dan_lorentz

So I have a program that is using the SMS communication functionality and I am actually using multiple SMS Configuration blocks depending on what the setting in the PLC are and everything was working fine until I started playing with the SMS Send function block. I now can't download my code and even though it tells me to delete the net and re-enter it, and that doesn't work. Attached is the error message. Are there any limitations to the SMS send blocks? Can only one block be in a net? Has any one had this issue before? Thanks, Dan

SB 219 toggle rapidly between 0 and 1 while I am doing my data dump. I could always add a time based on that bit but I still return to my original question, How does the SD Safely Remove function block and what are the purposes of the DW and MB associated with the function block. I am avoiding using my own timers and memory because the more I program this PLC the more space I am going to need. Thanks, Dan

Does anyone have input regarding this? It has been longer than a week and I need to finish this task up so I can move on and not worry about it. Thanks, Dan

I am working on a project where I allow the user to perform a dump of information located in the data tables to a .CSV file on the SD card. I am trying to avoid users blaming me if the SD card gets corrupted so I am coming up with a procedure that must be followed before the SD card can be removed. I need to know how the SD Safely Remove function block actually works. What is the DW and what is the MB? I assumed that the MB would go from a 0 to 1 if it was safe to remove the SD Card but I checked this while performing a dump to the SD card and the MB still changed to 1. Also, I need clarification on the following sentence from the help. "It allows a current task to be completed, but prevents new ones from starting." What tasks is that referring to? Basically what I am trying to do is perform a check to make sure that it is safe to remove the SD card. Thanks, Dan

Thanks for the help. Much appreciated and defiantely good to know. Dan

My issue has arisen because I am using my programming software with dual monitors. The issue at hand is that because I have switched my primary monitor since last editing my code, the pop-ups that allow you to put the information into a ladder element (a contact for example) does not show up on my monitor because it is popping up onto a screen that doesn't exist. My computer won't let me switch my primary monitor so I can just drag the pop-up back where it belongs. Even if I don't have dual monitors I can't get the pop-ups to come up. I have had a similar issue with AutoCAD layers manager pop-up. Where all I had to do was going thru the Redistry Editor and find the HKEY_.... and set the proper value to the RED_SZ, either a 0 or 1 to return the pop-up to it's default location. How to get the Unitronics pop-ups to return to their original position? I have tried re-installing the software. Is there something that I need to delete in HKEY_ folde?r Thanks, Dan

I was able to use excel commands and macros to convert the time to a understandable number. However, the lastest issue is when I pick a MI to have leading zeros in the Create Exce Delimited Line function block the leading zeros aren't up in the .CSV file. Anyone have input? Thanks, Dan

So I have the block working now and can see the timer in ASCII format thru the PLC. The next stage that I am having trouble with is taking the MIs that provide the time and sending them to an SD card. Should I take the ASCII and convert it back to a number? Thanks, Dan

James, I have found that it is easier to export the subroutine that you plan on copying and importing it. The only thing you have to consider is memory allocation. This also allows you take information from new Visilogic versions and insert it into a project that is an older version. Dan

I am working on a project that I have to pull timer information from the data tables and send it to an SD card. I found the T - ASCII function block under the strings menu but wasn't able to find any information in the help section. The block seems very straight forward but I can't seem to get the output of the block to change as the timer value changes, see the attached jpegs. The timer that I am trying to convert has a value of 99:59:59:99. One thing that I thought that might be the issue but can't find any information on in the help section is the Offset in the Vector. I made the assumption that since I will be sending this value to an Excel file eventually that the best solution was to click the excel option of a const. of 1000. I also adjusted the format but the output value did not change then either. Then I changed the Preset/Current option and nothing changed. I then changed the remaining/elapsed option but nothing changed still. I have played with having the string address destination be both MI (dec and hex) and ML (dec and hex) but the values did not change. My final goal is to be able to take the value from this block and send it to the SD card via the Create Excel Delimited Line block. Am I having a race in the logic and not allowing the block time to operate, does the block not work, or have I missed a simple set-up step. Thanks, Dan

So now that I know the time of the power failure and the length of time the unit was powered down I have run accross a completely different issue. I need to determine if a particular time of day on a given day of the week passed while the power was off. I just can't seem to come up with a way to determine if that time. I.E. last Wednesday using the DOW box, and the time by using the HOUR indirect ttime function. Any ideas?

I merely mentioned it because I could see it as an easy addition to the help section. I personally didn't even know the example files existing until know. When using a new program the first instict is to check the help section for answering questions. Also, in basic math you don't say A subtract B equals C. You would say B subtracted from A equals C or A minus B equals C.Again, I just made a comment on this as an oppurtunity to avoid any confusion down the road for others.Thanks

I want to make sure I understand this clearly because I am still a bit confused on what the UTC is for. I understand that the UTC can hold an integer that tells you where you are in time with respect to the epoch, what I don't understand is how to get the value itself. If I take the RTC to UTC and send SI 30 to DW 0, am I going to get the time in seconds from the epoch? Does the RTU to UTC account for the year, days, and hours in seconds and add them to the UTC or do I have to account for all of that in my one DW that is the time since the epoch?

I am doing some basic math and noticed a lack of clear explaination of the math function blocks. For instance the subtraction block. It isn't clearly called out that A - B = C. It says that C is the difference between the two MIs. If the difference is going to stored in a MI it makes a big difference on whether A is subtracted from B or B from A as a negative sign could occur. Also, please correct me if I am wrong but I am under the assume that it is A - B = C Thanks.

>> Also, when using the UTC, do you have to create a variable in a display to use it? >No, it's just a number in one 32-bit register (DW).I think I am missing what DW the UTC will store its information if you don't call it on a HMI screen and designate it a DW for it. Am I missing a function block that will call the UTC?

If a new function block isn't developed by then, does that mean that I will have to go out into the field and reprogram every PLC that I have installed once the function block exists? This could be very costly...

Interesting question Joe. What is going to be the solution to this? Also, when using the UTC, do you have to create a variable in a display to use it? I have no desire to display the time and date I just need it so that I can do a UTC to a RTU (DW to MI).Also, I am unclear how you can store a date in seconds with out the hours and seconds remaining. Is the UTC basically just using very large numbers to corespond to a particular date? I think my main issued is how you go from a date to just HH:MM.SS. Am I reading the help section incorrectly? From my understanding if the zero was set at 1900 - 01 - 01 00:00.00 then when the 32 bit binary number was at 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 that would give us an integer of 4294967295 seconds which when converted would give us a value of 136.19251950152207 years. How are we going to get ok readings until 2024 and not 2036? Is because the maximum MI is 32767?If what I am saying is right then one UTC can be used for when the power is lost but still a significant amount of code will have to be written to account for the actual time elapsed in years, months, days, hours, seconds with multiple RTU (MI) numbers or can XI (no information on this in the help) or SI be used to cover longer lengths of time?Thanks,Dan