Module 3.

Variables

Unity training course - V2.0 - Module 3.4 : Variables 1

 Variables

 A Variable is a Memory entity of the type BOOL, WORD, DWORD,

etc., whose contents can be modified by the program during
execution.

 A Located Variable is a variable that is either mapped to an I/O

Module or is associated to a Memory reference.
For example, the variable Water_pressure is associated with
Memory Word %MW102. Water_pressure is said to be a Located
Variable.

 An Unlocated Variable is a variable which is not mapped to the I/O

or associated to a Memory reference (not possible to know its
position in memory). A variable which has no address assigned is
said to be unlocated.

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 Variables (cont)

 A Public Variable is a variable available with some Function Blocks.

These variables transfer values to the function block. They are used
for setting parameters of the function block.

 A Private Variable is a variable use by some Function Blocks.

These variables are not accessible by the application program.

 I/ODDT is the abbreviation of Input/Output Derived Data Type. The

term I/ODDT designates a structured data type representing a
channel of a PLC module. Each expert module possesses its own
I/ODDTs.

 Constants is an INT, DINT or REAL type variable located in the

constant field (%K), or variables used in direct addressing (%KW,
%KD, or %KF). The contents of these cannot be modified by the
program during execution.

Unity training course - V2.0 - Module 3.4 : Variables 4

 Variables (cont)

 Each Variable has to be declared with the Variable Data Editor

before using it:

 Either independently by double clicking in the Variables & FB

Instances area of the Structural View tree...

 Or during programming with a double-click on an input / output

assignment.

 A data type must be assigned to each Variable.

 Unity Pro software provides elementary and derived data types.

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 Common Data Types and Ranges

 BOOL/EBOOL : Boolean variable must be FALSE (0) or TRUE (1).

EBOOL manage also forcing and edge detection

 WORD : Represents a “bit string 16”, meaning the length of data is

16 bits

 INT : Represents an integer value. The range of values are -32768

through 32767

 UINT : Represents an unsigned integer value. The range of values

are 0 through 65535

 REAL : Represents a floating point value. The range of values are -

3.40e+38 to 3.40e+38

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 Entering Literal Values

 Literal values are used to assign values to pins, or to assign constants

to variables, and are not meant to be changed by the program.

 You can enter literal values as

 Base 2 (binary) 2#1111111111111111
 base 8 (octal) 8#177777
 base 10 (decimal) 65535 (no 10# needed)
 base 16 ( hex) 16#FFFF

All of the above values are equal, they were just entered differently

Unity training course - V2.0 - Module 3.4 : Variables 7

 Variable Names

 Max. length 32 characters, may start with number

Unlocated
 Tag names without a hardware address
 Unlocated variable cannot be set cyclically. If you need to set
variable cyclically in your project use located variables

Located
 Tag names with a hardware address (State RAM)

Constants
 Write protected variables
 Use to assign a fix value to a variable

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 Direct Addressing

 Every direct address has a reference that indicates its position in the
sequence and whether it is an input address (read only) or an output
address (read / write).
 0x / %Qx area = bit outputs (discrete) - example 1: 000001 is
discrete Output 1 - example 2: %Q00001 is Output Bit 1

 1x / %Ix area = bit inputs (discrete) - example 1: 100017 is

discrete Input 17 - example 2: %I00017 is Input Bit 17

 3x / %IWx area = register inputs, - example 1: 300300 is

register input 300
- example 2: %IW000300 is Input Word 300

 4x / %QWx area = register outputs, - example 1: 400029 is

register output 29 - example 2: %QW00029 is Output Word 29

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 Variables and FB Instances Directory

 To access the variables (elementary and derived)

and the function block instances

Unity training course - V2.0 - Module 3.4 : Variables 10

 Editing Variables

 Types definition and instances declaration in ONE TOOL

Identifier

Unlocated
Double-click on variables
cells to enter in
edit mode
Data Type

Located
variable

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 Filtering

 Direct filtering on general type (EDT, ...) or variable names

 Funnel filter using variable properties (Type, Comment,
Address,...)

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 Configure the columns to display
 Configure the columns to display
 Column configuration (customization) displays the variable parameters as the
user wants.

1
Columns can be moved using the
2 . 1
buttons on the right

A check in front of the column

2 displays the column

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 Data Properties (cont)
 Even if the columns are not displayed, all the parameters
of a variable can be shown in the Data Properties window.

Unity training course - V2.0 - Module 3.4 : Variables 14

 Edit Data Type

 The type of data can be selected from a list of previously used types 1
 or directly from the Variable type selection by clicking on […] button 2

1 2

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 IODDT

 To map a complete I/O structure from a module channel to one

variable name

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 Editing Derived Function Blocks (DFB)

 To define a user function block type

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 Editing Function Blocks (EFB, DFB)

 To use a function block instance

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 Derived Data Type

 To define an array or structure type

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 Variables Types (DDT)

 To use an array or structure instance

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 Export Functions

 Options allows you to export a whole

section with all used:

1 Derived Data Types (DDT)

2 Derived Function Block (DFB)
3 Sub routines

1 2

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 Export Functions (cont)

 Instances of DDT or DFB can be exported

with the associated types for a reusing in
the new program

1 Derived Data Types (DDT)

2 Derived Function Block
(DFB)

1 2

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 Import Functions

 Use the wizard to change the naming

of variables, section, ... or the mapping
addresses
 The import is provided for all or a
part of the application.

 Two import modes are provided with

Unity Pro :
 Direct import, import the module
just like it was exported.
 Import with the wizard (1), to
modify the naming of Variables,
Sections or Functional Module,
and changing the mapping
addresses.

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 Adding a variable on the Fly

 A variable can be created directly from any

editor :
 When an undeclared variable is entered.
A pop-up dialog is launched allowing the
creation of the variable

 The Data Properties window can be used to

display and modify object attributes inside the
editors
 The window is updated on the selection
of a different object

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 I/O Objects

 New service available in the hardware

configuration

 Select and display all the objects

managed by a module or CPU

 Create IODDT or topological EDT

variable(s) in one click

 Presymbolize a set of IODDT variables or

topological EDT variables

 Display the I/O objects used by the

application

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 I/O Objects Editing

1 Select the kind of object

2 Update the grid

3 Select some of them

4 Define a prefix

5 Create the variables

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 I/O Objects Ergonomics

 I/O objects mapped (located) to a variables or used in the program

are in bold
 It is Possible to focus on the variables used in the application: click
on Filter on usage button

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