gazroo

What file type numbers to read/write L / MG / PID / PLS / RI / RIX data files ?

4 posts in this topic

Hi all,

I'm enhancing an Ethernet IP driver but only just learning the ropes in terms of Allen-Bradley PLCs.

I'm presently focussing on that part of the driver which specifically supports SLC/500 & MicroLogix 1400, for which I have one controller of each type for testing purposes.

I can already cater for a range of standard file types: integer, float, binary, input, output, string, counter, timer, control, status, and this is working well.

However, by working with RSLogix500, I can see that there are other data file types which can be hosted in these controller types (dependent on model) and, indeed for test purposes, I have actually created instances of them as follows:

ASCII (at A21, 20 elements) for both SLC & ML1400
Long (at L22, 10 elements) for ML1400
Message (at MG23, 8 elements) for ML1400
PID (at PD24, 4 elements) for ML1400
Programmable Limit Switch (at PLS25, 3 elements) for ML1400
Routing Info (at RI26, 3 elements) for ML1400
Extended Routing Info (at RIX27, 3 elements) for ML1400

Now, the driver obviously uses standard DF1 PCCC data types (see below) to read/write individual elements/sub-elements of the file types that I can already support -- and I can see that there's a file type listed below for ASCII.

•80 to 83 hex: reserved
•84 hex: status
•85 hex: bit
•86 hex: timer
•87 hex: counter
•88 hex: control
•89 hex: integer
•8A hex: floating point
•8B hex: output logical by slot
•8C hex: input logical by slot
•8D hex: string
•8E hex: ASCII
•8F hex: BCD

However, my question is this: since there are no hex file types corresponding to non-elementary data types such as L, MG, PID, PLS, RI and RIX, what file type do I specify in my DF1 PCCC packets to read/write the elements/sub-elements of these six data types ?

Thanks in advance.

Edited by gazroo

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I did some web research and coincidentally found the answer to my own question.

There IS a list of numbers for the file types I mentioned, but the information was tucked away in a scientific paper and apparently is not available in standard Allen-Bradley documentation (typically, the DF1 Protocol Reference Manual).

For anyone else who needs it:

  • Long: 0x91
  • Message: 0x92
  • PID: 0x93
  • PLS: 0x94
  • RI: 0x95
  • RIX: 0x96
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PID loop tags- In CLX there is a tag array for a PID loop and there is a tag array for a PIDE loop (my preference). They are not the same tag structure each structure is made up of a number of different elements (Real, bool, etc).

Then there is the UDT (User Defined Data Type). I have some that area made up of Strings, Bools, Floats, and Integers. UDT's can be made from any and all data types. How do you deal with that?

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Hello,

For CLX you can fetch the UDT sizes and member names/data types and UDT that contain UDT.

I posted a program a few years ago that would fetch what the controller contained. The program had one error that I fixed in my code but did not revisit the posted program.

I thought I posted it on this site. LogixTagRead.exe. PM if you want me to email it to you.

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