ControlProgram NV Configuration View
A Network Variable (NV) is a data item such as a temperature, a switch value or
actuator state. NVs can be thought of simply as point parameters. LonMark functional
profiles define Standard Network Variable Types (SNVTs), but additional non-standard NVs
are usually available, depending on the device, to store additional non-standard data.
There are two categories of NVs that the Lon Spyder supports. They are:
- Fixed_Droppable: You can use Fixed Dropable NVs while creating an application
logic but can edit only its Internal Data Type. You can also display Fixed Dropable NVs on
the wiresheet.
- Custom: Custom NVs are the NVs you create while creating an application
logic. They can be created, edited, and deleted based on your requirements.
The Lon Spyder provides the following four built-in functions that enable you to
connect function blocks with other function blocks.
- NVI - Network Variable Inputs
- NVO - Network Variable Output
- NCI - Network Configuration Input
- Many to One NV - Many to One Network Variable
The Lon Spyder provides built-in functions, Network Variable Inputs, to allow the
selection of variables that are available from/to the network. The configured network
variables are mapped to the Function Block memory space to be used by any Function Block.
Each Network variable may be configured with a name.
Viewing the List of Network Variables
- Browse to Station > Config > Drivers > LonNetwork > LonSpyder.
- Select ControlProgram > Views > NV Configuration View. The
summary page appears with a list of pre-programmed Mandatory, Fixed,
and Custom NVs in a tabular format.
The table has the following columns:
NV Name: The name of the network variable.
Type: Indicates if the NV is of type NVI, NVO, NCI or Many to One NV.
Category: Indicates if the NV is Mandatory, Fixed, or Custom.
NV Container: Indicates where the NV is used.
- You have options to:
Show Mandatory and Fixed NVs - Click this button to view
list of all Mandatory and Fixed NVs for the selected Spyder model.
Show on wiresheet as points - See the Add NVI,
Add NCI, Add NVO, or Add Many to One NV topics for more details.
Add NV - See the Add NVI, Add NCI, Add NVO, or Add Many to One NV topics for more details.
Edit NV - See the Editing Network Variables
topic for more details.
Delete NV - See the Editing Network Variables
topic for more details.
- The bottom half of the NV Configuration view displays the software
points available on the wiresheet in a tabular format.
The table has the following columns:
Point Name: The name of the software point (Software Input/Software
Output) as it appears on the wiresheet.
Field Names: Indicates if the NV is of type NVI, NVO, NCI or Many to One
NV.
Point Container: Indicates where the software point is used. All software
points that are used in a Program within an application are also listed.
- You have options to:
Group as NV: Use this button to group points belonging to types NVI, NCI,
NVO, constants, and invalid points to form a new NVI, NCI, or NVO.
Edit Point: Select an NV and click this button to edit its configuration.
Remove points from wiresheet:: Use this button to remove an NV from the
wiresheet.
Group as NV
You can group points belonging to types NVI, NCI, NVO, Constants, and Invalid points to
form a new NVI, NCI, or NVO.
Note: Use the CTRL key to select multiple points to group.
This button is disabled in the following cases:
- If one or more selected points belong to a Fixed NV.
- If one or more selected points belong to a Many to One NV.
- If one or more selected points is configured as Bit field .
- If you select an input point and an output point.
- If the point belongs to nciTempSetpoints
See the Add NVI, Add NCI, Add NVO, or Add Many to One
NV topics for more details.
Note:
Mandatory NVs cannot be used in the application logic.
Mandatory NVs cannot be edited or deleted.
In a Fixed NV, only Internal Data Type can be modified.
Custom NV is the user defined NV. A Custom NV can be edited or deleted.
Fixed NVs marked as Fixed_Dropable can be exposed on the wiresheet.
Other fixed NVs cannot be exposed as points.
Software Input with Point Type configured as Constant in a macro are not
shown in the lower pane of the NV Configuration View.
For each point that is copied and pasted on the wiresheet:
If the network type is a scalar SNVT, the new NV created is SNVT of the
network type.
If the network type is a Bit field, the new NV of SNVT type nearest to
the selected internal data type is created automatically.
In all other cases, a single-field UNVT with the same configuration as
the point being copied is created.
Related Topics
Application NV Configuration