Modern IEC 61131 PLC programming with MULTIPROG Pro+

MULTIPROG is the leading IEC 61131 programming system for control applications with medium to high requirements, easy to operate and fully equipped. Many new features make programming, debugging, commissioning and system monitoring even more intuitive and effective.

• MULTIPROG supports projects of distributed and heterogeneous controls:
  Several configurations/resources can be managed, programmed, tested and commissioned at the same time. All connected controls can be managed in a dialog (e.g. concurrent download/start).
• IEC 61131 conformance: MULTIPROG supports all programming languages according to the IEC 61131-3 standard: Instruction List (IL), Structured Text (ST), Function Block Diagram (FBD), Ladder Diagram (LD), Sequential Function Chart (SFC). All languages can be mixed in a project. The project structure conforms to the international standard IEC 61131-3.
• Powerful editors and wizards: MULTIPROG provides a fully graphic editor for free editing with autorouting, a text editor with syntax highlighting and IntelliSense and a variables grid editor. Each graphical and textual IEC 61131 programming language is supported by the Edit Wizard.
• Optimum PLC adaptation: MULTIPROG is optimally adapted to the IEC 61131 PLC runtime systems ProConOS embedded CLR and ProConOS. However, MULTIPROG can also be adapted to any existing control runtime system. Toolkits are available for all specific adaptations to each controller.

Support for all "life stages" of the automation project

• Project handling
• Creating the control application
• Parameterizing and configuring the controller
• Code generation
• Testing, commissioning and maintenance
• Documentation and archiving

New in MULTIPROG

We are continuously improving the IEC 61131 programming system MULTIPROG in order to assert our market leader position in the field of PLC programming systems. We are also implementing new features that will further simplify your daily work, namely creating the best possible PLC application quickly and effectively.

You can obtain information about new features and functionalities from our sales department.

 [Your contact person at KW-Software]

Intuitive PLC programming thanks to modern user interface

MULTIPROG runs on all current standard PC Windows systems.
The user interface enables intuitive programming and a clear overview, i.e. through operations and interfaces which are strictly based on the Windows standard, state-of-the-art editors and wizards, an extensive context-sensitive help system, multiple document interface (MDI) with any number of dockable windows and self-definable and dockable toolbars.

It enables intuitive programming and a clear overview through:

• all IEC 61131-3-compliant programming languages like FBD, LD, IL, ST and SFC
• the MultiUser interface, which enables working with several programmers on one project
• a comfortable project comparison
• the open PLCopen XML interface
• distributed control systems in one project
• floating und dockable windows with different user interface themes
• preset and own shortcuts as well as toolbars
• the complete keyboard usability in all IEC 61131-3 editors
• drag & drop throughout the whole system
• comprehensive and context-sensitive help on all system levels
• extensive options to adapt the interface to your requirements
  

Multi-lingual user interface and project documentation

MULTIPROG can be used internationally: the software including the context-sensitive help system and documentation is available in German, English, French, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese.
Even the project's documentation created by the user can be switched online to any language.

Data consistency through Automation Interface

Modern automation suites include the software tools for almost all project planning phases and tasks: E-CAD, network/fieldbus configurator, PLC programming, SCADA etc.
They all partly access the same objects. However, often data exchange is lacking, a shared pool which is available to all components equally. The solution is Automation Interface.

• Via the Automation Interface, MULTIPROG provides its data for other tools.
• MULTIPROG permits external creation, modification or addition of attributes to own data.
• Frequent switching between PLC programming and commissioning for the different tools is no longer necessary, as all important data can be displayed in MULTIPROG.
• Observers ensure data consistency with other tools.

This reduces the engineering effort for PLC programming.

Integrated automation software through ActiveX and add-ins

For the different automation tasks, the most diverse tools of different manufacturers are frequently used. For MULTIPROG to work without problems in the respective individual suites, ActiveX controls can be integrated as control bars.
The MULTIPROG add-in interface is for integration of ActiveX controls or for implementation of additional customer-specific functionality.

Project tree: clear project management

Fully graphic editor for the IEC 61131 languages FBD, LD and SFC

The fully graphic editor allows completely free placing of objects as well as network-oriented procedures. Select the method best suited to your application und use the functions of the editor in which you can quickly create your programs in LD/FBD or SFC.

The editor supports:

• Mixing of LD, FBD, SFC in one worksheet
• Alignment of the objects on a freely dimensionable grid
• Insertion of new elements into existing networks without limitations
• Moving of individual objects or networks
• Autorouting for automatic connection
• Displaying of images (thumbnails) in block icons
• Opening of the code by double-clicking on the respective user-defined functions and function blocks
• Different colors for functions and function blocks from firmware, user library and project
• Complete operation via keyboard possible
• Consistent drag & drop
• Inserting functions and function blocks using the Edit Wizard

Optional: fixed format LD editor

The cell-based fixed format LD editor for the IEC 61131-3-ladder diagram language (LD). In addition to the graphic standard editor, this editor offers many additional functionalities, which make programming in LD comfortable and easy.

 [MULTIPROG Pro+ picture gallery]

Text editor for the IEC 61131 programming languages ST and IL

In the text editor you can quickly and easily create your programs in the IEC 61131 programming languages ST or IL. A large number of functions supports you for this purpose:

• Syntax highlighting highlights the keywords and makes the program more readable
• IntelliSense automatically completes your variable names, structure elements and FB parameters (see image below)
• Edit Wizard supports code editing by displaying the available language elements and blocks
• Integrated drag & drop when inserting functions and function blocks from the Edit Wizard as well as when copying/moving code objects
• Context-sensitive menu customization

The text editor can also be used for declaring own data types, whereby the Edit Wizard can also support this.

Edit Wizard in all IEC programming languages

With the Edit Wizard you can easily insert the available objects of the used IEC programming language into the code via drag & drop. Depending on the programming language used, you can insert keywords and statements, operators, functions and function blocks with the help of the Edit Wizard. In addition, the wizard simplifies the declaration of own data types.

Especially in the text editor the use of the Edit Wizard holds significant advantages: syntax errors are avoided and you do not need to know the syntax of the different instructions, like for example function blocks or loops, in detail.

Grid-based variables editor for declaring IEC 61131 variables

The grid-based variables editor is for safe and easy declaration of global and local variables.

In the variables grid, each line represents the declaration of a variable or FB instance. For an optimal overview, variables can be divided into different groups. The attributes of each variable/instance are defined in the respective table columns either by entering or selecting a combo box entry.

The variables editor prevents a number of syntactical declaration errors and makes declaration easy and clear.

Project Wizard and templates

Optimized code creation

You can select between various options for compilation of a project, which depending on your requirements either take all project parts or only changed parts into account. Code creation requires significantly less time for changed project parts.

Online changes in the PLC program

Online changes for modifying program parts while the PLC is running: the combination of ProConOS 4.0 or higher and ProConOS embedded CLR 2.0 makes almost all online modifications without limitation of the user program's size possible, like for example adding and deleting variables and POUs or modifying program code and task properties.

This way you can for example add POUs, change code, data and function block parameters and modify task cycle times.

The advantages:

• You can resume "normal" work even after having changed projects
• Changes of code and data are possible without limitation, depending on the available PLC memory. Even function block parameters and task cycle times can be modified in this way
• You always have the opportunity to undo changes
• The PLC memory is not fragmented

Integrated debugging and commissioning tools

MULTIPROG has powerful functionalities for debugging and for commissioning the PLC program, like for example PLC simulation, Logic Analyzer, breakpoints, address debugging, single step mode, overwriting and forcing of variables and recipes.

• Cross references
  If desired, the cross reference window of MULTIPROG displays each program location in which you used a variable and will guide you to the respective code position or the declaration of the variables via mouseclick.
• Watch window
  Insert variables from different POUs, programs or even different controls into the Watch window and display their online values.
• Recipes
  By writing recipes from the Watch Window directly onto the PLC, you can set variables collectively to desired values. Recipes can be loaded, saved, imported and exported, sent to the PLC and read from there.
• Breakpoints
  Go through your application step by step and have a look how it is processed! Set breakpoints and then perform single steps or single cycles.
• Forcing and overwriting I/Os
  You have the option to force I/Os respectively to a preset value or to overwrite them temporarily for the duration of a process cycle.
• Logic Analyzer
  The MULTIPROG Logic Analyzer displays the state of discrete or logical variables and thus enables realtime display of variables on the control, i.e. for detecting synchronization errors in the application. Select the respective variable, define a trigger condition, the sample rate and number of captured values before and after recording, and MULTIPROG looks after the rest with the help of ProConOS.
• Switchable display of online values
  Select the following from different notations for online values: standard display (depending on data type), decimal display, hexadecimal notation or binary values. For floating point numbers, the number of digits and positions after the decimal point can be given in addition.

Password protection on POU basis or for the complete project

If requested, MULTIPROG protects your project with a password by restricting the access rights for (protected) objects. You can protect whole subtrees or single project nodes, such as POUs or worksheets in the project tree with a password.

Access rights can be limited for changing the project structure, opening and writing worksheets, for downloading to individual configurations and resources and for debugging. Each user has to log in using the valid password in order to get full access to a protected project or element.

Integrated PLC simulation with extended simulation mode 

The IEC 61131 programming system MULTIPROG includes the EasySim control simulation with which you can simulate the program execution on the PLC if no control is available or if before actual commissioning of the "real" PLC a simulated function test is recommended.

When working with the simulation instead of a real PLC...

• if a target resource is connected, it will not be addressed, i.e., its inputs will not be read and its outputs will not be written.
• Execute the same steps in the programming system as you would if you were working with the real target system. You can, for example, force/overwrite variables or display online values in the editors as usual. Simulation is executed in the background.
• Inputs can be "activated" directly in the simulation, and the effects on outputs can be monitored, thus simulating the I/Os of the actual hardware.

The simulation offers you the option of "programming" scenarios and applying them at the touch of a button in order to easily implement various system states at the simulation inputs.

Source conversion IL - LD - FBD

MultiUser functionality: short programming times through parallel development

OEM versions, brand labeling

The IEC 61131 programming system MULTIPROG provides varied customization options with its integration capacity, the Automation Interface and the add-in interface.

Is this still not flexible enough for you?

Furthermore, the MULTIPROG concept enables various customizations and extensions. These range from brand labeling of the software to customer-specific controls with own code creation and online monitoring. Even concepts for integration of manufacturer-specific programming languages are supported.

Extensive documentation for system integrators

For the different levels of integration and adaptations of MULTIPROG, the extensive and perfected documentation for system integrators is available, with which significant projects were completed successfully.