JP2004240592A - User program development support device, display switching method, and program product - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display switching method making it possible to easily perform the operation of displaying individual split apart subprograms on a display screen in splitting and editing a user's program for a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). <P>SOLUTION: The subprograms of the split apart user's program are stored in a user's program data storage part 13 and are arranged to have a longitudinal connection relationship among them and to be output to a display device 14 in the units of the subprograms. As a cursor is moved within a window W1 where a predetermined subprogram is being displayed, the window displays to include the lowermost end of the subprogram of the previous section when the cursor reaches the uppermost end of the former subprogram; when the cursor reaches the lowermost end of the former subprogram, the window displays to include the uppermost end of the subprogram of the next section. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a user program development support device, a display switching method, and a program product.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, an FA (Factory Automation) system installed in a production factory (manufacturing site) collects control device information obtained by a PLC (programmable logic controller) collecting information on input devices and performing calculations based on the collected information. Control is performed by outputting to an output device.
[0003]
Generally, a PLC user develops a user program operating on the PLC in a ladder language or the like using an editor function of the user program development support software. Then, a user program executed by one PLC can be divided and managed into a plurality of sections. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, user programs described in a ladder language are grouped in units of sections, for example, for each function. When editing a user program, the user program development support software selects a section from the section list when displaying a partial program constituting a predetermined section on the display screen using the editor function, thereby opening a window for each section. It can be opened, displayed and edited side by side.
[0004]
Since the sections have a serial arrangement as shown in FIG. 1, the user selects a section to be displayed and edits the section while being conscious of the arrangement.
[0005]
Furthermore, when verifying the partial programs displayed in each window, if the partial programs constituting one section cannot be displayed on one screen, the user scrolls within the window. If the user wants to see the program part before or after reaching the beginning or end in the window, the user selects and displays the window of the next or previous section.
[0006]
As an invention relating to such a method of displaying a user program (partial program), two instruction means disclosed in Patent Document 1 are provided, and when one of the instruction means is instructed, the screen is continuously displayed by a fixed number of lines. In some cases, the scrolling is performed and the scrolling is stopped by the other supporting means. In addition, there is a technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-157100, in which a partial circuit for a plurality of screens is stored in a memory around a designated circuit to be displayed, the designated circuit is initially displayed, and scroll display is performed by a designated amount.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 05-35314 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP 05-241620
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional user program development support apparatus, the window switching process must be performed manually. For this reason, there is a problem that a selection error is likely to occur, and a reselection or an incorrect program is edited.
[0009]
Also, if you want to display all sections in the order of execution and check their contents, first display the first section, then search the section list for the next section currently displayed from the section list, and display that window You need to repeat the operation.
[0010]
Furthermore, if you open a window of a section that is not displayed, the beginning position of that section is always displayed. To go back in the execution order, select the previous section from the section list, open the window, and then The complexity of switching windows specific to the multi-window function, such as the need to scroll the screen to the tail, has reduced work efficiency.
[0011]
The present invention is directed to a user program development support apparatus and a user program development apparatus which can easily perform an operation of displaying individual divided partial programs on a display screen when a user program executed by a programmable logic controller is divided and edited. It is an object to provide a display switching method and a program product.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A user program development support apparatus according to the present invention is a user program development support apparatus that divides and creates a user program to be executed by a programmable logic controller. A means for reading out a predetermined partial program from among a plurality of partial programs constituting the divided and created user program, and displaying the read partial program on a display device, wherein: A means is provided for displaying, on the display device, a partial program immediately before or immediately following a connected relationship with the displayed partial program in accordance with a cursor moving operation in a window displaying the partial program.
[0013]
The cursor moving operation is an operation for moving a partial program upward or downward. In the embodiment, there are an operation for moving a cursor displayed on a partial program up and down and an operation of a movement key K1 provided in association with a window W1 for displaying the partial program. In other words, although the term "cursor movement" is used, the concept includes not only the process of moving the cursor itself, but also the process of scrolling the partial program (as a result, the cursor also moves with the scrolling of the partial program). Then, when the cursor moving operation is performed so that at least the uppermost end or the lowermost end of the partial program is displayed in the window, or when a predetermined cursor moving operation is further performed from that state, the partial program is moved forward and backward. Other connected partial programs are displayed. In other words, when located at the uppermost end, the previous partial program is displayed, and when located at the lowermost end, the next partial program is displayed.
[0014]
Note that the means for displaying means a means for performing a predetermined process for displaying, and it does not matter whether or not it is actually displayed. In that sense, it can be referred to as a display enabling means. That is, as shown in the embodiment, a section selection screen is displayed, the corresponding section is temporarily selected as an initial value, and when the “OK” button is selected in that state, a partial program of the corresponding section is displayed. Function also corresponds to the display means referred to in the present invention. In this case, if the "Cancel" button is pressed, the partial program immediately before or next to the currently displayed partial program is not displayed. It is included in the display means because it performs processing for display by outputting. Of course, the display means also includes a function of automatically displaying the corresponding partial program without displaying such a selection screen.
[0015]
In addition, when displaying the partial program immediately before by the cursor moving operation, a function of displaying so as to include the end of the partial program is provided. When displaying the partial program immediately after by moving the cursor, the partial program is displayed. It is preferable to provide a function of displaying the start of the character. Needless to say, such a function may not be provided. However, if the function is implemented, even if the partial program does not fit in one window for a long time, different partial programs are successively executed in the execution order or the reverse order without a special scroll operation or the like. This is preferable because it can be easily viewed.
[0016]
Further, when a partial program newly displayed by the cursor movement is already displayed on the display device, the displayed window can be displayed on the foreground. Furthermore, when a partial program newly displayed by the cursor movement is not displayed on the display device, a window for the partial program may be automatically opened and displayed on the foreground. it can.
[0017]
Further, the display switching method according to the present invention is a display switching method of a partial program of a divided and created user program in a user program development support device for dividing and creating a user program to be executed by a programmable logic controller, wherein the partial program is It is assumed that there is a connection relation before and after, and that a predetermined partial program among a plurality of partial programs constituting the divided user program is read out from the plurality of partial programs constituting the divided user program. And detects a cursor moving operation in a window displaying the partial program, and displays the partial program immediately before or immediately following the connected partial program on the display device.
[0018]
In the present invention, the switching of the display means to display another partial program having a context in place of the currently displayed partial program, and leave the previously displayed partial program as it is. Or may be deleted from the display screen.
[0019]
Further, a program product according to the present invention is a support program product in a user program development support device for dividing and creating a user program to be executed by a programmable logic controller, wherein a partial program of the divided and created user program is connected before and after. Related to each other, and outputting to the display device in units of the partial programs, reading a predetermined partial program among a plurality of partial programs constituting the divided and created user program, and displaying the partial program on the display device; A program part for detecting a cursor movement operation in a window displaying a program and displaying a partial program immediately before or immediately following the connected partial program on the display device. did.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 2 shows a user program development support device 10 that realizes a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The CPU 11 controls the entire apparatus according to a system program stored in the ROM 12. In relation to the present invention, it has a function of reading out a predetermined partial program stored in the user program data storage unit 13 and displaying the program on the display device 14. The RAM 15 is used as a work memory for temporarily storing data necessary for executing the arithmetic processing of the CPU 11. Further, an input device 16 such as a keyboard and a pointing device is also provided, and performs an operation instruction to the CPU 11 and creation / modification of a partial program. Note that the ROM 12 may be a storage device such as a hard disk, and in that case, the user program data storage unit 13 may be configured on the hard disk.
[0021]
The user program is to be downloaded to the CPU unit of the PLC, and is created in a ladder language in the present embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the user program is organized in units of sections for each function, and is stored in the user program data storage unit 13 in units of sections. That is, in the case of section 2, the corresponding program portion as shown in FIG. 3 is stored. Of course, the section No. Is registered in association with the data for identifying the section. Further, information on the connection (arrangement) relation of each section is also stored. For example, when the sections are stored in a known data structure called a list, the connection relations of the sections can be known by following the list forward or backward. Also, for example, when sections are stored in a known data structure called an array, the connection relation of the sections can be known in the order of the array.
[0022]
In the case where the numbers are used as the data for identifying each section as described above, it is not necessary to have information indicating a separate connection configuration by numbering in the order of connection. . It is more preferable to add a flag indicating that the section is the first or last section to the first or last section.
[0023]
Then, when editing the user program, for example, a section selection screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display screen of the display device 14, and the input device 16 such as a pointing device is operated to display the section to be displayed. Select a section. Specifically, the user operates the up / down movement key K to click the relevant section in a state where the target section is located in the display window W. As a result, the image is highlighted and the state of the temporary selection is set. Next, by clicking the “OK” button at the bottom of the screen, the temporarily selected section is determined, and the partial program of the corresponding section stored in the user program data storage unit 13 is called and displayed on the display screen. Of course, the partial programs of a plurality of sections can be displayed by selecting them sequentially. A display image associated with this selection is, for example, as shown in FIG.
[0024]
Further, the partial program constituting the section may fit within the displayed window W1, or the partial program may be larger than the size of the window W1 and may not fit. If the input program does not fit, the partial program can be moved in the vertical and horizontal directions within the window W1 by appropriately operating the input device 16. That is, since the cursor indicating the predetermined area of the normal partial program is displayed in the window W1 that has become active, the user operates the input device 16 to position the cursor in the frame of the window W1. When an instruction to move the partial program is sent, if there is an undisplayed portion of the partial program outside the frame, the partial program is moved in a predetermined direction and the undisplayed portion is positioned in the window W1 and displayed. Also, the partial program can be moved in the vertical direction by pressing the move key K1 provided in the window W1 instead of moving the cursor in such a manner.
[0025]
By the way, the execution order of the user program is such that the sections are executed in order as shown in FIG. 1, and each section is also executed sequentially from the top to the end as shown in FIG. Become. Therefore, when verifying the created user program, for example, when the section 2 is currently verified in the execution order, when the program section at the end is reached, it is desired to see the program section at the beginning of the section 3 next. Will say. Conversely, when going back to the execution order, looking at the beginning of section 2 means that one wants to see the end of section 1 next. In the present embodiment, a function that can satisfy such a request with a simple operation is incorporated.
[0026]
That is, a function is provided to display a section selection screen (see FIG. 4) in which a section to be displayed next can be selected when the screen reaches the top end (head) or the bottom end (end) by scrolling the screen in one window. Was. In such a case, in the section selection screen, a function was added to display the next section in the execution order at the bottom end and the previous section in the execution order at the top end as the initial value of the option. . The initial values of the options can be realized by, for example, displaying the inverted display in FIG. 4 and temporarily setting the “OK” button area. As a result, the user can automatically select the next section to be displayed by pressing the enter key or the like of the input device 16 as it is.
[0027]
That is, when reaching the bottom (end) when displaying the Nth section, the (N + 1) th section is easily selected, and when the Nth section is displayed, the top (top) is displayed. Are reached, the N-1st sections are set as initial values of options so that they can be easily selected. Therefore, the user does not need to operate the input device 16 to specify a section, thereby improving workability.
[0028]
In addition, “when it reaches the bottom end (top end)” may be literally scrolling and the cursor reaching the bottom end (top end), or in that state, in the same direction (when the bottom end is reached). May be used as a trigger when an attempt is made to scroll in a downward direction / upward at the top end). Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where the cursor is actually positioned at the lowermost end (uppermost end) of the partial program. The lowermost end (uppermost end) of the partial program is displayed in the window W1 by operating the movement key K1. The movement key K1 may be depressed to move in the same direction from that state or further from that state.
[0029]
Of course, by providing a “cancel” button on the section selection screen as shown in FIG. 4, if you do not want to move to the next section, select the “cancel” and the section being processed will be displayed. You can continue to display. Instead of providing a section selection screen as described above, a corresponding section may be displayed immediately.
[0030]
Further, when a section is selected, the window of the selected section may or may not be opened. Therefore, if the window of the selected section is already open, it will be displayed in the foreground if that window is already open, and if the corresponding window is not open, it will automatically open and display it in the foreground Features are provided.
[0031]
Furthermore, when the top section of the section is reached and the previous section is displayed, a function is provided for displaying the bottom end (end) of the section. Of course, when the next section is displayed after reaching the bottom end of the section, the head of the next section is displayed.
[0032]
By doing so, if the program is verified in the order of execution, the user can view the program accurately in the order of execution of the program, and if verification is performed in the order of execution, the user can view the program. You can browse the programs in the exact order in which you are. Therefore, there is no problem that an incorrect part is displayed and corrected.
[0033]
Then, in order to realize the above-described processing functions, the CPU 11 has a function of executing the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the screen is scrolled according to an instruction from the input device 16 (ST1). That is, a command from a cursor key of the input device 16 or a press of a movement key K1 provided in a window W1 for displaying a section is detected, and scrolling is performed in a predetermined direction.
[0034]
Next, it is determined whether or not the cursor has reached the lowermost end or the uppermost end by scrolling (ST2). Such a determination may be made when the lowermost end (uppermost end) is reached, or when a movement instruction (scroll instruction) in the same direction is further received in the reached state. Which is to be set in advance according to the specification.
[0035]
If it has not reached, the process returns to step 1 to maintain the current screen display, and upon receiving a scroll command, scrolls the screen. On the other hand, when it reaches the lowermost end or the uppermost end, the section to be displayed next is searched and it is determined whether or not there is a corresponding section (ST3). Specifically, when the section reaches the top, the section immediately before the current section is searched, and when the section reaches the bottom, the section next to the current section is searched. This search can be performed by accessing the user program data storage unit 13. Therefore, when the currently displayed screen is the top section and reaches the top end, and when the currently displayed screen is the last section and reaches the bottom end, the branch determination in step 3 is performed. Is No, otherwise it is Yes.
[0036]
If the section to be displayed next can be detected, a section selection screen (see FIG. 4) with the detected section as an initial value is displayed and an instruction is awaited (ST4). When the “cancel” button is pressed, the process returns to step 1.
[0037]
On the other hand, when the "OK" button is pressed, it is determined whether or not the window of the section selected on the section selection screen is already open (ST5). If it is open, the window of the selected section is brought to the foreground. (ST6). If not opened, the window of the selected section is opened (ST7), and the opened window is displayed on the foreground. That is, the partial program of the selected section is read from the user program data storage unit 13 and displayed on the window.
[0038]
Next, it is determined whether or not the mode is a mode for switching windows accompanying scrolling (ST8). In the case of the switching mode, the head of the section is displayed if the selected section is the next section to the section that has been opened so far. (ST9) In the case of the previous section, the tail (end) of the section is displayed (ST10).
[0039]
When the mode is not the scroll switching mode, the automatic switching of the display position in the section is not performed. Therefore, when a new window is opened, the first program portion is displayed, and when a window is already open, the window is displayed as it was without automatic scrolling. Whether the mode is the scroll switching mode is determined by a command from the input device 16. Further, the scroll switching may be always performed without allowing such setting of the scroll switching mode. In the present invention, the switching mode by scrolling, that is, the function of executing steps 9 and 10 is not essential, and may be omitted.
[0040]
In addition, since the flowchart of FIG. 6 implements all of the above-described functions, unnecessary processing steps can be eliminated as necessary. For example, various changes can be made by eliminating step 4 such that the next section or the previous section can be automatically opened without displaying the selection screen.
[0041]
In the above-described embodiment, an example is described in which the user program is created in a ladder language. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the connection relation is not limited to a partial program constituting the user program created in a certain language. The present invention can be applied to a case where a partial program has a head and an end in the execution order. Another example of a ladder language is a mnemonic.
[0042]
Although the above-described embodiment has been described on the premise that it is incorporated in a user program development support device, a program for causing a computer to execute each of the above-described processes (for example, a process for executing the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 6). The program may be recorded on a predetermined recording medium and provided. Examples of the recording medium include a flexible disk (FD) and a CD-ROM, and the program stored in the recording medium is connected (built-in) to a computer via an FD drive or a CD-ROM drive. The computer is installed in the HD unit, whereby the computer constitutes the user program development support device described in the above embodiment.
[0043]
Instead of storing the various programs on the recording medium as described above, the program product itself may be used. That is, the processing unit that executes the flowchart is configured by an application program (program product) in the present embodiment, is installed in a computer that is a user program development support device, and runs on the CPU. The provision of the program is not limited to the one performed via the recording medium, but may be the one distributed via communication.
[0044]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, based on a predetermined cursor moving operation on the currently displayed partial program, the partial programs that are in a context of the partial program can be displayed, so that the divided partial programs are displayed. An operation to be displayed on the screen can be easily performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a user program.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a user program development support device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a partial program.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a section selection screen.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a plurality of partial programs are displayed.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating functions of a CPU.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 User program development support device 11 CPU
12 ROM
13 User program data storage unit 14 Display device 15 RAM
16 Input device

Claims (7)

A user program development support apparatus for dividing and creating a user program to be executed by a programmable logic controller,
The divided and created partial programs of the user program have a connection relationship before and after, and are configured to be output to the display device in units of the partial programs,
Means for reading a predetermined partial program among a plurality of partial programs constituting the divided user program and displaying the partial program on a display device;
Means for displaying, on the display device, a partial program immediately before or immediately after the cursor is moved in a window displaying the partial program, the partial program having a connection relationship with the displayed partial program. User program development support device. 2. The user program development support device according to claim 1, further comprising a function of displaying a partial program immediately before by the cursor moving operation so as to include the end of the partial program. 3. The user program development support device according to claim 1, further comprising a function of displaying a partial program immediately after the partial program by the cursor moving operation so as to include the beginning of the partial program. 4. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a partial program newly displayed by the cursor moving operation is already displayed on the display device, the displayed window is displayed on the foreground. 4. The user program development support device according to any one of 3. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein when a partial program newly displayed by the cursor moving operation is not displayed on the display device, a window for the partial program is automatically opened and displayed on the front. 2. The user program development support device according to claim 1. A display switching method of a partial program of a dividedly created user program in a user program development support device that divides and creates a user program to be executed by a programmable logic controller,
The partial program has a connection relationship before and after, and is output to the display device in units of the partial program,
A predetermined partial program among a plurality of partial programs constituting the divided and created user program is read and displayed on a display device,
A display switching method comprising: detecting a cursor moving operation in a window displaying the partial program; and displaying, on the display device, a partial program immediately before or immediately after the partial program that is connected to the displayed partial program. . A support program product in a user program development support device for dividing and creating a user program to be executed by a programmable logic controller,
The divided and created partial programs of the user program have a connection relationship before and after, and output the partial program unit to the display device,
A process of reading a predetermined partial program among a plurality of partial programs constituting the divided and created user program and displaying the partial program on a display device;
A program part for detecting a cursor movement operation in a window displaying the partial program and displaying a partial program immediately before or immediately after the partial program connected to the displayed partial program on the display device. A program product characterized by:

Images