HMI aplications using RSlogix &VBA

[RAGEE]

Does anyone have some macro's that they can share with me, as I need help learning this language.

 

[MickeyD]

Macro’s for what? Are you thinking about developing an HMI with a SLC5/00? Do you have RSLINX? Do you have a complicated process? Is RSVIEW not an option?

 

[chakorules]

When you say VBA, I assuming you are asking for an Excel Macro


Here is one I wrote:


Sub Start()

Dim lngRow As Long
Dim varCycle As Variant
Dim varLogging As Variant
Dim varResults As Variant
On Error GoTo Error


'opens a COLD DDE link
RSIchan = DDEInitiate("RSLinx", "M1138&quot

'assign PLC bit values to VB variant varibles
varLogging = DDERequest(RSIchan, "B3/163&quot
varCycle = DDERequest(RSIchan, "B3/161&quot

'close COLD DDE link
DDETerminate (RSIchan)

'check to see if the Cycle bit went to "1" if it did, excute read data
If varCycle(1) = "1" And varLogging(1) = "1" Then

'starts at row 3 of sheet
lngRow = 3

If Range("INDATA!A3&quot.Value > 3 Then
'look up last cell and change position
lngRow = Range("INDATA!A3&quot.Value
End If

'check until end of sheet
For lngRow = lngRow To 65500
'look for next empty cell
If Cells(lngRow, 1) = "" Then Exit For

'write current cell location to sheet INDATA
'rather than writing a loop to search on
'every cycle, by the time the log is at row 21,500
'it could take a long time to search the rows...
Range("INDATA!A3&quot.Value = lngRow + 1

'add 1 to row "x" to check next row
Next

'opens a COLD DDE link
RSIchan = DDEInitiate("RSLinx", "M1138&quot

'there might be a better way to do this like
'using this somehow ???????? but I don't know how
'data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "f11:0,L7,C7&quot
'Range("[M1138.xls]LOG!R[x]C1:R[x]C7&quot.Value = data


'read word F8:10 and load into a VB variant variable
f810data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:10&quot
'read word F8:11 and load into a VB variant variable
f811data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:11&quot
'read word F8:12 and load into a VB variant variable
f812data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:12&quot
'read word F8:16 and load into a VB variant variable
f816data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:16&quot
'read word F8:18 and load into a VB variant variable
f818data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:18&quot
'read word F8:17 and load into a VB variant variable
f817data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:17&quot
'read word F8:20 force check #1 and load into a VB variant variable
f820data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:20&quot
'read word F8:21 force check #2 and load into a VB variant variable
f821data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:21&quot
'read word F8:22 force check #3 and load into a VB variant variable
f822data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:22&quot
'read word F8:23 force check #4 and load into a VB variant variable
f823data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:23&quot
'read word F8:24 max force and load into a VB variant variable
f824data = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:24&quot
'read word F8:25, get PASS or FAIL status from PLC and load into a VB variant variable
varResults = DDERequest(RSIchan, "F8:25&quot

'close COLD DDE link
DDETerminate (RSIchan)

'write all values to cells
Cells(lngRow, 1).Value = f810data
Cells(lngRow, 2).Value = f811data
Cells(lngRow, 3).Value = f812data
Cells(lngRow, 4).Value = f816data
Cells(lngRow, 5).Value = f818data
Cells(lngRow, 6).Value = f817data
Cells(lngRow, 7).Value = f820data
Cells(lngRow, 8).Value = f821data
Cells(lngRow, 9).Value = f822data
Cells(lngRow, 10).Value = f823data
Cells(lngRow, 11).Value = f824data

Range("INDATA!A4&quot.Value = varResults

If Range("INDATA!A4&quot.Value = 0 Then
Cells(lngRow, 12).Value = "PASS"

'copies the conditional format to the next cell
Rows(lngRow + 1).Select
Selection.Copy
Rows(lngRow + 2).Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
Application.CutCopyMode = False
Range("L" & lngRow + 2).Select

End If

If Range("INDATA!A4&quot.Value = 1 Then
Cells(lngRow, 12).Value = "HEIGHT FAIL"

'copies the conditional format to the next cell
Rows(lngRow + 1).Select
Selection.Copy
Rows(lngRow + 2).Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
Application.CutCopyMode = False
Range("L" & lngRow + 2).Select

End If

If Range("INDATA!A4&quot.Value = 2 Then
Cells(lngRow, 12).Value = "PARALLEL FAIL"

'copies the conditional format to the next cell
Rows(lngRow + 1).Select
Selection.Copy
Rows(lngRow + 2).Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
Application.CutCopyMode = False
Range("L" & lngRow + 2).Select

End If

If Range("INDATA!A4&quot.Value = 3 Then
Cells(lngRow, 12).Value = "FORCE FAIL"

'copies the conditional format to the next cell
Rows(lngRow + 1).Select
Selection.Copy
Rows(lngRow + 2).Select
ActiveSheet.Paste
Application.CutCopyMode = False
Range("L" & lngRow + 2).Select

End If

If Range("INDATA!A4&quot.Value > 3 Then
Cells(lngRow, 12).Value = "ERROR!"
End If

'capture time and date stamp into column 8
Cells(lngRow, 13).Value = Now()

'scrolls the screen down automatically
'Range("A" & lngRow + 1).Select

End If

GoTo Done:
Error:
frmError.Hide
frmError.Show

'trying a timed form box, so disabled the old MESSAGE BOX here for now
'MsgBox ("Communications to PLC have been lost! Or Log Sheet is FULL! Can not log data anymore. Check PLC connection and wiring.&quot
Application.Run Macro:="ChkTime"

Done:

'check for date change, if so then save as new sheet
Application.Run Macro:="ChkTime"
End Sub


You can download the whole program here:

http://www.mrplc.com/dl/index.php?action=view&view=entry&entryid=74

Or if you want a sample VB 6.0 AB to DDE program you can donwload a sample program I never did finish, but the DDE works in the program.

http://www.mrplc.com/dl/index.php?action=view&view=entry&entryid=58

The code for the above program looks a little bit different than VBA code, so make sure you get the right sample.


Good Luck! Chris Elston
Automation & Controls Engineer

http://www.mrplc.com

Download Sample PLC Ladder Logic Code
at MrPLC.com

 

[RAGEE]

Thanks for your replies,

I need to give some more detail on my requirements: Firstly I have just purchased RSLogix 500 pro with a view to creating a pc interface with the micrologix & slc range of plc's. This interface will vary from machine to machine & process to process. I wish to use control buttons to turn various devices on & off eg: motors, valves, etc, as well as alarms for use in fault finding diagnostics. The main plant that I will be using to develop my HMI is a plastic bottle plant that I have built. This has a small network of micrologix 1500,1000, slc5/03 processors & pv300micro terminals running on a DH485 protocol.

So if anyone has any ideas or suggestions or pointers it would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Russell Gee

 

[chakorules]

Russell,


Sounds like you better just stick with RS View 32. It's simple and easy to use. It's sold be the "TAG". You can get 300 tags pretty cheap. Buying RS View 32 far out weighs the cost of any time spent on a VB application.

Check it out at: rockwellsoftware.com

Chris Elston
Automation & Controls Engineer

http://www.mrplc.com

Download Sample PLC Ladder Logic Code
at MrPLC.com

 

[RAGEE]

Chris,

I agree that for this application RS View would be an easier option, however in Australia a 300 tag version retails for about $2900 for a single licence & this makes it prohibitive for distribution on a wider scale for smaller machines.

Russell Gee

 

[chakorules]

What I do is pay for the development license ($1200). Then I purchase a RUNTIME (300 tags) for $800.00. So each time I put a computer and a HMI on a new machine, it only cost me $800 for the RUNTIME 300 tags. MY runtime I purchase comes with a new copy of RS Linx Pro. So I am getting a 300 tag runtime, and RS Linx Pro for $800.00 for each new machine. Don't quote me on that price, but I am pretty sure that was the price I last paid.

See if your AB rep can work you a deal like that.

Chris Elston
Automation & Controls Engineer

http://www.mrplc.com

Download Sample PLC Ladder Logic Code
at MrPLC.com

 

[RAGEE]

Chris,

Is that US dollars? Because I havent heard of prices like that in Aus, However it does look like it is worth investigation. I'd be interested in looking at some of your applications if you are able to share them.

Thanks
Russell Gee

 

[RAGEE]

It appears that I have been asking the wrong questions. What I am really trying to do is produce some simple user interface screens for data collection & program control that can be used in the programming & commisioning enviroment & possibly afterwards. This will include some simple push buttons possibly rate counters & areas to change timer values. If it as all possable to write a protocol to comunicate with the plc network without the use of links this would be of a great advantage thus eliminating the need for expensive licences for links.

Russell Gee

 

[Macbeth]

Sounds Like you want to create your own HMI application and write your own DF1 driver. If this is the case VBA will not work as a stand alone code for you VBA is Visual Basic for Applications, this means Not that you use it for building application but use it inside of an existing application such as Excel.

You would require a real full version of VB or WinC+ or some thing like that. Once you have some thing like that I would suggest using additional active X controls to assemble your projects. Although this may have a lower upfront cost, the over all cost of programming out side your means will in the long run cost far more and the extra stress will put you on lisinopril. Although I do not know your limitations.

Another benefit of using a pre packaged SCADA system is history, alarm, & other tools as such. Not to mention it would be easier to find people to support it when you have other duties.

But if you must look at some of the stuff at

http://WWW.SOFTWARETOOLBOX.COM

http://www.instrumentationactivex.com/

http://www.symbolfactoryactivex.com

If you search for DF1 you will find info on using mscomm32.ocx to build a driver for such uses.

 

[plcsavvy]

I started to write a book on this very subject but lost interest. I thought that it wasn't very useful since a lot of people prefer software packages like wonderware,cimplicity and etc... Are there many of you forum users out there that would purchase such a book devoted exclusively to Industrial Automation Applications? I havedesigned HMI applications using VB that interfaced to execel and access. I have developed applications that exhibit automation that is in synchronization with actual pick n place machine movements. All of the appplications were developed for the Allen-Bradley SLC 5XX series of programmable logic controllers. best regards, PLCSAVVY

 

[PaulT587]

Also try InGear I think that communication package for VB that is a one time price. No runtime costs.
Paul