The most widely used object template is the digital object template, because it offers additional functions as compared to the standard digital object that has only two fixed states and commands, namely 0 and 1.
For a list of the advantages you gain by using object templates in general and the specific ones for digital object templates, click here.
Define object templates in the Global area to make them available in all areas.
On the States and Commands tab of the digital object template properties form, you can define up to 1024 states and commands and give them the names you like. The names you define are automatically added to the drop-down lists so that you can easily use existing names to achieve consistency in the configuration (if a digital object is not defined with an object template, the state and command name are 0 and 1).
You can only name the first 32 states or commands, that is 32 state name and 32 command names. Any named states or commands beyond this will be represented in the diagram with the state or command number.
One object is used each time 20 names are defined.
On the Command/State Config tab, you can define a default command and which commands you want to be valid for each state.
On the Bit Map I/O tab, you define the state and command bits flowing to and from the PLC.
For further information, click any of the individual options below.
On the Alarm In/Ack Bit tab, you can define the alarm indication bits flowing to the PC and the alarm acknowledgement bits flowing to and from the PC.
For further information, click any of the individual options below.
Normally, you can only have one active alarm on an object. For digital objects it is possible to have more than one. Click here for further information.
When you define an object template, it is recommended to enter as much information as possible on the Atom Mapping tab. Optimally, you should only leave the Bit Offset field empty. When you later define digital objects based on an object template, you will then only need to type the specific bit offset.
When a digital object is defined using an object template, the Store symbols in template check box is available on the Symbol Definition tab. Selecting the check box will save the symbol selections made for the current object (symbol and symbol color for the individual states) as part of the object template. When another object is subsequently defined using the object template, you can select the Inherit Symbols from template check box on the Symbol Definition tab of the Object Properties form and the object will automatically inherit all symbols and symbol properties saved in the object template.
This means:
When you use the color and symbol selections from the digital object template, only one descriptor is used for each digital object, regardless of the number of different states. Descriptors representing the individual states for digital objects must be positioned on top of each other in the diagram when using symbols from the digital object templates.
Define any calculations that are to be contained in the digital object template and adjust the calculations when creating digital objects based on the object template.
Calculations defined on the digital object template will not be verified during the compile process of the template or the configuration.
Once you have created the object template, you simply select the relevant item in the Objects menu, type a unique name for the new object and choose the object template you want to base it on.
In the ensuing object properties dialog box, you need only type the specific PLC address, provided that all other properties are defined in the object template.
See Also
To define a digital object template
To base an object on an object template
To change object template properties