1. Introduction to the Actsip system family. - esco-da.be...

ActGraph+ Introduction 1

Copyright Actron AB, 1991


1. Introduction to the Actsip system family.

Actsip is the name of a family that includes several different modules, the modules included are: Actsip-E, Actasc-E, Actpre-E, Actgraph-E, Actsip-H and ActGraph+.

Modules whose names end in "-E" is for the Hitachi J, E and EM series PLC and "-H" is for the Hitachi H series PLC. ActGraph+ is for the entire range of PLC series.

Actsip-E is used for programming the PLC system using ladder and instruction code.

Actasc-E is a specialized program for the ACTCOM module users on the series EM, this program makes it easy to create the texts that are to be displayed by the ACTCOM display.

Actpre-E is useful for making process pictures that can be included with the final PLC application.

Actgraph-E is the module that allows a high level programming mode using the industrial standard Grafcet programming language. It is based on the standard IEC 848 with extensions.

Actsip-H is used for programming the PLC system using ladder code.

ActGraph+ is used for programming the PLC system using the high level programming mode of Grafcet. It is based on the same standard (IEC 848) as ActGraph-E but with many powerful extensions. Also, it can be used to program the entire range of PLC sizes: E, EB, EM and H.

1.1 Actsip-E

Actsip-E is a programming, on-line and documentation system for the Hitachi series J, E, EB and EM programmable controllers.

The Actsip-E system makes it easy to create a new project or modify an existing one. To make it easy to make a project you can program both in the standard instruction list or draw ladder diagrams directly on the screen. After changes have been made it is possible to see the result on the controller (PLC) directly and monitor status e.g. see the status of inputs and outputs etc. on the computer screen.

Actsip-E exists in two versions. The EXTended version which includes a module for creating process displays, and also includes the Grafcet programming mode.

The STAndard version is a simpler version of the Actsip-E package without the process display and the Grafcet.

1.1.1 Highlights.

Some answers to the question "Why should I use Actsip-E ?"

+ Fast development cycle. (The time to do a change, test it on the PLC and see the result.) Time is money.

+ Changes done on the computer are directly transferred to the PLC system. (On-line mode.)

+ Possible to use a short descriptive text instead of the input or output address. Most people has an easier time remembering names instead of numbers. (Use "Photocell 1" instead of the number 012.)

+ Possible to create a ladder diagram that is not restricted to the size of the physical computer screen by scrolling in all directions.

2 Introduction ActGraph+


+ The drawing of the ladder diagram is completely free and without restrictions, e.g. the elements can be drawn and connected in any order.

+ No compilation step, just press the <Ins> key when you have drawn your block and it is directly analyzed and inserted into the instruction code and transferred to the PLC (if On-line mode is specified).

+ A fully integrated programming, documenting and debugging system.

+ Commenting blocks of instructions makes it easier to understand and modify old projects.

+ Create listings of many types.

- Instruction list.

- Ladder diagram.

- A combination of the instruction list and the ladder diagram.

- A list of all short and long comments for the addresses.

- A list of all used or named addresses and the lines where they are used in the program. (Cross reference)

+ The listings makes it easier for the future user of the PLC program by documenting the program in a straightforward and consistent manner.

+ Existing software developed directly on the PGMJ-R can be transferred automatically to the Actsip-E system for documentation. Earlier programming effort is NOT wasted.

+ Software modified on the PGMJ-R can be transferred back and automatically allocated with the correct comments, block comments is easily moved to reflect changes done on the PGMJ-R.

+ Modern programming concepts with pull down menus and windows make it easy to find the right part of the system and to come back again. This also makes the system efficient and easy to use.

+ Built in context sensitive help system. (Press the F1 key and you get relevant help concerning the things you are doing at the moment.)

+ Support for different languages is possible. (Available at the moment in Swedish, and English.)

+ User configuration of the printer, language, colours and so on.

+ Actsip-E is well integrated.

1.2 Actasc-E

(Included in Actsip-E EXTended and STAndard version)

If you are using the Series EM and needs a keyboard and/or display connected to the PLC, you can use the ACTCOM module. The ACTCOM module also contains expansion memory and a real-time clock with time and date. The module can display both prepared fixed texts and variable texts in response to events that happens in the process or machine controlled by the PLC. The keyboard can be used to enter data to control the PLC.

Actasc-E makes it possible to create the fixed texts for the ACTCOM module without an EPROM or EEPROM programmer.

ActGraph+ Introduction 3


1.2.1 Highlights

+ Create texts for ACTCOM module.

+ Uses the mode2-protocol or PGMJ-R for programming texts into the EPROM or EEPROM in the ACTCOM module.

+ Actasc-E is integrated in Actsip-E.

1.3 Actpre-E

(Included in Actsip-E EXTended version)

The Actpre-E module is used to create process pictures that show status information from the PLC. In other words you can create a simple picture of the object the PLC system is connected to. To the picture created you then add the points and areas that should be highlighted when certain PLC addresses change.

1.3.1 Highlights

+ Create process pictures using standard drawing techniques.

+ Add relevant process information to the picture.

+ Save and retrieve pictures.

+ Show timer and counter values directly on the PC screen.

+ Allow monitor of PLC status.

+ Actpre-E is integrated in Actsip-E

1.4 ActGraph-E

(Included in Actsip-E EXTended version)

ActGraph-E makes it possible to describe processes before determining what PLC to use. The description is done using a standardized Grafcet diagram. The graphical representation of the process is then automatically coded for the wanted PLC.

ActGraph-E is a limited version that does not have I/O possibilities nor printing possibilities.

1.4.1 Highlights

+ A superior overview of the project. One graph covers six times as much ladder diagram.

+ ActGraph-E is integrated in Actsip-E, thus projects created in graphs is easily moved to ladder diagram or instruction list.

+ Graphical programming makes most ladder and instruction code programming unnecessary; powerful extensions from the standard provides special actions to suit many applications.

+ The PLC independent mode allows you to move the graph to any PLC that is supported by the program.

+ PLC dependent instructions can be put into the code via macros.

4 Introduction ActGraph+


+ By eliminating the step from idea to code, by letting the developer write the process as he visualizes it, time is saved and many mistakes avoided.

1.5 Actsip-H

Actsip-H is a programming, on-line and documentation system for the Hitachi series H programmable controllers. (H100, H200, H300, H700 and H2000)

The Actsip-H system makes it easy to create a new project or modify an existing one. To make it easy to make a project you can draw ladder diagrams directly on the screen. After changes have been made it is possible to see the result on the controller (PLC) directly and monitor status e.g. see the status of inputs and outputs etc on the computer screen.

Actsip-H exists in one version, the STAndard version.

The Actsip-H STAndard version also includes the STAndard version of Actsip-E.

1.6 ActGraph+

ActGraph+ is based on ActGraph-E, and has many more features. This program makes it possible to describe processes before determining what PLC to use. The description is done using a standardized Grafcet diagram. The project is then automatically coded for the wanted PLC, which can be J, E, EB, EM or H.

1.6.1 Highlights

+ Fully backwards compatible with ActGraph-E. Projects made in ActGraph-E can be transferred to ActGraph+.

+ Powerful extensions makes most ladder and instruction code programming unnecessary.

+ The concept of functional boxes (logical and macro) provides an easy way to construct parts of projects outside the strict graphical description.

+ Different printouts provides good documentation possibilities.

+ PLC communication and ON-LINE programming makes the designing and testing of projects easy.

+ Monitoring of running project shortens development and debugging time.

1.7 ActGraph+E

ActGraph+E is the same as ActGraph+ but does not include the H-series.

ActGraph+ How to read this manual 5

2. How to read this manual.

To get the most out of your Actsip system we strongly recommend that you study this manual. We will walk you through the Actsip program and on the way show you some tips and techniques we have found useful. The next section "Manual conventions" discusses the printing conventions used in the manual. If something is seems unclear there is a index at the end of this manual. If all fails contact your local dealer or contact Actron AB directly, see section 1 for our telephone number.

We hope you will appreciate your Actsip system. If you have ideas, questions or other input please feel free to send us a letter. See section 2 for the address.

6 Manual conventions ActGraph+

3. Manual conventions.

To make reading this manual easier we have used some printing conventions to distinguish between keys to press and text to enter on the computer.

The convention used is that anything inside <> is the name of a key that should be pressed.

The more common ones will now be described.

If you see <Enter> means press the key marked Enter. The Enter or return key looks something like this:

┌──────┐ ┌────────┐ ┌───────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ <──┘ │ or │ Return │ or │ Enter │ └──────┘ └────────┘ └───────┘

On some keyboards it looks more like a reversed 'L'. It is located to right of the normal letters on the keyboard and is used to end text input or to select something.

<Esc> means press the ESC key.

┌─────┐ │ Esc │ └─────┘

The <Esc> key is used to open the ActGraph+ menu and to get back to what you did before (regretting an action).

<Ctrl>+<C> means first press and hold down the Ctrl key then press the key C. (Letter C) You normally find the <Ctrl> key to the left of the letter A on your keyboard.

┌──────┐ ┌───┐ │ Ctrl │ and │ C │ └──────┘ └───┘

<Alt>+<F1> means first press and hold down the Alt key then press the function key 1. (marked F1) You normally find the <Alt> key to the left of the big SPACE bar.

┌──────┐ ┌────┐ │ Alt │ and │ F1 │ └──────┘ └────┘

<Shift>+<F5> means first press and hold down one of the Shift keys then press the function key 5 (marked F5)

ActGraph+ Manual conventions 7

┌───────┐ ┌────┐ │ Shift │ and │ F5 │ └───────┘ └────┘

<Key1>,<Key2> means first press "Key1" and release it then press "Key2" e.g. <F2>,<S> means that you should first press the <F2> function key and release it then press the letter S.

┌────┐ ┌───┐ │ F2 │ then │ S │ └────┘ └───┘

<Tab> is the key marked Tab or something like this

┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ │ │<── │ │ │ │ ──>│ │ or │ ──>│ │ └──────┘ └──────┘

and is normally located to the left of the letter Q on the keyboard.

<BS> is the Back Space key normally marked by a left arrow

┌──────┐ │ │ │ <── │ └──────┘

and located directly above the <Enter> key.

The <Space> key is the big long key below all the letters on the keyboard and it gives a blank (space) when pressed.

8 Manual conventions ActGraph+

On many computers there exist more than one set of <arrow keys>. (used to move in the ladder diagrams and menus in Actsip) On set is located on the numeric keypad at the left side of the keyboard.

┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ │ 7 │ │ 8 │ │ 9 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ^ │ │ │ │ Home │ │ │ │ │ PgUp │ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ │ 4 │ │ 5 │ │ 6 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ <── │ │ │ │ ──> │ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ │ 1 │ │ 2 │ │ 3 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ End │ │ v │ │ PgDn │ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ │ 0 │ │ . │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Ins │ │ Del │ └──────┘ └──────┘

If the lamp "Num Lock" on the keyboard is on then this keys gives the digits 1-9 otherwise the keys works as Arrow keys. When using Actsip turn the "Num Lock" indicator off.

The two keys with "Ins" and "Del" works the same way, that is when "Num Lock" is on they give a '0' and a '.' otherwise they give <Ins> Insert and <Del> Delete.

The "Num Lock" mode is changed by pressing the key marked

┌──────┐ │ Num │ │ Lock │ └──────┘

normally found above the numeric keypad.

If there also is another set of arrow keys these can be used to move the cursor when the "Num Lock" lamp is on.

In this manual "Portable computer" means the computers with 3.5" disk drives and a 9 pin serial connector. (IBM PC-AT compatible connector) See section 1 for more information on serial connections.

ActGraph+ Getting started 9

4. Getting started

This section is about the initial steps you must take to check your ActGraph+ package and then install the hardware and software supplied on your computer system. Section 1 shows how to start the ActGraph+ program.

If the ActGraph+ software is already installed please continue with section 2.

4.1 What's included in your ActGraph+ box

Check that the following parts are in the ActGraph+ box:

+ ActGraph+ program disks

- 5.25 diskettes; (360 Kb), usable for the IBM PC, IBM PC-XT, IBM PC-AT and true compatibles.

The ActGraph+ version 2.01 consists of 3 disks.

or

- 3.5 diskettes; (720 Kb), usable for the IBM and Portable computers and compatibles.

The ActGraph+ version 2.01 consists of 2 disks.

+ ActGraph+ manual. (This manual)

+ Keyboard overlays. Used to identify the function keys F1-F10 on the keyboard. The keyboards for the PC family includes several different layouts so your ActGraph+ kit may include several different overlays.

+ There is only one overlay for instruction programming, usable when programming macros.

+ The Black BOX marked "activator" must be connected to a printer port. Any one of LPT1: or LPT2: is OK. The black "BOX" has one male and one female 25 pin connector. If you have problems with the box and/or the printer, try to switch the ONLINE button on the printer or turn it off. The male 25 pin end should go into the computer female printer port. The other end of the BOX should be connected to the printer cable. The black box should have a letter followed by a number. The letter G stand for ActGraph+ normal version. (Other versions and other softwares have other letters.)

+ A small screwdriver to set the dip switches on the PGMJ-R. See section 1 for information about dip switches.

+ to connect to the PLC and to the PLC programmer PGMJ-R.

- Main cable: (25 pin male to 25 pin female), The main cable from the serial port of the computer to be connected with the EB-series or with other cables that fits the other series. The red, 25 pin male end goes into the EB (or the other cables) and the grey, 25 pin female end goes into the computer serial port COM1: or COM2:

- Converter cable: (9 pin female to a 25 pin male length about 30 cms) The converter cable is a standard converter from PC AT contact to standard RS-232.

10 Getting started ActGraph+

- PGMJ cable: (25 pin male to 25 pin female length about 30 cms), The PGMJ cable have one red and one blue end and the red end should be connected to the main cable and the blue end should be connected with the PGMJ-R.

- E3 cable: (9 pin male to 25 pin female length about 30 cms), The E3 cable is for connection between the main cable to the EM3-series. Connect the red 25 pin female end to the main cable and the green 9 pin male end to the EM3 CPU.

- H cable: (15 pin male to 25 pin female length about 30 cms), This cable is to connect the H-series to the main cable. Connect the Yellow 15 pin male end to the H-PLC and the red 25 pin female end to the main cable.

See section 2 for more information on cables.

4.2 Installation of the cables and the "BOX".

Using a PC-XT computer:

Continue with section 1.

Using a PC-AT or Portable computer:

Continue with section 1

4.2.1 PC-XT computer and Black "BOX"

Installation on a standard IBM PC or IBM PC XT or any other PC compatible computer with a 25 pin female serial RS-232 contact.

Connect the black "BOX" in between your computer and the printer cable.

Use the main cable from the serial port (COM1 or COM2) on the computer, connect with the PGMJ cable and to the PGMJ-R. See section 1 for information about setting up the communication parameters.

The PLC should be connected to the PGMJ-R by the short cable that is part of the PGMJ-R, this short flat cable goes into the left side of a series E or directly to the EM CPU card.

Printer cable. (Not supplied) ┌──────────────────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌────────┐ │ LPT1 or LPT2 │-│BLACK BOX │----------------│Printer │ │ 25 pin female│ │Activator │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Computer PC-G, PC-XT │ └──────────┘ └────────┘ │ │ ┌──────────┐ │ COM1 or COM2 │--------│Connection│--------- │ 25 pin male │ │25/25 pin │ └──────────────────────┘ └──────────┘ Main cable EB-PLC or another cable

Continue with section 1.

4.2.2 PC-AT or Portable computer and Black "BOX"

Installation on a standard IBM PC AT or any other PC compatible computer with a 9 pin female serial RS-232 contact.

Connect the black "BOX" in between your computer and the printer cable.


Use the main cable connected with the 9/25 pin converter from the serial port (COM1 or COM2) on the computer, connect with the PGMJ cable and to the PGMJ-R. See section 2 for information about setting up the communication parameters.

The PLC should be connected to the PGMJ-R by the short cable that is part of the PGMJ-R, this short flat cable goes into the left side of a series E or directly to the EM CPU card.

Printer cable. (Not supplied) ┌─────────────────────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌────────┐ │ LPT1 or LPT2 │-│BLACK BOX │----------│Printer │ │ 25 pin female │ │Activator │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Computer PC-AT, Portable│ └──────────┘ └────────┘ │ │ ┌─────────┐ ┌──────────┐ │ COM1 or COM2 │---│Converter│------│Connection│--------- │ 9 pin male │ │9/25 pin │ │25/25 pin │ └─────────────────────────┘ └─────────┘ └──────────┘ Main cable EB-PLC or other cable

4.3 Installing the software

If you are using a computer with a hard disk the ActGraph+ software needs to installed on the hard disk to be properly used. The next section shows how to install the software on the hard disk.

4.3.1 Installing the software on an hard disk

Start the PC-XT or PC-AT as normal. You should now see a DOS prompt, C> or something similar. Insert the first ActGraph+ disk (the one marked "GRAPH") in drive A (normally drive A is the leftmost or topmost) and write:

A:INSTALL <Enter>

Just follow the instructions from the installation program

4.4 Starting ActGraph+

Write:

GRAPH <Enter>

If you are using the Hitachi H-series , write:

G <Enter>

If you want to start with an old program just write the project name after the GRAPH like this:

GRAPH DEMO <Enter> or G DEMO <Enter>

will start ActGraph+ with the "DEMO" project and

GRAPH MYPROJ <Enter> or G MYPROJ <Enter>


will start ActGraph+ and load the project named "MYPROJ".

A project named DEMO is supplied on the ActGraph+ distribution disk.

If you see the text "Missing BOX !" the reason may be either that the "BOX" is not installed correctly (see section 2) or that there is some incompatibility in your computer. Check that everything is correctly connected and if that fails to work please contact your dealer or Actron AB directly.

On a few portable computers the "BOX" only works if a printer is connected to the "BOX". The printer must be in On-line mode and turned on. This behavior is due to the fact that a non IBM compatible printer port is installed in your computer.

For support telephone number see section 3.

4.5 Inside the ActGraph+

You are now in the ActGraph+ program and should be welcomed by a message like this:

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ ╔═════════════════════════ ActGraph+ ═════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ Welcome to the ActGraph+ development system ║ ║ ║ ║ for the Actron Hitachi series E/EM PLC system. ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ <F1> is the HELP key. ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ <Alt> + <F1> is the HELP key for on-line and monitor. ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║Press <ENTER>Ü ║ ║ ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

If you do not see the above message but gets a blank screen with only a status line at the bottom, that is because ActGraph+ can't find the help file (LANGHELP.ENG). The reason could be that you have not installed everything on the hard disk. If you have not installed everything do this at soon as possible because the help system is a very important part of the ActGraph+ package.

The last line is the status line. The box with the text in the middle is called a window. ActGraph+ uses windows to present information to you and to ask for more information. The cursor (the blinking line or box indicating where text written on the keyboard will be placed) should be situated directly after the text "Press <ENTER>" Press the key marked enter and you will be in the program.

When you want to do something other than editing graphs you have to use the main menu.

We will now use the main menu to leave the ActGraph+ program.

To leave when you want to run another program on your computer use the <Esc> key in the programming mode to open the main ActGraph+ menu.


╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup║ ║ ┌───────────────────┐ ║ ║ │Dos command │ ║ ║ │Exit from ActGraph+│ ║ ║ │About ActGraph+ │ ║ ║ └───────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║

When you pressed <Esc> a line at the top of the screen is shown. The words there each represent a list of actions (things to do). The actions for each word is called a menu. The window shown is the "System" menu and it contains the command we are looking for the "Exit from ActGraph+" command.

If you see a different menu use the <left arrow> or <right arrow > to move to the "System" menu (the leftmost menu shown above). If nothing happens when you press the <arrow keys> try pressing the <Num Lock> key and try the arrows again.

When your screen looks like the illustration above, press the <down arrow> until the selection "Exit from ActGraph+" is indicated by highlight or reversed colours.

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup║ ║ ┌───────────────────┐ ║ ║ │Dos command │ ║ ║ │Exit from ActGraph+│ ║ ║ │About ActGraph+ │ ║ ║ └───────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║

Now press <Enter> and you should be back at the DOS prompt.

If you get a question about saving the project this is because you have made changes and ActGraph+ wants you to decide what to do with them. If you answer "Y" you will then be able to enter the project name under which the PLC program will be saved. (This is the normal option.) If you answer "N" all the changes you have made to the PLC program will be LOST! (Use this only if you are sure that the changes are incorrect.) If you instead of answering "Y" or "N" press the <Esc> key you will continue to program (use this if you by mistake have selected the "System-Exit" option).

In the manual we will tell you to do the "System-Exit from ActGraph+" (or another command). Just remember that the first part is the name of the menu that appear on the topmost line of the computer screen when you have pressed <Esc> and the next (and maybe following parts) is sub-menus from this menu. E.g. press <Esc> move the first part (before the '-') then select the correct line indicated by the second part the press <Enter> if there is a third or even fourth part just select from the windows shown and press <Enter>. If you at any time want to get back to previous menu press the <Esc> key.

(<Ctrl>+<C> will also end your ActGraph+ session at any time without saving the current project you are working on!)

4.6 Other useful documentation.

Even though we tried to make this manual cover as many parts of the process involved in the creation of PLC project, not every detail could be included.

For information on the different PLC types J, E, EB, EM and H refer to the corresponding technical and programming manuals. (E.g. the series E programming manual and technical manual, describes the programming language of the series E PLC's and the physical and electrical characteristics of the PLC.)


The User and DOS manuals for the computer on which you are going to use the ActGraph+ system could also be useful, these books contains all the relevant information on how to run your computer.

To get started quickly in the world of the PC and DOS, we would recommend a starting book on how to use PC and DOS computers. Your local bookstore should be able to provide you with a wide selection of titles.

4.7 A quick tour through ActGraph+

You will now be given a tour through most part of the software package called ActGraph+.

Grafcet programming is described in section 6.

After studying this section you should have become familiar with the way to use ActGraph+ and the general layout of the menus

The main menu of ActGraph+ is described in section 7.

The index can be found in section 18.

ActGraph+ General topics 15

5. General topics of the ActGraph+ system.

5.1 Help texts and on-line help. <F1>

Inside the ActGraph+ program pressing the function key 1 <F1> gives you a help text, press <Enter> to get back from the help text. The help text you see depend on the task you are doing. You do not have to read all the help texts but only the relevant ones.

If you press <F1> while in the help system, you get more information.

To get help on the subject of ON-Line and monitoring hold down the <Alt> key and press <F1>. (<Alt>+<F1>)

5.2 Editing of text

When ActGraph+ asks you to enter text you have some general editing functions. Pressing a normal key just inserts that character into the text. If you want to change the last character entered use the <BS> key to remove the character to the left of the cursor. Deleting the character under the cursor is done by pressing the <Del> key. You can use the <left arrow> and <right arrow> to move the cursor in the text, and finally pressing the <Enter> key accepts the text as it is and ends the editing.

The <Home> key moves you to the leftmost column and the <End> key moves the cursor to the end of the text.

Pressing <Ctrl>+<End> deletes all the remaining text on the line after the cursor.

If you want to abort the edit and retain the original text press the <Esc> key.

5.3 Symbolic versus numerical addresses.

ActGraph+ uses a concept called symbolic addresses. A symbolic address is used instead of a numerical address. this means that a symbolic address is another way of specifying an address on the PLC.

If we have connected the PLC input number 0 to a switch that is labelled START it is much easier if you can think of the switch as START instead of 0. In this case "START" is the symbolic address for the numerical address 0.

When programming with ActGraph+ and you must specify an PLC address you must use the symbolic address.

If a symbolic address is specified and it has already been used in the PLC program the numerical address is also shown.

Another name for a symbolic address is "Short comment". The reason that it is called short comment is that every address can also have a long comment. The difference is that the short comment must be UNIQUE but the long comment is just any descriptive text.

The short comment can be up to ten characters long. The long comment is allowed to have up to 30 characters.

Normally the case of the letters in the short comment is significant. That means that "stop" and "STOP" are treated as two different symbolic addresses. If you want to avoid mixing lowercase and uppercase letters, Actsip can help you. In the menu "Setup-Ladder programming", "Setup-Instruction programming" and "Setup-Grafcet programming" there is an option to convert all short comments to UPPERCASE only.

16 General topics ActGraph+

5.4 Automatic allocation of symbolic addresses.

Whenever a new symbolic address is used ActGraph+ asks for the numerical address for this symbol. This is done through the "Automatic allocation".

The basis for the automatic allocation is that ActGraph+ keeps track of all the numerical addresses that have been used. When an unknown short comment is used Actsip brings up a window called "Automatic allocation"

╔═══════════════════════════ Automatic allocation ════════════════════╗ ║Start ║ ║[203] ║ ║16 bit ║ ║2 byte ║ ║1 Bit Marker Input Output Timer Counter ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

The window has several parts.

The first line contains the short comment that is new (Start).

The texts Marker, Input, Output, Timer, Counter indicates the different types available in the PLC.

1 bit, 2 byte and 16 bit specifies the size; the number of bits to be found and then allocated.

203 is the first free address of the type specified; in this case a Marker (internal output). Note that in the PLC independent mode, this space is empty.

If you press <Enter> the short comment "Start" will get the address 203. If for some reason you want the next free marker press <+> and the 203 changes to the next free. (in this case probably 204)

If the short comment is of another type change the type by using the <left arrow> and <right arrow>. The address is changed to show the first free of the new type. You may also type the first letter of the type as a shortcut.

If you want you may also type the address in by pressing the number keys. (Pressing <1>,<2>,<4> <Enter> gives the address 124.)

In the case above the text "1bit" was highlighted meaning that only a single bit will be allocated. Pressing the <up arrow> will tell ActGraph+ to look for this amount of free bits (consecutively).

If you select size "16bits" then the allocated short comments will be changed.

Start.0 Start.1 Start.2 Start.3 Start.4 Start.5 Start.6 Start.7 Start.8 Start.9 Start.A Start.B Start.C Start.D Start.E Start.F

ActGraph+ General topics 17

The given short comment is first truncated to 8 characters if necessary; then a '.' is appended and a digit 0-9 or letter A-F. Please note that the letters are uppercase. You may not use lowercase letters for the number.

18 Grafcet programming (ActGraph+) ActGraph+

6. Grafcet programming

Graphical representation of the PLC program is a relatively new idea in PLC programming. The "flow of control" in the process is described in a graphical structure, with steps symbolizing the steady states in the process and transitions giving the condition for passing from one such state to another.

How does this translate into practice? Here follows a simple example:

┌──┐ │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────────┐ ││000├┤ Elevator Down │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────────┘ │ ┼ Lower position reached │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────────┐ ││001├┤ Elevator Up │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────────┘ │ ┼ Upper position reached └──┘

Starting in STEP000, the elevator of our example is commanded to move downwards. This command (as well as the entire step) remains active until the condition stated just after the step is true.

When that condition is true (or "met"), the activity passes on to STEP001 and STEP000 is turned inactive. Thus the elevator command "down" is replaced by the command "up". This step is active until the condition below that step ("Upper position reached") is met.

When that happens, the activity again passes on to STEP000, and the process cycle is completed. This cycle can be repeated again and again.

This example shows the advantages of using graphical programming: the diagram speaks more or less for itself. The ideas of the designer is easily implemented, as this representation is closer to the way he or she reasons. The graph is easily understood, both by the designer and maintenance personnel; this saves time and money. Also changes are easily introduced.

What are the differences from the ordinary ladder programming method? Well, if we ignore the obvious physical differences we find that the graphical representation gives a much better overview of the program; in fact, an average graph needs only one sixth of the space needed for the corresponding ladder diagram. (For instruction list this figure is halved.)

Now follows an introduction to the Grafcet1 standard and after that the specifics for ActGraph is described.

6.1 An introduction to Grafcet

The two main building elements for the graph are the steps and the transitions.

6.1.1 The step

The step is identified by a number (or name). Steps are normally represented by the single-lined box

1The formal name of the standard is IEC 848 "Preparation of function charts for control systems".

ActGraph+ Grafcet programming (ActGraph+) 19

┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │000├┤ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘

but initial steps, or starting steps, are represented by a double-lined box.

╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ ║000╟┤ │ ╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘

The only thing that differ starting steps from normal steps is that starting steps are to be active when the program is started or reset. In other words; the double lines indicates that this is a starting point of the process.

6.1.2 The transition

The transition represents a condition for activity to pass from one step to another.

│ ┼ │

6.1.3 Connections

These basic elements are connected with vertical lines, sometimes supplied with arrows indicating the direction of the "flow". Normally, reversed flow connections are drawn to the left and branches are drawn to the right.

There are a few distinct rules determining the order of steps and transitions:

+ There must always be one and only one transition between two steps, and

+ there must always be one and only one step between two transitions.

6.1.4 Branches

A graph without branching possibilities is not very useful; most application has a need for them.

There are three different branches: the alternative branch, the parallel branch and the loop branch.

6.1.4.1 The alternative branch

The alternative branch is used when there is a selection between two or more different paths in the graph. For instance, the actions performed may depend on the value of a switch.


┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ├───────────────────┐ │ ┼ Metal ┼ Wood │ : : │ : : │ : : │ ┼ Cond1 ┼ Cond2 │ ├───────────────────┘ └──┘

In this case, STEP000 is active until either of the transition conditions "Metal" or "Wood" is met; then the activity passes on to the step following that particular condition.

If both are true, activity can pass to any of the branches; the standard does not specify this. The result is thus largely program dependent.

6.1.4.2 The parallel branch

The parallel branch is used when there is a need to work along two (or more) different paths simultaneously. For instance, a conveyor belt is to supply material at the same time as the former material is transported away.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ Cond1 │ ╪═══════════════════╤ │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ ││002├┤ │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ : : │ : : │ : : │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││003├┤ ││004├┤ │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ╪═══════════════════╧ │ ┼ Cond010 │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││010├┤ │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ └──┘

In this case, STEP000 is active until condition "Cond1" is met; then activity passes to both STEP001 and STEP002.

At the end of the parallel branches, the activity is passed to STEP010 when the condition "Cond010" is met AND all the last steps in the branches are active.


6.1.4.3 The loop branch

The loop branch is a special case of the alternative branch; either of the paths are chosen, but in this case the activity "flow" in the graph is from bottom to up (until the end of that branch is reached).

┌──────────────────────┐ │ ┌───────────────────┤ │ ┼ Cond1 ╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐║000╟┤ │ ││001├┤ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ │ ┼ Again │ │ └───────────────────┤ │ ┼ PassBy │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │002├┤ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ : │ : │ : │ ┼ └──────────────────────┘

In this case, STEP000 is active until either of the transition conditions "Again" or "PassBy" are met. If "Again" is met STEP001 is activated, only to leave activation back to STEP000 when condition "Cond1" is met. If the "PassBy" condition is met when STEP000 is active, activity is passed to STEP002.

6.1.5 Actions

Actions are associated with steps. When a certain step is active, the actions associated with that step may also be active.

There are many different types of actions: one normal and several detailed types. They all consist of a name for the action (like "open valve" or "wagon left") and the details for that action.

The normal action is active whenever the step is active.

The conditional action is active when the step is active AND the specified condition for that action is met.

The delayed action is active when the step is active and a certain amount of time has passed. For example, if the delay time is set to 2 seconds, the action is performed two seconds after the step turned active IF the step is still active after that time.

The time limited action is active when the step is active but it has a maximum time limit. For example, if the time limit is set to 2 seconds, the actions is performed until two seconds has passed or the step is turned inactive, whichever comes first.

The pulsed action is limited to a very short time. In the ActGraph case, that time is one instruction cycle.

The stored action is the only action that can be active after the step has turned inactive. The action can be stored either ON (active) or OFF (inactive); this remains in effect until another stored action is done (for that particular action). Please observe that whenever there is a conflict between activity and inactivity, activity gets the upper hand, i.e. ON has priority over OFF.


6.1.6 Conditions (expressions)

We have two cases of conditions, the transitions and the conditioned actions. In both cases, these are expressed as Boolean (logical) expressions:

VALUE1+VALUE2*(/VALUE1+^VALUE3)

The operandi are "+", meaning logical OR, and "*", meaning logical AND.

A logical "OR" is true if and only if either one or both arguments are true.

A logical "AND" is true if and only if both arguments are true.

Parenthesis can be inserted as in normal mathematical context. The value of the parenthesis is evaluated separately.

In ActGraph, each name/variable can also be preceded by a "^", meaning the positive flank (or rise from "0" to "1") of that value, and a "/" meaning logical NOT. NOTE! "/^" does not mean negative flank, only inverted positive flank. NOTE! Entire parenthesized expression may not be negated with "/". Only variable names.

6.2 Starting with ActGraph+

Under this heading, several different topics have been gathered. Special information about the ActGraph+ is listed, including keyboard commands and special actions.

6.2.1 Keyboard commands

All main programming in ActGraph+ is done using the following keys:

<Arrows> moves the cursor on the screen.

<Ctrl>+<Arrow> moves the cursor 5 steps on the screen, only the left arrow and the right arrow.

<Shift>+<Arrows> moves the screen 5 steps, but the cursor is still.

<Home> moves the cursor to the left upper corner of the screen.

<Ctrl>+<Home> moves the screen to the first graph. This is very useful if you have got "lost" and can't find your way back.

<Ctrl>+<End> moves the screen to the last graph.

<F1> gives the help text.

<F2> opens the special submenu, ACT menu see page Erreur ! Signet non défini..

<F3> redraws the screen.


<F4> moves a branch connection downwards.

<Shift>+<F4> moves a branch connection upwards.

<F5> creates a step.

<Shift>+<F5> toggles the starting step status for a step. A normal step is turned into a starting step, and vice versa. If not situated on a step, a starting step is created.

<F6> creates a transition.

<Shift>+<F6> allows the editing of a super condition for the graph that is currently cursored.

<F7> creates an alternative branch.

<Shift>+<F7> allows the editing of a reset condition for the graph that is currently cursored.

<F8> creates a parallel branch.

<F9> creates a loop branch.

<F10> creates a logical box.

<Shift>+<F10> creates a macro box.

<Alt>+<F1> opens a help text for the ONLINE functions.

<Alt>+<F5> ONLINE on.

<Alt>+<F6> ONLINE off.

<Alt>+<F7> start the PLC.

<Alt>+<F8> stop the PLC.

<Alt>+<F9> On-line.

<Alt>+<F10> Off-line.

<Esc> gives editing possibilities for a step or transition.

<Enter> edits the current element.

<Del> deletes a step, transition or empty branch.

<Ctrl>+<L> redraws the screen.

<*> edits the number of the step.

<!> prompts for a comment that is associated with a graph element (step, transition or branch connection). This comment is then displayed above the element.

<Tab> jumps between entries in logical boxes and macro boxes.

<>> (a single 'greater than') move a graph/box to the right.

<<> (a single 'less than') move a graph/box to the left.


Lines between graph elements are automatically drawn.

6.2.2 Special actions

To make the ActGraph more powerful, we have included special actions. These actions are shown when a new name is entered in the action window:

╔══════════════════════════════Allocation═══════════════════════════╗ ║(NAME) ║ ║ ║ ║16 bits ║ ║2 byte ║ ║1 bit Output Marker Timer Counter U/D-Cnt ShiftRg Macro║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Here we can make a selection between activating an output or a memory marker (or internal output), resetting or activating a timer or counter, resetting or activating an up/down counter or shift register (which is special actions indeed; these functions are special for Hitachi PLC) or including a macro file done in ActGraph+ (very special).

6.2.2.1 Timers

On a timer only one special action can be performed; reset. When a timer is used as an action, the '*' which marks reset is automatically added to the name.

The timer may be used as a condition anywhere. When the timer's preset is reached, its condition is true.

The timer is counting when it is active, i.e. in normal cases when the step is active. All the action details may be used whit the timer action. If you use 'S' (Stored), the timer will continue to count when the step is inactive.

6.2.2.2 Counters

There are two special actions for a counter; reset and count. When a counter is used as an action, the program prompts for the special action; a '*' marks a reset action, a '+' or a '-' marks a count action. (Both may be used, since the counting direction may differ between PLC's.)

The counter may be used as a condition anywhere. When the counter's preset is reached, its condition is true. The count is performed on the positive flank of the action.

6.2.2.3 Up/down counters

An up/down counter is really a special function within the PLC (FUN40, for the EM-series) that performs this function on sixteen memory markers. When the first address is chosen for the up/down counter, all sixteen markers are allocated with the same name as the entire counter and the suffices ".0" - ".F". The individual bits can then be referenced by these names.

There are four special actions for an up/down counter; reset, count up, count down and count variable. When a up/down counter is used as an action, the program prompts for the special action; a '*' marks a reset, a '+' marks an up count, a '-' marks a down count, and a '>' marks a variable count.

A variable (or dependent) count means that the counter counts up or down depending on the value of the variable. If the variable is true, the action counts up and if the variable is false, the action counts down.. The count is performed on the positive flank of the action. The program prompts for a variable if this action is chosen.


6.2.2.4 Shift registers

A shift register is really a special function within the PLC (FUN47, for the EM-series) that can shift sixteen memory markers, and shift in a "0" or a "1". The memory markers are allocated as with the up/down counter, with a suffix from ".0" to ".F". The individual bits can then be referenced by this name.

The four special actions for the shift register are analog to the up/down counter; reset, shift "1", shift "0" and shift variable: a '*' marks a reset, a '+' marks a "1" shift, a '-' marks a "0" shift, and a '>' marks a variable shift.

This last action means that the shift register shifts "1" or "0" depending on the value of the variable. It also prompts for a variable if this action is chosen.

The shift is performed on the positive flank of the action.

6.2.2.5 Macro

The macro action means that a special file (with the same name as the action and the suffix ".EMA", ".HMA" for the H-series) will be inserted into the coded graph; it will be executed when the steps that have this particular macro file name as an action. This is particularly useful when it is necessary to include arithmetic commands in the graph; do the arithmetic coding in Actsip, save all the functions and/or outputs in a macro file and put that file name as a macro action in those action boxes that are to perform them.

For a complete description of the macros, please study Chapter 16: Macro boxes.

6.2.3 The step numbers

Every step is named and marked with a number of three digits. Whenever a step is created, it is numbered with the next free number after the last step number created. When a new graph is started, this number is "000".

These numbers may be set to other numbers, however. This is done by moving the cursor to the step box of the step to be changed and pressing <*>. The new number can now be entered and set with <Enter>. The next created step will be numbered from this last number entered.

The step number need not be a number; any three characters can be entered. If you want a step to be called "A20" just enter that text. If the new name does not start with a digit, the name will not affect the number of the next created step.

The step may be referenced at any time by the name "STEP***" where the asterisks marks the three characters of the step number or name. It can be used freely in conditions.

NOTE! It is not encouraged to use the step name in actions! Confusion is sure to come from this.

6.3 A guided tour of ActGraph+

In this section we will construct a simple graph, yet covering many features of the ActGraph+.

Having followed the instructions in section 3 about installing and starting the ActGraph+, we now have a blank ActGraph screen.


6.3.1 A simple graph

Press <Shift>+<F5>. A starting step will appear and the cursor is centered on it.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ └──┘

Press <Enter>. A new window will open, enabling editing of the actions associated with the step.

Type "FEEDER" and press <Enter>. Another window will open, requesting information whether this value FEEDER is a normal output, a marker or some special action.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ └──┘ ╔═════════════════════ Actions ═══════════════════╗ ║ FEEDER ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╔══════════════════════════════Allocation═══════════════════════════╗ ║FEEDER ║ ║ ║ ║16 bits ║ ║2 byte ║ ║1 bit Output Marker Timer Counter U/D-Cnt ShiftRg Macro║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Use the <LeftArrow> and <RightArrow> to move the highlighted area, so that we can select the correct type. In this case it is an output, an ordinary feeder motor controlled by our PLC. The highlighted area was on output when we started, but since then we've been doing some experimenting; make sure that it is situated there once more and press <Enter>. The allocation window will disappear and the cursor is back in the action entering window.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ └──┘ ╔═════════════════════ Actions ═══════════════════╗ ║ █ FEEDER ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════╝


Press <Enter> again. (The program was prompting for a detailed action, but this is a normal action that is active when the step is active.) Now this action is complete, and since there seem to be no need for more actions is this step, press <Enter> to insert changes.

Now the action appears next to the step in the graph.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ └──┘

Next, we will want a transition condition to leave this step. Make sure the cursor is centered on the step and press <F6>. A transition should appear under the step, connected to it. Next to the transition is the condition "=1". (This is the default condition and means that transit of activity will move from the step over to the next step immediately. This is normally not wanted.)

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ =1 └──┘

Press <Enter> to edit the condition. A part of the graph next to the transition is highlighted, thus marking the space reserved for the condition. In this version of ActGraph, this space is limited to 15 characters. (This is not a definite limit, as we will see later on.)

Now, the condition we want is that the photocell below the feeder registers a ball coming down. Type "PHOTOCELL" and press <Enter> The allocation window pops up and asks for the type of PHOTOCELL. This should be an input.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │ │ ╔═════════════════════════════ Allocation ══════════════════════════╗ ║PHOTOCELL ║ ║ ║ ║16 bits ║ ║2 byte ║ ║1 bit Input Output Marker Timer Counter BoolExp ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Press <Enter>. After this last condition is met, we want to start the conveyor belt to transport the ball to the passage.

Press <F5>. A new step is created below the transition. This should have the number 001. Press <Enter> to edit the action list.

Type "CONVEYOR" and press <Enter>. Mark it as an output and press <Enter>. Press <Enter> to mark it as a normal action. Finally, press <Enter> to leave the action window and enter the actions into the graph.


┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ └──┘

The condition for the last step to stop activity is that the second photocell detects the presence of a ball.

Press <F6> to create the transition after step 001. Press <Enter> to edit the transition condition. Type "PHOTOCELL1" and press <Enter>. Mark it as an input.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──┘ ╔════════════════════════════ Allocation ═══════════════════════════╗ ║PHOTOCELL1 ║ ║ ║ ║16 bits ║ ║2 byte ║ ║1 bit Input Output Marker Timer Counter BoolExp ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Now the Graph is finished.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──┘

You have now completed your first graph! Congratulations!

6.3.2 Checking the graph syntax

Now we want to check if the graph is correct. This is done by choosing the menu "Program" and the submenu "Syntax check". Press <Esc> and move the highlighted area to "Program" with <LeftArrow> and <RightArrow>. Then move the area down to "Check syntax" with <DownArrow> and <UpArrow>, and press <Enter>.


If the graph is not correct, a message will appear and the cursor will center on the offending element. A summary (as well as an explanation) of the error messages can be found in the section 12.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 ╔══════════ Summation ═════════╗ └──┘ ║ Input: 2 ║ ║ Output: 2 ║ ║ Marker: 4 ║ ║ ║ ║ Timer: 0 ║ ║ Counter: 0 ║ ║ ║ ║Press <ENTER> ║ ╚══════════════════════════════╝

A window should now appear with information about the graph. Here it is easy to see what size of PLC the graph demands.

6.3.3 Saving the graph

Now this first simple graph is complete. Choose the menu "Files" and the submenu "Save graph to file" in the same way as with the "Syntax check" above.

Type the project name "WORK1" and press <Enter>. (This name is limited to 8 characters and do not use spaces.) Then press <Enter> again to return to graph. Now the project is written to a file named "WORK1.EGR" in the project directory. (If there was a former save file with the same name, that file is now named "WORK1.OGR".)

6.3.4 A more complex graph

Now we want to expand the graph that we saved under the name "WORK1". (If that graph is not the one we are working with, load it with the menu command "Files - Load graph".)

We want to check the balls and remove those that do fill the requirements. For this purpose we have a detector at the start of the conveyor belt that reacts if the ball has the correct weight, i.e it is not too light nor too heavy.

This check is performed after the feeder has produced a new ball. Move the cursor to the condition PHOTOCELL and press <F5> to create a new step under that transition.


┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││002├┤ │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──┘

Press <Enter> to edit the actions. Now, because the sensor detects nothing at all if the ball doesn't have the correct weight, we need to have some sort of time-out function. This is provided with ActGraph+ as a part of the powerful extensions from the standard!

Type "WEIGHTIMER" and press <Enter>. When the allocation window appears, mark this name as a timer. The preset value for this timer should be about 2 seconds, to make sure the ball has reached the weight sensor and stabilized itself.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL ╔══════════════════Actions═════════════════╗ │┌─┴─┐┌──────────║ WEIGHTIMER ║ ││002├┤ ║ ║ │└─┬─┘└──────────║ ║ │┌─┴─┐┌──────────║ ║ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR║ ║ │└─┬─┘└──────────║ ║ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 ║ ║ └──┘ ╔═══════════════════════════ Allocation ══════════════════════════╗ ║WEIGHTIMER ║ ║ Preset: 2 ║ ║16 bits ║ ║2 byte ║ ║1 bit Output Marker Timer Counter U/D-Cnt ShiftRg Macro║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

When we return to the action window, there is an asterisk after the timer name. This means that the action performed on the timer will be a reset action. (For counters, up/down counters and shift registers different actions can be performed. More about that later.)

No detailed action is required. (The only detailed actions that can be performed on "special" actions as these timer/counter actions are called, is the conditional action.) Press <Enter> twice.


┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──┘

Press <F6> to create a transition under that last step. The condition for this transition is the condition to continue with the transport of the ball, i.e. the weight sensor has detected a correct ball.

Now enter the condition "WEIGHTSENS" for the transition. It is an input.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ WEIGHTSENS │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──┘

Now, what do we do if the sensor does not detect a correct ball? We wait for the timer to time out and open a door to remove the ball from the sensor area.

How should we express that in the graph? It is now time to use a loop branch!

Position the cursor on STEP002 and press <F9> to create the loop branch.


┌──────────────────────┐ │ ╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │ ║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │ ╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┌───────────────────┤ │ └───────────────────┤ │ ┼ WEIGHTSENS │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──────────────────────┘

When this new branch is created it is not situated where we want it. The cursor is at the upper rightmost connection in the branch. Press <Shift>+<F4> repeatedly until the top branch is above STEP000. (It cannot be moved above the reconnection so do not worry about that. Have a go at the <F4> and <Shift>+<F4> buttons to get used to the idea of moving branches. Move the lower branch connections as well if you want. Position the cursor somewhere on the lower branch connection, before you try to move it.) In the end it should look like this:

┌──────────────────────┐ │ ┌───────────────────┤ │ │ ╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │ │ ║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │ │ ╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │ │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │ │002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ └───────────────────┤ │ ┼ WEIGHTSENS │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──────────────────────┘

Now, to enter steps and transitions to the loop branch, move the cursor to the upper left connection (top of actual loop branch).

Press <F6> to create a transition. Edit the condition to read "WEIGHTIMER" ("<Enter>WEIGHTIMER<Enter>"). This is the condition to enter the loop branch; when the timer has timed out and the weight sensor has not signalled, the ball weight is wrong.


┌──────────────────────┐ │ ┌───────────────────┤ │ ┼ WEIGHTIMER ╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │ │ ║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │ │ ╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │ │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │ │002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ └───────────────────┤ │ ┼ WEIGHTSENS │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──────────────────────┘

In the loop branch, the directions of the process flow (or activity flow) is reversed to normal, i.e. here it is from bottom and up. Because of this the lower part of the loop branch is called "loop start" and the upper part "loop end".

This means that the step after the transition condition we just did, must be placed above it. Move the cursor up to the end (uppermost part) of the loop branch again, then press <F5> to create the step.

Enter the output action "OPEN SLOT" in this new step. ("<Enter> OPEN SLOT <Enter> <Enter> <Enter>".) Then, instead of ending the action editing , we enter another action "TIMERSLOT". Type "TIMERSLOT" and mark that name as a timer; set preset to 2 seconds and make it a normal action. Then insert the actions into the graph by hitting <Enter>.

┌──────────────────────┐ │ ┌───────────────────┤ │ ┼ TIMERSLOT ╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐║000╟┤ FEEDER │ ││003├┤ OPEN SLOT │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │└─┬─┘│ TIMERSLOT* │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │ │ └─────────────┘┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ ┼ WEIGHTIMER │002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ └───────────────────┤ │ ┼ WEIGHTSENS │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──────────────────────┘

Observe how the step adjust itself to fit the number of actions it contains. The maximum number of actions to one step is one hundred (50). (This is not a fixed limitation. It can be changed with the "F2-JustProg" command.)

Okay, so now we can handle faulty balls. What about differencing between balls of different colours? Say that be have colour sensors along the conveyor belt, with a "kicker" at even intervals; the balls are thus moved to separate pouches.

Now we must create alternative branches for these different cases. Move the cursor down to STEP001 ("Conveyor") and press <F7>. Then press <DownArrow> and <F4> once to move the branch end below condition "PHOTOCELL1".


││003├┤ OPEN SLOT │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │└─┬─┘│ TIMERSLOT* │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │ │ └─────────────┘┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ ┼ WEIGHTIMER │002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ └───────────────────┤ │ ┼ WEIGHTSENS │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ├───────────────────┐ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 │ │ ├───────────────────┘ └──────────────────────┘

The top of the graph disappeared. This is not a problem, so do not worry about it. You can always use the arrow keys to move around in the graph. The graph can be very large but the screen is normally only 24 lines with 80 characters on each line.

Take some time to get used to the movement keys. First the arrow keys to move the cursor (and screen if the cursor is on any border); then <Shift> the arrow keys, to move the entire graph; finally use <Ctrl>+<Home> to set the screen at the top of the first graph.

Now we have that condition as one branch; the other conditions are the different colour detectors. Let's suppose we can detect the colours red and blue.

Move the cursor to the top of the second alternative branch and press <F6> to create that branch's transition. The condition for entering this branch should be that colour sensor "SENS RED" has reacted.

The actions performed is to activate the kicker called "KICK RED". There should also be a short pause of, let's say, 1 second before activity passes on the next step in the graph.

KICKTIMER is the timer used for the delay of one second after each kick. This looks like this:

│ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ └───────────────────┤ ┼ WEIGHTSENS ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │001├┤ CONVEYOR │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ ├───────────────────┐ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 ┼ SENS RED │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │006├┤ KICK RED │ │ └─┬─┘│ KICKTIMER* │ │ │ └─────────────┘ │ ┼ KICKTIMER ├───────────────────┘ ────────────────────┘

Now we must make the last branch for the other colour, blue. Again we move the cursor to the top part of the alternative branch and press <F7>, and another branch is created. Repeat the actions from the "red" branch on this "blue" one.

After this, press <Ctrl>+<Home> to see the top of the branch again.


┌─────────────────────┐ │ ┌──────────────────┤ │ ┼ TIMERSLOT ╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │┌─┴─┐┌────────────┐║000╟┤ FEEDER │ ││003├┤ OPEN SLOT │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │└─┬─┘│ TIMERSLOT*│ ┼ PHOTOCELL │ │ └────────────┘┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ ┼ WEIGHTIMER │002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ └──────────────────┤ │ ┼ WEIGHTSENS │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ├──────────────────┬───────────────────┐ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 ┼ SENS RED ┼ SENS BLUE │ │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐┌─┴─┐┌─────── │ │ │006├┤ KICK RED ││007├┤ KICK │ │ └─┬─┘│ KICKTIMER* │└─┬─┘│ KICK │ │ │ └─────────────┘ │ └─────── │ │ ┼ KICKTIMER ┼ KICKTIMER │ ├──────────────────┴───────────────────┘ └─────────────────────┘

Now we have a graph who will detect red and blue balls and kick these into special containers. All others will be detected by "PHOTOCELL1".

Save this graph under the name "WORK2".

6.3.5 Super condition

Also, we should have a super condition for this graph; a condition that, if it is not fulfilled, temporarily stops the graph from execution.

Press <Shift>+<F6> and type "POWER*/ALARM<Enter>". This expression is true as long as the machine has power and one of the alarm buttons is NOT pressed. The graph is "true" (for more information on logical expressions see page Erreur ! Signet non défini.), i.e. active, when this expression is true.

Mark "POWER" as an input, but "ALARM" should be a BoolExp (Boolean expression). This means that it in itself is a Boolean expression. It should consist of the inputs "ALARM1", "ALARM2" and "ALARM3"; these are buttons placed all around the machine for emergency stops. The condition is "ALARM1+ALARM2+ALARM3".

A:POWER+/ALARM ┌──────────────────────┐ │ ┌───────────────────┤ │ ┼ TIMERSLOT ╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐║000╟┤ FEEDER │ ││003├┤ OPEN SLOT │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │└─┬─┘│ TIMERSLOT* │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │ │ └─────────────┘┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ ┼ WEIGHTIMER │002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ └───────────────────┤ │ ┼ WEIGHTSENS : : : :


Now press <Shift>+<F6> once more. Note that below the actual super condition there is a highlighted text "ALARM". This means that "ALARM" is an expression in itself; to edit that expression, just press <PgDn>.

(If there had been more Boolean expressions on the same level as "ALARM", you could choose which to edit by pressing <UpArrow> and/or <DownArrow>. If an expression itself contains expressions that contains expressions etc, just press <PgDn> to move downwards.)

6.3.6 Reset condition

A reset condition is an expression like the super condition. When it is fulfilled, the graph is reset (like a power-on on the PLC). This means that all starting steps are set and all non-starting steps are reset.

Press <Shift>+<F7> and enter the reset condition "RESETBUTT":

A:POWER+/ALARM R:RESETBUTT ┌──────────────────────┐ │ ┌───────────────────┤ │ ┼ TIMERSLOT ╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐║000╟┤ FEEDER │ ││003├┤ OPEN SLOT │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │└─┬─┘│ TIMERSLOT* │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │ │ └─────────────┘┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ ┼ WEIGHTIMER │002├┤ WEIGHTIMER*│ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ └───────────────────┤ │ ┼ WEIGHTSENS : : : :

6.3.7 Choosing PLC for the graph

So far, everything we've done has been independent of any specific PLC system. Sooner or later, however, we want to put our graph to practice. This is done by choosing any of the PLC's available for ActGraph+.

Now, let's dedicate the first graph we saved for the Hitachi PLC series EM. Press <Esc>, move the highlighted area to "Files - Load project from file" and press <Enter>.

(If the program asks if you want to save the current project, you can do that if you like, by answering "Y" to the question and typing the name of the project. NOT "WORK1" OR "WORK2"!)

The old project was saved under the name "WORK1". When this is loaded again, it should look like this:

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──┘

Now press <Esc> and choose "Setup-PLC (controller)" then press <Enter>. You should now see something like this on the screen.


┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌───────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└───────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌───────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└───────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTCELL1 └──┘ ╔══════ PLC type ════╗ ║Series J ║ ║Series J2 ║ ║Series E ║ ║Series E2 ║ ║Series EB ║ ║Series EM ║ ║Series EM2 ║ ║Series EM3 ║ ║Series H ║ ╚════════════════════╝

6.3.7.1 If you choose a non H-series

In this example we have chosen the EM-series.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╔══════════════════════════ PLC configuring ════════════════════════╗ │ ║Series EM ║ │┌─║Program Size 2K (Lines = 1950) ║ ││0║Manual define I/O/M ║ │└─║Reset all addresses ║ │ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ └──┘

If the PLC shown is the correct one, press <Esc> to continue. If the PLC is not the one you want, press <Enter> to get the list of PLC's available. Move the cursor with <UpArrow> and <DownArrow> to the selected PLC and press <Enter>. Then press <Esc> to continue.

Then the program prompts for the actual configuration of your PLC. (This applies mostly for series EM and H, since they are modular systems.)


┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═┌─────────────── Manual define I/O/M ──────────────┐ │ │I: 000 - 195 │ │┌─│O: 200 - 395 │ ││0│M: 400 - 991 │ │└─│Type of address (I/O/M/N) ? █ │ │ │ │ └──│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Finally, the program prompts for the specific input and output address for each name that has been previously mentioned in the graph. This is done in two parts: the first part allows you to enter the names in address order, i.e. if you have a listing of all the inputs and outputs, you just enter the names at their correct places. You can do this for as many as you find convenient. Leave this menu by pressing <Esc>.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ F┌─────────────────────── Allocation ─────────────────────┐ │╚═╔═══ Al│I 000 PHOTOCELL │ │ ║From :│I 001 PHOTOCELL2 │ │┌─║ │I 002 │ ││0╚══════│I 003 │ │└─┬─┘└───│I 004 │ │ ┼ PHOTO│I 005 WEIGHTSENS │ └──┘ │I 006 │ │I 007 │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

6.3.7.2 If you choose the H-series

In this case we have chosen the H-series. Only the differences from the other systems will be shown. The procedure does not differ much from the other systems.

The other part of address allocation is performed automatically when the first part is finished; in this part, the program asks for the addresses of all names that was not allocated in the first part. This is done name by name, until they are all allocated. A typical example looks like this:


┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ ││001├┤ CONVEYOR │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ ┼ PHOTOCELL1 └──┘ ╔════════════════════════════ Allocation ═════════════════════════╗ ║FEEDER ║ ║[ 200 ] ║ ║16 bits ║ ║2 byte ║ ║1 bit Output ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

This question can not be avoided or escaped; an address MUST be given to each name to continue. It is only during this phase that this allocation can not be avoided; normally pressing <Esc> avoids allocation.

After this, the graph can be edited in just the same way as before we choose to dedicate it to a certain PLC. The only difference is that any new name will be asked for not only a type (input, output, etc) but also an address.

Now save this graph. After the graph is saved, the graph is coded into instruction code and ladder diagram. If there is an error during the syntax check, a message will be displayed and the graph is NOT coded. The coded graph is saved in the normal .EGR saving file of ActGraph+. If the coding was successful, you can now have a look at the code by selecting "Program - Ladder".

A detailed discussion of the coded graph follows in section 14.1.

Please observe that future changes of the graph will lead to new .EGR-files.

DO NOT MAKE CHANGES IN LADDER DIAGRAM OR INSTRUCTION LIST WITHOUT SAVING UNDER ANOTHER NAME!

These changes will be lost after saving the changed graph. Of course you can make changes in the ladder diagram and use them; the ActGraph is a programming tool created for this very purpose.

6.3.8 Changes using the H-series

While the H-series is a bigger system and have more functions, using ActGraph+ will differ using it with other systems.


6.3.8.1 PLC setup menu

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌───────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝╔════════════════════════════ PLC setup ═══════════════════════════╗ │ ┼ P║Read PLC configuration ║ │┌─┴─┐║CPU type H-2000 ║ ││001├║Memory type RAM-16H 15.7 Ks ║ │└─┬─┘║Capacity HILADDER (steps) 15744 HIFLOW 00000 ║ │ ┼ P║I/O assignment ║ └──┘ ║Link parameters 1 Top=* End=* ║ ║Link parameters 2 Top=* End=* ║ ║Retentive area ║ ║Project name ║ ║Run condition ║ ║Run control input * ║ ║Password * ║ ║Max scan time [ms] 100 ║ ║Communication setup ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

If you move the highlighted area to "Read PLC configuration" and press <Enter> ActGraph+ will read the information from the PLC.

6.3.8.2 Communication setup

If you move the highlighted area to "" and press <Enter> it will be possible to set the communication parameters.

┌──┐ │╔═╧═╗┌───────────────┐ │║000╟┤ FEEDER │ │╚═╤═╝╔═══════════════════════ Communication setup ══════════════════════╗ │ ┼ P║Default parameters ║ │┌─┴─┐║Communication port COM2 ║ ││001├║Transmission speed 9600 ║ │└─┬─┘║Data bits 7 ║ │ ┼ P║Stop bits 1 ║ └──┘ ║Parity None ║ ║PLC network L FFH ║ ║PLC network U FFH ║ ║PLC network M 00H ║ ║PLC network P 00H ║ ║Changes in RUN allowed Yes ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ║Max scan time [ms] 100 ║ ║Communication setup ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ 41

7. Main Menu for ActGraph+.

The main menu gives access to the different parts of the ActGraph+ program and is used to do most of the different tasks in the ActGraph+ system. It consists of seven sub-menus and looks like this:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup ║ ║ ║

System - See section 7.2.

Program - See section 7.3.

Allocation - See section 7.4.

Printout - See section 7.5.

Files - See section 7.6.

Communication - See section 7.7.

Setup - See section 7.8.

You open the main menu by pressing the <Esc> key when you are in programming mode. The use of the different menus will be discussed in the following sections. Here we will only discuss the general type of each menu.

The "System" menu is your way to leave the ActGraph+ either normally or temporary through the DOS command.

In the "Program" menu you can change programming mode, start a new project, find out the size of your project and specify the text to be printed on listings. It also gives access to the syntax check function.

"Allocation" is used to give names to the Input/Output (I/O) addresses, both short and long comments, and to move or exchange ranges of addresses in the project.

"Printout" will let you print all the different listings such as ladder, instruction and cross-reference.

"Files" is the menu for loading and storing projects, listing projects on the disk, removing and renaming projects and files.

Use the "Communication" menu to transfer to and from the PLC system or to Monitor all the I/O addresses at the same time.

Last the "Setup" menu lets you configure aspects of the ActGraph+ system to fit your needs.

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup ║ ║│ ┌──────────────────────────┐ ║ ║│ │PC (Computer) │ ║ ║│ │PLC │ ║ ║│ │Printout │ ║ ║│ │Communication │ ║ ║│ │ActGraph+ │ ║ ║│ └──────────────────────────┘ ║ ║│ ║ ║│ ║ ║│ ║

42 Main menu for ActGraph+ ActGraph+

7.1 Using the main ActGraph+ pull-down menu.

The main menu on the topmost line is a "pull down" menu, e.g. the menu looks like it has been pulled down.

To open the main Actsip menu you press the <Esc> key and you can then select the menu by using the <left arrow> and <right arrow> (or leave the main menu by pressing <Esc> again).

To select an operation from a sub-menu press the <down arrow> and then use the <up arrow> and <down arrow> to select the operation you want to perform, finally press <Enter> to select the command (the space bar <Space> works equally well).

Pressing the <Esc> key will bring you back to the main menu. and pressing the <Esc> once more brings you back to programming mode in the same spot as you started from.

7.1.1 Quick selection in the main menu.

You can move faster in the main menu by pressing the first character of your selection one or more times, until the selection is indicated and then press <Enter> or <Space>.

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (System) 43

7.2 System menu.

The "System" menu looks like this:

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup ║ ║ ┌───────────────────┐ ║ ║ │DOS command │ ║ ║ │Exit from ActGraph+│ ║ ║ │About ActGraph+ │ ║ ║ └───────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║

7.2.1 DOS command.

"System-DOS command"

If you have enough memory in your computer (640Kb) you can use the "System-Dos command" to temporarily leave the ActGraph+ and do things like formatting disks. When you are finished with DOS write "Exit <Enter>" at the DOS prompt and you are back again in the project.

You are encouraged to save the project before using this option. If the system should crash or be turned off during the DOS command all the changes to the PLC project will be lost.

See also section 1 for more information about DOS and DOS commands.

7.2.2 Exit from ActGraph+.

"System-Exit from ActGraph+"

Use this command to leave the ActGraph+. Save the project before leaving ActGraph+. If you have not saved your (modified) project you will get a last chance to save it.

This is the normal way to leave ActGraph+, you may also use <Ctrl>+<C> to exit from ActGraph+ any time. (Using <Ctrl>+<C> to end ActGraph+ without a chance to save the project.)

See section 1 for information on how to save projects.

7.2.3 About ActGraph+.

"System-About ActGraph+"

This command will display the version number of ActGraph+ and the corresponding date. The first line indicates which type of Actsip you are using:

"School version" means that the version you are using is limited in the number of steps generated from function chart. "Single user" means that it can be started on one computer only, "Multi user" means that it can be started on many computers with the same box.

"Demonstration version" is a version that you can use to test ActGraph+. (It is supplied at a very low price or free of charge.)

The "Version" number line show the current version of ActGraph+.

44 Main menu for ActGraph+ (System) ActGraph+

If this version number is higher than the version number mentioned in the beginning of this manual, the new features of this version is documented in a DOS file with the name README.GP. It is located on the disc.

To see the file enter

TYPE README.GP <Enter>

at the DOS prompt. (if it will not fit on the screen use <Ctrl>+<S> to stop and use <Ctrl>+<Q> to continue scrolling)

To print it at the printer enter

COPY README.GP LPT1: <Enter>

at the DOS prompt.

To print any of the other files change the name of the file accordingly. (e.g. COPY README.ASC LPT1: <Enter> prints the Actasc-E information file on the printer)

╔════════════════════ ActGraph+ ═══════════════════╗ ║Actgraph+ ║ ║Project coordinator : Tommy Bengtsson (Actron AB) ║ ║Version : 2.00 ║ ║Date : 901130 ║ ║ ║ ║Press <ENTER>█ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ "System-About ActGraph+" window.

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Program) 45

7.3 Program menu.

The ActGraph+ system has one main programming methods, Grafcet. You can, however, study (and change) the result from ActGraph+ in the Actsip-E modules. Therefore these modules can be reached from ActGraph+.

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup ║ ║ ┌────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │Ladder │ ║ ║ │Instruction │ ║ ║ │Grafcet │ ║ ║ │Presentation display│ ║ ║ │ASCII editor │ ║ ║ │Syntax check │ ║ ║ │Project information │ ║ ║ │New project │ ║ ║ └────────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║

To change programming mode select "Program-Ladder" for ladder programming and "Program-Instruction" for the instruction programming or "Program-Grafcet" for Grafcet programming mode.

7.3.1 Ladder

"Program-Ladder"

This option selects the ladder programming mode in Actsip-E.

│ ├─┤ ├──┬──( )─ │ │ ├─┤ ├──┘ │

7.3.2 Instruction

"Program-Instruction"

This option selects the instruction programming mode in Actsip-E.

46 Main menu for ActGraph+ (Program) ActGraph+

7.3.3 Grafcet

Selects the grafcet programming mode of the ActGraph+.

┌──┐ │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────────┐ ││000├┤ Elevator Down │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────────┘ │ ┼ Lower position reached │┌─┴─┐┌─────────────────┐ ││001├┤ Elevator Up │ │└─┬─┘└─────────────────┘ │ ┼ Upper position reached └──┘

See section 6 for Grafcet programming.

7.3.4 Presentation display

Select the presentation system in Actsip-E.

7.3.5 ASCII editor

Selects the text editor for the ACTCOM module in Actsip-E.

7.3.6 Syntax check

"Program-Syntax check"

Makes a check to see that the syntax of the project is correct.

The rules that determine if a graph is syntactically correct are the following:

It must have a reconnection.

It must have one and only one starting step.

Transition must have step before next transition, and step must have transition before next step.

Parallel branch start must be preceded by a transition.

Parallel branch end must be preceded by a step.

Parallel branch must have matching start and end.

Alternative branch start must be preceded by a step.

Alternative branch end must be preceded by a transition.

Alternative branch must have matching start and end.

Loop end must be preceded by a transition.

Loop start must be preceded by a step.

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Program) 47

Loop branches must begin and end in transitions.

7.3.7 Project information.

"Program-Info about project"

Selecting this will open a window like this:

╔════════════════════════════════ Project info ════════════════════╗ ║Company name PLC System Productions ║ ║Text line This line will be printed on all listings ║ ║Text line This line will also be printed in the footer ║ ║Program end 32 ║ ║Project size (words) 45 ║ ║Max instruction 44 ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

The first three lines represent information that will be printed at the bottom of listings produced by ActGraph+.

To change a line use the <up arrow> and <down arrow> to highlight that line and press <Enter>. You can now edit the old text or just reenter new text. Then finish the editing by pressing <Enter>. The company name can be 28 characters and the text lines contains a maximum of 55 characters.

The two last lines show you information about your project.

"Program end" is the line number of the last instruction that will be executed in your program.

"Program size (words)" is the number of words the project will occupy in the PLC system.

"Max instruction" is the highest line where you can find an instruction. (Instructions following a FUN99 END is not executed by the PLC so "Max instruction" should be equal to or bigger than "Program end"), this is not applicable on the H-series.

48 Main menu for ActGraph+ (Program) ActGraph+

7.3.8 New project

"Program-New project"

You will be asked to confirm and then all instructions and other information about this project will be deleted. (If you have saved it on disk prior to this you may of course load it later.)

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║The old project will be lost (Yes/No) ?N ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

"Y" will purge the old project and prepare for a new. "N" will return to programming without deleting anything.

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Allocation) 49

7.4 Allocation menu.

The allocation menu looks like this:

╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup ║ ║ ┌───────────────────┐ ║ ║ │Enter/Change │ ║ ║ │Allocation pointers│ ║ ║ │Move │ ║ ║ │Exchange │ ║ ║ └───────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║

Note that this menu can not be used until PLC has been chosen.

7.4.1 Enter/Change the short and long comments.

"Allocation-Enter/Change"

ActGraph+ accepts descriptive text of up to ten characters in place of a numerical address. This short text will be referred to as a "short comment". To every address there is also a thirty character "long comment" that is used to enter a more describing text. It is printed on the instruction list.

To start the allocation select "Enter" from the allocation menu. Then write the start address 0 - 777 for I/O and internal addresses or T00 - T47 for timers, C50 - C77 for counters, this is for the E-series. (0-991, T00-T95 and C00-C95 for series EB and EM)

╔═══ Allocation ═╗ ║From : [0 ] ║ ║ ║ ╚════════════════╝

A window that looks like this open up:

┌──────────────────── Allocation ──────────────────┐ │I 000 Set inp. │ │I 001 Reset 1 │ │I 002 Down1 Downcounter │ │I 003 Reset 2 Downcounter │ │I 004 Data Shift register │ │I 005 Inp-5 │ │I 006 Reset 3 Shift register │ │I 007 Up/down Up-/downcounter │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The left column is where the type of the address is specified. (I=input (for the H-series X), O=output (for the H-series Y), M=marker, N=not available) The second column is the address. Thereafter follows a 10 character wide column for the short comment and a 30 character wide column for the long comment.

The cursor will automatically be located in the short comment column.

Switch between short and long comments with the <Tab> key.

50 Main menu for ActGraph+ (Allocation) ActGraph+

To edit, press the <right arrow> or any character.

End the edit by pressing the <Enter> key or abort the edit by pressing the <Esc> key.

You can edit the next or previous comment by using the <up arrow> and <down arrows> or the <PgUp> or <PgDn> keys to get to the previous or next page.

Pressing <Home> or <End> will bring you to the first or last address respectively.

When you are finished with the editing of comments press <Esc> and you are back in the small allocation window where you can select a new starting point for editing. Press <Esc> once more and you are back in the programming mode.

The changes that you have done to the short and long comments will be reflected in the programming mode automatically.

7.4.2 Allocation pointers.

When specifying an unknown short comment in any of the ActGraph+ programming modes the window called automatic allocation is shown. When working with internal memory (markers) the first unused memory address is shown. You can specify two starting point for the search, one for the instructions only requires a single bit and a another for those who needs 2 or more bits in row. This is specified in this menu. Please note that if you do not care about mixing bit and words you do not have to set this option at all.(Leave both pointers at 0)

The step pointer marks the location where the automatically allocated step markers will be put.

╔═══════════════════ Allocation pointers ══════════╗ ║Bit pointer 000 ║ ║Word pointer 000 ║ ║Step pointer 000 ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

7.4.3 Move.

"Allocation-Move"

This option is used to change the address in the program, e.g. change all the instructions referring to the address into instructions referring to the new address. The short and long comment will also be moved.

First specify the old address, then the new address and last the number of addresses to be moved. If you only press <Enter> you will get the default "1".

╔══════════════════ Move comments ═════════════════╗ ║From address : [100 ] ║ ║To address : [10 ] ║ ║Count : [6 ] ║ ║Instruction lines changed = 0 ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

In the example the address 100-105 will be moved to the addresses 10-15.

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Allocation) 51

7.4.4 Exchange.

"Allocation-Exchange"

This option is used to exchange the address in the program, e.g. change all the instructions referring to the first address into instructions referring to the second address and change all references to the second address into references of the first. The short comment will also be exchanged. You first specify the first address and then the second address, last the number of addresses to be moved. If you only press <Enter> you will get the default "1".

╔════════════════ Exchange comments ═══════════════╗ ║From address : [ ] ║ ║To address : [10 ] ║ ║Count : [3 ] ║ ║Instruction lines changed = 0 ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

52 Main menu for ActGraph+ (Printout) ActGraph+

7.5 Printout menu.

"Print"

This menu is used to produce listings or reports documenting the project.

The menu looks like this:

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup ║ ║ ┌──────────────────┐ ║ ║ │Project │ ║ ║ │Unit │ ║ ║ │Actions │ ║ ║ │Allocation │ ║ ║ │Allocation packed │ ║ ║ │Instruction list │ ║ ║ │Setup │ ║ ║ └──────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║

The first selections are different types of listings and the last one is used to set the configuration of the printer.

The first or last lines of every page in the listing contains a header/footer that looks like this (medium size):

┌───────────────── ACTRON AB ──────────────────┬──────────────────────┐ │ Instruction list │PLC System Productions│ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────┤ │ This line will be printed on all listings │DATE 1991-02-09│ │ This line will also be printed in the footer │PAGE 2│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────┘

The selection of header or footer is done in the "Setup-Printer" or "Setup-Printout" menus. (They are identical.) You may also select to have a much smaller header or footer in the setup menu.

The small header/footer looks like this:

1991-02-09 This line will be printed on all listings PAGE 1

See "Setup-Printout" for information about small and medium size headers/footers.

7.5.1 Printout menu:Project

This command prints the entire project on printer.

7.5.2 Printout menu:Unit

This command prints the graph/box marked by the cursor.

7.5.3 Printout menu:Actions

Prints three separate listings:

1. Actions by steps.

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Printout) 53

2. Actions in alphabetical order (cross reference).

3. Symbols that are boolean expressions.

7.5.4 Printout menu:Allocation

This command prints the complete allocation list (addresses, short and long comments) on the printer. The addresses without short and long comment is also printed. If a list with only those addresses that have names is included you may use the "Printout Allocation compressed" command.

You could use this command for planning the allocation. You specify the start and end points for a list with all the addresses in that range with their short and long comments. Pressing <Enter> as the starting point will give you the default of "000". The start for the timers is at "T00" and counters start at "C50". Pressing <Enter> as the end point of the list will give you the highest possible address. The listing 000 to 777 contains 512 addresses so if you are only interested in the short and long comments use the "Printout-Allocation packed" command instead.

If you specify a "*" as the first address you get a complete list including timers and counters.

╔════════════ Allocation list ═══════════╗ ║From address : [0 ] ║ ║To address : [45 ] ║ ║ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════╝

7.5.5 Printout menu:Allocation compressed

Use this command to print the final documentation for the project.

This is the same as "Printout Allocation" but only those addresses that has either a short and/or a long comment will be printed. See above for information about "Printout Allocation".

╔═════════ Allocation list packed ═══════╗ ║From address : [0 ] ║ ║To address : [45 ] ║ ║ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════╝

7.5.6 Printout menu:Instruction list

This prints the instruction list on the printer. You may specify a range of instructions to be printed; only the instructions specified is printed. If you want to print the complete program specify a "*" as the first address. Before each block an empty line is printed to make reading the printout easier.

╔════════════ Instruction list ══════════╗ ║From line : [0 ] ║ ║To line : [23 ] ║ ║ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════╝

54 Main menu for ActGraph+ (Printout) ActGraph+

7.5.7 Printout menu:Setup

The "Printout Setup" command is the same as the "Setup Printout"

╔═══════════════════════════════ Printout setup ══════════════════════╗ ║First page number 1 ║ ║Compressed printout Yes ║ ║Printer LPT1 ║ ║Page length 72 ║ ║Page width (uncompressed) 80 ║ ║Text printout Yes ║ ║Line drawing set Yes ║ ║Printer has FormFeed Yes ║ ║Print Header ║ ║Header size Normal ║ ║Max long comment 0 ║ ║Date separator 1991-02-08 ║ ║Date, ordering of YYMMDD 1991-02-08 ║ ║Date: YYYY or YY 1991-02-08 ║ ║String to initialize printer ║ ║String to reset printer ║ ║String to turn on compressed <15> ║ ║String to turn off compressed <18> ║ ║Translation table for printer ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Files) 55

7.6 File menu.

"Files"

Grafcet graphs are stored in DOS files with the extension ".EGR".

The coded J/E/EB/EM projects are stored in DOS files with the extension ".EGR".

The coded H projects are stored in DOS files with extensions ".HGR" and ".HSC".

Ladder and instruction code macros for J/E/EB/EM are stored with the extension ".EMA"

Macros for the H-series are stored with the extension ".HMA".

The different file functions are:

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup ║ ║ ┌──────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │List projects │ ║ ║ │Load project from file│ ║ ║ │Store project in file │ ║ ║ │Delete file │ ║ ║ │Rename file │ ║ ║ │Include other project │ ║ ║ │Copy project │ ║ ║ └──────────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║

7.6.1 File menu:List projects

"Files-List projects"

To see all the programs in your project library select this option and use the default answer "*.EGR" to list all ActGraph+ projects in the library.

If you want to see all projects on the disk in drive B just change the file name to "B:*.EGR"and press <Enter>. Likewise "C:\PROJECT3\*.EGR" will list all projects in the directory PROJECT3 on the hard disk C.

If you do not specify a disk-drive or a directory name the project directory specified in the "Setup-PC" will be used.

┌─────────────────────────────── File list ───────────────────────────┐ │To list projects press <Enter> (*.EGR) │ │File name:*.EGR │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

7.6.2 File menu:Load project from file

"Files-Load project from file"

56 Main menu for ActGraph+ (Files) ActGraph+

To load an existing project from a file on a floppy or hard disk select this option and change the default name PROJECT to the name of your project. Use a maximum of 8 characters and do not use any of the characters on the next line:

. " / [ ] | < > + = ; ,

or the <Space> character. You may of course use the ":" to specify another drive as in "B:NEWPROJ" or a path as in "\USER\PROJ1\XPROJ" or both as in "D:\NEWBIB\NEW2". Do not enter an extension or use the "." as ActGraph+ automatically adds the extension ".EGR" to all projects. A series of dots are printed on the screen during the loading process.

Nothing of the previous project will remain after the load so make sure that you have saved the project before starting loading a project.

╔═══════════════════════════ Project Loading ══════════════════════════╗ ║File name:MYPROJ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

If the project was loaded correctly the following is written in the window.

╔═══════════════════════════ Project Loading ══════════════════════════╗ ║File name:MYPROJ ║ ║....... ║ ║Program Loaded OK ║ ║Press <ENTER> ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

7.6.3 File menu:Store project in file

"Files-"

To save the project in a file on a floppy or hard disk, select this option and change the default name PROJECT to the name of your project. Use a maximum of 8 characters and do not use any of the characters on the next line:

. " / [ ] | < > + = ; ,

or the <Space> character. You may of course use the : to specify another drive as in "B:NEWPROJ" or a path as in "\USER\PROJ1\XPROJ" or both as in "D:\NEWBIB\NEW2". Do not enter an extension or use the "." as ActGraph+ automatically adds the extension ".EGR" to all projects.

╔═══════════════════════════ Project Saving ══════════════════════════╗ ║File name:MYPROJ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

When there already exists a file with the same name (in the example MYPROJ.EGR), the old project is renamed with the extension ".OGR". If there also exist a previous ".OGR" file it is deleted. What this means that when you have saved a project the old project still exist on your disk! To use the back-up copy of the project you must rename to have an ".EGR" extension using the "Files-Rename" command.

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Files) 57

You may at any time use the command <Alt>+<W> that gives you the possibility to save your project. This command should only be used as a last resort; the project would be saved under the name "$saved".

7.6.4 File menu:Delete file.

"Files-Delete file"

This option is used to remove a project (or any DOS file) from the disk.

If you want to remove an ActGraph+ project you MUST include the filename extension ".EGR" as a safeguard against accidental removal of projects.

╔═════════════════════════════ Remove file ═════════════════════════╗ ║Project names must end with .EGR ║ ║File name:OLDYPROJ.EGR ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Use this command to remove projects from the disk that you do not use any longer.

The program currently loaded in the ActGraph+ system will be unaffected by this operation. This means that if you have a project in ActGraph+ that you work on (you can see it on the screen of the PC) this PLC project will remain. To remove a project from the PC use the "Program-New project" option.

ASCII texts have the extension ".EAS".

Grafcet files have the extension ".EGR".

Presentation files have the extension ".EPR"

7.6.5 Rename file.

"Files-File menu:Rename file"

Use this option to change the name of a project or any DOS file. You must specify the old name including the extension (".EGR" for ActGraph+ projects) and the new name including the extension. The window shown illustrates one use for this command, renaming the old version of a project to a new name. When you save a project the old project is renamed automatically for you with the extension .OGR instead of the normal .EGR.

╔════════════════════════════ File renaming ═══════════════╗ ║Project names must end with .EGR ║ ║Old file name PROJ.OGR ║ ║New file name PROJX.EGR ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

After you this command the file on the disk named PROJ.OGR will have changed its name to PROJX.EGR. Please note that the new file name must not exist or you will get an error message.

7.6.6 File menu:Include other project

"Files-"

58 Main menu for ActGraph+ (Files) ActGraph+

Load another Grafcet project into your current one. In this way you can re-use parts that is common for several project. Please note that the entire project is included. If you only want a part you have to prepare a project file with only that part.

Identifiers or names are prompted for addresses, as if the steps was entered from the keyboard.

7.6.7 File menu:Copy project

"Files-

When you have projects with macro boxes, it is difficult to make proper copies for backup or distribution purposes. Therefore use this function when you want to copy the entire project.

You will be prompted with directory, which you want the project to be copied to. If you want to copy to floppy disk, you would do this bu answer the "directory" question with "A:".

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Communication) 59

7.7 Communication menu.

The communication menu contains the commands used to move project to a from the PLC system and also check to see that they are equal.

To use any of these commands you must have connected the PLC programmer the PGMJ-R to the computer with the serial cable supplied in the ActGraph+ kit.

The male 25 pin end of the cable should be connected to serial port on the PGMJ-R. (It is located under a plastic cover on the left side of the PGMJ-R.)

Below the serial port of the PGMJ-R is a row of DIP switches, small switches used to select communication speed and protocol. They are numbered 1-8 where 8 is the one on the left side of the PGMJ-R. If they are pushed up towards the serial contact they are in the ON position.

To use the ActGraph+ default settings for communication set number 1 to ON, number 2 to OFF, number 3 to ON, number 4 to OFF......

e.g all the odd numbered switches should be ON and the even numbered should be OFF.

Switch number one is a little bit special in that it controls if the computer or the PGMJ-R keyboard is going to be active. If you want to program directly on the PGMJ-R you must set switch 1 to OFF and then later when continuing with ActGraph+ turn it ON again.

When switch 1 is ON the "PROG TEST RUN" selector on the PGMJ-R has no effect.

If you are using the series E you must be sure that neither of the STA nor STO inputs on the PLC are connected. If they are connected to something the communication with the PLC will behave erratically.

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup ║ ║ ┌──────────────────┐ ║ ║ │To PLC │ ║ ║ │From the PLC │ ║ ║ │Verify against PLC│ ║ ║ │Monitor IO │ ║ ║ │(Terminal) │ ║ ║ │Clear CPU │ ║ ║ │Setup │ ║ ║ └──────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║

7.7.1 Communication menu:To PLC.

"Communication-To PLC"

(PC -> PLC)

Transfers the project in the IBM PC to the PLC system using the serial cable connected between the IBM PC and the PGMJ-R. Be sure to set the dip switch 1 in position ON. (See section 2 for more information about on dip switches.)

60 Main menu for ActGraph+ (Communication) ActGraph+

╔════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ║ ║FFFE000F0F0F0F0F0020 ║ ║ 1 2 3 4 5 6 ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║Program written to PLC OK ║ ║ ║ ║Press <ENTER> ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ║ ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════╝

7.7.2 Communication menu:Verify against PLC

"Communication-"

Verify if the project in the PC and the project in the PLC are equal. Both the instructions and the timer/counter presets are compared. Please note that even timers and counters not used in the program may have preset values because they have been used earlier. To transfer the PLC project either to or from the PLC should correct this problem.

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║Verified OK ║ ║ ║ ║Press <ENTER> ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

If the programs are not equal the box will show the first instruction line or preset value not equal.

7.7.3 Communication menu:Monitor IO

"Communication-"

Displays a full screen with all addresses of the PLC. The status of each address is shown as a "." for OFF or "Ü"

for ON.

7.7.4 Communication menu:(Terminal)

"Communication-"

It gives direct access to the PGMJ-R (Low level.)

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Communication) 61

┌────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │FFFE000F0F0F0F0F0010 │ │FFFE000F0F0F0F0F0010 │ │FFFE000F0F0F0F0F0010 │ │FFFE000F0F0F0F0F0010 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └────────────────────────────────────────┘

Every time the <Enter> key is pressed a line looking something like this is shown. The lines represents the status of the PLC and in some cases the current instruction. This option is only included in the menu as a convenient way to see that the PLC sends and accepts characters from the PC. E.g. if you press <Enter> and nothing happens, check the cable and "Communication-Setup" to see that the parameters selected in the setup corresponds to the DIP switches on the PGMJ-R.

7.7.5 Communication menu:Clear CPU

Works only with the H-series. The CPU is reset; all programs is lost, the configuration is lost and the flow area definition is set to zero.

7.7.6 Communication menu:Setup, See Setup, communication:

See paragraph 3 Setup, communication for further information.

62 Main menu for ActGraph+ (Setup) ActGraph+

7.8 Setup menu.

The setup menu contains sub-menus that can be used to tailor the behavior and look of the ActGraph+ to suit both hardware and your preferences.

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║System Program Allocation Printout Files Communication Setup ║ ║ ┌──────────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │PC (Computer) │ ║ ║ │PLC (Hitachi E Controller)│ ║ ║ │Printout │ ║ ║ │Communication │ ║ ║ │Ladder programming │ ║ ║ │Instruction programming │ ║ ║ └──────────────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║

7.8.1 Setup menu:PC (Computer)

"Setup-PC (Computer)"

This menu let you set up a configuration of the system to suit your computer and colour taste.

The setup information is automatically stored on the disk when you leave the setup menu.

If you are working on a diskette system please remove the write protection tab on the diskette before leaving the "Setup-PC" menu.

╔══════════════════════════════ Computer setup ═══════════════════════╗ ║Screen colours ║ ║EGA/VGA 43/50 lines No ║ ║Possible to shift arrow keys Yes ║ ║User directory D:\PROJECT\ ║ ║Language .ENG ║ ║Horizontal F1-F10 keys Yes ║ ║Turn off sound No ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

7.8.1.1 Setup menu:Screen colours

"Setup-PC-Screen colours"

Use this option to change the colours to suit your preferences. After selecting this option you are presented with a window where every line corresponds to a different part of ActGraph+. Select the one you want to change using the <up arrow>/<down arrow> and press <Enter>. Now you can select one of 8 different colours for the foreground colour and after that one of 8 colours for the background.

Beware that if you select the same colour for background and foreground the text may be invisible.

The changes to colours will take full effect the NEXT time you start ActGraph+

ActGraph+ Main menu for ActGraph+ (Setup) 63

╔═════════════ Screen colours ═══════════╗ ║Help window Help window ║ ║Ladder window Ladder window ║ ║Instruction window Instruction window ║ ║Main menu Main menu ║ ║Error window Error window ║ ║Message window Message window ║ ║Allocation window Allocation window ║ ║Status line Status line ║ ║Drawing Drawing ║ ║Line Line ║ ║Grafcet window Grafcet window ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════╝

Left column is how the selected colours look. The right column shows how the inverted colours look. Move the cursor to the line that corresponds to the window for which you want to change colours.

╔════ Foreground colour ══╗ ║Black Black ║ ║Blue Blue ║ ║Green Green ║ ║Cyan Cyan ║ ║Red Red ║ ║Magenta Magenta ║ ║Brown Brown ║ ║White White ║ ╚═════════════════════════╝

Select any of the eight colours shown above and press <Enter>, the selected colour will be used for the characters.

╔════ Background colour ══╗ ║Black Black ║ ║Blue Blue ║ ║Green Green ║ ║Cyan Cyan ║ ║Red Red ║ ║Magenta Magenta ║ ║Brown Brown ║ ║White White ║ ╚═════════════════════════╝

Select the background for the characters from this list and press <Enter>.

If you do not see anything when going into ladder monitor with the <Alt>+<F5> try to change the colours for the Ladder window.

7.8.1.2 Setup menu:Colour graphics monitor

"Setup-PC-EGA/VGA 43/50 lines"

Use this option to set more lines on the screen. This will only work if your monitor is EGA/VGA compatible. You will get 43 lines on an EGA monitor and 50 lines on a VGA monitor.

7.8.1.3 Setup menu:Possible to shift arrow keys

"Setup-PC-Possible to shift arrow keys"


Only set this option to "NO" if it is not possible to <Shift> the <arrow keys> on your computer as is the case with Toshiba 1100 Plus, T2100 and T3100.

Instead of the <Shift>+<Up arrow> use the numeric key <8>.

Instead of the <Shift>+<Down arrow> use the numeric key <2>.

Instead of the <Shift>+<Left arrow> use the numeric key <4>.

Instead of the <Shift>+<Right arrow> use the numeric key <6>

There is another possibility built into ActGraph+:

When you program in ladder mode it is possible to have tree different drawing (DRAW, CLEAR and MOVE) instead of the normal two (DRAW and CLEAR) e.g. when you press <Space> you toggle between tree modes instead of two so that you do not have to use <Shift>+<arrow> but only <arrow>. To enter this mode, change the "Possible to shift arrow keys" option to "NO" in the "Setup-PC" menu, and the status will now change between 3 states instead of the normal 2. You then use only the <arrows> (no <Shift>) to perform all tree duties draw, clear and move around.

7.8.1.4 Setup menu:User directory

"Setup-PC-User directory"

Specify the directory or disk that contains or will contain your DOS files with projects. If you do not specify a directory, all projects will be placed in the same directory as ActGraph+ system files. (Normally \ACTSIPE\ on a hard disk.) As the number of files in a directory grows, the time to load and store projects will increase. To avoid this, use several directories and store only related projects in the same directory.

If you want to store your projects on the B disk set this option to "B:". If you want to store a group of projects in a directory called ALPHA on the hard disk C enter "C:\ALPHA\" The path should end in "\".

Remember to use the DOS command MKDIR to create the directory \ALPHA on your hard disk, see the DOS manual for more information on how to use MKDIR and directories.

7.8.1.5 Setup menu:Language

The ActGraph+ program has built in support for different languages.

To change the language of the ActGraph+ program select "Setup-PC-Language" and enter 3 letters corresponding to your language.

By Actron supported languages are: SWE - Swedish, ENG - English.

Your distributor may have support for YOUR language.

After entering the letters for your language, press <Enter> and when you are back in the "Setup-PC" menu press <Esc> to save the changes and go back to programming.

If the language specified is NOT on the disk you will get several warnings about this. Change back to your old language and copy the files for that language onto your hard disk. The restart ActGraph+ and change to the new language.

The files needed are:


LANGH.xxx, LANGERRH.xxx, LANGHELH.xxx, LANGTABH.xxx and LANGMENP.xxx

The xxx stands for the language you want to use. (SWE or ENG.)

The language of ActGraph+ will be changed the NEXT time you start the ActGraph+ program.

7.8.1.6 Setup menu:Horizontal F1-F10 keys

"Setup-PC-Horizontal F1-F10 keys"

If your computer has horizontally placed function keys, set this option to "YES" to get appropriate help texts. The option only affects how your help texts are shown.

7.8.1.7 Setup menu:Turn off sound

Turns the sound on or off.

7.8.2 Setup menu:PLC (Controller)

" (Controller)"

This selection menu will be brought up:

╔══════ PLC type ════╗ ║Series J ║ ║Series J2 ║ ║Series E ║ ║Series E2 ║ ║Series EB ║ ║Series EM ║ ║Series EM2 ║ ║Series EM3 ║ ║Series H ║ ╚════════════════════╝

Select the PLC you want to work with and press <Enter>

When the digit 2 has been added to a PLC type it indicates a more modern version. J2 has some functions that J does not have. And the same is true for the E2 series. If you buy a new PLC it will be of the J2 or E2 series. See section 13 for more information about the different PLC types.

7.8.2.1 Setup menu:Select PLC type:Set PLC options, E-series

Pressing <Enter> brings up the menu for setting the options for the controller.

╔═══════════════════════ PLC configuration ════════════════╗ ║Series E2 ║ ║Program Size 2K (Lines = 1970) ║ ║Manual define I/O/M ║ ║Reset all addresses ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝


The first line in the window show the currently used PLC.

7.8.2.1.1 PLC options:Program size

The second option available is the size of the PLC (1 or 2 K EEprom); either "1" (950 instructions) or "2" (1970 instructions).

Press <Enter> and write the number "1" or "2", followed by <Enter>. If you lower the number of instructions the instructions at the end will be lost. Changing the other way will pad the program with FUN99 END.

7.8.2.1.2 PLC options:Manual define I/O/M

When you install or remove non standard IO cards in your PLC system you can specify the types of the different addresses.

The picture shows a system with inputs (I) in the address ranges 0-47, 100-147. The outputs (O) are located at 50-77 and 150-177 and the markers (M) or internal inputs are located at 200-777.

┌─────────────── Manual define I/O/M ──────────────┐ │I: 000 - 047 │ │O: 050 - 077 │ │I: 100 - 147 │ │O: 150 - 177 │ │M: 200 - 777 │ │Type of address (I/O/M/N) ? │ │ │ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

The prompt asks for the type (any of I,O,M,N) for the addresses that you want to change. The type N is when you have some addresses that for some reason (broken or not connected) that you do not want to use. After the type of the addresses is specified you will then be asked for the first and last address to change. The old type does not matter when changing types. When you are done press <Esc> to return to the previous menu.

7.8.2.1.3 PLC options:Reset all addresses

This command will set the type of each IO address to the correct default value for each PLC. Undoes all changes done in "Setup-PLC-Manual define I/O/M".

7.8.3 Setup menu:Printout

"Setup-Printout"

This menu lets you alter the ActGraph+ to suit your printer and documentation standard.

If you are working on a diskette system please remove the write protection tab on the diskette before leaving the "Setup-Printout" menu. To change a parameter use the <up arrow> and <down arrow> to highlight the line you want and then press <Enter>. If the parameter is of the type Yes-No the parameter changes, otherwise a window that asks you to enter the new value will open.

To leave the "Printout Configuration" use the <Esc> key.


╔════════════════════════ Printout setup ════════════════╗ ║First page number 1 ║ ║Compressed printout Yes ║ ║Printer LPT1 ║ ║Page length 72 ║ ║Page width (uncompressed) 80 ║ ║Text printout Yes ║ ║Line drawing set Yes ║ ║Printer has FormFeed Yes ║ ║Print Header ║ ║Header size Normal ║ ║Max long comment 30 ║ ║Date separator 1991-05-18 ║ ║Date, ordering of YYMMDD 1991-05-18 ║ ║Date: YYYY or YY 1991-05-18 ║ ║String to initialize printer ║ ║String to reset printer ║ ║String to turn on compressed <15> ║ ║String to turn off compressed <18> ║ ║Translation table for printer ║ ╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

7.8.3.1 Setup menu:Printout:First page number

This number is used for the first page printed. All pages thereafter will be numbered consecutively. Used for incorporating listings into existing numbered lists.

7.8.3.2 Setup menu:Printout:Compressed printout

By setting this to "YES", ActGraph+ will be able to print wider listings. The combined listing of ladder and instructions require this option to be "YES" if you use standing A4 paper. If you try to print a combined ladder and instruction list and has set this to "NO"; Actsip will automatically use "YES" if the paper is not wide enough. If this does not work see section 1 and 1.

7.8.3.3 Setup menu:Printout:Printer

"Setup-PC-Printer"

Allowed printers are LPT1, LPT2, LPT3 or a DOS filename. If you use a DOS file name the file will contain the most recent printout. The default is "LPT1". If you specify a printer as LPTn, Actsip checks to see if the printer is connected, and has power and paper.

If for some reason you have a non standard printer that gives incorrect status to the computer you may try to use the filename PRN instead of LPT1, this makes Actsip ignore the status of the printer and print as usual.

7.8.3.4 Setup menu:Printout:Page length

The number of lines on a page. The default is standing paper of 72 lines. Please note that ActGraph+ depends on the printer to be able to do a formfeed correctly.

If the formfeed on your printer fail to produce correct new pages, please refer to "Setup-Printout-Printer has formfeed" for an alternative way of doing formfeeds.


7.8.3.5 Setup menu:Printout:Page width (uncompressed)

The number of characters that will fit onto one line when printing in normal mode. The default is "80" for standing A4. The number of characters used should be when the printer is in normal mode NOT compressed or condensed mode. Actsip will automatically adjust for compress printout.

7.8.3.6 Setup menu:Printout:Text printout

This parameter controls if the block comments associated with a block will be printed or not. This should be set to "YES" for the normal printout.

7.8.3.7 Setup menu:Printout:Line drawing set

If your printer is not able to reproduce the line drawing characters correctly or if you want to shorten the printout time, set this option to "NO". Setting this option to "YES" before printing the final documentation is recommended.

See section 1 for more printer information.

7.8.3.8 Setup menu:Printout:Printer has FormFeed

If the printer can't be set to react correctly to the Form Feed character (to many or to few lines on the paper) set this option to "NO" and ActGraph+ will use line feeds to simulate Form Feeds. The default is "YES".

If this is set to "YES" (as is normal) each printed page is ended with a "FormFeed" character to advance the paper in the printer.

If it is set to "NO" the number of lines printed are counted internally in ActGraph+ and empty lines are added to advance to the next page.

7.8.3.9 Setup menu:Printout:Print Header/Footer

The default action for Actsip is to print a footer on each page of the printouts. By selecting header in this option, the information can be put first on each page a so called header.

7.8.3.10 Setup menu:Printout:Header/footer size

Changes the header/footer size. The standard size is a medium sized box. The small one is single line with page number and the date.

The medium header/footer looks like this:

┌───────────────── ACTRON AB ──────────────────┬──────────────────────┐ │ Instruction list │PLC System Productions│ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────┤ │ This line will be printed on all listings │DATE 1991-02-09│ │ This line will also be printed in the footer │PAGE 2│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────┘

The small header/footer looks like this:

1991-02-09 This line will be printed on all listings PAGE 1


7.8.3.11 Setup menu:Printout:Max long comment

When printing both ladder and instruction list together, this number sets the number of characters to show of the long comments. Less long comments means wider ladder diagram.

If set to 30, the whole long comment will be shown (30 is the max length of the long comments). 0 on the other means that no long comments is printed at all.

╔══ Max long comment ╗ ║ 30 ║ ╚════════════════════╝

7.8.3.12 Setup menu:Printout:Date: separator

Select the character used to separate the parts of the date printed on listings. Press <Enter> to see the next choice.

The available characters are:

- / . , : ; <Space> none

7.8.3.13 Setup menu:Printout:Date: ordering of YYMMDD

The order in which the different parts of the date should be printed. Press <Enter> to see the next choice.

7.8.3.14 Setup menu:Printout:Date: YYYY or YY

Select 2 or 4 digits used in dates printed. Press <Enter> to change.

7.8.3.15 Setup menu:Printout:String: to initialize printer

This text will be sent to the printer before printing (default empty).

7.8.3.16 Setup menu:Printout:String: to reset printer

This text will be sent to the printer after printing (default empty).

7.8.3.17 Setup menu:Printout:String: to turn on compressed

This text will be sent to the printer for compressed printout (default <15>).

7.8.3.18 Setup menu:Printout:String: to turn off compressed

This text will be sent to the printer for non compressed printout (default <18>).

For other choices put the number between lesser/greater than signs, e.g. <27> means <Escape>.

7.8.3.19 Setup menu:Printout:Translation table for printer

If your printer doesn't handle the IBM extended character set you might use a translation table for your printer, enter the name of the translation table at this position. If you need a translation table for your printer please contact your dealer or Actron AB.


7.8.4 Setup menu:Communication

This menu lets you configure the communication parameters.

7.8.4.1 Setup menu:Communication:Default parameters

If <Enter> is pressed the communication setup settings will be changed to their default values, except for communication port that will be the same.

7.8.4.2 Setup menu:Communication:Transmission speed

The speed used for PGMJ-R communication, the dip switches on the PGMJ-R must be set to the same. The default setting is "9600" baud.

7.8.4.3 Setup menu:Communication:Stop bits

The number of stop bits used, the dip switches on the PGMJ-R must be set to the same. The default setting is "1".

7.8.4.4 Setup menu:Communication:Parity

The kind of parity to use, the dip switches on the PGMJ-R must be set to the same. The default setting is "none".

7.8.4.5 Setup menu:Communication:Communication port

"Setup-Communication port" Allowed communication ports are 1 and 2 corresponding to DOS COM1 and COM2. The default is "1".

7.8.4.6 Preserve

"Setup-PC-Setup menu:Communication:Preserve RUN mode on PGMJ-R"

Turn RUN mode on again after transfer or not.

If this is set to "YES". Then if the PLC system is in RUN mode at the start of a transfer, RUN mode will automatically be turned on again after the transfer e.g. the machine will start again. The default setting is "Yes".

If "NO" is specified the PLC will always be stopped after a transfer, except for the H-series.

It is not possible to transfer when the PLC is in RUN, so ActGraph+ is forced to turn the PLC off before a transfer.

7.8.4.7 Use advancedSetup menu:Communication:Mode2 protocol (EB, EM3)

To use the faster communication protocol on the EB- and EM3-series. Do not forget to make a power reset (turn off/on) on the PLC after changing protocol switch on the PLC. The default setting is "No".

7.8.4.8 Setup menu:Communication:Ask before transferring to PLC

Asks for confirmation before writing to the PLC or stopping the PLC.

7.8.4.9 Switch settings on the

The communication speed (baud rate), format and the switching between PC programming and hand programming is done by dip switches.


┌─────────────────────── Switch settings on the PGMJ-R ─────────────┐ │ │ │ 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 │ │ ┌─────────────────┐ │ │ │ █ █ █ █ │ On (Actsip-E default settings) │ │ │ █ █ █ █ │ Off │ │ └─────────────────┘ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ^ ^ ^ ^ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ character baud │ Personal Computer interface │ │ format rate │ │ │ | │ │ not used │ │ │ │ ┌───────────┬───────┬─────────┐ ┌───────────┬───────┬─────────┐ │ │ │SWITCH # │Baud │Comment. │ │SWITCH # │Baud │Comment. │ │ │ │ 5 │ 4 │ 3 │rate K │ │ │ 5 │ 4 │ 3 │rate K │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼───────┼─────────┤ ├───┼───┼───┼───────┼─────────┤ │ │ │ON │ON │ON │38.4 │ │ │OFF│ON │ON │ 2.4 │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼───────┼─────────┤ ├───┼───┼───┼───────┼─────────┤ │ │ │ON │ON │OFF│19.2 │ │ │OFF│ON │OFF│ 1.2 │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼───────┼─────────┤ ├───┼───┼───┼───────┼─────────┤ │ │ │ON │OFF│ON │ 9.6 │ │ │OFF│OFF│ON │ 0.6 │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼───────┼─────────┤ ├───┼───┼───┼───────┼─────────┤ │ │ │ │ │ │ │FACTORY- │ │OFF│OFF│OFF│ 0.3 │ │ │ │ │ON │OFF│OFF│ 4.8 │SETTING │ └───┴───┴───┴───────┴─────────┘ │ │ └───┴───┴───┴───────┴─────────┘ │ │ │ │ ┌───────────┬─────┬───────┬───────┬───────┬──────────┐ │ │ │SWITCH # │Start│Data │Parity │Stop │Comment. │ │ │ │ 8 │ 7 │ 6 │bits │bits │bit │bit │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼──────────┤ │ │ │ON │ON │ON │ 1 │ 7 │1(even)│ 2 │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼──────────┤ │ │ │ON │ON │OFF│ 1 │ 7 │1(odd) │ 2 │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼──────────┤ │ │ │ON │OFF│ON │ 1 │ 7 │1(even)│ 1 │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼──────────┤ │ │ │ON │OFF│OFF│ 1 │ 7 │1(odd) │ 1 │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼──────────┤ │ │ │OFF│ON │ON │ 1 │ 8 │ - │ 2 │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼──────────┤ │ │ │OFF│ON │OFF│ 1 │ 8 │ - │ 1 │FACTORY- │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │SETTING. │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼──────────┤ │ │ │OFF│OFF│ON │ 1 │ 8 │1(even)│ 1 │ │ │ │ ├───┼───┼───┼─────┼───────┼───────┼───────┼──────────┤ │ │ │OFF│OFF│OFF│ 1 │ 8 │1(odd) │ 1 │ │ │ │ └───┴───┴───┴─────┴───────┴───────┴───────┴──────────┘ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

To enable the communication between the PC and the PLC: Set switch number 1 in position ON and the following will be shown on the PGMJ-R. (The version number may be different)


┌────────────────────────────────┐ │ RUN │ │ PGMJ-R V:5 PI/F │ └────────────────────────────────┘

For more information about the dip switches on the PGMJ-R look in paragraph 8.9.2.

7.8.5 Setup menu:Grafcet

There is only one option available.

╔═══════════════════ Grafcet programming setup ═══════════════════════╗ ║Convert short comments to uppercase No ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

7.8.5.1 Setup menu:Grafcet:Convert short comment to uppercase

If you set this option to "YES" all short comments input to the Actsip will be in UPPERCASE. This option does not affect old short comments already entered.

7.9 <F2> submenu, ACT menu

ActGraph+ has a special submenu for functions which are not in the ordinary menus. This menu will "pop up" when you press <F2>. You can either move between the choices with the left and right arrows or press the first letter in any choice.

7.9.1 ViewCode

Viewing code is done by press <F2> and choose "ViewCode" or pressing <K> on the keyboard. The selected graph, logical box or macro is then coded in an instruction list. The window that shows up is only for viewing the code and it is possible to step around with the left and right arrow keys, <PgUp>, <PgDn>, <Home> and <End>. Pressing <Esc> will abort the code viewing.

7.9.2 CleanUp

To clean up the code, press <F2> and choose "CleanUp" or press <C>. The function "CleanUp" will delete all symbols not used. The symbolic names (short comments) is not removed from the allocation list. This must be done "by hand".

7.9.3 TuneProg

This function lets you tune the program to those specification you need. This might be necessary if you do not have enough memory or a project should be larger in some way.

If you want to edit an address that is a long distance from the current one you can use the ,<S> or ,<G> commands to move to another address. (They are both identical.) Press <F2> to get up the ACT menu select one of them, then enter a short comment or an address and the first one found will be the new address.

ActGraph+ Hardware and software requirements 73

8. Hardware and software requirements.

This section is included to help resolve problems and questions of the type: Does ActGraph+ work on my IBM compatible machine ? What hardware do I need to run the ActGraph+ ?

The simplest and most straightforward solution is to test the ActGraph+ on the computer. A demo version of ActGraph+ is available.

8.1 PLC system

Hitachi series J, E, EB, EM and H.

For the J, E, EB-HRP, EB-SRP, CPM-E and CPM-E2 you will also need a PGMJ-R or PIFJ (for the J-series) to communicate between the computer and the controller.

8.2 DOS

PC DOS or MS DOS 2.10 or higher. Version 3.10 or higher is recommended.

8.3 Bios

100% IBM PC, XT or AT compatible.

8.4 CPU

IBM PC, XT or AT. (8086, 8088, 80286, 80386, 80486 ...)

8.5 Math coprocessor.

Is not required (will not be used if installed).

8.6 Memory

640 Kb is required.

8.7 Disk drives

You will need a Hard disk (Winchester)

and a floppy disk drive, either

a 3.5" disk or a 5.25" disk.

Please specify disk type (3.5" or 5.25") when ordering Actsip from your distributor.

8.8 IBM PC compability

The computer must have IBM compatible serial and parallel ports. If you only plan to program off-line you can normally get along without the serial port.

74 Hardware and software requirements ActGraph+

An IBM compatible memory mapped screen:

Hercules, MGA, CGA, EGA or VGA compatible.

8.9 Communication.

Must have one IBM compatible serial port. (COM1: or COM2:)

8.9.1 The serial RS 232 cables

The cables provided in your ActGraph+ kit is described below:

PC-end <=> PLC(EB)-end, Main cable end (Female, 25 pins) (Male, 25 pins) Grey Red 2 ────────────────────────────── 3 3 ────────────────────────────── 2 4 ────────────────────────────── 5 5 ────────────────────────────── 4 6 ───────────────────────────── 20 7 ────────────────────────────── 7 8 ────────────────────────────── 8 20 ────────────────────────────── 6

Main/EB cable: Serial cable between the "BOX" and the PLC (EB).

Main cable end <=> PGMJ-R / PIF-J (Female, 25 pins) (Male, 25 pins) Red Blue 3 ────────────────────────────── 2 2 ────────────────────────────── 3 5 ───────────────────────────── 11 4 ────────────────────────────── 6 6 ──────┐ │ 20 ──────┘ 7 ────────────────────────────── 7

PGMJ-R cable: Serial cable between the main cable and the PGMJ-R.

Main cable end <=> CPM-E3 (Female, 25 pins) (Male, 9 pins) Red Green 3 ────────────────────────────── 2 2 ────────────────────────────── 3 5 ────────────────────────────── 8 4 ────────────────────────────── 7 20 ────────────────────────────── 4 7 ────────────────────────────── 5


E3 cable: Serial cable between the main cable and the CPM-E3.

Main cable end <=> CPU-H / COMM-H (Female, 25 pins) (Male, 15 pins) Red Yellow 2 ───────────────────────────── 3 3 ───────────────────────────── 2 4 ───────────────────────────── 5 5 ───────────────────────────── 4 7 ──────────────────────────┬── 9 │ └── 10 20 ───────────────────────────── 7 ┌─── 8 └───> 14 19200 Baud | └───> 13 4800 Baud

H cable: Serial cable between the main cable and the H-series. Connect pin 13 instead of 14 to pin 8 to change the baud-rate to 4800 Baud. Do not forget to change the setting in the program.

Computer <=> Main cable (Female, 9 pins) (Male, 25 pins) Grey/Silver Grey/Silver 1 ────────────────────────────── 8 2 ────────────────────────────── 3 3 ────────────────────────────── 2 4 ───────────────────────────── 20 5 ────────────────────────────── 7 6 ────────────────────────────── 6 7 ────────────────────────────── 4 8 ────────────────────────────── 5 9 ───────────────────────────── 22

Standard 9 to 25 pin converter cable.

8.9.2 PGMJ-R: dip switches

Dip switches on PGMJ - R

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ┌───────────────────────────────┐ │ █ █ █ █ │ │█ █ █ █ │ └───────────────────────────────┘ ──────────── OFF ────────────

(Off On Off On Off On Off On)

9600 Baud, 1 start bit, 1 stop bit, no parity.

Switch 1 selects if the PGMJ-R is controlled from the PGMJ-R keyboard or from the RS 232 cable (IBM PC)

Switch 1 - Off: normal PGMJ-R programming and PGMJ-R printout.

76 Hardware and software requirements ActGraph+

Switch 1 - On: programming from the IBM PC or compatible.

Switch 2 is "not used"

An easy way to remember the switch settings is that 1 should be ON and the next OFF, ON, OFF, .....

For further information see paragraph 1 Switch settings on the PGMJ-R.

8.9.3 EB/EM switches

On EB-CRP models and on the CPM-E3 there is a three-way switch marked PGM/COM1/COM2. With this switch it is possible to choose which communication protocol wanted.

PGM is for using a programmer, like the PGMJ-R.

COM1 is used for communication with the "old" protocol to a computer. It is the same protocol for transferring as with the PGMJ-R, but it excludes the PGMJ-R.

COM2 is used for computer communication with the new faster protocol, with this protocol the PLC will not restart after transfer.

If using the CPM-E3 it is possible to alter the transfer speed between 4800 to 9600 baud by switching DIP switch marked 1. In position OFF the transfer speed is 4800 baud and in position ON the transfer speed is 9600 baud.

The other switch, marked 2, is for controlling the RUN-state on the PLC. When it is in position OFF you are able to control the PLC by stopping it and set it in run mode, but when it is in position ON You can only transfer projects from the PLC, you are not able to force it into stop or run mode. The EB-CRP haves also this sort of switch for controlling the run/stop mode. It is a small switch located to the left of the computer communication port inside the cover.

8.10 Printer

ActGraph+ must have IBM compatible parallel port (LPT1: or LPT2:) and an IBM compatible printer, preferably with line drawing character set. (The line drawing set is composed of characters with a numeric value above 127 which some pre-IBM printers either do not have or use different characters for.)

┌ ┐ ┌──┐ Printer must be able to produce the following: │ ├─ └──┘ └ ┘

Illustration of the line drawing set printed on a IBM compatible printer.


Here is an ASCII table of the characters used:

Dec Hex Char Dec Hex Char 176 b0 [░] 198 c6 [╞] 177 b1 [▒] 199 c7 [╟] 178 b2 [▓] 200 c8 [╚] 179 b3 [│] 201 c9 [╔] 180 b4 [┤] 202 ca [╩] 181 b5 [╡] 203 cb [╦] 182 b6 [╢] 204 cc [╠] 183 b7 [╖] 205 cd [═] 184 b8 [╕] 206 ce [╬] 185 b9 [╣] 207 cf [╧] 186 ba [║] 208 d0 [╨] 187 bb [╗] 209 d1 [╤] 188 bc [╝] 210 d2 [╥] 189 bd [╜] 211 d3 [╙] 190 be [╛] 212 d4 [╘] 191 bf [┐] 213 d5 [╒] 192 c0 [└] 214 d6 [╓] 193 c1 [┴] 215 d7 [╫] 194 c2 [┬] 216 d8 [╪] 195 c3 [├] 217 d9 [┘] 196 c4 [-] 218 da [┌] 197 c5 [┼]

78 PC-DOS and MS-DOS ActGraph+

9. PC-DOS and MS-DOS

9.1 Doing DOS commands from inside ActGraph+

If you have enough memory in your computer (640Kb or more) you can use the "System-Dos command" to temporarily leave the ActGraph+ system and do things like formatting disks. When you are finished with DOS, write "Exit <Enter>" at the DOS prompt and you are back again in the project.

You are recommended to save your project before using this option.

9.2 MSDOS <-> PCDOS

PC DOS stands for "Personal Computer Disk Operating System" and MS DOS stands for "Microsoft Disk Operating System". PC DOS is the specific version of MS DOS that IBM uses on the line of PC computers.

The fact that a computer uses MS DOS does not automatically make it IBM compatible; it must also have compatible hardware.

9.3 Filenames and project names

DOS filenames consists of two parts the file name consisting of 1 to 8 characters followed by a dot "." and an extension of 1 to 3 characters. Please observe that if the extension only contain blanks or <Space> you normally have to specify the dot anyway.

Ex.

SETUPE.DAT Filename SETUPE and extension .DAT

PROJ1.EGR Filename PROJ1 and extension .EGR

LETTER.TXT Filename LETTER and extension .TXT

TEXT. Filename TEXT without extension

When specifying filenames in DOS commands it is sometimes possible to use "wild-cards" in the filenames. The "?" represent any character and the "*" represents all files. Some examples:

to list all ActGraph+ projects write DIR *.EGR <Enter> or the equivalent DIR ????????.EGR <Enter>

ActGraph+ PC-DOS and MS-DOS 79

to list all files beginning with an A write DIR A*.* <Enter> or the equivalent DIR A???????.??? <Enter>

to list all files beginning with a TEST followed by a single character write, DIR TEST?.*

Do not use any of the characters on the next line in filenames or paths:

" / [ ] | < > + = ; ,

or the <Space> character as these characters have special significance to DOS. (Or may have in coming versions of DOS)

9.4 Current drive

The current drive is the disk that is used if you do not specify something else. On a hard disk system the PROMPT will normally look like "C>" which tells you that C is the current drive. (e.g. if you do a DIR you will get a listing of the current directory on disk C, normally a Hard disk).

To change the current drive enter the drive letter followed by a colon at the dos prompt.

C>A:<Enter>

will result in A> and entering DIR will give you a listing of the files on the disk in drive A. Many commands also allow you to specify the drive as an argument, e.g. DIR B: will give you a listing of all files on the disk in drive B independently of the current drive.

9.5 Directory

A fixed disk can hold many files. If a great number of files is in one place the time it takes DOS to open, read and find files increases. The directory concept is used to group files into related categories. You can think of the directories as the root system of a tree or bush, beginning with the ROOT that is the place where all root branches starts. In DOS the root is referred to as "\" (back slash) a directory is a library of files. The ActGraph+ system if installed on a hard disk will be found in the directory ACTSIPE and may be referred to as "\ACTSIPE".

Creating directories is done with the MKDIR (or MD) command at the DOS prompt. To move into a directory use CHDIR (or CD)

An example:

Making a directory called TEST write MD TEST <Enter> at the DOS prompt. Move down into the directory by writing CD TEST <Enter> Doing a DIR will show two files "." and ".."

"." is another name for the current directory and ".." is the directory above the current one. To move to the ROOT directory use "CD \" and to move one directory up use "CD .."

Move up one level an use RMDIR (or RD) to remove the TEST directory, (write RD TEST <enter>). The directory may only contain the "." and ".." files when you try to remove it, otherwise DOS will complain.

80 PC-DOS and MS-DOS ActGraph+

For more info on sub directories see the DOS manual.

9.6 PATH

The PATH command is used to tell DOS where the programs on the PC can be found.

9.7 Formatting a new disk

The FORMAT command is used to format a blank disk so that it may be used by DOS.

FORMAT d: <Enter>

9.8 DISKCOPY

to make a copy of a whole floppy disk enter at the DOS prompt

DISKCOPY d: e: <Enter> where d: is the drive to copy from and e: is the destination drive. d: and e: may be equal, in that case DOS asks you to change the disks one or more time.

9.9 COPY

To copy a single file use the command:

COPY from.ext to.ext <Enter>

9.10 DELETE a file or files

To erase a file from the disk use the command:

ERASE file.ext <Enter> or DEL file.ext <Enter>

9.11 RENAME a file or files

To give a file a new name use the command:

REN oldfile.ext newfile.ext <Enter>

9.12 AUTOEXEC.BAT

The "AUTOEXEC.BAT" file is located in the root directory of the DOS disk and it contains a list of commands to be executed after the system is booted but before you see the DOS prompt. Typical commands are commands to set the DATE and TIME on systems without battery clock and a PROMPT command that specify how the DOS prompt will look like. The PATH command is used to specify where DOS will look for programs. (.COM, .EXE and .BAT files in that order.) The AUTOEXEC.BAT does not have to be changed to run ActGraph+.

ActGraph+ PC-DOS and MS-DOS 81

9.13 CONFIG.SYS

The "CONFIG.SYS" file contains instructions to the operating system on the PC and specifies which country the computer is used. The instructions for installation of RAM disks (a simulation of a floppy or hard disk in the fast computer memory) are normally placed here. The CONFIG.SYS does not have to be changed to run ActGraph+.

9.14 Doing back-ups

Use DISKCOPY, COPY or BACKUP to take regular copies of your disks containing projects. For further information refer to the DOS manual.

Copy important projects on the hard disk onto diskettes and store them in a safe place, or save the project on a floppy directly from ActGraph+ using "A:FILENAME" where the "A:" specifies drive A.

Also make a back-up copy of the ActGraph+ disk.

9.15 Language support

The files on your disk that have the extension .ENG contains the English version of all the menus, help texts and messages in the ActGraph+ system. Likewise the .SWE files contains the Swedish version. Which language to use is set in the "Setup-PC" menu. Do NOT change these text files as this may lead to unpredictable results. If you need support for a different language than the ones supplied, please contact your distributor or Actron AB directly.

82 Recording keystrokes ActGraph+

10. Recording keystrokes

Actsip has an built in capability to record the keystrokes that you use to perform a task. The recorded keystrokes can then later be replayed.

To start recording a keystroke macro press <Alt>+<L> and the following menu will be shown. Select "Start recording"

╔═════ Record/Playback keys ═══╗ ║Playback (<Esc> stops) ║ ║Start recording ║ ║Stop recording ║ ╚══════════════════════════════╝

Then a window asks for a file name, the extension ".KEY" will automatically be added to the name.

╔═════ Record/Playback keys ═══╗ ║╔══════════════════ Recording keys ════════════════╗ ║║File name: ║ ║╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ╚══════════════════════════════╝

Then do the commands in Actsip as usual and when the recording is finished do <Alt>+<L> and select "Stop recording".

To replay a previously recorded macro do <Alt>+<L> and select "Playback" and give the filename (without ".KEY" extension).

╔═════ Record/Playback keys ═══╗ ║╔══════════════ Playback (<Esc> stops) ════════════╗ ║║File name: ║ ║╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ╚══════════════════════════════╝

If you press the <Esc> key while a macro is replayed the replay will stop.

╔═════ Record/Playback keys ═══╗ ║╔══════════════════ Recording keys ════════════════╗ ║║File name: ║ ║╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ ╚══════════════════════════════╝

The files with the ".KEY" extension are plain IBM ASCII files and may be edited with a text editor.

ActGraph+ General information 83

11. General information.

11.1 Actron AB

Our company can be reached in the following ways:

Mail address: Actron AB Polstjärnegatan 4 S-417 08 Göteborg SWEDEN

Telephone: +46 (0)31 500 700 Telefax: +46 (0)31 516 856 Telex: 21753 ACTRON

11.2 Actsip software

The OTHER packages that are part of the Actsip family are:

Actsip-A Adicon programmable controller.

Actsip-D Hitachi PLC series D.

Actsip-E Hitachi PLC series J, E, EB and EM.

Actsip-H Hitachi PLC series H.

11.3 Support policy

To qualify for support and updates of the software you must complete the user card with information about your computer and send it to Actron AB (For the address above)

11.4 About the ActGraph+ program

The ActGraph+ program is written in Microsoft C version 6.0. The serial communication is implemented with the Greenleaf communication library. ActGraph+ was written at Actron AB.

ActGraph+ is designed by Yngve Ternulf, Anders Ripa and Tommy Bengtsson. The program was written by Anders Ripa and Tommy Bengtsson.

Actsip-H is designed by Yngve Ternulf, Anders Friberg and Anders Ripa. The program was written by Anders Friberg and Anders Ripa.

The ActGraph+ manual was written by Anders Ripa, Tommy Bengtsson and Mats Ackberger.

84 Error messages ActGraph+

12. Error messages

-------- ------ BREAK ------ This is printed on the printer when the <Esc> key is pressed during printing in ActGraph+

-------- Abort If Abort is selected when an error has occurred ActGraph+ is ENDED and all changes done to the project after the last save is lost ! (See also, Fail, Ignore and Retry)

-------- ActGraph+ DEMO version ! The version of ActGraph+ that you are using is a restricted demonstration version. All the features of the EXTended version is not available.

-------- Address not available The given address is not available as an argument !

-------- Alternative branch must end in alternative end ! An alternative start branch must be accompanied with an alternative end branch. There is no exception to this.

-------- Alternative end must be preceded by transition ! An alternative branch must begin and end with transitions.

-------- Alternative start must be preceded by step ! Right before any alternative branch, there must be a step. Likewise, all alternative branches must begin with a transition that dictates which (if any) branch is to be active.

-------- Argument NOT allowed The instruction has no argument.

-------- Bad drive request struct Internal error, may be due to corrupt DOS or ActGraph+. Report the circumstances to Actron AB.

-------- Buffer empty Transmission buffer is empty.

-------- Buffer full The transmission buffer is full, this may be due to a communication error between the PC-PLC.

-------- Can't close file The specified file can not be properly ended. This may be due changing of disk or disk failure. Check the disk. The file may be corrupt or empty so try to save information again under a different file name.

ActGraph+ Error messages 85

-------- Can't connect to PGMJ-R ! (Check switch 1 == ON) Problems have been detected in the communication with the PLC, check to see that the dip-switches corresponds to the settings in "Setup-Communication". The information about the dip-switches can be found in the help text <F1> for the "Setup-Communication" menu. Also check the cable and if the correct communication port is specified in the "Setup-Communication", the first COM port on a computer normally has the number 1.

-------- Can't create back-up file ! When a project is saved ActGraph+ automatically renames the old project. The renaming of the old project has failed.

-------- Can't open file The specified file cant be opened, it may because the directory or the disk incorrect.

-------- Can't open printer There is a printer problem.

-------- Can't scroll more ! (Modifications will be lost !, F3 discards) The size of block that is going to be changed on the ladder screen is limited. You either discard all changes done by pressing <F3>. Or move back to the modified block and use <Ins> or <*> do make the changes take effect.

-------- Can't set PGMJ-R into PROG mode ! The PGMJ-R does not go into PROG mode correctly, check to see that the system is not forced into RUN by the STA input on the PLC.

-------- Can't set PGMJ-R into RUN mode ! The PGMJ-R does not go into RUN mode correctly, check to see that the system is not forced into RUN by the STA input on the PLC.

-------- Can't set PGMJ-R into TEST mode ! The PGMJ-R does not go into TEST mode correctly, check to see that the system is not forced into RUN by the STA input on the PLC.

-------- Can't START the PLC ! The PGMJ-R does not go into RUN mode correctly.

-------- Can't STOP the PLC ! The PGMJ-R does not go into Stopped mode correctly, check to see that the system is not forced into RUN by the STA input on the PLC.

-------- Colours must not be the same ! You must use different colours for the text and the background.

-------- Communication Error number : If an number is show report this to Actron AB and the circumstances around the error.


-------- CRC error A check-sum error has occurred on the disk.

-------- Dangling branch with only UP connection ! Branch without connection in both ends discovered. Most probably due to tampering with save file.

-------- DEMO version, project size is limited ! You are running a limited demonstration version of the ActGraph+. Make the project smaller to avoid this error. (Or by the complete package from Actron AB)

-------- Device not ready ! The requested device is not ready. Normally this goes away if Retry is specified.

-------- Diagram to BIG ! The block is to big or complicated to be correctly shown. The block either contain to many serial or parallel contacts or to many levels of AND STR and OR STR to be correctly analyzed or drawn. Try to simplify the block by using internal addresses.

-------- Disk error reading drive DOS reports an error during a read from the disk.

-------- Disk error writing drive DOS was unable to write to the disk.

-------- Disk write protected You have tried to write some information onto a disk that is write protected. Remove the protection and Retry.

-------- Double coil warning This address has already been used in the PLC program. This can be ignored. But check to see that the usage is correct.

-------- Error in imported macro ! There was an error when the macro file was inserted into the coded graph. Probably the file wasn't found.

-------- Error reading from file A problem has occurred during a read from a file.

-------- Error writing to file A problem has occurred during a write to a file.

-------- Fail If this is selected DOS will report a failure to ActGraph+ and


-------- Fatal error A unrecoverable error has occurred.

-------- File error A problem with a file has occurred.

-------- File exist or invalid path ! Either the path you specified is invalid or the file does already exist.

-------- File is directory or read-only ! The file is either marked as READ ONLY by DOS or is a directory and is therefore illegal as an argument to this operation. The DOS command ATTRIB is able to change the READ ONLY mark. (See your DOS manual for further information, the ATTRIB command is only available in higher versions of DOS)

-------- File or Path name not found ! There is no such file or path on the specified disk, check the spelling or use the DOS function MKDIR to create the directory.

-------- File was saved with a higher version of ActGraph+ ! It is not recommended to use a file created with a newer version of ActGraph+ together with old version of ActGraph+. If this must be done, watch for problems carefully.

-------- Files are on different Disks ! Both files must reside on the same disk for this operation.

-------- First line number is 0 ! Line numbers start at 0.

-------- General communication error An unspecified error has occurred in the serial communication.

-------- General failure An unspecified error has occurred on the disk.

-------- Graph is incorrect ! (No instruction list) When a graph is PLC dependent and saved, an attempt is made to code it into instructions. If this is not possible, the graph is not coded (and can not be viewed as ladder diagram).

-------- Graph must be PLC dependent ! That particular menu is not possible to use until a definite PLC has been set for the project.

-------- Graph must have reconnection ! A graph must be reconnected in order to be properly coded. This is done by positioning the cursor on some part of the graph and pressing <F10>.


-------- Graph must have starting step ! There must be one starting step in the graph, in order for the process flow to start somewhere.

-------- Identifier missing ! The object must have an identifier. There failed to appear an identifier or name in the expression where one was due; There must be an identifier between operandi.

-------- Ignore If ignore is specified the error is ignored ! This a very dangerous option. ActGraph+ will be convinced that the operation was performed correctly, but instead it failed. The file written may be written and in the worst case the disk might be corrupted.

-------- Illegal instruction after OUT or FUN ! Not all PLC instructions is allowed after a OUT or a FUN instruction.

-------- Incomplete line in file Internal error please report this error to your dealer or directly to Actron AB.

-------- Incorrect Block ! The block is not a valid PLC instruction block.

-------- Incorrect constant Constants are BCD numbers from 0000 to 9999 inclusive.

-------- Incorrect drive id ! Use A: - Z:

-------- Incorrect label The label is incorrect

-------- Incorrect line number in file (Internal error) The file specified is corrupt try to copy in the original file from the distribution disk. If this doesn't help contact your distributor.

-------- Input is specified for OUT or FUN Addresses designated as inputs may NOT be used in OUT or FUN instructions. You may use "Setup-PLC" to change the address type.

-------- Instruction list different on instruction The instructions are different on the specified instruction.

-------- Invalid buffer size requested (Internal error) Report the error to Actron AB


-------- Invalid parameter

-------- Invalid port address An invalid communication error has been specified or an internal error has occurred.

-------- It's not allowed to nest JUMP's The PLC system does not allow you to nest JUMP instructions.

-------- JUMP END without JUMP ! There is no corresponding END instruction for the LAST JUMP.

-------- Last instruction must be OUT or FUN ! Block should end in either an OUT or FUN instruction.

-------- Line in save file was too short ! XXXX (Internal error) report the error to Actron AB. The save file is corrupt. There are information missing. The text immediately after the error message tells which part of the save file that was damaged. It might be possible to restore the save file with a normal editor. The save file format is available on request. BE SURE TO MAKE BACKUP SAVINGS OF IMPORTANT PROJECTS!

-------- Loop end must be preceded by transition ! The loop branch must connect after a transition. Note that the end branch is the uppermost part of the loop branch!

-------- Loop start must be preceded by step ! The loop branch must branch immediately after a step. Note that the branch start is the lowermost part of the loop branch!

-------- Loose branch with only DOWN connection ! Branch without connection in both ends discovered. Most probably due to tampering with save file.

-------- Loose branch with only DOWN connection ! Branch without connection in both ends discovered. Most probably due to tampering with save file.

-------- Marker missing in save file: XXXX The save file is damaged at the point named. Information is missing from it. Probably due to lack of disc space.

-------- Maximum line number is The maximum number of instructions is depending on the size of the memory module connected to the PLC.

-------- MCR without MCS ! Master Control Reset must be preceded by a Master Control Set.


-------- MCS - MCR is not allowed to overlap MCS - MCR ! The PLC doesn't allow overlapped MCS-MCR pairs.

-------- Missing argument The instruction requires an argument.

-------- Missing BOX ! You have not connected the black or grey "BOX" please refer to "Getting started" for installation.

-------- Missing JUMP END ! A JUMP instruction must have a corresponding JUMP END instruction.

-------- Missing MCR ! There is a Master Control Set instruction without a Master Control Reset instruction

-------- Missing ORG or FUN in block ! A block must either start with an ORG instruction or an FUN instruction.

-------- Missing ORG or STR ! There is an ORG or STR instruction missing.

-------- Missing OUT or FUN ! The block must have a OUT or FUN instruction.

-------- Monitor communication error The communication has gone wrong. Try going Off-line and the On-line again.

-------- Monitor time-out The PLC has been to slow in sending monitor information to the PC. Restart the monitor.

-------- Name too long ! More characters than XXX The name or identifier has too many characters. Normally, an identifier can have ten characters, but for certain applications this figure may not exceed eight.

-------- No communication chip present The computer doesn't have a serial port installed.

-------- No elements in reconnection ! A reconnection may not have steps or/and transitions in it. It is only a reconnection. The step or transition can be added at the top or bottom of the graph for the same effect.

-------- No help available without help file : The help file could not be found.


-------- No identification device found ! You have not connected the black or grey "BOX" please refer to "Getting started" for installation.

-------- No JUMP END inside MCS - MCR ! The JUMP END instruction is not allowed inside a MCS-MCR pair.

-------- No JUMP inside MCS - MCR ! The JUMP instruction may not be placed inside a MCS-MCR pair.

-------- No memory available The available computer memory is not enough to do the requested operation. Save the project under a NEW name and restart ActGraph+. If the problem persists, try to remove some memory resident programs. The computer should have 640 Kb for DOS + ActGraph+.

-------- No more windows. Internal error please report this error to your dealer or directly to Actron AB.

-------- Not a numeric address. (only T, C and 0 - 7 is allowed) You may only specify addresses of the types: Normal 000 - 777 Timers T00 - T47 Counters C50 - C77 The usage of the digits 8 and 9 is not allowed, T and C must be the first letter of timers and counters.

-------- Not a numeric address. (only T, C and 0 - 9 is allowed) You may only specify addresses of the types: Normal 000 - 9991 Timers T00 - T95 Timers value T100 - T195 Timers preset T200 - T295 Counters C0 - C95 Counters value C100 - C295 Counters preset C200 - C295

-------- Not a Timer or Counter ! Timers addresses start with a T and counter addresses with a C.

-------- Not a valid function number ! The given function number is not a valid function number use the HELP <F1> key to get a list of all the available function numbers.


-------- Not enough memory. Fatal error: The PC system doesn't have enough memory for the given operation, try to save the current project under a new name and exit from the ActGraph+ system. Remove memory resident programs like SideKick and SuperKey or lessen the numbers of buffers used by DOS or if your system have less memory than 640 Kbytes try to increase the amount of installed memory.

-------- Not possible until PLC is chosen ! That particular menu is not possible to use until a definite PLC has been set for the project.

-------- One address type only ! Both addresses must have the same type. It is not allowed to mix types.

-------- Only " " or "C" with special action ! The following actions can be stored or detailed with delay, pulse and time limit: timer, counter, up/down counter, shift register or macro actions.

-------- Only able to show window ! Internal error.

-------- Only counters can use + or - ! The special action "count up/shift 1" and "count down/shift 0" cannot be performed by a timer.

-------- Only one starting step per graph ! There may not be more than one starting step in each graph.

-------- Only printers LPT1 - LPT3 is supported ! Only the standard DOS printers is supported. If you want to use another printer specify a file for output and later copy that file to your printer by using DOS commands.

-------- Only shift registers and up/down counters can use variables (>) ! Variable counting/shifting is not possible with timer or normal counters.

-------- Only T/C arguments allowed Only timer/counter arguments are allowed.

-------- Operand (* or +) missing ! Operand left out between identifier and parentheses. It can never be excluded. (No simplification like A*(B+C) -> A(B+C) is allowed.)

-------- ORG, STR stack overflow ! To may ORG and STR instructions was specified.

-------- Outside the address area ! The analyze of the current ladder block gives an error check to see that the block is valid and contains an output or correct fun, and that the correct number of ORG, STR is used to match OR STR, AND STR and FUNctions.


-------- Outside the ladder area ! The block is incorrect so that the analysis of the block failed.

-------- Over level error in lines: The number of ORG,STR and AND STR,OR STR does not match.

-------- Overlapping areas ! Please specify two ranges that don't overlap as arguments to this command.

-------- Overwrite existing objects You are going to overwrite an existing ladder object.

-------- Parallel branch must end in parallel end ! A parallel start branch must be accompanied with a parallel end branch. There is no exception to this.

-------- Parallel end must be preceded by step ! A parallel branch must begin and end with steps; the transition after the end branch tells when to leave the branches.

-------- Parallel start must be preceded by transition ! Right before any parallel branch, there must be a transition that dictates when the branch is to be entered. Likewise, all parallel branches must begin with a step.

-------- Parenthesis error ! The expression contains mismatched parentheses. For every "(" there must be a ")", and vice versa.

-------- PLC error no CLR-ENT-DEL response ! The PLC does not respond to communication, try resetting PLC. (Remove power for a short while.)

-------- PLC too small for program ! The PLC project will not fit in the selected PLC. Change to a larger PLC (or scale down the project).

-------- Port already in use (Internal error) report the error to Actron AB.

-------- Port not set up correctly (Internal error) report the error to Actron AB.

-------- Printer error A problem with the printer or printout has occurred.

-------- Printer I/O error ! A problem with the printer or printout has occurred.


-------- Printer is not ON LINE ! The printer is in local mode. Use the ON LINE switch or button on the printer to set it into ON LINE and retry the printout.

-------- Printer is out of paper ! Your printer has run out of paper. Correct and restart the printout.

-------- Printer not connected ! There is no printer connected to the printer port or ActGraph+ has not been able to get a response from it. Check to see that the printer works correctly from DOS and that the correct printer port has been specified.

-------- Printer status : The printer status is as follows:

-------- Printer time out ! The printer has not been able to respond in the given time.

-------- Program terminated by ^C (or ^Break) Actsip was ended by the command <Ctrl>+<C> and your changes to the project since the last save is lost.

-------- Project END NOT equal to MAX instruction: This is a warning that means that there exists instructions after the FUN99 that end normal PLC execution.

-------- Project names must end with .EGR A project with PLC instructions must have the extension .EGR.

-------- Read fault Error reading.

-------- Retry Retry the requested operation on more time.

-------- Seek error Error position the read head of the disk.

-------- Shared interrupt conflict A conflict between devices sharing a single interrupt has been detected.

-------- Short comment not found ! The specified short comment has not been used before. Check spelling and retype.

-------- Step has no name ! A step must have a number or name in order to be properly referenced. This name consists of the word "STEP" and three characters of your choice( normally a number).


-------- Steps must have transition between them ! Between any two steps there must be a transition that dictates when process flow moves from one to the other. Remember that this applies to all steps of the graph, even over reconnections and loop branches!

-------- Syntax error in lines : The instructions are gibberish.

-------- T/C preset different for addr The PC and the PLC presets are unequal.

-------- That name already has an expression ! An attempt was made to tie an expression to an identifier that already has an expression. This is not possible. Use another identifier.

-------- The block is to long to be modified ! (use instruction programming) The block is bigger that the ladder programming mode allows to change this block use the instruction programming.

-------- The old project will be lost The current project will be removed from the memory of the computer.

-------- The PLC is not receiving ! (CTS problem) The PLC system is not accepting input from the PC.

-------- The printer is not ready ! The printer does not respond.

-------- The program will not fit into EPROM / EEPROM ! The program is to big to fit into the EPROM or EEPROM of the PLC system.

-------- The range is 0 to 30 ! The valid responses are in the range 0-30.

-------- This command is not available in this version. You selected a command that is not implemented in this version or belongs to the EXTended version.

-------- Time-out The PLC system has not respond fast enough. Try again and if the error persists, check all communication settings and connections.

-------- Too complex diagram ! The ladder block is to complex, try to simplify it by splitting it into several blocks.

-------- Too is smaller than From ! Please specify a "To" value that is greater than the "From" value.


-------- Too many instructions in the block ! The ladder block is to complex, try to simplify it by splitting it into several blocks.

-------- Too simple diagram ! The ladder block is not a valid block.

-------- Too wide ! (Use compressed printout !)

-------- Trailing operation removed ! The expression was ended with an operation ("+" or "*"). This was removed and the expression accepted.

-------- Transitions must have step between them ! Between any two transitions there must be a step. Remember that this applies to all transitions of the graph, even over reconnections and loop branches!

-------- Trying to open an unknown window ! Internal error please report this error to your dealer or directly to Actron AB.

-------- Unknown media type The drive or disk is of an unknown type.

-------- Unable to check lines:

-------- Unable to load COMMAND.COM The file COMMAND.COM has not been found either because it resides on a floppy disk that is removed from the PC or due to a memory problem of the PC. If it is on another disk insert and retry.

-------- Under level error in lines : The number of ORG,STR and AND STR,OR STR does not match.

-------- Unknown command ! The command is not known.

-------- Unknown critical error ! The command is not known.

-------- Unknown error ! The error is not known.

-------- Unknown function number ! Use the help function <F1> to get a list of valid function numbers.

-------- Unknown unit The unit specified can't be found. Could be an incorrect drive letter or an hardware error.


-------- User abort The operation has been aborted by the user.

-------- Warning ! Directory does not exist: The directory specified does not exist.

-------- Warning ! File does not exist: The file can't be found !

-------- WARNING Program NOT loaded from PLC ! The program has not been transferred from the PLC due to a communication error.

-------- Warning! That address is already occupied ! When setting an address to an identifier, an address was chosen that already was occupied. This is only a warning; if the old name on that address is to be discarded, it is alright to use it.

-------- WARNING Program NOT written to PLC ! The program has not been transferred to the PLC due to a communication error.

-------- Window already open ! Internal error. Please report it to Actron AB.

-------- Window not opened ! Internal error. Please report it to Actron AB.

-------- Write EXIT <Enter> to continue ActGraph+ session ! When you want to return to your ActGraph+ project , write Exit at the dos prompt and press <Enter>. When you are doing a DOS command the amount of memory available to DOS is limited.

-------- Write fault Error writing to device.

-------- Writing outside ladder screen ! A port of the block is to big to fit on the ladder screen.

-------- Wrong CPU type! (Only series J, E and EM) An incorrect PLC type has been specified.

-------- Wrongly written diagram ! The diagram block is not correctly written, check that all parts of the block is connected with lines and that the block contains a output or a function and that the correct number of contacts are specified with multiple input functions and counters.


-------- Wrong type of address ! When specifying the address, an address in the wrong area was chosen. Inputs, outputs and markers can not be mixed!

ActGraph+ PLC systems 99

13. PLC systems.

The PLC systems supported by ActGraph+ are: J, J2, E, E2, EB, EM, EM2, EM3 and H. Even thou they look almost the same to the user there are some differences between the different PLC's. The biggest differences is that the capabilities is increased in each new generation.

13.1 General PLC instructions

The different instructions in the Hitachi PLC series J/E/EB/EM is working on a stack. Each element on the stack holds one logical value 1 / 0. The PLC instruction manipulate this stack by pushing values onto it or removing them from the stack.

Here follows a short description of the basic instructions.

STR addr Fetch a value from addr and push it onto the stack.

ORG addr Fetch a value from addr and push it onto the stack. Same as effect as STR but the name change indicates that this instruction is the first in the block.

AND addr Fetch a value from addr and AND it with the value taken from the stack, the result is put on the stack.

OR addr Fetch a value from addr and OR it with the value taken from the stack, the result is put on the stack.

OUT addr Takes the value on the stack without removing it and puts it to addr

OR STR Removes the two topmost values on the stack and OR them together putting the result back onto the stack.

AND STR Removes the two topmost values on the stack and AND them together putting the result back onto the stack.

The instructions ORG, STR, AND, OR also exist in a NOT version, e.g. ORG NOT addr is the same as ORG addr but the value at addr is inverted before it is used. The OUT instruction also has a NOT version that inverts the value taken from the stack before it is put to the output.

13.2 Numerical addresses on the PLC's.

The numbering systems used for addresses is different between the E2 and the EM series. The J, J2, E and E2 specified addresses using the numbers 0-7, where the maximum was 777. Timers is numbered T00-T47 and counters C50-C77.

The inputs have the address range 000-047 and outputs have the address range 050-077 on the E and E2 series, for the expansion add 100 to the address number. The markers (internal memory) starts at 200. Special addresses starts at 770.

The EM series on the other hand uses all the digits 0-9 up to 991. The timers and counters share the same range o addresses 00-95. If a T52 is a timer and C52 is a counter. If it used as a timer or counter depends on the PLC instructions in the project.

If you add 100 to the timer/counter address you get the current value of the timer/counter T123 means the current time for timer T23.

Adding 200 to the timer/counter address gives the preset for it. T223 is the preset value for the T23.

100 PLC systems ActGraph+

The inputs have the address range 000-195 and outputs have the address range 200-395 on the EM series. The markers (internal memory) starts at 400. Special addresses starts at 960.

The EB series have the address range 000-195 for the inputs and 200-395 for the output addresses.

13.3 Special instructions FUNctions.

Both the series J, E, EB and EM has a set instructions called functions. The functions are a list of useful functions for the PLC programmer.

The J and J2 series only differ in the amount of FUNctions available. The E and E2 series only differ in the amount of FUNctions available.

13.3.1 Series J functions.

FUN Inp Function Description 00 1 DIF edge detection 02 1 IF IF 03 2 IFR IF Reset 04 1 MCS Master Controlled Set 05 0 MCR Master Controlled Reset 06 1 JMP JuMP forward to matching JMP END 07 0 JMP END END point for a JuMP 40 3 UDC Up Down Counter 45 2 LATCH LATCH 47 3 SFR ShiFt Register 99 0 END mark the last executed instruction

13.3.2 Series J2 functions.

FUN Inp Function Description 00 1 DIF edge detection 02 1 IF IF 03 2 IFR IF Reset 04 1 MCS Master Controlled Set 05 0 MCR Master Controlled Reset 06 1 JMP JuMP forward to matching JMP END 07 0 JMP END END point for a JuMP 30 1 W LOD Word LOaD 31 1 T/C LOD Timer/Counter LOaD 32 1 W OUT Word OUTput 33 1 T/C OUT Timer/Counter OUTput 34 1 W CMP Word CoMPare 35 1 T/C CMP Timer/Counter CoMPare 40 3 UDC Up Down Counter 45 2 LATCH LATCH 47 3 SFR ShiFt Register 99 0 END mark the last executed instruction


13.3.3 Series J and J2 differences.

The following functions has been added to the J2 series:

FUN Inp Function Description 30 1 W LOD Word LOaD 31 1 T/C LOD Timer/Counter LOaD 32 1 W OUT Word OUTput 33 1 T/C OUT Timer/Counter OUTput 34 1 W CMP Word CoMPare 35 1 T/C CMP Timer/Counter CoMPare

13.3.4 Series E functions.

FUN Inp Function Description 00 1 DIF edge detection 02 1 IF IF 03 2 IFR IF Reset 04 1 MCS Master Controlled Set 05 0 MCR Master Controlled Reset 06 1 JMP JuMP forward to matching JMP END 07 0 JMP END END point for a JuMP 30 1 W LOD Word LOaD 31 1 T/C LOD Timer/Counter LOaD 32 1 W OUT Word OUTput 33 1 T/C OUT Timer/Counter OUTput 34 1 W CMP Word CoMPare 35 1 T/C CMP Timer/Counter CoMPare 36 1 HS CNT High Speed counter 40 3 UDC Up Down Counter 45 2 LATCH LATCH 47 3 SFR ShiFt Register 99 0 END mark the last executed instruction


13.3.5 Series J2 and E differences.

The following functions have been added to the E series:

FUN Inp Function Description 36 1 HCLOAD High Speed Counter LOAD

13.3.6 Series E2 functions.

FUN Inp Function Description 0. 1 WLOAD C Load constant 7. 1 CMP >= C Compare GTEQ constant 8. 1 CMP = C Compare EQ constant 9. 1 CMP < C Compare LT constant 00 1 DIF edge detection 02 1 IF IF 03 2 IFR IF Reset 04 1 MCS Master Controlled Set 05 0 MCR Master Controlled Reset 06 1 JMP JuMP forward to matching JMP END 07 0 JMP END END point for a JuMP 11 1 ADD Addition 12 1 SUB Subtraction 13 1 MUL Multiplication 14 1 DIV Division 22 1 WOUT B Word out as bits 24 1 BCD Convert to BCD 25 1 BNR Convert to binary 30 1 W LOD Word LOaD 31 1 T/C LOD Timer/Counter LOaD 32 1 W OUT Word OUTput 33 1 T/C OUT Timer/Counter OUTput 34 1 W CMP Word CoMPare 35 1 T/C CMP Timer/Counter CoMPare 36 1 HS CNT High Speed counter 40 3 UDC Up Down Counter 45 2 LATCH LATCH 47 3 SFR ShiFt Register 99 0 END mark the last executed instruction


13.3.7 Series E and E2 differences.

The following functions has been added to the E2 series:

FUN Inp Function Description 0. 1 WLOAD C Load constant 7. 1 CMP >= C Compare GTEQ constant 8. 1 CMP = C Compare EQ constant 9. 1 CMP < C Compare LT constant 11 1 ADD Addition 12 1 SUB Subtraction 13 1 MUL Multiplication 14 1 DIV Division 22 1 WOUT B Word out as bits 24 1 BCD Convert to BCD 25 1 BNR Convert to binary


13.3.8 Series EM functions.

FUN Inp Function Description 0. 1 WLOAD C Load constant 1. 1 ADD C Add constant 2. 1 SUB C Subtract constant 3. 1 MUL C Multiply constant 4. 1 DIV C Divide constant 5. 1 WAND C Word AND constant 6. 1 WOR C Word OR constant 7. 1 CMP >= C Compare GTEQ constant 8. 1 CMP = C Compare EQ constant 9. 1 CMP < C Compare LT constant 00 1 DIF edge detection 02 1 IF IF 03 2 IFR IF Reset 04 1 MCS Master Controlled Set 05 0 MCR Master Controlled Reset 06 1 JMP JuMP forward to matching JMP END 07 0 JMP END END point for a JuMP 08 1 JMP LAB Jump start 09 0 END LAB Jump end 10 1 WLOAD Word Load 11 1 ADD Addition 12 1 SUB Subtraction 13 1 MUL Multiplication 14 1 DIV Division 15 1 WAND Word AND 16 1 WOR Word OR 17 1 CMP >= Compare GTEQ 18 1 CMP = Compare EQ 19 1 CMP < Compare LT 20 1 WLOAD B Word load bit 21 1 WOUT Word out 23 1 OUC Out carry 24 1 BCD Convert to BCD 25 1 BNR Convert to binary 26 1 SFR L Shift L 27 1 SFR R Shift R 28 1 BRANCH Save result 29 1 RETURN Restore result from FUN 28 40 3 UDC Up Down Counter 45 2 LATCH LATCH 47 3 SFR ShiFt Register 98 1 START Start PLC 99 0 END mark the last executed instruction


13.3.9 Series E2 and EM differences.

The following functions have been added to the EM series:

FUN Inp Function Description 1. 1 ADD C Add constant 2. 1 SUB C Subtract constant 3. 1 MUL C Multiply constant 4. 1 DIV C Divide constant 5. 1 WAND C Word AND constant 6. 1 WOR C Word OR constant 08 1 JMP LAB Jump start 09 0 END LAB Jump end 10 1 WLOAD Word Load 15 1 WAND Word AND 16 1 WOR Word OR 17 1 CMP >= Compare GTEQ 18 1 CMP = Compare EQ 19 1 CMP < Compare LT 20 1 WLOAD B Word load bit 21 1 WOUT Word out 23 1 OUC Out carry 26 1 SFR L Shift L 27 1 SFR R Shift R 28 1 BRANCH Save result 29 1 RETURN Restore result from FUN 28 98 1 START Start PLC

The following functions have been removed from the EM series:

FUN Inp Function Description 30 1 W LOAD Word LOAD 31 1 T/C LOAD Timer/Counter LOAD 32 1 W OUT Word OUTput 33 1 T/C OUT Timer/Counter OUTput 34 1 W CMP Word CoMPare 35 1 T/C CMP Timer/Counter CoMPare 36 1 HCLOAD High Speed Counter LOAD

All the deleted functions is replaced by other EM functions. The high-speed counter has no direct counterpart.

106 Grafcet building blocks ActGraph+

14. Grafcet building blocks

This chapter will describe how to build blocks for the J/E/EB/EM series.

14.1 Translating Grafcet to PLC code

The graph is coded in an easy-to-follow order; understanding of this procedure is of course necessary if you want to make changes to the produced code.

In the following paragraphs, all examples will be taken from this graph. Please enter it and compare the code.

C:SUPERCOND R:RESETCOND ┌──────────────────────┐ │ ╔═╧═╗┌─────────────┐ │ ║000╟┤ │ │ ╚═╤═╝└─────────────┘ │ ├───────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ┼ COND1 ┼ /COND1 │ ╪═══════════════════╤ │ │ ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │ │001├┤ ││003├┤ │ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘└─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ │ ┼ COND2 │ │ │ ┌───────────────────┤ │ │ │ ┼ COND3 ┌─┴─┐┌─────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │002├┤ │ │ │ │ │ └─┬─┘└─────────────┘ │ │ │ └───────────────────┤ │ │ │ ╪═══════════════════╧ │ │ ┼ /COND3 │ │ ├───────────────────────────────────────┘ └──────────────────────┘

14.1.1 Starting code for series EM

If series EM is chosen as target PLC, three special instructions are produced to ensure proper starting of PLC:

│ │ │"TRUE "TRUE ┌─────────┐ │ 0000 ORG 990 "TRUE" │" " │FUN98 │ │ 0001 AND 990 "TRUE" │─│ │───│ │────────────────────│STA │ │ 0002 FUN98 STA │ 990 990 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

14.1.2 Starting/resetting code for every graph

In this part, the starting step(s) of the graph is set at the start of the program. This is done by using the INIT_PULSE generally available in PLC's.

ActGraph+ Grafcet building blocks 107

│ │ │INIT ┌─────────┐ STEP0 │ 0000 ORG 967 INIT │ │FUN02 │ 00 │ 0001 FUN02 IF │─│ │──│IF │────────────────────( )─ │ 0002 OUT 400 STEP000 │ 967 │ │ 400 │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

If the graph has a resetting condition, however, this part also resets those steps that are not starting steps.

│ │ │INIT ┌─────────┐ STEP0 │ 0003 ORG 967 INIT │ │FUN02 │ 00 │ 0004 OR 002 RESETCOND │─│ │─┬│IF │┬─────────────────( )─ │ 0005 FUN02 IF │ 967 ││ ││ 400 │ 0006 OUT 400 STEP000 │ │└─────────┘│ │ 0007 OUT NOT 401 STEP001 │RESET│ │ STEP0 │ 0008 OUT NOT 402 STEP002 │COND │ │ 01 │ 0009 OUT NOT 403 STEP003 │─│ │─┘ │─────────────────(/)─ │ │ 002 │ 401 │ │ │ │ │ │ STEP0 │ │ │ 02 │ │ │─────────────────(/)─ │ │ │ 402 │ │ │ │ │ │ STEP0 │ │ │ 03 │ │ └─────────────────(/)─ │ │ 403 │ │ │

14.1.3 Stepping code for every graph

If the graph has a super condition, this is realized by using a temporary memory for the condition. (The reason for using the memory marker is that the super condition also should affect the output produced by the graph. This will be demonstrated in the action coding part.)

This super condition is applied in negated form to a combination of JMP / JMP END, to ensure that no stepping is performed when the super condition is not met.


│ │ │SUPER SUPER │ 0010 ORG 000 SUPERCOND │COND 0 │ 0011 OUT 405 SUPER0 │─│ │───────────────────────────────( )─ │ │ 000 405 │ │ │ │ │ │SUPER ┌─────────┐ │ 0012 ORG NOT 405 SUPER0 │0 │FUN06 │ │ 0013 FUN06 JMP │─│/│────────────────────────│JMP │ │ │ 405 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │ ........... ........... │ │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ 0055 FUN07 JMP END │ │FUN07 │ │ │────────────────────────────│JMP END │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

The stepping is coded using the FUN02 (IF). A typical example is the following:

│ │ │STEP0 COND2 ┌─────────┐ STEP0 │ 0043 ORG 401 STEP001 │01 │FUN02 │ 01 │ 0044 AND 004 COND2 │─│ │───│ │──│IF │┬─────────────(/)─ │ 0045 FUN02 IF │ 401 004 │ ││ 401 │ 0046 OUT NOT 401 STEP001 │ └─────────┘│ │ 0047 OUT 402 STEP002 │ │ STEP0 │ │ │ 02 │ │ └─────────────( )─ │ │ 402 │ │ │

However, it is very important that this stepping coding is done in the right order, to guarantee that at least on cycle is spent in each step. If, for example, we have the stepping to STEP000 in the beginning of the code and the stepping from STEP000 further down, this step would be missed altogether if we didn't check for this. So, in any situation that there might be a problem with steps being jumped, we use a temporary marker called "STOPPER" to ensure that this does not happen.

The order for coding stepping is the following:

First, once for every graph, we initiate "STOPPER":

│ │ │"TRUE STOPP │ 0014 ORG NOT 990 "TRUE" │" ER │ 0015 OUT 404 STOPPER │─│/│─────────────────────────────────( )─ │ │ 990 404 │ │ │

After that, all loop ends are taken care of. This is done in no special order (i.e. chronologically). In this case we have a loop that goes from a step back to that step (a one step loop); they are coded differently than the other ones, because it must be ensured that the step is put inactive before it is again set active. This is done with a temporary marker memory called "LOOP_X" where X is number from 0 and up.


│ │ │LOOP_ ┌─────────┐ LOOP_ │ 0016 ORG 406 LOOP_0 │0 │FUN02 │ 0 │ 0017 FUN02 IF │─│ │──│IF │┬───────────────────(/)─ │ 0018 OUT NOT 406 LOOP_0 │ 406 │ ││ 406 │ 0019 OUT 402 STEP002 │ └─────────┘│ │ 0020 OUT 404 STOPPER │ │ STEP0 │ │ │ 02 │ │ │───────────────────( )─ │ │ │ 402 │ │ │ │ │ │ STOPP │ │ │ ER │ │ └───────────────────( )─ │ │ 404 │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 COND3 ┌─────────┐ STEP0 │ 0021 ORG 402 STEP002 │02 │FUN02 │ 02 │ 0022 AND 005 COND3 │─│ │───│ │──│IF │┬─────────────(/)─ │ 0023 FUN02 IF │ 402 005 │ ││ 402 │ 0024 OUT NOT 402 STEP002 │ └─────────┘│ │ 0025 OUT 406 LOOP_0 │ │ LOOP_ │ │ │ 0 │ │ └─────────────( )─ │ │ 406 │ │ │

For the rest of the graph, we start the step coding with the uppermost element. Here, we use the marker "STOPPER" again. (Here, another temporary loop marker is used, because STEP000 is looping back to itself via the condition "/COND1".)


│ │ │LOOP_ ┌─────────┐ LOOP_ │ 0026 ORG 407 LOOP_1 │1 │FUN02 │ 1 │ 0027 FUN02 IF │─│ │──│IF │┬───────────────────(/)─ │ 0028 OUT NOT 407 LOOP_1 │ 407 │ ││ 407 │ 0029 OUT 400 STEP000 │ └─────────┘│ │ 0030 OUT 404 STOPPER │ │ STEP0 │ │ │ 00 │ │ │───────────────────( )─ │ │ │ 400 │ │ │ │ │ │ STOPP │ │ │ ER │ │ └───────────────────( )─ │ │ 404 │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 STEP0 COND3 ┌─────────┐ STEP0 │ 0031 ORG 402 STEP002 │02 03 │FUN02 │ 02 │ 0032 AND 403 STEP003 │─│ │───│ │───│/│─┬│IF │┬───────(/)─ │ 0033 AND NOT 005 COND3 │ 402 403 005 ││ ││ 402 │ 0034 STR 400 STEP000 │ │└─────────┘│ │ 0035 AND NOT 001 COND1 │STEP0 COND1 │ │ STEP0 │ 0036 OR STR │00 │ │ 03 │ 0037 FUN02 IF │─│ │───│/│───────┘ │───────(/)─ │ 0038 OUT NOT 402 STEP002 │ 400 001 │ 403 │ 0039 OUT NOT 403 STEP003 │ │ │ 0040 OUT NOT 400 STEP000 │ │ STEP0 │ 0041 OUT 407 LOOP_1 │ │ 00 │ 0042 OUT 404 STOPPER │ │───────(/)─ │ │ │ 400 │ │ │ │ │ │ LOOP_ │ │ │ 1 │ │ │───────( )─ │ │ │ 407 │ │ │ │ │ │ STOPP │ │ │ ER │ │ └───────( )─ │ │ 404 │ │ │

Then the rest of the graph is coded, from bottom to top and from right to left. On every occasion that we go from a step that produced an "OUT STOPPER", we put "STOPPER" as a condition in stepping. (Now we only have one part left, the stepping into the parallel branches.)


│ │ │STEP0 COND1 STOPP ┌─────────┐ STEP0 │ 0048 ORG 400 STEP000 │00 ER │FUN02 │ 00 │ 0049 AND 001 COND1 │─│ │───│ │───│/│──│IF │┬───────(/)─ │ 0050 AND NOT 404 STOPPER │ 400 001 404 │ ││ 400 │ 0051 FUN02 IF │ └─────────┘│ │ 0052 OUT NOT 400 STEP000 │ │ STEP0 │ 0053 OUT 401 STEP001 │ │ 01 │ 0054 OUT 403 STEP003 │ │───────( )─ │ │ │ 401 │ │ │ │ │ │ STEP0 │ │ │ 03 │ │ └───────( )─ │ │ 403 │ │ │

14.1.4 Coding the normal actions

Every action is coded into only one OUT, whether or not the action appears in several graphs. The basic action coding looks like this:

│ │ │STEP0 SUPER ACTIO │ 0040 ORG 500 STEP000 │00 0 N │ 0041 OR 501 STEP001 │─│ │─┬─│ │─┬─────────────────────────( )─ │ 0042 AND 504 SUPER0 │ 500 │ 504 │ 240 │ 0043 STR 502 STEP002 │ │ │ │ 0044 AND 505 SUPER1 │STEP0│ │ │ 0045 OR STR │01 │ │ │ 0046 OUT 240 ACTION │─│ │─┘ │ │ │ 501 │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 SUPER│ │ │02 1 │ │ │─│ │───│ │─┘ │ │ 502 505 │ │ │

Note that the super condition for the respective graphs enter into the expression for the action. This is to ensure that the action can be performed from the other, active, graphs even if one graph is inactive.

What is shown above is the coding of not detailed actions. The detailed actions (stored, delayed, limited, pulsed and conditional) needs special care.

The stored action is realized via an set/reset function (FUN03 or IFR). All steps that sets the action is connected to the set input, and all steps that resets the action is connected to the reset input. This set/reset information is put into the expression via a temporary memory marker

NOTE! This set/reset marker is put outside all super condition checks. So, if an output is stored "on", it will still be that, even if the super condition for the graph that stored it becomes false.


│ │ │STEP0 SUPER ┌─────────┐ │ 0037 ORG 403 STEP002 │02 0 │FUN03 │ │ 0038 AND 406 SUPER0 │─│ │───│ │──│IFR │──────────( )─ │ 0039 STR 404 STEP003 │ 403 406 │ │ 408 │ 0040 AND 406 SUPER0 │ │ │ │ 0041 FUN03 IFR │STEP0 SUPER │ │ │ 0042 OUT 408 │03 0 │ │ │ │─│ │───│ │──│ │ │ │ 404 406 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

The delayed action is realized with a timer. The step resets the timer, and the action is activated when the step is active and the timer is not:

│ │ │STEP0 ┌─────────┐ │ 0031 ORG 401 STEP001 │01 │TMR T000 │ 0032 OUT T000 2.0 TIMD │─│ │──────────────────────│ 2.0 │ │ │ 401 │TIMD │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

The time limited action is realized with another timer. The step resets the timer and the action is activated when timer is active:

│ │ │STEP0 ┌─────────┐ │ 0033 ORG 401 STEP001 │01 │TMR T001 │ 0034 OUT T001 0.55 TIML │─│ │──────────────────────│ 0.55 │ │ │ 401 │TIML │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

The pulsed action is realized with the positive flank function (FUN00, DIF). The step is connected to a temporary memory marker which replace the step contact in the action expression:

│ │ │STEP0 ┌─────────┐ │ 0035 ORG 401 STEP001 │01 │FUN00 407│ │ 0036 FUN00 DIF 407 │─│ │──────────────────────│DIF │ │ │ 401 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

The conditional action is realized by inserting the condition into the action expression. Now we can finally show the entire action:


│ │ │STEP0 SUPER ACTIO │ 0043 ORG 401 STEP001 │01 0 N │ 0044 OR T000 TIMD │─│ │───────┬─│ │─┬───────────────( )─ │ 0045 STR 401 STEP001 │ 401 │ 406 │ 200 │ 0046 AND NOT T001 TIML │ │ │ │ 0047 OR STR │TIMD │ │ │ 0048 OR 407 │ │ │ │ 0049 STR 401 STEP001 │─│ │───────│ │ │ 0050 AND 402 CONDITION │ T000 │ │ │ 0051 OR STR │ │ │ │ 0052 AND 406 SUPER0 │STEP0 TIML │ │ │ 0053 OR 408 │01 │ │ │ 0054 OUT 200 ACTION │─│ │───│/│─│ │ │ │ 401 T001│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │─│ │───────│ │ │ │ 407 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 CONDI│ │ │ │01 TION │ │ │ │─│ │───│ │─┘ │ │ │ 401 402 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │─│ │─────────────┘ │ │ 408 │ │ │

14.1.5 Coding the special actions

The special actions affects timers, counters, up/down counters and shift registers directly.

As in the normal action, the special actions is only output once in the code but can have a complex expression involving steps in which the action is performed.

The timer has one action: the reset action. This is easily realized by connecting the steps to the timer:

│ │ │STEP0 ┌─────────┐ │ 0026 ORG 400 STEP000 │00 │TMR T000 │ 0027 OUT T000 0.0 TIMER │─│ │─────────────────────│ 0.0 │ │ │ 400 │TIMER │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

The counter has two actions: the count and the reset actions:


│ │ │STEP0 ┌─────────┐ │ 0028 ORG 401 STEP001 │01 │CNT C047 │ 0029 STR 400 STEP000 │─│ │─────────────────────│ 23 │ │ 0030 OUT C047 23 COUNTER │ 401 │COUNTER │ │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │00 │ │ │ │─│ │─────────────────────│ │ │ │ 400 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

The up/down counter has four actions: the reset, the count up, the count down and the count variable actions. The reset action corresponds directly to an input to the up/down counter function (FUN40), but the others doesn't.

The count up action is realized by connecting the step to the count input and the data input. In this case, when the count command is issued, the data input is certainly active.

The count down action is realized by connecting the step to the count input and ignoring the data input, as it is false if it is not true. (If there is no count up or count variable action performed at all, the data input is connected to "0".)

The count variable action is realized by connecting the step to the count input and the step and the variable to the data input.

An example covering all these action is shown below:

│ │ │STEP0 │ 0031 ORG 401 STEP001 │01 │ 0032 STR 403 STEP003 │─│ │───────┐ │ 0033 AND 000 VARIABLE │ 401 │ │ 0034 OR STR │ │ │ 0035 STR 401 STEP001 │STEP0 VARIA│ ┌─────────┐ │ 0036 OR 402 STEP002 │03 BLE │ │FUN40 404│ │ 0037 OR 403 STEP003 │─│ │───│ │─┴─────────────│UDC │ │ 0038 STR 400 STEP000 │ 403 000 │UDCNT.0 │ │ 0039 FUN40 UDC 404 UDCNT.0 │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │01 │ │ │ │─│ │───────┐ │ │ │ │ 401 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │ │02 │ │ │ │ │─│ │───────│ │ │ │ │ 402 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │ │03 │ │ │ │ │─│ │───────┴─────────────│ │ │ │ 403 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │00 │ │ │ │─│ │─────────────────────│ │ │ │ 400 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │


The shift register, finally, also has four actions: the reset, the shift in "1", the shift in "0" and the shift variable actions. These are all coded exactly as in the up/down counter case. An example covering the coding of these actions are shown below:

│ │ │STEP0 │ 0040 ORG 401 STEP001 │01 │ 0041 STR 403 STEP003 │─│ │───────┐ │ 0042 AND 000 VARIABLE │ 401 │ │ 0043 OR STR │ │ │ 0044 STR 401 STEP001 │STEP0 VARIA│ ┌─────────┐ │ 0045 OR 402 STEP002 │03 BLE │ │FUN47 420│ │ 0046 OR 403 STEP003 │─│ │───│ │─┴─────────────│SFR │ │ 0047 STR 400 STEP000 │ 403 000 │SHIFTRG.0│ │ 0048 FUN47 SFR 420 SHIFTRG.0 │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │01 │ │ │ │─│ │───────┐ │ │ │ │ 401 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │ │02 │ │ │ │ │─│ │───────│ │ │ │ │ 402 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │ │03 │ │ │ │ │─│ │───────┴─────────────│ │ │ │ 403 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │00 │ │ │ │─│ │─────────────────────│ │ │ │ 400 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │

The only detailed actions that can be performed on these is the conditional detailed action. The conditional actions are realized as follows: in the reset case, the condition is inserted into the reset expression (as in the normal action case above):

│ │ │STEP0 CONDI ┌─────────┐ │ 0022 ORG 400 STEP000 │00 TION │TMR T000 │ 0023 AND 001 CONDITION │─│ │───│ │───────────────│ 0.0 │ │ 0024 OUT T000 0.0 TIMER │ 400 001 │TIMER │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │ │STEP0 CONDI ┌─────────┐ │ 0025 ORG 401 STEP001 │01 TION │CNT C047 │ 0026 AND 001 CONDITION │─│ │───│ │───────────────│ 23 │ │ 0027 STR 400 STEP000 │ 401 001 │COUNTER │ │ 0028 OUT C047 23 COUNTER │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │00 │ │ │ │─│ │─────────────────────│ │ │ │ 400 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │

The conditional count action for the normal counter is realized the same way as the conditional reset action.


The conditional count up, count down and the count variable actions are realized as follows: the condition is inserted in the expression to the count input:

│ │ │STEP0 VARIA ┌─────────┐ │ 0029 ORG 402 STEP002 │02 BLE │FUN40 404│ │ 0030 AND 000 VARIABLE │─│ │───│ │───────────────│UDC │ │ 0031 STR 402 STEP002 │ 402 000 │UDCNT.0 │ │ 0032 AND 001 CONDITION │ │ │ │ 0033 STR 400 STEP000 │STEP0 CONDI │ │ │ 0034 FUN40 UDC 404 UDCNT.0 │02 TION │ │ │ │─│ │───│ │───────────────│ │ │ │ 402 001 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │STEP0 │ │ │ │00 │ │ │ │─│ │─────────────────────│ │ │ │ 400 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

The condition shift "1", shift "0" and shift variable actions are realized in the same manner as the conditional up/down counter actions.

14.1.6 Coding the functions

The coding of the functions are straightforward. Any expression defined in the function mode are coded together with the action coding. This applies to both "output" and "boolexp" types. Timers and counters are also coded together with the timers and counters in the graph.

Coding of the up/down counters, shift registers, latches and DIF's is easily done connecting the names declared in the function mode diagram to their respective input pin.

14.1.7 Coding the expressions

The expressions are coded with the normal actions. A typical example follows below. The expression "A+B*(C+D)+^A+/B" is called EXPR and coded as follows:


│ │ │A ┌─────────┐ │ 0023 ORG 000 A │ │FUN00 405│ │ 0024 FUN00 DIF 405 ─ │─│ │─────────────────────│DIF │ │ │ 000 │─ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │ │A EXPR │ 0025 ORG 000 A │ │ 0026 STR 001 B │─│ │───────┬────────────────────( )─ │ 0027 STR 002 C │ 000 │ 401 │ 0028 OR 003 D │ │ │ 0029 AND STR │B C │ │ 0030 OR STR │ │ │ 0031 OR 405 ─ │─│ │─┬─│ │─│ │ 0032 OR NOT 001 B │ 001 │ 002 │ │ 0033 OUT 401 EXPR │ │ │ │ │ │D │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └─│ │─│ │ │ 003 │ │ │ │ │ │─ │ │ │ │ │ │─│ │───────│ │ │ 405 │ │ │ │ │ │B │ │ │ │ │ │─│/│───────┘ │ │ 001 │ │ │

118 Logical boxes ActGraph+

15. Logical boxes

A logical box is a number of connections that are connected directly with logical expressions. The action of the logical box is not depending on the graph.

15.1 Enter a boolean expression in a logical box

To enter an expression, (e.g. "CONDA+TRANS*(/BUSY+^ALARM)"). Press <F10> and a small box will show up, then press <Enter> and it will be possible to enter and edit your boolean (logical) expression. To express the logical functions in proper manner follow the list below:

'+' means logical OR,

'*' means logical AND,

'/' means logical NOT (negation),

'^' means rising point, and

'^/' means falling point.

A logical "OR" is true if and only if either one or both arguments are true.

A logical "AND" is true if and only if both arguments are true.

A logical "NOT" has the opposite value of its' argument, e.g. if A is true, "NOT A" is false and vice versa.

Rising point is when the signal turns from low to high and falling point is the opposite, when the signal turns from high to low.

Expressions within parenthesis have priority as in normal mathematics. If the expression has components that in them selves are other expressions, one of them can be selected with <UpArrow> and <DownArrow> and opened for editing with <PgDn>.

The logical box consists of two entries;

1 The output expression (output, marker or timer) and

2 The logical expression that is built of variables (markers, inputs, outputs, counters etc.) separated with logical operators as shown above.

Enter a proper name for the output expression and press <Enter>;

An allocation window will show up, mark your choice of output and press <Enter>.

Then enter your logical expression with variable names and logical operators, then press <Enter> and;

An allocation window will show up mark your choice and press <Enter> for each new variable.

Your first logical expression is ready, for more press <DownArrow> to enter additional expressions.

When you are finished press <Enter> and you will return to the graph environment.

It is also possible to have an activity condition for a logical box, just press <Shift>+<F6>. To enter an logical box: activity condition do in the same manner as with other boolean expressions.

ActGraph+ Logical boxes 119

15.1.1 Edit a

Move the cursor to the logical box you wish to edit and press <Enter>. To jump between the both entries in a logical box press <tab>. To edit an expression press <Right> or <Left> arrow keys. After editing an expression press <Enter>. By pressing the <UpArrow> and <DownArrow> it is possible to choose between different expressions.

15.1.2 Example of a logical box

A logical box have two sides where the used symbols will be stated; to the left are all depending variables and to the right all outputs. If an output also is stated to the left this means that the output variable is also a depending variable in an expression.

┌────────┐ ALARM┤ ├motor FLOW_LO┤ ├ALARM FLOW_HI┤ │ MANUAL┤ │ ALARM1┤ │ ALARM2┤ │ ALARM3┤ │ ALARM4┤ │ └────────┘

This box have 8 depending input variables and 2 outputs, as shown in the example "ALARM" is represented on the both sides of the box, this because the output state "ALARM" is also a variable in an expression in the box.

How the window for entering an expression looks is shown below:

┌────────┐ ALARM┤ ├motor FLOW_LO┤ ├ALARM FLOW_HI┤ │ MANUAL┤ │ ALARM1┤ │ ALARM2┤ │ ALARM3┤ │ ╔═════════════════════════════ Logical box ════════════════════════════╗ ║motor (FLOW_LO*/FLOW_HI+MANUAL)*/ALARM ║ ║ALARM ALARM1+ALARM2+ALARM3+ALARM4 ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

The output "motor" is the logical result of the expression "(FLOW_LO*/FLOW_HI+MANUAL)*/ALARM" which means that; if FLOW_LO and not FLOW_HI or MANUAL is true and LARM is false then the output "motor" is true. The expression for ALARM is true if at least one of the ALARM1 to ALARM4 is true.

To see the resulting code of this logical box, press <F2> and choose "CodeView" from the submenu. The screen will look like this, if use the above example:

120 Logical boxes ActGraph+

┌────────┐ ALARM┤ ├motor FLOW_LO┤ ├ALARM FLOW_HI┤ ╔════════════ Coded instructionlist ══════════╗ MANUAL┤ ║*** Actions ║ ALARM1┤ ║0000 ORG 000 FLOW_LO ║ ALARM2┤ ║0001 AND NOT 001 FLOW_HI ║ ALARM3┤ ║0002 OR 002 MANUAL ║ ALARM4┤ ║0003 AND NOT 052 ALARM ║ └──────║0004 OUT 050 motor ║ ║0005 ORG 003 ALARM1 ║ ║0006 OR 004 ALARM2 ║ ║0007 OR 005 ALARM3 ║ ║0008 OR 006 ALARM4 ║ ║0009 OUT 052 ALARM ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ║ ╚═════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Example of the listed instruction code for the above example.

ActGraph+ Macro boxes 121

16. Macro boxes

The Grafcet standard (IEC 848) does not contain a complete solution to all features a modern PLC offers. These have advanced functions for calculation, data processing and even possibilities to show text on a display. Therefore ActGraph+ has a function box which can contain all types of PLC instructions. A sequence of instructions is called a macro, and the box is called a macro box. Due to this box it is possible to use all functions in the PLC, which can be connected to instructions generated by the entered graph.

A macro can also be called a "subprogram" written directly with PLC instructions. It may be an independent part of the program, or controlled from steps as detailed later.

16.1 Create, edit and delete macro boxes

At the moment of publication of this manual, it is only possible to enter and edit macros with instruction code. However the examples are shown in both ladder diagram and instruction code. This for simplify for the reader and in a future version entering and editing macros in ladder form will be possible.

However you can enter a macro in ladder form, if you have access to Actsip-E or Actsip-H development systems. Enter a ladder diagram and instead of saving it normally, choose "Store macro in a file" from the "Files" menu. It is also possible to insert macros from a file and edit them.

16.1.1 To create a macro

To create a macro you must first create a macro box; this is done by pressing <Shift>+<F10>. A new macro box is then put at the end of the project.

You are then prompted for the name of the macro. Enter the name (maximum eight characters) and press <Enter>. The program will search for a file with this name, if none is found a warning is displayed. Please note that this is normal when a new macro is created.

If you are not ready to enter the name just press <Esc>. You will then have to return to this box to enter a name, or you will not be able to transfer the project to PLC instructions. This is done by placing the cursor on the macro box and pressing <*>.

16.1.2 To edit a macro

Place the cursor on the macro box and press <Enter>. You will then get a new window on the screen that contains the instruction programming. The code (if any) for the macro box will be shown and then you can enter new instructions, change instructions and delete instructions. The keys that are used are the following:

<F3> FUN <F4> OUT <Shift>+<F4> OUT NOT <F5> OR STR <F6> AND STR <F7> OR <Shift>+<F7> OR NOT <F8> AND <Shift>+<F8> AND NOT <F9> STR <Shift>+<F9> STR NOT <F10> ORG <Shift>+<F10> ORG NOT

Apart from the instruction keys, a number of others keys are used for various functions:

122 Macro boxes ActGraph+

<F1> Help function <Del> Deletes an instruction <UpArrow> Moves the cursor up one instruction <DownArrow> Moves the cursor down one instruction <Tab> Moves the cursor right one column <Shift>+<Tab> Moves the cursor left on column <Ins> Inserts an empty line above the cursor

When you want to end the editing session or leave editing without saving changes, press <Esc>. You will then get a question if you want to save the changes or not. Default is saving, so if you do not want to save, you have to enter <N>. Then press <Enter> to get back to Grafcet programming.

16.1.3 To delete a macro

Just move the cursor to the macro box and press <Del>. The macro box will be removed.

NOTE! You will not be asked to confirm the action. On the other hand, the actual macro will not be removed, so you can just create a new macro box with the same name again.

16.2 Dependent and independent macros

Macros can be divided up in two different types: dependent and independent. This distinction is in the behaviour of the macro.

16.2.1 Independent macros:independent

Macros can be made to run independently to the Grafcet parts of the project; this means that the macro is running constantly, executed every PLC cycle. This is accomplished by NOT including a short comment (symbol) that is the same as the macro name.

An independent macro is not suitable to use as actions with arguments, etc.

│ │ │- ┌─────────┐ │ 0000 ORG 990 ALWAY_TRUE │ │FUN10 000│ │ 0001 FUN10 WLOAD 000 ALWAY_TRUE ├─┤ ├─┬───────────────────┤WLOAD │ │ 0003 FUN22 WOUT B 400 BIN-BCD.0 │ 990 │ │- │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ │FUN22 400│ │ │ └───────────────────┤WOUT B │ │ │ │BIN-BCD.0│ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

This picture shows an example of a macro that loads a word (in this case 0) on address 400, the marker 990 is a special marker and it is always true. This procedure is done independently of what status the graph is.

┌──┐ ╒════════╕ │╔═╧═╗┌───────────────┐ │▒INDEP▒▒│ │║000╟┤ ANYTHING │ └────────┘ │╚═╤═╝└───────────────┘ │ ┼ =1 └──┘

This shows how the macro "INDEP" looks on the screen, in this case the macro contains the instructions shown in the above picture.


16.2.2 Dependent macros:dependent

Contrary to independent macros, certain macros are best suited to be activated when needed; at other times the macro should be inactive, to save execution time if nothing else. A good example of a dependent macro is a calculation.

This is accomplished by having the macro name appear in the instruction list of the macro, preferably in an ORG instruction.

│BIN-B ┌─────────┐ │ 0005 ORG 400 BIN-BCD │CD │FUN24 │ │ 0006 FUN24 BIN-BCD ├─┤ ├─────────────────────┤BIN-BCD │ │ │ 400 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │

This picture shows the instructions of a macro called "BIN-BCD", as shown the input has the same name as the macro. This means that when the input "BCD-BIN" is activated the macro will be started.

┌──┐ ╒════════╕ │╔═╧═╗┌───────────────┐ │BIN-BCD▒│ │║000╟┤ BIN-BCD │ └────────┘ │╚═╤═╝└───────────────┘ │ ┼ =1 └──┘

Here is a graph the will activate the macro shown on the left and described in the picture above.

When the macro is used as actions, a marker will be used for that symbol. When that marker is active, the same marker is used in the macro and activated also.

It is only dependent macros that can make any use of macro arguments.

16.3 Arguments

All macro actions can have arguments. There can be two arguments to a macro action, one input argument and one output argument.

16.3.1 Macro:Input arguments for the J/E/EB/EM-series

The input argument are put in the arithmetic register (AR) before the macro is run. This means that if the macro wants to use the input argument, it has to use the value in AR properly.

16.3.2 Macro:Output arguments for the J/E/EB/EM-series

Likewise, the output argument expects a value to be put into the AR by the macro; this value is then put into the address marked by the output argument. If the program produces an output argument, it must be put in the AR by the macro to be properly treated.

16.3.3 Input and os for the H-series

The i is put into a high WM address before the macro is run. If the macro wants to use the input argument, it must use the address WM0FF in the macro.

The output argument is given the value at WM0FF when the macro has been run. The macro must put the output value in WM0FF before it finishes.


16.4 Copy

There is a macro that does not have any instructions (an empty macro box so to speak). It will just copy the input argument to the output argument. Since this is such a common function, this macro action is treated separately from other macros.

If a COPY macro box is created, it will be inserted into the project, with the COPY actions coded again. This is not recommended and also confusing. Never create a macro box called COPY!

16.5 Examples

To illustrate examples of how to use macros, two examples will be shown. One example illustrates a simple calculation and the other illustrates a comparison. The examples are illustrated with both ladder diagrams and instruction codes, but you can only view and edit the macros in instruction code from ActGraph+.

╒════════╕ CTRLW_IN╡STARTMAC╞CTRLB_IN KEY1_W╡▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╞KEY1 KEY2_W╡▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╞KEY2 └────────┘

This shows how the input and outputs are placed on each side of the macro box.

╒════════╕ CTRLW_IN╡STARTMAC╞CTRLB_IN KEY1_W╡▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒╞KEY1 ================================= STARTMAC ================================ 0000 ORG 990 0001 FUN10 WLOAD 006 CTRLW_IN.0 0003 FUN22 WOUT B 400 CTRLB_IN.0 0005 FUN10 WLOAD 000 KEY1_W.0 0007 FUN22 WOUT B 440 KEY1.0 0009 FUN10 WLOAD 002 KEY2_W.0 0011 FUN22 WOUT B 460 KEY2.0 0013 0014 0015 0016 0017 0018 0019 0020 0021 0022 0023 0024 +. Off-line Series EM3 $

If pressing <Enter> when the cursor is placed on a macro box the screen will look like this. It is now possible to edit the instruction code.


16.5.1 A calculation example

│ │ │CALC ┌─────────┐ │ 0000 ORG 404 CALC │ │FUN10 400│ │ 0001 FUN10 WLOAD 400 DATA INP.0 ├─┤ ├─┬───────────────────┤WLOAD │ │ 0003 FUN1. ADD C 3 │ 404 │ │DATA INP.0 │ 0005 FUN3. MUL C 8 │ │ └─────────┘ │ 0007 FUN21 WOUT 402 DATA OUT.0 │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ │FUN1. 3 │ │ ├───────────────────┤ADD C │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ │FUN3. 8 │ │ ├───────────────────┤MUL C │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ │FUN21 402│ │ │ └───────────────────┤WOUT │ │ │ │DATA OUT.0 │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │

This is an example of how a simple calculation can look. The example calculates a value at the address "DATA INP.0", three is added and then it is multiplied with eight, the result is then stored at the address "DATA OUT.0". The macro is a dependent macro and will only be activated if the address "CALC" is on.


16.5.2 A comparison example

│- ┌─────────┐ │ 0009 ORG 990 - │ │FUN10 946│ │ 0010 FUN10 WLOAD 946 - ├─┤ ├─┬───────────────────┤WLOAD │ │ 0012 FUN7. CMP >= C 1200 │ 990 │ │- │ │ 0014 FUN23 OUC 405 T>=1200 │ │ └─────────┘ │ 0016 FUN9. CMP < C 1300 │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ 0018 FUN23 OUC 406 T<1300 │ │ │FUN7. 1200 │ 0020 AND 405 T>=1200 │ ├───────────────────┤CMP >= C │ │ 0021 AND 406 T<1300 │ │ │ │ │ 0022 OUT 200 LUNCHCLOCK │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ │FUN23 405│ │ │ ├───────────────────┤OUC │ │ │ │ │T>=1200 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ │FUN9. 1300 │ │ ├───────────────────┤CMP < C │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │ ┌─────────┐ │ │ │ │FUN23 406│ │ │ ├───────────────────┤OUC │ │ │ │ │T<1300 │ │ │ │ └─────────┘ │ │ │T>=12 T<130 LUNCH │ │ │00 0 CLOCK │ │ └─┤ ├───┤ ├────────────────( )─ │ │ 405 406 200 │ │ │

This example shows an independent comparison macro. The function of the macro is the following; a two byte word is loaded, this word contains the current time (the address is for the EM3 series) the value is checked if it is between 1200 and 1300 and if this is true an output "LUNCHCLOCK" is set. This will illustrate that if the time is between 12 and 13 it is time for lunch.

ActGraph+ On-Line communication 127

17. On-Line communication

ActGraph+ can be either in Off-line or On-line mode. The current selected mode is indicated on the status line. When ActGraph+ is started it is in Off-line mode. If the computer is connected to a PLC system you can then set ActGraph+ in On-line mode.

Whenever ActGraph+ changes from Off-line to On-line mode a window is shown that asks you to transfer the PLC project to or from the PLC. A third selection is NO transfer, this is ONLY used if you are 100% sure that PC and PLC projects are equal. The PLC is then temporarily stopped and the project is transferred. If everything is OK the status line will now say "On-line".

When ActGraph+ is in On-line mode all changes done in the PC is automatically transferred to the PLC system.

When you are in On-line mode you may start and stop the PLC system. This is indicated on the status line as "On-line:Running" or "Stopped".

If you enter "Monitor" mode the status of the PLC is shown in the graph.

If "Monitor" mode is requested when ActGraph+ is in Off-line mode, On-line and Running is automatically selected.

The "Communication-Monitor IO" command gives a monitor of all the IO addresses of the PLC system. This monitor gives a good overview of the total PLC status.

17.1 Function keys

The function keys used for communication commands are:

(Hold down <Alt> when pressing the function key.)

KEYPAD ┌───────────┬───────────┐ │ ? │ │ ├───────────┼───────────┤ │ │ │ ├───────────┼───────────┤ │ Monitor │ Mon stop │ ├───────────┼───────────┤ │ Start PLC │ Stop PLC │ ├───────────┼───────────┤ │ On line │ Off line │ └───────────┴───────────┘

┌──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬───────┬───────┬──────┬──────┬──────┬──────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ? │ │ │ │Monitor│Monitor│Start │Stop │ON │OFF │ │ │ │ │ │ │stop │PLC │PLC │line │line │ └──────┴──────┴──────┴──────┴───────┴───────┴──────┴──────┴──────┴──────┘ <Alt>+ F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 F8 F9 F10

17.1.1 On-line <Alt>+<F9>

To put ActGraph+ in On-line mode you must first connect the PLC to the computer and then use the <Alt>+<F9> command to enter On-line mode.

128 On-Line communication ActGraph+

17.1.2 Off-line <Alt>+<F10>

To leave the On-line mode use the <Alt>+<F10> command.

17.1.3 Start PLC <Alt>+<F7>

If you are in On-line mode the <Alt>+<F7> starts the PLC system.

17.1.4 Stop PLC <Alt>+<F8>

If you are in On-line mode the <Alt>+<F8> stops the PLC system.

17.1.5 Monitor ON <Alt>+<F5>

To be able to see process information ActGraph+ must be in monitor mode. Monitor mode also means that the system must be On-line and started which is done automatically.

Monitor mode is started with <Alt>+<F5>.

17.1.6 Monitor OFF <Alt>+<F6>

To turn the monitor mode off and return to On-line, running mode use <Alt>+<F6>.

ActGraph+ Index 129

18. Index for the ActGraph+ manual

.EGR.......................................................................................................................................................................60

.HGR ......................................................................................................................................................................60

.HMA .....................................................................................................................................................................60

.HSC.......................................................................................................................................................................60 <!>..........................................................................................................................................................................26 <*> .........................................................................................................................................................................26 <<>.........................................................................................................................................................................26 <> .............................................................................................................................................................................7 <>>.........................................................................................................................................................................26 <Alt> ........................................................................................................................................................................7 <Alt>+<F1> .....................................................................................................................................................17, 26 <Alt>+<F10> .........................................................................................................................................................26 <Alt>+<F5> ...........................................................................................................................................................26 <Alt>+<F6> ...........................................................................................................................................................26 <Alt>+<F7> ...........................................................................................................................................................26 <Alt>+<F8> ...........................................................................................................................................................26 <Alt>+<F9> ...........................................................................................................................................................26 <Alt>+<L>.............................................................................................................................................................89 <Alt>+<W>............................................................................................................................................................62 <Arrows> ...............................................................................................................................................................25 <BS> ..................................................................................................................................................................8, 17 <C> ..........................................................................................................................................................................7 <Ctrl> .......................................................................................................................................................................7 <Ctrl>+<Arrow>....................................................................................................................................................25 <Ctrl>+<C>..........................................................................................................................................................102 <Ctrl>+<End>..................................................................................................................................................17, 25 <Ctrl>+<Home>.....................................................................................................................................................25 <Ctrl>+<L>............................................................................................................................................................26 <Del> ...........................................................................................................................................................9, 17, 26 <End>.....................................................................................................................................................................17 <Enter>.........................................................................................................................................................7, 17, 26 <Esc> ...........................................................................................................................................................7, 17, 26 <F1>.............................................................................................................................................................7, 17, 25 <F10>...............................................................................................................................................................26, 95 <F2>.................................................................................................................................................................25, 78

<G>.............................................................................................................................................................78 <S>..............................................................................................................................................................78

<F2> submenu........................................................................................................................................................78 C..................................................................................................................................................................78 T..................................................................................................................................................................78 V .................................................................................................................................................................78

<F3>.................................................................................................................................................................25, 92 <F4>.......................................................................................................................................................................25 <F5>.......................................................................................................................................................................25 <F6>.......................................................................................................................................................................25 <F7>.......................................................................................................................................................................26 <F8>.......................................................................................................................................................................26 <F9>.......................................................................................................................................................................26 <Home> ...........................................................................................................................................................17, 25 <Ins> ........................................................................................................................................................................9 <Key1>,<Key2> ......................................................................................................................................................8 <Shift>+<Arrows>.................................................................................................................................................25 <Shift>+<F10> ......................................................................................................................................................26 <Shift>+<F4> ........................................................................................................................................................25 <Shift>+<F5> ....................................................................................................................................................8, 25 <Shift>+<F6> ..................................................................................................................................................25, 40 <Shift>+<F7> ........................................................................................................................................................26

130 Index ActGraph+

<Space> ................................................................................................................................................................... 8 <Tab>................................................................................................................................................................. 8, 26 =1 ........................................................................................................................................................................... 30 3.5" diskettes.......................................................................................................................................................... 10 5.25" diskettes........................................................................................................................................................ 10 About ActGraph+ .................................................................................................................................................. 49 ACT menu ....................................................................................................................................................... 25, 78 Actasc-E................................................................................................................................................................... 1 ActGraph+ ............................................................................................................................................................... 1 Actgraph-E............................................................................................................................................................... 1 Actions................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Activator ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Activity condition ................................................................................................................................................ 132 Actpre-E................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Actron AB.............................................................................................................................................................. 90 Actsip-A................................................................................................................................................................. 90 Actsip-D................................................................................................................................................................. 90 Actsip-E ............................................................................................................................................................. 1, 90 Actsip-H............................................................................................................................................................. 1, 90 Addresses............................................................................................................................................................. 107 Allocation menu..................................................................................................................................................... 54 Alternative branch.................................................................................................................................................. 22 AND..................................................................................................................................................................... 131 AUTOEXEC.BAT................................................................................................................................................. 88 Automatic allocation.............................................................................................................................................. 18 Back Space............................................................................................................................................................... 8 Back-ups ................................................................................................................................................................ 88 Bios........................................................................................................................................................................ 79 Black "BOX" ......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Boolean expression .............................................................................................................................................. 131 BOX....................................................................................................................................................................... 80 Branches ................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Cable ...................................................................................................................................................................... 80 Cables .................................................................................................................................................................... 10 CD.......................................................................................................................................................................... 86 CHDIR................................................................................................................................................................... 86 CleanUp ................................................................................................................................................................. 78 CLEAR .................................................................................................................................................................. 69 COM1 .................................................................................................................................................................... 82 COM2 .................................................................................................................................................................... 82 Communication

serial RS 232 cable ..................................................................................................................................... 80 Communication menu............................................................................................................................................ 64

(Terminal)................................................................................................................................................... 65 Clear CPU................................................................................................................................................... 66 Monitor IO.................................................................................................................................................. 65 Setup, See Setup, communication To PLC ....................................................................................................................................................... 64 Verify against PLC ..................................................................................................................................... 65

Communication setup, H-series ............................................................................................................................. 45 Conditional action.................................................................................................................................................. 24 Conditions.............................................................................................................................................................. 24 CONFIG.SYS ........................................................................................................................................................ 88 Converter cable ...................................................................................................................................................... 81 COPY............................................................................................................................................................. 87, 137 Copy project, See File menu, Copy project Counters................................................................................................................................................................. 27 CPM-E3 ................................................................................................................................................................. 81 CPU ....................................................................................................................................................................... 79

ActGraph+ Index 131

Create a macro......................................................................................................................................................134 Current drive ..........................................................................................................................................................86 DEL........................................................................................................................................................................87 Delayed action........................................................................................................................................................24 DELETE.................................................................................................................................................................87 Delete a macro......................................................................................................................................................135 Delete file ...............................................................................................................................................................62 Demonstration version ...........................................................................................................................................49 Dip switches ...........................................................................................................................................................82 DIR.........................................................................................................................................................................86 Directory ................................................................................................................................................................86 Disk drives .............................................................................................................................................................79 DISKCOPY............................................................................................................................................................87 DOS........................................................................................................................................................................79 DOS command .......................................................................................................................................................49 DOS commands .....................................................................................................................................................85 DRAW ...................................................................................................................................................................69 E2 ...........................................................................................................................................................................70 E3 cable..................................................................................................................................................................81 EB...........................................................................................................................................................................80 EB/EM switches.....................................................................................................................................................82 Edit a macro .........................................................................................................................................................134 Editing of text.........................................................................................................................................................17 EMA.......................................................................................................................................................................60 ENG .......................................................................................................................................................................69 Enter/Change the short and long comments ...........................................................................................................54 ERASE ...................................................................................................................................................................87 Exit from ActGraph+ .............................................................................................................................................49 Expression ............................................................................................................................................................131 Expressions ............................................................................................................................................................24 Extended version......................................................................................................................................................1 Falling point .........................................................................................................................................................131 File menu................................................................................................................................................................60

Copy project................................................................................................................................................63 Delete file....................................................................................................................................................62 Include other project ...................................................................................................................................63 List projects.................................................................................................................................................60 Load project from file .................................................................................................................................61 Rename file .................................................................................................................................................62 Store project in file......................................................................................................................................61

Floppy disk drive....................................................................................................................................................79 FORMAT ...............................................................................................................................................................87 Formfeed ................................................................................................................................................................73 Function keys .......................................................................................................................................................141 G.............................................................................................................................................................................13 General topics.........................................................................................................................................................17 Getting started ........................................................................................................................................................10 Grafcet programming .............................................................................................................................................20 GRAPH ..................................................................................................................................................................13 H cable ...................................................................................................................................................................81 H-series ..................................................................................................................................................................81 Hard disk ..........................................................................................................................................................12, 79 Hardware and software requirements.....................................................................................................................79 Help texts ...............................................................................................................................................................17 I ..............................................................................................................................................................................71 Include other project, See File menu, Include other project Initial steps .............................................................................................................................................................21 Installing the software ............................................................................................................................................12 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................................................1

132 Index ActGraph+

J2............................................................................................................................................................................ 70 Keyboard commands ............................................................................................................................................. 25 Keyboard overlays ................................................................................................................................................. 10 Keys ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 LANGERRH.xxx................................................................................................................................................... 70 LANGH.xxx .......................................................................................................................................................... 70 LANGHELH.xxx................................................................................................................................................... 70 LANGMENP.xxx .................................................................................................................................................. 70 LANGTABH.xxx .................................................................................................................................................. 70 Language................................................................................................................................................................ 88 Logic box

edit ............................................................................................................................................................ 132 Logical box

activity condition ...................................................................................................................................... 132 Logical boxes....................................................................................................................................................... 131 Long comment ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 Loop branch ........................................................................................................................................................... 23 LPT1 ...................................................................................................................................................................... 73 M............................................................................................................................................................................ 71 Macro............................................................................................................................................................. 28, 134

Input argument.......................................................................................................................................... 137 Input argument serie H ............................................................................................................................. 137 Output argument ....................................................................................................................................... 137 Output argument serie H........................................................................................................................... 137

Macros dependent.................................................................................................................................................. 136 independent............................................................................................................................................... 135

Mail address........................................................................................................................................................... 90 Main cable ............................................................................................................................................................. 80 Main/EB cable ....................................................................................................................................................... 80 Manual conventions ................................................................................................................................................. 7 Math coprocessor................................................................................................................................................... 79 MD......................................................................................................................................................................... 86 Memory.................................................................................................................................................................. 79 MKDIR.................................................................................................................................................................. 86 Monitor IO, See Communication menu, Monitor IO Monitor OFF <Alt>+<F6> .................................................................................................................................. 142 Monitor ON <Alt>+<F5> .................................................................................................................................... 142 Monitoring ............................................................................................................................................................... 5 MOVE.................................................................................................................................................................... 69 MS DOS................................................................................................................................................................. 85 Multi user............................................................................................................................................................... 49 N ............................................................................................................................................................................ 71 Negation............................................................................................................................................................... 131 New project............................................................................................................................................................ 53 Normal action ........................................................................................................................................................ 24 NOT ..................................................................................................................................................................... 131 Num Lock ................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Numeric keypad....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Numerical address.................................................................................................................................................. 17 O ............................................................................................................................................................................ 71 Off-line ................................................................................................................................................................ 141 Off-line <Alt>+<F10> ......................................................................................................................................... 142 On-line

Running .................................................................................................................................................... 141 On-line <Alt>+<F9>............................................................................................................................................ 142 On-Line communication ...................................................................................................................................... 141 OR........................................................................................................................................................................ 131 Parallel branch ....................................................................................................................................................... 22

ActGraph+ Index 133

Parenthesis ...........................................................................................................................................................131 PATH .....................................................................................................................................................................87 PC DOS..................................................................................................................................................................85 PC-AT ....................................................................................................................................................................12 PC-XT ....................................................................................................................................................................11 PGM.......................................................................................................................................................................82 PGMJ-R .................................................................................................................................................................80

dip switches.................................................................................................................................................82 Switch settings ............................................................................................................................................76

PGMJ-R cable ........................................................................................................................................................80 PLC ........................................................................................................................................................................79 PLC options

Manual define I/O/M ..................................................................................................................................71 Program size ...............................................................................................................................................71 Reset all addresses ......................................................................................................................................71

Portable computer ..................................................................................................................................................12 Print........................................................................................................................................................................57 Printer.....................................................................................................................................................................83 Printout menu .........................................................................................................................................................57

Actions ........................................................................................................................................................58 Allocation....................................................................................................................................................58 Allocation compressed................................................................................................................................58 Instruction list .............................................................................................................................................59 Project .........................................................................................................................................................57 Setup ...........................................................................................................................................................59 Unit .............................................................................................................................................................57

Printouts ...................................................................................................................................................................5 PRN........................................................................................................................................................................73 Process information..............................................................................................................................................142 Program menu ........................................................................................................................................................51 Pulsed action ..........................................................................................................................................................24 RD ..........................................................................................................................................................................87 Read PLC configuration.........................................................................................................................................45 README.GP.........................................................................................................................................................50 RENAME...............................................................................................................................................................87 Rename file ............................................................................................................................................................62 Rising point ..........................................................................................................................................................131 RMDIR...................................................................................................................................................................87 RUN mode, See Setup menu, Communication, Preserve RUN mode on PGMJ-R School version........................................................................................................................................................49 Serial RS 232 cables...............................................................................................................................................80 Setup menu.............................................................................................................................................................67

Colour graphics monitor .............................................................................................................................68 Communication...........................................................................................................................................75

Ask before transferring ....................................................................................................................76 Communication port ........................................................................................................................75 Default parameters...........................................................................................................................75 Mode2 protocol................................................................................................................................76 Parity................................................................................................................................................75 Preserve RUN mode on PGMJ-R ....................................................................................................76 Stop bits ...........................................................................................................................................75 Transmission speed..........................................................................................................................75

Grafcet ........................................................................................................................................................78 Convert short comment to uppercase...............................................................................................78

Horizontal F1-F10 keys ..............................................................................................................................70 Language.....................................................................................................................................................69 PC (Computer) ............................................................................................................................................67 PLC .............................................................................................................................................................70 Possible to shift arrow keys ........................................................................................................................69

134 Index ActGraph+

Printout ....................................................................................................................................................... 72 Compressed printout ....................................................................................................................... 72 Date

ordering of YYMMDD ........................................................................................................ 74 separator............................................................................................................................... 74 YYYY or YY....................................................................................................................... 74

First page number............................................................................................................................ 72 Header/footer size ........................................................................................................................... 74 Line drawing set .............................................................................................................................. 73 Max long comment.......................................................................................................................... 74 Page length ...................................................................................................................................... 73 Page width....................................................................................................................................... 73 Print Header/Footer ......................................................................................................................... 73 Printer.............................................................................................................................................. 72 Printer has FormFeed ...................................................................................................................... 73 String

to initialize printer ................................................................................................................ 75 to reset printer ...................................................................................................................... 75 to turn off compressed.......................................................................................................... 75 to turn on compressed .......................................................................................................... 75

Text printout.................................................................................................................................... 73 Translation table for printer............................................................................................................. 75

Screen colours ............................................................................................................................................ 67 Select PLC type

Set PLC options............................................................................................................................... 71 Turn off sound ............................................................................................................................................ 70 User directory ............................................................................................................................................. 69

Setup-PLC, See Setup menu, PLC Setup-Printout ........................................................................................................................................................ 72 Shift registers ......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Short comment....................................................................................................................................................... 17 Single user ............................................................................................................................................................. 49 Sound, See Setup menu, Turn off sound Special actions ....................................................................................................................................................... 26 Standard version .................................................................................................................................................. 1, 4 Start PLC <Alt>+<F7> ........................................................................................................................................ 142 Starting ActGraph+................................................................................................................................................ 13 Starting steps.......................................................................................................................................................... 21 Step ........................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Stop PLC <Alt>+<F8> ........................................................................................................................................ 142 Store project, See File menu, Store project in file Stored action .......................................................................................................................................................... 24 Submenu ................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Support................................................................................................................................................................... 90 Support policy........................................................................................................................................................ 90 SWE....................................................................................................................................................................... 69 Switch .................................................................................................................................................................... 82 Switch 1 ................................................................................................................................................................. 82 Switch settings ....................................................................................................................................................... 76 Symbolic addresses................................................................................................................................................ 17 Syntax check.......................................................................................................................................................... 52 System menu.......................................................................................................................................................... 49 Telefax ................................................................................................................................................................... 90 Telephone .............................................................................................................................................................. 90 Telex ...................................................................................................................................................................... 90 Terminal, See Communication menu, (Terminal) Time limited action................................................................................................................................................ 24 Timers .................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Transfers ................................................................................................................................................................ 64

ActGraph+ Index 135

Transition ...............................................................................................................................................................21 TuneProg................................................................................................................................................................78 Up/down counters ..................................................................................................................................................27 Verify against PLC, See Communication menu, Verify against PLC ViewCode...............................................................................................................................................................78 Viewing code .........................................................................................................................................................78 Winchester..............................................................................................................................................................79

ActGraph+ Table of contents i



1. Introduction to the Actsip system family. ................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Actsip-E 1 1.1.1 Highlights. 1

1.2 Actasc-E 3 1.2.1 Highlights 3

1.3 Actpre-E 3 1.3.1 Highlights 3

1.4 ActGraph-E 3 1.4.1 Highlights 4

1.5 Actsip-H 4

1.6 ActGraph+ 4 1.6.1 Highlights 4

2. How to read this manual............................................................................................................................ 6

3. Manual conventions. .................................................................................................................................. 7

4. Getting started.......................................................................................................................................... 10

4.1 What's included in your ActGraph+ box 10

4.2 Installation of the cables and the "BOX". 11 4.2.1 PC-G or PC-XT computer and Black "BOX" 11 4.2.2 PC-AT or Portable computer and Black "BOX" 12

4.3 Installing the software 12 4.3.1 Installing the software on an hard disk 12

4.4 Starting ActGraph+ 13

4.5 Inside the ActGraph+ 13

4.6 Other useful documentation. 15

4.7 A quick tour through ActGraph+ 15

5. General topics of the ActGraph+ system. .............................................................................................. 16

5.1 Help texts and on-line help. <F1> 16

5.2 Editing of text 16

5.3 Symbolic versus numerical addresses. 16

5.4 Automatic allocation of symbolic addresses. 17

6. Grafcet programming.............................................................................................................................. 19

6.1 An introduction to Grafcet 19 6.1.1 The step 20 6.1.2 The transition 20 6.1.3 Connections 20 6.1.4 Branches 20 6.1.4.1 The alternative branch 21 6.1.4.2 The parallel branch 21 6.1.4.3 The loop branch 22 6.1.5 Actions 23 6.1.6 Conditions (expressions) 23

ii Table of contents ActGraph+


6.2 Starting with ActGraph+ 24 6.2.1 Keyboard commands 24 6.2.2 Special actions 25 6.2.2.1 Timers 26 6.2.2.2 Counters 26 6.2.2.3 Up/down counters 26 6.2.2.4 Shift registers 27 6.2.2.5 Macro 27 6.2.3 The step numbers 27

6.3 A guided tour of ActGraph+ 28 6.3.1 A simple graph 28 6.3.2 Checking the graph syntax 31 6.3.3 Saving the graph 32 6.3.4 A more complex graph 32 6.3.5 Super condition 38 6.3.6 Reset condition 39 6.3.7 Choosing PLC for the graph 40

7. Main Menu for ActGraph+. .................................................................................................................... 43

7.1 Using the main ActGraph+ pull-down menu. 44 7.1.1 Quick selection in the main menu. 44

7.2 System menu. 45 7.2.1 DOS command. 45 7.2.2 Exit from ActGraph+. 45 7.2.3 About ActGraph+. 45

7.3 Program menu. 47 7.3.1 Ladder 47 7.3.2 Instruction 47 7.3.3 Grafcet 47 7.3.4 Presentation display 48 7.3.5 ASCII editor 48 7.3.6 Syntax check 48 7.3.7 Project information. 49 7.3.8 New project 49

7.4 Allocation menu. 50 7.4.1 Enter/Change the short and long comments. 50 7.4.2 Allocation pointers. 51 7.4.3 Move. 51 7.4.4 Exchange. 52

7.5 Printout menu. 53 7.5.1 Project 53 7.5.2 Unit 53 7.5.3 Actions 54 7.5.4 Allocation 54 7.5.5 Allocation compressed 54 7.5.6 Instruction list 55 7.5.7 Setup 55

7.6 File menu. 56 7.6.1 List projects 56 7.6.2 Load project from file 57 7.6.3 Store project in file 57 7.6.4 Delete file. 58 7.6.5 Rename file. 58 7.6.6 Include other project 59 7.6.7 Copy project 59

ActGraph+ Table of contents iii


7.7 Communication menu. 60 7.7.1 To PLC. 60 7.7.2 Verify against PLC 61 7.7.3 Monitor IO 61 7.7.4 (Terminal) 61 7.7.5 Clear CPU 62 7.7.6 Setup 62

7.8 Setup menu. 63 7.8.1 PC (Computer) 63 7.8.1.1 Screen colours 63 7.8.1.2 Colour graphics monitor 64 7.8.1.3 Possible to shift arrow keys 65 7.8.1.4 User directory 65 7.8.1.5 Language 65 7.8.1.6 Horizontal F1-F10 keys 66 7.8.1.7 Turn off sound 66 7.8.2 PLC (Controller) 66 7.8.2.1 Select PLC type 66 7.8.2.2 Set PLC options 67 7.8.2.3 Program size 67 7.8.2.4 Manual define I/O/M 67 7.8.2.5 Reset all addresses 68 7.8.3 Printout 68 7.8.3.1 First page number 68 7.8.3.2 Compressed printout 68 7.8.3.3 Printer 69 7.8.3.4 Page length 69 7.8.3.5 Page width (uncompressed) 69 7.8.3.6 Text printout 69 7.8.3.7 Line drawing set 69 7.8.3.8 Printer has FormFeed 69 7.8.3.9 Print Header/Footer 70 7.8.3.10 Header/footer size 70 7.8.3.11 Max long comment 70 7.8.3.12 Date separator 70 7.8.3.13 Date ordering of YYMMDD 70 7.8.3.14 Date YYYY or YY 71 7.8.3.15 String to initialize printer 71 7.8.3.16 String to reset printer 71 7.8.3.17 String to turn on compressed 71 7.8.3.18 String to turn off compressed 71 7.8.3.19 Translation table for printer 71 7.8.4 Communication 71 7.8.4.1 Default parameters 71 7.8.4.2 Transmission speed 71 7.8.4.3 Stop bits 71 7.8.4.4 Parity 71 7.8.4.5 Communication port 72 7.8.4.6 Preserve RUN mode on PGMJ-R 72 7.8.4.7 Use advancedMode2 protocol (EB, EM3) 72 7.8.4.8 Ask before transferring to PLC 72 7.8.4.9 Switch settings on the PGMJ-R 72 7.8.5 Grafcet 74 7.8.5.1 Convert short comment to uppercase 74

7.9 <F2> submenu, ACT menu 74 7.9.1 ViewCode 74 7.9.2 CleanUp 74 7.9.3 TuneProg 74

iv Table of contents ActGraph+


8. Hardware and software requirements. .................................................................................................. 76

8.1 PLC system 76

8.2 DOS 76

8.3 Bios 76

8.4 CPU 76

8.5 Math coprocessor. 76

8.6 Memory 76

8.7 Disk drives 76

8.8 IBM PC compability 77

8.9 Communication. 77 8.9.1 The serial RS 232 cables 77 8.9.2 PGMJ-R dip switches 78

8.10 Printer 79

9. PC-DOS and MS-DOS............................................................................................................................. 82

9.1 Doing DOS commands from inside ActGraph+ 82

9.2 MSDOS <-> PCDOS 82

9.3 Filenames and project names 82

9.4 Current drive 83

9.5 Directory 83

9.6 PATH 84

9.7 Formatting a new disk 84

9.8 DISKCOPY 84

9.9 copy 84

9.10 DELETE a file or files 84

9.11 RENAME a file or files 84

9.12 AUTOEXEC.BAT 85

9.13 CONFIG.SYS 85

9.14 Doing back-ups 85

9.15 Language support 85

10. Recording keystrokes............................................................................................................................... 86

11. General information. ............................................................................................................................... 87

11.1 Actron AB 87

11.2 Actsip software 87

11.3 Support policy 87

11.4 About the ActGraph+ program 87

12. Error messages ......................................................................................................................................... 88

13. PLC systems............................................................................................................................................ 104

ActGraph+ Table of contents v


13.1 General PLC instructions 104

13.2 Numerical addresses on the PLC's. 104

13.3 Special instructions FUNctions. 105 13.3.1 Series J functions. 105 13.3.2 Series J2 functions. 106 13.3.3 Series J and J2 differences. 107 13.3.4 Series E functions. 108 13.3.5 Series J2 and E differences. 109 13.3.6 Series E2 functions. 109 13.3.7 Series E and E2 differences. 110 13.3.8 Series EM functions. 111 13.3.9 Series E2 and EM differences. 113

14. Grafcet building blocks.......................................................................................................................... 115

14.1 Translating Grafcet to PLC code 115 14.1.1 Starting code for series EM 115 14.1.2 Starting/resetting code for every graph 115 14.1.3 Stepping code for every graph 116 14.1.4 Coding the normal actions 120 14.1.5 Coding the special actions 122 14.1.6 Coding the functions 126 14.1.7 Coding the expressions 126

15. Logical boxes .......................................................................................................................................... 128

15.1 Enter a boolean expression 128 15.1.1 Edit a logic box 128 15.1.2 Example of a logical box 128

16. Macro boxes............................................................................................................................................ 130

16.1 Create, edit and delete macro boxes 130 16.1.1 To create a macro 130 16.1.2 To edit a macro 131 16.1.3 To delete a macro 131

16.2 Dependent and independent macros 132 16.2.1 Independent macros 132 16.2.2 Dependent macros 132

16.3 Arguments 133

16.4 Copy 134

16.5 Examples 135 16.5.1 A calculation example 136 16.5.2 A comparison examples 137

17. On-Line communication........................................................................................................................ 137

17.1 Function keys 138 17.1.1 On-line <Alt>+<F9> 138 17.1.2 Off-line <Alt>+<F10> 138 17.1.3 Start PLC <Alt>+<F7> 138 17.1.4 Stop PLC <Alt>+<F8> 139 17.1.5 Monitor ON <Alt>+<F5> 139 17.1.6 Monitor OFF <Alt>+<F6> 139

18. Index for the ActGraph+ manual ......................................................................................................... 139

ActGraph+


ActGraph+ MANUAL

Manual for the ActGraph+ development system.

Program version: 2.01

Manual version: 1.01

Date: 91-04-02

ActGraph+


Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Actron AB. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the express written permission of Actron AB.

Copyright Actron AB, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991. All rights reserved.

Hitachi is a registered trademark of Hitachi.

Toshiba is a registered trademark of Toshiba.

Microsoft, MS-DOS, are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

IBM is registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

Document No. ActGraph+, Manual, ENG, S2.01, M1.01

1. Introduction to the Actsip system family. - esco-da.be...

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