Variable Selector

To access the Variable Selector

For graphical POUs (FBD or LD), drag an element requiring the selection of a variable, like a variable, coil, or contact. For textual POUs (ST), right-click in the language container, and then click Variable Selector
(Ctrl+I). When mapping variables for communication protocols, click Add Variable
or vrs_vrs2

TIP: The Variable Selector
can only be accessed while in design mode.

Use the Variable Selector
to select variables for use in program organization units (POUs) or mapping variables for the various communication protocols, like SOE and

Modbus

. The available scopes depending on the access of the Variable Selector
. The Variable Selector
displays variables in alphanumerical order. Sort or filter the listed variables.

IMPORTANT: Read this section before using the Variable Selector
. The main purpose of the selector is to select variables for use in POUs or mapping variables for the communication protocols. The preferred method to create variables is from dictionary instances.

When working with the Variable Selector
, perform many tasks:

Grid filtering fields, limits the variables displayed in the variables grid by typing alphanumeric characters in the Name
field.

Scope tabs, indicates the scope for the variables to display in the variables grid. For AADvance POUs, the available scopes are local variables, controller variables (for example, global), system variables, directly represented variables, and defined words. For

Trusted®

POUs, the available scopes are local variables, global variables, directly represented variables, and defined words. When mapping variables for communication protocols, the available scopes are either local and global, or only global.

Grid column headers, sorts the contents of the grid in ascending or descending alphanumerical order according to the individual properties.

Column filtering cells, filters the contents of the grid by typing specific alphanumerical characters contained in the variables to display or clicking the down arrow to display the available grouping options from a drop-down list. Also perform filtering other than the default “starts with” operation by clicking the rightmost icon in the filtering cell.

Variables grid, contains the variables defined for the selected scope.

Available definition row, enables the definition of the properties for a new variable.

In the Variable Selector
, navigate using keyboard and mouse controls.

Keyboard/Mouse Control	Description
Arrow keys	Move up, down, left, and right among the cells of the list of variables. Also move left and right across the tabs.
Tab key	Move from left to right between the fields, tab, and list of variables. Within the list, move left to right between cells of a row. After exiting the list of variables, move across the command buttons and back to the fields.
Esc key	Close the Variable Selector without selecting a variable.
Enter key	Close the Variable Selector and display the selected variable in the workspace.

Task	Procedure
Select a variable	Access the Variable Selector . To sort the variables listed in the variables grid, click the column heading of the property for which to toggle between ascending and descending alphanumeric order. To clear the filter to see all variables, and not limit the display to those filtered by the variable’s data type, hover over a Data Type filter cell and select the Clear Filter icon. To reduce the number of variables listed in the variables grid, in the grid filtering cell directly below the column header of the variable property from which to filter, do one of the following: Type specific characters (alphanumerical) contained in the variables to display. When typing characters, also perform filtering other than the default starts with operation by clicking the icon at the rightmost in the grid filtering cell. Available filtering functions include ends with, equal to, like, match, and other Boolean operations. Click the down arrow to display the available grouping options from a drop-down list. Locate the required variable by scrolling down the list of variables displayed in the grid. Select the variable by clicking anywhere in the row, and then click OK .
Add a variable to a variable group	For AADvance applications only, add a variable defined in the variables grid to existing variable groups. In the variable grid, right-click the variable, point to Add to Variable Group , then click the required group.

Task

Procedure

Select a variable

Access the Variable Selector
.

To sort the variables listed in the variables grid, click the column heading of the property for which to toggle between ascending and descending alphanumeric order.

To clear the filter to see all variables, and not limit the display to those filtered by the variable’s data type, hover over a Data Type filter cell and select the Clear Filter
icon.

To reduce the number of variables listed in the variables grid, in the grid filtering cell directly below the column header of the variable property from which to filter, do one of the following:

Type specific characters (alphanumerical) contained in the variables to display. When typing characters, also perform filtering other than the default starts with operation by clicking the icon at the rightmost in the grid filtering cell. Available filtering functions include ends with, equal to, like, match, and other Boolean operations.

Click the down arrow to display the available grouping options from a drop-down list.

Locate the required variable by scrolling down the list of variables displayed in the grid.

Select the variable by clicking anywhere in the row, and then click OK
.

Add a variable to a variable group

For AADvance applications only, add a variable defined in the variables grid to existing variable groups.

In the variable grid, right-click the variable, point to
Add to Variable Group
, then click the required group.

Introducing the AADvance-Trusted SIS Workstation software

Creating Variables from the Variable Selector

Editing Variables from the Variable Selector

Delete Variables from the Variable Selector

Create Variables from the Variable Selector

Edit Variables from the Variable Selector

Delete Variables from the Variable Selector

Block Selector

Toolbox

Provide Feedback

Have questions or feedback about this documentation? Please submit your feedback here.