This section discusses the more common operations performed using RSLogix. This includes going on-line with a controller, along with basic editing and file manipulation commands.
GOING ON-LINE WITH A CONTROLLER
You must be on-line with a controller in order to see what is happening with the project that the controller is currently running. Follow these steps to start RSLogix and go on-line with a controller.
How to Go On-Line with a Controller
These steps assume that the laptop and the controller have already been configured to communicate with each other. You will need to set up the communication link using the RSLinx software package if the communication protocol has changed or is otherwise incorrect.
1. Connect the communications interface cable between the laptop computer that is running RSLogix and the controller.
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2. Start the RSLogix software package. This will generally be through a shortcut icon on the desktop of the computer you are using. RSLogix opens to a blank screen as shown in Figure 67.
Figure 67: Starting RSLogix 5
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3. Open the “Comms” drop down menu. The Comms drop down menu is shown in Figure 68.
Figure 68: Comms Drop Down Menu/WHO ACTIVE GO ONLINE Selection
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4. Select WHO ACTIVE GO ONLINE from the Comms drop down menu. This opens the Communications popup window shown in Figure 69. If you see a large red “X” over any device then communication is not established with that device. If this is the case then check the configuration of the communications driver using RSLinx.
Figure 69: Communications Popup Window
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5. Click the ONLINE button. RSLogix now attempts to go on-line with the connected controller. RSLogix reads the name of the project from the controller and attempts to find a file with the same name on the hard drive. When the matching file is located, the ladder logic appears in the display as shown in Figure 70.
Figure 70: RSLogix On-Line with a Controller
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UPLOADING A PROJECT FROM A PLC-5
Uploading a project is the process of transferring a program loaded on a PLC-5 processor into memory of the programming interface connected to the processor.
Uploading is necessary because RSLogix requires that you have a copy of the project on the hard disk before you can go on line to the controller. You will be prompted to upload the project if you attempt to go on-line and RSLogix cannot find a copy of the project on the hard disk.
How to Upload a Project
These steps assume that the laptop and the controller have already been configured to communicate with each other. You will need to set up the communication link using the RSLinx software package if the communication protocol has changed or is otherwise incorrect.
1. Connect the communications interface cable between the laptop computer that is running RSLogix and the controller.
2. Start the RSLogix software package. This will generally be through a shortcut icon on the desktop of the computer you are using. RSLogix opens to a blank screen as shown in Figure 71.
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3. Open the “Comms” drop down menu. The Comms drop down menu is shown in Figure 72.
Figure 72: Comms Drop Down Menu/UPLOAD Selection
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4. Select UPLOAD from the Comms drop down menu. RSLogix then searches for a project saved in the default directory on the hard disk for a file with the same name as that on the controller. If RSLogix cannot locate a file then the Going to Online Programming State popup window opens. The Going to Online Programming State popup window is shown in Figure 73. This popup window allows you to create a new file in the default directory, merge the file with one of those identified in the bottom half of the popup window, or browse for a location to store the file. You will be prompted to go on-line with the controller after the upload is finished.
Figure 73: Going to Online Programming State Popup Window
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SAVING A PROJECT
Saving your project writes a current copy of your work to the hard drive. Be sure to save your work frequently if you are working off-line.
How to Save a Project
Follow these steps to save a copy of your work to the hard disk.
1. Left click the icon of the floppy disk from the standard toolbar located at the top of the screen. This icon is shown in Figure 74.
Figure 74: Floppy Disk Icon from Standard Toolbar
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Note that you may also select SAVE from the File drop down menu to accomplish the same thing. The File drop down menu is shown in Figure 75.
Figure 75: File Drop Down Menu/SAVE Selection
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2. Selecting either the icon from the standard toolbar or the SAVE selection from the File drop down menu method opens the Revision Note popup window shown in Figure 76. This window allows you to enter some descriptive comment regarding any corrections or updates to the software. It is also helpful to enter the date that the software changes were made.
Figure 76: Revision Note Popup Window
3. Click the OK button after the revision note is entered. This saves the project to the default location on the hard drive.
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How to Change the Default Path where Projects are Saved
Changing the default path prevents the need to browse for the location where projects are stored. This also changes the default path for upload operations. Follow these steps to change the default project path.
1. Select Tools from the menu bar at the top of the screen. This opens the Tools drop down menu shown in Figure 77.
Figure 77: Tools Drop Down Menu
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2. Select OPTIONS from the Tools drop down menu. This opens the System Options popup window shown in Figure 78.
Figure 78: System Options Popup Window
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3. Select the top BROWSE button from the three shown in the lower, right-hand corner of the popup window. This is the BROWSE button for the “Project Files Search Path” field. Selecting this button opens the Set Directory popup window shown in Figure 79.
Figure 79: Set Directory Popup Window
4. Select the new default location from the list of folders available, then left click the OK button from the Set Directory popup window. This closes the popup window and returns you to the System Options popup window.
5. Left click the OK button from the System Options popup window. This closes the popup and changes the default location for saving files.
DOWNLOADING A PROJECT TO A PLC-5
Downloading a project moves a copy of the software on the programming interface (laptop) to the PLC-5 controller. Projects are downloaded after completing any offline edits and you are ready to run the project. Note that you must be in the OFFLINE mode with RSLogix before you can download a project to a controller.
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2. Start the RSLogix software package. This will generally be through a shortcut icon on the desktop of the computer you are using. RSLogix opens to a blank screen as shown in Figure 80.
Figure 80: Starting RSLogix 5
3. Left click the icon of the open folder, shown in Figure 81, from the standard toolbar. This opens the Open/Import PLC5 Program popup window from which you can select a file to open. You must open the file on the hard drive before you can download it to the controller.
Figure 81: Open Folder Icon
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4. Select the desired file from the Open/Import PLC5 Program popup window, as shown in Figure 82. You can browse for a file in a different folder by clicking the GOTO button located near the middle of the window. Notice the revision notes for the project located at the bottom of the window.
Figure 82: Open/Import PLC5 Program Popup Window
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5. Left click the OPEN button after selecting a project. This opens the project in the RSLogix display as shown in Figure 83.
Figure 83: Open Project in RSLogix Display
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6. Open the Comms drop down menu. The Comms drop down menu is shown in Figure 84.
Figure 84: Comms Drop Down Menu
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7. Select DOWNLOAD from the drop down menu. This opens the RSLogix 5 popup window shown in Figure 85.
Figure 85: RSLogix 5 Popup Window
8. Click YES from the popup window and the program in the display will be downloaded to the controller. You will be asked if you want to go on-line after the download completes.
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EDITING LADDER LOGIC
Editing is the process of adding, inserting, and deleting rungs, branches, and instructions to the ladder logic. RSLogix usually provides multiple ways to perform a task, and editing ladder logic is no exception. The methods presented in this text are designed to familiarize you with some of the capabilities of RSLogix.
A project can be edited in one of two ways: online and offline. Zone markers in the ladder logic identify the rungs being edited. These zone markers change to allow you to track the status of your edits, and offer you opportunities to easily remove unwanted changes.
Edit Zone Markers
Online edits are indicated in the project by the upper case zone markers “I,” “R,” and
“D.” Uppercase markers indicate edits that are present in controller memory. These markers appear between the rung number and the vertical bar (power rail) on the left side of the ladder logic.
• I (Insert): These are new rungs that have been inserted into the ladder logic.
• R (Replace): These rungs have been replaced in controller memory. Rungs marked with an “R” will continue to function until new edits have been tested.
• D (Delete): These rungs have been deleted in controller memory. Rungs marked with a “D” will continue to function until the new edits have been tested.
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Offline edits are indicated in the project by the lower case zone markers “e,” “i,” “r,” and
“d.” Lowercase markers indicate edits that are present in computer memory. These markers also appear between the rung number and the vertical bar (power rail) on the left side of the ladder logic.
• e (edit): These are new rungs that have been inserted into the ladder logic and are currently being edited. This zone marker disappears after the ladder logic is verified, indicating that the edits are now included in the project.
• i (insert): These rungs have been inserted into the ladder logic in computer memory while online with a controller. Rungs marked with an “i” are not moved to controller memory until the rung is accepted. Once accepted, the lower case
“i” is replaced by the uppercase “I.”
• r (replace): These rungs are marked for replacement. Rungs marked with an “r”
are not moved to controller memory until the rung is accepted. Once accepted, the lower case “r” is replaced by the uppercase “R.”
• d (delete): These rungs are marked to be deleted. The lower case “d” means that these rungs still reside in computer memory. Rungs marked with a “d” are not moved to controller memory until the rung is accepted. Once accepted, the lower case “d” is replaced by the uppercase “D.”
Online Editing
Online editing allows you to change a project while you are online with RSLogix 5 to ladder logic that is actively running on a controller. There are four steps involved in online editing. These are verify, accept, test, and assemble.
• Verifying edits is the process in which RSLogix checks your new programming for syntax errors. Syntax errors are those that involve incorrect or improper use of ladder logic instructions. Syntax errors must be corrected before the controller will accept the new instructions.
• Edits are accepted after they are verified. This takes any offline edits (those marked with an “e”) and moves them into controller memory. These rungs will then be marked with an “I” (insert).
• Edits are tested after they are accepted. Any rungs that are marked with an “I”
(insert) are used in the ladder logic in place of those marked with an “R”
(replace). This allows you to check your work before finalizing the changes.
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• Edits are assembled after they are tested. Edit zone markers are removed at this stage. Rungs marked with an “I” are incorporated into the ladder logic, and those rungs marked with an “R” are removed. You cannot undo any edits after they are assembled.
Online Editing Restrictions
RSLogix does not permit you to resize the data tables, create project files, or delete project files while you are online. You must go offline with the controller before performing these types of operations.
How to Verify, Accept, Test, and Assemble Online Edits
1. Go online with the controller being edited, and locate the rung where changes are being made. This example replaces the OTE instruction at logical address B3:0/0 on rung 0000 with an OTE instruction at logical address O:012/3. The original ladder logic is shown in Figure 86.
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2. Right click the mouse over the number of the rung being edited. This opens the popup window shown in Figure 87.
Figure 87: Popup Menu for Online Editing
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3. Select START RUNG EDITS from the popup window. This inserts a duplicate of the rung being edited above the original as shown in Figure 88. RSLogix keeps track of the original rung until the edits are tested and assembled. This allows you to back out of any changes if they do not work as planned. The original rung (which is now rung0001) is marked by the lower case letter “r” shown just to the right of the rung number. This rung will be replaced by the rung being edited.
The rung being edited (rung 0000) is marked by the lower case letter “e.” Lower case letters mean that the edits are offline.
Figure 88: New Rung for Editing (Offline)
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4. Make the changes to the rung marked with the “e.” This example changes the OTE instruction from logical address B3:0/0 to O:012/3 as shown in Figure 89.
Figure 89: OTE Logical Address Changed
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5. Right click the mouse over the number of the rung being edited. This opens the popup menu shown in Figure 90.
Figure 90: Popup Menu for Verifying Rung Edits
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6. Select VERIFY RUNG from the popup menu. This checks the syntax of the rung being edited. The rung is marked for insertion as shown in Figure 91, if the rung does not contain errors. Notice that the edits are still offline as indicated by the lower case letters.
Figure 91: Rung Verified
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7. Right click the mouse over the number of the rung being edited. This opens the popup menu shown in Figure 92.
Figure 92: Popup Menu for Accepting Rung Edits
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8. Select ACCEPT RUNG EDITS from the popup menu. This moves the edits from computer RAM to the controller. The rung is now marked by a capital letter “I” to indicate the edits are online. The online bar above the project window now indicates that edits exist in the controller as shown in Figure 93.
Figure 93: Rung Edits Accepted
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You must now test the edits to ensure correct operation of the changes. During testing the rung marked “I” takes precedence over the rung marked “R” during execution of the ladder logic. Testing edits can be performed using selections from another popup menu, however this example uses the online editing toolbar icons located just above the ladder logic. The TEST EDITS button is the second from the right as shown in Figure 94.
Figure 94: TEST EDITS Button from Online Editing Toolbar
9. Left click the TEST EDITS button to initiate testing. This opens the confirmation popup window shown in Figure 95.
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10. Left click YES from the confirmation popup window. This allows you to test the edits in the project. The ladder logic display will not change, however the online bar indicates edits are active as shown in Figure 96.
Figure 96: Test Edits Online Indication
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11. Assemble the edits when you are satisfied the program works correctly. You may either assemble the edits using a popup menu selection, or select the ASSEMBLE EDITS button, as in this example. Once the edits are assembled, the rung marked for removal is actually removed from the ladder logic, and the rung marked for insertion becomes part of the project as shown in Figure 97.
Figure 97: Edits Assembled
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Offline Editing
Offline editing allows you to change a project residing in computer memory (RAM).
Offline edits need only be verified as correct before the program is downloaded to the PLC-5. During verification, RSLogix checks for unknown instruction types in the ladder logic and ensures that the addresses in the ladder logic are defined in the data tables.
Any errors found during verification are reported under the BUILD tab of the Results window, which is located at the bottom of the screen. There are various methods for verifying edits. You may verify a single rung, a file, or an entire project.
How to Verify a Single Rung
1. Right click the mouse over the number of the rung being verified. This opens the popup menu shown in Figure 98. Rungs that need to be verified are marked by the lower case letter “e” shown just to the right of the rung number.
Figure 98: Popup Window to Verify a Single Rung of Ladder Logic
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2. Select VERIFY RUNG from the popup window. RSLogix will verify the rung and display any errors in the Results window at the bottom of the screen. The Results window is shown in Figure 99. Note that double-clicking the mouse over the error message moves the cursor to the instruction in the ladder logic that contains the error.
Figure 99: Results Window
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How to Verify a File or Project
Verifying a file or project is similar to verifying a single rung. The major difference relates to the scope of the verification. Selecting the respective icon located at the top of the screen verifies a file or project. The icons are shown in Figure 100. The file verification icon is on the left side, and the project verification icon is on the right side.
Errors are displayed in the Results window regardless of which verification is selected.
Errors are displayed in the Results window regardless of which verification is selected.