Graphic logic editor
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Contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Working with the graphic logic editor
3.
Worksheet
3.1.
Printing a worksheet
4.
Input boxes / Inputs
4.1.
Input box
5.
Output boxes / Outputs
5.1.
Output box
6.
Input box / Output box functionality
7.
Text fields
8.
Text field functionality
9.
Modules
9.1.
Removed module files
10.
Module functionality
11.
Importing and exporting logic modules (templates)
11.1.
Export into template (save)
11.2.
Import from template (insert)
12.
Linking inputs and outputs
13.
Grouping elements
14.
Aligning elements on a worksheet
15.
Linking between worksheets (connectors)
16.
Actions via several selected elements
17.
Main menu
18.
Other key combinations
19.
FAQs
19.1.
How do I establish a connection between an input object and an input of a logic module?
19.2.
How do I copy a complete worksheet within a project?
19.3.
How can I copy a group of logic modules to another project?
19.4.
What is a connector?

1. Introduction

Logic functions are positioned on a worksheet. The connections to one another are then created using the mouse.

2. Working with the graphic logic editor

The Worksheet is the basis of the logic editor. The following elements can be positioned on a worksheet:
  • Input boxes (inputs)
  • Output boxes (outputs)
  • Text fields
  • Logic modules

3. Worksheet

The input boxes, output boxes, modules and text fields are positioned on a worksheet. The size of a worksheet can be selected. You can choose from five different sizes. The following sizes are available:
  • Very small: 600 x 424 points
  • Small: 800 x 565 points
  • Medium: 1600 x 1131 points
  • Large: 2400 x 1697 points
  • Very large: 2000 x 1413 points

3.1. Printing a worksheet

The worksheet can be printed out. This reduces/enlarges the output to the print format/page format of the printer.

4. Input boxes / Inputs

The inputs of a worksheet can be summarised in the Input box. A worksheet may contain several of these.

4.1. Input box

An input box can be created via the pop-up menu that appears when you right-click the mouse, via the key combination CTRL+F1, via the "New" menu item in the toolbar of the worksheet, or via the module structure (here simply drag&drop onto the worksheet).

An input box can contain the following elements:
  • Communication objects
  • Connectors
To insert new elements in an input box, simply right-click the box's header line. Both communication objects and connectors can be inserted in the box in the pop-up menu that opens. Clicking the plus symbol inside the header line inserts a communication object into the box directly.
Note
You can assign a new communication object to the input directly by clicking an input and dragging the mouse to the plus symbol of the input box while holding the left mouse button.
Note
Any number of elements can be assigned to an input box. The limitation lies in the surface of the worksheet.

Further information on the input box can be found in the Input box / Output box functionality section.

5. Output boxes / Outputs

The outputs of a worksheet can be summarised in the Output box. A worksheet may contain several of these.

5.1. Output box

An output box can be created via the pop-up menu that appears when you right-click the mouse, via the key combination CTRL+F2, via the "New" menu item in the toolbar of the worksheet, or via the module structure (here simply drag&drop onto the worksheet).

An output box can contain the following elements:
  • Communication objects/Commands
  • Connectors
To insert new elements in an output box, simply right-click the box's header line. Communication objects can be inserted and connectors can be created in the pop-up menu that opens. Clicking the plus symbol inside the header line inserts a communication object/command into the box directly.
Note
You can assign a new communication object/command to the output directly by clicking the output of a logic module and dragging the mouse to the plus symbol of the output box while holding down the left mouse button. The output of the module is connected directly with the new output shaft. The communication window opens directly when you click on the plus symbol, while simultaneously holding the CTRL key.
Note
Any number of elements can be assigned to an output box. The limitation lies in the surface of the worksheet.

Further information on the output box can be found in the Input box / Output box functionality section.

6. Input box / Output box functionality

  • A double-click changes the designation
  • The sequence of objects can be changed with Press shift + drag mouse.
  • Right-click on the header:
    - Features - Changes designation of the box.
    - Cut, copy, insert - Internal copying functions. Enables the moving and copying of elements within the project.
    Note
    You can choose between the options "with connections" and "without connections" when inserting.
    - Save as template - Saves the selected elements as a template.
    - Create new objects - Adds the communication object, connector, commands into the box.
  • Right mouse button on object:
    - Features - Changes the communication object or connector.
    - Remove - Removes the object from the box.
    - Move to... - Moves the object to another box.
    - Cancel connections - Removes all connections of the selected object.
    - Upwards, downwards - Changes the sequence of objects inside a box.
  • Click on node (only output box):
    - Deletes individual connection

7. Text fields

Text fields can be inserted for comments and description. The size is determined automatically from the text size and can only be changed in this way. Simply double-click on the field to change the contents of a text field; alternatively, right-click to call the context menu.
Text with maximum 500 characters can be entered in a text field. Line breaks count as 2 characters.

8. Text field functionality

  • Double-click changes text

9. Modules

Theoretically, any number of modules can be positioned on a worksheet. Depending on the definition, a module contains a certain number of inputs/outputs. Every input can be assigned a fixed value and/or connected to objects from input boxes. Equally, every output can be connected to objects/commands from output boxes.

9.1. Removed module files

After removing a used module from the ...\logic folder and calling a worksheet on which this module is used, a prompt appears asking if you want to delete the module (including connections) from the worksheet. If you answer this question with No, the module and its connections are no longer displayed on the worksheet for the time being, i.e., they are not visible until the module is inserted in the ...\logic folder again. To then make the module appear in the worksheet again, HS/FS Expert must be restarted.

10. Module functionality

  • A double-click changes the designation
  • Right-click on the header:
    - Features - Change designation and telegram interval
    - Cut, copy, insert - Internal copying functions. Enables the moving and copying of elements within the project.
    Note
    You can choose between the options "with connections" and "without connections" when inserting.
    - Remove - Deletes the selected modules/elements.
    - Save as template - Exports the selected elements as a template.
    - Help for module - Shows the help for the selected module.
  • Right mouse button at input:
    - Assign with fixed value - Assigns the input a fixed value.
    - Negate connection(s) - Negates all connections of the selected input.
    - Cancel connection(s) - Removes all connections of the selected input.
  • Right mouse button on output:
    - Cancel connection(s) - Removes all connections of the selected output.
  • Mouse-click on node (only input):
    - Remove connection - Deletes individual connection
    - Negate connection - Negates individual connection

11. Importing and exporting logic modules (templates)

Individual elements of a worksheet or a group of elements can be stored/exported as template.
This data can then be imported again into other projects.

11.1. Export into template (save)

This function is available after an element or group is selected by right clicking the mouse. The mouse pointer must be on the header of the element. If an element to be saved or a group of elements contains communication objects, a list of these communication objects appears. In this list, you can give each communication object a further designation. This designation is later queried during inserting in order to be able to assign the matching communication object. The designation is entered with a double-click or the operating knob. This information is required in order to be able to assign the right communication objects when inserting the logic template.

11.2. Import from template (insert)

Saved templates can be imported cross-project onto any worksheet desired. During insertion, a mask appears, the missing objects have to be supplemented here.
Note
Only communication objects with matching data type can be assigned.
Note
The elements can be combined directly in a group during insertion.

12. Linking inputs and outputs

A connection is established by clicking an input/output object and a further CTRL click (mouse click with pressed CTRL key) on the input/output of a logic module. The sequence of the clicks is open. The normal click has to happen before the CTRL click however. An ideal connection path is marked. The last established connection is displayed in orange.

Options for establishing a connection:
  • Drag&Drop. Drag input to output and vice-versa.
  • Click on input and SHIFT+click on output and vice-versa.
  • Click on input and right mouse-click (menu item: establish connection) and vice versa
Note
Elements of an input box cannot be connected with elements of an output box.
Note
Click an input or output to check the connection. All connections of the respective input/output are highlighted in colour.

13. Grouping elements

  • Several elements of a worksheet can be combined into a group. Several groups are possible per worksheet.
  • Each element can only belong to one group.
  • Grouping remains the same in the project after saving and leaving Expert.
  • The elements (input box, output box, logic module, and text box) are selected by CTRL + left-click or by framing the elements (left-click and mouse movement around the elements).
  • When clicking on an element of a group, all elements of this group are selected.

14. Aligning elements on a worksheet

  • Click, hold, and drag, to move elements. If arranging/shifting is not possible (e.g., because the element is positioned outside the worksheet), the element remains in its initial position.
  • Selected elements on a worksheet can be finely adjusted with the cursor keys.

15. Linking between worksheets (connectors)

A connector can be defined on a worksheet in an output box. A connector is for applying the output on a logic module to the logic module of another worksheet. The connector can be created via the context menu (right mouse button) of the output box. The connector must only be assigned a designation. The connector can now be added to another worksheet in an input box.

16. Actions via several selected elements

  • Multiple selection with CTRL
  • Fine-adjustment with the cursor keys (1 step) of CTRL+cursor keys (2 steps)
  • Right mouse button:
    • Cut, copy, insert - Internal copying functions. Enables the moving and copying of elements within the project.
      Note
      You can choose between the options "with connections" and "without connections" when inserting.
    • Remove - Deletes the selected modules/elements.
    • Save as template - Exports the selected elements as a template.
    • Align - The selected elements can be aligned in different directions.
      Note
      This also works with the buttons located above the GLE interface.
    • Grouping - All selected elements can be combined into one group.
    • Cancel group - Cancels the group of the selected element.

17. Main menu

  • View\tree structure - Enables the switching and display of different tree structures on the left side of the mask.
  • View\Thumbnail view - Shows a thumbnail view of the worksheet.
  • View\Size of the thumbnail view - Changes the size of the thumbnail view.
  • Show view\sheet sizes - Activates\Deactivates sheet size grids. All smaller page sizes are displayed on the worksheet with a pointed line.
  • View\Font - Change font and size of the worksheet.
Note
Reducing a page is only possible if there are no elements outside the NEW page dimensions.

18. Other key combinations

In order to trigger a key combination, the worksheet has to be focused.
  • F2 - Opens create menu.
  • F3 - Re-creates the last module created.
  • F6 - Shows thumbnail view. Size can be adjusted via main menu.
  • CTRL+F1 - Creates new input box.
  • CTRL+F2 - Creates new output box.
  • CTRL+F3 - Creates new text field.
  • CTRL+F4 - Opens the Import template file dialogue.
  • CTRL+A - Selects all elements of a worksheet.

19. FAQs

19.1. How do I establish a connection between an input object and an input of a logic module?

  • By clicking an input object, holding the left mouse button and dragging the input of the logic module.
  • OR by clicking the input object once and pressing SHIFT+left-click on the input of a logic module.

19.2. How do I copy a complete worksheet within a project?

  • Right-click a worksheet in the tree structure. A menu item appears here. In the tree structure, mark the position where you wish to insert. Right-click to open the Insert menu item.

19.3. How can I copy a group of logic modules to another project?

Method 1 - Use the clipboard:
  • If your Global Library is NOT empty, empty it. (Expert-> Main menu-> Global Library-> Delete)
  • Select all desired elements and right-click to open the Copy in Global Library menu item.
  • Select Global Library-> Clipboard-> Copy in the main menu of Expert.
  • Open the project into which the modules are to be imported.
  • Select Global Library-> Clipboard-> Insert in the main menu and follow the instructions.
Method 2 - Use the templates:
  • Mark all desired elements and right-click to open the Grouping menu item.
  • Open the Export into template menu item by right-clicking again above the header of a group member.
  • Now save the template under a name.
  • Open the project into which the modules are to be imported.
  • Select a worksheet.
  • Right-clicking the worksheet opens the Import from template menu item.

19.4. What is a connector?

  • An output that was defined on another worksheet and is to be available on all worksheets. A connector can be created in an output box. The counterpart is located in an input box.