JP2008243061A - Editor device, editor program, storage medium storing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily confirm an attribute given to a display element such as a component and an instruction mark. <P>SOLUTION: The editor device shows an address window 106 when drag-and-drop operation, in which a component 104 on a screen displayed in a drawing window 102 is dragged and dropped to an address map 103c, is carried out by means of a mouse cursor. The address window 106 includes an address and a type set to the component 104. When the address is instructed by the mouse cursor 105 and selected by click in the address window 106, the editor device scrolls the address map 103c to an area including the address to display it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is an editor that facilitates confirmation of attributes assigned to components included in a screen to be displayed on a display device such as a programmable display or a symbol representing a command included in a sequence program for operating a sequence control device. The present invention relates to a device, an editor program, and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  A control device called a programmable logic controller (hereinafter referred to as “PLC”) manages the control of the target system and the hardware part centering on the CPU and memory in order to realize various controls including sequence control. Software part. The software part includes design of a sequence control flow for operating the PLC in accordance with the control system at the time of design, conversion of the control flow into an instruction word, writing of the instruction word into a memory, and the like. In general, this series of operations is called programming.

  In such programming, a unique language such as a ladder program is used so that it is easy to create a program without having specialized knowledge of computers. It has been developed. For example, a ladder diagram (LD) is a programming language that has been widely used since the ladder circuit can be designed relatively easily by using instruction symbols, and is still the most commonly used programming language. Programming software such as a ladder editor has become widespread as a programming tool used in such programming work using a programming language. This software can easily create and edit a program in a form including a symbolized instruction such as a ladder diagram in a computer device such as an editor computer.

  On the other hand, the programmable display has an interface with the PLC, and has a function of displaying the operating status of a device connected to the PLC and receiving an operation input for giving a control instruction to the device from the screen. This is an operation type display. In general, since the programmable display has a graphic display function, it can display an operation panel, a switch, an indicator lamp, and the like, and serves as an operation terminal in the control system.

  The screen displayed on such a programmable display is created by the user using screen creation software (screen editor). When creating a screen, a user configures a desired screen using components, drawing functions, and the like provided by screen creation software in an editor computer or the like.

  The above parts are images representing switches, numeric keys, meter displays, graph displays, etc., and are prepared in advance in the screen creation software in a library format so that they can be handled in combination like actual parts. The created screen is transferred to the programmable display device as screen data and stored. When the PLC is in operation, output components such as a meter display on the screen displayed on the display unit of the programmable display dynamically change according to the state of the device connected to the PLC. Further, an input operation on the screen to an input component such as a switch is given to the device as a control instruction.

  The above-described ladder editor and screen editor have a function of setting various attributes to ladder program instruction symbols and screen components. For example, in a screen editor, a PLC or programmable display for storing device data is usually used to reflect the state of the device on the display of the component or to reflect an input instruction via the component on the state of the device. The address of the memory at is set to the component as an attribute. Also in the ladder editor, in order to rewrite the device state in the memory of the PLC or programmable display, the address of the memory is set as an instruction symbol as an attribute.

  Alternatively, in the screen editor, the color of the component is also set as an attribute. For example, the color of the switch component and the lamp component is set so that it is red in the ON state and green in the OFF state.

Regarding the address setting of the screen editor, it is possible to monitor a change in the address usage status and display it in an icon form, and to set an empty address for a component by dragging and dropping an empty address icon onto the component. It is described in. As a result, it is possible to set an address for a component using an empty address while confirming the use status of the address.
JP 2006-99568 A (published April 13, 2006)

  In the ladder editor and the screen editor, it is necessary to change the attributes given to the parts on the screen and the instruction symbols in the ladder program in accordance with the change in the specification of the control system. For this reason, it is necessary to confirm the attributes currently assigned to the parts and command symbols.

  However, the above Patent Document 1 describes a method for setting an address, but does not describe a method for confirming an address as an attribute currently set for a specific component.

  Further, it has already been realized to display a list of all attributes for a part, and the address set for the part can be confirmed using this all attribute list display. However, an operation for displaying such a list of attributes is necessary, and the attribute list includes attributes other than addresses, so it is not suitable for quickly confirming only the addresses. Further, when this all attribute list is used, it is not easy to quickly confirm attributes (for example, colors) other than the addresses set for the parts as well.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to easily confirm a specific attribute assigned to a display element such as a component or a command symbol.

  In order to solve the above problems, an editor device according to the present invention creates an application data including display elements in an attribute display region provided adjacent to a main display region for creating the application data. Attribute list display means for displaying a list of specific attributes to be set in the display element, and an operation of dragging a selected display element among the display elements displayed in the main display area to the attribute display area And setting attribute display means for displaying the attribute set in the display element.

  In the above configuration, when the user selects a display element from among the display elements displayed in the main display area and drags the display element to the attribute display area, the setting attribute display means displays the display element. The attributes set in are displayed. Thereby, the specific attribute set to the display element can be easily confirmed.

  For example, when the application device creates application data including a display element that displays a state in which data is read and written in an area in the memory specified by the address, the address is an attribute. In this case, the attribute is an address specifying the memory area where the data is read and written, and the setting attribute display means identifies and displays the address set in the selected display element. Alternatively, the attribute may be the color of the display element.

  In the editor device, the attribute list display means preferably displays a portion including the selected attribute in the attribute list when one of the displayed attributes is selected. As a result, when the list of attributes cannot display all the attributes, a portion including the selected attributes is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to save the user from scrolling the attribute list in order to display the portion, and to easily change the selected attribute to a surrounding attribute in the attribute list.

  The editor program of the present invention is an editor program for operating any one of the above-described editor devices, and is a program that causes a computer to function as each of the above means. The editor program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Thereby, the said editor apparatus is realizable by making a computer read and run a program.

  As described above, the editor device according to the present invention has an attribute for displaying a list of specific attributes for setting the display element in the attribute display area provided adjacent to the main display area for creating application data. List display means and setting attribute display means for displaying attributes set in the display element by an operation of dragging a display element selected from the display elements displayed in the main display area to the attribute display area Therefore, it is possible to easily confirm the attributes set in the display element. Therefore, there is an effect that the work of changing the attribute can be performed efficiently.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 as follows.

  The editor device according to the present embodiment is configured by an editor computer 1 as shown in FIG. The editor computer 1 includes a CPU, a memory (RAM, ROM, etc.), an external storage device (hard disk drive, MO drive, etc.), a display device, and an input device (keyboard, mouse, etc.). As shown in FIG. 1, the editor computer 1 includes a control unit 11, an interface unit (I / F in the figure) 12, an editor unit 13, and a data storage unit 14.

  The interface unit 12 is a communication control unit for performing communication with the programmable display device 2, and is connected to the screen transfer cable 3. As the screen transfer cable 3, for example, a USB cable or the like is used.

  The programmable display 2 is provided with an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU, and is a dedicated computer that realizes an operation function and a display function unique to the programmable display by displaying input operation and display screen data created by the user. is there.

  This programmable display 2 acquires the state of each device 5 displayed on the display screen via the PLC 4 through communication with the PLC 4 via the serial cable 6. It has a function to display the status. The programmable display 2 has a function of instructing the PLC 4 to control the state of the device 5 in response to an operation on the touch panel 24 described later.

  A programmable display 2 suitably used as an HMI (Human Machine Interface) includes an HMI processing unit 21 as the center of control. The HMI processing unit 21 is a functional block realized by executing an HMI processing program.

  The HMI processing unit 21 acquires the state of the device 5 as state data from the memory of the PLC 4 by communicating with the PLC 4 every predetermined time interval or every predetermined event, and prepares it in the programmable display 2 Is written in a specified temporary memory space, for example, a specific area (state memory area) of the work memory 27. In addition, the HMI processing unit 21 rewrites the state data of the device 5 in the state memory area so as to update the state data in the memory of the PLC 4 and transmits it to the PLC 4. In addition, the HMI processing unit 21 obtains the state data of the device 5 from the PLC 4 based on screen data created by combining objects such as components described later, and draws and displays the data on the programmable display 2. The operation when the change of the state of the device 5 is instructed according to the operation on the touch panel 24 on the screen is specified by the processing regulation information.

  Further, the HMI processing unit 21 acquires the state of each device 5 stored in the memory of the PLC 4 through communication with the PLC 4 via the serial cable 6 by the interface unit (I / F in the figure) 23, and displays it on the display 22. It has a function of drawing and displaying the state of each device 5 on the displayed screen.

  The screen data is transferred from the editor computer 1 via the screen transfer cable 3 and stored in the data memory 25. Reception of screen data in the programmable display 2 is performed by the interface unit (I / F in the figure) 26.

  Here, the PLC 4 will be described.

  In accordance with a sequence program (such as a ladder program) created by the user, the PLC 4 captures the state of the input device 5 via the input unit and outputs it at every predetermined scan time such as several tens of ms. A control instruction is given to the device 5 for changing the state.

  As the input device 5, devices such as sensors (temperature sensors, optical sensors, etc.) and switches (push button switches, limit switches, pressure switches, etc.) are used. As the output device 5, an actuator, a relay, a solenoid valve, a display, or the like is used. These devices 5 are arranged in required parts such as a production line. Further, switch parts and display parts provided on the user screen displayed on the programmable display 2 are also handled as the device 5.

  The device 5 may be a specific memory area in the programmable display 2 (for example, a user area in a system area described later), or may be a specific memory area in a memory in the PLC 4. These memory areas are set as internal devices.

  The memory in the PLC 4 stores data (word data and bit data) indicating the state of the device 5 (the output value from the device 5 and the setting value to the device 5) in an area specified by the device address. In the memory, a word device and a bit device are set. The word device is set as an area for storing word data such as numeric values as input / output data, and is designated by a word address (device address). The bit device is set as an area for storing bit data such as an on / off state, and is set by a bit address (device address). With such a setting, the device 5 can be controlled by simply specifying and accessing any word device or bit device in the memory as a device address, or information regarding the state can be individually taken out.

  A variable is associated with a device address called by a unique name for each manufacturer of PLC4. The variable is a name that can be arbitrarily set by the user, and a comment described later can be handled as a variable.

  Here, the description returns to the editor computer 1 again.

  The control unit 11 is a functional block realized by hardware (CPU, memory, etc.) and software (operating system, etc.), and controls execution of application programs and operations of peripheral devices. The control unit 11 has a work memory 11a in order to fulfill its function. The work memory 11a is composed of a RAM or the like, and is used by the editor unit 13 for developing screen data and ladder programs.

  In addition, the control unit 11 implements the screen editor 131 in the editor unit 13 by executing screen creation software that is an application program. The control unit 11 implements a ladder editor 132 in the editor unit 13 by executing ladder programming software that is an application program. The editor unit 13 is recorded on a recording medium configured to be separable from the editor computer 1, and can be installed in the editor computer 1 from this storage medium. The editor computer 1 functions as an editor device by including the editor unit 13.

  The above-mentioned recording medium (program medium) is a computer-readable recording medium, such as a tape system such as a magnetic tape or a cassette tape, a magnetic disk system such as a flexible disk or a hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, MD, DVD, etc. A card system such as an optical disk system, an IC card (including a memory card), or an optical card is suitable. In addition, the program medium may be a medium that carries a fixed program including a semiconductor memory such as a mask ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash ROM, or the like.

  Further, if the editor computer 1 is placed in an environment connectable to a communication network including the Internet, it may be a medium that fluidly carries the program so as to download the program from the communication network. However, when the program is downloaded from the communication network in this way, the download program may be stored in the editor computer 1 in advance or may be installed from another recording medium.

  The screen editor 131 has components such as switches, lamps, numeric keys, various displays (for example, a numerical display, a meter display, and a graph display), a drawing function, It has a text input function. As components, not only components having a single function but also components having a plurality of functions such as a composite switch, a counter, and a timer are prepared. Parts as objects (display elements) are registered in a library format so that the user can easily select them, and processing definition information (procedures for objects) corresponding to the functions of the parts is given in advance. The drawing function is a function for drawing a line figure such as a straight line or a curve, drawing a basic figure such as various graphs, circles, squares, and triangles, and painting with a designated color or pattern in the figure.

  The screen editor 131 stores the created screen data, that is, screen data (application data) as a screen file in the data storage unit 14 configured by the external storage device. Further, the screen editor 131 reads the screen file from the data storage unit 14 and transfers it to the programmable display device 2 via the transfer cable 3.

  The ladder editor 132 creates a ladder program (application data) that determines the control procedure of the PLC 4 by a user input / edit operation so that the device 5 operates according to a desired sequence. The ladder editor 132 is a ladder symbol (display element, instruction symbol) representing various processes such as a ladder symbol (display element, instruction symbol) corresponding to the device 5 on a display screen of a display (not shown) of the editor computer 1. Are arranged according to the user's operation, and a ladder program can be created by assembling a ladder diagram.

  The ladder editor 132 also saves the created ladder program in the data storage unit 14 as a ladder file. Further, the ladder editor 132 reads the ladder file from the data storage unit 14 and loads it into the PLC 4.

  The editor unit 13 includes an attribute setting unit 133. The attribute setting unit 133 is provided to set a predetermined attribute for a component or ladder symbol, and includes an address setting unit 133a and a color setting unit 133b. The attribute setting unit 133 provides a dialog box (not shown) as a user interface for allowing the user to set an address, a color, and the like for the component.

  Further, the address setting unit 133a sets an address for a component or ladder symbol, or sets a variable associated with the address. Examples of the variable include an event name such as an operating state of the device 5, a code corresponding to the device 5 such as SW and LAMP corresponding to the switch, and an operation instruction. The variable is an arbitrary name given to the address, and the ladder program can be used regardless of the difference in address expression unique to the manufacturer of PLC4.

  In addition, the address setting unit 133a has a function of displaying an address set for a component when the screen editor 131 is activated. The address setting unit 133a has a function of displaying an address set in the ladder symbol when the ladder editor 132 is activated. Hereinafter, the function will be described.

  First, in a state where the screen editor 131 is activated, as shown in FIG. 2A, the work window 101 is opened, and the drawing window 102 is opened in the work window 101. In this state, the address setting unit 133a opens the address setting window 103 in the work window 101 when an operation for opening the address setting window 103 is performed by the user.

  The address setting window 103 includes an address type setting box 103a, a display address input box 103b, and an address map 103c.

  The address type setting box 103a is a spin box provided for selecting and setting “bit address” or “word address” as the address type. When “bit address” is selected, the address setting unit 133a displays the usage status of the bit address in the address map 103c, and when “word address” is selected, the usage status of the word address is displayed in the address map 103c. To do.

  The display address input box 103b is provided for inputting an address to be displayed on the address map 103c. The display address input box 103b is configured such that an address can be directly input using the keyboard of the editor computer 1 or the like, for example. When an address is input to the display address input box 103b, the address setting unit 133a moves the address display range in the address map 103c so that the address is displayed.

  The address map 103c represents an address by an address block 103d in which bits of the address are represented by a figure such as a square. On the left side of the address map 103c, “X” is displayed as a device label for identifying an address, and a lower offset label following the device label is displayed. In addition, an index label indicating bit positions 0 to n (index; n is the number of bits of the word device) of the address is displayed on the upper side of the address map 103c.

  The address setting unit 133a displays the address block 103d representing the bits of the used address in red based on the information on the address use status managed by the address setting unit 133a, and addresses for the unused addresses. The block 103d is displayed in green. The address setting unit 133a displays only the used bits in red when displaying a bit address, and displays all bits (bit positions 0 to n) of the used address in red when displaying a word address. Further, when both addresses are used for a component corresponding to both a bit address and a word address, the address setting unit 133a displays the used bit address block 103d in red at each address. Further, even when a plurality of bit addresses and word addresses are set for one component, the address setting unit 133a displays all the address blocks 103d indicating the set addresses in red.

  The address map 103c has a limited range in which the address block 103d can be displayed. In the illustrated example, n = 8, that is, 9 bits are displayed. However, the address map 103c can display a hidden portion by scrolling the scroll bar in the vertical and horizontal directions. Therefore, even an address having 16-bit index labels can be displayed.

  The address setting unit 133a manages the addresses used (set) for the parts used on each screen for each PLC4 model, and secures used or unused information for each address. . The above-described display indicating the use or non-use of the address block 103d is performed based on the use or non-use information of the address managed by the address setting unit 133a.

  The address setting unit 133a manages the used / unused state of all addresses for a group of screens and ladder programs. Specifically, the address setting unit 133a sets the use state to the flag “1” and the unused state to “0” for all addresses in the memory table using the work memory 11a of the control unit 11 and the like. Further, the address setting unit 133a reads the addresses used for each component included in a group of screens and ladder programs when the current address usage status is displayed in the address map 103c, and The used / unused state of the address is created in the memory table. Further, the address setting unit 133a reflects the information on the use status (used / unused state) of the managed address in the memory table.

  Further, the address setting unit 133a constantly monitors addresses that are newly used by address setting and addresses that are no longer used by address setting cancellation. Then, if there is a change in the address usage status, the address setting unit 133a always reflects the information in the memory table to ensure the latest information on the address usage status.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the address setting unit 133a performs an operation of dragging and dropping the component 104 on the screen displayed in the drawing window 102 onto the address map 103c with the mouse cursor 105. An address window 106 is displayed. The address window 106 includes an address set for the component 104 and its type. When the above operation is performed, the address setting unit 133a, from the work memory 11a in which the screen currently displayed in the drawing window 102 is expanded as screen data, the address set as an attribute to the component 104 and its address The type is read out and displayed in the address window 106. The address setting unit 133a switches the address block 103d indicating the address set in the component 104 from red display to blue display. Thereby, the address set in the component 104 can be easily determined.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, the address setting unit 133a is instructed by the mouse cursor 105 and when one address is selected from the addresses displayed in the address window 106 by a click operation, The address map 103c is automatically scrolled and displayed up to the area including the address. As a result, it is possible to confirm the set position of a desired address in the address map 103c among the addresses set in the component 104 without inputting the address in the display address input box 103b.

  Further, the address setting unit 133 a sets an address to the component 104 in the same manner as the address setting unit of the drawing editor described in Patent Document 1. Specifically, the address setting unit 133 a displays a function list window (not shown) on the part 104 side by dragging the address block 103 d displayed in the address setting window 103 to the part 104 with the mouse cursor 105. When a drop operation is performed on this function list window, an address is set for the component 104.

  As described above, the address setting unit 133a displays the address set in the component 104 on the address window 106 only by performing an operation of dragging and dropping the component 104 onto the address map 103c. Thereby, the address set to the component 104 can be easily confirmed by a simple operation. When an address is selected in the address window 106, a part including the address is displayed in the address map 103c. As a result, the address set for the component 104 can be easily confirmed, and the address set for the component 104 can be easily changed to an address at a peripheral position of the set position of the address map 103c.

  As described above, the address setting unit 133a confirms and sets an address for a component, and similarly confirms and sets an address for a ladder symbol. Next, the function of the address setting unit 133a will be described.

  First, in a state where the ladder editor 132 is activated, as shown in FIG. 3A, the work window 201 is opened, and further, the ladder window 202 is opened in the work window 201. In this state, the address setting unit 133a opens the address setting window 203 in the work window 201 when an operation for opening the address setting window 203 is performed by the user.

  The address setting window 203 includes an address type setting box 203a, a display address input box 203b, and an address map 203c. In the address setting window 203, the address type setting box 203a, the display address input box 203b, and the address map 203c have the same functions as the address type setting box 103a, the display address input box 103b, and the address map 103c, respectively. . Therefore, these descriptions are omitted here.

  When the address setting unit 133a performs an operation of dragging and dropping the ladder symbol 204 in the ladder program displayed in the ladder window 202 to the address map 203c with the mouse cursor 205 as shown in FIG. An address window 206 is displayed. The address window 206 includes the address set in the ladder symbol 204 and its type. When the above operation is performed, the address setting unit 133a, from the work memory 11a in which the ladder program currently displayed in the ladder window 202 is expanded, the address set as an attribute to the ladder symbol 204 and its type Are displayed on the address window 206. Further, the address setting unit 133a switches the address block 203d indicating the address set in the ladder symbol 204 from red display to blue display. Thereby, the address set in the ladder symbol 204 can be easily determined.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, when one address is selected from the addresses displayed in the address window 206 by a click operation, the address setting unit 133a is instructed by the mouse cursor 205. The address map 203c is automatically scrolled and displayed to the area including the address. Thereby, it is possible to confirm the set position of a desired address in the address map 203c among the addresses set in the ladder symbol 204 without inputting the address in the display address input box 203b.

  Further, the address setting unit 133a sets the address to the ladder symbol 204 in the same manner as the address setting unit of the drawing editor described in Patent Document 1. Specifically, the address setting unit 133a is configured to drag the address block 203d displayed in the address setting window 203 to the ladder symbol 204 with the mouse cursor 205, so that a function list window (not shown) is displayed on the ladder symbol 204 side. When a drop operation is performed on this function list window, an address is set in the ladder symbol 204.

  As described above, the address setting unit 133a displays the address set in the ladder symbol 204 on the address window 206 only by performing an operation of dragging and dropping the ladder symbol 204 onto the address map 203c. As a result, the address set in the ladder symbol 204 can be easily confirmed by a simple operation. When an address is selected in the address window 206, a part including the address is displayed in the address map 203c. As a result, the address set in the ladder symbol 204 can be easily confirmed, and the address set in the ladder symbol 204 can be easily changed to an address at a peripheral position of the set position of the address map 203c. it can.

  Next, the color setting unit 133b will be described.

  The color setting unit 133b has a function of not only setting a color for a part, but also displaying an address set for the part when the screen editor 131 is activated.

  First, with the screen editor 131 activated, a work window 301 is opened as shown in FIG. 4A, and a drawing window 302 is opened in the work window 301. In this state, the color setting unit 133b opens the color setting window 303 in the work window 301 when an operation for opening the color setting window 303 is performed by the user.

  The color setting window 303 includes a color type changeover switch 303a, a palette type setting box 303b, and a color palette 303c.

  The color type change-over switch 303a is a radio provided to select and set “color” of 256 color display or “monochrome” of 12 gradation monochrome display as the color type of the color palette 303c. Button. When “Color” is selected, the color setting unit 133b displays a color palette 303c that can display 256 colors. When “Monochrome” is selected, the color setting unit 133b displays a 12-tone monochrome color palette 303c.

  The palette type setting box 303b is provided to select either the color palette 303c arranged in “color code order” or the color palette 303c arranged in “hue order” as the type of the color palette 303c. It is a spin box. The selection of the palette type by the palette type setting box 303b is valid only when “color” is selected by the color type selector switch 303a.

  The color palette 303c displays colors arranged in the type selected by the color type changeover switch 303a and the palette type setting box 303b as a color cell 303d (block).

  As shown in FIG. 4A, when the color setting unit 133b performs an operation of dragging and dropping the component 304 on the screen displayed in the drawing window 302 to the color palette 303c with the mouse cursor 305, the operation shown in FIG. As shown in (b), a color attribute list window 306 is displayed. The color attribute list window 306 includes colors set for the component 304. The color set for the component 304 is not only the color of the component 304 itself, but also the color of the frame provided in the component 304 (only when provided), and the character provided in the component 304 (when provided) Only) and the background color of the component 304 (only when provided) are prepared. When the above operation is performed, the color setting unit 133b changes the color attribute set as an attribute to the component 304 from the work memory 11a in which the screen currently displayed in the drawing window 302 is expanded as screen data. It is read out and displayed in the color attribute list window 306. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the color setting unit 133b sets one component from among the setting portions of the components indicated by the mouse cursor 305 and displayed in the color attribute list window 306 by a click operation. When a part is selected, the color cell 303d indicating the color of the selected setting part is displayed with a border. As a result, the color set for the component 304 can be easily determined.

  Further, the color setting unit 133 b sets the color to the component 304 using the color attribute list window 306. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, the color setting unit 133 b moves the color cell 303 d displayed on the color palette 303 c to the component 304 by dragging the color cell 303 d to the component 304 with the mouse cursor 305. When the attribute list window 306 is displayed and a drop operation is performed on the color setting portion of the color attribute list window 306, the color of the color cell 303d is set in the component 304 as shown in FIG. 5B. .

  As described above, the color setting unit 133b displays the color set for the component 304 in the color attribute list window 306 only by dragging and dropping the component 304 to the color palette 303c. As a result, the color set for the component 304 can be easily confirmed by a simple operation. Further, when a color is selected in the color attribute list window 306, the color cell 303d is outlined (highlighted) in the color palette 303c, so that the color set for the component 304 can be easily confirmed. it can.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately changed within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  Since the editor device of the present invention can easily confirm the attribute set in the instruction symbol included in the part or sequence program included in the screen displayed on the programmable display or the like, the work of changing the attribute is efficient. And can be suitably used for developing a control system including a programmable display.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the system containing the editor computer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows operation for displaying the address set to the components in the work window which the screen editor in the said editor computer displays, (b) is an address map in the said work window, and shows the said components in the address map. It is a figure which shows operation for displaying the set address. (A) is a figure which shows operation for displaying the address set to the ladder symbol in the work window which the ladder editor in the said editor computer displays, (b) is the said ladder in the address map in the said work window. It is a figure which shows the operation for displaying the address set to "." (A) is a figure which shows operation for displaying the color set to components in the work window which the screen editor in the said editor computer displays, (b) is the color palette in the said work window, and shows the said components in the color palette. It is a figure which shows operation for highlighting the set color. (A) is a figure which shows operation for changing the color set to components in the work window which the screen editor in the said editor computer displays, (b) is the state by which the color of components was changed by the said operation FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1. Editor computer (editor device)
13 Editor 101 Work Window 102 Drawing Window 103 Address Setting Window 104 Parts (Display Elements)
106 Address window 131 Screen editor 132 Ladder editor 133 Attribute setting unit 133a Address setting unit (attribute list display means, setting attribute display means)
133b Color setting section (attribute list display means, setting attribute display means)
201 Work Window 202 Ladder Window 203 Address Setting Window 204 Ladder Symbol (Display Element)
206 Address Window 301 Work Window 302 Drawing Window 303 Address Setting Window 304 Parts (Display Elements)
306 Color attribute list window

Claims (6)

In an editor device for creating application data including display elements,
Attribute list display means for displaying a list of specific attributes for setting in the display element in an attribute display area provided adjacent to a main display area for creating the application data;
Setting attribute display means for displaying an attribute set in the display element by an operation of dragging a display element selected from the display elements displayed in the main display area to the attribute display area; An editor device characterized by that. The attribute is an address that specifies the memory area where the data is read and written;
2. The editor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting attribute display means identifies and displays the address set in the selected display element.   The editor device according to claim 1, wherein the attribute is a color of the display element.   The attribute list display means displays a part including the selected attribute in the attribute list when one of the displayed attributes is selected. The editor device described.   An editor program for operating the editor device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the editor program causes a computer to function as each means.   A computer-readable recording medium on which the editor program according to claim 5 is recorded.