protool/lite tags

[ungaro]

Hi, I want a valve on a TP170B to change color when something happens: green =open; red= closed; red flashing=problem with the valve. The tags have to be three different inputs on my plc. Is this possible to make this work. The PLC is Omron

 

[XbIK]

You can use different pictures for the different state, and enable and disable (make them visible and invisible) them by the value of different tags.

 

[JesperMP]

If you are using simple objects like circles, boxes etc to display the valve, then you can add attribute animation to them.
Open the "Properties" .. "Attributes" tab.
Specify animations like foreground color, background color and flashing on/off for various states.
You have to add a tag under "Multiplexing". This is the tag that will control which state is displayed.

If the valve is displayed with a bitmap, then you can animate it (i.e. more than just two states) by using a "Graphic List".

 

[ungaro]

Thanks but I want to know if it is possible to assign three different tags to one object. I know how to use tags, but there are also multiplex tags.I don't know how to use these multiplex tags . If it is not possible than I will do it the way Xbik said.

 

[JesperMP]

Dont worry about the text "multiplexing". It is a stupid error from Siemens side to call it multiplexing. For other functions with the same purpose they call it "index tag" or something else.

It is just a tag that controls which state is displayed (if the tag contains a "1" then state 1 will be displayed, if the tag contains a "2" the state 2 will be displayed and so forth). It is easy. Trust me.

 

[ungaro]

Do you know where to find some more info on how to use these index tags?

 

[marius]

It is possible to set more than two states in text objects...just open attribute tab in properties of object ...

<img src="http://www.alteruter.net/temp/plcs.net/protool_attributes.gif">

... in this example i use four texts on one page, each is lightened to show which mode is used - there is neccessary to set all four states for every object (five, zero, is optional in example) which are represented by single integer value.

... as Jesper already said, attributes are set in same way for simple gfx objs like rectangles ...

 

[ungaro]

ok but then I have to use a tag wich contains al the info (like an integer) but I wanted to use 3 different tags (for example input 0.0 ; 3.1;4.0) to control 1 object. Is this possible to do this directly or do I have to program this in my PLC (link the inputs to a WORD and read the value) ?

 

[RMA]

I think the easiest way is going to be to evaluate the input conditions in your program and then set a Merker Bit or a Bit in a DB which controls your display. As Jesper said, the term multiplex Variable is a bit misleading and is in fact effectively an index driven variable, which is not what you need.

 

[marius]

well... i would like to say that there a following boolean operations possible with only 3bits ....

a && b && c
!a && b && c
a && !b && c
a && b && !c
a && !b && !c
!a && b && !c
!a && !b && c
!a && !b && !c

which give us exactly 2^3 count of solutions

... please, you have to decide which state has the priority to be represented by AN SINGLE OBJECT ... to 'convert' them into WORD by defined priority is very easy on simatic, i believe omron can offer something similar ...

 

[ungaro]

In my opinion this had nothing to do with boolean. You can assign different bits of a byte to one object so I asked if it was possible to assign three different bits directly through the protool software. The TP170B is a windows ce device and I have no experience with it so I thought that it would be possible.
Thnx everyone for the advice.

 

[XbIK]

Ungaro, You've got two ways: one is changing your PLC programm and create a new tag with a value according to a different bits status, and the other is using a different objects

 

[JesperMP]

You can assign different bits of a byte to one object so I asked if it was possible to assign three different bits directly through the protool software.

Actually you can specify which state is to be displayed either by "value in tag" or by "bit in tag".
So you COULD use "bit in tag" and then in the program copy the input bits to an intermediary address (which is then the address that the Protool tag looks at.
However, only one bit must be active at a time ! Otherwise Protool cannot know which one is the right one.
It is easier and less prone to errors to use by "value in tag".

The TP170B is a windows ce device and I have no experience with it so I thought that it would be possible.

What has Windows got to do with it ?????

The program doesnt write itself. You have to do some thinking and some work Ungaro. Otherwise you wouldnt be worth your salary - eh ?

 

[ungaro]

Maybe I ask stupid questions but I am not a programmer like you guys. I am trying to learn something which I have never done before so thanks for youre patience with me. I have tried some things out and the easiest way is use different objects like Xbik said, changing the PLC program is a bit risky.

 

[marius]

... anyway good to hear you finally decide on solution