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An Introduction to RSLogix5000 Tags | PLCdev

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PDF Electric and Supply Supplier of New and Reman GE Fanuc and Allen Bradley PLC parts www.pdfsupply.com PLC Programming Handbooks Allen Bradley Siemens Modicon Tags are the method for assigning and referencing memory locations in Allen Bradley Logix5000 controllers. No longer are there any physical addresses such as N7:0 or F8:7 which use symbols to describe them. These have been replaced with tags which are a pure text based addressing scheme. This is a departure from the more conventional ways of programming PLCs, which includes Allen Bradleys earlier line of PLC5 and SLC 500 controllers. One of the hardest transitions from the older systems is realizing how the tag database works. The person with experience in Allen Bradley systems will recognize many of the instructions and be at home with the editor in RSLogix 5000. Understanding the tag database is the first major hurdle in becoming comfortable with the ControlLogix and CompactLogix systems. So lets dig in and get started.

An Introduction to RSLogix5000 Tags

Rslogix Allen Bradley Name Tags

The Way We Used To Be

Earlier Allen Bradley PLCs programmed with RSLogix 5 and RSLogix 500 software had data files to store I/O and other internal values. These different data files could only hold one data type. A data type defines the format and the size of the stored value. Default Data Files

Data File Descriptions File # Type O0 Output Description This file stores the state of output terminals for the controller. I1 Input This file stores the state of input terminals for the controller. S2 www.plcdev.com/an_introduction_to_rslogix5000_tags Status This file stores controller operation information
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S2

Status

This file stores controller operation information useful for troubleshooting controller and program operation.

B3 T4

Bit Timer

This file stores internal relay logic. This file stores the timer accumulator and preset values and status bits.

C5

Counter

This file stores the counter accumulator and preset values and status bits.

R6

Control

This file stores the length, pointer position, and status bits for control instructions such as shift registers and sequencers.

N7

Integer

This file is used to store bit information or numeric values with a range of -32767 to 32768.

F8

Floating Point

This file stores a # with a range of 1.1754944e-38 to 3.40282347e+38.

While this method made it easy for using instructions, it provided a challenge for logically grouping different data types together according to function. For instance, in machine control, a motor may have a start, stop, speed and Popular Articles
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alarm code each with its own data type. Thus, the data was scattered throughout the data files.

File # I1 I1

Name Start Stop Speed Setpoint Alarm Code

Data Type Input Input Floating Point Integer

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F8 N7

Comparing the Old and New

The Logix5000 controllers have done away with data files and in its place is mohar-in Book reviews Online books My account Recent posts About Log out RSS Feed Me! Firefox and
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the tag database. The tag database organizes memory locations in one place. Each tag is assigned its own data type. The table below shows the association between the current data types and the older systems with data files.

RSLogix 5 / 500 File # O0 I1 S2 Type Output Input Status

RSLogix 5000

Input and output modules, when configured, automatically create their own tags like Local:0:I.Data.0 Use the GSV and SSV instructions to get status information such as the CPU time, module states
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information such as the CPU time, module states and scan times. B3 T4 C5 R6 N7 Bit Timer Counter Control Integer Assign the Boolean (BOOL) data type to the tag. Assign the TIMER data type to the tag. Assign the COUNTER data type to the tag. Assign the CONTROL data type to the tag. Assign the double integer (DINT) data type to the tag. F8 Floating Point Assign the REAL data type to the tag.

Creating a Tag
One way to create a new tag is right click on the Controller Tags in the Controller Organizer and select New Tag. Even faster is the Ctrl+W hot key.

The following dialog box pops up.

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The Name given to the tag has the following rules: only alphabetic characters (A-Z or a-z), numeric characters (0-9), and underscores (_) must start with an alphabetic character or an underscore no more than 40 characters no consecutive or trailing underscore characters (_) not case sensitive While tags are not case sensitive, it is good practice to mix cases for readability. It is much easier to read Line1_Start then LINE1START or line1start. In addition, the tag database list sorts alphabetically. Therefore, it is best to use similar starting characters when you want tags to be together in the monitor list.

Tags Named for Grouping Level_High Level_Low Insert_Nut Knife_Stop

Tags Not Named for Grouping High_Level Insert_Nut Knife_Stop Low_Level

Use the Description field for a longer description of the tag. It is best to keep names short yet not cryptic. Tag names are downloaded and stored in the controller but the description is not as it is part of the documentation of the project. The tag Type defines how the tag operates in the project

Base

A tag that actually defines the memory where the data is stored

Alias Produced Consumed

A tag that represents another tag Send data to another controller Receive data from another controller

Alias tags mirror the base tag to which they refer. When the base tag value changes so does the alias tag. Use aliases in the following situations: program logic in advance of wiring diagrams assign a descriptive name to an I/O device provide a more simple name for a complex tag use a descriptive name for an element of an array
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Produced and consumed tags make it possible to share tags between controllers in the same rack or over a network. This article does not cover this aspect. Select a Data Type for the tag by typing it in or by clicking on the ellipsis button and selecting it from the list. A data type is a definition of the size and layout of memory allocated for the created tag. Data types define how many bits, bytes, or words of data a tag will use. The term Atomic Data Type refers to the most basic data types. They form the building blocks for all other data types.

Data Type Boolean Short Integer Integer

Abbreviation Memory bits BOOL SINT INT 1 8 16 32

Range 0-1 -128 to 127 -32,768 to 32,767 -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647

Double Integer DINT

Real Number

REAL

32

+/-3.402823E38 to +/-1.1754944E-38

Logix5000 controllers are true 32-bit controllers, meaning the memory words are 32-bits wide. No matter what, a tag always reserves 32 bits of memory even if it is a Boolean or integer data type. For this reason, it is best to use a DINT when dealing with integers. Furthermore, a Logix5000 controller typically compares or manipulates values as 32-bit values (DINTs or REALs). A Logix5000 controller lets you divide your application into multiple programs, each with its own data. The Scope of the tag defines if a tag is global (controller tags) and therefore available to all programs or local (program tags) to a select program group. Pay careful attention to this field as creating it in the wrong area may lead to some confusion later on as to its location.

Controller Tags are available to all programs. You cannot go wrong using controller scoped tags unless you easily want to copy and paste programs. A tag must be controller scoped when used in a Message (MSG) instruction, to www.plcdev.com/an_introduction_to_rslogix5000_tags
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tag must be controller scoped when used in a Message (MSG) instruction, to produce or consume data and to communicate with a PanelView terminal. Program Tags are isolated from other programs. Routines cannot access data that is at the program scope of another program. Having program tags make it easy to copy/paste programs and not have to worry about conflicting tag names. Make sure though that no controller tags are named the same as program tags. Style is the form in which to display the tag by default. The following table provides you with information on the base and notation used for each style.

Style Binary Decimal Hexadecimal Octal Exponential Float

Base 2 10 16 8

Notation 2#

16# 8# 0.0000000e+000 0.0

Edit and Monitor Tags

To edit existing tags select the Logic > Edit Tags menu item. A spread sheet like view lets you create and edit tags.

Clicking the + sign next to a tag reveals its structure. For a DINT tag this is the 32 individual bits that make up the tag which will not be of interest if you are using the tag as a number rather then individual bits. If you do wish to use the individual bits then you can address them in this way with the tag
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use the individual bits then you can address them in this way with the tag name followed by a period and then the bit position (e.g. MyTag.5). Shown below is the expanded structure for a TIMER. Notice it is made of two DINTs and three BOOLs. In this case, the Booleans are packed into one DINT and therefore a timer uses three DINTs of memory.

An Introduction to RSLogix5000 Tags | PLCdev

An Easier Way to Create Tags

The easiest way to create tags is on the fly while programming. When an instruction is first used a ? will indicated the need for a tag. There are three options at this point: 1. Double click on the ? and select an existing tag from the drop down box. 2. Right click on the ? and select new tag. 3. Double click on the ? and type in the tag name. If it does not all ready exist, then right click on the tag name and select Create NewTagName . Be careful with this method not to use spaces or special characters. The nice thing about all these methods is that RSLogix5000 will automatically fill in the correct data type according to the instruction used. Another quick method is to drag and drop an existing tag to a new instruction. Make sure to click on the tag name rather then the instruction.

Conclusion
These are the basics of tags. The advantages are: 1. Tags, if done right, create a level of documentation that is stored in the PLC. 2. The software does an automatic housekeeping of memory locations. Theres no more worrying about physical addressing and memory conflicts. 3. Structures can be more easily put together based on function rather then data type.
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Advance subjects include arrays, user defined data types (UDT) and Add-On Instructions. Hopefully, you will continue to learn more about the power of tags. There is no doubt that if you grasp the principles presented here you will be well on your way to using and troubleshooting any Logix5000 controller. Allen Bradley's PLC Programming Handbook
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Had you got it?

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Submitted by duggo1 (not verified) on Mon, 2010-10-04 20:35. :) wouldn't we all :(

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Submitted by A-tac (not verified) on Tue, 2011-07-05 13:29. There is no single software program that will run all the different PLC types, or even all the PLC's of a single manufacturer. You have to get the software for the specific manufacturer, family and version of PLC you want to program.

Emulator
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Submitted by Tim Young on Wed, 2008-08-06 19:32. It's the same with a software emulator in that you'll have to talk to the vendor of the equipment. Some manufacturers sell an emulator and some don't.

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Submitted by LELOS (not verified) on Fri, 2008-09-05 13:33. i want it immediattly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!thanks!!!!!!!!

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simulador de plc
Submitted by kerlin (not verified) on Mon, 2008-09-15 23:30. para hacer mis practicas de estudios y poder aplicarlos por que es un buen programa

PLC simulator
Submitted by PRAMOD KUMAR SINGH (not verified) on Tue, 2011-0621 07:06. PLC simulator is an electronic interfacing device to simulate PLC I/O in different ways like to enable or disable the signals

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 2010-01-31 22:14. were you able t get the emulator

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Submitted by Ramchandra Kashalikar (not verified) on Sat, 2011-08-20 01:52. I am interested in learning PLC programming.

After years of SLC and PLC5,

Submitted by masto (not verified) on Sun, 2008-10-05 12:08. After years of SLC and PLC5, I have a week to get up to speed on logix5000. I have to admit, i dont get the tagging....doh!

Excellent write up! THANK

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 2011-10-27 00:07. Excellent write up! THANK YOU !

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"Tags are the method for

Submitted by Coowallsky (not verified) on Fri, 2011-12-16 11:26. "Tags are the method for assigning and referencing memory locations in Allen Bradley Logix5000 controllers. No longer are there any physical addresses such as N7:0 or F8:7 which use symbols to describe them. " N7:0 and F8:7 are not physical addresses. They're logial addresses. Only I and O addresses are physical. "These have been replaced with tags which are a pure text based addressing scheme. This is a departure from the more conventional ways of programming PLCs, which includes Allen Bradleys earlier line of PLC5 and SLC 500 controllers." A tag is simply an alphanumeric string that points to a location in memory. That's all. It is no different than the fact that data table locations in PLC5/SLC500/MicroLogix controllers contain alphanumeric strings that point to locations in memory. There are NO differences between a tag and a data table address. Both are an alphanumeric string that points to a location in memory. The only difference is that the alphanumeric string is pre-assigned a name and structure in the PLC-5/SLC500/MicroLogix that doesn't afford renaming and doesn't allow for the symbol associted with it (if used), to be downloaded into the controller. Too many people are gettign hung up on what they perceive or have been taught with respect to tags in ALL of these processors. It would not be programmatically or logically incorrect to refer to N7:28 or F8:27 as a tag in a PLC-5.

Great to hear from someone who actualy knows

Submitted by Don - Industrial Training (not verified) on Sun, 2012-03-25 17:04. Who actually knows and understands what they are talking about. He is correct, Tags just point to memory locations, just like symbols always have. A PAC (IE: Controllogix/RSLogix 5000) is just the evolution of the PLC more closer to computers, where it has more memory and can store symbols/tags and where the internal physical addresses are hidden by higher level operating system and all you see and have access to is the tag, just like computers and windows does. Also someone was wanting more training on PLC (not PAC), see http://www.bin95.com/Troubleshooting-PLC-Controls-Simulator.htm to gain years of troubleshooting experience with PLC simulator in just days. Same site has PAC training CD too, to introduce you to differences.

I remember my first Reliance

Submitted by djw (not verified) on Tue, 2012-05-01 15:59. I remember my first Reliance DS. It was all tags in the early 90's. Rockwell bought out Reliance and years later AB is using what every
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Rockwell bought out Reliance and years later AB is using what every Reliance programmer already knows how to do. Small world.

An Introduction to RSLogix5000 Tags | PLCdev

I remember my first Reliance

Submitted by djw (not verified) on Tue, 2012-05-01 16:00. I remember my first Reliance DS. It was all tags in the early 90's. Rockwell bought out Reliance and years later AB is using what every Reliance programmer already knows how to do. Small world.

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