Connecting FBD-elements by lines
How to connect existing FBD-elements by a line in the →graphical FBD-editor:
1. |
Point to the corresponding part of an FBD-element so that the mouse pointer is displayed (see the following examples under 1.). The mouse pointer is displayed for these parts: the left or right outer area of a→value field, the in-/output of a →call of a →block or the displayed name for the in-/output respectively, a →connector or a →continuation, the in-/output of a →step, of a →transition or of an →action block |
2. |
Press and hold the primary mouse button, then move the mouse pointer onto another FBD-element in the FBD-editor (see the following examples under 2.a. and 2.b.). These other FBD-elements are possible: a value field, a call or a particular input or output of the call, a connector or a continuation, a step, a transition, an action block or a particular input or output of these elements Observe:
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3. |
Release the primary mouse button in order to connect both FBD-elements with the line. The FBD-editor creates orthogonal lines (see "Automatic routing of lines" for details). Special behavior for value fields:
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Observe:
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It is also possible to create several lines in one go (see the last of the following examples) .
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If the created line is highlighted as faulty, this connection is causing an error. In this case, undo the created connection and connect the FBD-element with a different FBD-element.
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The variables and/or the in-/outputs of the call must be of an identical data type or of one that can be converted implicitly.
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A value field with the interface for a block automatically disappears, if the respective input has been connected to an FBD-element.
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If you create a line across different pages, a direct line is automatically created.
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If you release the primary mouse button over an empty space of the drawing field, an open line is automatically created. It is possible to dock such lines to other FBD-elements.
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You are able to change the already created line so that it leads to a different FBD-element.
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If the logic is ambiguously displayed due to the automatic line routing, best practice is to move the FBD-elements. See "The automatic line routing is ambiguously displaying the logic".
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If you connect the input/output of a block for safe logic to a safe data type, the background color of this block might be changed to a shade of yellow. Details: See "Highlighting safe logic in the FBD-editor".
This example illustrates how to connect a value field with another value field:
1. |
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2.a. |
The line will not be created, if you release the mouse button over an empty area.
Therefore, drag the line onto another FBD-element, such as a value field: |
2.b. |
Of course, it is possible to start dragging the line in the other direction.
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3. |
No matter how the line has been created, the value fields with a correct connection look like this:
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Value fields with a faulty connection look like this:
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This example illustrates how to connect a call with value fields:
1. |
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2.a. |
The line will not be created, if you release the mouse button over an empty area.
Therefore, drag the line onto another FBD-element, such as the input of a call:
While dragging the line, the connection point of the input disappears. This indicates that the line can be created. |
2.b. |
Of course, it is possible to start dragging the line in the other direction.
Here the line is highlighted as faulty until an FBD-element is the target.
While dragging the line, the connection point of the input disappears as well. This indicates that the line can be created. |
2.c. |
Likewise, it is possible to draw the line from the output of the block to the value field.
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3. |
No matter how the lines have been created, the block with the connected value fields looks like this:
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This example illustrates how to create the lines from the values fields to the block in one go:
0. |
Select several connection points while pressing and holding the Ctrl-key. Here the outputs of the valued fields are selected. |
1. |
Point to one of the selected connection points.
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2. |
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3. |
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