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SFC Element Properties

You edit the properties of an SFC element in the Properties view. You use the View → Element properties command to open this view. The properties which are displayed depend on the currently selected element.

Note

The properties which are displayed next to the element in the SFC chart depend on the settings on the View tab of the SFC editor options.

Common

Property

Description of value

Name

Element name

By default, the pattern is <element><consecutive number>

Example of step name: Step0, Step1

Example of branch name: Branch0

Comment

Element comment (text)

Example: Resetting a counter

You can insert line breaks by pressing Ctrl+Enter.

Symbol

An implicit variable with the same name is created for each SFC element.

This is where you configure whether this flag variable will be exported to the symbol configuration and which access rights will apply to the symbol in the controller:

  • None: The symbol will be exported to the symbol configuration. However, it cannot be accessed on the controller.

  • Read: The symbol will be exported to the symbol configuration and can be read on the controller.

  • Write: The symbol will be exported to the symbol configuration and can be written to the controller.

  • Read/Write: Combination of Read and Write

  • Empty: No symbol will be exported to the symbol configuration.

Specific

Property

Description of value

Initial step

_cds_icon_checked.png: This option is only ever enabled for the step which is currently defined as the initial step. By default, this is the first step in an SFC chart.

Note: If you have enabled this property for another step, then it must be disabled for the step that previously had the property in order to avoid compile errors.

Duplicate on copy

This option is available for steps which contain a step action (entry action, main action, or exit action) as well as for transitions that are linked to a transition object.

_cds_icon_checked.png: When copying the step or transition, a new object is created for each of the called actions or transitions. It contains a copy of the implementation code of the copied object. The option to jump directly from an embedded action to the calling step is also active. The Jump into parent SFC menu item is visible in the context menu of the step action of this action.

_cds_icon_option_deactivated.png: When copying a step or transition, the link to the respective called object is maintained for the associated actions or transitions. No new objects are created. The source and copies of the step or transition call the same action or transition.

. Times

  • Minimal active

  • Maximal active

Minimum time during which the step is active, even when the subsequent transition is TRUE

Maximum time that the step can be active

If this time is exceeded, then CODESYS sets the SFCError implicit variable to TRUE.

Times according to IEC syntax – for example t#8s – or the TIME variable

Default: T#0s

Actions

Note: Pay attention to the processing order.

Main action

The main action is executed while the step is active, after the optional entry action has been executed.

Entry action

The entry action is executed before the main action is carried out, provided that the step is active.

Exit action

When the step is deactivated, this action is executed in the next cycle.

Tip

You can use the corresponding implicit SFC variables and flags to get information about the status of a step or action, or about timeouts.

For more information, see the following: Processing Order

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