JP2002229612A - Ladder diagram preparing program and storage medium for recording the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ladder diagram preparing program capable of preparing a ladder diagram by intuitively inputting by utilizing knowledge so far. SOLUTION: In an instruction word palette window 4, a display mode in an instruction word list pane 5 having a hierarchical display form of instruction words and a display mode in a symbol list pane 20 performing a palette display of an icon formed into the shape of a ladder symbol can be switched in an instruction word selection area on a left side part, making display and operation in an operand input pane 6 on the right side part common.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a ladder diagram creation program and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Usable control systems (PL)
Ladder diagrams are frequently used as a programming language for describing sequence control (C system) or the like, and software, that is, an editor for supporting the creation of the ladder diagram has already been proposed. This kind of ladder diagram creation program assists a ladder diagram creator or user to create a ladder diagram on a computer and generates a machine language program equivalent to the ladder diagram.

A ladder diagram creating program has a column in which cells, which are minimum units, are arranged in a horizontal direction, and a row in which many of these columns are arranged in a vertical direction, and a ladder symbol in which an instruction is symbolized is placed in these cells. By storing the connection lines and the connection lines, the ladder diagram can be created while viewing the screen displayed in accordance with the connection lines.

The instructions that can be written in the ladder diagram are:
In a PLC, in addition to a basic instruction for substituting a sequence circuit, in order to improve convenience in creating a PLC program, the same control and calculation as in a normal computer program are performed. A number of instruction sets have been added. These are classified into basic, applied, arithmetic, and extended instructions.

When a ladder diagram is created, an operand is added near the ladder symbol as data representing an operation target or attribute. This operand includes a constant and a device. For example, "DM1
For example, a character string indicating a device type and a number indicating a device number, such as “000”, are included. A plurality of operands are added to this operand depending on a ladder symbol, that is, an instruction.

[0006] The user selects an instruction to be stored in the cell,
A ladder diagram can be created by repeating the operation of determining the contents of operands and connecting instructions with connection lines on a computer screen. For example, the character string of the mnemonic that is the instruction word corresponding to the ladder symbol (-11-) is (LD), but by selecting a desired mnemonic from a list displaying various mnemonics, The ladder symbol to be written can be written in the ladder diagram (stored in a desired cell), which allows the user to directly store mnemonics and operands when inputting instructions. Can be entered.

However, when the number of instructions is enormous and the rules for the contents of operands are complicated, as in the case of a PLC program, it is practically impossible to store all of them correctly. The conventional ladder diagram creation program displays a list of many mnemonics hierarchized according to the instruction classification as an instruction system in order to support the user's work, and the user selects a desired mnemonic from this list By doing so, the ladder symbol corresponding to this is stored in the cell.

[0008]

However, the ladder diagram has historically written ladder symbols, and it is not easy for many users to learn the instruction system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a ladder diagram creating program which can create a ladder diagram by intuitively inputting by utilizing the knowledge so far.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a ladder diagram creating program which can create a ladder diagram by using the existing knowledge without knowing the instruction system in detail.

[0011]

According to the present invention, there is provided a program for displaying a ladder diagram creation screen on a display means of a computer and creating a ladder diagram on the ladder diagram creation screen. A ladder diagram creation program characterized by comprising a symbol list display means for displaying a symbol list display screen for palletizing icons in the form of ladder symbols superimposed on the ladder diagram creation screen. Achieved by:

In other words, since the ladder diagram creator superimposes and displays on the ladder diagram creation screen an icon similar to a ladder symbol which is historically familiar, the ladder diagram creator intuitively displays a desired icon. You can choose.

[0013]

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a command list display screen, which is superimposed on a ladder diagram creation screen and has an instruction system hierarchically displayed in a tree format, is displayed on the symbol list display screen. It is better to display it selectively on the screen.
This allows the user to select a ladder diagram creation tool according to the knowledge acquired by the user. Further, as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if a mnemonic character string of a command word associated with this icon is displayed together with the icon adjacent to the icon displayed on the symbol list display screen, the user is provided with It is convenient.

Other objects, functions and effects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a screen of a ladder diagram editor in the process of creating a ladder diagram. The user can complete the ladder diagram by writing necessary ladder symbols and the like in necessary places while viewing the editor screen 1.

FIG. 2 shows, for example, “000” on the editor screen 1.
The middle stage of inputting the ladder symbol to the cell 3 next to the comparator 2 in the column "6" is shown. By clicking the cell 3 on the editor screen 1, the command word palette window 4 is automatically superimposed on the editor screen 1 at a position that does not interfere with the selected cell 3.

The command word pallet window 4 has a command word list pane 5 on the left side thereof for displaying a list of words representing the meaning of all commands in characters. Command list pane 5
, Instructions are classified into large categories, and further classified into large categories, and various instructions included in each of the middle categories are displayed in a tree format. When the user clicks on the word display indicating the type of the middle category, for example, “contact”, a list of mnemonics included in each type is displayed in a tree format as shown in FIG.

An instruction entry pane 6 is provided on the right side of the instruction word palette window 4. Operand input pane 6 has basic, applied, arithmetic, and extended character displays, which are the major classifications of instructions. Group 7 consisting of four character display options can be clicked on a desired character display. Alternatively, it can be selected. The operand input pane 6 further includes a first box 8 for displaying the type of the currently specified instruction, a second box 9 for inputting the selected mnemonic, and the function of the specified mnemonic, that is, the instruction word. , And an operand input box 11. The operand input box 11 includes first to third operand input boxes 12 to 1.
Consists of four. The operand input pane 6 further includes, below the operand input box 11, a type input button group 15 for supporting the input of the type of the operand and an input of the value of the operand as means for supporting the input of the operand. A value input button group 16 for assistance is provided. The operand can be set by selectively clicking a desired button from these button groups 15 and 16.

In the operand input box 11, an operand corresponding to the mnemonic displayed in the mnemonic input box 9 is automatically displayed. Also,
Regarding the operand input support button groups 15 and 16, the mnemonic displayed in the mnemonic input box 9 is in a valid state in which a selectable button corresponding to the mnemonic can be input. And input is disabled. Thereby, in the operand input operation using the buttons 15 and 16, the erroneous input can be prevented.

FIG. 3 shows, as an example, a state where the character display “contact” of the middle category in the command word list pane 5 is clicked (selected). By selecting the "contact", all the character strings of various mnemonics included in the "contact" appear in a tree format, and the input box 8 of the type of the command word is displayed.
, The character display of the “contact” is automatically displayed, and the mnemonic input box 9 automatically displays the character string of the mnemonic “LD” which is a typical command word of the “contact”. Such automatic display is performed by various data files downloaded to the computer together with the ladder diagram creation program.
(Not shown) by reading necessary data.

In the command word palette window 4, the command word list pane 5 on the left side thereof can be switched to a symbol list pane 20 for displaying relatively large icons in the form of all ladder symbols as shown in FIG. It is. That is, as can be seen by comparing FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the command word palette window 4 displays only the display form of the left part of the command word list pane 5 without changing the display mode of the right operand input pane 6. And the display mode of the symposium view pane 20 can be selectively switched. It is preferable that a mnemonic character string corresponding to all the icons in the symbol list pane 20 be described.

FIG. 5 is a main part configuration diagram showing the interrelationship of the main elements required for creating a ladder diagram by the ladder diagram creating program according to the present invention. As described above, the command word palette window 4 has a command word list pane having a hierarchical display format of command words in the command word selection area on the left side while displaying and operating the operand input pane 6 on the right side in common. 5 and a display mode of the symposium view pane 20 for displaying a ladder symbol-shaped icon in a palette. Thus, even in the display mode of the symposium view pane 20, the operand input pane 6
Are the same as those in the display mode of the instruction word list pane 5, so that the operation of the operand input pane 6 can be kept consistent. The relationship between the selection action in the symposium view pane 20 and the accompanying operand input pane 6 is the relationship between the above-described selection action in the command list pane 5 and the associated operand input pane 6. Therefore, the description is omitted.

Further, in addition to the character display indicating the classification of the command words, in addition to the display mode 5 in the form of a hierarchy of command words in a tree format, a display of a simplicity view pane 20 for displaying icons in the form of ladder symbols in a palette. Since the mode and the mode can be switched, the ladder diagram creation work can be advanced in a work environment that is convenient for the user by making a selection according to the user's preference. In addition, Symposium view pane 2
In the case of 0, the icon can be searched by operating the keyboard 22 in addition to the operation of the mouse 21, so that the user can proceed with the operation using the mouse 21 or any input device in the keyboard 22.

When the selection or setting operation using the command word palette 5 is completed, the user clicks the overwrite button 18 or the insert button 19 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the command word palette 5 so that the information is stored in the ladder data 25. Is stored in the corresponding cell 26 and is displayed on the editor screen 1. The user can complete the ladder diagram program by repeating the above operations. The ladder diagram program is converted into a language capable of executing the PLC, transmitted to the PLC system 24, and sequence control is executed. It is preferable that an icon in the form of a ladder symbol be used for the symbolic view pane 20 by using a list control function of a computer OS, for example, Windows (registered trademark), and using a mnemonic character string as a keyword. By inputting at least a part of the column with the keyboard, the ladder symbol icon of the corresponding instruction can be searched.

Also, from the symposium browsing pane 20,
By clicking and dropping the ladder symbol to be selected by mouse operation, the ladder symbol can be written at a desired position on the editor screen 1.

Further, as can be understood from FIG. 6, the symbol view pane 20 may be arranged such that icons and mnemonic character strings corresponding to the icons are arranged side by side so that a display mode for displaying the icons in a list can be selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a ladder diagram creation screen in the process of creating a ladder diagram using ladder diagram creation software.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a command word palette superimposed and displayed on a ladder diagram creation screen, showing a state where a command word list pane is displayed on the command word palette;

FIG. 3 is substantially the same as FIG. 2, but by selecting the “contact point” of the middle category displayed in the command word list pane,
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a list of mnemonic character strings of the command words included in the middle classification is displayed in a tree format.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a symbol list pane is switched and displayed instead of the command list pane in the command palette.

FIG. 5 shows a P including a ladder diagram creation program according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an overall configuration diagram of an LC execution program.

FIG. 6 is a main part configuration diagram showing a mutual relationship of main elements required for creating a ladder diagram by the ladder diagram creating program according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Editor Screen 4 Command Word Palette Window 5 Command Word List Pane 6 Operand Input Pane 9 Mnemonic Input Box 11 Operand Input Box 15 Operand Type Input Support Button Group 16 Operand Value Input Support Button Group

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5H220 BB12 CC07 CX02 CX06 DD03 DD04 EE08 FF05 GG03 GG05 HH01 JJ13 JJ42 JJ53

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A program for displaying a ladder diagram creation screen on a display means of a computer, and creating a ladder diagram on the ladder diagram creation screen. A ladder diagram creating program comprising symbol list display means for displaying a symbol list display screen for displaying icons in a palette. 2. A command word list display means for displaying a command word list display screen for superimposing the command system on a ladder diagram creation screen and displaying the command system in a hierarchical manner in a tree format, the command word list display screen and the symbol 2. The ladder diagram creation program according to claim 1, further comprising a display mode switching unit for selectively switching between a list display screen and a list display screen. 3. An operand input screen display means for displaying an operand input screen for inputting operands adjacent to the command word list display screen or the symbol list display screen displayed by the display mode switching means. The ladder diagram creation program according to claim 2, further comprising: 4. The operand input screen includes a mnemonic input box, an operand input box, and operand input support means, wherein the operand input support means has a plurality of type inputs for supporting input of an operand type. A mnemonic displayed on the mnemonic input box, comprising: a support button; and a plurality of value input support buttons for supporting input of operand values, wherein the type input support button and the value input support button are displayed in the mnemonic input box. The buttons that cannot be selected as operands are grayed out and invalidated in response to the mnemonic, and only the buttons that can be selected as operands corresponding to the mnemonics displayed in the mnemonic input box enter an enabled state. The ladder diagram creation program according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The ladder diagram creating program according to claim 1, wherein the symbol list display means displays a mnemonic character string corresponding to the icon adjacent to the icon. . 6. A computer-readable recording medium on which the ladder diagram creation program according to claim 1 is recorded.