Rockwell-automation 2708-NBD VBASIC Language Development Kit User Manual download pdf (Page 13)

an A-B VBASIC Program

Chapter 2

Developing and Running

2–2

In order to emulate programs on a PC the A-B Application Library was

developed (see Chapter 5). Many basic I/O routines for the various devices

found on a workstation are available through this library. These include

inputs from barcode scanners, timeouts, formatted and edited keypad read

routines, data conversion routine, etc. One of the clear benefits of using the

library is that you don’t have to “re-invent the wheel”.

There are two main files in the Application Library: ENV.BAS and

ENVPC.BAS. When testing your program on a PC, just include

ENVPC.BAS into your program, and all your I/O will be directed at standard

PC devices which will emulate the workstation. When it’s time to run the

program on the real workstation, simply substitute ENV.BAS at compile

time.

Step #5 – Compiling the A-B VBASIC Program

After the program has been written and tested on the PC using ENVPC or

Application Generator Software, the program must be converted into a form

that a workstation can understand. This is done with the A-B VBASIC cross

compiler (LXB). LXB will flag any lines that do not fit the subset of allowed

commands. It will also flag syntactical errors, but those will normally already

have been taken care of by the Visual BASIC editor. The output of the LXB

compiler is a “.LXE” file, suitable for downloading to a workstation.

Step #6 – Downloading

You can download the program with another software product called

Network Manager Software (Catalog No. 2708-NNM). Network Manager

Software is a data collection and network management program which can

collect data, download programs and files, and perform network management

functions. It is the preferred tool for commmunicating between a PC and a

workstation network. It interprets network status records and provides

repetitive command transmissions to multiple workstations. However, in the

absence of Network Manager Software, any asynchronous terminal emulator

that has a file transfer feature and honors XON/XOFF protocol should work.

As soon as the download is complete, the program automatically starts

running. At this point the program can be tested for proper functioning on the

workstation itself.

To summarize, the steps in developing an application for a workstation are as

follows:

1. Lay out a structured design for application

2. Decide if application is small or large (is CHAINing necessary?)

3. Use developed tools wherever possible

(BASIC Language Development Kit)

4. Code the application using the Visual BASIC editor or Application

Generator Software

5. Test the program under simulation (include ENVPC.BAS)

6. Compile with LXB (include ENV.BAS)

7. Download the program

8. Test the program on the target workstation

The A-B VBASIC

Development Procedure

(cont’d)

1 2 ... 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ... 83 84

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