User Guide

April 1 2014

Contents

3	Welcome
3	What is Connect I/O
4	How Does It Work
4	Inputs, Outputs and Memories
4	Sources and Plugins
5	User Interface
5	Toolbar
5	Main Panel
6	Properties Panel
7	System Navigation
7	Actions
7	Shortcuts
8	Plugins
8	What is a Plugin
9	Support

2

Welcome

What is Connect I/O

Connect I/O is a function blocks SoftPLC which is able to communicate with different types of technologies. It enables the creation and control of data flows between input and output points. This diagram application can be connected to both software and hardware and work as a bridge between them.

Connect I/O has a modular design which allows new functionalities to be implemented with plugins.

Welcome What is Connect I/O

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How Does It Work

Connect I/O is built on top of a shared memory map technology (.NET assembly EngineIO.dll) designed for efficient inter-process communication, i.e. data exchange with third-party applications. This is how Connect I/O interfaces with other Real Games applications.

Inputs, Outputs and Memories

Inputs, Outputs and Memories are the basis of the shared memory map and by convention defined from the controller’s point of view. This means that inputs values are read only, outputs and memories can be read and wrote to.

Built-In Datatype Connect I/O provides most common datatype available in high level programming languages such as Java and C#.

Inputs, Outputs and Memories

		Equivalent
Datatypes	Range	IEC61131-3	Notes

Datatypes

bit	True or False	BOOL
byte	0 to 255	BYTE
short	-32.768 to 32.767	SINT
int	-2.147.483.648 to 2.147.483,647	INT
long	9,223,372,036,854,775,808 to	DINT
	9,223,372,036,854,775,807
float	-3,4 × 10 38 to 3,4 × 10 38	REAL
double	-1,79 × 10 308 to1,79 × 10 308	LREAL
string	64 UNICODE Characters	STRING

DateTime 00:00:00 (midnight), January 1, 0001 Anno Domini (Common Era) through 11:59:59 P.M., December 31, 9999 A.D. (C.E.)

DATE_AND_

TIME

Represents an instant in time, typically expressed as a date and time of day.

TimeSpan

-10675199.02:48:05.4775808,

to 10675199.02:48:05.4775807

N/A

Represents a time interval that is measured as a positive or negative number of days, hours, minutes, seconds, and fractions of a second.

Sources and Plugins

Source nodes are used as a source of data for the diagram. The source nodes BIT, NUMERICAL, STRING and DATETIME provide data compatible with all the supported datatype.

Plugins are nodes that add functionalities to Connect I/O. Apart from the Real Games provided plugins, users may develop their own in order to fit their needs.

How Does It Work Inputs, Outputs and Memories | Sources and Plugins

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User Interface

Toolbar

RUN- Executes the diagram. PAUSE- Pauses the diagram. RESET- Sets the diagram to its initial state. DEBUG- When pressed the diagram execution advances one step.

Main Panel

INPUTS Nodes that read data from the memory map inputs.

OUTPUTS Nodes that read and write data to the memory map outputs.

MEMORIES Nodes that read and write data to the memory map memories.

SOURCES Nodes that provide data.

BIT; NUMERICAL; STRING; DATETIME - source data SYSTEM TIME- System date and time CYCLETIME- Update cycle time

TAGS Input and output nodes are automatically detected by Connect I/O. When an external application sets a name to an input or output memory it is automatically detected and added to the TAG panel.

PLUGINS A list of nodes that add functionalities to Connect I/O.

User Interface Toolbar | Nodes Library

5

UTILS

NOTE- Use to add notes to the diagram.

SETTINGS

Sync. Timers When checked, synchronizes the Connect I/O time scale with the shared memory map (uses the float memory address 129). It should be used when synchronizing Connect I/O with external applications.

Cycle Time (ms) Diagram update cycle time; Values can range between 1 and 10000.

Properties Panel

PROPERTIES Displays the properties of the selected node.

LOGGER Displays information regarding relevant actions and events.

User Interface Properties Panel

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System Navigation

Actions

Create node Double click or Drag and Drop the desired node into the canvas.

Edit node Properties can be changed by selecting the node and editing them on the Properties Panel. Some properties can be edited directly on the node by clicking on the desired value.

Creating a link between nodes Output ports of a node have to be connected to input ports of another node. Press and hold the left mouse button on the desired port and drag it to the destination port. When the connection is possible both ports are identified and the possible link is drawn.

Panning Press and hold the right mouse button and move to the desired direction.

Shortcuts

CTRL + N: Create new diagram CTRL + O: Open diagram CTRL + S: Save diagram CTRL + Alt + S: Save As CTRL + P: Print CTRL + C: Copy CTRL + V: Paste CTRL + X: Cut CTRL + Z: Undo CTRL + Y: Redo CTRL + A: Select all Zoom Out: Scroll back using mouse Zoom In: Scroll forward using mouse

System Navigation Actions | Shortcuts

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Plugins

What is a Plugin

Plugins are .NET 4.5 assemblies containing classes that inherit from CustomNode or CustomNodeAsync. These assemblies must be available on the Connect I/O plugins folder to be automatically loaded at startup.

The CustomNode class is the base class for nodes running logic on the same thread as Connect I/O. A good example of such nodes is the down counter (CTD) which executes code that will never block the Connect I/O thread.

The CustomNodeAsync is the base class for nodes which will execute logic on a different thread. These nodes are typically used when the delay caused by the execution of a node logic may cause Connect I/O to block or run too slow. An example would be a node executing TCP/IP communications or a node accessing a DAQ driver.

Plugins What Is A Plugin

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Support

We want you to get the maximum advantage from Connect I/O. If you run into technical difficulties we are here to help.

For the most frequently asked questions you can easily find answers in the product documentation.

If you still cannot find the answer, gather all the information or questions that apply to your problem and, with the product close at hand, contact us:

Website: www.realgames.pt Email: support@realgames.pt

Support

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