COMPONENTS Area
The COMPONENTS area at the right of the PLCnext Engineer user interface contains various categories of components that can be used in the engineering project. Both logical and physical components are available, from logical POUs up to devices. These components are considered as types.
 | Use these buttons on the main toolbar or commands in the 'View' menu, to show or hide particular objects in the COMPONENTS area. |
Example
COMPONENTS: types to be instantiated
If a type provided in the COMPONENTS area is used in the project, this type is instantiated. The way, a type is to be used (instantiated) depends on the type.- Device types are used/instantiated by inserting them from the COMPONENTS area into the PLANT (via drag & drop, via 'Device List' editor or by network scan).
- Program types: a program is used/instantiated by assigning it to a task in the 'PLCnext' node in the PLANT.
- Function blocks: a function block is instantiated by calling it in the code of a program or another function block.
- HMI object types are used/instantiated by inserting the object into an HMI page (child element of the 'HMI Webserver' node in the PLANT).
As a result, the PLANT contains instances of programs and devices provided in the COMPONENTS area and other POU code worksheets contain instances of function blocks.
| Note
If 'Aspect Hierarchies' are enabled in the 'Options' dialog (category 'Extensions'), the COMPONENTS area provides the additional category 'Automation Modules'. From here the available Automation Modules can be dragged into one of the PLANT views (aspect-related or instance-related view) in order to use it in the project. Refer to the chapter "Automation Modules" for details. |
Editing component type properties
By double-clicking an editable component type icon in one of the COMPONENTS categories, its properties are opened and can be edited in a group of editors which appear in the editors area. The number and style of the available editors depend on the type. Some types, such as devices, cannot be edited.
| Note
When editing the properties or content of a component provided in one of the categories of the COMPONENTS area, the reusable type is modified. As a result, each existing or future instance of this type is affected by the modification. |
The topic "COMPONENT Types Editors" describes all available editors.
| Note
To edit a safety-related device component type you have to be logged on to the Safety-related Area. Refer to the topic "Safety-Related Area with Password Protection" for details. Safety-related devices are marked by the  overlay icon. |
Also refer to the topic "Editors area" and to the procedure list below.
Manufacturer-defined or user-defined types: some categories contain a 'Local' folder. This folder contains user-defined types, such as POUs or data types.
Using the context menu, the folder structure of each category can be modified (see procedure below).
Inserting libraries
Furthermore, the COMPONENTS area provides the possibility to insert libraries. Refer to the topic "Adding Libraries" for details.
What do you want to do?
Define data types for IEC 61131-3 programming
IEC 61131-3 POUs: add/edit programs, function blocks and functions
Create program instance in a controller task
Create program instance in the Safety PLC task