Connecting Program

Parameters to Hardware
Tags
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 Level 1: Logix - On Demand Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags

Before You Begin

About this Lab

Once we have programmed our logic using program parameters and we have added the
hardware that we will be using, we are able to connect the program parameters to the relevant
hardware tags. In this lab you will:
 Connect program parameters to hardware tags
This lab takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Hardware
To complete this lab, you will require the following hardware:
 PC-based programming workstation with access to the RAcbi learning environment

Software
To complete this lab, you will require the following software:
 Studio 5000 Logix Designer® version 32

Files
To complete this lab, you will require the following files:
 Machine_1_Lab14.ACD

Setup
To complete this lab, you will need to perform the following setup procedure:
1. Log on to your instance of the RAcbi learning environment.

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 Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags Level 1: Logix - On Demand

Connect Program Parameters to Hardware Tags

In this section of the lab, you will connect program parameters for controlling a conveyor to
hardware tags for digital input and output modules that are wired to pushbuttons and indicators.
We want to connect our conveyor start pushbutton and stop pushbutton parameters to actual
input module tags. Our hardware in the cloud has a controller with a 16 point digital input
module that is wired to twelve momentary pushbuttons and four switches.
For digital outputs, the indicator lights in the twelve momentary pushbuttons are wired to twelve
points in a digital output module.
We want the green and red pushbuttons in the left column to control our conveyor, while the
green and red indicators illuminate to show whether or not the motor is running:

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags

1. If you have completed all labs up to this point in the Level 1: Logix - On Demand course,
then you may continue using your Machine_1.ACD file from previous labs:
a. Open the Studio 5000® environment.
b. Under Recent Projects, select your Machine_1 project:

1.b.

2. If you have NOT completed all labs up to this point in the Level 1: Logix - On Demand
course (e.g., you are just doing this individual lab as a refresher), then open the starting
file for this lab:

a. Use the shortcut on the desktop of your instance of the RAcbi learning
environment to open the LabFiles.
b. Open the Machine_1_Lab14.ACD file.

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Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags Level 1: Logix - On Demand

3. Under the MainProgram in the MainTask, double-click the Parameters and Local
Tags:

4. From the table, select the Start_PB_01 input parameter.

If the Properties window on the right keeps auto-hiding, click the Properties tab to
make it open and then click the stick pin in the upper right corner so that it points down,
thereby pinning the properties window open:

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags

5. Within the Properties window on the right, expand the Parameter Connections for the
Start_PB_01 input parameter.
6. Click into the New Connection box and:
a. Click the ellipsis button so that a tag selection box appears below.
b. Click the dropdown arrow in the tag selection box.
c. Navigate to and double-click Local:3:I.Pt[0].Data.

6 6.a.

6.b.
6.c.

7. Click the OK button:

Now our Start_PB_01 input program parameter will reflect the value stored within the
hardware tag for point zero of the digital input module, which will, in turn, reflect the state
of the green momentary pushbutton. Because we have chosen the input usage for the
Start_PB_01 program parameter, the data stored within the parameter will be updated
synchronous to the program scan (i.e., the data is updated at the beginning of the
program scan and does not update again until the next time the controller scans the
program).

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Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags Level 1: Logix - On Demand

8. Notice that there are no additional rows for further connections:

Program parameters with an input usage may only have one connection, because
multiple connection could cause a conflict (e.g., one connection trying to write a 1 to the
parameter while another connection is trying to write a 0).
When connecting program parameters using the properties window, the program
parameters and local tags table may be in either of the edit tags or monitor tags tabs.
For this next method, the table must be in the edit tags tab.
9. Select the Edit Tags tab:

The tag tables within the Logix Designer application may be modified to display the
elements that the user desires. This includes the addition of a program parameter
connections column.

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags

10. Click the stickpin in the upper right corner of the Properties window so that it will auto-
hide:

11. Right-click anywhere in the header and select Toggle Column → Connections:

12. Click into the left side of the Connections cell for the Motor_Off_01 program parameter
and then click the ellipsis button:

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Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags Level 1: Logix - On Demand

13. In the Connection Configuration browse that appears, click within the New
Connection cell and then click the ellipsis button:

14. Within the Select Tag browser, locate the Local:4:O.Pt[8].Data hardware tag, select it,
and click the OK button:

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags

15. Notice that further connections may be established:

Program parameters with an output usage may have more than one connection. This is
commonly referred to as fanning. So, in this example, in addition to the connection for
our indicator, we might make a second connection to a drive stop tag.

16. Click the OK button:

Now our Motor_Off_01 output program parameter will write to the value within the
hardware tag for point eight of the digital output module, which will then turn the red DO8
indicator on and off. Because we have chosen the output usage for the Motor_Off_01
program parameter, the data stored within the parameter will be written to the
connection(s) synchronous to the program scan (i.e., the data is written at the end of the
program scan and does not get written again until the next time the controller completes
a scan of the program).

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Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags Level 1: Logix - On Demand

17. Click into the left side of the Connections cell for the Motor_On_01 program parameter
and then click the dropdown arrow:

18. Locate and double-click Local:4:O.Pt[0].Data:

19. Click into the left side of the Connections cell for the Stop_PB_01 program parameter,
type ‘Local:3:I.Pt[8].’, and, once the look ahead has completed the tag with Data, press
Enter on your keyboard:

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Level 1: Logix - On Demand Connecting Program Parameters to Hardware Tags

We have now made all of the program parameter connections necessary for Conveyor
1. The Machine_Interlocks program parameter will not be connected to a hardware tag,
but, rather, to a program parameter from another program that we have yet to create.
The program parameters for conveyor 2 will be connected when we create the related
logic.
20. Close the Parameters and Local Tags.

21. Click the Save icon to save your project.

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