JPH01136212A - Test system for sequence control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the efficiency of a test work by obtaining the input of an imaged test as a moving condition to the next test index when there is a program not to be prepared in the programs to belong to a low order hierarchy during the test. CONSTITUTION:A process control system has a processor 10, an external storage 10, a man-machine interface device 14 and a process input and output device 16 and this system is connected to a plant facility 20. This processor 10 is composed of a microcomputer to have a CPU, a ROM and a RAM, etc., and the processor has a CRT display. In a master sequence control system, a programming and supervision are approached from the high order hierarchy and the low order hierarchy in the program. Thus, when there is the unprepared program in the programs to belong to the lower order hierarchy than the program for master sequence during the test, the input of the test result at a time this program is imaged to be prepared is stimulated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a test method for a sequence control program, and particularly to a method for testing a sequence control program in a process control system using a computer. Regarding the test method.

[Conventional technology]

In process control systems using computers, three methods are often used to write programs: a relay logic method, a decision table method, and a macro description method.

As shown in FIG. 2, the relay logic method is a method in which operational logic is described by a ladder diagram of combinations of relays, registers, and contacts, and is mainly used for programmable controllers. The decision table method is a method often used in process controllers, and as shown in FIG.

This method defines the operating state of VOO2, pump Po1o). Furthermore, the macro description method is used in many systems using computers, and as shown in FIG. 4, it is a method for describing the sequence operation order in a procedural language style.

Each of these three methods has its advantages and disadvantages, but macro description methods are often used in batch process control systems because they allow fine-grained control by devising the description content. However, even in this macro description method, the monitoring function for informing the operator of the current execution state is not sufficient, and there are considerable problems. As a method for solving this problem, a master sequence management method as shown in FIG. 5 has been proposed. In this method, the execution order of each process constituting a batch of master sequence is defined as a sequence of boxes Bl, B2...Bn,
Furthermore, the execution order of the submaster sequence, which is the details of each process, is also described using the same arrangement of boxes. The details of the submaster sequence process are described using a macro description method. In this method, the operator can be informed of the operating status at a glance by displaying a token on the box being executed. Therefore, the master sequence management method can be used effectively, especially in a batch process control system, to compensate for the drawbacks of the conventional macro description method.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

In the above master sequence management method, the master sequence is used for programming and monitoring.

Although it is possible to approach the program in the order of submaster sequence and unit sequence, that is, from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy, in the program testing stage, if the lower hierarchy program has not been created, the program is approached from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy. I am unable to run the test for
Tests had to be executed in order from lower level to higher level. Therefore, even if all master sequence programs have been created, if there are submaster sequence or unit sequence programs that have not yet been created, program testing during program development cannot be carried out efficiently, and testing work can be delayed. It was not possible to increase efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a test method for a sequence control program that is capable of testing a sequence control program from an upper layer to a lower layer.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a program belonging to an upper layer of a sequence control program, and sequentially executes a test regarding the content of each step of a master sequence according to a master sequence program that specifies the operation order of the entire sequence. However, when testing the content of the master sequence process, if there is an uncreated program belonging to a lower hierarchy than the master sequence program, the test result will be calculated assuming that the uncreated program has been created. This is a test method for a sequence control program that uses the input of the following as at least a condition for transitioning to the next test item.

[Effect]

Tests regarding the contents of each step of the master sequence are sequentially executed according to the master sequence program. During the test, if there is an unacted program belonging to a lower hierarchy than the master sequence program, the user is prompted to input a test result assuming that the uncreated program has been created. Then, the input of this test result is used as a condition for transitioning to at least the next test item, and a test regarding the contents of the next process is executed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

In FIG. 6, the process control system includes a processing device 10.
．． External storage device 12. Man-machine interface device 1
4. It has a process input/output device 16, each device is connected by a pass line 18, and the process input/output device 16 is connected to the plant equipment 20.

The processing device 11 is composed of a microcomputer having a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc.

The man-machine interface device 14 has a CRT display, various operation buttons, etc., and allows various data to be input by an operator's operation.

For example, when the plant equipment 20 is adapted to a vinyl chloride polymerization plant, as shown in FIG. Preparation process S2. Auxiliary agent charging step S3 for charging the auxiliary agent into the reaction vessel. Raw material charging step S4 of charging raw materials into the reaction vessel. Stirring step 85. Stirring the raw materials in the reaction vessel using a stirrer. Temperature raising step S6 to raise the temperature inside the reaction vessel using hot water. Catalyst purchasing step S7 of charging the catalyst into the reaction vessel. Polymerization step S8 after adding catalyst
．． Polymerization termination step S9 to terminate polymerization. Recovery process SIO to recover materials that cannot be turned into products from raw materials,
When programming the execution order of each process in the extraction process 812 for extracting the product (polymer) from the J7X material, the execution order of each process of the master sequence configuring the batch shown in FIG. 7 should be defined by the arrangement of boxes. is now possible. The defined contents are programs belonging to the upper and lower layers of the sequence control program, and are stored in the external storage device 12 as a master sequence program that specifies the operating order of the entire sequence.

Further, the detailed steps of the water preparation step S2 are as shown in FIG. 8, including the condition checking step S21. Water preparation unit sequence step S22. When represented in the performance data collection step S23, these contents are also defined by the operator's operations and stored in the external storage device 12 as a sub-master sequence program. Further, details of the water preparation unit sequence step S22 are defined by a macro description method.

After various programming is performed by the operator's operations, the details of each step of the master sequence are displayed as images on the CR7 screen 22, as shown in FIG. 9, by the operator's operations. At this time, "Details", "Parameters",
"Actual data".

The word "mode" is displayed, and when the operator points to the part in the "water preparation" box and then points to the part in the "parameter" box,
As shown in FIG. 10, a window is cut at the bottom of the CRT screen 22, and the contents of the water preparation parameters are displayed as an image in this window. Furthermore, if you point to the "Details" part, the first
As shown in Figure 1, details of the water preparation process are displayed as images.

Also, when the boxes of each process are displayed as images on the CR7 screen 22, the operating status of each box is displayed by color.For example, when the display color of the box is blue, it indicates an unexecuted status. When it is green, it indicates that it is being executed, when it is red, it is indicating that an abnormality is being processed, and when it is yellow, it indicates that execution has been completed.

The external storage device 12 also stores a plurality of files 24, 26, .
28, etc., and among the master sequence program, submaster sequence program, and unit sequence program, programs under development are stored in file 24, and programs currently online are stored in file 26. . Also, in file 28,
A master sequence management system program 28A for performing processing for displaying images of the contents of each process constituting a batch and processing according to operator operations (start request, stop request), etc. based on the master sequence program; , a box decoding execution routine program 28B for executing each step of the submaster sequence, checking conditions, etc. according to the submaster sequence program, and a macro for decoding the contents of the macro description of the unit sequence according to the unit sequence program. A program 28C for a description decoding execution routine is stored. The processing device 10 is configured to execute various processes according to the programs stored in the file 28.

In addition, the external storage device 12 stores process detail management files 30. to 12, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in order to manage the program creation status and testing status. It has a file 32 for unit sequence management, and when the contents of each process are programmed by an operator,
"Done" data is stored in the creation item, and "unfinished" data is stored when the program has not been created. In addition, when a program test is performed, "completed" data is stored in the test item according to the operator's operation, and "uncompleted" data is stored when the test is not completed.
data is now stored. Also, the contents of this file 30.32 are CR by the operator's operation.
The image is displayed on the T screen 22.

In the above configuration, when a program test is commanded by an operator's operation, the processing device 10 takes in the contents of the program in the files 24 and 28 and sequentially executes a test regarding the contents of each step of the master sequence. That is, the contents of the steps are executed sequentially from step S1 shown in FIG.

At this time, the test results of each process are taken into the processing device 1o from the plant equipment 2o via the process input device 16, and are displayed as images on the CRT screen 22.

Executing a test for each process 1 For example, as shown in FIG. 1, if the program for the detailed process of the water preparation process S2 has not been created from the information in the file 30 (step 100)
In response to a command from the processing device 10, a window is opened on the CRT screen 22, as shown in FIG. 15, and an area for inputting the expected test results of the water preparation process is formed in this window. That is, an area is formed for inputting test results assuming that a program that has not yet been created has been created (step 101).

At this time, the operator determines the amount of preparation as expected test results.
When the operator inputs data such as the preparation time and the number of abnormalities and performs the tested operations, the process shifts to testing the contents of the next process.

On the other hand, if the detailed process of water preparation process S2 has been created,
A test is performed to confirm the operation of the condition check step S21 (step 102), and it is determined whether the water preparation unit sequence step S22 has been created (step 1).
03). Then, when it is determined from the information in the file 32 that the details of the unit sequence step s2 have not been created, C
A window is opened again on the RT screen 22, and an area for inputting expected test results is formed in this window portion. When the operator inputs this assumed test result and performs the tested operation, the process moves to the next step (step 104).

When the water preparation unit sequence step 22 has been created, the operation of this unit sequence is checked (step 105), and the performance data collection step 323 is tested (step 106).

After this, when the operator determines that the test result of the water preparation step S2 is OK, the operator sets a test completion flag and executes the test of the next step.

In this way, in this embodiment, when testing the contents of a master sequence process, if there is an uncreated program belonging to a lower hierarchy than the master sequence program, input of expected test results is performed at least in the next step. Since the condition for transition to the test item is set as the condition, it is possible to execute the test from the upper layer to the lower layer of the sequence control program, which can contribute to improving the efficiency of testing work. Moreover, since tests 1 to 1 can be executed from the upper layer to the lower layer, it is possible to eliminate omission of test items and contribute to improving the reliability of the software.

In addition, in this embodiment, the contents of the program are stored separately in the files being developed and the files being online, so there is no chance of accidentally running the program online during testing, which improves the reliability of the software. You can also try it out.

Also, when adding a process while online, for example, the first
As shown in Figure 6, even when adding an auxiliary agent preparation process S13 to the auxiliary agent preparation process S3, the contents of the auxiliary agent preparation process S13 can be defined in a box by the operator's operation, and the auxiliary agent The detailed process contents of the preparation process S13 can be defined by boxes for each process 5131, 5132, and 5133 by an operator's operation, as shown in FIG.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, when testing the contents of a master sequence process, if there are uncreated programs belonging to a lower hierarchy than the master sequence program, input of assumed test results is performed. , at least as a condition for moving to the next test item, so even if there are uncreated programs belonging to a lower hierarchy than the master sequence program, the test from the upper hierarchy to the lower hierarchy of the sequence control program can be executed. This can contribute to improving the efficiency of test work.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining the processing method according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a description example of the relay logic method, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a description example of the decision table method, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a description example of the macro description method, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a description example of the master sequence management method, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the master sequence. , Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the sub-master sequence, Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of displaying an image of the master sequence, Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of displaying the parameter image of the master sequence, and Fig. 11 is an image of process details. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a display example, and FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of software applied to the system shown in FIG. 6. Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the detailed process management file, Figure 14
The figure is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the unit sequence management file, Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of an image display of assumed test results, and Figure 16
The figure is a diagram showing an example of an image display when adding a process, and FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining details of the additional process. 10... Processing device, 12... External storage device, 14.
...Man-machine interface device, 16...Process input/output device, 20...Plant equipment.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A program belonging to the upper hierarchy of the sequence control program, which specifies the operating order of the entire sequence. Tests regarding the contents of each process of the master sequence are executed in sequence according to the master sequence program, which specifies the operating order of the entire sequence. When testing, if there is an uncreated program belonging to a lower hierarchy than the master sequence program, enter the test result assuming that the uncreated program has been created.
A test method for a sequence control program characterized by using at least a transition condition to the next test item.