Structure of the dialog box

The Instance selection dialog box consists of two or three tabs:

  • Variables

    You can select an elementary variable or an element of a multi-element variable in this tab.

  • Function Blocks

    You can select a formal parameter of a function block instance in this tab.

  • Interface

    You can select a variable of a Program Unit in this tab.

    NOTE: Program Units are only available for Modicon M580 and M340. Without Program Unit in the program structure the Interface tab is empty.

Variables tab

Representation of the tab Variables tab:

Elements of the Variables tab:

Element

Description

Text box

The selected variables are displayed in this text box.

Scope list

Allow to reduce the scope for the variable selection.

button

Clicking on this button updates the display corresponding to the filter term defined in the Name field.

button

Clicking on this button opens the Filtering data dialog box where you can define the conditions for the individual attributes.

Name

The name of the variable to search for can be entered in this text box. You can also use the joker * and ?.

button

Clicking on this button inverts the filter. The button changes from = to <> and vice versa.

Inside Structure

When you activate this check box, all structured variables are displayed.

Name

The names of the variables are displayed in this column.

Type

The types of the variables are displayed in this column.

Value

The initial value of the variables are displayed in this column.

Comment

The comments for the variables are displayed in this column.

Alias

The alias name of the IODDT, DDT, or Array element are displayed in this column.

Alias of

The complete paths of the variables when an alias name has been set are displayed in this column.

Address

The address in the controller are displayed in this column.

HMI Variable

This column displays if the variable is embedded in the data dictionary.

R/W Rights of Referenced Variable

This column displays the access rights when the variable is a Reference data type.

Effective Parameter

Only when the Instance selection dialog box is called from a section included in a Program Unit.

This column displays the variable assignment for Program Unit parameters (input, output and input/output parameters).

Nature

Only when the Instance selection dialog box is called from a section included in a Program Unit.

This column displays the nature of the Program Unit variables.

Function Blocks tab

Representation of the Function Blocks tab:

Elements of the Function Blocks tab:

Element

Description

Text box

The selected function block instances are displayed in this text box.

button

Clicking on this button updates the display corresponding to the filter term defined in the Name field.

button

Clicking on this button opens the Filtering data dialog box where you can define the conditions for the individual attributes.

Name

The name of the function block instance to search for can be entered in this text box. You can also use the joker * and ?.

button

Clicking on this button inverts the filter. The button changes from = to <> and vice versa.

EFB

When you activate this checkbox, the instances of elementary function blocks (EFBs) are displayed.

DFB

When you activate this checkbox, the instances of derived function blocks (DFBs) are displayed.

Named by default

When you activate this check box, the function block instances are displayed whose default names (e.g. FBI_19_3, TON_1) have not been changed.

Name

This column displays the names of the function block instances and their formal parameters (inputs, outputs, public variables).

no.

This column displays the order number of the formal parameters in the function block.

Type

This column displays the types of the function block instances and the data types of their formal parameters (inputs, outputs, public variables).

Value

This column displays the initial value of the formal parameters.

Comment

This column displays comments about the function block instances and their formal parameters (inputs, outputs, public variables).

HMI Variable

This column displays if the formal parameter is embedded in the data dictionary.

R/W Rights of Referenced Variable

This column displays the access rights when the formal parameter is a Reference data type.

NOTE: Help for the Type..

Hold down the Alt+F1 keys and then click on the function block type for which you wish to access Help.

Interface Tab

Representation of the Interface tab:

Elements of the Interface tab:

Element

Description

Text box

The selected function block instances are displayed in this text box.

Scope list

Allow to select the data scope for the variable selection among the different Program Units.

Name

This column displays the names of the variables belonging to the Program Unit selected into the scope list.

The variables are grouped by Nature (<inputs> , <outputs> , <inputs/outputs> , <public> , <external> ).

Type

This column displays the data types of the variables.

Value

This column displays the initial value of the variables.

Comment

This column displays the comment for the variables.

Effective Parameter

Only when the Instance selection dialog box is called from a section included in a Program Unit.

This column displays the variable assignment for Program Unit parameters (input, output and input/output parameters).

Address

Only when the Instance selection dialog box is called from a section included in a Program Unit.

The address in the controller are displayed in this column.