To be able to simulate function blocks, they must be linked to other function blocks or output points or configured as Out_Save, Out_Byte, Out_float, or constant. An exception, however, is the Alarm function block. If you have an Alarm function block with only its input linked, you can still perform simulation.
To be able to simulate input points (NVIs, NCIs, Network Inputs, Network Setpoints, analog inputs, and binary inputs), they must be linked to function blocks or other output points.
To select the points being simulated that need to be visible in the Watch Window:
| Name | Definition |
| Select Function Block | Shows all the Function Blocks, Physical I\O's and Network Variables (NVIs/Network Inputs, NCIs/Network Setpoints, Software Inputs and points that are not constants, physical inputs such as analog and digital inputs) that have output points and are connected to other functional blocks or network variables. |
| Select Output Points | Shows all the output points of selected Function Blocks, Physical I\O's or Network Variables (NVIs, NCIs, Software Inputs that are not constants), or Objects (Network Inputs, Network Setpoints, Software points that are not constants) that are connected to other functional blocks or network variables or objects. |
| Select point path | Indicates the location of the component. It is a relative and not an absolute path |
| Select point ord | Indicates the absolute path. It can be used to resolve the component. |
| Point Name | Shows the points selected to be displayed in the watch window. |
| OK | Saves the selected points to be debugged and closes the dialog box. |
| Cancel | Closes the dialog box. Any operation done so far is cancelled. |
After you have selected points to be displayed in the Simulation Log Window, the points appear in a Watch Window at the bottom of the wiresheet. Use this to analyze your application logic and to find the values being returned based on the logic you have defined.
Note: All points in the logic is simulated. However, only those points which are selected to be viewed in the Watch Window are displayed in the watch window.
The output values of each point in the logic can also be viewed without the watch window. The values are displayed at the output pin of each point.
To close the watch window:
After you have selected the points to be debugged, if you switch to another mode and select or deselect the points to be debugged and then get back to the Online Debugging Mode, the selected points are not selected to be displayed in the watch window. You have to select them again.
Note:
The value written to a point and the mode last set (in Engineering, Online debugging, or Simulation) is available the next time you visit any other mode (Engineering, Online debugging, or Simulation) with the following exceptions:
If Sine/Cosine/Range was selected for a point in Simulation mode and you enter the Engineering or Online Debugging mode, and invoke the Force Input screen, the mode for that point is shown as Set or Auto. If you click OK and go to the Simulation mode, the Force Input screen indicates the mode as Set or Auto.
If Sine/Cosine/Range is selected for a point in Simulation mode and the you enter the Engineering or Online Debugging mode, and invoke the Force Input screen, the mode for that point is shown as Set or Auto. If you click Cancel and visit the Simulation mode, the Force Input screen indicates the mode as Sine/Cosine/Range (depending on what was last selected).
If Sine/Cosine/Range is selected for a point in Simulation mode and you enter the Engineering or Online Debugging mode, and do not invoke Force Input screen or any option in the right-click menu on that point and go to the Simulation mode again, the Force Input screen indicates the mode as Sine/Cosine/Range (depending on what was last selected).
The values set for constant blocks are not saved across mode revisits. When you exit Simulation mode, the actual value configured for the constant block is put back on the out slot.