Variable Simulation Overview

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Variable Simulation Overview
hmtoggle_plus1What can be achieved with the variable simulation?

The variable simulation is an application that connects to a PClient (simulated or on a device) and provides ways to view and change variable values. With the variable simulation the following can be done:

•Monitor the values of a running PClient project

•Manually change the value of each variable

•Create automatic value generators that can automatically change the value of variables in different ways

•Create lists that can set the values of different variables to defined values
hmtoggle_plus1How to start the variable simulation

The variable simulation can be started individually or together with a PClient simulation. To start the variable simulation set the "Variables" checkbox in the tool's simulation toolbar and then press the (Re)Start button.

Simulation toolbar with PClient and Variable Simulation checked

Or go to the simulation menu and then select "Start Variable Simulation".

Simulation Menu with Start Variable Simulation marked

Please Note:

•A variable simulation without a running PClient simulation is useless.

•A project needs to be open and active in the tool before the simulations can be started.

To connect to a local PClient simulation the following settings have to be made in the Simulation Settings dialog (these are the default settings):

•Connection Settings

oPClient runs: On local PC

oIP Address and Port: will be set automatically

Connection settings for connecting to local PClient

To connect to a PClient running on a device, the settings in the Simulation Settings dialog and some settings in PClient itself have to be adjusted.

1.IP Address

The IP address that PClient uses is stored in the variable @Ethernet0_IPAddress. This address can be changed to fit to the Network of the connecting PC. Also check the other variables in the Ethernet variable group if they need adjusting (like netmask @Ethernet0_Netmask). Contact the local network admin if there is a doubt about the correct IP settings.

2.Port

The port that is used for simulation can be changed if it collides with other applications in the network. Use the variable @PClientSimulationPort in the Projekt variable group to change the port.

3.Enable Ethernet

To start the ethernet interface the value 1 needs to be written to the variable @Ethernet0_applynstart. After that the network interface should be running. This only has to be done if the value of variable @Ethernet0_UpAtStart is not set.

To enable ethernet automatically at each cold boot use the variable @Ethernet0_UpAtStart. Set value 1 to this variable if the ethernet interface shall be automatically started. If value 0 is set, the variable @Ethernet0_applynstart has to be set (see above).

4.Enable or disable simulation mode

To enable simulation mode write the value 1 to the variable @PClientSimulationMode in the Projekt variable group. After that the PClient will listen to connection attempts from variable simulation on ethernet.

Steps 1 to 3 only have to be done only once since PClient remembers those settings.

A common way to enable simulation mode is:

•Set the variable values from step 1 to 3  in a script (e.g. project init)

•Create a kind of service page were the simulation mode can be enabled (e.g. with a latching button)

hmtoggle_plus1        Troubleshooting

If the connection via ethernet fails, the following might help:

•Make sure that @PClientSimulationMode is set to 0 before changing any network variable or port. When setting the network variables is finished enable simulation as last step (set 1 to @PClientSimulationMode)

•Make sure that all network variables were correctly written to the hardware interface: Log in via serial console and type the command ifconfig eth0. Make sure that "inet addr" contains the correct IP address and "Mask" contains the correct netmask for your network.

•Another way to check if the connection settings are OK, the device can be "pinged". Open a DOS command prompt and type ping <IP_ADDRESS>. Were <IP_ADDRESS> is the address set in step 1 above (e.g. ping 192.168.135.2). If the output of that command shows timeouts, something is wrong with the settings.

•Restart the the complete device after setting the network variables. Enable network interface and simulation mode after the restart.

•Contact the local network admin to get help about the correct IP address and port that should be used in the network.

To connect to a PClient running on a device with enabled simulation mode, the following settings have to be made in the Simulation Settings dialog:

•Connection Settings

oPClient runs: On panel

oIP Address: The IP address used by PClient on the device (see @Ethernet0_IPAddress and step 1 above)

oPort: The simulation port used by PClient on the device (see @PClientSimulationPort and step 2 above)

Connection settings for ethernet connection
hmtoggle_plus1How to work with the variable simulation

Variable Simulations with marked areas

The variable simulation basically consists of the following parts (for detailed descriptions click the respective link):

1.The tool bar

2.The variable view

3.The value operations view

4.The variable properties view

5.The initialization lists

6.The status bar

The left side of the status bar shows some importand status messages, e.g. when the connection to PClient is lost.

On the right side the connection status to PClient is displayed.
hmtoggle_plus1Saving and loading settings

The default settings for a project are loaded automatically when starting the variable simulation and a connection to PClient was successful. The default settings will be saved individually for each project.

Each time a setting was changed and the variable simulation is closed, the user will be asked if the changed settings shall be saved. This close operation can then be cancelled, the settings discarded or saved.

Variable Simulation - Save default settings

The current settings can also be stored as default settings via File -> Save as Default.

The default settings can also be loaded manually via File -> Load Last Default.

Note: When starting the variable simulation again from within the tool, it will be restarted and any changed setting will be lost!

It is possible to save the current settings in a file via File -> Save Settings As. A file dialog will appear where the save directory can be chosen and a file name for the settings file can be specified. Name and suffix of the file are not important.

A saved settings file can be loaded by File -> Load Settings. A file dialog appears in which the settings file that shall be loaded can be selected.

If a settings file is loaded that was saved from another project, a warning will be displayed.

Variable simulation - project mismatch when loading settings
hmtoggle_plus1FAQ

For frequently asked questions click here.