JP2003140714A - Graphic language program preparing program and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the flexibility of the preparation of a program using graphic language, and to improve the working efficiency of program preparation. SOLUTION: This graphic language program preparing program makes a computer perform a procedure comprising a step (a) for visually displaying a program (11-1) described in graphic language, a step (b) for commenting designated graphic elements designated by an input device (14) among graphic elements included in the program (11-1), and a step (c) for compiling non- commented graphic elements other than the commented graphic elements among the graphic elements.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a technique for creating a program described in a graphic language.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For an end user, learning a programming language to develop a program is as difficult as learning a foreign language. In particular, it is difficult for engineers who develop plant control technology to have the same knowledge as programmers who develop software, and for such engineers, learn programming languages and develop programs that control plants. That is a huge burden.

Graphical languages are widely used to facilitate program development by end users. A programming method using a graphic language is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-263111 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-1846.
85) and a republished patent (WO98 / 40817).

The graphic language is a programming language such as a function block diagram (FBD) in which the function of a program is visually described by graphic elements. A function block diagram is a diagram in which function blocks (FBs), which are graphical objects representing functions, are connected along the flow of data processing. Creation of the function block diagram is done by a graphical editor. The end user uses a graphical editor to connect the function blocks and create a visual representation of the program, the function block.
Can create diagrams.

When a program is developed using a graphic language, an end user uses a graphical editor to create logic expressed by a set of graphic elements. If the program is represented in a function block diagram, the end user can
Arrange blocks, and further
Connect blocks to create a functional block diagram.

The created logic is verified for its operation and modified if necessary. The logic is generally created by trial and error. That is, the verification and correction of the logic will be repeated.
That is, the operation of adding a graphic element in the logic and deleting the graphic element included in the logic is repeated.

In creating a program using a graphic language, it is desired that the flexibility of creating the program is enhanced and the work efficiency of creating the program is high.

Further, it is desired that the amount of calculation required for verifying a program using a graphic language is small.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to improve the flexibility of creating a program using a graphic language and increase the work efficiency of creating the program.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the operation amount of the control device at the time of verifying a program using a graphic language.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Means for solving the problems will be described below by using the numbers and symbols used in the embodiments of the present invention. These numbers / codes are added to clarify the correspondence between the description in [Claims] and the description in [Embodiment of the Invention]. However,
The added numbers / codes should not be used to interpret the technical scope of the invention described in [Claims].

A graphic language program creating program according to the present invention is (a) a program (1) written in a graphic language.
1-1) visually displaying, and (b) the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16) included in the program (11-1).
₂₃ ), commenting out the designated graphic element designated by the input device (14); and (c) excluding commented graphic elements among the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ). Compiling the uncommented graphic element as described above, and causing the computer to perform the procedure. The graphic language program creation program is
A function is provided to comment out a specified graphic element to exclude it from calculation, thereby improving flexibility in creating a program using a graphic language and increasing work efficiency in creating the program. In addition, since the commented graphic elements are not compiled and only the non-commented graphic elements are compiled, the amount of calculation of the device that executes the compiled program is reduced.

The procedure of causing the computer to execute the graphic language program creating program further includes the step of (d) uncommenting the commented graphic element in accordance with an instruction given from the input device. This provides the function of uncommenting the commented graphic element that has been commented and making the commented graphic element the target of the calculation again, and further improves the flexibility of creating a program using the graphic language.

In the step (b), the program (1) is executed in response to an instruction given from the input device (e) (e).
1-1), the step of setting the area (26) on the display screen, and (f) the graphic element (16 ₁ to ₁ )
6 ₂₃ ), the step of designating an element inside the area (26) as the designated graphic element, and (g) the step of commenting the designated graphic element. As a result, the end user can easily comment desired graphic elements.

The program (11-1) includes the graphic element (1
6 ₁ comprising 1-16 ₂₃₎ each have a flag ₍₂₂ 1 _{to 22 23)} indicating whether it is commented, the step (b), instructions are given from the (h) the input device (14) Accordingly, it is preferable to include a step of setting a flag indicating whether or not the designated graphic element is commented out to a state indicating that the designated graphic element is commented out.

The commented graphic element and the non-commented graphic element are preferably displayed in different modes. As a result, the end user can select the graphic element (16 ₁ to 1
It is possible to easily recognize whether or not each of 6 ₂₃ ) is commented.

The graphic language program creating method according to the present invention is (a) a program (11-) written in a graphic language.
1) the step of visually displaying, and (b) the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ) included in the program (11-1).
Among them, a step of commenting out a designated graphic element designated by the input device (14), and (c) a graphic element (16
_{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ), the step of compiling uncommented graphic elements excluding commented graphic elements that are commented out.

A graphic language program creating device (1) according to the present invention comprises an input device (14) and the following steps: (a) visually displaying a program (11-1) described in a graphic language ( b) Program (11-
Of the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ) included in 1),
Step (c) of converting the specified graphic element specified by the input device (14) into a comment (16 ₁ to ₁ )
₆₂₃ ), the computing device programmed to perform the step of compiling non-commented graphic elements except commented graphic elements that are commented out (1
1, 12) and.

The plant control program creating program according to the present invention comprises (a) a step of visually displaying a plant control program (11-1) for controlling the plant (4) described in a graphic language. , (B) of the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ) included in the plant control program (11-1), commenting out the specified graphic element designated by the input device (14), (c) A step of compiling non-commented graphic elements of the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ) excluding commented graphic elements that are commented out.

The method for creating a plant control program according to the present invention is (a) a plant control program (1) for controlling a plant (4) written in a graphic language.
1-1) step of visually displaying, and (b) designation designated by the input device (14) among the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ) included in the plant control program (11-1). The step of commenting out the graphic element,
(C) Compiling non-commented graphic elements excluding commented graphic elements that have been commented out of the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ).

The plant control system according to the present invention creates a plant (4), a control unit (2) for controlling the plant (4), and data for controlling the plant (4), and the created data. And a design section (1) for supplying the control section to the control section. The design unit (1) uses the input device (1
4) and the following steps: (a) visually displaying a plant control program (11-1) for controlling the plant (4) described in a graphic language,
(B) Of the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ) included in the plant control program (11-1), the input device (1
4) A step of commenting out the designated graphic element designated by (4), and (c) Compiling the non-commented graphic elements excluding the commented graphic element commented out of the graphic elements (16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ ). And a computing device (11, 12) programmed to perform the steps.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the accompanying drawings,
An embodiment of a graphic language program creating program, a graphic language program creating apparatus, and a graphic language program creating method according to the present invention will be described.

One embodiment of the graphic language program creating apparatus according to the present invention is a design PC for creating a control program for controlling a plant. In the present embodiment, the design PC is provided together with the control device. The design P
As shown in FIG. 1, C1 is connected to the control device 2 via the Ethernet (registered trademark) 3.

The design PC 1 provides the end user with an environment for creating a plant control program in a graphic language. Further, the design PC 1 has a function of compiling a plant control program described in a graphic language into control program creation data.

The designing PC 1 downloads the control program creation data to the control device 2. The control device 2 expands the downloaded control program creation data,
Create a control program written in machine language. The control device 2 operates the plant 4 according to the created control program.
To control.

The control device 2 is further connected to the simulator 5. The simulator 5 is used for verification of the control program. The control program is the actual plant 4
Needs to be verified before driving. When verifying the control program, the simulator 5 having substantially the same input / output characteristics as the plant 4 is connected to the control device 2 instead of the plant 4.

The control device 2 can be operated and monitored by the operation monitoring PC 6 connected to the Ethernet 3.
The operator of the plant 4 can operate the plant 4 by operating the operation monitoring PC 6 and giving instructions to the control device 2, and further monitor the plant 4.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the design PC 1. The design PC 1 is connected to a storage device 11 such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a CPU 12, a display device 13, an input device 14 including a keyboard 14a and a mouse 14b, and an Ethernet 3. It includes an interface 15.

The storage device 11 includes a plant control program 11-1, a graphical editor program 11-.
2, compiler 11-3, verification support program 11-4
Memorize Graphical editor program 11-
2, compiler 11-3, and verification support program 11
-4 constitutes a graphic language program creation program,
It is used for editing and verification of the plant control program 11-1. More specifically, the plant control program 11-1 is a program in which logic for controlling the plant 4 is described in a graphic language, and is an object to be edited by the graphical editor program 11-2. The graphical editor program 11-2 is used to edit the plant control program 11-1.
The compiler 11-3 compiles the plant control program 11-1 described in the graphic language into control program creation data that can be handled by the control device 2. The verification support program 11-4 is used to support the verification of the plant control program 11-1.

The CPU 12 executes the graphical editor program 11-2 and edits the plant control program 11-1 in response to an instruction from the end user. As shown in FIG. 3, the graphical editor program 11-2 displays the logic diagram 31 and the toolbar 32 on the display device 13, and further receives the instruction from the input device 14 to edit the logic diagram 31. To do. Logic diagram 31
Is a diagram visually expressed by the plant control program 11-1 and corresponds to the plant control program 11-1. Graphical editor program 11-2
Stores the plant control program 11-1 in the storage device 11
Read from and displayed on the display device 13.

The logic diagram 31 is shown in FIG.₁~ 16
₂₃including. Graphic element 16₁~ 16 ₂₃Respectively,
A graphical object that represents a function. Figure
Shape element 16₁~ 16₂₃Along the flow of data processing
Are connected to other graphic elements. Graphic element 16₁~ 1
6₂₃Can be called a function block
Yes, and connected graphic element 16₁~ 16₂₃From
Is a function block diagram and
Sometimes called. The end user can
For plant control using the data program 11-2
Modify program 11-1.

A plant control program written in a graphic language
Gram 11-1, as shown in FIG.
Element 16₁~ 16₂₃Attribute data indicating each attribute of
17 ₁~ 17₂₃Is included. i is 1 or more and 23 or less
Attribute data 17 as an integer _iIs a graphic element 16_iGenus of
Shows sex.

The attribute data 17 _i is the x of the graphic element 16 _i .
Position 18 _i , y Position 19 _i , Name 20 _i , ID number 21
_i and a commented / uncommented flag 22 _i . The attribute data 17 _i is graphic data indicating the display form of the graphic element 16 _i, processing shows a processing performed by the graphic element 16 _i data, and graphic elements 16 _i is coupled to any other graphic element Although the connection data indicating whether or not the data is included, the graphic data, the arithmetic processing data, and the connection data are not shown in FIG.

Attribute data 17_iCommented in /
Uncomment flag 22_iIs a graphic element 16_iIs a comment
It has been shown whether or not it has been converted into a file. What is commenting?
Excludes a certain graphic element from the calculation target. Yo
More specifically, the graphic element 16 ₁~ 16₂₃Out of rice
The graphic element that has been converted into
Not recognized and will not compile. Therefore, the control device
Comment the control program creation data sent to
It does not include information about
The converted graphic elements are the objects of the calculation in the control device 2.
Excluded from.

Commented / uncommented flags 22 ₁ to
22 ₂₃ has a value of either “1” or “0”. If the commented / uncommented flag 22 _i is “0”, the graphic element 16 _i is not commented. If the commented / uncommented flag 22 _i is “1”, the graphic element 16 _{i is} Is commented out. Commenting and uncommenting the graphic element 16 _i are performed by clicking the commenting button 33 and the non-commenting button 34 included in the toolbar 32, respectively.

The CPU 12 further includes a compiler 11-3.
Is executed to compile the plant control program 11-1 into control program creation data that can be handled by the control device 2. At this time, CPU 12 is the comment / uncomment flag _{22 1-22 2 3} graphic elements ₁₆ 1 to
It recognizes whether or not each of 16 ₂₃ is commented, and compiles only the non-commented graphic elements that are not commented out of the graphic elements 16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ to create control program creation data. CPU 12
The control program creation data created by compiling using the interface 15 is transmitted to the control device 2 via the Ethernet 12.

The CPU 12 further executes the verification support program 11-4, and the plant control program 11-1.
Support the verification of. Referring to FIG. 3, the verification support program 11-4 outputs the output values of the graphic elements 16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ as
It has the function of forcibly setting a certain value. The end user can set the output values of the graphic elements 16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ to their desired values by the verification support program 11-4. Take an example, an end user, the verification support program 11-4, graphic elements 16 ₇ of the output 25, regardless of the graphic element ₁₆ 5, 16 ₇ features can be set to a particular value. Such a function provided by the verification support program 11-4 has the same function as the plant control program 11-1.
Facilitate verification of.

The designing PC 1 having the above-mentioned configuration has a function of commenting out graphic elements 16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ and further uncommenting them, and the plant control program 11-
1. Make editing and verification of 1 efficient.

Referring to FIG. 3, of the graphic elements 16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ included in the logic diagram 31, for example, graphic elements 16 _{8 to} 16 ₁₆ are commented by the following procedure. As shown in Figure 5, the region 26 including a graphic element _{16 8-16 16} therein by dragging the mouse 14b is designated, graphic element _{16 8-16 16} selected in the interior region 26 To be done. Graphic element 16 _{8 to} 16
The selection of ₁₆ does not depend on the designation of the area 26, but the mouse 14b
It is also possible to sequentially click the graphic elements 16 _{8 to} 16 _{16 in accordance} with. When the comment button 33 of the tool bar 32 is clicked while the graphic elements 16 _{8 to} 16 ₁₆ are selected, the graphic editor 11-2
Comment out the graphic elements 16 _{8 to} 16 ₁₆ . That is, in response to pressing the comment button 33, the graphic editor 11-2 causes the comment / uncomment flags 22 _{8 to} 22 of the attribute data 17 _{8 to} 17 ₁₆ corresponding to the graphic elements 16 _{8 to} 16 ₁₆ respectively. Set ₁₆ to "1". Further, the graphic editor 11-2 is
As shown in FIG. 6, the colors of the graphic elements 16 _{8 to} 16 ₁₆ to be commented are changed to those of the other graphic elements 16 ₁ to 16 _1.
6 ₇ and 16 _{17 to} 16 ₂₃ are displayed in different colors. Thereby, the end user can easily recognize that the graphic elements 16 _{8 to} 16 ₁₆ are commented.

Similarly, when the uncomment button 34 of the toolbar 32 is clicked while the graphic element to be uncommented is selected, the graphic editor 11-2 uncompresses the selected graphic element. Make it a comment. That is, when the uncomment button 34 is pressed, the graphic editor 11-2 sets the comment / uncomment flag of the attribute data corresponding to the selected graphic element to “0”, and further selects. Change the color of the specified graphic element to a color that indicates that it has not been commented.

The function of commenting and uncommenting graphic elements (hereinafter referred to as "commenting / non-commenting function") improves the flexibility of work and improves efficiency.
In the process of creating the plant control program 11-1,
In general, try to add or remove graphic elements
And error is repeated. For example, after a certain graphic element is deleted and the plant control program 11-1 is verified, the graphic element may be returned to the original depending on the verification result. In such a case, if the graphic element is not commented but is commented out and the plant control program 11-1 is verified, it is possible to restore the graphic element as necessary. Can be easily performed by uncommenting.

At this time, since the commented graphic element is excluded from the calculation target and is not compiled, the calculation amount performed by the control device 2 is reduced. As described above, the commented graphic element is not recognized by the compiler 11-3 and is not compiled. Therefore, the control program creation data sent to the control device 2 does not include information about the commented graphic element, and the commented graphic element is excluded from the calculation target of the control device 2. As a result, the amount of calculation performed by the control device 2 for verifying the plant control program 11-1 is reduced.

The effect of reducing the calculation amount cannot be obtained only by the function of forcibly setting the output values of the graphic elements 16 _{1 to} 16 ₂₃ provided by the verification support program 11-4 to a specific value. That is, it is assumed that the output value of a certain graphic element 16 _j is forcibly set to a certain specific value. However, the ability to set to a specific value in the output value of the graphical element to forcibly, not to stop operation of the graphic element that outputs graphical elements 16 _j, and a value to the graphical element 16 _j. Graphic element 16
_j and the graphic element that outputs a value to the graphic element 16 _j are calculated, and as a result, useless calculation is performed. As described above, the commented graphic element is excluded from the calculation target and is not compiled, so that the calculation amount performed by the control device 2 is reduced.

As described above, the graphic language program creating apparatus of the present embodiment provides the commenting / uncommenting function, which enhances the flexibility of the program creating work and makes the program creating work easier. Improve efficiency. Furthermore, the commented graphic elements are excluded from the calculation target, and the calculation amount is reduced.

The graphic language program creating apparatus of the present embodiment can be used to create a program other than the plant control program as long as the program is written in the graphic language.

[0046]

According to the present invention, the flexibility of creating a program using a graphic language is improved, and the work efficiency of creating a program is improved.

Further, the present invention reduces the amount of calculation required for verification of a program using a graphic language.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a graphic language program creating apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a design PC 1.

FIG. 3 shows a display screen displayed on a display device 13.

FIG. 4 shows attribute data 17 _{1 to} 17 ₂₃ .

FIG. 5 shows a display screen in which a region 26 is set in the logic diagram 31.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which graphic elements 16 _{8 to} 16 ₁₆ are commented out.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Design PC 2: Control device 3: Ethernet 4: Plant 5: Simulator 6: Operation monitoring PC 11: Storage device 12: CPU 13: Display device 14: Input device 14a: Keyboard 14b: Mouse 15: Interface 16 ₁ to 16 _23: graphic elements ₁₇ 1 _{to 17 23:} attribute data ₁₈ 1 _{~ 18 23:} x-coordinate ₁₉ 1 _{~ 19 23:} y-coordinate ₂₀ 1 _{to 20 23:} name ₂₁ 1 _{through 21} 23: ID No. _{22 1-22 23} : Comment / uncomment flag 31: Logic Figure 32: Toolbar 33: Comment button 34: Uncomment button

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Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A step of visually displaying a program described in a graphic language, and (b) commenting out a specified graphic element specified by an input device among graphic elements included in the program. A graphic language program creating program for causing a computer to execute a procedure comprising the steps of: (c) compiling non-commented graphic elements excluding commented graphic elements that are commented out of the graphic elements. 2. The graphic language program creation program according to claim 1, wherein the procedure further comprises the step of: (d) uncommenting the commented graphic element in accordance with an instruction given from an input device. Graphic language program creation program. 3. The graphic language program creating program according to claim 1, wherein the step (b) includes: (e) an area on a display screen on which the program is displayed in response to an instruction given from the input device. A graphic including the steps of: (f) designating one of the graphic elements inside the area as the designated graphic element; and (g) commenting out the designated graphic element. Language programming program. 4. The graphic language program creation program according to claim 1, wherein the program includes a flag indicating whether or not each of the graphic elements is commented, and the step (b) includes (h) ) In response to the instruction given from the input device,
A graphic language program creating program including a step of setting a flag indicating whether or not the specified graphic element is commented out to a state indicating that the specified graphic element is commented out. 5. The graphic language program creation program according to claim 1, wherein the commented graphic element and the non-commented graphic element are displayed in different modes. 6. (a) visually displaying a program described in a graphic language, and (b) commenting out a specified graphic element specified by an input device among graphic elements included in the program. A method for creating a graphic language program, comprising the steps of: (c) compiling non-commented graphic elements, excluding commented commented graphic elements, of the graphic elements. 7. An input device and the following steps: (a) a step of visually displaying a program described in a graphic language, and (b) a graphic element included in the program specified by the input device. Commenting out the designated graphic element (c) a computing device programmed to perform the step of compiling the non-commented graphic elements, excluding the commented commented graphic elements of the graphic elements, A graphic language program creation device provided. 8. (a) visually displaying a plant control program for controlling a plant, which is described in a graphic language, and (b) out of graphic elements included in the plant control program, A step of commenting out the designated graphic element designated by the input device; and (c) a step of compiling non-commented graphic elements excluding the commented graphic element that is commented out of the graphic elements. A program for creating a plant control program that causes a computer to execute the method. 9. (a) visually displaying a plant control program for controlling a plant, which is described in a graphic language, and (b) out of graphic elements included in the plant control program, A step of commenting out the designated graphic element designated by the input device; and (c) a step of compiling non-commented graphic elements excluding the commented graphic element that is commented out of the graphic elements. Program control method for plant control. 10. A plant, a control unit that controls the plant, and a design unit that creates data for controlling the plant and supplies the data to the control unit. An apparatus and the following steps: (a) visually displaying a plant control program for controlling the plant, which is described in a graphic language, and (b) a graphic element included in the plant control program. A step of commenting out a designated graphic element designated by the input device, and (c) a step of compiling non-commented graphic elements of the graphic element excluding commented graphic element And a computing device programmed to perform the plant control system.