Starting with version 2.8 of the CODESYS extension, CODESYS is displayed as a separate window with the familiar user interface of the CODESYS Development System.
Some commands in the device tree may be blocked for certain nodes by the associated plug-in depending on the context, such as ‘Append device’, ‘Delete device’, ‘Update device’. This ensures that devices can only be added, deleted, renamed etc. in the topology editor to ensure consistency between the control program and the Festo Automation Suite project.
Opening CODESYS window from the topology editor
The CODESYS window can be opened in a separate program window by programmable logic controllers in the topology editor with the ‘Show CODESYS Window’ context menu command.
The prerequisite is that after adding a programmable logic controller to the topology editor, the controller plug-in is opened so the controller is added to the integrated CODESYS project. This step is only required once per newly added controller; after saving and loading the project the CODESYS window can be opened without opening the plug-in first.
After starting the Festo Automation Suite, it may take a while until the command is available because, although the Festo Automation Suite is ready for use, CODESYS is not yet fully initialised in the background.
Once the CODESYS window is visible in the context menu of a controller, the controller is automatically selected in the device tree.
Opening CODESYS window directly
When the CODESYS extension is installed, another ‘Festo Automation Suite CODESYS’ link is created in the start menu and on the desktop.
The Festo Automation Suite can be started with this link in a mode that only displays the CODESYS. This is useful if you are working exclusively on the control program and are unlikely to need to make any changes to the topology or device settings.
However, if, for example, the topology editor is required, the Festo Automation Suite window can be displayed from the CODESYS interface via the ‘Festo Automation Suite’ menu.
Project management
Project management is continued with the Festo Automation Suite. The following menu commands are available.
|
Menu |
Command |
Function |
Key combination |
|---|---|---|---|
|
‘File’ |
‘Create new project’ |
The Festo Automation Suite window is displayed and the corresponding backstage panel is displayed. The other functions of the Festo Automation Suite are blocked. You can use the arrow button to switch back to the CODESYS window. |
[Ctrl] + [N] |
|
‘Open project’ |
[Ctrl] + [O] |
||
|
‘Project save as...’ |
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [S] |
||
|
‘Save Project’ |
The project is saved under the existing name. For projects that have not yet been saved, the command acts as ‘Project save as...’. |
[Ctrl] + [S] |
|
|
‘Festo Automation Suite’ |
‘Show Automation Suite Window’ |
Show the Festo Automation Suite icon together with the CODESYS icon in the taskbar. The windows can be displayed side by side. |
– |
|
‘Hide Automation Suite Window’ |
Hide the Festo Automation Suite icon in the taskbar and the Festo Automation Suite window. |
– |
Basically, when called via the Festo Automation Suite, even from the program window of the CODESYS editors, a Festo Automation Suite project is always saved, never a stand-alone CODESYS project. This ensures consistency between the control program and the Festo Automation Suite project
Close window
If the CODESYS window is closed with the [x] button in the title bar, the response depends on the status of the Festo Automation Suite window:
-
If the Festo Automation Suite window is displayed or minimised, the CODESYS window is simply hidden.
-
If the Festo Automation Suite window was hidden with the [x] button in the title bar or it was not yet visible (because the CODESYS window was started directly via the ‘Festo Automation Suite CODESYS’ link), then the application is terminated. If unsaved changes were made previously, the Festo Automation Suite window will appear to prompt to save the project.
[Alt] + [F4] has the same effect as closing the window with the [x] button in the window title bar.