Skip to Content

Register Login

Industry Online Support

Technical Forum

Navigation

Custom Faceplates Documents

Created by: S.S.D.D. at: 8/8/2008 10:49 PM (16 Replies)

Rating (2)

Thanks 1

Result pages:: |; 1 | 2; |

17 Entries

Entries per page: 10 | all

8/8/2008 10:49 PM	Rate (0)
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)	Is there any location where I can find "useful" information on how to create custom faceplates? All of the documents I have read have all of the information except what I need. An example of what I am looking for info is: I am working on a faceplate for a mobile device with several motors to control directional movement. I have created a faceplate from scratch and have something that works. However, I would like to take what I have and make it look like a PCS7 or CEMAT motor/group block. I want to have a single image on the main process screen that opens up the control windows. The one major thing I am missing is how to link the structure from that one image to all of the windows that could open up.The example I have works, but I would like to structure it like Siemens, which means (scary) I have to think like them..... See attached for a rough idea.... I have a .pdf file that is supposed to show how to create faceplates, but all it does is show pictures not configuration examples. Thanks Attachment Faceplate Example.pdf (769 Downloads)
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer

8/19/2008 6:28 PM	Rate (0)
Phantom75 Posts: 2661 Rating: (279)	Did you check the following manual? PCS 7 V7.0 Programming Instructions for Blocks You need to use Faceplate Designer.
Phantom75 Posts: 2661 Rating: (279)
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer
This contribution was helpful to 1 thankful Users pradipta10

8/19/2008 7:51 PM	Rate (0)
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)	Yes I looked through that manual (for version 5.2 and 6.1 because that is what we are using) and it helps but its not what I am looking for. I don't want to use a template as I have custom graphics I need to use and I'd like to understand more in detail how the code (examples) is relating to the faceplate. What are the critical items? The major area I cannot find information on is HOW to link variables to graphics. The manual says nothing about how to link it to a specific tag. I can make it change colors, blink, dance, ect but how do you assign it a dynamic tag name that can be via "link to structure"? This manual is good if you understand everything that is going on in the background but if you don't this manual is like reading another language.
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer

8/19/2008 10:57 PM	Rate (0)
Phantom75 Posts: 2661 Rating: (279)	Hi Topcat, Can you explain what you mean by following? TopCat4692 ... I don't want to use a template as I have custom graphics I need to use ... The faceplate (in PCS7) is a common window that can be use for blocks of a particular type. It is designed to work in tandem with a CFC block. A PCS7 tag comprises of CFC_Name/BlockName.Parameter. So the tag in the faceplateis just a .parameter. The script behind the faceplate extracts the block name (from the block icon) and attaches this to the .parameter to form the complete tag. This is the simplest explanation of the "Faceplate Technology". For your custom faceplates the tags you need to program will be only .parameter type and write yourowm script. You can custom program everything manually but the Faceplate Designer makes it easier by creating the shell etc. The best way to understand the concept is to make a copy of an existing faceplate and modify this to make it work with your custom block! Regards
Phantom75 Posts: 2661 Rating: (279)
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer

8/20/2008 2:48 PM	Rate (0)
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)	Ok, I understand the .parameter way to name the tag. That makes sense and works. Thanks. Expanding off of that: Lets take a "GROUP" faceplate (from CEMAT). When I look up the .pdl files for that faceplate I get the main window, DIAG, OBJECT, OVERVIEW, STANDARD, STATUS, VIEWLIST windowns. When I create my faceplate with faceplate designer I get the same thing so I understand this. But where is the main group image created (the image that gets placed on the operator screen)? Where is that defined? Lets say I wanted to make a GROUP faceplate from scratch, what are all of the little hidden images linked inside that image? Looking through the scripts assigned to existing CEMAT blocks, I don't see how they are tied into the faceplates. Thats what I mean when I say I want to create a custom image that ties into the faceplates from the faceplate designer. I'm just trying to break the faceplates down to the most basic level so my faceplate operates like existing CEMAT blocks so our programmers understand how to use it in the program. That is what I dont like about that manual, I'm looking for more basic level details instead of do this and dothat and magically you have a faceplate. Example from Group: MouseAction Script from GROUP block: void OnClick(char* lpszPictureName, char* lpszObjectName, char* lpszPropertyName) { PCS7_OpenGroupDisplay_V6_CEMAT(lpszPictureName, lpszObjectName,-1,-1); } Button to open Diagnosis window script: void OnClick(char* lpszPictureName, char* lpszObjectName, char* lpszPropertyName) { C_ChangeView_Bt(lpszPictureName, lpszObjectName); } Where is the window defined to be opened? I see what the script is doing, but where are the targetpicture windowsdefined (IpszPictureName)? Thanks.
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)	Last edited by: TopCat4692 at: 8/20/2008 3:01 PM
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer

8/20/2008 10:31 PM	Rate (0)
Phantom75 Posts: 2661 Rating: (279)	TopCat4692 ... But where is the main group image created (the image that gets placed on the operator screen)? Where is that defined? ... This is done in @PG_<BlockType>_STANDARD.PDL. TopCat4692 ...Where is the window defined to be opened? I see what the script is doing, but where are the targetpicture windowsdefined (IpszPictureName)? ... This is"built" in the OpenGroupDisplay script. The CEMAT version of the script is access protected, hence I suggest you look in standard PCS7 script. Remember that the script is also generic! That is, the same script is used for all block types. So how does the script know which faceplate PDL to open? This is defined in "server" attribute in the block icon! Since you have Faceplate Designer, I suggest you try with very simple (non-CEMAT) block (like C = A + B). Regards
Phantom75 Posts: 2661 Rating: (279)	Last edited by: Phantom75 at: 8/20/2008 10:34 PM
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer

8/21/2008 3:35 PM	Rate (0)
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)	Thanks for your response yesterday. I have connected the dots and its making moresense now. I did not see any of this information in documentation (or I might have missed it). The next piece of the puzzle I am working on is creating a custom PCS7 object. You had said in your post that it was created in the @PG_<NAME>_STANDARD.pdl but I think you may have misunderstood my question. "STANDARD" is the main window that opens when you click on the PCS7 object (see attached). The attachement is what I want to create in the end but I'm going to start simple to get all of the linking down first. I have just started digging into this so I should be able answer most of my questions as I go, but if you have any tips or suggestions they are welcome. Thanks. Attachment Screen_082108.pdf (464 Downloads)
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer

8/22/2008 3:56 AM	Rate (1)
Phantom75 Posts: 2661 Rating: (279)	Hi TopCat, After seeing the attachment, I think your question is, how to create the custom group object better known as "block icon"?The block icon is a customized object. You can right click and edit this to study the various parts (sub-objects) it is made up of. In the server attribute is defined the group block type. If you are not familiar with customized objects, you should do so immediately since this is a very important foundation in WinCC. Let me know if you have further questions. Regards, Phantom
Phantom75 Posts: 2661 Rating: (279)
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer

8/23/2008 12:59 AM	Rate (1)
Danielle Posts: 1275 Rating: (123)	Hi, Basically to create your own block icons you'll need a customized object for the object's representation on the screen, and a faceplate. For the object you can create a customized object in a @PCS7TypicalsXYZ.Pdl screen (you should actually create it in another screen and place it in the @PCS7Typicals... once it's completed). If you want the system to automatically generate your block icons (as PCS7 is conceived) you should create objects with the proper type, Servername and tagname properties. The type should be assigned on the block's properties... remember to create those specific properties, and that their names are case-sensitive... The object's properties must also have the suffix you need... to make it easy, the property names for the customized object can me made similar to the pins in the CFC, so you'll remember how to use it in the future (e.g. use names such as "QRUN" for properties whehe yo must insert the ".QRUN" information). Then you'll also need a faceplate, which your block icon will call when you click it... for that you can use the wizard to generate the main screens... Siemens has it's own typical objects at the @PCS7elements.Pdl which you can copy or change.... if you're gonna use Siemens' objects be sure to analyse their features properly (there are some I/O Fields used to pass on user rights to objects and so on, which must be observed)... a good thing is to open a standard faceplate and analyse it first, to understand the features... Also try opening the pictures created when you insert a new block icon to see what each of them provides... Do you have any further specific doubts concerning this? I'm a newbie in PCS 7, but maybe I can help some more... Best regards, Danielle
Danielle Posts: 1275 Rating: (123)
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer

8/25/2008 2:32 PM	Rate (0)
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)	Thanks for your advice. Through trial and error I was able to create my custom block icon and it opens up to my faceplates. I did this by disassembling a PCS7 block icon and using the servername, type, and tagname pieces and linking them to my object. However, where I still have questions is in relation to working with V5 PCS7. In my V5 PCS7 faceplate, the 'tagname' doesn't update automatically (even the PCS7 icons) but in V6 is does. I am working to see how that is done in V6 and adding the same feature to V5. Also, when it comes assigning a tag name in the .TAG format, the block icons or faceplates do not keep the dynamic dialogs I assign to them. For example, if I have a text box that I want to have appear when tag .SHOW is0 and disappear when .SHOW is 1; I assign it PCS7Program/CFC.SHOW and then remove the PCS7Program/CFC and leave the tag as .SHOW using the "linking" function. However, if I assigned it to a dynamic dialog, it loses my settings. I am going to play around with writing scripts for this but I figured using a tool that was provided would be a better waste of my time than recreating the wheel.
S.S.D.D. Posts: 67 Rating: (0)
Suggestion To thank Quote Answer

|

Share this page:

Share this page on...

Follow us on