JPH0793007A - Display system for sequence program - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the number of step displays in one screen and make the displays easy to see as to a display system for a sequence program in a flowchart. CONSTITUTION:The display screen 5 is sectioned virtually into blocks 5a. An operator inputs one flowchart symbol to each block 5a through a flowchart symbol input means 1 such as a keyboard. The kind and position of the inputted flowchart symbol are stored in a display data storage means 2. After a program is generally generated, the operator commands an abbreviated display through an abbreviated display command means 3 by key operation, etc. An abbreviated display means 4 having received the abbreviated display command judges the kind and position of each flowchart symbol stored in the display data storage means 2 and form flowchart symbols of plural blocks 5a in the longitudinal direction of the screen to display the flowchart on the display screen 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flow chart method for displaying a sequence program, and more particularly to a display method for a sequence program performed during programming.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, there are many expression formats of a sequence program executed by a PC (programmable controller) such as a logic description and a ladder diagram format. Among them, the flow chart method is the easiest to understand the flow of the whole work. The flow chart method is
SFC (Sequential Function Chart)
Some methods, such as a method, express steps in process units. A specific operation program in each step is created by a logical description, a ladder diagram, or the like.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the SFC method created on the display screen. When programming by the SFC method, the display screen 40 is divided into a plurality of blocks 41 as an internal process. When inputting a flow chart symbol, the cursor 42 is moved to a desired block 41 by a key operation.
To move. When a flow chart symbol is selected by a software key or the like not shown, the flow chart symbol 43 is displayed in the block 41 where the cursor 42 is placed.
For example, when the cursor 42 is placed on the block 41a and the transition is selected as the flow chart symbol, the transition 4a is displayed on the screen.

As the flow chart symbol 43, in addition to the transition 43a, a branch process 43b, a step 43c,
And parallel processing 43d.

[0005]

However, in such a display method, since only one flow chart symbol is displayed per block, if there are many branching processes or parallel processes, the display is extended in the vertical direction and displayed on one screen. There is a problem that the number of steps that can be performed is reduced.

Further, when branch processing and parallel processing are included,
Since the display position of the step is displaced, there is a problem that the screen becomes difficult to see. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a display method of a sequence program that can increase the number of step displays in one screen and can be easily confirmed.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a sequence / flowchart method.
In the program display method, a flow chart symbol input means for inputting a flow chart symbol corresponding to each block virtually divided on the display screen, and a display for storing the type and position of the inputted flow chart symbol Upon receiving the data storage means, the abbreviated display command means for issuing an abbreviated display command, and the aforesaid abbreviated display command, the type and position of each of the stored flowchart symbols are judged, and the flowchart symbols of a plurality of blocks in the vertical direction of the screen. And a shortening display means for forming and displaying in one block, and a display method for a sequence program.

[0008]

First, the flow chart symbol input means inputs a flow chart symbol corresponding to each block virtually demarcated on the display screen, and the type and position of the input flow chart symbol is displayed on the display data storage means. To store. When the program is created generally and the abbreviated display command is issued by the abbreviated display command means, the abbreviated display means judges the type and position of each stored flow chart symbol, and the flow chart symbols of a plurality of blocks in the vertical direction of the screen. Are formed and displayed in one block.

As a result, the display in the vertical direction of the screen is shortened.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of this embodiment. Blocks 5a are virtually divided on the display screen 5. The operator inputs a flow chart symbol by using the flow chart symbol input means 1 such as a keyboard, one for each block 5a. The display data storage unit 2 stores the type and position of the input flow chart symbol. Once the program has been created, the operator issues a shortcut display command using the shortcut display command means 3 such as key operation. Receiving this abbreviated display command, the abbreviated display means 4 judges the type and position of each flow chart symbol stored in the display data storage means 2, and puts the flow chart symbols of a plurality of blocks 5a in the vertical direction of the screen into one block. It is formed and displayed on the display screen 5.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of an automatic programming device for implementing the present invention. The processor 11 controls the entire automatic programming device according to a system program stored in the ROM 12. The ROM 12 stores data such as shape information as well as a system program for controlling the entire automatic programming device.

In the RAM 13, internal data, the system program loaded from the floppy disk 19a,
Various data for creating a sequence program are stored. Further, in the RAM 13, the display data of each flow chart symbol in the flow chart method which is one of the display methods of the sequence program is stored in the HDD (hard disk.
Drive) 18 and the like. Furthermore, RAM1
3 stores the data of the flow chart type sequence program input by the operator through the keyboard 16, that is, the data of each flow chart symbol and their position on the screen of the display device 15.

The graphic control circuit 14 converts data such as a sequence program stored in the RAM 13 into a display signal and sends it to the display device 15. The display device 15 displays this on the screen. This display device 15 has a CR
T, a liquid crystal display device or the like is used.

The keyboard 16 is provided with operation keys used for data input and software keys whose functions change according to a system program or the like. Tablet 17
Is used to input data such as shape information.

HDD (hard disk drive) 1
Reference numeral 8 stores display data of each flow chart symbol and data to be saved even after the power of the automatic programming device is cut off. FDD (floppy disk drive) 19
Drives the floppy disk 19a to input a sequence program, or outputs the edited and created sequence program to the floppy disk 19a.

The created sequence program can also be output to the plotter 20 and printer / PTP (paper tape puncher) 21. In addition, these components are coupled to the bus 10.

Next, a specific procedure of the display method of the sequence program by the automatic programming device having such a configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an SFC (sequential function chart) method creation screen. In the display screen 15a, a block 30 divided into seven columns M1 to M7 and three rows N1 to N3 is virtually provided in advance as an internal process. That is, the block 30 is divided into 21 small blocks in total. Hereafter, regarding the designation of each small block, the block at the position of column M1 and row N1 is expressed as block M1N1, the block at the position of column M1 and row N2 is expressed as block M1N2, .... In each block M1N1, etc., one flow chart symbol 31 including blanks is displayed by the procedure described later.

Display screen 1 provided with this block 30
A menu display unit 150 is provided below the 5a. The menu display unit 150 is provided with, for example, six menus 151 to 156. Each menu 151-
At 156, flow chart symbols such as steps, branch processes, transitions, and parallel processes are displayed. Flow chart symbols that cannot be displayed on one screen can be displayed by page switching operation or the like.

When the operator moves the cursor 32 on the screen to a desired block by key operation and selects one of the menus 151 to 156 by a software key (not shown), the flow chart symbol of the selected menu is the block. Is displayed in. For example, the cursor 32
Is moved to the block M2N2 and the menu 154 is selected, the transition flow chart symbol 31d is displayed at the position of the block M2N2 on the screen.

By repeating such operations, flow chart symbols 31a to 31r are input and displayed on the screen, for example, as shown in the figure. When the sequence program is created in this way, the operator operates the keyboard 16 to issue a shortened display command.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed in abbreviated form. Here, with respect to the flow chart symbols other than the steps such as the flow chart symbol 31e, the shortening process is performed on the vertical blocks. For example, in FIG. 3, only the flow chart symbol 31a of the branch process is displayed in the block M1N1, but in FIG. 4, the transition chart symbol 31c displayed in the lower block M2N1 is displayed in the same block M1N1. There is. As a result, the flow chart symbol 3 of the N1th row
1e, 31h, 31k, 31o and 31g are displayed one block forward. Also, flow chart symbols 31o and 3
1 g is also shortened and displayed in the same block M5N1.

Similarly, for line N2, the flow chart symbol 3
1d and 31f and flow chart symbols 31m and 31p are abbreviated in blocks M1N2 and M3N2, respectively. As for the N3 line, the flow chart symbols 31g, 31j, 31n are moved up by one block and displayed due to the connection with the N2 line.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure by the processor 11 for performing such a shortened display processing. It should be noted that this flowchart is started when the operator issues a shortened display command. [S1] The type of each flow chart symbol is confirmed from the upper block. [S2] It is determined whether the confirmed flow chart symbol is a flow chart symbol indicating a step. If it is a flow chart symbol indicating a step, the process proceeds to step S4, and if not, the process proceeds to step S3. [S3] The type of the confirmed flow chart symbol is temporarily stored and held in the RAM 13 or the like.

When there are two or more flow chart symbols other than the flow chart symbols in the step [S4] in a continuous block, they are combined into one block. If there is only one, it is treated as a single block, like the flow chart symbols of steps. [S5] The data of the position and type of the flow chart symbol that has been combined is temporarily stored in the RAM 13. [S6] It is determined whether or not all the scheduled blocks are combined, and if completed, the process proceeds to step S7. If not completed, the process returns to step S1. [S7] Screen generation processing is performed. [S8] A shortened screen is displayed on the display screen 15a.

As described above, in the present embodiment, with regard to the flow chart symbols input in units of one block, the flow chart symbols other than the steps are displayed by shortening a plurality of flow chart symbols in the vertical direction of the screen. Therefore, it is possible to display more steps in the vertical direction of the screen.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, since the flow chart symbols 31e of each step can be displayed side by side in the same column, the operator can easily confirm them.

[0027]

As described above, in the present invention, the flow chart symbols of a plurality of blocks in the vertical direction of the screen are formed and displayed in one block, so that the display in the vertical direction of the screen is shortened and Many steps can be displayed.

Further, since the flow chart symbols of each step can be displayed side by side in the same column, it is easy for the operator to confirm.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a hardware block diagram of an automatic programming device for implementing the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an SFC (sequential function chart) method creation screen.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed in abbreviated form.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure by a processor for performing a shortened display processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an SFC method created on a display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 flow chart symbol input means 2 display data storage means 3 shortened display command means 4 shortened display means 5 display screen 5a block 11 processor 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 graphic control circuit 15 display device 15a display screen 16 keyboard 18 HDD (hard disk drive) ) 19 FDD (floppy disk drive) 19a floppy disk 30 block 31 flow chart symbol

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sequence according to a flow chart method
In the display method of the program, a flow chart symbol input means for inputting a flow chart symbol corresponding to each block virtually divided on the display screen, and a display for storing the type and position of the inputted flow chart symbol Data storage means, abbreviated display command means for issuing abbreviated display command, and upon receiving the abbreviated display command, the type and position of each of the stored flowchart symbols are judged, and the flowchart symbols of a plurality of blocks in the vertical direction of the screen are determined. And a shortening display means for forming and displaying in one block, and a display method of a sequence program, characterized by: 2. The display method of a sequence program according to claim 1, wherein the abbreviated display means is configured to perform abbreviated display processing for flow chart symbols other than steps. 3. The sequence program display method according to claim 1, wherein the flow chart symbol input means is configured to be performed by a menu selection of a software key.