Introduction

Configure parameters for devices in the Device List on these tabs:

  • Properties

  • Address Setting

  • Request Setting (Modbus devices only)

View the Configuration Tabs

Navigate to the Device List configuration tabs

Step

Action

1

In the DTM Browser (Tools > DTM Browser), double-click the DTM that corresponds to the CPU.

2

In the navigation pane, expand (+) the Device List to see the associated Modbus TCP and EtherNet/IP devices.

3

Select a device from the Device List to view the Properties, Address Setting, and Request Setting tabs tabs.

NOTE: These tabs are described in detail below.

Properties Tab

Configure the Properties tab to perform these tasks:

  • Add the device to the configuration.

  • Remove the device from the configuration.

  • Edit the base name for variables and data structures used by the device.

  • Indicate how input and output items are created and edited.

Configure the Properties tab:

Field

Parameter

Description

Properties

Number

The relative position of the device in the list.

Active Configuration

Enabled: Add this device to the Control Expert project configuration.

Disabled: Remove this device from the Control Expert project configuration.

IO Structure Name

Structure Name

Control Expert automatically assigns a structure name based on the variable name.

Variable Name

Variable Name: An auto-generated variable name is based on the alias name.

Default Name

Press this button to restore the default variable and structure names.

Items Management

Import Mode

Manual : I/O items are manually added in the Device Editor. The I/O items list is not affected by changes to the device DTM.

Automatic : I/O items are taken from the device DTM and updated if the items list in the device DTM changes. Items cannot be edited in the Device Editor.

Reimport Items

Press this buttom to import the I/O items list from the device DTM, overwriting any manual I/O item edits. Enabled only when Import mode is set to Manual.

Click Apply to save your edits and leave the window open for further edits.

Address Setting Tab

Configure the Address Setting page to perform these tasks:

  • Configure the IP address for a device.

  • Enable or disable DHCP client software for a device.

NOTE: When the DHCP client software is enabled in a Modbus device, it obtains its IP address from the DHCP server in the CPU.

In the Address Setting page, edit these parameters to conform to your application’s design and functionality:

Field

Parameter

Description

IP Configuration

IP Address

By default:

  • The first three octet values equal the first three octet values of the CPU.

  • The fourth octet value equals this device Number setting. In this case, the default value is 004.

In our continuing example, type in the address 192.168.1.17.

Subnet Mask

The device subnet mask.

NOTE: For this example, accept the default value (255.255.255.0).

Gateway

The gateway address used to reach this device. The default of 0.0.0.0 indicates this device is located on the same subnet as the CPU.

NOTE: For this example, accept the default value.

Address Server

DHCP for this Device

Enabled : Activate the DHCP client in this device. The device obtains its IP address from the DHCP service provided by the CPU appears on the auto-generated DHCP client list.

Disabled (default): Deactivates the DHCP client in this device.
NOTE: For this example, select Enabled.

Identified by

If DHCP for this Device is Enabled, it indicates the device identifier type:

  • MAC Address

  • Device Name

NOTE: For this example, select Device Name.

Identifier

If DHCP for this Device is Enabled, the specific device MAC Address or Name value.

NOTE: For this example, accept the default setting of NIP2212_01 (based on the Alias name).

Click Apply to save your edits, and leave the window open for further edits.

Request Setting Tab

Configure the Request Setting tab to add, configure, and remove Modbus requests for the Modbus device. Each request represents a separate link between the CPU and the Modbus device.

NOTE: The Request Setting tab is available only when a Modbus TCP device is selected in the Device List.

Create a request:

Step

Action

1

Press the Add Request button to see a new request in the table.

Press the Add Request button:

  • The new request appears in the table.

  • The corresponding request items appear in the Device List.

NOTE: The Add Request function is enabled only when Import Mode on the Properties tab is set to Manual.

2

Configure the request settings according to the table below.

3

Repeat these steps to create additional requests.

4

Press the Apply to save the request.

This table describes the Request Settings parameters for Modbus devices:

Setting

Description

Connection Bit

This bit indicates the read-only offset for the health bit for this connection. Offset values (starting at 0) are auto-generated by the Control Expert DTM based on the connection type.

Unit ID

The Unit ID is the number used to identify the target of the connection.

NOTE: Consult the manufacturer’s user manual for the specific target device to find its Unit ID.

Health Time Out (ms)

This value represents the maximum allowed interval between device responses before a time out is detected:

  • valid range: 5 ... 65535 ms

  • interval: 5 ms

  • default: 1500 ms

Repetitive Rate (ms)

This value represents the data scan rate in intervals of 5 ms. (The valid range is 0...60000 ms. The default is 60 ms.)

RD Address

This is the address of the input data image in the Modbus device.

RD Length

This value represents the number of words (0...125) in the Modbus device that the CPU reads.

Last Value

This value represents the behavior of input data in the application if communications are lost:

  • Hold Value (default)

  • Set To Zero

WR Address

This is the address of the output data image in the Modbus device.

WR Length

This value represents the number of words (0...120) in the Modbus device to which the CPU writes.

Remove a request:

Step

Action

1

Click a row in the table.

2

Press the Remove button to remove the request.

NOTE: The corresponding request items disappear from the Device List.

3

Press the Apply to save the configuration.

The next step is to connect the Control Expert project to the Modbus device.