Patent ID: 6366300
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: G05B,G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A visual programming method comprising:a first step of displaying graphical objects representing a plurality of members connected to output terminals of a programmable logic controller; a second step of displaying graphical objects representing the output terminals of the programmable logic controller; a third step of connecting a first graphical object selected by a user from the graphical objects representing the plurality of members displayed in the first step, to a second graphical object selected by the user from the graphical objects representing the output terminals and displayed in the second step; a fourth step of allowing a user to select a graphical object or a plurality of graphical objects from said graphical objects each used for defining a function and displayed at said first step and transferring the same plurality of selected graphical objects to said layout diagram; a sixth step of creating a layout diagram showing a layout of the graphical objects representing the plurality of members and displaying said layout diagram on a screen; a seventh step of allowing the user to select one of said graphical objects each used for defining a function and transferring said selected graphical object to said layout diagram created and displayed at said sixth step; an eighth step of allowing a user to select a plurality of graphical objects from said graphical objects each used for defining a function and displayed at said first step and transferring the same plurality of selected graphical objects to said layout diagram created at said sixth step; a ninth step of allowing a user to select a graphical object or a plurality of graphical objects from said graphical objects each used for defining a function and displayed at said first step and transferring the same plurality of selected graphical objects to said layout diagram created at said sixth step as well as displaying the same plurality of selected graphical objects on said layout diagram; a tenth step of identifying arrangement orders of graphical objects selected by a user and assigning a priority to each of said arrangement orders when a plurality of arrangement orders are identified; an eleventh step of displaying the same plurality of identified arrangement orders sequentially one after another in a sequence determined by said priorities assigned thereto at said tenth step, a twelfth step of allowing the user to select an arrangement order among the same plurality of identified arrangement orders displayed sequentially at said eleventh step; a thirteenth of allowing a user to change an arrangement order of graphical objects selected by the user at said twelfth step; a fourteenth step of detecting a settable parameter graphical object with a new parameter thereof among graphical objects selected by a user and notifying the user of a result of detection; a fifteenth step of detecting selection of said graphical object reported to the user at said fourteenth step or a graphical object other than said reported graphical object and creating and displaying a window used for setting a parameter of said reported graphical object or said other graphical object; and a sixteenth step of allowing the user to set said parameter on said window displayed at said fifteenth step.