Abstract: There is described a method for monitoring a cyclic user program which is executed on an automation device by means of a programming device connected to communicate with the automation device, with a monitoring task being sent from the programming device to the automation device and the monitoring task containing command numbers of the commands to be monitored as well as the associated variables. With the method rarely run branches of the user program can also be easily observed by an execution of a command, by the data associated with the variables with corresponding command number and a first counter value, which assigns the data directly or indirectly to a cycle of the user program, being stored by the automation device in a recording buffer, by the old recording of the associated data including the first counter value being overwritten on renewed execution of the command and by the recording buffer being able to be output at the request of the programming device by the automation device.

Abstract: For the purpose of evaluating at least one characteristic value of at least one function in the execution of a program, a method uses a graphical representation of the at least one determined characteristic value associated with the functions. The representation is subdivided into a hierarchical structure, dependent on the degree of call depth of the function, and each call of a function in the graphical representation occupies an area whose size is dependent on the associated determined characteristic value in each case. In this context characteristic values can be any variables that are measurable by means of a profiler, as already explained in the introduction. Typically, an execution of a program is initiated via the calling of first functions, also referred to hereinafter as call depth 1. Said functions may possibly call further functions, i.e. of call depth 2, and so on, until processing of the desired task has been completed.

Abstract: A system and a method for switching between a plurality of sets of objects, each mapped by a hierarchical structure, are provided. Relationships of the objects are presented in a tree structure. A transition point may be used to switch between the individual different trees which represent different inter-relationships of the objects.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for easily switching between a number of sets (1) of objects (2) each mapped by means of a hierarchical structure. In this case the interrelationships of the objects (2) are typically presented in a tree structure. A transition point (3) can be used to switch between the individual different trees which represent the different interrelationships of the objects (2).

Abstract: A method of annotating a specification of a programmable logic controller is provided that includes displaying a graphical element in a first graphical language for programming the programmable logic controller, and displaying a comment associated with the graphical element. A method for converting a specification for a programmable logic controller in a first language to a second language is provided that includes converting a first instruction in the first language to a second instruction in the second language, and converting a first comment associated with the first instruction to a second comment associated with the second instruction. A computer-readable recording medium is provided.

Abstract: A method of annotating a specification of a programmable logic controller is provided that includes displaying a graphical element in a first graphical language for programming the programmable logic controller, and displaying a comment associated with the graphical element. A method for converting a specification for a programmable logic controller in a first language to a second language is provided that includes converting a first instruction in the first language to a second instruction in the second language, and converting a first comment associated with the first instruction to a second comment associated with the second instruction. A computer-readable recording medium is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automation system with a control unit, to which at least one sensor or actuator is connected. To connect it to the control unit, the sensor or actuator is connected to the connector which features an RFID chip with relevant data of the sensor or actuator. The data for use in the control unit can be read out by means of a reader.

Abstract: A method and a program network for exception handling are described. At least one error program element including an input and an output and an item of exception information stored for exception handling in the form of a data structure are defined in a graphical programming language.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a computer system. The inventive method allows best possible utilization of the efficiency of a concrete target hardware by providing in a program alternative passages of which exactly one is selected for execution by the processor by means of a code.

Abstract: For the purpose of evaluating at least one characteristic value of at least one function in the execution of a program, a method uses a graphical representation of the at least one determined characteristic value associated with the functions. The representation is subdivided into a hierarchical structure, dependent on the degree of call depth of the function, and each call of a function in the graphical representation occupies an area whose size is dependent on the associated determined characteristic value in each case. In this context characteristic values can be any variables that are measurable by means of a profiler, as already explained in the introduction. Typically, an execution of a program is initiated via the calling of first functions, also referred to hereinafter as call depth 1. Said functions may possibly call further functions, i.e. of call depth 2, and so on, until processing of the desired task has been completed.

Abstract: System for displaying status values for variables, with the variables being provided for use by one or more modules, in particular modules which represent the components of an automation system, having at least one usage point display, which is provided to specify the modules using said variables, selection means for selecting at least one variable from the usage point displays by a user of the system and display means for displaying the status values, which the at least one variable is adopting in the modules using said variable.

Abstract: There is described a method for monitoring a cyclic user program which is executed on an automation device by means of a programming device connected to communicate with the automation device, with a monitoring task being sent from the programming device to the automation device and the monitoring task containing command numbers of the commands to be monitored as well as the associated variables. With the method rarely run branches of the user program can also be easily observed by an execution of a command, by the data associated with the variables with corresponding command number and a first counter value, which assigns the data directly or indirectly to a cycle of the user program, being stored by the automation device in a recording buffer, by the old recording of the associated data including the first counter value being overwritten on renewed execution of the command and by the recording buffer being able to be output at the request of the programming device by the automation device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automation system with a control unit, to which at least one sensor or actuator is connected. To connect it to the control unit, the sensor or actuator is connected to the connector which features an RFID chip with relevant data of the sensor or actuator. The data for use in the control unit can be read out by means of a reader.

Abstract: When systems controlled using a program logic, such as automation systems, are started up, it is necessary to observe individual program areas specifically. Program areas of this type are usually described by one or more modules of a program. This presents the problem that, in order to obtain an accurate analysis, the requests for these modules have to be identified in connection with the modules themselves, since they are ordinarily used multiple times. The present testing method and testing device are used to calculate and display a hierarchical request tree that shows the requests corresponding to a selected module. One or more requests for the selected module can be selected for observation by selecting individual lines of this request tree.

Abstract: A converter (51) for generating a control program (17) running on target hardware based on a primary code with a plurality of instructions (22, 31), an automation device (11) with such a converter (51) and a development environment with such an automation device (11) with access to a database (52). In the database, a transformation rule (53) is stored for each instruction (22, 31), with functionality (54, 55, 56) for supplementing each instruction (22, 31), such that each parameter (36-40), which is used and/or influenced by the instruction (22, 31), can be logged. The transformation rule (53) includes information for supplementing the instruction (22, 31) with respect to the logging of each parameter (36-40).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a computer system. The inventive method allows best possible utilization of the efficiency of a concrete target hardware by providing in a program alternative passages of which exactly one is selected for execution by the processor by means of a code.

Abstract: An automation system, and method for operating an automation system, comprising at least one automation device and one programming device connected therewith, or each containing a communications program, so that they can communicate with one another. The automation device executes an application program, particularly a program to control and/or monitor an external technical process, and the programming device monitors the execution of the application program in that one or a plurality of data addresses (1132, 1133) of the application program is selected for monitoring on the programming device.

Abstract: When systems controlled using a program logic, such as automation systems, are started up, it is necessary to observe individual program areas specifically. Program areas of this type are usually described by one or more modules of a program. This presents the problem that, in order to obtain an accurate analysis, the requests for these modules have to be identified in connection with the modules themselves, since they are ordinarily used multiple times. The present testing method and testing device are used to calculate and display a hierarchical request tree that shows the requests corresponding to a selected module. One or more requests for the selected module can be selected for observation by selecting individual lines of this request tree.

Abstract: User programs composed of modules for use in automation systems may be created in a cyclic programming process. When solutions are created for complex automation tasks, there is a danger that during the execution of program sequences, individual operands can assume unexpected values in an unforeseen manner, causing error responses in the automation system. The method and programming tool allow data breakpoints to be set up within program logic that in particular has been graphically programmed, in the event of an occurrence of specific conditions. These data breakpoints are set up using a marker in an operand table, which contains selected operands coupled with the type and/or scope of the respective access operation, and using the unique definition of a specific access operation, (achieved by the marker), as a condition for the occurrence of the desired program interruption.

Abstract: An automation system, and method for operating an automation system, comprising at least one automation device and one programming device connected therewith, or each containing a communications program, so that they can communicate with one another. The automation device executes an application program, particularly a program to control and/or monitor an external technical process, and the programming device monitors the execution of the application program in that one or a plurality of data addresses (1132, 1133) of the application program is selected for monitoring on the programming device.