word.
4
Click Define Item(s) to open the Item Name Definition dialog box.
5
In the New Item(s) Data Type field, scroll to Word for this example.
6
Click OK to see the new item on the Output tab.
7
Click OK to close the Items window.
8
Save your changes (File → Save).
Creating Output Bit Items
Follow these steps to create sample output bit items:
Step
Action
1
Select the Output (bit) tab.
2
In the Default Item Name Root field, enter a context-sensitive name to monitor the device status.
3
Press the Define Items button.
4
Enter a name in the Item Name (or accept the default name).
5
Click OK to see the new bit item on the Input tab.
6
Click Apply to save the new items and leave the page open.
7
Repeat these steps to create additional input bit items.
8
Click OK to save all new items and close the page.