Command: Input Assistant

Symbol:

Keyboard shortcut: F2

Function: The command opens the Input Assistant dialog which helps you to select one of the possible programming elements at the current cursor position.

Call: Edit → Input Assistant menu; context menu

Requirement: A POU is open in the editor and the cursor is set at a line in the program.

Dialog: Input Assistant – Tab: Categories

The Input Assistant provides all program elements which you can insert at the current cursor position in the editor.

The elements are sorted by Categories. In the Variables category, you can also set a Filter for the scope (for example, Local variables, Global variables, or Constants).

Structured display	: The elements are displayed in a structure tree. You can show or hide the Type, Address, or Origin column by right-clicking the column title and selecting or deselecting the column name in the submenu. : The elements are displayed in a flat structure.
Show documentation	: The dialog is extended with the Documentation field.
Insert with arguments	: Elements which include arguments (for example, functions) are also inserted with these arguments at the cursor position. Example: If you insert the function block `fb1`, which contains an input variable `fb1_in` and an output variable `fb1_out`, "with arguments", then this is displayed in the editor as follows: `fb1(fb1_in:=>, fb1_out=>)`.
Insert with namespace prefix	: Inserts the selected element with the prepended namespace In the case of library POUs, the check box remains disabled when the requirement for a namespace has been defined in the library properties.

Tip

If you create objects with the same name in the same category, whether globally (POUs view) or assigned to an application (Devices view), then only one entry is shown in the Input Assistant. The usage conforms to the usual call priority (application assigned before global).

Dialog: Input Assistant – Tab: Text Search

This tab allows you to search for specific objects. When you begin typing a search string into the search field, the names of all objects are listed whose names include the search string. Double-click an object to insert it at the current cursor position in the editor.

Filter

Restricts the search to a specific variable category

For more information, see: Using Input Assistance