Deleting, cutting, copying, pasting, duplicating, and moving objects

Deleting objects

Deleting objects:

Using the mouse	Using the keyboard
Select the object to be deleted. Use the Edit > Delete menu command.	Select the object to be deleted. Press the Delete key.
Result: The selected object is deleted. The actual parameters (and the links for FFBs) are deleted together with the object, even if they are not selected explicitly. Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on deleting from FFBs using an execute after reference.

Using the mouse

Using the keyboard

Select the object to be deleted.
Use the Edit > Delete menu command.

Select the object to be deleted.
Press the Delete key.

Result: The selected object is deleted. The actual parameters (and the links for FFBs) are deleted together with the object, even if they are not selected explicitly.

Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on deleting from FFBs using an execute after reference.

Cutting objects

Cutting objects:

Using the mouse	Using the keyboard
Select the object to be cut. Use the Edit > Cut menu command. or Use the menu command Cut in the shortcut menu (right mouse button). or Click the symbol.	Select the object to be cut. Press the Ctrl+X key combination.
Result: The selected object is cut from the section and copied to the clipboard. This is also the case for the actual parameters. Links are also cut. But they are only copied to the clipboard if they (and their partner objects) are selected explicitly. Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on deleting from FFBs using an execute after reference.

Using the mouse

Using the keyboard

Select the object to be cut.
Use the Edit > Cut menu command.

or

Use the menu command Cut in the shortcut menu (right mouse button).

or

Click the symbol.

Select the object to be cut.
Press the Ctrl+X key combination.

Result: The selected object is cut from the section and copied to the clipboard. This is also the case for the actual parameters. Links are also cut. But they are only copied to the clipboard if they (and their partner objects) are selected explicitly.

Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on deleting from FFBs using an execute after reference.

The cut object can be inserted in any other position (also in another FBD section).

Copying objects to the clipboard

Copying objects to the clipboard:

Using the mouse	Using the keyboard
Select the object to be copied. Use the Edit > Copy menu command. or Use the Copy menu command from the shortcut menu (right-click). or Click the symbol.	Select the object to be copied. Press the Ctrl+C key combination.
Result: The selected object is copied to the clipboard. This is also the case for the actual parameters. Links are only copied to the clipboard if they (and their partner objects) are selected explicitly. Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on copying from FFBs using an execute after reference.

Using the mouse

Using the keyboard

Select the object to be copied.
Use the Edit > Copy menu command.

or

Use the Copy menu command from the shortcut menu (right-click).

or

Click the symbol.

Select the object to be copied.
Press the Ctrl+C key combination.

Result: The selected object is copied to the clipboard. This is also the case for the actual parameters. Links are only copied to the clipboard if they (and their partner objects) are selected explicitly.

Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on copying from FFBs using an execute after reference.

The copied object can be inserted in any other position (also in another FBD section).

If the copied object is an EFB or a DFB instance, it can also be duplicated in any other available position (also in another LD or FBD section).

Pasting objects from the clipboard

Pasting objects from the clipboard:

Using the mouse	Using the keyboard
Use the menu command Edit > Insert. or Use the menu command Paste in the shortcut menu (right mouse button). or Click the symbol. Left-click the target position.	Move the cursor to the target position using the arrow keys. Press the Ctrl+V key combination. Press Enter.
Note: This presents the behavior of the Copy, Cut, Paste on a function block instance. It only applies to graphical languages as FBD and LD. Using the Paste function after a Copy of an object: As a result of a Copy, a new function block instance (FBI) is used. The Paste function creates a new FBI whenever it is repeated. Accordingly, the FBI is incremented. Using the Paste function after a Cut of an object: As a result of a Cut, the same instance of the function is used. The Paste function uses the same FBI whenever it is repeated. Accordingly, the FBI is identical. Note: Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on copying from FFBs using an execute after reference. NOTE: Using same instance of a function block is not recommended because it can lead to incorrect execution of the function blocks. A function block instance uses contextual variables that are owned by each instance usage and cannot be applied to any other. For instance, each current value is specific to one timer instance and one timer usage (Current value of a timer named TON_1 cannot be shared with another timer named TON_2).

Using the mouse

Using the keyboard

Use the menu command Edit > Insert.

or

Use the menu command Paste in the shortcut menu (right mouse button).

or

Click the symbol.
Left-click the target position.

Move the cursor to the target position using the arrow keys.
Press the Ctrl+V key combination.
Press Enter.

Note: This presents the behavior of the Copy, Cut, Paste on a function block instance. It only applies to graphical languages as FBD and LD.

Using the Paste function after a Copy of an object:

As a result of a Copy, a new function block instance (FBI) is used. The Paste function creates a new FBI whenever it is repeated. Accordingly, the FBI is incremented.
Using the Paste function after a Cut of an object:

As a result of a Cut, the same instance of the function is used. The Paste function uses the same FBI whenever it is repeated. Accordingly, the FBI is identical.

Note: Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on copying from FFBs using an execute after reference.

NOTE: Using same instance of a function block is not recommended because it can lead to incorrect execution of the function blocks. A function block instance uses contextual variables that are owned by each instance usage and cannot be applied to any other. For instance, each current value is specific to one timer instance and one timer usage (Current value of a timer named TON_1 cannot be shared with another timer named TON_2).

Duplicating an EFB or a DFB instance from the clipboard

Duplicating an EF instance is not possible. If the clipboard contains several objects with different types (EF, EFB and DFB), the EF is copied while the EFB and DFB instances are duplicated.

Duplicating an EFB or a DFB instance from the clipboard:

Using the mouse	Using the keyboard
Use the menu command Duplicate in the shortcut menu (right mouse button). Move the mouse to the desired target position. Result: A dotted frame appears and the mouse pointer changes its symbol to for a valid position. Left-click the target position.	Move the cursor to the target position using the arrow keys. Press the Ctrl+W key combination. Result: The target position appears as a dotted frame with the symbol in its center for a valid position. Press Enter.

The duplicate operation is also possible across sections between different opened LD or FBD sections in the same or another Control Expert instance.

NOTE: If the EFB or DFB instances to be duplicated do not already exist in the other Control Expert instance, these instances are copied.

Moving objects

Moving objects:

Using the mouse	Using the keyboard
Select the object to be moved. Position the mouse pointer on the selected object. (on one of the selected objects if several are selected). Result: The mouse pointer changes its symbol to . Click the left mouse button and keep it pressed. Result: The mouse pointer changes its symbol to . Drag the object to the new position and release the mouse button.	Position the cursor on the object to be moved. Press the spacebar. Press the Shift key and keep it pressed. Move the object to the target position using the arrow keys.
Result: The selected object is moved from its original position to the target position. The object's actual parameters are moved together with the object. FFBs still have their links and they are adjusted to the new position of the FFB. Note: The move operation is also possible across sections between different opened FBD sections. Note: When objects are moved beyond the visible area of the editor window, automatic scrolling of the window will not begin until you reach the edge of the window with the mouse pointer, not as soon as the objects are moved beyond the edge.

Using the mouse

Using the keyboard

Select the object to be moved.
Position the mouse pointer on the selected object. (on one of the selected objects if several are selected).

Result: The mouse pointer changes its symbol to .
Click the left mouse button and keep it pressed.

Result: The mouse pointer changes its symbol to .
Drag the object to the new position and release the mouse button.

Position the cursor on the object to be moved.
Press the spacebar.
Press the Shift key and keep it pressed.
Move the object to the target position using the arrow keys.

Result: The selected object is moved from its original position to the target position. The object's actual parameters are moved together with the object. FFBs still have their links and they are adjusted to the new position of the FFB.

Note: The move operation is also possible across sections between different opened FBD sections.

Note: When objects are moved beyond the visible area of the editor window, automatic scrolling of the window will not begin until you reach the edge of the window with the mouse pointer, not as soon as the objects are moved beyond the edge.

Copying objects via drag & drop

Copying objects via drag & drop:

Using the mouse	Using the keyboard
Select the object to be copied. Position the mouse pointer on the selected object. Result: The mouse pointer changes its symbol to . Click the left mouse button and keep it pressed. Press the Ctrl key and keep it pressed. Result: The mouse pointer changes its symbol to . Drag the object to the new position. Note: This is also possible across sections between different opened FBD sections. Release the mouse button. Result: A copy of the selected object is pasted at the target position. The object's actual parameters (variable/address) are copied together with the object. A new instance is automatically created for FFBs. Links are only copied if they (and their partner objects) are selected explicitly. Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on copying from FFBs using an execute after reference.	-

Using the mouse

Using the keyboard

Select the object to be copied.
Position the mouse pointer on the selected object.

Result: The mouse pointer changes its symbol to .
Click the left mouse button and keep it pressed.
Press the Ctrl key and keep it pressed.

Result: The mouse pointer changes its symbol to .
Drag the object to the new position.

Note: This is also possible across sections between different opened FBD sections.
Release the mouse button.

Result: A copy of the selected object is pasted at the target position. The object's actual parameters (variable/address) are copied together with the object. A new instance is automatically created for FFBs. Links are only copied if they (and their partner objects) are selected explicitly.

Please also pay careful attention to the Notes on copying from FFBs using an execute after reference.