At a Glance

The following tables describe the available functions in the Project Settings dialog for project generation:

  • Management of build messages

  • Build settings

  • Project autosaving on download

  • PLC embedded data

  • PLC diagnostics

  • PLC behaviour

  • Path

  • Time

  • Configuration

Management of build messages

The following table shows all available Management of build messages fields, their description, and required action to take modification into account:

Fields

Description

Variable not used generates

Nothing or a detected warning is displayed in the view window if variables defined in the project are not used in the program.

Variables defined in the project but are not used in the program.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

Multiple writing of variables generates

Variables assigned several times to different places in the program.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

Parameters not assigned generates

EFB or DFB parameters not assigned.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

Multiple use of FB instance generates

EFB or DFB instances used several times at different places in the program.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

DDT mapping compatibility generates

An alignment test on DDTs is done for each type of data structure (BOOL, BYTE, INT, DINT...) with specific rules for each platform. Control Expert displays a notification stating which DDTs have to be modified when either an Analyze Project, Build Changes, or Rebuild all Project command runs.

If the data structures have the same alignment in each platform, communication between them is possible. Otherwise, a notification appears to inform which DDTs have to be modified for allowing communication.

Premium and Quantum have the same mapping rule so these two platforms are aligned for communication.

M340, M580, and Momentum have a different mapping rule than Premium and Quantum. So, it is necessary to check if the alignment of the exchanged DDTs is the same for each platform (M340 and Premium for example) and in this case modify the DDTs.

Refer to DDT: Mapping rules for alignment rules.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

Overlapping of address generates

If nothing is selected, no message is displayed in the view window even if there is overlapping of address of some variables.

If a detected warning is selected, some address messages are displayed in the view window if there is overlapping of addresses of some variables.The project is generated.

If a detected error is selected, some detected error messages are displayed in the view window if there is overlapping of addresses of some variables. Due to the detected errors, the project is not generated.

NOTE: Overlapping of topological addresses is not detected. Only flat addresses are detected by Control Expert.
NOTE: The overlapping can generate a high number of detected errors for clients using many located variables or LL984 converted code and so increase the build generation time.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

Missing gateway IP @ generates

A detected error is generated on Quantum RIO architecture when a 140 NOC 780 00, 140 NOC 781 00 or 140 CRP 312 00 module is configured without gateway IP address defined (equal to 0.0.0.0).

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

Control numbers of warnings

The Control numbers of warnings has to be selected and a value defined in the Maximum of warnings allowed field (the valid range is 100...2000). Then, when the number configured is reached, the next detected warnings are not displayed in the view window.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

Control numbers of errors

The Control numbers of errors has to be selected and a value defined in the detected Maximum of errors allowed field (the valid range is 100- 2000). Then, when the number configured is reached, the next detected errors are not displayed in the view window.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

Build settings

The following table shows all available Build settings fields and their description:

Fields

Description

Create New data block on line

Exclusive setting that allows you to select the management of data memory during on line modification.

This setting allows you to add/modify variables without limitation of the memory block. By default, this check box is checked:

  • When checked, the dynamic allocation of unlocated variables in a new data block can be done online and you are not prompted Control Expert does not prompt you to Rebuild all Project.

  • When unchecked, Control Expert acts as per the free data memory setting, which appears below.

NOTES:

  • For applications (STA, XEF, ZEF files, or an upload) that contain this project setting when opened the setting is not changed.

  • For applications that do not contain this project setting, when opened or uploaded it is set to the default value: checked.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline) to deselect

Build Changes (Online) to select

Free data memory (in kbytes)

Exclusive setting that allows you to select the management of data memory during on line modification.

This setting was the only way to manage data memory during on line changes with previous versions of Unity Pro V6.0.

Unity Pro is the former name of Control Expert for version 13.1 or earlier.

It is kept for compatibility with previous versions or when only a few modifications of variables on line are planned.

When this setting is valid, only one memory block 1...64 K is reserved.

Each time unlocated variables are created or modified, they are added to this memory block in the PLC.

When the memory allocated is full, it is not possible to perform additional on-line modifications (a detected error message is displayed during the on-line change session). A Rebuild All Project is mandatory to restart with this memory block empty and available for new on line modifications.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Virtual connected mode

Used to modify a project on a non-connected terminal, as if this terminal was connected to the PLC.

It is then simply a case of connecting the terminal to the PLC and activating the command Build > Build Changes in order to have these modifications taken into consideration in the PLC. This transfer does not stop the PLC and only the changes made are taken into account. The purpose of this mode is to inform when an online modification is not possible. However, if the change is made, the virtual connected mode is aborted.

Analysis is permitted in this mode, but generation is not possible. The project can be regenerated at any time, but this exits virtual mode.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Generate with LD link animation

Allows choosing to include or not information on ladder diagram link animation in the generated code.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Optimized code

Used to reduce the size of the code generated by removing arithmetic overflows. Note the following:

  • On Modicon M580, M340, and Premium PLCs and on Quantum 140 CPU 6•• PLCs, the %S18 bit is not managed for arithmetic operations on elementary data types (EDT) and tables.

  • On Quantum 140 CPU 3••/4••/5•• PLCs, the %S18 bit is not managed for arithmetic operations on EDT. The %S20 bit is not managed for table indexing (the threshold values are still checked).

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

Safe Signature management

Used to specify when a new SourceSafeSignature will be calculated for a safety PAC application:

  • Automatic: (default) A new SourceSafeSignature is calculated automatically at each build.

  • On user request: A new SourceSafeSignature is calculated only when the Build > Update Safe Signature command is executed in Control Expert.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

Apply online modification

Allows choosing whether the application is to be downloaded automatically or on a user request after the Build Changes command.

On each modification, this dialog box allows you to validate or not the modification:

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

I/O Scanning mode

Defines the I/O scanning register size for Modbus TCP devices:

  • Legacy: The default I/O scanning Device DDT structure created is an array of BYTE, aligned on 32 bits.

    This mode is used in applications created with Unity Pro ≤ V11.1. Set this mode for these applications to keep Modbus TCP device settings.

    Unity Pro is the former name of Control Expert for version 13.1 or earlier.

    Changing the mode between Legacy and Enhanced may have an impact on the Device DDT structure of configured DIO devices.

  • Enhanced: The default I/O scanning Device DDT structure created is an array of INT, aligned on 16 bits. This mode is valid for M580 CPU with OS version ≥ 2.00.

    This mode is recommended for applications created with Control Expert that are not opened or modified with Unity Pro ≤ V11.1. If the CPU DIO ports are used for I/O scanning, CPU OS version ≥ 2.00 is necessary.

Refer to DDT: Mapping rules for alignment rules. DDT alignment verification is set in the DDT mapping compatibility generates project setting.

NOTE: This function is applicable in a Modicon M580 system.

Modification:

Offline only

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Project autosaving on download

The following table shows all available Project autosaving on download fields and their description:

Fields

Description

save STA

If selected, the archive file is automatically saved each time it is transferred to the PLC (generation in online mode or transfer of complete program).

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

save STU

If selected, the project is automatically backed up (STU and auto.STA files saved if the application has changed since the last download) each time it is transferred to the PLC (generation in online mode or transfer of complete program).

NOTE: Each time the project is saved (STU file), if the project is in BUILT state, a file with AUTO.STA suffix is saved, even if the STU box is not checked.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

save XVM

If selected, the project variables are automatically backed up (XVM file) each time the project is transferred to the PLC (generation in online mode or transfer of complete program).

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

PLC embedded data

The following table shows all available PLC embedded data fields and their description:

Fields

Description

Data dictionary

Dictionary of symbolized variables with their characteristics (address, type,...) in the PLC memory.

If this setting is enabled, all symbolized variables of the application are embedded in the PLC memory. Any client (SCADA using OFS, HMI, embedded Web server...) can then animate or modify those variables. By default, the settings are disabled.

The Data dictionary is generated at build time. This block is updated only if it is needed during an online modification.

NOTE: Comments of the variables are not stored.

The 3 following properties improve the performances of the Data dictionary online build:

  • When checking Preload on build changes , download of data dictionary reflecting the change of variable definition is performed before applying the real change of the application in the PLC. The PLC client tools are then able to learn new changes of data.

  • The Effective Build changes time-out (sec) is the time (1...240 s) that Control Expert is waiting between the download of the new data dictionary and the real online application change. The down counting of the time-out is displayed in the progress bar during the Build Changes operation.

  • Checking the Only HMI variables and identifying the HMI variables necessary in the Data Property table improves online build performances and memory usage of the PLC. This setting means that the data dictionary embeds only variables or DFB/EFB instances that have the HMI attribute set.

The Usage of Process Namespace setting, only available for M580 safety projects, determines how an operator screen can access and read process variable. For more detailed information, refer to chapter M580 Safety Project Settings

Checking the Include DFB/PU private variables setting adds these private variables in the Data dictionary .

NOTE: A Memory full detected error message could happen during a Build Changes if there is not enough free memory. A project with the Data dictionary enabled needs a large amount of free memory to be built.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Online)

Upload information

If selected, this non-executable code designed to restore the source of the project on a terminal is simultaneously loaded with the executable code when transferring the project to the PLC.

If selected, program transfer from the PLC to the PC cannot be done. In this non-executable code, the check boxes Comments and Animation tables are used to include comments associated with the variables and types and animation tables respectively.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Upload information management

If Automatic is selected, all online modifications are made on both the executable code and the non-executable code designed to restore the project on the terminal.

If On user request is selected, the online modifications are only made on the executable code in the PLC processor. The non-executable code has to be updated implicitly using the PLC > Update Upload Information command.

An indicator at the foot of the screen is displayed if the non-executable code has not been updated.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

Optimize data on-line change

If this box is checked, it reduces the time of the Upload information generation relating to variables and function blocks of the application in online mode.

NOTE: Uncheck this option to keep compatibility with Unity Pro versions before 4.1.

Unity Pro is the former name of Control Expert for version 13.1 or earlier.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

Data memory protect

If this box is checked, it allows to protect some data against request modification in monitoring mode.

NOTE: Only available for:

  • M580 CPU with OS version V3.20 or later

  • M340 CPU with OS version V3.30 or later

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

PLC diagnostics

The following table shows all available PLC diagnostics fields and their description:

Fields

Description

Application diagnostics

If the box is checked, you can choose an Application diagnostic level .

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Application diagnostic level

Diagnostic level choice:

  • If No cause of fault is selected, the analysis of the diagnostic detected error origin is not performed.

  • If Local diagnostic is selected, the analysis of the diagnostic detected error origin is performed within the section using the diagnostic DFB.

  • If Global diagnostic is selected, the analysis of the diagnostic detected error origin is performed within the whole application.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

System diagnostics

If the box is checked, you can choose a System diagnostic language .

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

System diagnostic language

Language choice:

  • English (by default)

  • German

  • Italian

  • Spanish

  • French

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

Rack Viewer diagnostics information

If selected, it provides a view of the rack.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Online)

Rack Viewer variable names

If selected, it provides a view of the rack names.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Online)

Program Viewer information

The Program Viewer runs on a PC that is connected to an Ethernet module.

If selected, it provides a view of the program structure (functional and structural) and displays the contents of sections and animation.

NOTES:

  • Useful only when having a FactoryCast 140 NOE 771 1•, TSY ETY 5103 in the PLC local rack.

  • The Data dictionary has to be selected and preferably without the Only HMI variables option.The program viewer relies on the data dictionary being fully present in the PLC to animate the variables in the code. If the data dictionary is not present, or incomplete, the code is visible but not animated or only partially animated. Using the HMI variables only would limit the scope of the animated variables in the code.

Modification:

Offline only

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

Event Logging

Select this field to enable event logging for each possible originator of event logging in the architecture. The syslog settings entered below are transferred to each event logging originator in the architecture.

NOTE: Event logging is enabled if this field is selected and a valid syslog server IP address is entered in SYSLOG server address field below.
NOTE: Control Expert event logging is configured in the Profiles tab of the Security Editor tool. For more details refer to EcoStruxure™ Control Expert, Security Editor, Operation Guide.

Modification:

Offline only

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

SYSLOG server address

Sets the IP address of the syslog server that stores the system events logging.

NOTE: The default value (0.0.0.0) does not allow events to be logged, a valid server address is needed with the Event Logging field selected.
NOTE: The syslog server address entered here is embedded in the application.

Modification:

Offline only

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

SYSLOG server port number

Sets the syslog port number.

Port number value:

  • Default: 601
  • Range: 0...65535

Modification:

Offline only

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

SYSLOG server protocol

Sets the syslog server protocol.

TCP V1 is the default syslog protocol.

Modification:

The syslog protocol cannot be modified in Unity Pro 10.0.

Unity Pro is the former name of Control Expert for version 13.1 or earlier.

Action required:

–

PLC behaviour

The following table shows the PLC behaviour field and its description:

Field

Description

Reset %M on Stop->Run transition

This function resets %M that is not used in LL984 sections during a STOP to RUN transition of the CPU.

NOTE: This function is only available for the Quantum CPUs with version 2.82 or higher of the operating system.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Build Changes (Offline)

The action of the Reset %M on Stop->Run transition function depends on the following (Tools menu) > Project Settings check boxes:

  • General > PLC behaviour > Reset%M on Stop->Run transition

    This setting only impacts % M not used in LL984 language sections.

  • Program > Languages > Ladder Logic 984 (LL984)

    This setting only impacts %M used with normal coils in LL984 language sections.

This table shows that results of a transition depend on which check boxes are validated:

Reset%M

LL984

Resulting Action on Stop > Run transition

Unchecked

Unchecked

No %M are reset.

Checked

Reset of %M used with normal LL984 coils.

Checked

Unchecked

Reset of %M.

Checked

Reset of all %M not used with latched LL984 coils.

If there are %M conflicts:

  • For a %M used on an LL984 latched coil and on a non-LL984 coil, the LL984 latched coil has the higher priority

  • For a %M used on an LL984 normal coil and on a non-LL984 coil, the LL984 normal coil has the higher priority

If a %M has its value forced, its forced value does not change after a Reset %M on Stop->Run transition .

Path

The following table shows the Path field and its description:

Fields

Description

Hyperlink Root Path

Allows choosing a path which is used for LL984 application when the option to convert long comments to text files is chosen. In this case, the long comments are available as hyperlinks in the variable comments column of the data editor.

Additionally you can define a path for the created hyperlink text files by either of 2 ways:

  • Define a relative path in the root directory of your application.

  • Use the ... button to select any other path.

The subfolder of the hyperlink files is displayed below the edit field.

The path defined is written to the project settings of your new application: Tools > Project Settings > General > Path > Hyperlink Root Path

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

Time

The following table shows all available Time fields and their description:

Fields

Description

Time Stamping Mode

Defines the time stamping mode:

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Max events stored

Only available for System time stamping mode, this value (from 0 to 32000) defines the maximum number of time stamping events stored in the PLC memory. This maximum number defines the size reserved in the PLC memory for time stamping storage.See the PLC > Memory Consumption... to know the memory size used and refine this value if needed.

NOTE: When building the project, if this value is too small, a detected error message gives the exact value to select.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Custom behaviourTimeZone

Gives the possibility to define your own time zone. If checked the option:

  • Time Zone in UTC time cannot be selected.

  • Time Offset can be adjusted.

  • Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving can be configured.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Time Zone

Allows you to select the wanted time zone in the list of standard time zone.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Time Offset

Allows you to add an offset to the Time Zone between -1439...1439 minutes.

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)

Automatically adjust clock for daylight saving

Enabled: In the START Daylight Saving and END Daylight Saving fields, enter the month, day of the week, occurrence range, hour, minute, second, and offset from the respective dropdown lists.

Disabled (by default): The START Daylight Saving and END Daylight Saving fields are disabled because their times are automatically changed in the spring and fall every year.

NOTE: Automatic clock adjust for daylight saving change is NOT implemented on Modicon Premium, Quantum, Momentum, MC80, or M340 ranges. You are advised not to activate this feature (No internal or external action is performed when this function is activated).

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

Rebuild All Project (Offline)
NOTE: The time settings are only used if you configure a PLC with BMXNOR••••, BMXCRA••••, BMECRA••••, or BMXERT•••• modules. In all other cases, time settings are managed by NTP or by user PLC application. The Quantum and Premium Ethernet modules have their own time setting configuration screen.

Configuration

The following table shows the Configuration field and its description:

Fields

Description

M580 preferred I/O data type (Local I/O)

You can choose the default type of I/O for adding a new device in a Modicon M580 main local rack (containing the CPU):

  • Device DDT (by default): unlocated data

  • Topological: located data

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary

M580 preferred I/O data type for Quantum EIO

You can choose the default type of I/O for adding a new Quantum I/O module in a Modicon M580 remote I/O:

  • Device DDT (by default): unlocated data

  • State Ram: located data

Modification:

Online possible

Action required:

No build necessary