Data Editor (Standard)
Original instructions
About us
Overview
The Data Editor is a Java applet that dynamically displays run-time application data. Use the Data Editor to create and edit data monitoring tables that provide read/write access to application data and device registers.
NOTE: Write access is password protected.
WARNING
Unintended Equipment Operation
The data editor makes it possible to write to application variables and change application data values.
  • Use passwords to strictly limit access to write data functionality.
  • Do not use weak passwords, including the default password and other obvious passwords.
  • Limit access to trained personnel.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.
This topic describes the Data Editor user interface.
Data Editor
The Data Editor presents the following controls: 
1
Toolbar 
2
Data template list 
3
Data template 
4
Configuration Area
Toolbar
The Data Editor toolbar presents the following features:
Command or Field
Icon
Description
New
  • If a node in the data template list is selected, this command opens the New table dialog for the creation of a new data template. The new data template is inserted below the selected node.
  • If a row in the currently open data template is selected, this command inserts a new row below the selected row.
Save
Saves changes made to both the data template list and each data template.
Copy
  • If a node in the data template list is selected, this command copies the selected data template.
  • If an item (or row) in the currently open data template is selected, this command to copies the selected item.
Paste
  • If the root, or Empty, node is selected in the data template list, this command pastes a previously copied data template into the list.
  • If an empty item (or row) in the currently open data template is selected, this command pastes a previously copied item into the data template item at the selected row.
NOTE: When adding a copied item, or row, to a data template, the paste command will overwrite item data in the selected row. To insert a copied row between existing rows, first use the New command to create an empty row, then paste the copied data into the new row.
Delete
Deletes the selected data template from the list, or the selected item from the data template.
Change password
Opens the Change password dialog, where you can change the Data Editor Write password.
NOTE: The Data Editor Write password can also be changed in the Setup → Security web page.
Read PLC symbols
Loads the existing Control Expert symbol—or variable—names into the Lookup Variable dialog. Variables that have been loaded into this dialog can be added to the currently open data template.
Start animation
Starts the dynamic display of value and status for the items contained in the selected data template.
NOTE: The Start animation icon is visible only when animation is turned OFF.
Stop animation
Stops the dynamic display of value and status for the items contained in the selected data template.
NOTE: The Stop animation icon is visible only when animation is turned ON.
Rate
—
The refresh rate of the dynamic display of data template items, in milliseconds.
IP address
—
The IP address of the Ethernet communication module and its embedded web server.
Data Template List
The data template list displays a node for each data template that was either:
Select a data template in this list to view or edit its contents.
NOTE: If you create a new data template, then navigate away from the Data Editor before clicking the Save button, the new data template will be lost.
Data Template
Use the data template—when animation is turned ON—to monitor the status and values of items for the template that is currently selected in the data template list.
Each data template item (or row) is defined in the configuration area. A data template item can contain the following fields:
Field
Description
Symbol
Contains the names of Control Expert symbols (variables).
Address
Contains direct addresses and the addresses of Control Expert symbols (variables). Any direct address can be viewed by entering its reference in this field. Valid direct addresses include:
%Mi
same as for 0X coils
%Ii
same as 1x for discreet inputs
%IWi
same as 3x for input registers
%MWi, %MDi, %MFi
same as 4x for holding registers
NOTE:
  • A single bit of any word address (for example, %MWi, %IWi) can be specified by appending ".j" to the address, where "j" is a bit index in the range of 0 (LSB) to 15 (MSB). For example, bit 4 of the value at %MW101 would be specified as %MW101.4.
  • A direct address can include an index specification that allows it to be treated as an array variable. Indexed addressing can be used with a %Mi, %MWi, %MDi, or %MFi address by appending "[j]" to the address of the beginning of the array, where "j" is an unsigned integer value. For example, the third value of an array of float values starting at %MF201 would be specified as %MF201[2].
Data type
Contains the data type of the symbol (variable) or direct address. Symbol (variable) data types appear automatically when the symbol (variable) is located. Select direct address data types from a drop-down list. The following data types are valid:
INT
16-bit signed integer
UINT
16-bit unsigned integer
DINT
32-bit signed integer
UDINT
32-bit unsigned integer
REAL
32-bit IEEE floating point
TIME
32-bit unsigned integer (in ms)
DATE
Date (32-bit BCD)
TOD
Time of day (32-bit BCD)
BOOL
1 bit discrete (Boolean)
Value
When animation has started, this field displays the value of the symbol (variable) or direct address. This field is updated continuously.
Format
Contains the format type for displaying the value of the symbol (variable) or direct address. The following formats are available:
bool
Boolean
dec
Decimal
hex
Hexadecimal
binary
Binary
ASCII
bytes displayed as ASCII characters
time
day_hr_min_sec_ms
date
YYYY-MM-DD or HH:MM:SS
Status
Contains messages describing the status of communication with the direct address:
if communication is normal
The status message reads OK
if communication is interrupted
The status field displays a system message describing the interruption
Configuration Area
Open and close the configuration area by double-clicking on a row in the data template. The configuration area will display the configuration settings for the selected row. Use the up and down arrows on your keyboard to move between rows in the data template and display their settings in the configuration area.
Use the configuration area—when data template animation is turned OFF—to:
Use the configuration area—when data template animation is turned ON—to write data to read/write application variables.
Refer to the topic Working With Data Templates for more information on how to use the controls in the configuration area.