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Built-in Tag Types

FactoryStudio provides 13 built-in tag types, most of which are based directly on .NET datatypes. These The 13 built-in tag types are summarized in the following table. 

Decimal

The Decimal type allows calculation with higher precision than the Double type. However, math operations using Decimal can be 40 times slower than using Double. So the Decimal type should only be used when Double precision is not enough.

Timer

Timer is a built-in integer type that can be used to generate precise timing signals. Timers have the following varieties: 

• SquareWave:  the  The value toggles between 0 and 1.
• Pulse: the the The tag changes to 0, then . Then immediately changes immediately to 1. 
• DelayOff:  the The tag behaves as a PLC Timer Off. During the runtime, if If you set the tag with some a value other than the StartValue during runtime, the tag will hold that value for the period specified in the Interval. The tag goes back to its StartValue after the period of time (Interval). 

• Comparer: the The tag is set to 1 after the specified comparer Interval, and then goes back to zero at midnight. 

For the SquareWave, Pulse, and Comparer, If you set the tag StartValue, the tag toggles between 0 and the StartValue (instead of 0 and 1) if you set the tag StartValue. 

Reference

Reference Tags allows tags allow dynamic addressing of the variables. 

The concept way you use Reference tags in FactoryStudio is closer to the concept of References how you use references in .NET programming , more than it is to the old C++ pointers. This is because Reference Tags, like .NET references, are typed; that means that when creating a Reference Tag Reference tags are similar to .NET references because they both have a type. When you create a reference tag, you need to define the type of the object the reference will be pointing point to. Like .NET References and unlike Unlike C++ pointers, a Reference Tag tag cannot be defined to point to invalid memory areas that would cause errors in the application.

The target Type type for the Reference types is defined in the Parameters columns.

The use of typed references brings advantages both in Engineering and Runtime. In Engineering it allows Intellisense Typed references bring advantages in both the engineering stage and in runtime. In the engineering stage, it allows IntelliSense to directly browse the members of the template, when the template members if a reference is pointing to a template; . In the runtime, it allows string data validation. 

All Reference Tags tags have an additional runtime attribute, . This is the link, which specifies the  and it specifies which tag that the reference will be linked to during execution.

Essentially, the Link link property is a string property that should needs to receive the target tag name before using the reference tag. You can assign a string directly or by using a string expression, but the . The best way to set the Link link property is to use the Method method GetName(), which will create the string based on the current tag name. This way, you can rename the tag without having to search the strings. This also shows the tag names linked on the cross-reference utility. 

An example project (ReferenceTags) ships with FactoryStudio.

The reason for using the GetName() method, instead of using strings directly, is that with GetName() you retain the benefits of Cross-Reference and Refactoring. 

Creating and Editing Tags

To create and edit tags:

• Go to Edit > Tags > Objects.
• To create a new tag, enter its name and any other applicable properties in the blank top row (Insertion Row). To edit an existing row, select any item in the row and make the any desired changes. Here is a complete table of available tag properties. Note that many of these properties are optional and only apply to specific kinds of tags.

The columns above are visible by default. To add or remove a one of the column below, right-click the column heading area and check or uncheck the columns that will should be visible.

Continue adding as many tags as you need. 

Notes

You can also create a tag from anywhere in FactoryStudio by clicking New Tag in the toolbar.

Like any other configuration table, you can also import CSV files or copy/paste contents content directly from an Excel spreadsheet or from other applications. 

With FactoryStudio, you can replace names at any time, so an . An easy way to create a tag is to click with the mouse on the Name column of the insertion row, then press space and enter. Each time you do this, the system will create a Tag of the same type as the last one created. You can use the mouse on of tag that was last created. In the insertion row to , select the Type, then click with the mouse in on the header or any other part of that grid. That This will also create a tag with a default name. Also, you can configure more than one row at the same time, just select a time by selecting the rows with the Shift button, then right-click and select "Edit Combined Rows". A new popup will open with the information for the rows' information. All The settings changed in this window will change all of the selected rows selected. If a column has , it shows that this column has more than one configuration. 

Tag Formats

The format property defines the display format for tag values. These formats follow the specifications provided in Microsoft .NET. For valid numeric formats, refer to Standard Numeric Format Strings (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dwhawy9k%28v=VS.90%29.aspx). For of tag values. These formats follow the specifications provided in Microsoft .NET. For valid numeric formats, refer to Standard Numeric Format Strings. For example: N1 (number with 1 decimal place).

For valid date and time formats, refer to Standard Date and Time Format Strings (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/az4se3k1%28v=VS.90%29.aspx). For to Standard Date and Time Format Strings. For example: d (short date).

For a more in-depth discussion of format strings, refer to Formatting Types (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/fbxft59x%28v=VS.90%29.aspx).to Formatting Types.

Creating Templates

Templates let you create new tag types based on existing built-in types.

To create a tag template:

• Go to Edit to Edit > Tags > Templates.
• Click New.
• The "Create New Tag Template" dialog shows.
• In the "New Type Name" field, enter a name for the tag type. In the Description, enter a description of the tag. Click OK. The Templates tab displays with the name of the new template at the top of the tab.
• Click the insertion row to create a new attribute for this tag template.

• Enter or select information, as needed, all the . The properties are the same as in Tags  (see ones for Tags. See Creating and Editing Tags )above.

• To delete a template, select it from the User Custom Type drop-down list, then click Del.
• On the Objects tab, for new tags or existing ones, you can now use this new template in the Type column.

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Assets Assets

Assets and Categories

Assets

If you have the Enterprise version of FactoryStudio, assets Assets let you configure additional metadata for your project when you have the Enterprise version of FactoryStudio. For example, you can organize the objects in your project , such as tags, devices, and alarms, into a hierarchy. This lets you group tags that are related to each other. The hierarchy may reflect such things as areas the area of your manufacturing floor or the location of your machinery.

To create assets:

• Go to Edit > Tags > Assets.
• Right-click "Elements" and select New Level.
• Enter a name for the level.
• Right-click the new level and select Insert Asset.
• The Select Object window displays, with all the objects , organized by type, on type on the left side.
• Select the object type from on the left side and the object you want from on the right side.
• Click OK.
• The object becomes a child of the selected level.
• Continue adding child or sibling levels and inserting assets, as needed.
• If needed, rightRight-click a level to rename or delete a level, or right-click an asset to delete it.
• On In the Objects tab, for new or existing tags, select the new level in the Level column.

Categories

If you have the Enterprise version of FactoryStudio, you can create user-defined categories of data that you can use as tag metadata for tags. Categories are useful for filtering, both when creating the project and during runtime.

To create categories:

• Go to Run > Dictionaries > Categories.
• Enter or edit the name and description for of the category.
• Continue adding as many categories as you need.
• On the Tag - > Objects tab, for new or existing tags, select the new category in the Category column. Other Project project elements can also use categories for project organization.

The Tag Namespace

All project tags are available to in the runtime modules as .NET objects at for the Tag Namespace. 

All Builtof the built-in Tag Types tag types share a common set of properties and methods which are defined in the base class TagObj. The Tags tags created from user defined templates are implemented by the base class UserType. 

See "Namespaces" for the complete programming reference on runtime objects.