E A S y P L C
E A S y P L C
Technical Documentation
Part Number:
A70 Z2 9 0020-D-En
NOTE
Read this entire manual and all other publications pertaining to the work to be
performed before installing, operating, or servicing this equipment. Apply all plant and
safety instructions and precautions. Failure to follow instructions can cause personal
injury and/or property damage.
Motors, turbines and any other type of generator must be equipped with protections
(overspeed, high temperature, low pressure…) depending on the power plant.
Any changes of the normal use of the equipment can cause human and material
damage.
For further information, please contact your CRE Technology distributor or the After-Sales Service Team.
SKYPE: support-cretechnology.com
INFORMATION
You can download the most up-to-date version of this documentation and different
other documentations relating to CRE Technology products on our Web site
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CRE Technology believes that all information provided herein is correct and reliable and reserves the
right to update at any time. CRE Technology does not assume any responsibility for its use.
7 Creating a project............................................................................................................... 16
7.1 Creating a new project..............................................................................................................16
7.2 Managing files ..........................................................................................................................16
7.2.1 Adding a file .....................................................................................................................................16
7.2.2 Renaming equation sheets ...............................................................................................................17
Easy PLC is a software developed by CRE Technology to graphically create logic equations for the
GENSYS 2.0/MASTER 2.0 product family (*). This way you can customize your product, create your own
automatic sequences and adapt your module to the very specific needs of your application.
Easy PLC helps you design your equation without any knowledge of CRE Technology proprietary
programming language.
Easy PLC software should be used with GENSYS 2.0 technical documentations to fully understand
GENSYS 2.0 internal use of parameters and variables.
(*) Except GENSYS 2.0 LT modules which doesn’t handle custom equations.
Chapter : Overview
Supported Operating Systems: Windows 8 or above, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP,
Linux Ubuntu 11.10, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008.
Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition. Version 1.6 (Minimum), Version 1.7 or above (Recommended).
Also compatible with OpenJDK Runtime Environment (IcedTea6).
Processor: 400 MHz Pentium processor or equivalent (Minimum); 1GHz Pentium processor or
equivalent (Recommended)
RAM: 128 MB (Minimum); 256 MB (Recommended)
Hard Disk: Up to 500 MB of available space may be required.
Display: 1024 x 768, 256 colours (Minimum).
Easy PLC runs in a Java environment. Users must make sure that Java Runtime Environment 7 or above
is installed on their computer. If Java is not installed on your computer, you can download it from
http://www.java.com Web site.
If you’re about to install Easy PLC V1.04 or above, you can skip the rest of this chapter. You just need to
run SetupEasyPLC.exe.
For Easy PLC version prior 1.04, double click on SetupEasyPLC.jar and follow the instructions. You may
get the message shown below. In this case, simply select “Yes”.
Chapter : Installation
When installation is complete, you can launch Easy PLC using the links created in Windows menu or on
your desktop.
Under Windows Vista/7, you may need to right click on the SetupEasyPLC icon and select “Run as
administrator” as shown below to install the software.
On some computers, JAR files cannot be launched directly (using double click).This is a Windows/Java
compatibility problem that can be solved by using “.BAT” files instead of the “.JAR” files.
Chapter : Installation
The main window is displayed when you start Easy PLC software. A blank new project is automatically opened
with a single equation sheet called Default.cre (only for version 1.02 and below). “CRE” is the file extension
used to designated graphical equation sheets used under Easy PLC. Picture below shows this main window
with the TempProject sheet opened. Each main section of the window is shown on the picture:
Project tree: this is where you can manage (add/delete/rename) the files of the project.
Equation sheet: this is where you will design your equations, enter optional comments and decide when
this equation should be executed.
List of operators: this is where you can select the operators you will use in your equations.
Input/output section: this is where you will select the list of variables you want to see (input or
output variables) and then see the corresponding list of existing variables so you can use them in
your equations.
Compilation section: this is where you will see if your project was successfully compiled or if errors
were encountered during compilation process.
Existing
operators
Project tree
Equation sheet
Chapter : Description
Type selection
(Input/output)
Input/output
list
Picture below gives you more details concerning the equation sheet section of Easy PLC main window. Two
small equations have been designed in this equation sheet to show you the different components you may
use:
Execution condition: here you can decide when equations drawn on the sheet should be executed. See
specific chapter 7.3 for more details.
Comments: here you can enter a small text to explain what the goal of your equations is.
Equations: they are made of inputs (variables or constant values) combined with operators to make a
specific test or calculation stored into an output. See specific chapter 7.4 for more details.
Condition to execute
the equation sheet
Connection
Operator
Output: result of
Chapter : Description
the equation
Variable input
Constant input
Easy PLC includes a positioning grid for blocs. It’s possible to set up its type, the grid scale and if the blocs
should stick or not to it (see §6.3.1).
Picture below shows you Easy PLC main menu and toolbar. This is where you will find general commands to
create, save, compile and print your project. This section details each command available in this menu and
toolbar.
File menu
Command Description
New project Starts a blank new project. If a project was already open, you will be
asked if you want to save it before beginning to design the new
project.
New file Adds a new blank equation sheet to the current project. A dialog
box opens so you can enter the name of this new sheet.
Open file Opens an equation sheet from another existing project. This sheet is
not copied into the current project, but you can copy its content (or
a part of it) and paste it into one of the current project’s sheets.
Save as Save the current equation sheet using another name. In this case,
the equation sheet saved under another name is not part of the
current project. For example, if you select a sheet called
“Equation_1” and save it as “NewName”, then sheet “NewName” is
Chapter : Description
not included into the current project, but “Equation 1” still is.
Save all Saves the current project and all of its equation sheets.
Close project Closes the whole project and all equation sheets.
Compile Saves all the project and try to compile it. If errors are found, a text
is displayed on the bottom of the main window. Otherwise, the
resulting text file is shown into your notepad. This text file can be
saved on your computer to be later sent to your CRE Technology
modules.
Print preview Shows how a printed copy of the project will look like.
Print project Prints all the equation sheets of the current project.
Print current sheet Prints only the active sheet actually displayed in the main window.
Quit Leaves the program. You will be asked to save your project if
necessary.
Table 1: File menu
Tools menu
Command Description
Language Changes Easy PLC display language
Zoom Select your zoom in/zoom out ratio for the current equation sheet
Variables management Here you can add variables to be listed in the “predefined variable”
lists (input/output). This can be useful if your Easy PLC version
doesn’t show variables existing in a newer version of your targeted
GENSYS 2.0 module. Variable name must be entered in the form :
Ennnn Name of your choice
Where nnnn is the 4 digit number of the variable to add as shown in
Chapter : Description
the example below.
Use with caution: Easy PLC will not check if the variable you add is
supported by your module or not.
Help menu
Command Description
Help This menu will open a PDF version of this manual
Chapter : Description
6.3.2 Toolbar description
The toolbar proposes shortcuts to the main commands available in the main menu. Table below describes
the commands associated to each toolbar icon.
Toolbar commands
Icon Command Description
Starts a blank new project. If a project was already open, you will be
New project asked if you want to save it before beginning to design the new
project.
Save all Saves the current project and all of its equation sheets.
Cut
Paste
Undo
Cancel your last action/Reproduce a cancelled action.
Redo
Zoom in Zooms in or out the current equation sheet to adapt the display to
your needs (global view/zoom on partial part of an equation). You
can also zoom in/out using your mouse wheel together with the Ctrl
Zoom out key: Ctrl+Scroll_Up to zoom in, Ctrl+Scroll_Down to zoom out.
Saves all the project and try to compile it. If errors are found, a text
is displayed on the bottom of the main window. Otherwise, the
Compile resulting text file is shown into the software. This text file can be
saved on your computer to be later sent to your CRE Technology
modules.
Send file Sends the selected text file to a GENSYS 2.0/MASTER 2.0 module.
Chapter : Description
A project is a set of equation sheets. Each equation sheet can contain one or more simple equations designed
using inputs, operator blocks and output connected together.
You can also add text files to a project. Equations from these text files will be added to the result of the
compilation of your equation sheets (see chapters 7.5 and 8 for further details).
This chapter describes how to manage equation sheets and how to design equations. It will detail all existing
functionalities that may be useful to create your own project.
Easy PLC allow you to generate equations level 1 and 2. When you create a new project, you will first be
asked to select the equations level for this project.
If you open an existing project designed with an Easy PLC version older than v1.04, equation level is automatically set
to 1.
You can also change this level later by right clicking on your project and selecting Properties.
This chapter explains how to add, delete and rename files (equation sheets and text files) from a project. A
single project can contain up to 50 equation sheets.
To design multiple or complex equations, it may be necessary to create a project with multiple equation
sheets (and/or text files) for a better visibility of each function. There are two ways to add a file to the
You can change the name of your files at any time. To do so, right click on the file’s name inside the project
tree on the left of Easy PLC main window, select Rename in the contextual menu that appears and enter
the new name in the dialog box.
Equations will be treated in your target module (e.g. GENSYS 2.0) in the same order as they are sorted in
your project tree. If you need to change this order, you can simply drag and drop a file’s name in the project
tree as shown in the two pictures below.
If you want to completely remove a file from your project, right click with your mouse on the file’s name in the
project tree, then select Remove in the contextual menu that appears. A dialog bow will open to confirm that
you want to remove this equation sheet.
Easy PLC lets you add an execution condition for each equation sheets of the project. This means that the
If you ever need to use conditions like If…/Else…, then you will have to use 2 equation sheets. The first one
will be used to draw equations that need to be executed when the condition is TRUE (If…) and the second
sheet will be used to draw equations that need to be executed when the opposite condition is TRUE
(Else…).
Equation A Equation B
An equation sheet contains one or more simple equations. An equation is a set of inputs (constant values or
GENSYS 2.0 internal variables), operators (logic, arithmetic…) and outputs (GENSYS 2.0 internal variables).
Each equation sheet can contain up to:
15 inputs (constant or variable inputs).
15 outputs.
10 operator blocks.
You can add Input/Constant/Output/Operator blocks on the current equation sheet using a double click on
the block or using drag &drop. You can also add an operator using a double click on the equation sheet.
Inputs are data that are used inside an equation to perform a calculation, a comparison or any other simple
operation. Inputs can be of two types:
Constant inputs are constant values that cannot be changed by the end user.
Variable inputs are all the internal variables handled by your target module. For example all GENSYS 2.0
measurements (kW, oil pressure, CANopen inputs…), parameters (kW setpoint, overspeed protection
setpoint, cool down duration…) and calculation data (Power status, load sharing setpoint, logic output
status…) can be used as data inputs for your equations.
To use any input in your equation, first select “Input” in the Type field of the right panel. This will give you a
list containing “Constant” plus all existing variables as shown below.
The list of available inputs is quite long. You can filter it by selecting a Category or typing a part of the input
You can now choose the desired input and add it to the equation sheet using your preferred method:
Drag selected input with your mouse and drop it in the current equation sheet.
Double click on the desired input in the “Predefine variable list: it will be automatically added into
the equation sheet.
IMPORTANT:
Equations can only handle 16 bits signed integer data. This means that:
Constant value must be an integer value (e.g. 1234 but not 45.67).
Outputs will contain the result of your equations. As for inputs, you must first select “Output” in the Type
field of the right panel to get the list of all existing outputs as shown by the picture below.
Select the desired output and add it to the current equation sheet as you did for the inputs (double click on
the output name or drag and drop it with your mouse).
You will usually want to use outputs from the following categories:
User variables and user parameters (free for the end user).
Spare outputs C1 to C5 (X2020 to X2024)
CANopen outputs (CANopen remote logic and analog outputs).
Use Category field to filter the output list and reduce it to the desired output category.
Easy PLC contains different categories of operators that can be combined together to design your equations.
Operators are listed in the top right panel of Easy PLC main window. You can add operators on the current
equation sheet using 3 methods:
Drag and drop an operator from the right list into the equation sheet.
Double click on the operator’s name in the top right list.
Double click on an empty space of the equation sheet and select the desired operator in the dialog
box that appears.
Operators are classified in 4 different categories as described in the tables below.
Note: Always connect all operator inputs. If a connector input (or output) is left unconnected, then an error will be
issued during compilation.
Logic operators
Operator Name Function
(2) These operators require the use of additional variables for internal calculation purpose. Double
click on the block and select a free user variable to be used as temporary calculation.
(2) Blocks INC and DEC have no graphical output. In fact, their input is also their output. This means
that you can only connect a variable input to these blocks. Do not connect a constant input or the
output of another block.
(3) IMPORTANT:
Equations can only handle 16 bits signed integer data. This means that:
Calculation cannot handle values below -32768 or above +32767. For example,
“20000+25000” will not result in a value of 45000: an overflow will occur and the
result will be erroneous.
Divisions result in integer values. For example, “8/10” will give “0” as a result.
Contact CRE Technology or your local distributor for training courses concerning your
module’s internal PLC and equation programming.
This block can be used as a simple filter for analog signals. See
Filter(2) (3)
detailed description below.
IMPORTANT:
It is not possible to use two multiplexers in the same equation. Whether by a direct link
(the output of one multiplexer directly connected to an input of another multiplexer) or by
an indirect link (two multiplexers in the same blocks chain even if they are not directly tied
together).
(3) These operators require the use of additional variables for internal calculation purpose. Double click
on the block and select free user variables to be used as temporary calculation.
1/ Timer operator
Timer operator increases an internal variable called COUNTER each time the RUN/PAUSE input is different
from 0. When RUN/PAUSE is equal to 0, internal variable COUNTER is not changed. The duration of this
timer is set by internal value TOP. When COUNTER reaches value TOP, then output O is set to 1.
When RESET input is different from 0, then both COUNTER and O are reset to 0.
Internal variable COUNTER must be defined by double clicking on the timer operator. A dialog box appears
to let you choose the variable to be used.
RESET
RUN
TOP value
COUNTER
(Internal variable)
NOTES: * As an example, when used in an equation sheet that is always executed (i.e. each 100ms inside a GENSYS 2.0
family product), a timer continuously run (RUN always equal to 1) with a TOP value of 125 will take 12.5 seconds
(125*100ms) to set its output O to 1.
*Timer operator can also be used as a counter. In fact, this operator counts the number of PLC cycles where RUN input
is different than 0.
Filter operator uses internal variables to perform signal calculations. Double click on the filter block and
select internal variables to be used:
NOTE: Keep in mind that PLC calculation uses 16 bits signed integer data. This means that all calculations and values
are limited between -32768 and +32767. In the case of a filter block, average value of the input signal I should never be
above value 32767/DEPTH or below -32768/DEPTH, otherwise calculation errors will occur. For example if you set
DEPTH value to 30, input signal mean value should be kept below 32767/30=1092 (integer value).
(2) To change the numeric value, double click on the operator to show its configuration window :
Next you have to select the bits you are interested in. The corresponding value is shown in
hexadecimal. Finally, you can choose to check the option Right shift which shifts the result of the
mask.
For example, if your mask is: 1100 0010 1110 0100 and the shift option is checked, the result of the
mask will be shifted by 2 bits to the right.
(3) To change the number of bits to shift the input, double click on the operator to show its
Then, fill in the Output and bit pos. fields. You can directly type the name of the output variable if
you know it, or you can click on the Select button to access to a list of output variables. The
Comparators
Operator Name Function
Once all needed input, output and operator blocks are placed on the equation sheet you can connect them
Action How
Move Click on the connection, select the vertical part and drag it with your mouse.
Delete Click on the connection and press Delete key on your keyboard.
Add a corner Select the connection and right click where you want to add a corner. A new
square will appear to show the new corner. You can now drag it where desired.
Remove a corner Select the connection and right click on the corner you want to delete.
Table 12: Connections possibilities
1/ Principle
Easy PLC has a predefined functions library. You can see it just below the operator’s one.
Also, you can import your own functions to this library. Just right click on the equation sheet in the project
tree that contains the function(s) you want to add to the library and select the option Add to predefined
functions.
It’s interesting to add your own functions to the library because you can re-use them in future projects
without having to re-draw the equations or find them among your older projects. You just need to get your
function from the library by double clicking it and the corresponding equation sheet will be added to your
project.
Settings:
- In the equation sheet, set the first constant in the top left corner (6 by default). It is the total
number of start attempts. This number will be divided by 2 to share attempts between both
cranks.
Text files can be added to an Easy plc’s project. They are useful to simply add content that isn’t doable with
the software or to add complements to the result of the compilation of the equation sheets.
Warning, equations generated during the compilation are formed like this: equations from equation sheets
+ equation from text files. This means that if a text file is above an equation sheet in the tree project, the
Equations it contains will ne be placed before the equations from the equation sheet which is below during
the compilation.
The final text file generated by Easy PLC is included in the project. It’s also defined as the main text file for
this project (the equations that this file contains will not be added to the result of the compilation).
This file isn’t editable from the software. If you edit it (by using the notepad for example) and then you
compile your project, the change you made to the file will be erased. It’s preferable to add a new text file to
the project that contains what you want to add (remember to position the file at right place in the project
tree).
If you want to modify the main text file of a project for any reasons, please make a copy of it modify this
one.
It’s possible to change the main text file of a project by right clicking on it in the project tree and then select
Properties in the contextual menu that shown (see chapters 7.1).
If there is no main text file defined (e.g. this is the case when you compile your project for the first), the text
file you select when saving the result of the compilation will automatically be set as main text file for this
project.
Once all equations are designed, project must be compiled to get the final file that will be used by your target
module. Compilation process is started using menu File/Compile or CTRL+F5 or using the dedicated button on
the toolbar as shown below.
Before compilation is launched, Easy PLC will save the complete project and equation sheets. You may be
asked for a project name if the project was never saved before. Then project will be checked for eventual
errors such as missing connections or missing internal block parameters. Compilation result is shown in the
status bar at the bottom of Easy PLC main window.
Compilation result
When the project is successfully compiled, a dialog box opens up so you can save the resulting TXT file in
your computer. This TXT file can now be sent into your target module: refer to your CRE Technology
module’s technical documentation to do so.
Compilation result
Below are some advices to help you make sure your equations work fine in your CRE Technology product
(GENSYS 2.0/MASTER 2.0 families). This list is not complete: refer to the technical documentation of your
product or contact CRE Technology or your local distributor for technical support and advanced training
courses.
1) Check variables used as internal operator variables to make sure you do not use the same variables in
different operators.
2) As far as possible, test your equations one at a time in your module rather than loading a complex
project at once: it will be easier for you to fine tune each equation and make sure it works as
expected.
3) Do not write into any parameter or variable if you are not sure of the way to use it!
4) If your equations use physical logic inputs (J terminals) or logic outputs (C terminal), these
inputs/outputs are automatically set as “used by equation” by Easy PLC.
5) If you use equations to modify configuration parameters of your module (Parameters
E1nnn/X1nnn, E4nnn/X4nnn these parameters are set as Write enable (Read/Write) by Easy PLC so
your equations can effectively write into them through the PARTIAL PARAMETERS section of your
text file. The content of this section is added by your product to the PARAMETERS section. This
allows you to write in variables without deleting all the content of the PARAMETERS section (for
further information, please contact CRE Technology).
Once your project is compiled, you are supposed to have saved the resulting text file which contains all the
equations intended for the product (if you got no error during the compilation). You can now send this file
directly to the module without using any other software:
Start sending file by pressing Send file button in the toolbar as shown in the following figure.
(1) IP address of the product. If you don’t know how to get it, please refer to manuals A53Z090020
and/or A53Z090014. If the IP address is false or the product is not connected, an error is
displayed.
(2) User password. I.e. the password you use to log into the module’s web site or with CRE Config
software (level 1 or level 2 password). Obviously you need to use a password according to the
level of equations you are using in your project. If the password is false, an error is displayed.
(3) The file containing the equations.
Note:
Use “Browse” button to specify the path of the text file you want to send to the moduke.
The file transfer starts when the connection to the product is established. A message saying that the
download of the file started is displayed. This action can take several minutes (1 or 2 minutes in general).
Finally, an information window displays the free memory when the file is received.
Now you can close both windows. Note that you don’t need to restart your product when you send
equations in it.
SKYPE: support-cretechnology.com
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