TWI582555B - A programmable controller system, a programmable display, a support device, a program - Google Patents

Description

Programmable controller system, programmable display, support device, program

This invention relates to systems having programmable displays.

The programmable display is generally connected to various connection devices such as a PLC main body or a temperature adjustment device, and displays numerical items such as display of status of the connected devices, items such as lamps, and the like for the user to make an arbitrary instruction. A portrait of a project such as a switch. Furthermore, items are also referred to as screen parts and the like. On the screen of the programmable display (called the operation display screen), the image of the plural screen part (item) is usually displayed. The information (such as a screen material) for displaying such an operation display screen is arbitrarily created by a developer or the like in a support device (not shown), and is downloaded from the support device to the programmable display.

In the above-mentioned screen data, the image of the item (the image of the switch and the image of the lamp) and the display position coordinate are included in the above-mentioned items, and the address of the predetermined area (distributed memory address) of the external memory to be described later is further included. data. In addition, there are cases where some programs are included.

Each of the foregoing items corresponds to an arbitrary structure of any connected device, for example. The component is displayed, and the indicator of the ON/OFF of the component is accepted. For example, when the numerical value is used to display the temperature measurement value of the temperature adjustment device, the current temperature is displayed as a numerical value at any time.

The display control of the various items described above is realized by performing the predetermined processing on each of the aforementioned items, for example, periodically. The predetermined processing means, for example, reading the stored data of the predetermined area (distributed memory) of the memory device (which is set as the external memory) in the connected device, and determining the display content of the display item based on the stored data. Further, the connection device updates the stored data of the predetermined area of the external memory at any time (for example, the temperature measurement value is updated at any time in the temperature adjustment device).

Further, the data read from the external memory is temporarily stored in a predetermined area of a memory device (which is a shared memory) in the programmable display, and the display content of the display item is determined based on the stored data. Construction.

In the case of this example, the stored data of the external memory is read and stored in the shared memory, and the predetermined functional unit (herein, a communication unit (not shown)) of the programmable display is periodically executed, for example. The communication unit communicates with various connection devices such as the PLC main body and the temperature adjustment device, and acquires stored data of a predetermined memory area of the external memory connected to the device, and overwrites the data in the shared memory. The specified area of the body.

Then, a function unit (which is set as the item display unit) for displaying the display of various items of the above-described various items of the display is used, and the shared memory is accessed periodically, and the item display contents are controlled.

At this time, depending on the item, the predetermined calculation is performed on the data acquired from the shared memory (the stored data of the allocated memory area), and the result of the calculation result is displayed. For example, when the stored data of the allocated memory area is a value of g (grams), and there is an item for displaying the unit of kg (kg), the calculation is performed by dividing the obtained data by 1000, and the operation result is displayed. .

In addition, there is an example in which arithmetic processing is performed by using this function when a function such as a range conversion is given to an item.

In addition, for example, the invention of the patent document 1 is simplistically implemented by inputting additional information of a component of a control step program (hierarchical map or the like) for a PLC and a screen that can be displayed on a programmable display or the like. Effectively create inventions for programs and screens.

In the invention of Patent Document 1, a control step program is created on the hierarchical window by the ladder editor 32a, and a screen is created on the drawing window by the drawing editor 32b. For example, when the program is created, the data of the address of the input/output device 4 and the variable name (for example, SW1) corresponding to the hierarchical symbol are registered in the data file. Next, when the screen is created, drag and drop the layer markers on the hierarchy window to the drawing window. In response to this operation, the drawing editor 32b refers to the variable name which is overwritten to the memory by the overwriting function unit 32c, displays the corresponding mark (part) in the drawing window, and uses the variable name as additional data. , displayed on the mark.

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-75616

Previously, for all items that required arithmetic processing, the specified arithmetic processing must be defined (added) separately. Or, even in the case of using a range conversion, not all items have a range conversion function. Also, it is not possible to implement all arithmetic processing by the value range conversion function.

Further, in the past, there was a problem that the same calculation function was added to a plurality of items, and the work load was not low, and the use of resources was wasted. In particular, with the increase in size, variety, and complexity of screens for programmable displays in recent years, the operation of adding calculation functions to each item has become complicated.

Further, in the past, each time the item display processing is performed, the arithmetic processing is required each time. Therefore, even if the data used for the calculation does not change, the calculation result (display content) is not changed, and the calculation is performed in vain.

An object of the present invention is to provide a programmable controller system in which a symbol information of an arbitrary arithmetic expression is described in advance and an arbitrary item is associated with arbitrary symbol information, and a display according to the arithmetic processing can be performed for the item. The programmable display, the support device, and the like.

The programmable controller system of the present invention is a programmable controller system having a programmable display and a support device coupled to the programmable display, and has the following configurations.

The aforementioned support device has a symbol information storage means and a symbol association means.

Symbol information storage means that the external memory area has been registered The symbol or symbol is the information of the symbol that has been registered.

The symbol establishing means associates any of the aforementioned symbols with an item constituting the screen material for the programmable display.

The programmable display device has a screen data storage means, a project data processing means, and a screen display means.

The picture data memorization means memorizes the aforementioned picture material including the item associated with the aforementioned symbol.

The item data processing means executes an arithmetic process using the arithmetic expression for an item associated with the symbol to which the arithmetic expression has been registered.

The screen display means is a means for displaying the screen due to each of the above items, and displays the result of the calculation processing using the item associated with the symbol to which the calculation formula has been registered.

1‧‧‧programmable display

2‧‧‧Communication interface

3‧‧‧Communication line

4,4-1,4-2‧‧‧Connected machine

5‧‧‧ Painting editing device

6‧‧‧Communication line

10‧‧‧Display operation control device

11‧‧‧CPU

12‧‧‧ROM

13‧‧‧RAM

14‧‧‧Communication controller

15‧‧‧Graphics controller

16‧‧‧Touch Panel Controller

17‧‧‧ Busbar

18‧‧‧Touch panel

19‧‧‧ Display

21‧‧‧ body program

22‧‧‧ Screen Information

23‧‧‧Communication program

31‧‧‧painting editor

31a‧‧‧ Symbol Information Registration Department

31b‧‧‧ symbolic association

31c‧‧‧ Symbol Information Memory Department

32‧‧‧Screen data file

32a‧‧‧Class Editor

32b‧‧‧painting editor

32c‧‧‧Rewriting function

33‧‧‧Communication program files

34‧‧‧ symbol information login window

35‧‧‧ symbol type selection window

36‧‧‧ address selection window

37‧‧‧Operation selection window

38‧‧‧Operation mode selection window

39‧‧‧ Symbol Information Association Window

41‧‧‧Project Generation Department

42‧‧‧Project Processing Schedule

43‧‧‧Project Processing Department

44,44-1,44-2‧‧‧Communication Processing Department

45‧‧‧Common Memory Generation Processing Department

46‧‧‧Memory Reading Processing Department

47‧‧‧Memory Write Processing Unit

51‧‧‧ symbol information

52‧‧‧Project list

53‧‧‧Common memory

54‧‧‧Operation result storage memory

55‧‧‧ memory list

61‧‧‧Project type

62‧‧‧ coordinates

63‧‧‧ size

64‧‧‧Device name

65‧‧‧ address

66‧‧‧Information for each type of project

67‧‧‧ symbol information

68‧‧‧Processed flag

71‧‧‧ symbol ID

72‧‧‧ symbolic name

73‧‧‧ symbol type

74‧‧‧Device name

75‧‧‧ address

76‧‧‧Operation type

77‧‧‧Name of the device being operated

78‧‧‧calculated address

81‧‧‧埠

82‧‧‧Device name

83‧‧‧ address

84‧‧‧Information

85‧‧‧Architectural symbol establishment information

91‧‧‧ symbol ID

92‧‧‧Operation results

101‧‧‧Device name

102‧‧‧ address

103‧‧‧Information

104‧‧‧Error Information

WAY1, WAY2‧‧‧Communication埠

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural view showing the entire system including the programmable display of this example.

[Fig. 2] A configuration example of the programmable display of this example.

[Fig. 3] A software structure diagram of the system.

[Fig. 4] (a) to (f) are examples of various screens related to registration of symbol information and establishment of related operations.

[Fig. 5] A processing function diagram of the programmable display of this example.

[Fig. 6] (a) and (b) are specific examples (the first) of various materials.

[Fig. 7] (a) to (c) are specific examples of various materials (its two).

[Fig. 8] A flowchart of the processing of the communication processing unit.

[Fig. 9] A flowchart of the processing of the item processing unit.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire system including the programmable display 1 of this example.

In addition, the structure shown in FIG. 1 is only an example, and is not limited to this example. For example, the configuration in which the programmable display 1 is connected to the drawing editing device 5 is not necessarily required, and the programmable display 1 and the drawing editing device 5 may be separately present. The programmable display 1 can display the screen of the programmable display screen by using the screen data (including the symbol information) and the like as long as it is the screen data (including the symbol information) caused by the method. .

The programmable controller system shown in FIG. 1 has various connected devices 4 and a programmable display 1 connected to various connected devices 4 via a communication line 6. Further, a configuration is adopted in which the programmable display 1 is connected to the drawing editing device 5 via the communication line 3.

The programmable display 1 is provided with a plurality of communication interfaces 2 (communication ports) connected to the various connection devices 4 and the drawing editing device 5 via communication lines 3/communication lines 6 connected to the respective communication interfaces 2.

The programmable display 1 is an existing function, and the operation display screen is displayed according to the picture material as explained in the foregoing prior art, and In response to each item on the screen, data is acquired from a predetermined memory area (distributed memory area) of the memory device (external memory) of the connected device 4, and the display content is controlled.

The drawing editing device 5 corresponds to the above-described prior art supporting device, and has a function of being able to be arbitrarily created by the user to display the information (the screen material) of the operation display screen by the programmable display 1.

In the same manner as the above, even in the example, the drawing editing device 5 registers various item images in advance, and the user repeats the operation of selecting the desired item image and placing it at a desired position to perform the above-mentioned screen material. Made. Furthermore, the drawing editing device 5 can be regarded as an example of a supporting device for supporting a screen (screen material) for a programmable display. Further, there is a case where the user sets a desired memory area associated with the memory device in the connected device 4 as the assigned memory area for the item placed on the screen.

The screen data includes predetermined information (for example, the item image, the arrangement position coordinate, the address of the allocated memory area (distributed memory address), and the like) of the items arranged on the screen.

As described above, the drawing editing device 5 of this example has been described with respect to functions that are slightly the same as before.

Here, in the present method, there is also a case where the assigned memory area is registered in the symbol information to be described later. At this time, the above item information includes identification information of the related symbol information (symbol name and symbol ID to be described later) and many more.

Further, previously, regarding the item requiring the above-described arithmetic processing, the arithmetic processing is registered in the item information, but in the present method, there is no registration arithmetic processing in the item information. In the method, the arithmetic processing is registered in the aforementioned symbol information.

The aforementioned symbol information is attached to the aforementioned screen material and downloaded to the programmable display 1.

The programmable display 1 displays the operation display screen based on the above-described screen data (including symbol information). However, the aforementioned arithmetic processing is executed in conjunction with the communication processing with the connected device 4, and the operation result is stored. When the display processing of the operation display screen is performed (the arithmetic processing is not executed), the calculation result is used for display. And detailed later.

Fig. 2 is a configuration example of the programmable display 1 of this example.

The illustrated programmable display 1 has a display operation control device 10, a touch panel 18, a display 19, the aforementioned communication interface 2, and the like.

The display operation control device 10 is formed by a CPU 11, a ROM 12 (flash memory or the like), a RAM 13, a communication controller 14, a graphics controller 15, a touch panel controller 16, and the like, and these members are connected to the bus bar 17.

The CPU 11 controls a central processing unit (arithmetic processor) that displays the entire operation control device 10. The CPU 11 performs a predetermined calculation operation (processing) by executing a program (for example, a main body program 21 to be described later) stored in the ROM 12 in advance. Various calculation results are stored, for example, in the RAM 13 and the ROM 12.

Further, in the ROM 12, the screen material 22 and the symbol resources described later are stored. News 51 and so on. Furthermore, in this sense, the ROM 12 can also be said to be a picture data storage unit or a symbol information storage unit.

As described in the foregoing prior art, the screen material 22 corresponds to each item such as the above-described switch, lamp, etc., and has an image related to the item, a display related information such as a display position coordinate and a size, and the like. Further, the screen data 22 is the same as the previous one, and may be an access-related material (distributed memory address or the like) having the memory connected to the device 4. However, in this example, the data related to the access of the memory connected to the device 4 is included in the screen material 22, but is included in the symbol information 51. Furthermore, the assigned memory address is the address of the aforementioned allocated memory area.

Further, the assigned memory area may be referred to as an "external memory area" from the viewpoint of the memory area of the "external memory" (connecting the memory device in the device). In particular, in the case of the symbol information 51, it is more referred to as an "external memory area" than the "distributed memory area". Therefore, the status of the symbol information 51 is not "pre-assigned to the memory area of each item".

However, the "external memory area" of the symbol is essentially associated with the item, and is essentially treated as the area of the allocated memory corresponding to the item.

The processing of the CPU 11 includes, for example, a process of periodically acquiring the stored data of the allocated memory area, and the like. The acquired data is temporarily stored in, for example, the shared memory 53 which will be described later. This data acquisition ‧ storage processing system corresponds to each item, and is executed according to the screen data 22 (according to the situation and also according to the symbol information 51). Also, according to the project, according to the symbol Message 51, the status of the calculation processing for obtaining the data is performed. The calculation processing result is stored in the calculation result storage memory 54 which will be described later.

Further, the shared memory 53 and the calculation result storage memory 54 may be part of the memory areas of the RAM 13 and the ROM 12, and may be other memory (not shown).

Further, by the processing of the CPU 11, for example, the display target data based on the screen data 22, the acquired data, and the calculation processing result is developed (drawn) on the RAM 13 (or a video RAM (not shown)). According to the drawing, the graphics controller 15 displays the above-described operation display screen and the like on the display 19.

The display 19 is formed, for example, by a liquid crystal panel or the like, and the touch panel 18 is provided so as to be superposed on the liquid crystal panel. On the display 19, basically, the operation display screen in which the plurality of item images are arranged at a predetermined position is displayed.

Further, the communication controller 14 performs communication (data transmission and reception, etc.) with the connection device 4 and the drawing editing device 5 such as the PLC main body and the like, which are not shown, through the communication interface 2.

The detection result of the pressing operation (touch) position on the touch panel 18 by the operator or the like is captured by the touch panel controller 16 to be analyzed by the CPU 11 or the like. For example, the analysis is performed based on the data of the display position coordinates and the size of each item. For example, when an operator touches the display position of the portrait of the switch, the CPU 11 analyzes the operator who performs the switch.

The soft structure diagram of the aforementioned system is disclosed in FIG.

The drawing editing device 5 has a drawing editor 31. The drawing editor 31 has a function of supporting the user to create a screen (operation display screen) for arbitrary programmable display. As an existing function related to the support function, there is a function of selecting a desired item from among various items registered in advance and arranging it in a desired position on the screen. Further, there is also an existing function for the user to set an address (allocation memory address) of an arbitrary memory device of any of the connected devices 4 to the item placed on the screen.

Then, the drawing editor 31 of the present example has various functions of the symbol information registration unit 31a and the symbol creation related unit 31b in addition to the aforementioned existing functions.

The symbol information registration unit 31a has a function of displaying various symbols such as various windows of FIGS. 4(a) to 4(e) to be described later, and allowing the user to register a desired symbol. The symbol information is a symbol name, a symbol type ("address" or "operation"), an address, etc., as described later in FIG. 4(a). The "address" is equivalent to the above-mentioned assigned memory address, but there is a case where the arithmetic expression is further included. Further, the symbol information created by the symbol information registration unit 31a is stored in the symbol information storage unit 31c.

The symbol establishing association unit 31b is a functional unit that allows the user to associate an arbitrary item placed on the screen with an arbitrary symbol. This establishment relationship is performed using, for example, the aforementioned symbol name, but is not limited to this example. Furthermore, regarding the items associated with the symbols, it is not necessary to set the aforementioned allocated memory addresses, and it is not necessary to set the arithmetic expressions one by one.

Also, one symbol may be associated with a plurality of items. Thereby, for example It also reduces the labor of assigning memory address settings.

In the programmable display 1, various programs/data such as the main program 21, the screen data 22, and the communication program 23 are stored in the ROM 12 (flash memory or the like), for example. The CPU 11 reads out, executes/references the programs/data, and the like, and performs display control and the like on the operation display screen for the programmable display.

The operation display screen is formed by image display of various items such as the numerical display, the lamp, the switch, and the like, and the display contents of each item are obtained, for example, to reflect the distributed memory area from the memory device in each of the connected devices 4. The information (the above-mentioned information) is updated at any time. In the following description, the memory device in the connection device 4 is referred to as an "external memory". In addition, the shared memory 53 and the calculation result storage memory 54 and the like which will be described later may be referred to as "internal memory".

Basically, the CPU 11 performs the acquisition of the acquired data, the storage processing, the arithmetic processing, and the display control processing of the operation display screen in accordance with the main body program 21 and the communication program 23.

The display control processing of the operation display screen is performed by using the screen data 22 and the symbol information 51, the acquired data, the calculation processing result, and the like. In this way, the display content of each item image on the operation display screen (the numerical value display such as temperature and the lighting/erasing of the lamp, etc.) is updated at any time based on the acquired data and the result of the arithmetic processing.

The screen material 22 (additional symbol information 51) is, for example, a screen data file 32 (additional symbol) arbitrarily created on the side of the drawing editing device 5 in advance. Information 51) is downloaded and stored on the programmable display 1 . Further, the communication program 23 is also downloaded and stored in the programmable display 1 as a part of the communication program file group 33 stored in advance on the drawing editing device 5 side.

As described above, basically, the CPU 11 performs display control of the operation display screen based on the main body program 21, the communication program 23, the screen data 22, the symbol information 51, the acquired data, the arithmetic processing result based on the acquired data, and the like.

For example, for a numerical display item, the data is periodically read from the assigned memory area of the numerical display item, and the display of the numerical display item is updated in response to the result of the operation processing according to the acquired data. content.

The communication program 23 of the programmable display 1 is a program for communicating with the connection device 4 via the communication line 6. Usually, there is an inherent communication protocol (communication regulation) corresponding to the model of each connected device 4, and communication between the programmable display 1 and the connected device 4 is performed in accordance with the communication regulations. Therefore, the communication program 23 needs to be developed corresponding to the model of each connected device 4. Further, of course, the communication program 23 is executed by the CPU 11 or the like to realize communication processing with the connected device 4.

Further, the communication between the programmable display 1 and the drawing editing device 5 is performed by, for example, the main body program 21 and the drawing editor 31 (the communication function is incorporated in the drawing editor 31). There is no special relationship with this section, so the illustration and ‧ are not shown. The connection machine 4 of the PLC main body, etc., is available in various brands and models, and has a unique connection for each brand/model. In the program, the communication program 23 is a plurality of types depending on the condition of the device/model of the connected device 4.

The communication program 23 is usually stored in advance in an HD (hard disk) (not shown) in the drawing editing device 5 as a complex communication program file 33 (corresponding to each model and a developed complex communication program). Then, the drawing editing device 5 transmits the communication program file 33 of the connected device 4 to the programmable display device 1 when the user selects the arbitrarily connected device 4 by the drawing editor 31. It is memorized as the communication program 23.

The various processing functions of the programmable display 1 of this example are basically realized by the CPU 11 executing the main body program 21 and the communication program 23, and referring to various kinds of materials required for the processing thereof. However, the calculation included in the symbol information 51 is executed in accordance with the arithmetic processing for obtaining the data.

In addition, this arithmetic processing is executed in the process related to the display update, and is related to the process of data acquisition (communication with the connected device 4, etc.), and the calculation result is stored in the calculation result storage memory 54 which will be described later. The processing related to the display update accesses the calculation result storage memory 54, and acquires and displays the calculation result. Thereby, it is not necessary to perform the arithmetic processing one by one for each process related to the display update, and the processing efficiency can be improved. And detailed later.

Here, the drawing editor 31 has a function of allowing the user (developer or the like) to arbitrarily set the symbol information.

In Fig. 4, various window examples relating to the setting operation of the symbol information are displayed.

Fig. 4(a) is an example of the symbol information registration window 34 (main setting window). When the user specifies (clicks, etc.), for example, the "symbol type" field and the "address" field of the icon of the record of any item on the symbol information registration window 34, FIG. 4(b)~( d) Various windows as shown. Thereby, the setting work by the user is supported. Further, the window 38 of Fig. 4(e) is displayed by the predetermined operation on the window 37 of Fig. 4(d).

The user can arbitrarily set various symbol information such as a symbol name, a symbol type, and an address of each symbol in the symbol information registration window 34. In addition, the symbol ID shown in the figure is an ID for identification of each symbol. In this example, the number of 0, 1, 2, ..., etc. shown in the figure is assigned in order to newly register.

The user can set the desired name in the field of the "symbol name" in the figure corresponding to each symbol. Also, the type of the symbol can be set (only data acquisition or calculation, etc.). When the user specifies the "symbol type" field of the illustration, for example, the symbol type selection window 35 shown in FIG. 4(b) is displayed. Thereby, the user selects one of the "address" and "calculation" in the symbol type selection window 35. Select "Address" only when the data is acquired, and "Operation" when performing the calculation.

Further, the user can set an address corresponding to the address of the assigned memory address in the field of "address" on the symbol information registration window 34. At this time, the address selection window 36 shown in FIG. 4(c) is displayed for the symbol whose symbol type is "address". Thereby, the user can set, for example, the desired connected device in the address selection window 36, and the desired The memory device, the address of the desired memory area of the memory device.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4(c), the desired connection device (herein, "PLC1 memory") may be set. At this time, the connection device setting information is also included in the item list 52 or the symbol information 51 and Shared memory 53 and so on. However, in the examples shown in FIGS. 6(a), (b) and 7(a) and in the description, basically, the setting information of the connected device is omitted to reveal. However, it is merely omitted. Actually, the device names 74 and 82 and the device name 77 to be operated may include not only the memory device name but also the identification information of the connected device (as the connected device name).

On the other hand, for the symbol whose symbol type is "operation" (the symbol of the "operation" type), the operation selection window 37 shown in Fig. 4 (d) is displayed. Thereby, the user can set a desired arithmetic expression or the like in the calculation selection window 37. This arithmetic expression is based on, for example, the aforementioned operation of "acquiring data". Thereby, an address corresponding to the address of the assigned memory address is set in the field of the "computing memory" shown in the figure. Further, in the field of the "computation mode" shown in the figure, calculations such as addition, subtraction, and subtraction are set. Furthermore, this may be selected as, for example, the calculation mode selection window 38 shown in FIG. 4(e). Further, in the field of the "operated memory" of the drawing in the calculation selection window 37, numerical values such as 100 and 1000 can be arbitrarily set. However, other addresses than the assigned memory address can be set.

In the example of the operation selection window 37 of the drawing, "D02100" representing the address 02100 of the memory device D is set to "computation memory". "body" and "D00300" is set to "operated memory". Also, the "computation mode" is added. That is, the calculation formula of the stored data of "D00300" is added to the stored data of "D02100".

As described above, the symbol information arbitrarily set by the user or the like (including, for example, the content shown in FIG. 4(a)) is stored in the memory device of the drawing editing device 5, as shown in FIG. 4(f) below. The description is referred to when establishing the associated job. Also, the symbol information is downloaded to the programmable display 1 together with the screen material.

Fig. 4(f) is a diagram for explaining an association operation for a symbol of an item.

In order to create an arbitrary operation display screen on the drawing editing device 5, if the user selects an arbitrary item image in a state where a desired plurality of item images are placed on the screen, the user can display various settings for the item. Window. On this window, a symbol information association window 39 for displaying the icon associated with any symbol is also displayed.

In the symbol information creation window 39, for example, as shown in the figure, a list of symbol names is displayed, and when the user selects a desired symbol name from the list, the symbol is associated with the item. For example, as the information (image and configuration coordinates, etc.) of the item of the screen data file 32, the name or ID of the selected symbol is added.

Here, in the screen material 22, information on the memory address, the arithmetic expression, and the like is not assigned to the item associated with the symbol, and the name of the symbol to be associated is replaced by the name. On the other hand, in the symbol information 51, the capital set in the field of "address" shown in Fig. 4 (a) is included. (Use arithmetic formulas such as dispatching memory addresses or assigning memory addresses, etc.). As a result, the access to the allocated memory area, the arithmetic processing, and the like are performed by using the setting information or the like of the symbol associated with the arbitrary symbol for the item associated with the arbitrary symbol.

Furthermore, the correspondence between the item and the symbol is not limited to one-to-one, for example, many pairs may be used. For example, since there are also cases in which different display forms (for example, numerical display and graph display) are performed based on the stored data of the same address, for example, the numerical display item may be associated with the graphic display item for one symbol. Thereby, the labor for assigning the memory address and the like can be reduced.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the processing function of the programmable display of this example.

The CPU 11 executes, for example, a predetermined program (for example, the main body program 21, the communication program 23, and the like) stored in the ROM 12, thereby realizing various processing function portions shown, for example, in the broken line of FIG. That is, the illustrated item generating unit 41, the item processing scheduling unit 42, the item processing unit 43, the communication processing unit 44 (44-1, 44-2, etc.), the shared memory generation processing unit 45, and the memory reading. The processing functions of the processing function units, such as the processing unit 46 and the memory write processing unit 47, which will be described later.

Further, the programmable display 1 holds the picture material 22 to which the symbol information 51 is attached as described above. Further, in the programmable display 1, there are existing memory areas of the shared memory 53 and the calculation result storage memory 54 shown in the figure.

Further, for example, the item generation unit 41, the item processing scheduling unit 42, the item processing unit 43, the shared memory generation processing unit 45, and the memory reading unit The management unit 46 and the memory write processing unit 47 are realized by the main body program 21. The communication processing unit 44 is realized by the main body program 21 and the communication program 23. Further, in the execution of the processing of the various processing functions described above, there are cases in which the screen data 22 and the symbol information 51 are referred to.

The item generation unit 41 generates an item list 52 based on the aforementioned screen material 22 or the like. This is generated, for example, by extracting a part of the screen material 22 (in addition, the processed flag 68 to be described later may be added).

Here, in FIG. 6(a), the data structure diagram of the item list 52 is disclosed.

The example list 52 of the illustrated example is composed of item type 61, coordinate 62, size 63, device name 64, address 65, "data for each item type" 66, symbol information 67, processed flag 68. The project is completed. Furthermore, the details will be described later, but the symbol information 67 is registered only in the status of the item associated with the symbol. Other than the symbol information 67, it may be the same as the previous one, and will be briefly described below.

In the item type 61, item type identification information that reveals the type of the item (switch, lamp, numerical display, etc.) is stored.

In the "data for each item type" 66, additional information such as the image data of the item (the item image; the item type is a switch, which is a switch image) is stored. The data showing the position and size of the image of the item on the screen is stored in the coordinates 62 and 63. These are related to the image display of each item on the operation display screen.

Further, the device name 64 and the address 65 are memory allocation information related to each item, and correspond to the aforementioned assigned memory address. That is, the device name The memory area indicated by the address 65 of the memory device shown in Fig. 64 is the area (the aforementioned assigned memory area) assigned to the item. Furthermore, the memory device shown by device name 64 is a memory device connected to device 4.

Here, in the case of the item associated with the symbol, basically, there is data in the symbol information 67, and on the other hand, there is no data in the device name 64 and the address 65. Conversely, in the case of an item that is not associated with a symbol, basically, there is no data in the symbol information 67, and on the other hand, there is information on the device name 64 and the address 65.

The symbol information 67 stores information (symbol name, symbol ID, etc.) indicating a symbol associated with the item (for example, the symbol selected in the aforementioned FIG. 4(f)). Furthermore, it is not limited to the symbol name and the symbol ID, and may be any information that can specify a symbol associated with the item. Also, in the symbol information 67, the item type ("address" or "calculation") may be stored.

Here, in FIG. 6(b), the data structure diagram of the symbol information 51 is disclosed.

The symbol information 51 of the illustrated example is represented by a symbol ID 71, a symbol name 72, a symbol type 73, a device name 74, an address 75, an operation type 76, an operation device name 77, and an operation address 78. to make.

The symbol ID 71 is an ID for identification of each symbol, for example, a "symbol ID" as shown in FIG. 4(a), a number assigned every time a new symbol is registered, and the like, but is not limited to this example.

The symbol name 72 is a name of each symbol, for example, a name arbitrarily set by the user in Fig. 4(a).

In the symbol type 73, for example, any of "address" and "operation" described in Fig. 4 (a) is stored (the selection result on the symbol type selection window 35 of Fig. 4 (b) is stored).

When the symbol type 73 is "address", the device name and address set on the window of, for example, FIGS. 4(a) and 4(c) are stored in the device name 74 and the address 75. However, the data is not stored in the operation type 76 and the device name 77 and the operation address 78.

On the other hand, when the symbol type 73 is "computation", the device name and the address set by the field of the "computation memory" of Fig. 4 (d) are stored in the device name 74 and the address 75, for example. Further, the memory device name and the address set by the field of the "operated memory" of FIG. 4(d) are stored in the device name 77 and the calculated address 78. However, when an arbitrary value (for example, 100, not a memory device name (for example, D)) is set in the field of the "operated memory" in Fig. 4(d), there is no data in the device name 77. The arithmetic address 78 stores the set value.

In this case, for example, when the communication processing unit 44 causes a process to be described later, when the device name 77 has data, the data acquisition process based on the device name 77 and the calculated address 78 is performed. However, when there is no data in the device name 77, the data acquisition process based on the device name 77 and the calculated address 78 is not performed. When there is no data in the device name 77, the value of the calculated address 78 is directly used. Operation. Further, in the calculation type 76, an arithmetic expression such as addition or subtraction set in the field of the "operation mode" of the window in Fig. 4(d) is stored.

Further, as described above, the device name 74 and the device name 77 to be operated may include not only the memory device name but also the above-described connected device name. Further, the name of the memory device is not limited to the name, and may be used as information for identifying a certain memory device.

Thereafter, when the programmable display 1 performs access to the allocated memory area based on the symbol information 51 (or, in turn, based on the calculation of the access result), for example, a process to be described later is performed.

Referring to symbol type 73, the identification is which of "address" and "operation".

When the symbol type 73 is "address", the stored data of the allocated memory area indicated by the device name 74 and the address 75 is obtained.

When the symbol type 73 is "computation", the stored data of the allocated memory area indicated by the device name 74 and the address 75 is acquired, and is used as the calculation to obtain the operated device name 77 and the operated address. The storage data of the memory address shown in 78. Then, using the two pieces of data obtained, the operation shown by operation type 76 is executed.

The item processing schedule unit 42 performs schedule management such as display state update processing of each item image by the item processing unit 43. In other words, the item processing schedule unit 42 periodically calls the item processing unit 43 to execute, for example, the processing of FIG. 9 described later (in other words, the processing of FIG. 9 is periodically executed).

The project processing unit 43 is based on the aforementioned item list 52 and the following The memory 53 and the storage result of the storage result storage memory 54 and the like are stored, and the processing related to the display content of the image is updated in accordance with each item. At this time, in the method, the data reading processing from the memories 53 and 54 is executed by the memory reading processing unit 46. However, the memory reading processing unit 46 may be part of the function of the item processing unit 43. In the present description, basically, the memory read processing unit 46 will be described as part of the function of the item processing unit 43. Thereby, the processing of the memory reading processing unit 46 is also included in the processing flow of the item processing unit 43 of FIG. 9 which will be described later.

In addition, the item processing unit 43 (including the memory reading processing unit 46) may be referred to as a screen display unit.

The memory reading processing unit 46 reads the related data for each item. However, this item is read from the shared memory 53 depending on the item, and is also read from the calculation result storage memory 54. situation.

The shared memory generation processing unit 45 generates a data storage area (record) for each item in the shared memory 53 based on the item list 52, the symbol information 51, and the like.

Here, the shared memory 53 and the calculation result storage memory 54 will be described.

A specific example of the shared memory 53 is disclosed in Fig. 7(a), and a specific example of the calculation result storage memory 54 is shown in Fig. 7(b).

The shared memory 53 of the example shown in Fig. 7(a) is formed by each data item of 埠81, device name 82, address 83, data 84, and "computation symbol establishment related information" 85. Furthermore, in these terms, "operating symbols The data items other than the "establishment related information" 85 may be slightly the same as the previous ones. Therefore, the following description will be briefly made.

埠81 is the identification information (set to the communication port number) of the communication port, and is substantially the information identifying the connection device 4 of the communication opponent. For example, the communication port number corresponding to the device to be connected can be determined based on the name of the connected device included in the device name 64 (74) (the connection device-communication port number correspondence table (not shown) is registered in advance).

The device name 82 is identification information of the memory device (external memory) in the connection device 4 of the communication opponent. The address 83 is the address of the predetermined memory area of the external memory indicated by the device name 82, and the data obtained from the memory area is stored in the material 84.

The shared memory generation processing unit 45 stores the identified communication port number in the UI 81 in response to each item. Further, regarding the device name 82 and the address 83, as described below, the data storage area (record) of each item described above is generated by data storage.

For example, in the case of the example of FIG. 7(a), the shared memory generation processing unit 45 is, for example, for each item of the item list 52, and when the symbol information 67 has no data, the device name 64 and the address 65 are set. The device name 82 and the address 83 stored in the shared memory 53.

On the other hand, when the symbol information 67 has a data item, the related symbol information 67 is used to retrieve the symbol information 51 and identify the relevant record, and the related record device name 74 and address 75 are stored in the shared record. The device name 82 and the address 83 of the memory 53.

Further, when the symbol type 73 is "computation", its symbol is The ID 71 is stored in the "establishment association information of the arithmetic symbols" 85. In other words, only the item associated with the "operation" type symbol is stored in the "association symbol establishment association information" 85.

The calculation result storage memory 54 of the example shown in FIG. 8(b) is associated with the symbol ID 91, and the operation result 92 is stored.

When the data acquisition processing of the allocated memory area related to the item associated with the "calculation" type symbol is performed, the arithmetic processing is executed, and the result of the arithmetic processing is stored in the calculation result 92. Then, with respect to such an item, the memory read processing unit 46 acquires the data of the calculation result 92.

Hereinafter, the memory reading processing unit 46 will be described in more detail.

The memory reading processing unit 46 first refers to the item list 52, and determines whether or not the item is associated with a symbol for each item. In this example, when the aforementioned symbol information 67 has material, it is determined that the symbol is associated. Regarding the item not associated with the symbol, since the device name 64 and the address 65 should have data, the data 84 of the related record of the shared memory 53 is read based on the data.

On the other hand, regarding the item associated with the symbol, the symbol information 57 is retrieved using the aforementioned symbol information 67 to refer to the related record. When the aforementioned symbol type 73 of the related record is "address", the recorded material 84 of the shared memory 53 is read in accordance with the device name 74 and the address 75.

On the other hand, when the aforementioned symbol type 73 of the related record is "computation", the calculation result is read from the operation result storage memory 54 in accordance with the symbol ID 71. Thus, in this method, the item processing unit 43 is It is not necessary to perform arithmetic processing one by one every time the display is updated, and the processing load can be reduced. The arithmetic processing unit is executed when the communication processing unit 44 performs communication processing (from the data acquisition processing of the allocated memory area) as will be described later.

Further, the item processing unit 43 draws (expands) each item image on the RAM 13. At this time, the acquired data is also drawn (expanded) on the RAM 13 in accordance with the type of the item. Thereby, the drawing data is displayed on the display by the graphic controller 15 to display the aforementioned operation display screen. The drawing data is updated by the item processing unit 43 every time, for example, when the processing of FIG. 9 described later is executed.

The communication processing unit 44 is a communication processing unit 44-1 and 44-2 included in each of the connected devices 4 (4-1,4-2). In other words, the communication processing unit 44-1 shown in the figure uses the communication port WAY1 of the connection device 4-1 to communicate with the connection device 4-1 via the communication line 6, and acquires a predetermined area of the external memory (distribution). Memory area).

Similarly, the communication processing unit 44-2 shown in the figure uses the communication port WAY2 of the corresponding connection device 4-2, communicates with the connection device 4-2 via the communication line 6, and acquires a predetermined area of the external memory (distribution). Memory area).

The process of acquiring the stored data in the allocated memory area is basically the same as the previous one. However, in the case of the method, there is a case where the data is acquired from the plurality of memory areas according to the item. Such a project is basically an item associated with a symbol of the "computation" type, and the data is stored in the arithmetic device name 77 as described above. Furthermore, as described above, for example, "×100" or the like, the operation device name 77 No information available.

Each of the communication processing units 44-1 and 44-2 of the present example further includes a processing function of the memory write processing unit 47. Further, although separately shown in the drawings, in the present description, the memory write processing unit 47 will be described as part of the function of the communication processing unit 44. Therefore, the processing of the memory write processing unit 47 is also included in the flow of the communication processing unit 44 of Fig. 8 to be described later.

The memory write processing unit 47 (item data processing unit) first overwrites the acquired stored data (as the acquired data) in a predetermined area of the shared memory 53. Further, regarding the item associated with the symbol of the "computation" type, the predetermined calculation is performed, and the calculation result is stored in the calculation result storage memory 54.

However, the memory write processing unit 47 may store the acquired data in a predetermined area of the shared memory 53 only when the existing data of the predetermined area of the shared memory 53 is different from the acquired data. Further, when the acquired data is overwritten in a predetermined area of the shared memory 53, the predetermined arithmetic processing is executed, and the processing of storing the calculation result in the calculation result storage memory 54 may be performed. Thereby, unnecessary calculations can be performed (the calculation result will be the same as the previous calculation), and the processing load can be reduced, and the processing efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing of the communication processing unit 44.

For example, in the example of FIG. 5, each of the communication processing units 44-1 and 44-2 executes the processor of FIG. 8 periodically (periodically).

In the processing example of FIG. 8, first, the shared memory 53 is referred to, and is generated. The memory list 55 associated with the connected machine 4 is itself (step S1). For example, in the processing by the communication processing unit 44-1, the memory list 55 associated with the connected device 4-1 is generated.

An example of the data structure of the memory list 55 is disclosed in Fig. 7(c).

In the illustrated example, the memory list 55 is formed by each data item of the device name 101, the address 102, the data 103, and the error information 104.

For example, the communication processing unit 44-1 extracts all the records in which the UI 81 is "WAY1" from the shared memory 53. Then, the information of the device name 82, the address 83, and the data 84 of each extracted record is stored in the device name 101, the address 102, and the data 103. Thereby, the memory list 55 associated with the aforementioned connection device 4-1 is generated.

Furthermore, the error message 104 is not necessarily necessary. It is also possible to store flag information indicating whether it has been processed or not.

After that, the process of steps S2 to S7 is repeatedly executed until the determination in step S7 is NO, with reference to the generated memory list 55.

In other words, the unprocessed record (set as the processing target record) is taken out from the memory list 55, and a memory read command based on the content of the record is generated, and the connected device 4 serving as the own is transmitted via the communication line 6 (step S2). ). Then, the response waits from the connected device 4 for the memory read command (step S3).

The memory read command includes information (the dispatch memory address) of the access target specifying the device name 74 and the address 75. Connected machine 4 reads the capital from the memory area indicated by the assigned memory address In response, the response processing of the read data is replied. However, for some reasons, when the data reading fails, the memory is read incorrectly.

When the communication processing unit 44 has a normal response from the connected device 4, the read data included in the response is overwritten in the column of the data 84 corresponding to the record of the processing target record stored in the shared memory 53. Bit (step S4).

However, as described above, when the existing data stored in the field of the material 84 is the same as the read data included in the response, the overwrite storage process of step S4 may not be performed.

Then, it is determined whether or not there is association with the arithmetic symbol (step S5). For example, in the above-mentioned "computation symbol establishment association information" 85 of the record stored in the above-mentioned step S4, when an arbitrary symbol ID is stored, it is determined that there is an association with the operation symbol (step S5, YES).

When the above step S5 is YES, the predetermined arithmetic processing is executed (step S6).

However, as described above, when the overwrite storage processing of the above step S4 is not performed, the determination result of step S5 may be omitted, and the processing of step S6 may not be performed. That is, when the read data from the allocated memory area is the same as the last read data from the associated allocated memory area, since the operation result is the same as the previous time, no calculation is performed. Thereby, redundant calculation execution can be avoided.

The processing of step S6 retrieves the record related to the symbol information 51, for example, using the symbol ID stored in the aforementioned "association symbol establishment association information" 85. Then, use the relevant recorded device name 77 And the operation address 78, accessing the connection device 4, obtaining the stored data of the relevant memory area, and using the acquired data and the data (data 84) stored in the foregoing step S4, performing the operation type of the related record 76 calculations.

However, when the associated device name 77 of the associated record has no data, as previously described, the stored data of the computed address 78 is not treated as an address but as an arbitrary value. Therefore, at this time, the operation of the operation type 76 of the above-described related record is executed using the stored data of the arithmetic address 78 and the data (data 84) stored in the aforementioned step S4.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example. For example, when the "computed memory" (the arithmetic device name 77 and the calculated address 78) is stored in the shared memory 53 and the memory list 55, the processing of the above-described steps S3 and S4 is performed. The reading of the stored data of the "computed memory" and the storing of the shared memory 53 may also be performed. At this time, of course, in the aforementioned step S6, it is not necessary to perform reading of the stored material of the "computed memory".

Then, in step S6, finally, the calculation result is stored in the record of the correlation of the calculation result storage memory 54. Furthermore, the related record refers to the record in which the symbol ID 91 is the same as the symbol ID of the aforementioned "association symbol establishment information" 85.

In the foregoing, when the foregoing step S5 is performed as NO or after the process of step S6 is performed, it is checked whether the unprocessed record remains in the memory list 55, and when there is still remaining (YES in step S7), the process returns to step S2. When it does not remain (step S7, NO), this process is completed.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the process of the item processing unit 43.

As described above, the processing of Fig. 9 is based on the management of the item processing scheduling unit 42, and is periodically executed.

In the processing example of FIG. 9, the item processing unit 43 first performs initialization processing of the item list 52 (step S11). This is for example to set the processed flag 68 of all records of the item list 52 to "unprocessed". Thereafter, the process of steps S12 to S20 is repeatedly executed until step S20 described later becomes NO.

That is, the record in the item list 52 in which the flag 68 is "unprocessed" is arbitrarily recorded, and the following processes are executed as the processing target record.

Here, the symbol information 67 used herein includes not only identification information (symbol name, symbol ID, and the like) of the associated symbol but also an example of the symbol type. Further, in the case where the symbol information 67 is only an example of the symbol name and the symbol ID, the symbol information 51 is retrieved based on the symbol name and the symbol ID, and the associated symbol type 73 is obtained.

In the case of this example, first, referring to the symbol information 67 recorded in the processing target, it is determined whether the symbol type is "operation" or "address", or whether or not the symbol is associated. As described above, if no information is stored in the symbol information 67, the association is performed as no symbol (NO in step S13 and NO in step S14), and the processing in step S17 is directly executed.

In other words, in the process of step S17, the device name 64 and the address 65 of the processing target record are used to search the related record of the shared memory 53, and the data is acquired (step S17). That is, for example, the device name 82 and the address 83 and the device name 64 and address recorded by the aforementioned processing object. The same record of 65 is the aforementioned related record. Then, the related recorded material 84 is obtained (step S17).

Further, when a symbol is associated, in the above example, since the symbol type 67 also stores the symbol type ("calculation" or "address"), it is judged to be "calculation" or "address" by referring to the information. "."

When the symbol type is "address" (NO in step S13 and YES in step S14), the symbol information 51 stored in the symbol information 67 is used to retrieve the symbol information 51, and the device name 74 and address 75 of the related record are obtained. (Step S15). Then, the processing of step S17 is performed. In the processing of step S17 at this time, the device name 82 and the address 83 are the same as the record of the device name 74 and the address 75 acquired as described above. Then, the related recorded material 84 is obtained (step S17).

On the other hand, when the symbol type is "calculation" (YES in step S13), the calculation result storage memory 54 is retrieved using the symbol ID of the symbol information 67, and the operation result 92 of the related record is acquired (step S16). .

Thereafter, the display processing as in the previous one may be performed. In other words, the information acquired in step S16 or step S17 is used, and the information recorded in the processing target (the image of the item, the coordinates, the size, and the like) is used to perform normal item drawing processing (for example, development on the RAM 13) (step S18). ).

When the processing of the above-described step S18 is completed, the processed flag 68 of the processing target record of the item list 52 is changed to "processed" (step S19).

Then, if there is an unprocessed record remaining in the item list 52 (YES in step S20), the process returns to step S12, and if all of them have been processed (step S19, NO), the process ends.

As described above, according to the programmable controller system, the programmable display, the support device, and the like of the present embodiment, each of the symbol information including any arithmetic expression is registered in the support device, and an arbitrary item and an arbitrary symbol are added. Information is linked. Thereby, in the programmable display, the display according to the arithmetic processing can be performed for the item.

In particular, after the predetermined calculation process is performed based on the acquired data from the distributed memory area, items necessary for display and the like are displayed, and the symbol information in which the external memory area and the predetermined arithmetic expression are registered in advance is used, and it is not necessary to add an operation to each item. The function can reduce the labor of developers and the like. In particular, in the past, there was a case where the same arithmetic function was attached to a plurality of items, so the burden of the work was not low, and there was also a problem that the use of resources was wasted, but such a prior problem can be eliminated in the present method.

Further, in the programmable display, when the data acquisition is performed, the arithmetic processing is executed, and the calculation result is stored, and when the update processing is performed on the periodic screen, the display result can be updated by using the calculation result, and the display update processing is not required. When the arithmetic processing is performed, the processing efficiency can be improved. This effect is particularly remarkable when the processing cycle of FIG. 9 described above is shorter than the processing cycle of FIG. 8, in other words, the processing of FIG. 9 is performed more frequently than the processing of FIG.

Furthermore, it is also possible to prevent redundant calculations from being executed.

1‧‧‧programmable display

2‧‧‧Communication interface

3‧‧‧Communication line

4‧‧‧Connecting machine

5‧‧‧ Painting editing device

6‧‧‧Communication line

Claims (12)

A programmable controller system is a programmable controller system having a programmable display and a support device connected to the programmable display, wherein the support device has a symbol information memory means and is a memory The external memory area and the information of the symbol to which the arithmetic expression has been registered; and the means for establishing the symbol, the item constituting the picture material for the programmable display is associated with any of the aforementioned symbols; the programmable display has The screen data storage means stores the screen data including the item associated with the symbol; the item data processing means performs an arithmetic processing using the arithmetic expression for the item associated with the symbol; and a screen display means, a means for displaying a screen caused by each of the above items, and displaying a result of using the arithmetic processing on an item associated with the symbol; the arithmetic expression is an arithmetic expression related to the data of the external memory area; The aforementioned project data processing means are from the outside , Memory and read data regions, the read data according to the arithmetic expression, the calculation process is performed. The programmable controller system as recited in claim 1 of the patent application, wherein The programmable display device has an internal memory; the item data processing means stores the calculation processing result in the internal memory; and the screen display means reads the calculation processing result from the internal memory and uses the same. The display of the result of the operation processing. The programmable controller system according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the item data processing means does not perform the operation when the read data from the external memory area is the same as the last read data. deal with. The programmable controller system according to claim 1, wherein the programmable display is connected to a connection device; and the external memory area is a predetermined memory area of the memory device in the connection device. . A programmable controller system as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of items are associated with any one of the symbols. The programmable controller system according to claim 1, wherein the support device further includes: a symbol information registration means for arbitrarily setting information of the symbol, and storing the information in the symbol information storage means. A programmable display characterized by having: The screen data storage means stores the screen material of the item associated with the external memory area and the symbol to which the arithmetic expression has been registered; the item data processing means performs the use of the arithmetic expression for the item associated with the symbol. The calculation processing and the screen display means are means for displaying the screens caused by the respective items, and displaying the results of the calculation processing using the items associated with the symbols; the calculation formula is the external memory. The calculation method related to the data of the area; the item data processing means reads the data from the external memory area, and performs the above-described arithmetic processing based on the read data and the arithmetic expression. The programmable display according to claim 7, which has an internal memory, wherein the item data processing means stores the result of the calculation processing in the internal memory; and the screen display means is from the inside The memory reads the result of the above-described arithmetic processing, and performs display using the result of the arithmetic processing. A support device is a support device connected to a programmable display, and is characterized by: a symbol information memory means for storing information of a symbol registered in an external memory area and a data of the external memory area; Symbolic association means that will constitute the aforementioned programmable display The item of the picture data is associated with any of the foregoing symbols; and the downloading means downloads the aforementioned picture material including the item associated with the symbol to the programmable display, so that the programmable display can memorize the According to the screen data, the data is read from the external memory area for the item associated with the symbol, and the operation processing is performed based on the read data and the arithmetic expression, and the result of using the arithmetic processing is performed. Display. The support device according to the ninth aspect of the invention, further comprising: a symbol information registration means for arbitrarily setting information of the symbol, and storing the information in the symbol information memory means. A program characterized in that a computer for programming a display has the following functions: a picture data memory means for memorizing picture data of an item associated with an external memory area and an operator whose registered expression has been registered. The item data processing means performs a calculation process using the arithmetic expression for the item associated with the symbol, and reads data from the external memory area, and the external memory according to the read data. The arithmetic expression related to the data of the region is the arithmetic expression, and the arithmetic processing is executed; and the screen display means is a means for displaying the screen caused by each of the items, and the operation processing is performed on the item associated with the symbol. The display of the results. a program characterized by a computer for supporting a device The function of the following means: a symbol information memory means, which is information for memorizing the external memory area and the symbol to which the arithmetic expression has been registered; and a means for establishing a symbol, which is an item that constitutes the picture material for the programmable display, and And the downloading means, by downloading the image data including the item associated with the symbol, to the programmable display, and the programmable display, remembering the picture data, and according to the picture The data is read from the external memory area for the item associated with the symbol, and the arithmetic processing is executed based on the read data and the arithmetic expression, and the result of using the arithmetic processing is displayed.