By default, a new SFC POU contains an initial step and a subsequent transition. This chapter provides information on how to add further elements, and how to arrange and edit the elements.
For further information, refer to the chapter Cursor Positions in SFC.
Use the arrow keys to jump to the next or previous element in the chart.
To insert the particular SFC elements, execute the respective commands from the SFC menu. For further information, refer to the description of the SFC editor commands. Double-click an already inserted step, transition, or action element, which does not yet reference a programming object, to open a dialog box for assigning one.
Select an element or text field by clicking a possible cursor position. You can also give the selection to an adjacent element by using the arrow keys. The element will change color to red. For example, see the chapter Cursor Positions in SFC.
NOTE: In contrast to previous versions of EcoStruxure Machine Expert, you can select and thus also move (cut, copy, paste) or delete steps and transitions separately.
For multiple selection, the following possibilities are available:
oKeep the SHIFT key pressed and then click the particular elements to be selected.
oPress the left mouse-key and draw a rectangle (dotted line) around the elements to be selected.
oExecute the command Select All, by default from the Edit menu.
Click a text cursor position to open the edit field, where you can edit the text. If a text area has been selected via the arrow keys, open the edit field explicitly by using the SPACE bar.
Double-click a step (entry, active, or exit) or transition action association to open the associated action in the corresponding editor. You can, for example, double-click the transition element or the triangle indicating an exit action in a step element.
Cutting, Copying, Pasting Elements
Select the elements and execute the command Cut, Copy, or Paste (from the Edit menu) or use the corresponding keys.
NOTE:
oWhen you paste one or several cut or copied elements, the content of the clipboard will be inserted before the currently selected position. If nothing is selected, the elements will be appended at the end of the currently loaded chart.
oIf you paste a branch while the currently selected element is also a branch, the pasted branch elements will be inserted to the left of the existing elements.
oIf you paste an action (list) at a currently selected step, the actions will be added at the beginning of the action list of the step or an action list for the step will be created.
oIncompatible elements when cutting/copying:
If you select an associated action (list) and additionally an element which is not the step to which the action (list) belongs, a message box will display: The current selection contains incompatible elements. No data will be filed to the clipboard. The selection will not be stored and you cannot paste or copy it somewhere else.
oIncompatible elements when pasting:
If you try to paste an action (list) while the currently selected element is not a step or another association, a message box will display: The current clipboard content cannot be pasted at the current selection. If you try to paste an element like a step, branch, or transition when currently an associated action (list) is selected, the same message box will display.
oFor copying step and transition elements that call action objects or transition objects, two different duplication modes are available. Either the references are copied only, or the referenced objects are embedded and duplicated when copying. Select a mode in the Element Properties dialog box with the Duplicate on copy option.
Select the elements and execute the command Delete or press the DEL key.
Consider the following:
oDeleting a step also deletes the associated action list.
oDeleting the initial step automatically sets the following step to be the initial one. This option Initial step will be activated in the properties of this step.
oDeleting the horizontal line preceding a branched area will delete all branches.
oDeleting all particular elements of a branch will delete the branch.
