21338 - Limitations When Using ControlLogix

Access Level: TechConnect Date Created: 03/20/2002 12:00 AM Last Updated: 01/11/2013 06:03 PM

What are the limitations when using ControlLogix processors? The following information is found in the RSLinx Online Help

PLC Mapping Limitations when Using ControlLogix

The following known limitations exist when using the PLC mapping capability in RSLogix5000:

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Do not use file numbers 0, 1, and 2. These files are reserved for Output, Input, and Status files in a PLC5. Use PLC5 Mapping only for tag arrays of the following data type:

INT DINT REAL Attempting to map elements of system structures may produce undesirable effects. When accessing elements in an INT tag array, use the PLC file identifier N or B. The ControlLogix processor uses tags to store information instead of the file-based system of the PLC and SLC processors. Tags allow the user to name data items in a more meaningful way, however, the memory layout of the controller prevents write optimizations as the tags are not contiguous in the controllers memory. The only way to know that tags are contiguous in memory is to use an array of a simple data type and map that array to a PLC file number. Examples of simple data types include:

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INT DINT SINT REAL BOOLEAN

Optimizing Writes
The following steps are required to optimized writes from RSView32 to ControlLogix: 1. Create an array of a simple data type in RSLogix 5000. For example, create an array of INT[1000] and name it IntArray. Tags must be Controller scope to map to a PLC file number. 2. Map that array to a PLC file number.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

From the Logic menu, select Map PLC/SLC Messages. Enter a file number (for example 100), and select the tag IntArray. Create a PLC topic that points to the ControlLogix in RSLinx. In RSWho, browse to the ControlLogix, right-click and select Configure New DDE/OPC Topic. Select the Data Collection tab. Select PLC5 for Processor Type. Create tags in RSView using the PLC syntax. For example, for word 0 of the IntArray, the address in the RSView tag isN100:0.

The table below illustrates how to reference PLC mapped data in the RSView tag address:

ControlLogix PLC File Description RSView Tag Data Type Array Data Type Identifier INT 16-bit N Integer integer DINT 32-bit L Long Integer integer SINT 8-bit A Byte integer REAL floating F Floating Point point BOOLEAN value of 0, 1 B Digital or -1 An array of INT or DINT can be referenced in RSView as a boolean address. For example, the IntArray referenced as a digital tag would appear as B100:0/0. Avoid using the period to reference the bit of an array. The preferred syntax is to use the forward slash syntax from the PLC.