Working With Data Templates
Original instructions
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Creating a Data Template
To display and access application data, first create a data template.
To create a new data template, follow these steps:
Step
Description
1
Confirm that Data Editor animation is OFF. If necessary, click the Stop animation toolbar button.
2
Click the New table toolbar button.
The New table dialog opens:
3
In the Table name field, type in the name of the new data template.
4
Click Ok.
The new data template appears as a node in the data template list.
NOTE: Save the new data template before performing any other task in the Data Editor. Moving to another page—or creating a new data template in the current page—before saving your work deletes the new data template.
Saving a Data Template
After you save a new data template, you can re-use it to view or modify its contents.
NOTE:
  • Be careful when you modify and save a data template. The last saved modification overwrites the pre-existing data template, even if the data template was originally created by someone other than yourself.
  • If a data template is open for viewing by someone else, your edits to that data template will be seen only when that person next accesses the Data Editor.
To save a new data template, follow these steps:
Step
Description
1
Click the Save toolbar button.
The Save application dialog opens:
2
In the Password field, type in the Web Page (HTTP) Access password.
NOTE: The default password is USER.
3
Click Ok.
The new data template is saved.
Displaying an Existing Data Template
When you open a saved data template, you can use it to:
The data template list, located on the left side of the Data Editor, displays the saved data templates. Select a data template node from the list to display that template’s data items in the spreadsheet on the right:
Inserting a Direct Address Into a Data Template
You can add Control Expert direct address items—also called located registers—into a data template. After a direct address item is added, you can view or modify its value.
To add a direct address item to a data template, follow these steps:
Step
Description
1
In the data template spreadsheet, double-click on an empty row.
The Data Editor configuration area opens.
2
In the Address field of the configuration area, type in the item’s direct address.
3
In the configuration area, click Apply. The selected row is updated.
4
Save your edits.
Modifying Data Values Using a Data Template
You can use the Data Editor to write data values to a direct address item, and send the new value to the controller.
For example, suppose that you have programmed a pushbutton object to jog a motor when the button is depressed and to stop jogging when the button is released. If communications are lost while the button is depressed, the motor will continue to jog even when the button is released. Graphic objects are not designed to be used to control situations like this, unless other interlock methods are installed in the system.
NOTE: You can only modify the value of data items that are defined as read/write in the Control Expert application.
To use the Data Editor to edit data, follow these steps:
Step
Description
1
In the data template spreadsheet, double-click on the item you want to write data to.
The Data Editor configuration area opens, displaying the fields for the selected item.
2
In the Value field, type in the desired data value.
3
Click Apply.
The Enter password dialog opens:
4
In the Password field, type in the Write Data password.
NOTE: The default password is USER.
5
Click OK. The new value is sent to the controller.