Display modes for variables

The following view modes are available for variables:

You can switch between the two modes using:

  • The View > Mixed Display Mode menu command

  • The Ctrl+E key combination.

A check-symbol displayed on the left of the View > Mixed Display Mode item indicates when the mixed display mode is enabled.

Variables display

Depending on the size set for the cells, it may be the case that variable names are not shown in full.

A maximum of 3 columns are available to display the variables. The space available depends on various factors, on both Input mode & Mixed display mode

  • On the position

    • If an element (e.g. a contact) was placed directly on the left power rail, columns 1-3 are available for the variable names.

    • If an element (e.g. a coil) was placed directly on the right hand power rail, columns 9-11 are available for the variable names.

    • If an element (e.g. a contact) was placed arbitrarily in the section, the column to the right and the column to the left of the element are available for the variable name.

  • On the availability of the cells:

    • Only cells that are not occupied by other objects are available to display the variable name.

    • If an unused cell is between two objects, it is automatically reserved for the variable name of the left hand object and is not available to the right hand object (even if it is not used by the left hand object).

The gray fields indicate which area is available for the variable names of the individual objects.

Tip: There are two options for displaying the full variable names:

  • Select the variable and the full variable name is shown in the status line.

  • Place the cursor on the variable and a Tooltip will appear with type, name, address and comment of the variable.

Input mode

In input mode, only the symbolic name is displayed for variables and only the address for direct addresses:

  • if you enter a symbol you will see in this mode a symbol even if you associate an address after in the data editor.

  • if you enter a direct address you will see in this mode a direct address even if you associate a symbol after in the data editor.

Example of a section in input mode:

Mixed display mode

In the mixed display mode, the comment, symbolic name and, if a unique association is possible, the address will be displayed for the variables.

Example of a section in Mixed Display Mode:

This functionality is available for variables for both LD objects (contact, coil, comparative module, operation module) and FFBs.

NOTE: When using structure elements, the entire comment (comment for root variables and comment(s) for the structure element(s)) or only the comment for the root variable may be displayed. To display the entire comment, select Tools > Project Settings > Program > Common and enable Display complete comments for structure element .
NOTE: To print one or several sections the option mixed display must be check in Documentation configuration of project.

For example, the following displays are possible:

Display

Description

The located variable VarA with the comment VariableA has the address %I3.1.2.

For this type of display the following requirements apply:

  • The display of comments is enabled.

  • The variable is a located variable.

  • A comment was defined for the variable.

  • An address is only associated with one symbolic name

    or

    the symbolic name was assigned to the actual parameter.

The structure element Start of the variable Motor is assigned to the address %I3.1.2 assigned. The displayed comment consists of the comments for the root variable (Motor) and the comment(s) for the structure elements (Start).

For this type of display the following requirements apply:

  • In Tools > Project Settings > Program > Common the option Display complete comments for structure elements is enabled.

  • The variable is a located variable.

  • A comment was defined for the variable.

  • An address is only associated with one symbolic name

    or

    the symbolic name was assigned to the actual parameter.

The element Start of the variable Motor is assigned to the address %I3.1.2 assigned. The displayed comment is the comment for the root variable (Motor).

For this type of display the following requirements apply:

  • In Tools > Project Settings > Program > Common the option Display complete comments for structure elements is disabled.

  • The variable is a located variable.

  • A comment was defined for the variable.

  • An address is only associated with one symbolic name

    or

    the symbolic name was assigned to the actual parameter.

The located variable VarA has the address %I3.1.2and no comment was defined for the variable.

For this type of display the following requirements apply:

  • The variable is a located variable.

  • An address is only associated with one symbolic name

    or

    the symbolic name was assigned to the actual parameter.

The variable VarA is an unlocated variable.

An address with multiple assigned symbolic names was assigned to the object as an actual parameter. Since in this case, a unique assignment of symbolic name to address is not possible, no symbolic name is displayed.

The address was a assigned a comment, but no symbolic name.

or

Syntax error. The expression entered is not correct. For this reason no addresses or symbols can be displayed.

NOTE: The Comments line height to display additional information can be specified under Tools > Project Settings > Program > Languages > LD > Mixed display.

The column width can be adjusted.

Adjusting variables font size

You can increase or decrease the size of the font for the variables using the following buttons on the toolbar .

NOTE: The text inside the blocks and the instance name cannot be changed.