Course T301, Engineering an 800xA System - Advanced

Exercise 3.3 Interaction Window

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exercise 3.3 Interaction Window................................................................................................................................................ 3.3-1
3.3.1 General Information................................................................................................................................................... 3.3-3
3.3.1.1 Objectives............................................................................................................................................................ 3.3-3
3.3.2 Exercise Steps ............................................................................................................................................................ 3.3-4
3.3.2.1 Create a new control module type ...................................................................................................................... 3.3-4
3.3.2.2 Graphics for the type........................................................................................................................................... 3.3-4
3.3.2.3 Create command buttons and position the icons................................................................................................ 3.3-4
3.3.2.4 Create parameters................................................................................................................................................ 3.3-5
3.3.2.5 Command button interaction attributes .............................................................................................................. 3.3-5
3.3.2.6 Icon attributes...................................................................................................................................................... 3.3-7
3.3.2.7 Create interaction window for Agitator type...................................................................................................... 3.3-7
3.3.2.8 Connect control module parameters................................................................................................................... 3.3-7
3.3.2.9 Test the interaction window................................................................................................................................ 3.3-8

3.3-1

Course T301, Engineering an 800xA System - Advanced

3.3-2

Engineering an 800xA System - Advanced

3.3.1 General Information

The control module editor makes it possible to add graphical contents to a Control
Module. A number of interaction objects such as push buttons, input fields etc. can be
used. For status indication, color-coded circles, polygons etc. can be used.
In this exercise you will create an interaction window (a kind of faceplate) for the
Agitator type. Because interaction windows are only available for control modules you
have to create a control module type first and then design an interaction window for it.
This control module type is then connected to the Agitator type.
This is the shape of the simple interaction window:

M Set the Agitator function block into manual mode

A Set the Agitator into auto mode
0 In manual mode: Disable output
1 In manual mode: Enable output

3.3.1.1 Objectives
You will:
Create a new control module type
Create an interaction window for the control module type
Use graphics from the IconLib in your faceplate
Use the interaction window for the Agitator type

3.3-3

Engineering an 800xA System - Advanced

Exercise 3.3 Interaction Window

3.3.2 Exercise Steps

3.3.2.1 Create a new control module type
It is only possible to create an interaction window for a control module type and then
to connect this control module to the function block type. This is what we want to do
now.
In the AgitatorLib library please create a new control module type and name the type
AgitatorInteractionWindow.

3.3.2.2 Graphics for the type

Next step is to create the graphics elements for the control module type. There are a lot
of predefined graphic elements for control modules in the IconLib library. It is not
possible to create them in the CMD Editor so far, so please create them with a right
click onto the AgitatorInteractionWindow New Control Module.
The list below will show you what kind of icons you have to create now.
Name
AutoIcon1
ManIcon1
StartIcon1
StopIcon1
LampIcon1

Icon type
AutoIcon
ManIcon
StartIcon
StopIcon
LampIcon

Right now the icons are not visible in the CMD Editor. To get them visible you have
to open the context menu for each icon and select Properties Visible in Graphic.

3.3.2.3 Create command buttons and position the icons

Next step is to create the command buttons in the CMD Editor for the
AgitatorInteractionWindow control module type. This buttons will send the action to
the parameter of the control module later on.
Please open the CMD Editor for the AgitatorInteractionWindow type. Create 4
command buttons as displayed in the picture below and move the icons to the correct
position as well. Please use a normal Text element for the text Out.

3.3-4

Engineering an 800xA System - Advanced

3.3.2.4 Create parameters

To get the actions from the buttons into the function block type (Agitator) later on we
have to create some parameters. These parameters should be defined at the control
module type and should get the same shape as the function block parameters. This
means, the parameters from the AgitatorInteractionWindow should be exactly the
same parameters as from the Agigator type.
Please create the parameters as described in the list below. Think about copy/paste
them from the Agitator type.
Parameter name
Name
Description
Out
AutoMode
ManMode
SetAuto
SetManual
AutoCmd1
AutoCmd0
ManCmd1
ManCmd0

Data type
string[30]
string[40]
BoolIO
bool
bool
bool
bool
bool
bool
bool
bool

3.3.2.5 Command button interaction attributes

Next step is to connect the command buttons of the AgitatorInteractionWindow type
to the parameters of it. As example, if the auto button A is clicked, then the parameter
SetAutoMode should get a TRUE value.
Please open the CMD Editor of the AgitatorInteractionWindow type and open the
Interaction Attributes setting dialog for the auto mode button (Right click onto the
command button for the A element).

3.3-5

Engineering an 800xA System - Advanced

Exercise 3.3 Interaction Window

The Interaction Attributes dialog looks like this:

Please assign the parameters (in the dialog this is called variables) to the command
buttons as displayed in the list below. Please set the Enable property as well (this
locks/unlocks the command button) and use for this the fitting parameters and the
expressions NOT, OR or AND.

3.3-6

Command button name

Manual mode M
Auto mode A
Disable output 0

Parameter (Variable)
SetManual
SetAuto
ManCmd0

Enable output 1

ManCmd1

Enabled when
the auto mode is active
the manual mode is active
the manual mode is active AND
the output is enabled
the auto mode is active AND the
output is disabled

Engineering an 800xA System - Advanced

3.3.2.6 Icon attributes

The icons in front of the command buttons should be dimmed if the input of the button
is disabled. The place to setup this is the Attributes dialog of each icon element. It is
the similar dialog for the Interaction Attributes dialog of the command buttons.

Please set the attributes for the icons so that

Icon name
Manual mode M
Auto mode A
Disable output 0
Enable output 1

Enabled when
the auto mode is active
the manual mode is active
the manual mode is active AND
the output is enabled
the auto mode is active AND the
output is disabled

3.3.2.7 Create interaction window for Agitator type

To get the interaction window for the Agitator type we have to create an instance of
the AgitatorInteractionWindow control module type first.
Please create a new control module of type AgitatorInteractionWindow for the
Agitator function block type and name it Interaction Window.
Please change the properties of this control module so that it is not displayed in the
Plant Explorer later on.

3.3.2.8 Connect control module parameters

You have to connect the parameters from the InteractionWindow control module to
the parameters/variables of the Agitator function block type. Please remember: We
need the connection because a button click of the interaction window should occur a
reaction in the Agitator function block type. The central parameter for this is the
InteractionPar parameter. This parameter is of type in_out, so the Agitator type is able
to reset a value in the InteractionPar.
Please open the connection editor for the InteractionWindow control module and do
the connections as shown in the list below.
InteractionWindow Parameter
Name
Description
Out
AutoMode
ManMode

Agitator Parameter/Variable
Name
Description
Out
AutoMode
ManMode

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Engineering an 800xA System - Advanced

Exercise 3.3 Interaction Window

SetAuto
SetManual
AutoCmd1
AutoCmd0
ManCmd1
ManCmd0

InteractionPar.SetAuto
InteractionPar.SetMan
AutoCmd1
AutoCmd0
InteractionPar.ManCmd1
InteractionPar.ManCmd0

3.3.2.9 Test the interaction window

Create an instance of the Agitator function block type and download this into a
controller. In online mode please open the interaction window of the Agitator instance
and check the functionality:

3.3-8

A button click of the M button should enable the manual mode

A click onto the A button should enable the auto mode

In manual mode, a click onto the 1 button should enable the output

In manual mode, a click onto the 0 button should disable the output

In manual mode the button M should be disabled

In auto mode the buttons A, 1 and 0 should be disabled