Comments, Networks with Linebreaks, ‘Extras’ ‘Options’

Every network can be supplied with a multi-lined comment. In the dialog ‘Function Block and Ladder Diagram Options’, which can be opened by executing the command ‘Extras’ ‘Options’, you can do settings concerning comments and linebreaks.

Maximum Comment Size: Maximum number of lines to be made available for a network comment (The default value here is 4.)

Minimum Comment Size: Number of lines that generally should be reserved for comments. If, for example, the number 2 is entered, then, at the start of each network there will be two empty lines after the label line. The default value here is 0, which has the advantage of allowing more networks to fit in the screen area.

If the minimal comment size is greater than 0, then in order to enter a comment you simply click in the comment line and then enter the comment. Otherwise you first must select the network to which a comment is to be entered, and use ‘Insert’ ‘Comment’ to insert a comment line. In contrast to the program text, comments are displayed in grey.

Alternative Look & Feel: The following options allow to define an alternative look of the networks.

Comments per Contact (only for Ladder editor): If this option is activated, you can assign an individual comment to each contact or coil . In the edit field Lines for Variable Comment enter the number of lines which should be reserved and displayed for the comment. If this setting is done, a comment field will be displayed in the editor above each contact and coil where you can insert text.

If Comments per Contact is activated, then in the Ladder editor also the number of lines (Lines for Variable Text:) can be defined which should be used for the variable name of the contact resp. coil.  This is used to display even long names completely by breaking them into several lines. In the following example 2 lines are defined for the variable comment and 1 line for the variable text:

Networks with Linebreaks (only for Ladder editor): If this option is activated, linebreaks will be forced in the networks as soon as the network length exceeds the given window size and some of the elements would not be visible.

Replace with Symbol after entering Address: (only for Ladder editor): If this option is activated, you can enter an address at a box resp. at a contact or coil (e.g. “%QB4”) and this address will be replaced immediately by the name of the variable which is assigned to the address. If there is no variable assigned to the entered address, the address remains displayed unchangedly.

Set Contact Comment to Symbol Comment: If this option is activated, in the comment field of a contact resp. a coil that comment will be displayed which has been defined at the declaration of the variable used for the contact or coil. The comment then can be edited. (see example in the subsequent picture.). For this purpose however the option ‘Comments per Contact’ also must be activated. Regard that a comment which has been entered already locally at a contact or coil will be replaced automatically by the variable comment in any case, even if the variable has not got a comment in its declaration!

Show Address of Symbol: (only for Ladder editor): If this option is activated and a variable assigned to a contact or coil is assigned to an address, the address will be displayed above the variable name (see example in the picture above).

Show Variable Comments per Rung in Printout: If this option is activated, in each network for each variable used in that network there will be displayed a line showing the name, address, data type and comment for this variable, as defined in the variables declaration. This might be of useful for a documentation (printout) of the project. Example:

OK: Press this button to apply the settings on the actual POU and to close the options dialog.

Apply options: Press this button to apply the settings on the whole project. A dialog will open asking you where you have explicitly to confirm that you want to do that.