Importing Momentum Legacy Applications

Control Expert can import and convert legacy Momentum applications originally created with other programming software. You can import the following legacy LL984 applications:

  • Concept Projects (*.ASC)

  • Modsoft Projects (*.CFG)

  • ProWORX32 Databases (*.PWX)

  • ProWORX Nxt (*.DCF)

When you import an application to Control Expert from other programming software, some functions may behave differently.

For example:

  • Cold start behavior of Control Expert LL984 applications is different from legacy LL984 applications.

  • Imported Concept IEC coils behave differently than imported LL984 coils.

  • Unit Pro MATH functions might not behave the same as legacy LL984 (overflow, underflow, etc.).

  • Forced outputs will not retain their forced state in Control Expert on the occurrence of any one of the following events:

    • cold start

    • application download

    • setting system bit %S0 to 1

    By contrast, forced outputs retain their forced state in Concept, Modsoft and ProWORX projects on the happening of any of these events.

Importing Legacy Project Files

To import and convert a legacy project file:

Step

Action

1

In Control Expert, select File > Open to display the Open dialog:

2

Select the desired File of type:

  • Concept Projects (*.ASC)

  • Modsoft Projects (*.CFG)

  • ProWORX32 Databases (*.PWX)

  • ProWORX Nxt (*.DCF)

3

Navigate to and select the desired legacy application, then click Open. The import process begins.

4

After a few seconds, the LL984 Options dialog opens.

Use the LL984 Options dialog to input settings that will configure the import process, as described below.

5

In the Symbols area, select one of the following:

  • Original

Select this option to use the original variable names of the legacy application in your new Control Expert application.

  • _XYYYYY

Select this option to automatically convert the legacy variable names. The new variable names will be composed according to the following list:

  • _: an underscore will be the leading sign of the converted variables.

  • X: represents the data type in the memory area.

    • 0: %M (memory bit)

    • 1: %I (discrete input)

    • 3: %IM (input word)

    • 4: %MW (memory word)

  • YYYYY: represents the address number.

For example _400001 stands for%MW1.

6

In the Target PLC Family area, select Momentum.

7

Select the Label causes SR checkbox, to import a segment containing labels as an SR segment, even if its scheduling does not express this. Labels are allowed only in SR segments.

8

Click OK to save your settings. The options dialog closes.

NOTE: The Full Topological selection does not apply to Momentum projects. Momentum uses State RAM addressing.

9

If the legacy application contains custom data types, the following dialog opens:

10

Select Show hierarchical tree to expand the list of types.

11

Select each type to include in the imported project.

12

Click OK to save your settings. The dialog closes.

13

When the import process is complete, the following dialog displays:

14

Click OK to close the dialog.

Post Import Clean-up

The import process may not successfully convert every element of the legacy application. In this case, you need to manually edit the application to complete the conversion process.

Use the tabs in the Control Expert Output Window to determine what manual edits you need to make to complete conversion of the legacy application:

  • After the import process finishes, the Import/Export tab of the Control Expert Output Window displays a message for each legacy application element. If the message is the color:

    • gray: the item converted successfully

    • red: the item was not converted successfully

    • blue: this text describes the cause of the item in red above it

  • Use the Build > Analyze Project command to determine if your edits resolved the detected conversion errors. The Analyze Project tab of the Control Expert Output Window displays any detected errors.

  • Use the Build > Rebuild All Project command to build the application. Control Expert displays any detected errors in the Rebuild All Project tab of the Control Expert Output Window .

  • Use the Build > Build Changes commands to build your edits to the application. The Build Changes tab of the Control Expert Output Window displays any detected errors.

    When you double-click a blue text message in the Output Window, Control Expert opens a window displaying the source of the detected problem.

Control Expert logs the conversion process, and stores the log file in the same location as the original legacy application file. You can examine the log file to locate the legacy application elements that need to be manually converted.