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How to Symbol Program with Allen Bradley RS Logix 500

If you haven't already noticed, I am still young and "wet behind the ears" as the older PLC gurus might say. However one thing I noticed that separates us younger programmers from older generation PLC programmers is how they don't use symbols. Well most of them don't that I've personally been around. Have you ever looked at a PLC program that was written a while ago, or maybe more recently written by the older programmers? What's missing? Better yet, how do they remember all that stuff? I am not really sure how "they" remember all those bit numbers and what they mean. How can anyone remember that B3:1/1 means "system is running" or I:1.0/3 means "proximity transfer is extended"? Either I need to work on my memory skills or I think I feel more comfortable remembering a symbol name when I program. Symbols are used in RS Logix to identify a bit or memory area of a PLC by a name that you can more easily remember. See if you can see the symbols in this screen shot:

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20 04 Cre Vi 25 ate ew 03 01 d s 4 08 Mo difi ed 20 10 Id 25 10 13

Aut Chris hor Elston

If you haven't found them by now, they are the descriptions in GREEN.

AUTO_MODE, RUNNING, POWER_ON, ALL_HOME, INDEX_ON_STAT, etc...

RS Logix makes it extremely easy to use symbols in your program. When you enter a new instruction with a question prompt, you can start typing your symbol name and a pop out window will start narrowing your search down to the symbol you have already created in the database. Notice I said "already created". That means it would be a good idea if you made up all your symbols ahead of time using the spread sheet template downloadable here.

That's ok that you can't do them all before you start. Just keep creating them on the fly with terms or "short hand" that you can remember. Here are some tips for common short hand naming that I use myself. When I am programming a hardware device such as a proximity switch or a photoeye input, I use the NFPA's Table E.1 Device and Component Designations as guidance to name all my hardware I/O. Below is a list of codes at the end of this article. This bascially means if I have a proximity switch connected to I:1.0/14 I could give it the symbol name: PRS_TRANSFER_EXT

PRS comes from the NFPA table which means "Proximity Switch". TRANSFER means that this prox is connected to a transfer device of some sort EXT means that the direction the prox is detecting is "extended" You aren't required to use the NFPA's component designation, but this will give you some bases to start if you need ideas. More recently I have tried to trim my own symbols to the first two letters so I can drill down my symbol list very quickly in RS Logix. I've changed my own personal preference to PX for Proximity Switch. So if I enter an instruction in a rung, I can just type two letters "PX" at the question mark and low an behold EVERY SINGLE proximity switch on my automation system will come up in my list to choose from.

Your symbols will start to pop up in a quick pick list. Arrow down to find your proximity switch if you can't remember it, or better yet keep typing it all out and press enter when done. Viola! You've just typed your first symbol program.

Other symbols programming tips I can offer is a grouping of symbol names such as STATION 1 could mean S1. If you are state logic programming, you might remember a station more so by its function. Let's say you have a station on some automation that presses a part assembly together. I would call all the internal bits by "PRESS" to indicate all these bits that begin with PRESS have the same functionally with my press station.

The fun doesn't stop there. Can't remember which control relay enables the fast speed index? Just type CR to bring up the list of all your control relays.

How about when you are creating bits that transfer information from your Panel View to your PLC? You could also group all those symbol names together with a PV.

I hope you can see based on the samples shown that trying to memorize your program by the address names is pretty tough. Giving each of your symbols a name and you should be able to program faster than before. Group your symbols names to speed up symbol searches. Come up with your own "short hand" that you can remember easily or use the NPFA chart for some ideas.

NFPA 79 2002 Edition reference

Table E.1 Device and Component Designations ABE Alarm or Annunciator Bell ABU Alarm or Annunciator Buzzer AH Alarm or Annunciator Horn AM Ammeter AT Autotransformer CAP Capacitor CB Circuit Breaker CI Circuit Interrupter CNC Computerized Numerical Controller CON Contractor COs Cable-Operated (Emergency) Switch CPU Central Processing Unit CR Control Relay CRA Control Relay, Automatic CRH Control Relay, Manual CRL Control Relay, Latch CRM Control Relay, Master CRT Cathode Ray Tube, Monitor or Video Display Unit CRU Control Relay, Unlatch CS Cam Switch CT Current Transformer CTR Counter D Diode DISC Disconnect Switch DISP Display DR Drive EMO Emergency (Machine) Off Device END Encoder ESTOP Emergency Stop FLD Field FLS Flow Switch FS Float Switch FTS Foot Switch FU Fuse GEN Generator GRD, GND Ground GUI Graphical User Interface HM Hour Meter HTR Heating Element IC Integrated Circuit INST Instrument IOL Instantaneous Overload I/O Input/Output Device L Inductor LED Light Emitting Diode LS Limit Switch LT Pilot Light LVDT Linear Variable Differential Transformer M Motor Starter MD Motion Detector MF Motor Starter - Forward

MG Motor Generator MR Motor Starter - Reverse MTR Motor OIT Operator Interface Terminal OL Overload Relay PB Pushbutton PBL Pushbutton, Illuminated PC Personal Computer PCB Printed Circuit Board PEC Photoelectric Device PL Plug PLC Programmable Logic Controller POT Potentiometer PRS Proximity Switch PS Pressure Switch PWS Power Supply Q Transistor QTM Thermistor REC Rectifier RECP Receptacle RES Resistor RH Rheostat S Switch SCR Silicon Controlled Rectifier SOL Solenoid SNSR Sensor SS Selector Switch SSL Selector Switch, Illuminated SSR Solid State Relay ST Saturable Transformer SUP Suppressor SYN Synchro or Resolver T Transformer TACH Tachometer Generator TAS Temperature-Actuated Switch TB Terminal Block T/C Thermocouple TR Timer Relay TSDR Transducer TWS Thumbwheel Switch V Electronic Tube VAR Varistor VM Voltmeter VR Voltage Regulator VS Vacuum Switch WLT Worklight WM Wattmeter X Reactor ZSS Zero Speed Switch

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Comments(View All Comments / Add Comment) Symbol Addressing

I guess I'm one of the old farts now too. I can't imagine doing a program without symbols. I think the problem is you have seen programs written by people not familar with the AB programming platform or not properly trained. Symbols have been essential since the old Dos ICOM days. Russell White [2007-02-16]

interface with field

this article is very helpful . but it will be more useful if it contain explanation about" how plc will be connected with field equipments such as thermocouple, pressure sensors etc..." prabhu [2006-12-28]

Symbolic Addressing
I am an Old PLC Programmer, and I love symbolic addressing. It's much easier to start typing the symbol name and picking it from a list box instead of remembering the address. We've developed a standard somewhat different that yours, our symbols are named using modified Hungarian Notation for example: PXClampCyl2-3Advanced. We prefer this to having Underscores. [2004-07-12]

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