Monitoring the Values of Variables

While running an application online, for example, connected, or simulating, monitor values, updated by the running code or simulation code, in Dictionary instances graphical programs, and function blocks. For individual graphical program organization units (POUs), enable monitoring by generating monitoring symbols for operators and functions.
For dictionary instances, the logical values, physical values, and lock status of variables are displayed in their respective columns. For graphical programs and function blocks, values display differently depending on type:
  • Values of variables with the boolean type display using color. The output value color continues to the next input. The default colors are red when True and blue when False.
  • Values of variables with the SINT, USINT, BYTE, INT, UINT, WORD, DINT, UDINT, DWORD, LINT, ULINT, LWORD, REAL, LREAL, TIME, DATE, and STRING type display as a numeric or textual value. When the output is a structure type, the displayed value is the selected member.
    TIP: Values of arrays with a variable as an index cannot be monitored.
When variables are unavailable, the logical and physical values display the following messages:
  • OFFLINE, indication that the variable is not present in the running application code
  • N/A, indication that the complex input to a user-defined function is not present in the running application code
  • WAIT, indication that the variable is either:
    • In online mode and attempting to connect to the target
    • In simulation mode and attempting to connect to the simulator
To monitor the values of variables
  1. In the
    Application View
    , select the graphical POU for which to generate symbols monitoring.
  2. In the
    Properties
    window, set the
    Generate Monitoring Symbols
     property to True.
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