Created Date: February 01,2016

Created by: franji1

Function Block Programming does not equal Function Block Diagrams.

I should be able to program any Function Block in any language, and utilize it in any language. Define the Function Block's set of input parameters, and output parameters, and "call " it just like I would any "instruction " in the PLC, whether that is in Ladder Diagram, SFC, ST, FBD, STL, C, VB, ...

Function Block Diagram is a specific programming language that utilizes data flow over instruction/execution flow. It looks like a large electronic diagram with large AND-gates and OR-gates, along with data flow into and out-of built-in Function Blocks and user-defined Function Blocks (regardless of the language those Function Blocks were written in).

Below is a snippet from a Function Block Diagram from its wiki article ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Function_block_diagram ):

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/FBS_Maximum.jpg/220px-FBS_Maximum.jpg

The Function Block Diagram consists of two Function Blocks , CMP>R and MOVE , which I can utilize in a Ladder Diagram or Statement List or here in a Function Block Diagram , or ...

Created Date: January 31,2016

Created by: Glen Walker

I was just curious if in future versions of the Productivity Suite there might be the addition of Function Block Programming? This is more of a curiosity question. Ladder is great for most applications but occasionally you will run into a process that Function Blocks are a little simpler to setup. I also wonder if they have ever considered something like Rockwells Add On Instructions? Being able to build your own code and just reference it instead of re-writing code for each piece of equipment if they are the same equipment.