Command: Multiple Download

Function: The command triggers the code generation of the applications, which are contained in the project, as well as the download of the applications to the corresponding controllers.

Call: Online menu

The command opens a dialog with a list of the applications. In this dialog, you select the applications which should be downloaded. Then, CODESYS performs the syntax check of these applications and generates the respective code. The code is then downloaded to the respective controller. For each selected application, CODESYS generates a compile log named <project name>.<device name>.<application ID>.compileinfo in the project directory.

Important

If a safety controller is inserted below a controller, then this command can temporarily interrupt the communication connections.

Connections of the safety controller to other safety controllers (via safety network variables), to field devices, and to the development system are affected. The safe field devices or other safety controllers can enter the safe state as a reaction. The connection to the development system is affected only when a safety controller that is connected to the main controller via a fieldbus.

For more information, see: Subordinate Safety Controller

Dialog: Multiple Download

Please select the items to be downloaded

: Selection of applications

During this operation, the applications are also downloaded to different controllers.

Move Up, Move Down

Change of the order of download of the applications

The applications are downloaded to the controllers in the order of this list. By default, this list is sorted alphabetically. During the operation, parent/child relationships of applications are taken into account.

Checks the syntax of all selected applications

Afterwards, the communication with the respective controller is verified for each application before the download is performed.

Table 103. Online Change Options

If an earlier version already exists on the controller and is different from the current version, then the following options are provided:
Try to perform an online change. If this is not possible, perform a full download.	Enabled by default If an online change cannot be performed for one of the applications, then a download is performed.
Force an online change. If this is not possible, cancel the operation.	If an online change cannot be performed for (at least) one of the applications, then no download is performed and the online change is aborted (for example, if you have executed the command Clean All beforehand).
Always perform a full download.	Downloads all parts of the applications to the controller, regardless of any existing versions

For selected applications which do not yet exist on the controller, CODESYS automatically performs a download to the controller.

Table 104. Other Options

Delete all applications on the PLC which are not part of the project.

: Corresponding applications are deleted.

Start all applications after download or online change

: The applications are started after the download or online change.

Do not release forced variables

: If an application with forced variables exists on the controller, and if the implementation of this application has been changed, then no download is performed for this application.

The Error: Skipped because one or more variables have been forced message is displayed in the Multiple Download – Result window for this application.

Tip

Note that variables with the PERSISTENT RETAIN key attribute are not generally initialized. If you change the data layout, however, then the persistent variables are automatically re-initialized.

For more information, see: Data Persistence

After the download is completed, a list of all selected applications is displayed in the download order which you have configured. In addition, you are shown information on the success of the download for each application in the Multiple Download – Result dialog:

Created: A new application has been created and downloaded to the controller.
Not changed: The application which exists on the controller has not been changed.
Online changed: The application which exists on the controller has been changed by an online change.
Downloaded: The application which exists on the controller has been replaced by a new created application.
Skipped due to impossible online change: An online change could not be performed for the application. The application was not changed.
Error: An error has occurred for this application during download. More details may be displayed.
Cancelled by user: The operation has been aborted by the user.

For more information, see: Generating Application Code