JP2000242307A - Method and device for assisting program generation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate a mnemonic program and a ladder program from data generated in a text editor by pasting a text in a statement list block in a ladder window. SOLUTION: A program in text format (mnemonic language) is generated (S201) by using an external text editor. This text is copied on the display of a personal computer (S202) and pasted in the statement list block on the display (S203). The adequacy of the pasted text is checked (S204). After the adequacy check, it is checked whether the text contents are proper (S205); when not, an error display is made and when the contents are proper, the text generated through the function of the external text editor is pasted as a mnemonic program (S207).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for supporting program creation, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for assisting creation of a ladder program used in a programmable controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a programmable controller (PLC) for controlling sensors, actuators, and the like includes, for example, a CPU unit 50 and an NC unit connected to the CPU unit 50 via a system bus 90, as shown in FIG. A high-performance I / O unit 60 and a communication unit 70 for transmitting and receiving data to and from other communication units.

The CPU unit 50 controls a high-performance I / O unit 60 and a communication unit 70 provided on a rack.
0, a personal computer 80 for running a tool (application software) for setting data and a tool 2 (application software) for executing monitoring by the high-performance I / O unit 60.

The high-performance I / O unit 60 performs special control, for example, NC control, PID control and the like.

The communication unit 70 is provided with another CPU unit 50 or high-performance I / O unit 60 serving as another node.
And send and receive data.

[0006]

In the above-described programmable controller system, when a ladder program to be used in a programmable controller is created, 1) a ladder program is created directly in a ladder language. 2) A mnemonic program is created in a mnemonic language. make,
Techniques such as converting this to a ladder program are known, but all of these techniques require specialized knowledge and are very laborious.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for supporting creation of a ladder program for use in a programmable controller in view of the above-mentioned problems.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a mnemonic program and a ladder program can be created from data created by a text editor.

For example, a mnemonic program can be created by using a text editor such as a memo pad and pasted to a statement list block on a ladder window to be used as a mnemonic program.
Further, the program is configured to be able to display a ladder graphic.

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in a program creation supporting method for assisting creation of a ladder program used in a programmable controller, a program composed of a mnemonic language is created as text by a text editor and created by the text editor. The mnemonic program can be used as a mnemonic program by pasting the created text to a statement list block on the ladder window, and the mnemonic program is converted into a ladder figure and displayed on the ladder window.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a program creation supporting device for assisting creation of a ladder program used by a programmable controller, a text composed of a mnemonic language created by a text editor is input, and the text is converted to a mnemonic program. Statement list block means for converting the mnemonic program into a ladder graphic, and display control means for displaying the ladder graphic converted by the conversion means on a ladder window. Features.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a method and an apparatus for supporting program creation according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a programmable logic controller system configured by applying a program creation support method and apparatus according to the present invention.

A programmable logic controller system according to this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a PLC system)
Is a first programmable controller (hereinafter referred to as a first programmable controller) that controls a device to be controlled such as a sensor or an actuator.
LC), a second programmable controller (hereinafter, referred to as a second PLC) 1a, and a personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) 2 that runs a tool described later.

The first PLC 1 includes a CPU unit 11
, A high-performance unit 12 and a communication unit 13, which are connected to a system bus 14 including a data bus, an address bus, and the like.

The CPU unit 11 controls the high-performance I / O unit 12 and the communication unit 13 provided on the rack, and controls the personal computer 2 via the tool cable 3.
And executes a predetermined process of the tool received from the personal computer 2.

The CPU unit 11 is a microcomputer (microcomputer) 1 for controlling the CPU unit itself.
11 and the microcomputer 111 are connected to the system bus 1
A microcomputer bus ASIC 112 for providing an interface for accessing each of the units 12 and 13 through the microcomputer 4;
A memory 113 for storing a plurality of data received from the tool (hereinafter, referred to as a command message) and for storing transmission data (a response message) to be transmitted to the tool, and a communication processing program for storing a communication processing program for performing a communication process The memory 114 is provided.

The high-performance I / O unit 12 is a unit for performing special control, for example, an NC unit. The microcomputer 121 controls the high-performance I / O unit itself, the system bus 14 and A bus ASIC 122 for interfacing the units;
Command and C transmitted from PU unit 11
The configuration includes a memory 123 that stores a response to be transmitted to the PU unit 11.

The communication unit 13 includes a CPU unit 11
And transmits a command message received from the communication unit to the communication unit of the other connected node, and receives a response thereto and the like to the CPU unit 11 to control the communication unit itself. A microcomputer (microcomputer) 131,
A bus ASIC 132 for interfacing the system bus 14 with this unit; and a memory 13 for storing commands and the like transmitted from the CPU unit 11 and response messages to be transmitted to the CPU unit 11.
3 is provided.

The personal computer 2 is capable of displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen. Using the windows, a plurality of tools 21 (application software) (in the drawing, the tools 21 and # 2 of the tools # 1 and # 2) are displayed. A tool 21) is executed.

In the PLC system of this embodiment, a ladder program for driving the first PLC 1 or the second PLC 1a can be created from data created by an external text editor. The design efficiency is being improved.

That is, in the PLC system of this embodiment, the first PLC 1 or the second PLC 1
When a ladder program for driving a is created by the personal computer 2, a mnemonic program is created using a text editor such as a memo pad.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, first, the mnemonic created by a text editor such as Notepad is copied and pasted to a statement list block on the ladder window.

Thus, the mnemonics pasted on the statement list block can be used as a mnemonic program.

Furthermore, this mnemonic program can be converted into a ladder diagram and displayed on a ladder window.

That is, in the PLC system according to the present embodiment, a character string created by an external text editor can be imported as a ladder program, and the ladder program can be displayed as a ladder. .

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the program creation support processing in this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, in this program creation support processing, a text format (mnemonic language) program is created with an external text editor (step 201).

Then, the text created by the function of the external text editor is transferred to the personal computer 2.
Is copied on the display (step 202), and this is pasted to this tool, that is, the statement list block of the display of the personal computer 2 (step 203).

Next, the validity check processing of the text pasted to the statement list block is executed (step 204). The details of the text validity check processing will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

After the text validity check process,
It is checked whether the text content is valid (step 205). If it is not valid (No at step 205), an error is displayed. If it is valid (Yes at step 205), the mnemonic of the text created by the function of the external text editor is used. The pasting process as a program is completed (step 207).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the validity check processing of the text pasted on the statement list block in step 204 shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, first, the text pasted on the statement list block is expanded on the memory (step 211).

Next, the processing of one line of the text pasted to the statement list block expanded on the memory is executed (step 212), and the instruction word and the address part are decomposed (step 213). Then, the syntax of the command word is checked (check whether the command word string is correct) (step 214).

If it is determined by this check that the text content is not valid (No in step 215), an error is displayed (step 216).

If it is determined in step 215 that the text content is valid (Yes in step 215).
s) Then, the address syntax check (check whether the address character string area and range are correct) is performed (step 217).

If it is determined by this check that the text content is not valid (No in step 218), an error is displayed (step 219).

If it is determined in step 218 that the text content is valid (Yes in step 218).
s) Then, it is checked whether the text content is the last line (step 220).

If it is not the last line (step 2
(No in 20), the process returns to step 212, and the check of each line is repeated. When it is determined in step 220 that the text content is the last line (Yes in step 220), the processing ends, that is, the pasted text is valid It is determined that there is (Step 221).

Next, it is checked whether there is a ladder conversion user request for converting the mnemonic program pasted on the statement list block by the user into a ladder figure (step 222). If there is no ladder conversion user request (No in step 222), nothing is performed (step 223).

If it is determined in step 222 that there is a ladder conversion user request (Y in step 222
es), the text is converted into a ladder graphic (step 224), and the result of the conversion to the ladder graphic is displayed in a ladder window (step 225).

Since the conversion of the text into the ladder graphic in step 224 can be performed by using a known technique, detailed description is omitted in this specification.

Now, in this embodiment, a statement list block is introduced in the ladder window to enable mnemonic input. This statement list block can be used for 1) when writing a block program (a circuit that cannot be expressed in a ladder diagram) on the ladder window 2) when loading text written by mnemonic using an editor or word processor into the ladder window .

Also, 1) When a program is transferred from a PLC (CPU unit), when the program contains an error and cannot be made into a circuit. 2) When a program is imported from old support software. The circuit is displayed in.

To display a statement list block on the display screen of this device, as shown in FIG. 5, move the cursor to the leftmost cell on the ladder window and, for example, press the [L] key or Select Insert, Statement List Block. This allows
As shown in FIG. 6, the statement list block is displayed, the cursor blinks, and the mnemonic input can be performed.

Here, an instruction is written into the statement list block by mnemonic, or the instruction written by an editor or the like is pasted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of writing to the statement list block.

In FIG. 7, the upper digit 0 of the address can be omitted. In this example, [W1] can be input.

When the cursor is moved to a position other than the statement list block, the data is automatically converted as described above.

If there is an error in the circuit input to the statement list block, the left bus of the line where the statement list block is arranged is displayed in red.

After selecting the statement list block by clicking the circuit header area,
When circuit normalization ([Ctrl] + [R]) is performed,
If there are no errors, the circuits in the statement list block are displayed in a ladder diagram. The ladder diagram cannot be changed to a statement list block.

FIG. 8 shows an example of writing a block program to the statement list block.

Next, input of a line comment to the statement list block will be described.

To input a line comment to the statement list block, 1) input "'" (single quote) at the beginning of the line. 2) operate to input a line comment continuously.

FIG. 9 shows an example of inputting a line comment to the statement list block.

Next, the input of a sticky note to the statement list block will be described.

When inputting a sticky note to the statement list block, 1) input "//" (two slashes) at the beginning of a line. 2) operate to input a comment continuously.

FIG. 10 shows an example of inputting a sticky note to the statement list block.

[0059]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a program creation supporting method for assisting creation of a ladder program used in a programmable controller, wherein a program composed of a mnemonic language is created as text by a text editor. By pasting the text created by the text editor into the statement list block on the ladder window, it can be used as a mnemonic program, and the mnemonic program is converted into a ladder figure and displayed on the ladder window. Therefore, it is possible to easily create and confirm a mnemonic / ladder program from data created by a text editor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in a program creation supporting device for assisting creation of a ladder program used by a programmable controller, a text composed of a mnemonic language created by a text editor is input, and the text is converted to a mnemonic program. Statement list block means for converting the mnemonic program into a ladder graphic, and display control means for displaying the ladder graphic converted by the conversion means on a ladder window. Therefore, it is possible to provide a program creation support device that can easily create and confirm a mnemonic / ladder program from data created by a text editor.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a programmable logic controller system configured by applying a program creation support method and apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view for explaining a basic process of a program creation support process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an overall operation of a program creation support process according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of a validity check process of text pasted on the statement list block shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view for explaining an operation for displaying a statement list block employed in the program creation support processing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a display example of a statement list block employed in the program creation support processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of writing to a statement list block employed in the program creation support processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of writing a block program into a statement list block employed in the program creation support processing according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of inputting a line comment to a statement list block employed in the program creation support processing according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows an example of input of a sticky note to a statement list block adopted in the program creation support processing in this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional programmable logic controller system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1a Programmable controller 11 CPU unit 111 Microcomputer 112 Bus ASIC 113 Memory 114 Communication processing program storage memory 12 High function unit 121 Microcomputer 122 Bus ASIC 123 Memory 13 Communication unit 131 Microcomputer 132 Bus ASIC 133 Memory 14 System bus 2 Personal Computer 3 tool cable

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A program creation supporting method for assisting creation of a ladder program used in a programmable controller, wherein a text editor is used to create a mnemonic language program as a text, and the text created by the text editor is used as a statement in a ladder window. A program creation support method characterized in that it can be used as a mnemonic program by pasting it on a list block, and the mnemonic program is converted into a ladder figure and displayed on a ladder window. 2. A program creation support device for assisting creation of a ladder program used in a programmable controller, wherein a text consisting of a mnemonic language created by a text editor is input and a statement list block for making the text usable as a mnemonic program. Means for converting the mnemonic program into a ladder graphic, and display control means for displaying the ladder graphic converted by the conversion means on a ladder window.