Configuring I/O Items
Original instructions
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Overview
The next task in this example is to add I/O items to the configuration of the STB NIP 2212 and its 8 I/O modules. To accomplish this:
NOTE: You can manually configure I/O items only when Input Mode is set to Manual.
I/O Item Types and Sizes
Because the Modbus TCP network interface module transmits data in the form of 16-bit words, in this example you will create every input and output item using the WORD data type. This remains true even if the item contains only a few bits of data. Bit-packing is not permitted when, as in this example, the remote device is a Modbus TCP network interface module.
NOTE: When you add more devices to your network, it may be necessary to increase the size and index location of both inputs and outputs for your Control Expert project.
In this example, the following number and type of items need to be created:
Mapping Input and Output Items
Use the Fieldbus Image page of the I/O Image Overview window in the Advantys configuration software to identify the number and type of I/O items you need to create, as follows:
Step
Action
1
In the Advantys configuration software, select Island → I/O Image Overview. The I/O Image window opens to the Modbus Image page.
2
Select the cell 0 of the first word (45392) in the Input Data table to display—in the middle of the page—a description of the cell data and its source module.
3
Make a note of the register number and item information for that word.
4
Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each word.
NOTE: The Modbus Image presents input and output data in the form of 16-bit words (starting with word 1). You need to maintain this data format as you create input and output items in Control Expert.
NOTE: When you create items, align items of data type WORD and DWORD, as follows:
  • WORD items: align these items on a 16-bit boundary
  • DWORD items: align these items on a 32-bit boundary
This process yields the following tables of input and output data:
Input Data (Read):
Advantys Modbus Image
Control Expert Items
STB Module
Description
Register
Bit(s)
Bytes
Bit(s)
45392
0-1
0
0-1
DDI 3230
input data
1
not used
45393
0-1
2
0-1
DDI 3230
input status
3
not used
45394
0-1
4
0-1
DDO 3200
output data echo
5
not used
45395
0-1
6
0-1
DDO 3200
output status
7
not used
45396
0-3
8
0-3
DDI 3420
input data
9
not used
45397
0-3
10
0-3
DDI 3420
input status
11
not used
45398
0-3
12
0-3
DDO 3410
output data echo
13
not used
45399
0-3
14
0-3
DDO 3410
output status
15
not used
45400
0-5
16
0-5
DDI 3610
input data
17
not used
45401
0-5
18
0-5
DDI 3610
input status
19
not used
45402
0-5
20
0-5
DDO 3600
output data echo
21
not used
45403
0-5
22
0-5
DDO 3600
output status
23
not used
45404
0-15
24
0-7
AVI 1270
input data ch 1
25
0-7
45405
0-7
26
0-7
AVI 1270
input status ch 1
27
not used
45406
0-15
28
0-7
AVI 1270
input data ch 2
29
0-7
45407
0-7
30
0-7
AVI 1270
input status ch 2
31
not used
45408
0-7
32
0-7
AVI 1270
output status ch 1
33
not used
45409
0-7
34
0-7
AVI 1270
output status ch 2
35
not used
Output Data (Write):
Advantys Modbus Image
Control Expert Items
STB Module
Description
Register
Bit(s)
Byte
Bit(s)
40001
0-1
0
0-1
DDO 3200
output data
1
not used
40002
0-3
2
0-3
DDO 3410
output data
3
not used
40003
0-5
4
0-5
DDO 3600
output data
5
not used
40004
0-15
6
0-7
AVO 1250
output data ch 1
7
0-7
40005
0-15
8
0-7
AVO 1250
output data ch 2
9
0-7
This example shows you how to create 18 words of inputs and 5 words of outputs. This example creates items in the following sequence:
Creating Input Word Items
To create input items for the STB NIP 2212 example, beginning with an input word for the DDI 3230 input module:
Step
Action
1
In the DTM Browser, select the communication module:
2
Do one of the following:
  • in the main menu, select Edit → Open, or
  • click the right mouse button, then select Open in the pop-up menu.
The Device Editor opens, displaying the DTM for the communication module.
3
In the left pane of the Device Editor, navigate to and select the Items node for the STB NIP 2212 network interface module:
4
Select the Input tab to open that page:
NOTE: In this example, each row represents a byte. Because the items you create will be a 16-bit word, each item consists of 2 rows.
5
In the Default Item Name Root input box type: DDI3230_in_data.
6
Starting at the beginning of the table, select the first two rows: 0 and 1:
7
Click the Define Item(s) button. The Item Name Definition dialog opens:
NOTE: The Define Item(s) button is enabled only when Input Mode is set to Manual.
8
Select WORD as the New Item(s) Data Type, then click OK. A new item is created:
9
Click Apply to save the new items, and leave the page open.
10
Repeat steps 2 - 6 for each new word item you need to create. In this example, that includes the following items:
  • Rows 2-3, Default Items Name Root: DDI3230_in_st
  • Rows 4-5: Default Items Name Root: DDO3200_out_echo
  • Rows 6-7: Default Items Name Root: DDO3200_out_st
  • Rows 8-9: Default Items Name Root: DDI3420_in_data
  • Rows 10-11: Default Items Name Root: DDI3420_in_st
  • Rows 12-13: Default Items Name Root: DDO3410_out_echo
  • Rows 14-15: Default Items Name Root: DDO3410_out_st
  • Rows 16-17: Default Items Name Root: DDI3610_in_data
  • Rows 18-19: Default Items Name Root: DDI3610_in_st
  • Rows 20-21: Default Items Name Root: DDO3600_out_echo
  • Rows 22-23: Default Items Name Root: DDO3600_out_st
  • Rows 24-25: Default Items Name Root: AVI1270_CH1_in_data
  • Rows 26-27: Default Items Name Root: AVI1270_CH1_in_st
  • Rows 28-29: Default Items Name Root: AVI1270_CH2_in_data
  • Rows 30-31: Default Items Name Root: AVI1270_CH2_in_st
  • Rows 32-33: Default Items Name Root: AVO1250_CH1_out_st
  • Rows 34-35: Default Items Name Root: AVO1250_CH2_out_st
11
The next task is to create output words.
Creating Output Word Items
To create output items for the STB NIP 2212, example, beginning with an output data word for the DDO 3200 output module:
Step
Action
1
Click on the Output tab to open the following page:
NOTE: In this example, each row represents a byte. Because the items you create will be a 16-bit word, each item consists of 2 rows.
2
In the Default Item Name Root input box type: DDO3200_out_data.
3
Starting at the beginning of the table, select the first 2 rows, 0 and 1:
4
Click the Define Item(s) button. The Item Name Definition dialog opens:
NOTE: The Define Item(s) button is enabled only when Input Mode is set to Manual.
5
Select WORD as the New Item(s) Data Type, then click OK. A new item is created:
6
Click Apply to save the new item and leave the page open.
7
Repeat steps 2 - 6 for each new word item you need to create. In this example, that includes the following items:
  • Rows 2-3, Default Items Name Root: DDO3410_out_data
  • Rows 4-5: Default Items Name Root: DDO3600_out_data
  • Rows 6-7: Default Items Name Root: AVO1250_CH1_out_data
  • Rows 8-9: Default Items Name Root: AVO1250_CH2_out_data
8
Click OK to close the Items window.
9
Select File → Save to save your edits.
The next task is to update the Control Expert application.