Adding Block Instances

You can create a new instance with the Add New Instance command ans set the different parameters of the instance.

1. Click Add New Instance in the Block Tools toolbar and click any block above the current one. Then, click the sheet to locate the new instance.

   In the example below, the block Counter has been instantiated in the current block Block.

   
   
   

2. Double-click the block in the viewer to open the Instances Properties dialog box.

   
   
   

   Name/Comment

   
   

   • Reference Name: This field contains the name of the block.

   • Instance Name: You can change the name of the instance by filling this field.

   • Visible: You can choose to display the block name or its instance name in the viewer.

   • Comment: The comment of the block is displayed in a tool tip when you move the mouse over the instance.

   • Ports Name Visible: You can hide the name of the ports in the viewer by unselecting this box.

   Activation/Reset Ports

   
   

   • Use Activation Port: When selected, this option gives the block instance an input port (green, on the top left) that has to be connected in the diagram with a port propagating a Boolean expression. If the expression is true the instance is de-activated. If it is false the instance is executed.

   • Use Reset Port: When selected, this option gives to the block instance an entry port (black, on the top right) which is connectable in the diagram with a port propagating a Boolean expression. If the expression is true, the instance is reset (that means that the output is the value of the Init port).

   Output Ports Default Value

   
   

   • Visible: You can display the default value of the output ports in the viewer by checking this box.

   • Default: You can fill a default value. Default values are emitted as long as the block has never been activated (see Activation above).

You can create an instance from a SFC block, the same way as a Dataflow block. Only one parameter is different the option Automatic Run only available for SFC+ block.

1. Change the kind of the current block to SFC+.
   
   

2. Click OK.

3. In the viewer, double-click the Counter block to review its properties.

   The option Automatic Run becomes available in the section Activation / Reset Ports.

   
   
   

   Automatic Run means that the instance is run automatically as long as the current block is active.

   If Automatic Run is disabled, the run of the instance must be added to the SFC+ graph (refer to Run Actions).

   In the editor, instances not set in Automatic Run are identified by a yellow tab at the bottom right corner.
   
   

If parameters are defined in the block to instantiate, the parameter's values must be defined at the instantiation.

1. Click Add New Instance in the Block Tools toolbar and click the parameterized block above the current one. Then, click the sheet to locate the new instance.

   The Instances Properties dialog box appears.
   
   
   

   • If no default value is defined for a parameter, it appears in error.
   • If a default value is defined, the field Value is empty.

2. Double-click the label TO BE DEFINED and provide a value for the parameter.

   
   
   

   Important: The parameter's value must be compliant with the type defined in the block.

3. You can redefine the value of a parameter having a default value.

   
   
   

4. You can add a comment to each parameter.

   
   
   

5. Click OK.

   The instance of the parameterized block is added to the blank page.
   
   

6. Double-click the block in the viewer to open the Instances Properties dialog box.

   1. In the Parameters tab, you can redefine the value of the parameters.

   2. In the Properties tab, you can redefine the instance parameters described in the previous tasks.