Introduction

Actions have the following properties:

  • An action can be a Boolean variable (action variable) or a section (action section) of programming language FBD, LD, IL or ST.

  • A step can be assigned none or several actions. A step which is assigned no action has a waiting function, i.e. it waits until the assigned transition is completed.

  • If more than one action is assigned to a step they are processed in the sequence in which they are positioned in the action list field.

    Exception: Independent of their position in the action list field, actions with the qualifier P1 are always processed first and actions with the qualifier P0 are processed last.

  • The control of actions is expressed through the use of qualifiers.

  • A maximum of 20 actions can be assigned to each step.

  • The action variable that is assigned to an action can also be used in actions from other steps.

  • The action variable can also be used for reading or writing in any other section of the project (multiple assignment).

  • Actions that are assigned an qualifier with duration can only be activated one time.

  • Only Boolean variables/addresses or Boolean elements of multi-element variables are allowed as action variables.

  • Actions have unique names.

    The name of the action is either the name of the action variable or the name of the action section.

Action Variable

The following are authorized as action variables:

  • Address of data type BOOL

    An action can be assigned to a hardware output using an address. In this case, the action can be used as enable signal for a transition, as input signal in another section and as output signal for the hardware.

  • Simple variable or element of a multi-element variable of data type BOOL

    The action can be used as an input signal with assistance from a variable in another section.

    • Unlocated Variable

      With unlocated variables, the action can be used as enable signal for a transition and as input signal in another section.

    • Located Variable

      With located variables the action can be used as an enabling signal for a transition, as an input signal in another section and as an output signal for the hardware.

Action Names

If an address or a variable is used as an action then that name (e.g. %Q10.4, Variable1) is used as the action name.

If an action section is used as an action then the section name is used as the action name.

Action names (maximum 32 characters) must be unique over the entire project, i.e. no other transition, variable or section etc. may exist with the same name. There are no case distinctions. The action name must correspond with the standardized name conventions.