JPH06168157A - Program test device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the whole program to be tested even when a part of pro gram module or every kind of equipment operated actually does not exist by selecting data required by a complete program module instead of an incomplete program module from inputted data. CONSTITUTION:When a program module C is not completed, an initialized debug module receives data A that is the data of a move command value with input 1 and data B that is the data of moving quantity with input 2 at the time of performing the test run of a system to which the debug module is connected. An input state retrieval part 10 decides a state number from the data A and B by retrieving an input state table, and an output state retrieval part 11 selects data outputted from an output state table based on a decided state number, and output 1 outputs data Z as the data of operating result to transmit the data to the program module D.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a program test device. In particular, it relates to a program test device in an automatic production system such as a factory automation (FA) system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, factory automation (F
A) Programs used in systems, etc., are divided into units and are coded, the programs for each unit are called program modules, and the programs as a whole are spliced together as a whole program. The method of completing is used. In the case of such a program, if the coding of one unit with the program modules to be joined is not completed, the test as the whole program cannot be performed. We have to wait for the completion of the program module.

Even if all programs are completed,
If there are no various devices to operate with the program, there is no destination to receive the instructions issued by the program, and the data from the various devices required by the program does not come out, so the operation of the entire system is confirmed. I can't test the program if I want to. For this reason, if such a device does not exist, all the instructions in the program corresponding to this nonexistent device were made into non-effective statements before testing, so the program as a whole is operating correctly. There was a problem that it could not be confirmed.

[0004]

Therefore, the present invention provides a program test apparatus capable of testing the entire program even if some program modules or various devices actually operated do not exist. The purpose is to

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The above objects have been completed when a unit of the program modules to be joined is not completed in a system for operating various devices according to an operation procedure by a program in which a plurality of program modules are joined. Data input means for receiving data from the program module, data selecting means for selecting data to be output from the data received by the data input means, and outputting the data selected by the data selecting means to the completed program module. And a data output means.

Further, the above-mentioned various objects are provided in a system for operating various devices according to an operation procedure by a program,
According to a program test device, which is provided with a virtual means for creating the same environment as that when an actual device operates when there is no device to be operated by the program when testing the coded program. To be achieved.

[0007]

The present invention configured as described above has been completed in place of an uncompleted program module when some program modules of the entire program are not completed when performing a program test. By receiving the data output from the program module, the flow of data between the program modules is not interrupted, and the data input by the completed program module is required instead of the uncompleted program module. It is possible to execute the test of the entire program by selecting from the above and passing the output data to the completed program module.

Further, according to the present invention, even if all the programs are completed, if there are no various devices to be operated by the programs, virtual means as a destination of the instructions issued by the programs, such as a virtual device or a virtual device. By connecting the actuator, it looks as if the actual operating device is connected when viewed from the program side, and as a check of the operation of the entire system, it is possible to test whether the program operates normally. It is possible. This virtual device or virtual actuator has a function of simulating the movement of an actual device, so that the movement of various devices to be actually connected according to the effective instruction of the program, such as the display of a computer terminal. You can display what you want to do. Therefore, it is possible to confirm not only a bug in program coding but also whether or not the device normally operates according to the program. Further, if necessary, the virtual device and the virtual actuator can also pass the same monitor data as the actual operating condition of the device when there is a program data request.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 shows a program test apparatus according to the present invention for testing an entire program when a unit of program modules to be joined is not completed when testing the entire program in which the program modules are joined. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of FIG.

This program test apparatus has a plurality of input ports for receiving data from a completed program module: input (1), input (2) and input (n) (n is the number of input ports, Hereinafter, all are the same), and a virtual database (hereinafter, database is abbreviated as D / B) 2
An input state search unit 10 that searches a state number for selecting an output corresponding to the data received by the input port from the input state table inside, and an output state that searches the output state table for data to be output from the state number It is composed of a plurality of output ports that deliver data to the search unit 11 and the completed program module: output (1), output (2), and output (n).

The virtual D / B 2 stores data in place of the data actually transferred to and from the completed program module, and is required in advance assuming data flowing in the system to be tested. Data is prepared and stored as many variables as necessary, or set and stored when necessary. For example, as shown in FIG. It is composed of an input state table for setting a state and selecting data to be output, and an output state table for storing data to be output at that time from the set state (state number).

A program test using this program test apparatus will be further described below. here,
As the program module, the program modules A, B, C and D are joined as shown in FIG. 2 to complete the entire program, and the program module C is completed in the system for operating the actuator and monitoring the status of the device. The case where the entire program test is performed when not in use is explained.

First, the function of each program module will be described. The program module A is a program module that detects an ON / OFF signal from a switch for operating the actuator. The program module B is a program module that outputs a movement command value to the actuator according to the actuator operation command from the program module A and operates the actuator. The program module C is a program module that receives the movement command value of the program module B and the movement amount from the actuator, compares the movement command value with the actual movement amount, and monitors the operation of the actuator.
The program module D is a program module that receives the operation result of the actuator from the program module C, and if there is an abnormality, turns on the lamp by a lamp lighting signal and issues a warning. It should be noted that an actuator, which is an operating device, exists here, and it is possible to collect monitor data of the operating condition from this actuator.

In the system having such a configuration, when the program module C is not completed, the program test apparatus according to the present invention is connected as the debug module 1 instead of the program module C as shown in FIG.

The debug module 1 is a substitute for the program module C, and the number of inputs and outputs is set as an initial setting for that. The function of the program module C is known at the stage of designing the entire system even if it is not yet completed as the program module C. As shown in FIG.
Command value input unit 41 for receiving a move command value from the actuator, and move amount input unit 4 for receiving a move amount from the actuator
2. A comparison calculation processing unit 43 for comparing the received movement command value and the movement amount and an operation result output unit 44 for outputting the compared operation result.

Therefore, as the initial setting of the debug module 1, two input ports are set to receive the movement command value and the movement amount, and one output port is set to output the operation result. .

When the system to which the debug module 1 that has been initialized is connected to the test run, the debug module 1 inputs the data A, which is the data of the movement command value, to the input 1.
The input state search unit 10 searches the input state table to determine the state number from the data A and the data B, and outputs the data from the determined state number. The state search unit 11 selects the data to be output from the output state table, and the output 1 outputs the data Z as the operation result data and transmits it to the program module D.

As a result, it is possible to test the entire program in the system even if some of the program modules C of the entire program are not completed.

Second Embodiment FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining the configuration of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the actuator is operated by moving a valve as a device. The application program 21 is a program that controls the operation of the valve and monitors the state thereof, and the device driver 22 causes each device to operate by making the effective command from the application program into the command format of each device. The command form of the device driver is given a logical name such as 22a from the application program 21 and gives it to the device as a physical name 22b which is a device control command. 23a and 23b are actually existing valves, and the valve 23a is the application program 21.
By the effective instruction of the logical name VAL1 from the device, the device driver 22 is given the physical name RVAL1 and operates. The valve 23b similarly operates by VAL2 and RVAL2. Reference numeral 29 is an existing limit switch, and this signal is received by the device driver 22 from the limit switch 29 as the physical name RLS1 and is passed to the application program 21 as the logical name LS1.

The virtual device 24 and the virtual actuator 28 are connected instead of the nonexistent valve. The virtual device 24 has a function of simulating the operation of the valve, and the application program 2
The virtual device command VDEV1 of the device driver 22 is received by the valve operation command VAL3 from 1. Virtual device 24 that has received the operation command VDEV1
Performs a process 4a for simulating the operation of the valve and stores the operating state of the process 4b. The result of simulating this valve operation is sent to the virtual actuator. The virtual actuator 26 that received the result is
The operation of the actuator is simulated, the state is stored, and the result is sent back to the virtual device 25. The virtual device 25 uses the operation result as the device driver 2
2 to VDEV2, and the device driver 22 sends the result to the application program 21 as LS2.

As a result, valves and actuators, which are operating devices that do not exist, are regarded as existing when viewed from the application program 21,
Logical names VAL3 and LS for device driver 22
The program test can be performed without changing the program because it can be executed according to the above method.

Further, the virtual devices 24 and 25 and the virtual actuator 26 have a state display function 27, and by storing the state of the result simulated by the instruction from the application program 21, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to display it on the display 28 by the status display function. It should be noted that even the grasping of FIG. 3 is for explaining the second embodiment, and the display like the display 28 in FIG. 3 is not the only display.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a part of the program is not completed, or even if the program is completed but there are no various devices to be operated by the program, the program test can be performed considerably. Since it can be executed with accuracy, it is possible to confirm the operation of the program as the entire system without waiting for the completion of all the programs or the production machines.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a program test apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a program system in which a plurality of program modules are joined.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a system to which the program test device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is connected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a function of a program module C.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a virtual D / B.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a program test apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a status display according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Debug module, 2 ... Virtual D / B, 10 ... Input state search unit,
11 ... Output state search unit, 21 ... Program,
22 ... Device driver, 22a ... Logical name, 22b ... Physical name, 2
3a, 23b ... Real device, 24, 25
... virtual device, 26 ... virtual actuator,
27 ... Status display function, 28 ... Display,
29 ... Limit switch.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A data input for receiving data from a completed program module when one unit of the program module to be joined is not completed in a system for operating various devices according to an operation procedure by a program in which a plurality of program modules are joined. Means, data selecting means for selecting data to be output from the data received by the data input means, and data output means for outputting the data selected by the data selecting means to a completed program module. Characteristic program test equipment. 2. In a system for operating various devices according to an operation procedure by a program, when testing a program whose coding has been completed and there is no device to be operated by the program, the same environment as when the actual device operates A program test device comprising a virtual means for creating a program.