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Section: VarArrays

The parameter VarArrays allows to create arrays with configurable size.

SEC VarArrays                                       //optional: yes, modifier: [UPDATE]]
    SEC VarArray : <slot identifier>                    //optional: yes, modifier []
            Variable := <variable name>;                //optional: no, type: InstancePath
            Var_Count := <variable count>;              //optional: no, type: InstancePath
            Inst_Name := <instance name>;               //optional: yes, type: StringLiteral
            Pragmas := [<pragma1>, <pragma2>,...];      //optional: yes, type: Pragmalist
            Var_Decl_Flags := <Flag1> | <Flag2> | ... ; //optional: yes, type: Flags
    END_SEC
END_SEC

Details regarding the syntax of definition types are described in the section Module Declaration.

. Specification:

  • The definition Variable is an input instance path relative to the module function block. The data type is POINTER TO <ELEMTYPE>. <ELEMTYPE> can be any data type.

  • The target of a section VarArray must identify the variable array uniquely.

  • Var_Count defines the input instance path of an integer Variable of the module function block. To be available in the editor for configuration this variable must be defined as a parameter. Alternatively the variable Var_Count of Slot_Multi or InstRef_Multi can be used for defining this variable. Multiple VarArrays can use the same Var_Count variable. If the array size is 0, no array will be generated and the pointer of the array will be set to 0.

  • Inst_Name defines the name of the created array variable. The placeholder %Instancename% and %VariablePath% (upper or lower case spelling is not relevant) will be replaced by the instance name of the module instance resp. the instance path of the pointer variable. Points will be replaced by underlines. If the definition is omitted the default value AC_ARRAY_%VariablePath%. is used.

  • An error will be created if two different VarArrays of a module have the same Inst_Name, which does not include the placeholder %VariablePath%.

  • Pragmas contains a list of compiler pragmas, which will be inserted before the generated array variable.

  • Var_Decl_Flags can be used to specify the variable type of the created array. Possible flags are NONE, RETAIN, and PERSISTENT. These flags are added to the variable section VAR_INPUT, in which the array is created. (example: for the flag RETAIN, VAR_INPUT RETAIN).

Example 26. Example
SEC VAR_ARRAYS
        SEC VAR_ARRAY : NameList
                Variable  := psNameList;
                Var_Count := uiArraySize;
        END_SEC
        ...
        SEC PARAM : ArraySize
                Variable := uiArraySize;
                Name     := TL.ArraySize_Name;
                Desc     := TL.ArraySize_Desc;
        END_SEC
END_SEC

Among other declarations the declaration part of the function block must contain: uiArraySize: UINT := 7; psNameList: POINTER TO STRING;.



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