Abstract: A system for creating a program for a programmable logic controller (PLC). The user inputs a ladder logic command in an alphanumeric format, and the system creates a corresponding ladder logic graph on a display means. The user may then verify the relationship depicted in the graph, before forwarding the ladder logic command to the PLC.

Abstract: An integrated control system for a power plant having a generator, a turbine, a gate for controlling flow through the turbine, a voltage regulator, a bus and a main circuit breaker. The control system comprises a nonvolatile memory for storing configuration data that includes a plurality of configuration parameters for the power plant. The control system further includes input devices for producing input data concerning current plant conditions including turbine speed, gate position, generator current and voltage, bus current and voltage, and the position of the main circuit breaker. A multi-tasking processor processes the input data in accordance with the configuration data, to produce control signals for controlling the power plant. An editing function is also provided to enable an operator to edit the configuration data, so that the control system can readily be configured for a particular power plant.