Patent ID: 7340683

Claim:
A programming tool comprising: a selection section for selecting a plurality of function blocks displayed in a library format; a coordinate calculation section for: calculating coordinates of positions of the plurality of selected function blocks based on the order of the function blocks as selected, calculating coordinates of positions of an input pin and an output pin based on attribute information of the selected function block, determining based on attribute information of the selected block and the previously selected blocks whether the functions blocks can be connected to each other, calculating coordinates of positions of a line connecting the input pin and the output pin of the function blocks when the functions blocks can be connected to each other, wherein the coordinate calculation section does not require a user to specify the position of the selected function blocks or pin connection information; a coordinate storage section for storing the calculated coordinates of the function blocks, the input pin and the output pin of the function blocks and the line connecting the input pin and the output pin of the function blocks, and a drawing section for drawing and displaying a state in which the selected function blocks are connected, based on the coordinates stored in the coordinates storage section.