JP4995009B2 - POD screen generation device and program thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating a screen of a programmable display.

  In the programmable controller (PLC) system, the programmable display is connected to the controller main body (PLC main body) and displays the operation status of various control target devices connected to the controller main body, or to each device. It is known as an operation type display having a function of displaying an input operation screen for giving a control instruction and receiving an input. In general, a programmable display device has a graphic display function, performs a graphical display such as a switch, a graph, and a meter, and accepts an input operation using a touch panel or the like.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the entire conventional PLC system.
In the illustrated system, the programmable display 51 is connected to the illustrated external device 53 (for example, a printing machine or the like) or a PLC main body (not illustrated) via a communication line 56, and transmits and receives data and the like.

  Further, the illustrated PC (personal computer) 55 is a general-purpose computer used by a user of a PLC manufacturer such as a developer or a maintenance staff. For example, an application program ( The illustrated programmable display drawing software 54) is provided.

  The user creates a desired screen for a programmable display (hereinafter referred to as a POD screen) using the function of the programmable display screen design software 54 of the PC (personal computer) 55, and uses the data of the POD screen as the PC (personal computer) 55. Stored in the storage device. Thereafter, a PC (personal computer) 55 is connected to the programmable display 51 corresponding to the created POD screen (connected via the communication line 52 shown in the figure), and the POD screen data is downloaded to the programmable display 51.

  Here, in recent years, screens for programmable displays (POD screens) have been used in a wide variety and variety. In this case, even for the same product (programmable display), a POD screen for the company is developed for each user such as Company A, Company B, Company C,. However, it takes time to create POD screens for each company one by one. Therefore, a POD screen created for a certain company is used to generate a POD screen for another company. For example, when the POD screen of the programmable display used in the device for Company A is used to generate the POD screen for the device for Company B, the POD screen file for Company A is duplicated and the necessary location is The method of changing was taken.

  The POD screen data of the programmable display generally has a configuration in which a plurality of screens are included in one file. There are various screens as the plurality of screens. Usually, a menu selection screen (menu selection screen) always exists, and this menu screen is displayed first. Then, when the user selects a desired screen on the menu screen, the selected screen is displayed.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 9A, each of the POD screen files of the programmable displays for Company A and Company B is a plurality of screens including a menu selection screen, a machine operation screen, and an operation log display screen. (Its data). In the programmable display, a menu selection screen is first displayed. When a machine operation screen is selected on this screen, for example, the machine operation screen is displayed.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, each screen such as the menu selection screen, the machine operation screen, and the operation log display screen is displayed on a predetermined screen No. Assigned to manage. Here, the POD screen is a screen No. Suppose that it is determined to be composed of three types of screens of “0”, “1”, and “2”.

  Here, many menu selection screens have unique names such as company names and device names, and it is necessary to change the company name and device name for each customer. On the other hand, screens other than the menu selection screen can be commonly used by each company. In the illustrated example, the machine operation screen and the operation log display screen are the same for Company A and Company B.

  Moreover, in the prior art described in Patent Document 1, when a keyword is specified on the screen displayed on the programmable display, a combination of recipe data is specified from recipe output instruction data based on the keyword, and the combination is specified. Based on this, recipe data is read from each folder and output as a single piece of recipe data.

In the prior art described in Patent Document 2, a plurality of project files including a plurality of screen data (screen files) displayed on the programmable display, a project file storage unit provided outside the programmable display, and a programmable display are provided. It is distributed and stored in the FEPROM in the container. The project setting processing unit displays a list of project file storage locations based on the project registration data, and when one project file is selected from the list by the user, the project file to be used is switched to that project file, and the storage location To the programmable display memory.
JP 2006-331272 A JP 2006-134097 A

  In the example shown in FIG. 9 (a), for example, companies A and B are delivered with the same printer and programmable display device (this is the state shown in FIG. 9 (a)). For example, when the printing machine is changed to the succeeding printing machine 2 after several years, it is necessary to change both the POD screen file for the company A and the POD screen file for the company B for the printing machine 2. there were. That is, it is necessary to change from the state shown in FIG. 9A to the state shown in FIG.

  10A, among the screen data in the POD screen file of the programmable display delivered to the company A, the machine operation screen and the operation log display screen shown in FIG. The screen is changed to the screen for the printing press 2 shown in FIG. 10A (machine operation screen 2, operation log display screen 2).

In Company B, it is necessary to make changes to the machine operation screen 2 and the operation log display screen 2 in the same manner.
Thus, in both cases of Company A and Company B, the screen No. = “0”, “1”, “2” are newly managed in association with the menu selection screen, the machine operation screen 2, and the operation log display screen 2.

The above example is an example, and is not limited to this example, but as maintenance work after delivery, it is necessary to change any screen data among the screen data in the POD screen file of the delivered programmable display. In some cases, especially when the same screen data is changed by a plurality of users, it is necessary to perform the operation of changing the screen data for each user, which is troublesome.

  Alternatively, it is also conceivable that after changing the screen data to be changed in the POD screen file for an arbitrary user, the changed screen data is used for changing the POD screen for other users. However, when a maintenance person performs this work, that is, the maintenance person goes to another user, and the screen data to be changed in the existing POD screen file in the programmable display delivered to the other user. When performing an operation such as replacing this screen data with the screen data after the change, there is a possibility of making a mistake such as taking time and changing another screen data by mistake.

  In other words, when screen data is used in a wide variety and variety, its management becomes complicated, especially when changing screen data that is commonly used for a large number of users. It is easy to make mistakes.

  The problem of the present invention is when a POD screen needs to be changed / updated, and in particular, among the plurality of screens constituting the POD screen, the screen commonly used in the programmable display of a plurality of users is changed. It is to provide a POD screen generation device or the like that can easily change POD screens for programmable displays of each user without trouble and without mistakes in the case of / update / reuse, etc. .

  A POD screen generation apparatus according to the present invention is a POD screen generation apparatus that generates a screen file for a programmable display composed of a plurality of screen data. The POD screen generation apparatus generates an arbitrary screen data, and is generated by the drawing means. Screen data storage means for storing each screen data, and for each screen data stored in the screen data storage means, a group designation / storage means for specifying and storing one or a plurality of groups to which the screen data belongs, When the creation of the screen file of an arbitrary group is requested, all the screen data belonging to the creation target group is extracted with reference to the group designation / storage means, and based on the extracted screen data Screen file generating means for generating the screen file.

  For example, each group corresponds to each user company, and the screen file generation means generates a screen file for a programmable display for any user company.

  In the POD screen generation device, for example, a screen file for a programmable display for each user company is automatically generated simply by specifying a group for each screen data. When changing arbitrary screen data, it is only necessary to specify a group for this changed version of the screen data. In particular, when changing the screen data used in common for a plurality of user company screen files, it is only necessary to specify each group (specification of each user company) to this changed version of the screen data. Therefore, it is possible to easily change the POD screen for the programmable display of each user without taking time and effort. Also, mistakes are less likely to occur.

  Further, for example, the screen file for the programmable display is composed of the screen data of a plurality of predetermined screen types, and the screen data storage means stores one or a plurality of the screen data for each screen type. In the group designation / storage means, only one screen data for each screen type is the target of the group designation.

  According to the POD screen generation device of the present invention, it is necessary to change / update the POD screen, and in particular, it is commonly used in a plurality of users' programmable displays among a plurality of screens constituting the POD screen. When changing / updating / reusing a current screen, it is possible to easily change a POD screen for a programmable display of each user without taking time and without making a mistake.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the entire PLC system according to the present method.
The PLC (programmable controller) system shown in FIG. 1 includes a programmable display 1, a PC (personal computer) 6, an external device 3, and the like. The programmable display 1 is connected to the PC 6 through an arbitrary communication line 2 and is connected to the external device 3 through an arbitrary communication line 7. The external device 3 is, for example, a controller main body (PLC main body), and the external device 3 is connected to, for example, a printing machine (not shown).

The PC 6 stores programmable display drawing software 4 and a programmable display group editing tool (software) 5.
This method mainly relates to the group editing tool 5 for programmable display, which is hereinafter referred to as a group editing tool 5.

  Therefore, the following description mainly explains the processing function of the group editing tool 5, and naturally this processing function is realized by the PC (personal computer) 6. That is, it is realized by a CPU (not shown) included in the PC (personal computer) 6 reading and executing a predetermined application program stored in a storage device (hard disk or the like) not shown.

  Further, the PC (personal computer) 6 may be a personal computer for a program developer or a personal computer owned by a maintenance person who goes to each user for maintenance (in this case, screen update). Good. If you are a maintenance person, connect the PC (PC) 6 to the programmable display 1 via the communication line 2 as shown in FIG. 1 and download the generated POD screen file to the programmable display 1 as described later. To do. Alternatively, in the case of a personal computer for program developers, the POD screen file generated as described later on the personal computer (PC) 6 is transferred to a personal computer owned by maintenance personnel or a portable storage medium such as a CF card. The maintenance staff or the like connects these personal computers or portable storage media to the programmable display 1 at each user, and stores the POD screen file in the programmable display 1.

  The group editing tool 5 edits and manages a plurality of types of POD screens (here, there are two types of POD screens, a POD screen for company A and a POD screen for company B, according to the conventional example). Is what you do. As described above, each POD screen is composed of a plurality of screens. Here, it is assumed that the screen is composed of three types of screens, a menu screen, a machine operation screen, and an operation log display screen, as in the conventional example.

  In this method, each screen (screen) is managed by the screen configuration table 10 shown in FIG. The screen configuration table 10 in the example shown in FIG. 11, group 12, and screen content 13. Here, the screen content 13 may be regarded as a file name of each screen (screen) constituting the POD screen.

  For each screen (screen) indicated by the screen content 13, the group 12 to which it belongs and the screen number. 11 is stored. The group 12 means the company A and the company B, and the illustrated group 12 = 'A' means the company A, and the group 12 = 'B' means the company B.

  Screen No. Reference numeral 11 does not mean a number assigned to each screen (screen) indicated by the screen content 13, but an identification number assigned to each type of screen constituting the POD screen (three types in the above example). Therefore, for example, in the example shown in the figure, there are two menu screens, the A company menu screen and the B company menu screen. 11 is '0'.

  Further, the machine operation screen and the operation log display screen are commonly used by the A company and the B company, so that the group 12 = 'A, B' as shown in the figure. In addition, screen No. 11 is ‘1’ and ‘2’ as illustrated.

  Data of each screen (screen) indicated by the screen content 13 shown in the drawing, that is, each screen data of the A company menu screen, the B company menu screen, the machine operation screen, and the operation log display screen is not shown in a storage device (hard disk or the like). Stored in Further, when new screen data (a machine operation screen 2 and an operation log display screen 2 described later) is created, the new screen data is also stored in a storage device (not shown). The screen data is created by the developer using the function of the programmable display screen design software 4.

  The screen data stored in these storage devices are not classified and stored for each company, but are stored in a mixed manner. Then, screen data necessary for generating a POD screen file for an arbitrary company is extracted and edited by the group editing tool 5.

  That is, in this example, when creating POD screens for Company A and Company B, by referring to the screen configuration table 10, the data of each screen (screen) corresponding to each company is extracted. Based on this, a POD screen file for each company is created.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (b), for example, when creating a POD screen for company A, it belongs to group A among screen data stored in a storage device (hard disk or the like) not shown. The screen data for the company A is created based on the extracted screen data.

  Specifically, by referring to the screen configuration table 10, all the records in which the group 12 is “A” (the above-mentioned group 12 = “A, B” records are also applicable) are extracted. Each screen (screen) data indicated by the screen content 13 of each record is obtained. In this example, each screen data of the A company menu screen, the machine operation screen, and the operation log display screen is extracted, and a POD screen file for the A company is created based on these data.

Similarly, when creating a POD screen for company B, only the screen data belonging to group B is extracted to create a POD screen file for company A.
Here, if it becomes necessary to change to the POD screen corresponding to the succeeding printing machine 2 in both company A and company B according to the situation described in the above-described problem, Each screen data of the machine operation screen 2 and the operation log display screen 2 is newly created, and information regarding the newly created screen data is additionally registered in the screen configuration table 10.

  Note that when creating new screen data, the user (developer, etc.) can select the screen No. Based on these, a new record of the screen configuration table 10 is created.

Not only when the POD screen is changed, but also when updating only specific screen data (especially screen data that is commonly used by a plurality of user company devices) or when reusing existing screen data This method can also be effectively applied to (eg, diverting screen data created for a device of an arbitrary user company to POD screen creation for a device of another user company).

  The state of the screen configuration table 10 at this time is not shown, but if described using the state shown in FIG. 4A described later, the difference from the state shown in FIG. The record group 12 corresponding to the operation log display screen 2 is in a state where nothing is stored (blank), while the machine operation screen and the record corresponding to the operation log display screen are shown in FIG. The state of (a) remains unchanged, that is, 'A, B' is stored in the group 12 of these records.

  In this state, when the user performs a predetermined instruction operation, a selection screen for each group is displayed, and the user selects a desired screen on the selection screen. For example, when the user performs a group A selection instruction operation, the group A selection screen 20 shown in FIG. 3 is displayed.

  The selection screen 20 shown in FIG. 22, name 23, update date 24, remarks 25, and the like. Screen No. 22, name 23, update date 24, and remarks 25 basically display the contents of the screen configuration table 10. Although not shown in FIG. 2A, it is assumed that data corresponding to the update date 24 and the remarks 25 are also stored in the screen configuration table 10. In addition, the data of the screen content 13 is displayed in the name 23.

  The group A selection 21 is an input field for the user to select a desired screen, and indicates that the illustrated circle is selected. Accordingly, in the illustrated example, the A company menu screen, the machine operation screen 2, and the operation log display screen 2 are selected.

  Similarly, for group B, a selection screen for group B (not shown) is displayed, and the user selects and inputs a desired screen. Here, the B company menu screen, the machine operation screen 2, and the operation log display screen 2 are selected.

  By executing the selection process described above, the contents of the screen configuration table 10 are in the state shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, 'A, B' is stored in the record group 12 corresponding to the machine operation screen 2 and the operation log display screen 2. On the other hand, the record group 12 corresponding to the machine operation screen and the operation log display screen is blank.

  Accordingly, by executing the screen extraction process described in FIG. 2B with reference to the screen configuration table 10 in this state, as shown in FIG. The menu screen, the machine operation screen 2, and the operation log display screen 2 are extracted, so that a POD screen file for the company A and corresponding to the succeeding printing machine 2 is created. The same applies to POD screen file creation for company B.

  After that, since each created POD screen file is only downloaded to the programmable display 1 installed in each of the A company and the B company, there is no need for time and trouble as in the conventional case. Therefore, the POD screen can be changed.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the POD screen file creation process for the company A.
In the illustrated process, when a user or the like instructs to create a new screen file A that is a POD screen file for company A (step S1), first, an initial value “1” is substituted into a predetermined variable N (step S2). Thereafter, the records of the screen configuration table 10 are sequentially referred to, and the processes of steps S3 to S6 are repeatedly executed. The screen file A has no data in the initial state.

  That is, with reference to the group 12 of processing target records in the screen configuration table 10, it is checked whether or not 'A' is stored. That is, it is checked whether or not the screen to be processed belongs to group A (step S3). If it belongs to the group A (step S3, YES), the screen (screen) data indicated by the screen content 13 of the record to be processed is acquired and combined with the screen file A (step S4). “Combining” means, for example, storing screen data in the screen file A in a predetermined format. The storage format of each screen data in the screen file is the same as before and will not be described in particular.

  And it is checked whether N is more than the number of registration screens (step S5). That is, it is checked whether or not N is equal to or greater than the number of records in the screen configuration table 10, in other words, whether or not processing has been executed for all records in the screen configuration table 10.

  If N is less than the number of registered screens (step S5, NO), “N = N + 1” is set (step S6), and the process returns to step S3. In addition, also when step S3 is NO, step S6 is performed and it returns to step S3.

  The above description is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. In this method, basically, it is possible to prepare a plurality of screens for each type of screen constituting the POD screen (three types in the above example), and information on these screens is stored in the screen configuration table 10. By registering and allowing the user to select a desired screen for each type, a desired POD screen file can be easily generated without taking time and effort.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, an arbitrary screen type (in the example shown, screen 0 is shown, but the same applies to other screens 1 and the like. Note that “0” and “1” of screens 0 and 1 are the above screens. A plurality of screens are prepared for each (corresponding to No. 11).

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, regarding the screen 0, three types of screens for four colors, eight colors, and sixteen colors shown in the figure are created. Although not particularly illustrated, these are registered in the screen configuration table 10. Then, the user selects a desired screen from among three types of screens for 4 colors, 8 colors, and 16 colors for screen 0. Although not shown in the figure, the other screens 1 and the like are similarly selected. Thereby, a desired POD screen can be easily generated.

  Further, although not described above, in the setting screen shown in FIG. When a plurality of records are selected, an error may be displayed or selection input may not be accepted. In this way, mistakes are less likely to occur.

  Alternatively, for example, when “menu” is included in the screen name stored in the screen content 13, the screen data is individual screen data for each user company and is not used in common. You may make it determine. If a plurality of groups (for example, A and B) are to be set for such screen data, an error display or selection input may not be accepted. By doing so, mistakes are less likely to occur. That is, by storing in the table 10 information that can determine whether each screen data is individual for each user company or can be used in common, mistakes are less likely to occur.

The common setting and library shown in FIG. 6 are data of so-called “parts” such as switches and meters arranged on the screen, and are not particularly relevant here.
FIG. 7 shows a hardware configuration of the PC 6 (computer).

  The computer 30 shown in FIG. 7 includes a CPU 31, a memory 32, an input unit 33, an output unit 34, a storage unit 35, a recording medium drive unit 36, and a network connection unit 37, which are connected to a bus 38. It has become.

The CPU 31 is a central processing unit that controls the entire computer 30.
The memory 32 is a memory such as a RAM that temporarily stores a program or data stored in the storage unit 35 (or the portable recording medium 39) when executing arbitrary processing. The CPU 31 executes various processes using the program / data read out to the memory 32.

The output unit 34 is, for example, a display, and the input unit 33 is, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, or the like.
The network connection unit 37 is configured to perform communication (command / data transmission / reception etc.) with another information processing apparatus by connecting to a network (not shown), for example.

  The storage unit 35 is, for example, a hard disk or the like, and stores an application program for causing the CPU 31 to realize the processing functions of the group editing tool 5 described above (the above-described various processing (including the processing of the flowchart of FIG. 5)). . Data such as the screen configuration table 10 is also stored.

The CPU 31 realizes various functions and processing of the group editing tool 5 described above by reading and executing various programs stored in the storage unit 35.
Alternatively, the various programs / data stored in the storage unit 35 may be stored in the portable recording medium 39. In this case, the program / data stored in the portable recording medium 39 is read by the recording medium driving unit 36. The portable recording medium 39 is, for example, an FD (flexible disk) 39a, a CD-ROM 39b, a DVD, a magneto-optical disk, or the like.

  Alternatively, the program / data may be downloaded from another device via a network connected by the network connection unit 37. Or you may further download what was memorize | stored in the external other apparatus via the internet.

  In addition, the present invention can be configured not only as a portable storage medium recording a program for realizing the various processes of the present invention on a computer, but also as the program itself.

It is a schematic block diagram of the whole PLC system which concerns on this method. (A) is a screen structure table (before update), (b) is a figure for demonstrating a POD screen production | generation process. It is an example of a selection screen. (A) is a screen structure table (after update), (b) is a figure for demonstrating a POD screen production | generation process. It is a flowchart figure of the screen extraction process for POD screen generation. It is a figure for demonstrating the other application example of this method. It is a computer hardware block diagram. It is a schematic block diagram of the whole conventional PLC system. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the conventional POD screen. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the change of the POD screen shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Programmable display 2,7 Communication line 3 External apparatus 4 Program display software for programmable display 5 Group edit tool for programmable display 6 PC (personal computer)
10 Screen configuration table 11 Screen No.
12 Group 13 Screen content 20 Selection screen 21 Group A selection 22 Screen no.
23 Name 24 Update date 25 Remarks 30 Computer 31 CPU
32 memory 33 input unit 34 output unit 35 storage unit 36 recording medium drive unit 37 network connection unit 38 bus 39 portable recording medium 39a FD (flexible disk)
39b CD-ROM

Claims (3)

A POD screen generation device for generating a screen file for a programmable display comprising a plurality of screen data,
Drawing means for creating arbitrary screen data;
Screen data storage means for storing each screen data created by the drawing means;
With respect to each screen data stored in the screen data storage means, a group designation / storage means for specifying and storing one or a plurality of groups to which the screen data belongs,
When the creation of the screen file of an arbitrary group is requested, all the screen data belonging to the creation target group is extracted with reference to the group designation / storage means, and based on the extracted screen data Screen file generating means for generating the screen file,
Each group corresponds to each user company, and the screen file generation means generates a screen file for a programmable display for an arbitrary user company. The screen file for the programmable display consists of the screen data of a plurality of predetermined screen types,
The screen data storage means stores one or a plurality of the screen data for each screen type,
In the group specifying and storing means, wherein only one screen data for each screen types claim 1 Symbol placement of POD screen generating apparatus, characterized in that the said group specification target. A computer that generates a screen file for a programmable display composed of a plurality of screen data,
Drawing means for creating arbitrary screen data;
Screen data storage means for storing each screen data created by the drawing means;
With respect to each screen data stored in the screen data storage means, a group designation / storage means for specifying and storing one or a plurality of groups to which the screen data belongs,
Each group corresponds to each user company. When the screen file creation of an arbitrary group is requested, all the screens belonging to the creation target group are referred to by referring to the group designation / storage means. Screen file generating means for extracting data and generating the screen file for a programmable display for any user company based on the extracted screen data;
Program to function as.