Method for debugging flowchart programs for industrial controllers
First Claim
1. A method for debugging a program for an industrial controller, the industrial controller having an engineering system including an editor and further having a run time system, wherein graphical elements are linked using the editor to form a motion control flowchart that can be visualized on a display, the graphical elements corresponding to respective tasks, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) preparing a debugging process for the industrial control program based on the flowchart;
b) assigning a suspend command to each graphical element of the flowchart;
c) commencing the debugging process for the industrial control program;
d) continuing the debugging process until a suspend command is reached;
e) displaying the location of the flowchart element corresponding to the suspend command;
f) continuing a task corresponding to a graphical element of the flowchart, that has been suspended by a suspend command, using a task control mechanism of the run-time system; and
g) proceeding to the next possible suspend command;
wherein a user can switch between structured textual language, contact plan and function plan as forms of representation for formulation conditions.
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Abstract
A method for debugging flowchart based computer programs for industrial controllers, in particular motion controllers, wherein suspend commands are assigned to the graphical elements. Through the use of a task control mechanism in the run time system, the user may debug the program on the flowchart level, using a single-step mode and/or a breakpoint mode.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for debugging a program for an industrial controller, the industrial controller having an engineering system including an editor and further having a run time system, wherein graphical elements are linked using the editor to form a motion control flowchart that can be visualized on a display, the graphical elements corresponding to respective tasks, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) preparing a debugging process for the industrial control program based on the flowchart; b) assigning a suspend command to each graphical element of the flowchart; c) commencing the debugging process for the industrial control program; d) continuing the debugging process until a suspend command is reached; e) displaying the location of the flowchart element corresponding to the suspend command; f) continuing a task corresponding to a graphical element of the flowchart, that has been suspended by a suspend command, using a task control mechanism of the run-time system; and g) proceeding to the next possible suspend command; wherein a user can switch between structured textual language, contact plan and function plan as forms of representation for formulation conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for debugging a program for an industrial controller, the industrial controller having a plurality of code levels associated with at least one of an engineering system and a run time system associated with the industrial controller, wherein graphical elements are linked using an editor to form a motion control flowchart that can be visualized on a display, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) preparing a plurality of debugging processes for programming code for the industrial controller having the plurality of code levels, the programming code associated with the flowchart; b) conducting debugging for the plurality of debugging processes; c) displaying the debugging processes on respective ones of a plurality of debugging interfaces; d) generating a structured textual language from the flowchart; and e) converting the structured textual language into a processor-independent pseudo-code; wherein the programming code comprises a plurality of code levels, at least a subset of the plurality of debugging processes corresponds to respective ones of the plurality of code levels, and the step of displaying debugging processes comprises displaying at least a subset of the debugging processes on respective ones of the plurality of debugging interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method for debugging a program for an industrial controller, the industrial controller having an engineering system including an editor and further having a run time system, wherein graphical elements are linked using the editor to form a motion control flowchart that can be visualized on a display, the graphical elements corresponding to respective tasks, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) preparing a debugging process for the industrial control program based on the flowchart; b) assigning a suspend command to each graphical element of the flowchart; c) commencing the debugging process for the industrial control program; d) continuing the debugging process until a suspend command is reached; e) displaying the location of the flowchart element corresponding to the suspend command; f) continuing a task corresponding to a graphical element of the flowchart, that has been suspended by a suspend command, using a task control mechanism of the run-time system; g) proceeding to the next possible suspend command; h) generating a structured textual language from the flowchart; i) converting the structured textual language into a processor-independent pseudo-code; j) loading the processor-independent pseudo-code into a controller; and k) convening the processor-independent pseudo-code into executable processor code; wherein re-translation back into motion control flowchart representation is possible by means of marks in the textual language.
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Specification