Instrument Kontrol Automation: September 2011

RSLogix 5000 Tips and Tricks
Everybody enjoys nifty little tips and tricks to get their work done faster. This listing is for Allen Bradley's
RSLogix 5000 software. Feel free to add your own tips and tricks using the 'add comment' link.
General
To access Release Notes for this version of software, choose Release Notes from the Help menu.
The Quick View Pane, located below the Controller Organizer, provides "thumbnail" information for
the selected component.
The Watch Pane, located below the language editor window, provides monitoring for all tags
referenced in the active routine window.
The Controller Organizer is dockable. That is, you can drag it to the left or right side of the screen, or
float it somewhere in between.
Hide/show the Controller Organizer via a toolbar button to make more display area for editors.
RSLogix 5000 supports Cut/Copy/Paste/Drag/Drop of components within the Controller Organizer
as well as to other instances of RSLogix 5000.
Double-clicking on error messages displayed in the Error Window will navigate you to where the
error was encountered.F4 and Shift-F4 can be used to move between errors.
You can reorder the columns in the tag editor by clicking on the title and dragging it to a new
position.
To simultaneously display logic in multiple routines, select Window -> New Window and then
arrange the windows manually. Or select Window -> Tile Horizontal.
To remove a yellow triangle warning symbol on a device, first check the connection status. If the
status is "Connection is not scheduled", re-open the RSNetWorx software. Return to RSLogix 5000
software and the yellow triangle should be gone.
On one computer, you can install and simultaneously launch (run) multiple translated versions of
RSLogix 5000 software.
Once you do a partial import of rungs, add-on instructions, or user-defined data types, you can't undo
the import. If the import didn't work as expected, close the project without saving.
When you select a partial import, make sure to select the correct rung or trend file. Both files have
L5X extensions and the software doesn't prevent you from selecting the wrong file. If you try to
import a rung where a trend is expected, or vice versa, the software does display an error that the
import failed.
Partial import of rungs works in all ladder routines, including Add-On Instructions.
In version 15, the Tag Editor added support for New Window.
To simultaneously display logic in multiple routines, select Window -> New Window and then
arrange the windows manually. Or select Window -> Tile Horizontal.
Keyboard
Keyboard shortcuts are listed in the Online Help, under the "Navigating the Software" topic.
You can use Ctrl+Page Down and Ctrl+Page Up to move between tabs in a dialog or routine window.
You can use Ctrl+Tab and Shift+Ctrl+Tab to move between multiple RSLogix 5000 views.
You can use Ctrl+G to invoke the Go To dialog. The Go To dialog is convenient for navigating the
software.
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You can use Alt+Insert to open the Language Element browser in any of the language editors. You
can also invoke this browser by pressing the Insert key in the LD, SFC and FBD editors.
You can use Ctrl+Space to invoke the Tag browser from within the ST editor.
You can use the Go To dialog (Ctrl+G) to quickly navigate to routines called by the current routine
and to routines that call the current routine.
In the Sequential Function Chart Editor, you can use the Routine Overview (Ctrl+B) tool to view
your entire SFC and help navigate to a specific area of your chart.
Double-clicking on error messages displayed in the Error Window will navigate you to where the
error was encountered. F4 and Shift-F4 can be used to move between errors.
The Language Element browser is a shortcut to adding logic. In the any of the language editors: use
Alt+Insert, type the instruction mnemonic, and press Enter. You can also invoke this browser by
pressing the Insert key in the LD, SFC and FBD editors. This short cut can be much quicker than
using the instruction toolbar.
As you use the keyboard to move the cursor around grid cells, press Alt+Down arrow to activate any
controls that are active for that cell. This works in all grid-based editors, such as the Tag Editor, Data
Monitor, etc. This gives you a way to access cell controls via the keyboard, rather than using the
mouse.
Controller Projects
Whenever you go online using RSLogix 5000, changes made to controller are simultaneously made
to a temporary copy of the project file (.ACD). Save makes these changes permanent. Therefore, an
upload is only necessary to obtain the latest copy of the tag data in the controller.
Both Rockwell Automation and third-party sample projects are installed with RSLogix 5000. You
can find them in the RSLogix 5000 Samples folder. These projects demonstrate program techniques
and code that you can use to program select modules.
Avoid pointing one alias tag to another alias tag to ensure the application maintains the appropriate
references after an upload.
Avoid pointing multiple alias tags to the same base tag to ensure the application maintains the
appropriate references after an upload.
All tag names are downloaded and resident in the controller along with your logic.
On download, if the ControlNet schedule stored in the offline RSLogix 5000 project file is old,
RSLogix 5000 will retrieve the latest ControlNet schedule from the associated RSNetWorx project
file. To make an association to an RSNetWorx project file, use the RSNetWorx tab in the Module
Properties dialog of the ControlNet scanner.
RSLogix 5000 supports moving your project from one Logix platform/controller to another.
ACD, L5K, CSV, and L5X files are independent of which translated version of RSLogix 5000
imports or exports the file. The software doesn't create language-specific import/export files.
Use any translated version of RSLogix 5000 software to go online to a controller without having to
re-download.
In a safety controller, standard tags in a safety mapped relationship follow safety restricted states.
For example, a standard tag mapped to a safety tag is read-only in a safety locked state.
Use Add-On Instructions to initialize tag values to specific values at the beginning of each routine or
program scan. Then source protect the AOI to assure that values are correctly initialized and not
overwritten manually.
The order of members within a User-Defined Data Type affect the memory size of the data type.
Within the UDT, keep members of the same data type together.
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I/O Configuration
Module icons in the I/O Configuration folder change to indicate the module has faulted or the
connection to the module has been interrupted.
To remove a yellow triangle warning symbol, first check the connection status. If the status is
"Connection is not scheduled", re-open the RSNetWorx software. Return to RSLogix 5000 software
and the yellow triangle should be gone.
To easily find a module in the Select Module Type dialog, simply start typing any part of the module
name or description. When you start typing, the Find Module dialog is launched automatically.
Use rack optimized communication formats for digital I/O modules to minimize amount of controller
memory and communications overhead associated with these modules.
RSLogix 5000 automatically creates controller tags when you create an input or output module. You
can reference these tags directly in your logic.
Use alias tags to assign names to specific input/output data and/or to provide a short alternative to
lengthy structure member names.
When you configure an analog I/O module, hold the shift key as you move the slider to increment
HH, H, L, and LL values in whole numbers.
Copy I/O data to a User-Defined Type (UDT) so you can synchronize I/O data with program scan.
The UDT also enables easier mapping of physical I/O.
Tasks, Programs and Equipment Phases
An event task in Logix is similar to the processor input interrupt (PII) in the PLC-5. Multiple event
tasks can exist in the controller, each configured to execute at the initiation of independent triggers.
A periodic task in Logix is similar to the selectable timed interrupt (STI) in the PLC-5. Multiple
periodic tasks can exist in the controller, each configured to execute at independent rates.
Double-click on a state in an Equipment Phase to navigate to the logic for that state.
Use RSBizWare Batch software to create Equipment Phases. Use the Equipment Editor to create the
phases, define parameters, and synchronize the phases with an RSLogix 5000 project.
Use any programming language (Ladder, Structured Text, FBD, or SFC) to program state routines in
Equipment Phases.
The fault routine for an Equipment Phase is the same as the fault routine for a program. Use a fault
routine to allow logic to run before the controller faults due to a programming error.
The Prestate routine runs all the time, even when the Equipment Phase is not active.
The Prestate routine for an Equipment Phase is optional. Use the Prestate routine to execute the
error detection logic for your phases.
You don't have to implement all the available states in an Equipment Phase. On the Equipment
Phases properties, check the "Complete State if not implemented" option.
In the Phase Monitor, the states you can write code have action names and have a command word
leading into the state, such as Start leads to the Running state. You add routines to these states.
Waiting states don't require routines. The phase waits for a command to move to the next state. For
example, Idle and Hold.
Tags, Data Types and Other Data
As you organize, add, or delete members of a User-Defined Data Type, the software adjusts the
associated tag members and values accordingly so that remaining members retain their values.
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In the tag browser, click the >> button to display the tag filter. Use the tag filter to display unused
tags or tags of a particular data type.
The tag browser filters tags in some situations. If you don't see a tag you expect, change the tag filter.
In version 15, the Tag Editor added support for New Window.
You can use arrays to do indirect addressing. RSLogix 5000 supports arrays of one, two, and three
dimensions.
You can create a recipe by creating a new data type and then creating a tag which uses that data
type. Your new data type can contain descriptive field names.
RSLinx uses memory in a Logix controller to read data values. Use the following equation to
estimate the memory needed: (1.5Kbyte + (Number of individual tags * 45 bytes) + (Number of
array or structure tags * 7))
The Watch Pane, located below the language editor window, provides monitoring for all tags
referenced in the active routine window.
You can trend a tag by right-clicking the tag and choosing "Trend Tag ".
You can find all occurrences of a tag by right-clicking the tag in logic and choosing "Find All ".
Logix controllers are optimized for the DINT and REAL data types. Use these data types to avoid
conversion overhead and optimize performance.
You can optimize the communication performance of acquiring data from Logix controllers by
consolidating multiple data values into a User-Defined Data Type (UDT) or array.
Indexed references to array elements add additional scan time overhead to the application. Use single
dimension arrays whenever possible.
When building a User-Defined Type (UDT), locate all bits or BOOLs adjacent to each other to
minimize the amount of controller memory required to store the data.
RSLogix 5000 automatically creates controller tags when you create an input or output module. You
can reference these tags directly in your logic.
Use alias tags to assign names to specific input/output data and/or to provide a short alternative to
lengthy structure member names.
Avoid pointing one alias tag to another alias tag to ensure the application maintains the appropriate
references after an upload.
Avoid pointing multiple alias tags to the same base tag to ensure the application maintains the
appropriate references after an upload.
Controller tags apply to the entire controller and can be referenced by any program. Program tags
apply only to individual programs. This means program tags can have the same names in more than
one program, allowing programs to be copied and reused.
You can reorder the columns in the tag editor by clicking on the title and dragging it to a new
position.
All tag names are downloaded and resident in the controller along with your logic.
You can export (and import) tag definitions to a comma separated value (CSV) file and manipulate
them using external tool, e.g. spreadsheet, text editor.
For tables of bits (BOOL), use a DINT array to ensure full access via the file and diagnostic
instructions COP, DDT, FBC, etc.
In a safety controller, standard tags in a safety mapped relationship follow safety restricted states.
For example, a standard tag mapped to a safety tag is read-only in a safety locked state.
The order of members within a User-Defined Type affect the memory size of the data type. Within
the UDT, keep members of the same data type together.
Routines
Logix supports four controller programming languages: Ladder, Function Block Diagram, Structured
Text, and Sequential Function Chart.
RSLogix 5000 Tips and Tricks http://www.plcdev.com/book/export/html/507
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To simultaneously display logic in multiple routines, select Window -> New Window and then
arrange the windows manually. Or select Window -> Tile Horizontal.
Multiply the number of words in a PLC/SLC program times 18 to estimate the amount memory (in
bytes) needed in a Logix controller.
To display context-specific instruction help, select an instruction or element and press F1.
The Language Element browser is a shortcut to adding logic. In the any of the language editors: use
Alt+Insert, type the instruction mnemonic, and press Enter. You can also invoke this browser by
pressing the Insert key in the LD, SFC and FBD editors. This short cut can be much quicker than
using the instruction toolbar.
You can find all occurrences of a tag by right-clicking the tag in logic and choosing "Find All ".
You can use the Go To dialog (Ctrl+G) to quickly navigate to routines called by the current routine
and to routines that call the current routine.
You can drag and drop from the instruction toolbar in any of the language editors. In SFC editor, the
elements auto-connect.
Use the CPS instruction to provide buffering of communications and I/O data to minimize impact of
asynchronous data arrival.
For tables of bits (BOOL), use a DINT array to ensure full access via the file and diagnostic
instructions COP, DDT, FBC, etc.
Controller tags apply to the entire controller and can be referenced by any program. Program tags
apply only to individual programs. This means program tags can have the same names in more than
one program, allowing programs to be copied and reused.
In the Sequential Function Chart Editor, you can use the Routine Overview (Ctrl+B) tool to view
your entire SFC and help navigate to a specific area of your chart.
Logix controllers perform a prescan of logic on startup to perform initialization. A tag used as an
index can cause a startup fault if its value is larger than the array length. Use a Fault routine to detect
and reset this condition.
In the Sequential Function Chart Editor, you can use the indicator tag field in an action to specify a
tag value to monitor during execution.
In the Sequential Function Chart Editor, you can select multiple SFC elements and use the Layout
SFC Elements feature to automatically rearrange the selected elements as needed to provide
adequate spacing, avoid page boundaries, and left or center justify branches.
In the Sequential Function Chart Editor, you can change the order in which selection branch legs are
evaluated from the Set Sequence Priorities dialog.
Refer to the Online Help for the Action Properties dialog - General Tab Overview for a useful timing
diagram that explains how the various action qualifiers affect the execution of an action.
You can customize the auto-naming of Sequential Function Chart Steps, Actions, Transitions, and
Stop elements from the Workstation Options and Routine Properties dialogs.
You can attach text boxes to language elements in FBD and SFC logic to maintain their relative
positions if you move logic.
You can use Ctrl+Space to invoke the Tag browser from within the ST editor.
Comments in Structured Text are downloaded to the controller. This includes comments in Structured
Text routines and embedded Structured Text in SFC routines.
In the Structured Text Editor, you see the words colored to indicate keywords, tag names, and other
recognized words. You can change the colors used by the editor by choosing Options from the
Options menu.
In the Structured Text Editor, you can configure the instruction's parameters by right-clicking an
instruction name and choosing "Instruction Properties".
You can use instructions available in Ladder and Function Block Diagram routines also in Structured
Text routines.
You can configure the sheet size for your Function Block Diagram or Sequential Function Chart
routines from the Routine Properties dialog.
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In the Function Block Editor, you can configure the block's parameters by clicking the Browse (...)
button on the upper right side of the block.
RSLogix 5000 supports pending edits on multiple rungs when online editing ladder logic.
When editing ladder routines, you can create logic using ASCII (for example: "XIC MYTAG") by
either typing when a rung is selected, pressing the Enter key when a rung is selected, or double
clicking to the left of a rung.
In the Ladder Diagram Editor, you can insert a branch level above the current level by right clicking
the left side of the branch and select Add branch. To insert a branch level below the current level,
right click the right side of the branch and select Append New Level.
Partial import of rungs works in all ladder routines, including Add-On Instructions.
When performing a partial import of rungs, change tag names to create new tags in the imported
logic.
Once you do a partial import of rungs, add-on instructions, or user-defined data types, you can't undo
the import. If the import didn't work as expected, close the project without saving.
On a partial import of rungs, the exported data values are also imported. This includes configured
message instructions. Partial imports/exports can save time versus copying and pasting since copying
and pasting does not copy data values.
Copy pieces of logic into other applications like Microsoft Word in a bitmap or metafile format.
If you want a subroutine to execute every scan, copy the first instruction and paste it right next to the
original instruction. Use the same tags on the duplicate instruction as on the first instruction. Then
insert an AFI instruction before the duplicate.
To copy a group of rungs to paste into another routine later, select the rungs and drag them to the
desktop. This copies the rungs into a file that you can later drag into another routine.
You can drag components from the Controller Organizer into the Ladder Editor instruction.
Double click or press Enter at the end of a ladder rung to create and start a textual edit of that rung.
To drag a language element from one routine to another, drag the element over the routine tabs at the
bottom of the editor to switch the routine.
Add-On Instructions
To display the logic of an Add-On Instruction, select the instruction and use the context menu (right
click) to open the logic.
You can drag an Add-On Instruction from the Controller Organizer into any language editor.
Copy an Add-On Instruction Definition from one project and paste into another to move that AOI
and referenced AOIs in to the project.
Use Add-On Instructions to initialize tag values to specific values at the beginning of each routine or
program scan. Then source protect the AOI to assure that values are correctly initialized and not
overwritten manually.
Use source protection on an Add-On Instruction to protect local tags, data and logic.
Communications
Reserve 20% or more of the controller's memory to accommodate communications and changes in
future Logix controller firmware releases.
Use rack optimized communication formats for digital I/O modules to minimize amount of controller
memory and communications overhead associated with these modules.
Use the CPS instruction to provide buffering of communications and I/O data to minimize impact of
asynchronous data arrival.
RSLogix 5000 Tips and Tricks http://www.plcdev.com/book/export/html/507
6 of 8 7/17/2011 4:07 PM
On download, if the ControlNet schedule stored in the offline RSLogix 5000 project file is old,
RSLogix 5000 will retrieve the latest ControlNet schedule from the associated RSNetWorx project
file. To make an association to an RSNetWorx project file, use the RSNetWorx tab in the Module
Properties dialog of the ControlNet scanner.
When working with multiple controller projects in different chassis, use RSLinx shortcuts to identify
those chassis with meaningful names.
Drives and Motion
RSLogix 5000 integrated motion supports camming, gearing, single-axis, and multi-axis instructions
in Ladder Diagram, Structured Text, and Structured Text embedded in Sequential Function Charts.
Execute motion direct commands directly from the context menu for any configured motion axis.
The motion direct commands let you control motion instruction execution without creating or adding
logic. This can be useful when first commissioning an axis or drive.
To tune motor and drive parameters, such as gains for velocity and acceleration loops, as well as load
dynamics, use the Tune tab or the MRAT and MAAT instructions. You can use the Tune tab in either
Remote Program or Remote Run.
The software automatically populates some SERCOS drive parameters when you configure an
Axis_Servo_Drive. Display the axis properties to view or edit these parameters.
In a SERCOS drive's configuration, you can change the number of counts returned per revolution to
make the counts per inch or degree an rational number.
In a motion system, you can copy over all motion hardware from an existing project to a new project
without losing any axis settings or tuning. First drag the motion control module over to the new
project. Then, drag any drives, the Motion Group, and then the axes.
Optimizing Performance
Logix controllers are optimized for the DINT and REAL data types. Use these data types to avoid
conversion overhead and optimize performance.
You can optimize the communication performance of acquiring data from Logix controllers by
consolidating multiple data values into a User-Defined Type (UDT) or array.
Indexed references to array elements add additional scan time overhead to the application. Use single
dimension arrays whenever possible.
Reserve 20% or more of the controller's memory to accommodate communications and changes in
future Logix controller firmware releases.
Use rack optimized communication formats for digital I/O modules to minimize amount of controller
memory and communications overhead associated with these modules.
Use the CPS instruction to provide buffering of communications and I/O data to minimize impact of
asynchronous data arrival.
If the memory estimation button is disabled, it means that your estimation is up to date. This happens
after an estimate, but it also happens when you go offline with the controller because the offline
memory numbers reflect actual use.
The order of members within a User-Defined Type (UDT) affect the memory size of the data type.
Within the UDT, keep members of the same data type together.
Project Documentation
RSLogix 5000 Tips and Tricks http://www.plcdev.com/book/export/html/507
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Comments in Structured Text are downloaded to the controller. This includes comments in Structured
Text routines and embedded Structured Text in SFC routines.
You can print RSLogix 5000 views by clicking on the view and then pressing Ctrl+P or choosing
Print from the File menu.
When you print FBD logic, the editor automatically makes the logic fit the page. A 2:1 ratio is
generally readable. For example, set the FBD sheet size to 11 x 17 (B Size) and print on 81/2 x 11
size paper.
Copy pieces of logic into other applications like Microsoft Word in a bitmap or metafile format.
Security
If you are have trouble downloading a project even though you have privileges, make sure that you
have the project and that you are online with the controller.
If you can't access routine source protection when security is enabled, ask your administrator to
grant you "Routine: Modify Properties" to obtain access.
If your system uses FactoryTalk Security with RSLogix5000 software, version 16, software users can
log into and log off of RSLogix 5000 software.
If security functions are enabled, you must have appropriate access to import rungs or to copy/paste
tags and data.
RSLogix 5000 Tips and Tricks http://www.plcdev.com/book/export/html/507

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