Spy Lists

Spy to monitor changes in values, for variables, arrays (if supported by the application), structures (if supported by the application), and instances of function blocks by adding them to spy lists directly, from the dictionary, or from the language editors. Create spy lists, then proceed to adding the required items for monitoring while designing, simulating, or running an application. From spy lists, also modify values for the displayed items.
View spy lists in a spy list window.
spl_ovr
Spy list variables properties are:
Column
Description
Name
Name of the variable or function block instance
Alias
Any name (for use in Ladder Diagram (LD) POUs)
Logical Value
Available when online. The displayed value differs depending on the direction:
  • Input: Locked
  • Output: Updated by the running TIC code
  • Internal: Locked
Physical Value
Available when online. The displayed value differs depending on the direction:
  • Input: Updated by the field value
  • Output: Locked
  • Internal: Updated by the running TIC code
Lock
Available when online. The indication of whether the value of the variable or function block instance is locked. Locking operates differently for simple variables, array and structure elements, and function block parameters. For simple variables, individual variables are locked directly. For structure and array elements, locking an element locks all the elements of the structure or array.
Comment
User-defined text
Access Path
The location of the variable or function block instance within the project.
Data Type
Data type of the variable
Spy list properties are:
Properties
Name
Name of the spy list that displays in the spy list title bar and the menu.
Refresh Rate
When monitoring, the rate at which the values of variables refreshes in the spy list, in milliseconds. Change the refresh rate while in design mode.
In a spy list, navigate using the mouse controls and arrow keys to move up and down the list.
Keys
Arrow keys
Move up or down in the list
Enter key
When selecting variables using the
Name
 field, save the selected variable to the grid.
Customize spy lists by arranging the columns to display and setting the display colors. In the spy list, refine the contents of the grid by grouping items in a list, sorting items in a list, and filtering items in a list.
Task
Procedure
Arrange the columns to display
  1. To move a column, drag the column header to another location.
    When dragging a column header, arrows indicate the current position of the header.
  2. To show or hide a column, right-click on a column header, and then click the required column name.
Sort items in a spy list
  • Click the required column header to toggle the sort order between ascending and descending.
Filter items in the grid
Filtering displays only the entries containing specified characters.
The filter row is the top row of the grid. Filter items by typing alphabetical and numerical characters in the cells of the filter row. Also select from the drop-down combo box. Matching items automatically display.
  • In the filter row of the spy list, click the required cell, then do one of the following:
    • Type the characters to use in the filtering operation
    • Select the required structure from the drop-down combo box
Group items in a spy list
  • Drag the required column header to toggle the sort order between ascending and descending.
When managing spy lists, perform these tasks:
Task
Procedure
Create a spy list
  1. From the
    View
    menu, point to
    Watch
    , and then click
    Create Spy List
    .
  2. To assign a name other than the default name, specify the required name in the
    Name
    field of the spy list window.
A spy list with an empty grid displays.
Access an existing spy list
  • From the
    View
    menu, point to
    Watch
    , and then click the required spy list.
Delete a spy list
  1. From the
    View
    menu, point to
    Watch
    , and then click the name of the spy list to remove.
  2. In the spy list window, verify the correct name of the spy list to remove, and then click spl_dlt.
Add items to a spy list
  1. To add items directly in a spy list:
    1. From the
      View
      menu, point to
      Watch
      , and then click the required spy list name.
    2. In the spy list window, click the available
      Name
      cell and type the specific alphanumerical characters contained in the name of the item to add to the spy list.
    3. From the drop-down list displaying the available items with the characters in their name, select the required item and then press
      Enter
      .
  2. To add items from the dictionary:
    1. Access the dictionary instance containing the item to add to the spy list.
    2. In the dictionary instance, right-click the name field for the item to add, point to
      Add to Spy List
      , and then click the name of the required spy list from the available list.
  3. To add items from a language editor:
    1. Access the POU containing the item to add to the spy list.
    2. In the language container, right-click the item to add, point to
      Add to Spy List
      , and then click the name of the required spy list from the available list.
Remove items from a spy list
When selecting an item, an indicator arrow displays in the leftmost column of the list.
For AADvance projects, remove unused items from a spy list.
  • In the spy list, right-click the item to remove, and then click
    Delete
    .
Save a spy list
  • From the required spy list, click the
    Close
    button at the top-left corner of the spy list window.
Cut, copy, and paste items between spy lists
  1. In the grid of the required spy list, cut or copy the required items.
    • To remove variables, select the required item or items, right-click the selection, and then click
      Cut
      .
    • To copy variables, select the required item or items, right-click the selection, and then click
      Copy
      .
  2. In the grid of the required spy list, right-click the required location, and then click
    Paste
    .
Drag items between spy lists
  1. Access the spy lists containing the required items and their destination.
  2. From the spy list containing the required items, select the items.
    The selection indicator displays in the leftmost column.
  3. Drag to the destination, placing it at the required location within the list.
Force the value of a spy list variable
For spy list variables with a write access value of false, restrict access before forcing the values. For variables with a write access value of true:
  • From the spy list, double-click the variable's corresponding cell in the
    Value
    column, then in the dialog box, click
    Write
    . For Boolean variables, click the required Boolean value.
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