JP7180524B2 - Program editing device, program editing method, and program editing program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a program editing device and the like for editing a program to be executed by a programmable logic controller.

2. Description of the Related Art As a method for users who do not have knowledge of programming languages to create programs for various information processing apparatuses, it is known as a conventional technique to create a graphic program by connecting figures representing program parts. Patent Literature 1 describes an example of a visual programming system and a graphics program editing method. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a flowchart method for connecting figures arranged in a predetermined area with directed lines so that a user can easily edit a flowchart diagram consisting of directed lines and figures. An example is given.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-314702 (November 29, 1996) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-115017 (June 23, 2016)

However, the conventional technology as described above has the problem that it is difficult to insert a new figure when a large number of figures have already been arranged in a predetermined area, and it is difficult to connect in a processing order as intended by the user. There's a problem.

One aspect of the present invention is to realize a program editing device or the like that connects figures as intended by a user when adding a new figure to a figure program, even if the figure has already been arranged in a predetermined area. With the goal.

The present invention adopts the following configurations in order to solve the above-described problems.

That is, a program editing device according to one aspect of the present invention is a program editing device that edits a program executed by a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) that controls a device to be controlled via a communication network, and which receives an input from a user. an editing unit that connects unit processing figures indicating processing steps with directed lines according to the above, generates the program for sequentially executing a plurality of processing steps as a figure program, and controls the display of the program, wherein the editing unit comprises , when the second unit processing figure is arranged in the connection area provided around the first unit processing figure by the user's input, the first unit processing figure and the second unit processing figure A connection processing unit for connecting with the directed line, and a connection area setting unit for changing the shape of the connection area according to the area occupied by the connected unit processing figures in the connection area.

With the above configuration, even when unit processing figures have already been arranged in the connection area, it is possible to surely realize connection between unit processing figures as intended by the user by adding a new unit processing figure.

In the program editing device according to the above aspect, the connection area setting section sets the connection area below the area occupied by the unit processing figure when the connected unit processing figure is arranged in the connection area. , and the connection area may be expanded downward.

According to the above configuration, when connecting a plurality of unit processing figures to one unit processing figure on the downstream side, it is possible to guide the user to arrange the plurality of unit processing figures on the downstream side vertically. . Therefore, it is possible to organize the flow of the graphic program when the process is branched and make it easy to understand.

In the program editing device according to the above one aspect, the connecting area setting unit is configured to set the connecting area corresponding to the unit processing graphic on the downstream side of the process connected to the unit processing graphic on the upstream side of the process so that the The connection area of the unit processing figure on the upstream side of the process may be enlarged so that the lowest end of the connection area of the unit process figure on the upstream side of the process is at the bottom.

With the above configuration, even when the connection area of the unit processing graphic on the downstream side is enlarged, it is possible to reliably connect the unit processing graphic to the unit processing graphic on the upstream side.

In the program editing device according to the above aspect, when the newly arranged unit processing figure is located across the connection area of a plurality of existing unit processing figures, the connection processing section may It may be connected to the existing unit processing figure.

With the above configuration, when a new unit process figure overlaps with a plurality of connection areas, appropriate unit process figures can be connected.

In the program editing device according to the above one aspect, the connection processing section is configured such that the newly placed unit processing graphic is positioned across the connection area of a plurality of existing unit processing graphics, and a plurality of When the existing unit processing figures are not connected to each other, they may be connected to the lower existing unit processing figure.

According to the above configuration, when a new unit-processed figure overlaps a plurality of connection areas, appropriate unit-processed figures can be connected to each other.

In the program editing device according to the above one aspect, the connection area setting section may have a configuration for setting the connection area in areas on the right side and below the unit processing graphic.

According to the above configuration, the user can be guided to create a graphic program in which the connections between the unit processing graphics extend rightward and downward. As a result, the flow of the graphics program can be organized and easily grasped.

The program editing method according to the above aspect is a program editing method for editing a program executed by a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) that controls a device to be controlled via a communication network. an editing step of generating and displaying the program for connecting unit processing figures indicating processing steps by directed lines and executing a plurality of processing steps in order as a figure program; When the second unit processing figure is arranged in the connection area provided around the first unit processing figure, the first unit processing figure and the second unit processing figure are connected by the directed line and a connection area setting step of changing the shape of the connection area according to the area occupied by the connected unit processing figures in the connection area.

With the above configuration, even when unit processing figures have already been arranged in the connection area, it is possible to surely realize connection between unit processing figures as intended by the user by adding a new unit processing figure.

According to the present invention, when adding a new figure in a figure program, even if figures are already arranged in a predetermined area, the figures can be connected as intended by the user. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform the connection editing work of the graphic program more efficiently.

1 is a diagram showing an overview of the overall configuration of Embodiment 1; FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the graphic program run on PLC. 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of a series of graphics program editing processing by an editing unit; 7 is a flow chart showing a flow of setting processing by a connection area setting unit; 7 is a flow chart showing a flow of overlap determination processing by a connection processing unit; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying a graphics program group;

§1 Application Example First, an example of a configuration to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall outline of this embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a configuration example in which a program editing device according to the present invention is applied to a terminal device 100. As shown in FIG.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the production system 200 includes a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) 210, and the PLC 210 can communicate with the terminal device 100 that provides the program to the PLC 210 and the database 410 from which the PLC 210 reads and writes data. It is connected.

The production system 200 is, for example, equipment for production in a factory or plant and a device that controls the equipment. The production system 200 has, in addition to the PLC 210, various units 220, various devices 230, and an executable file 240 for controlling these units and devices. Here, the unit 220 is a general term for a unit that relays the device 230 that is a terminal device such as an I/O unit or a communication unit and the PLC 210 . The device 230 is a terminal device to be controlled and a terminal device for acquiring data necessary for control, such as an actuator, a general-purpose sensor, a serial device, an existing PLC, and the like.

The terminal device 100 is, for example, a personal computer (PC). The terminal device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like.

The terminal device 100 according to the present embodiment is a program editing device that edits a program executed by a PLC 210 that controls a device to be controlled via a communication network. The above-described program for connecting processing graphics by directed lines and executing a plurality of processing steps in sequence is generated as a graphics program and controlled to be displayed. At the time of the generation, the terminal device 100 performs connection processing and display control so that the connection of unit processing figures is performed as intended by the user.

§2 Configuration Example A configuration example of the terminal device 100 will be described in detail below.

The terminal device 100 includes a program editing unit 110 for editing a program to be provided to the PLC 210, an input unit 130 for accepting editing operation of the graphics program from the user, a display unit 140 for displaying the graphics program, and an edited graphics program to the PLC 210. A transmitting PLC support unit 150 is included.

The program editing section 110 has an editing section 111 for changing the graphics program, a program storage section 121 , a graphics program parts storage section 122 and a graphics program display section 123 .

A graphic program is a program that displays the execution order of a series of programs in an easy-to-understand manner for the user by displaying program parts that have been divided into unit processing graphics as unit processing graphics and the direction of data transfer between unit processing graphics as directed lines. is. In this embodiment, graphics programs correspond to pipelines on PLC 210 .

The program editing unit 110 can set a graphic program as follows and store it in the program storage unit 121, for example. That is, if a certain unit processing graphic does not have a directed line to which it is connected, the unit processing graphic is set at the uppermost stream of the graphic program. If there is a directed line connected to the unit processing graphic, the directed line and the unit processing graphic connected to the directed line are added to the graphic program. Furthermore, if the newly added unit processing figure has a connection destination unit processing figure, this is repeated until there is no connection destination. The program storage unit 121 can also handle and store all graphics programs as one graphics program group.

Hereinafter, a unit processing figure to which a directed line is connected to a certain unit processing figure is called an upstream figure of the unit processing figure, and a unit processing figure to which a directed line is connected is called an upstream figure of the unit processing figure. It is called the downstream figure of the unit processing figure.

The graphic program component storage unit 122 stores unit processing graphics which are components of the graphic program. A unit processing figure is defined according to the type of device and execution program. The definition may include that the unit processing graphic is a terminal node (prohibited to have downstream graphics).

The graphic program display unit 123 formats the graphic program for display and transmits it to the display unit 140 .

The display unit 140 displays the graphics program sent from the graphics program display unit 123, for example, on a screen.

The input unit 130 receives a user's editing operation for the graphics program.

Unit processing graphics correspond to executable files 240 and parameters on PLC 210 . Directed lines on the virtual plane correspond to the order of execution of those executable files 240 and the delivery of data.

The terminal device 100 is connected to the PLC 210 via, for example, a USB cable. Communication such as program writing to the PLC 210 is performed through the USB cable and the PLC support section 150 . Note that Ethernet (registered trademark) may be used instead of USB, and communication may be performed through an Ethernet cable and a LAN device.

The entity of the graphic program group, that is, the declaration to use program parts, the setting of each program part, and the order of execution (transfer of data) are stored in the program storage unit 121 as text data, for example, and sent to the PLC 210 through the PLC support unit 150. sent.

In the production system 200 according to this embodiment, the PLC 210 reads the graphics program generated by the program editing unit 110 and executes the executable files 240 in the order defined by the graphics program. At this time, program execution and data transfer are performed in the order indicated by the directed lines on the graphics program.

With this configuration, even a user who is unfamiliar with programming can intuitively create a program that runs on the PLC 210 by operating the graphic program displayed on the screen.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a graphic program executed on the PLC 210. As shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a plurality of pipelines composed of an input node Input, a logic node Logic, and an output node Output. Although not shown, a reception queue is connected to the front stage of each logic node Logic and output node Output.

The PLC 210 further has data files 211 and 212 in its storage device, applications 213 and 214 such as machine tool motion control programs, and a pipeline arithmetic device 215 that operate therein.

The pipeline arithmetic device 215 has an arithmetic unit 216 and a control unit 217 . In operation unit 216, necessary logic nodes are sequentially connected between an input node and an output node to form a pipeline. There are usually many pipelines, but at least one is sufficient. The control unit 217 monitors the nodes and queues, and allocates the operation time of the nodes.

The connection destination of the input node Input of the pipeline arithmetic unit 215 can be the data file 211 or the application 213 . Furthermore, the connection destinations of the input node Input are external devices of the PLC 210, such as machine tools, measuring devices, and other various FA devices, a data server 11 that collects and provides data on various production information, and saves data on various production information. The database 12 can be a cloud server 13 on the Internet or other network.

The connection destination of the output node Output of the pipeline arithmetic unit 215 can be the data file 212 or the application 214 . Furthermore, the connection destination of the output node Output is an external device of the PLC 210, which is a machine tool, a measuring device, and other various FA devices, a data server 11 that collects and provides data on FA devices, and a data server 11 that collects and provides data on various production information. database 12, cloud server 13 on the Internet or other network.

The application 213 to which the input node Input is connected and the application 214 to which the output node Output is connected may be different applications or may be the same application.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of a series of graphic program editing processing by the editing section.

(Step S301)
In step S<b>301 , the editing unit 111 reads a saved graphics program from the program storage unit 121 .

(Step S302)
At step S302, the graphics program display unit 123 displays the loaded graphics program.

(Step S303)
In step S303, the graphic program display section 123 displays a list of unit processing graphic types that are defined in the graphic program component storage section 122 and that can be arranged.

<Substantial region setting process>
The substantial area setting unit 112 repeats step S310 for all arranged unit processing figures.

(Step S310)
In step S310, the substantial area setting unit 112 sets the substantial area for the unit process graphic. A substantial area is an area used for judging overlap between the unit processing figure and another unit processing figure. The substantial area is included in the area of the unit processing figure to be displayed, regardless of whether it matches the area of the unit processing figure to be displayed or is a rectangle or ellipse that includes the area of the unit processing figure to be displayed. There may be.

<Connection area setting process>
The connection area setting unit 113 repeats step S320 for all arranged unit processing figures.

(Step S320)
In step S320, the connection area setting unit 113 sets a connection area for the unit process graphic. When the real region of a certain unit processing graphic and the connection region of another unit processing graphic overlap, the unit processing graphic is arranged as the downstream graphic of the other unit processing graphic. At this time, connection areas are set in order from the most downstream unit processing figure. That is, since the connection area of a certain unit processing graphic is set by referring to the connection areas and positions of all downstream graphics of the unit processing graphic, the connection area setting for the downstream unit processing graphic is completed before the upstream connection area is set. Set the connection area for the unit processing figure on the side.

(Step S330)
In step S330, the editing unit 111 accepts a coordinate change or arrangement operation of the unit processing figure by the user. A coordinate change operation is, for example, an operation in which a user drags a unit processing figure on the screen with a mouse, and a placement operation is an operation in which the user drops a unit processing figure on the screen, for example.

(Step S331)
In step S331, the editing unit 111 determines the type of user's operation. If the user's operation is to change the coordinates of the unit processing figure, the process proceeds to step S340. If the user's operation is to arrange a unit processing figure, the process proceeds to step S350. If the user's operation is otherwise, the process proceeds to step S330.

<Coordinate change processing>
(Step S340)
In step S340, the substantial area setting unit 112 sets the substantial area to the unit processing figure whose coordinates are being changed. This step is similar to step S310.

(Step S341)
In step S341, the connection processing unit 115 deletes the temporary directed line added in step S344 , which will be described later .

(Step S342)
In step S342, the connection processing unit 115 selects an arranged unit processing figure whose connection area overlaps with the unit processing figure whose coordinates are being changed.

(Step S343)
In step S343, the connection processing unit 115 determines whether or not there is an arranged unit processing figure whose connection area overlaps with the unit processing figure whose coordinates are being changed. If there is no arranged unit processing figure whose connection area overlaps with the unit processing figure whose coordinates are being changed (NO), the process proceeds to step S330. If there is an arranged unit processing figure whose connection area overlaps with the unit processing figure whose coordinates are being changed (YES), the process proceeds to step S344.

(Step S344)
In step S344, the connection processing unit 115 connects the unit processing graphic selected in step S342 as an upstream graphic with a temporary directed line to the unit processing graphic whose coordinates are being changed. Temporary directed lines are directed lines for indicating provisional upstream/downstream relationships of unit processing graphics, and are not reflected in the actual program. After that, the process proceeds to step S330.

<Placement processing>
(Step S350)
In step S350, the substantial area setting unit 112 sets the substantial area to the arranged unit processing figure. This step is similar to step S310.

(Step S351)
In step S351, the connection processing unit 115 replaces the temporary directed line with a normal directed line. The processing order of the unit processing figures is reflected in the program by replacing them with normal directed lines.

(Step S352)
In step S352, the connection area setting unit 113 sets a connection area for each unit processing figure from the arranged unit processing figure to the most upstream unit processing figure in the figure program. The setting process is the same as step S320. After that, the process proceeds to step S330.

<Details of connection area setting processing>
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of the connection area setting process corresponding to steps S320 and S352 of FIG.
(Step S321)
In step S321, the connection area setting section 113 refers to the graphic program component storage section 122 based on the type of the target unit process graphic, and determines whether or not the target unit process graphic is a termination node. If the target unit process graphic is a terminal node (YES), the unit process graphic does not need a connection area for having a downstream graphic, so the connection area setting process ends. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously connecting a unit processing figure as a downstream figure to a unit processing figure that is prohibited from having a downstream figure. If the subject unit processing graphic is not prohibited from having a downstream graphic (NO), the process proceeds to step S322.

(Step S322)
In step S322, the connection area setting unit 113 sets a prescribed connection area for the unit process graphic. The connection area is set around the unit processing figure.

(Step S323)
In step S323, the connection area setting unit 113 determines whether the connection area overlaps the real area of the downstream graphic of the unit processing graphic. If they overlap (YES), the process proceeds to step S324. If they do not overlap (NO), the connection area setting process is terminated.

(Step S324)
In step S324, the connection area setting unit 113 expands the connection area according to the position of the downstream graphic and the connection area. If an axis indicating the downstream side of processing and an axis indicating a newly added branch are set in the coordinate system in which the graphic program is arranged, the connection area is oriented in the direction of the axis indicating the newly added branch. Enlarged. Also, the connection area is enlarged according to the real area of the unit processing figure. As a result, even when a number of subordinate graphics are already connected to a large number of unit processing graphics, it is possible to create room for newly connecting unit processing graphics as downstream graphics, thereby improving operability. In this embodiment, the axis indicating the downstream side of the process (hereinafter referred to as processing coordinate) is the X axis, the axis indicating the added branch (hereinafter referred to as branch coordinate) is the Y axis, and the branch coordinate side of the connection area is large. The height is set to a value obtained by adding the maximum value of the Y coordinate of the connection area of the immediately downstream graphic and the size of the substantial area of the unit processing graphic on the Y axis.

<Details of overlap determination>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing details of overlap determination corresponding to step S342 in FIG.

(Step S401)
In step S<b>401 , the connection processing unit 115 lists all arranged unit processing figures whose connection area overlaps the real area of the unit processing figure whose coordinates are being changed.

(Step S402)
In step S402, the connection processing unit 115 determines whether or not there is an upstream/downstream relationship between the placed unit processing figures listed. If there is an upstream or downstream relationship among the arranged unit processing figures listed (YES), the process proceeds to step S403. If there is no upstream or downstream relationship (NO), the process proceeds to step S404.

(Step S403)
In step S403, the connection processing unit 115 sets the graphic determined as the downstream graphic in step S402 to be ignored in subsequent processing. As a result, the upstream graphic is prioritized in the determination of overlap, enabling connection as intended by the user.

(Step S404)
In step S404, the connection processing unit 115 determines that the unit processing figure with the largest branch coordinates and the unit processing figure during coordinate change overlap with each other among the placed unit processing figures. As a result, the newly added branch unit processing graphic is prioritized in the overlap determination, enabling connection as intended by the user.

<Screen diagram>
FIG. 6 is a screen diagram showing an example of a screen displayed when the display control unit 116 accepts the user's editing of the graphics program.

The edit screen 500 has a list 501 of unit processing graphic types that can be arranged, and a graphic program layout screen 502 . The display control unit 116 displays a list of unit processing graphic types that the user can arrange on the graphic program layout screen 502 in the list 501 of unit processing graphic types that can be laid out. The display control unit 116 also displays the arranged unit processing graphic and the unit processing graphic whose coordinates are being changed on the graphic program layout screen 502 .

In the example of FIG. 6, the X-axis is the processing coordinate and the Y-axis is the branching coordinate, with the X-axis extending from left to right and the Y-axis extending from top to bottom. In another example, the processing coordinates and the branch coordinates may be reversed vertically or horizontally, and the processing coordinates and the branch coordinates may be reversed. may be

Also, in this figure, for simplicity of explanation, it is assumed that the real area of each unit processing figure matches the area of each unit processing figure and its vertical width is 1. FIG.

Unit processing figures F11 to F14 and F21 shown in the drawing are arranged unit processing figures, and their connection areas are shown in gray on the right side of each unit processing figure. It is assumed that the prescribed connection area is set as a rectangle of size (2, 1) from the upper right end of the unit processing graphic. For example, the connection area of the unit processing graphic F11 has its Y coordinate expanded to 7, which is the maximum value of the Y coordinate of the connection area of the downstream graphic, 6, plus the vertical width of 1 of the substantial area of the unit processing graphic.

When the unit processing figure F15 is positioned in the drawing by the user's coordinate movement operation, the substantial area of the unit processing figure F15 overlaps the connection area of the unit processing figure F13 and the connection area of the unit processing figure F14. Since the overlapping of the unit processing figure F13, which is the upstream figure of the unit processing figure F14, is prioritized by the overlap determination, the display control unit 116 determines whether there is a provisional existence between the unit processing figure F13 and the coordinate-moving unit processing figure F15. Direction lines are indicated by dashed lines.

Also, when the unit processing figure F22 is positioned in the drawing by the user's coordinate movement operation, the substantial area of the unit processing figure F22 overlaps the connection area of the unit processing figure F11 and the connection area of the unit processing figure F21. Due to the overlap determination described above, priority is given to overlapping with the unit processing figure F21 having larger branch coordinates. Direction lines are indicated by dashed lines.

§3 Modification 1
The editing unit 111 may have a connection limit area setting unit 114 . A connection limit area setting unit 114 sets a connection limit area for a unit processing graphic in a graphic program. The connection limit area preferably includes the connection area of the unit processing figure and is wider. Even if a unit processing figure whose coordinates are being changed once overlaps the connection area of another unit processing figure, and is connected to the unit processing figure by a temporary directed line, the overlap with the connection area is canceled. connection is not terminated. However, when the coordinate-changing unit processing graphic no longer overlaps the connection limit area, the connection processing unit 115 deletes the temporary directed line and connects the coordinate-changing unit processing graphic to the upstream graphic. Release.

As a result, it is possible to release the connection between the unit processing figures according to the user's intuition while allowing a certain amount of space between the unit processing figures so that the user can easily see them.

[Example of realization by software]
The program editing unit 110 (especially the editing unit 111) may be implemented by a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit (IC chip) or the like, or may be implemented by software.

In the latter case, the program editing unit 110 is provided with a computer that executes instructions of a program, which is software that implements each function. This computer includes, for example, one or more processors, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the program. In the computer, the processor reads the program from the recording medium and executes it, thereby achieving the object of the present invention. As the processor, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) can be used. As the recording medium, a "non-temporary tangible medium" such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, a programmable logic circuit, or the like can be used. In addition, a RAM (Random Access Memory) for developing the above program may be further provided. Also, the program may be supplied to the computer via any transmission medium (communication network, broadcast wave, etc.) capable of transmitting the program. Note that one aspect of the present invention can also be implemented in the form of a data signal embedded in a carrier wave in which the program is embodied by electronic transmission.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the claims, and can be obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

110 Program editing unit 111 Editing unit 112 Substantial area setting unit 113 Connection area setting unit 115 Connection processing unit 116 Display control unit 121 Program storage unit 122 Graphic program component storage unit 123 Graphic program display unit 130 Input unit 140 Display unit 200 Production system 210 PLC

Claims (8)

A program editing device for editing a program executed by a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) that controls a device to be controlled via a communication network,
an editing unit that controls to generate and display the program for connecting unit processing figures indicating processing steps by directed lines and for sequentially executing a plurality of processing steps according to an input from a user,
The editorial department
When the second unit processing figure is arranged in the connection area provided around the first unit processing figure by the user's input, the first unit processing figure and the second unit processing figure are arranged as described above. a connection processing unit connected by a directed line;
a connection area setting unit for enlarging the shape of the connection area in accordance with the area used for judging whether the connected unit processing figure overlaps with another unit processing figure and which overlaps the connection area. Device. The connection area setting unit has a branch coordinate, which is an axis indicating a unit processing figure newly connected to the same unit processing figure in a coordinate system in which the figure program is arranged,
When the connected unit processing figures are placed in the connection area, the first unit processing figure is connected to a region having a larger branch coordinate than the area used for judging overlap of the connected unit processing figures. 2. The program editing device according to claim 1, wherein an area is set and the connection area of said first unit processing graphic is expanded downward where branch coordinates are large. The connection area setting unit sets the unit processing figure on the upstream side of the process to a maximum value of branch coordinates of the connection area corresponding to the unit processing figure on the downstream side of the process connected to the unit processing figure on the upstream side of the process. 3. The program editing device according to claim 2, wherein the connection area of the unit processing figure on the upstream side of the process is enlarged so that the maximum value of the branch coordinates of the connection area of the process is increased. The connection processing unit connects the unit processing figure whose coordinates have been changed to the existing unit processing figure on the processing upstream side when the unit processing figure whose coordinates are changed is located across the connection area of a plurality of the existing unit processing figures. A program editing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The connection processing section is configured such that the unit processing figure whose coordinates have been changed is located at a position straddling the connection area of the plurality of existing unit processing figures, and the plurality of existing unit processing figures are connected to each other. 5. The program editing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the unit processing graphic is connected to the existing unit processing graphic below if not. 6. The program editing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said connection area setting section sets said connection areas in areas to the right and below said unit processing graphic. A program editing method for editing a program executed by a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) that controls a device to be controlled via a communication network,
an editing step of controlling to generate and display the program for connecting unit processing figures indicating processing steps by directed lines and executing a plurality of processing steps in order as a figure program according to an input from a user;
The editing step includes:
When the second unit processing figure is arranged in the connection area provided around the first unit processing figure by the user's input, the first unit processing figure and the second unit processing figure are arranged as described above. a connection processing step for connecting by directed lines;
and a connection area setting step of enlarging the shape of the connection area in accordance with the area used for judging whether the connected unit processing figure overlaps with another unit processing figure and overlaps the connection area. How to edit. A program editing program for causing a computer to function as the program editing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the program editing program for causing the computer to function as each of the above sections.

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