Conversion Principle: Applications and Processors

General Points

The PL7 application converter transforms PL7 source files (.fef, .dfb) into Control Expert source files (.xef, .xdb) and, during the conversion of a complete application (.fef), associates an equivalent to the old processor.

Software Applications

The conversion of a complete application is called automatic.

At the end of conversion, and after a manual analysis is started, the user has:

a source file that is directly exploitable by Control Expert,
a Control Expert application in memory,
a conversion report file including all data, warnings and errors relating to the conversion,
an output window containing the list of conversion errors.

NOTE: The recommended version of PL7 is ≥V4.3. However, you may, under your own responsibility, convert the exported applications with versions V4.0, V4.1 and V4.2 if the hardware configuration has been explicitly exported in the FEF file. To export the hardware configuration, you must modify the PL7SYS.INI file located in the WINNT or Windows folder on your PC. This file must contain the following two lines:

[PL7TOOL132]

ExportConf=True (to export configuration)

ExportPl7Converter=True (to export protected DFB)

The conversion of a DFB PL7 is called semi-automatic.

At the end of conversion, the user has:

the source file of the converted DFB,
a conversion report file including all data and warnings relating to the conversion.

Following a manual import of this converted DFB and the analysis in a Control Expert project, the output window containing the list of conversion errors is displayed.

NOTE: The recommended version of PL7 is ≥V4.3 However, you may, under your own responsibility, convert the exported DFB with versions V4.0, V4.1 and V4.2

WARNING

UNEXPECTED APPLICATION BEHAVIOR

The conversion of complete applications, or DFBs, must be done with a PL7V4.3 (or more recent) version only. Test the applications and DFBs after the conversion.

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, serious injury, or equipment damage.

Processors

Sometimes the conversion procedure requires the size of the converted application to be increased.

By default, the PL7 application converter automatically updates the ‘processor + memory card’ configuration, and proposes an equivalent configuration. However, this default selection may be modified.

NOTE: All PL7 applications earlier than version V4.0 must be updated.

For applications managed by the following processors, the update procedure involves the compulsory replacement of the processor:

Premium processor TSX P57 •0, TSX P57 ••2 or T PMX P57 ••2,
Atrium processor T PCX 57 •••2.