Declaration Editors in Online Mode

In online mode , the Declaration Editor changes into a monitor window. In each line there is a variable followed by the equal sign (=) and the value of the variable. If the variable at this point is undefined, three question marks (???) will appear. For function blocks, values are displayed only for open instances (command: ‘Project’ ‘Open instance’).

In front of every multi-element variable there is a plus sign. By pressing <Enter> or after doubleclicking on such a variable, the variable is opened up. In the example, the traffic signal structure would be opened up.

When a variable is open, all of its components are listed after it. A minus sign appears in front of the variable. If you doubleclick again or press <Enter>, the variable will be closed, and the plus sign will reappear.

Pressing <Enter> or doubleclicking on a single-element variable will open the dialog box to write a variable. Here it is possible to change the present value of the variable. In the case of Boolean variables, no dialog box appears; these variables are toggled.

The new value is displayed after the variable, in pointed brackets and in turquoise color, and remains unchanged. If the ‘Online’ ‘Write values’ command is given, then all variables are placed in the selected list and are once again displayed in black.

If the ‘Online’ ‘Force values’ command is given, then all variables will be set to the selected values, until the ‘Online’ ‘Release force’ command is given. In this event, the color of the force value changes to red.