Changing position and orientation of in-/outputs in the interface for a block

Within the interface editor, it is possible to change the position and orientation (= the block edge) of the →input variables and →output variables or the position of the →in-out variables for a →block.

Restrictions In case of an in-out variable, it is  possible to change the position only but not the orientation. Reason: It is only allowed to position the input connection point of an in-out variable on the left block edge, the output connection point is automatically positioned on the opposite position on the right block edge. In-out variables can easily be identified by the straight line in the interface – see the corresponding example under "Calls of blocks: functions or function blocks"). If a block with in-out variables has been migrated from logi.CAD/32 to Neuron Power Engineer, the following is valid: Neuron Power Engineer displays the user interface of the block as it is in logi.CAD/32. This means that only the input connection point of the in-out variable is displayed in Neuron Power Engineer. It is also possible that other variables are located on the opposite position of the input connection point. It is not possible to change the position or orientation of the return value for a function within the interface editor.

If you are already using →calls of the →block within →graphical editors, Neuron recommends to close all editors before the interface is changed. When e.g. the FBD-editor is re-opened, the changed interface is automatically updated in some aspects.

Neuron Power Engineer provides the following possibilities to change the position/orientation:

• in the preview of the interface editor by using the mouse:

  1. Point to a connection point or to a displayed name for the in-/output. In case of an in-out variable, point to the input connection point on the left block edge.
     Result: The mouse cursor changes its shape.

  2. Press and hold the primary mouse button, drag the in-/output or the input connection point to the requested, unused position on the corresponding block edge and release the primary mouse button.
     Restriction: Dragging is only possible to free positions and positions under 32. In case of an in-out variable, the position on the right block edge must be unused as well.

• in the tab Properties:

  • Switch to the tab In-/Outputs.

  • Perform the following steps for each element (= input variable, output variable or in-out variable) for which you want to change the position and orientation respectively:

    1. Point to the column Position for the element and double-click.

    2. Enter the required position and press the Enter-key.
       Result: The position of the element is updated in the preview. 

    3. Point to the column Orientation for the element and click twice behind each other (no double-clicking).

    4. In the list, select the required orientation (by clicking the primary mouse button).
       Result: The orientation of the element is updated in the preview.  

Mind the following for the specifications in the tab Properties:

• If you have not specified a new position for the element yet, the column Position does not show any number. For such elements, Neuron Power Engineer automatically uses the next free position on the default orientation. The default orientation for input variables is Left, the one for output variables is Right, the one for in-out variables is Left (the orientation for in-out variables cannot be changes, as mentioned in the beginning of this article).

• Position specifications under 1 and above 32 are not accepted.

• If – in case of the unchecked setting Expandable – you specify a position outside of the current size, the block is automatically resized in order to display the element.

• If you delete a position specified in the column, Neuron Power Engineer automatically uses the next free position on the appropriate orientation again.

• If you specify an already used position, an appropriate message informs you that the position is already used.