Why is it a bad programming practice to generally declare symbols as globals?

FAQ #100245

• When exporting fupla pages or when adding files (Fupla, IL or Graftec files) of an other CPU the globals contained in these programs won't be imported to the CPU.

• The programs get less modular

• The global symbols may be accessed by any module. In some applications this does make sense. On the other hand it may be dangerous (e.g. in context of adding a module that already has existing symbols defined)

• Drag & Drop in symbol structure doesn't work for global symbols

• After changing one global symbol, all modules have to be rebuilt (takes more time).

As listed above there is only one case in which it does make sense define a global symbol. This case is if the symbol must be accessible in more than one modules (e.g. Fupla and HMI Editor). If this case isn't given, it is strongly recommended not defining a symbol as global (or public which means the same)!