Blocks

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The technical term of blocks refers to both structure and function blocks. Structure blocks are used for hierarchic structuring, whereas function blocks serve parameterizing, calling target functions, or visualization in the Online Observation state. Blocks are defined in the project or in loaded libraries.

The work with blocks is executed mainly with the mouse. The project and library trees are required to insert and replace blocks.

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2. Grab the block symbol

Upon selection of the block, its symbol appears in the window above the list. The symbol can be grabbed by clicking it with the left mouse button. A window is generated under the cursor, displaying the symbol at the current zoom level.

3. Position in the worksheet

The window with the symbol can be dragged by moving the cursor while holding the mouse button down. If the mouse button is released over a worksheet, the system inserts the block at the selected position. If its connectors touch free and compatible connectors of other blocks, connections are automatically established (Autoconnect).

4. Enter parameters

If the block has an input dialog, it is opened for entering parameters.

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1. Grab the block in the worksheet

To move blocks within the worksheet, the system needs to be in the Working on the Drawing mode in the Edit state. A block can be grabbed by positioning the cursor on the block in the worksheet and pressing the left mouse button.

2. Drag and drop at the new position

By moving the cursor while holding the mouse button down, the block is moved. As soon as the button is released, it is dropped at the current position. Any connections with other blocks are preserved and newly drawn. If connectors without connection touch free and compatible connectors of other blocks, connections are automatically created (Autoconnect).

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1. Change to the Delete Blocks mode

The cursor changes its form into a hammer.

2. Click the block in the worksheet using the left mouse button

Deleting of blocks also causes any connection with other blocks to be removed.

OR

1. Call the context menu for a block in the worksheet

By clicking a block in the worksheet using the right mouse button, the related context menu can be called in the Working on the Drawing mode. There should not be any block selected.

2. Call the Delete command

By calling this command, the block and all linked connections are removed.

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1. Change to the Replace Blocks mode

2. Select the new block in the project or library tree

Blocks defined in the project are inserted via the project tree, whereas all other blocks are inserted via the library tree.

3. Grabbing of the block symbol

After a block has been selected, its symbol appears in the window above the list. The symbol can be grabbed by clicking the symbol with the left mouse button. A window is created under the cursor, with the symbol displayed at the current zoom level.

4. Position at the place of the old block in the worksheet

By moving the cursor while holding the mouse button down, the window with the symbol is also moved. If the mouse button is released over the block, the system replaces this block by the newly selected one. Connections are preserved if connectors are compatible and labels correspond to those of the old block.

5. Enter parameters

If the block has an input dialog, this dialog is opened for entering parameters.

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1. Change to the Block Sequence mode

2. Click a block in the worksheet by pressing the right mouse button

Only blocks with a number in the upper right corner can be used.

3. Enter the block number

The new block number can be entered in the Edit field of the opened dialog. Upon confirming the entry by pressing OK, the blocks in the worksheet are renumbered as desired. By pressing the left mouse button, the other blocks can be assigned consecutive numbers.

OR

1. Pressing the left mouse button on a block

By left clicking on the blocks in the worksheet a continuing number will be assigned.

OR

1. Call the context menu for a block in the worksheet

In the Working on the Drawing mode the relating context menu can be called by clicking a block in the worksheet with the right mouse button. There should be no block selected.

2. Call the Block Number command

This command is only activated for blocks with a number in their upper right corner.

3. Enter the block number

The new block number can be entered in the Edit field of the opened dialog. Upon confirming the entry by pressing OK, the blocks in the worksheet are renumbered accordingly. To number other blocks, follow the same sequence of operations.

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1. Call the context menu for a block in the worksheet

By clicking a block in the worksheet with the right mouse button in the Working on the Drawing mode, the relating context menu can be called.

2. Call the Parameter Dialog command

3. Enter the parameters

If the block has an input dialog, this dialog is opened for entering settings.

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By a right mouse click on a connector, the context menu can be used to assign a connection attribute. Outputs and inputs can have predefined global variables. In addition, inputs can have parameters and global parameters. Connection attributes becomes a part of the block shape. If the block is moved, all connection attributes will move in the same way. Blocks and connection attributes forms a unit.

There are three types of connection attributes and they have different colors. Global variables have a light blue, parameters have a white and global parameters have a yellow color.

Assign variable

An existing global variable can be assigned to an input or output. For this the context menu entry “Assign Variable…” can be used. The following picture shows the assigning of a variable to an input. On outputs the entries for “Assign Parameter …” and “Assign Global Parameter …” are not active.

After choosing „Assign Variable…“ the dialog for the data pint administration will open for choosing one of the existing variables. Here new variables can be created, too.

In this example we use the variable “InBit” for an input and “OutBit” for an output. In the left bottom corner there is the input field “Box width”, which sets the width of the connection attribute shape.

Assign (global) parameter

In addition to global variables, parameter and global parameter inputs can be assigned to inputs. This can be done by using the context entries “Assign Parameter …” and “Assign Global Parameter …”.

This dialog allows different entries dependent on data type. “Box Width” defines the width of the attribute shape. The button “Vector” allows creating vectors. In addition a value can be set otherwise the used default value is 0 or FALSE.

Difference between parameters and global parameters

For a global parameter only one instance exists in system. If the block with a global parameter is a part of a macro, then every instance of the copied macro blocks uses the same value of this parameter. If a nonglobal parameter is used, then every block of such a copy uses a separate instance of the parameter (same conditions like before). So every block can have its own parameter value. To assign all instance values to the class value use the context menu entry “Adjust all instance values”.

Executing this command will cause all connection attributes which are instances of this class attribute to take this value.

Replace connection attributes

To replace the assigned connection attribute of an input or output, the context menu can be used to assign another attribute.

The input gets a new attribute, a global parameter. Doing this for both input connectors will result to the following picture.

Delete connection attributes

The context menu entry Remove Attribute can be used to delete a connection attribute.

By using this command on the output that connector will be freed.

Extend or shorten connection attributes

Using the setting parameters, it was difficult to set the correct length for connection attributes with different length. Now you can set the required length with the mouse.

Procedure

If the mouse is moved over the beginning and the end of a connection attribute it changes its appearance. Then you can change the length by pressing the left mouse button.

Notes

• If the attribute length is changed it will be set to the new value
• You can still change also the attribute length via the parameter dialog
• The change of the attribute length is supported by all available data types 

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1. Press Ctrl and the left mouse button over the block in the worksheet

Upon this command, the block is displayed with a dashed rectangular frame to mark it as selected. To deselect the block, use the same key-and-button combination again. Further blocks can be selected by using the same key-and-button combination. If the Shift key and the left mouse button are used over another block, all blocks within the rectangle formed by the red-framed reference block are selected.

OR

1. Call the context menu for a block in the worksheet

The relating context menu can be called by clicking a block in the worksheet with the right mouse button.

2. Call the Select command

OR

1. Click on a free area of the worksheet by pressing the left mouse button

2. Move the cursor holding the button down

A black rectangular is drawn. One corner is at the starting point, whereas the opposite corner is under the cursor.

3. Release the mouse button

This operation selects all blocks fully framed by the black rectangular.

OR

1. Call the Select All command in the Edit submenu

All blocks in the current worksheet are selected.

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