MAPware-7000 Programming: Tags

What are tags?

Tags are names assigned to internal memory registers of the HMC, contacts of an expansion module, and any PLC data registers/coils of an external PLC. Some system tags are predefined when you first begin a project, and other tags are created by the programmer. For example, you must create and assign a tag to every PLC memory address that you wish to read/write to. When using the optional I/O Expansion modules tags are created in order to use them. The Tag Database collects and stores all tags for review and editing.

Once a tag is assigned, you can easily link any object (i.e. bit lamp, numeric register, etc.) to the tag. Tags have several advantages:

• Tags provide an organized method of tracking all memory addresses used in a project.
• Tags are much more descriptive of functionality than the name of the memory address.
• Tags are more easily edited, should a change be required.
• Tags can be exported and imported into other MAPware projects, regardless of which HMC unit is selected.

Tag Operations

Creating and Modifying a Tag

To create a new tag and assign it to an internal memory address or PLC address, you must first open the tag database:

• Click Define > Tag Database from the standard menus or
• Click the Tag Database icon located in the Layout Toolbar or
• Click the Tags folder in the Project Information Window.

The tag database displays:

Each assigned tag in the database has attributes arranged and presented as columns:

• Tag No. – This is the tag number assigned to the tag when created. Tags are assigned in numerical order.
• Tag Name – When you create a tag, you must provide a name for the tag.
• Data Type – Defines the type (BOOL, INT, DINT, etc.) of the tag.
• Attribute – Shows if the tag is “Read Only” (not editable) or “Read Write” (editable)
• Tag Address – this is the specific internal memory address or PLC memory address assigned to the tag.
• Port – If the address assigned to the tag comes from one of the external ports (i.e. Com1, Com2, Ethernet), then the port is shown.
• Node – The node number the Tag is associated with (0 by default for local HMC tags)
• Ethernet – The Modbus address to assign to the tag when the HMC is acting as a Modbus Slave/Server
• Node Name – where the tag memory address is located (i.e. internal memory or external connection to a PLC).
• Tag Category – either Default Tag (predefined tag) or User Defined Tag (programmer defined).
• Initial Value – The initial value of the tag on HMC start up
• Dimension – If the tag refers to an Array, this will show the length of the array
• Export Tag – checkbox to select which tags to export in a Tag Export operation.
• Publish & Subscribe (HMC4000 only) – shows if the tag is set to publish or subscribe to or from the MQTT Broker (refer to the MQTT section for more information).
• Topic Name (HMC4000 only) – The MQTT topic name this tag will be published to or subscribed from.

To modify the tag database, use the buttons displayed in the Tag Database popup window (see above) or right-click the Tags folder in the Project Information Window to display a popup dialog box:

Finding Tags

If you have created many tags and have a large database, it may be difficult to locate a particular tag. To help you locate a tag quickly, right-click anywhere in the tag database to display the popup dialog box:

Click the Find option to display the Find dialog box:

Enter the name of the tag or tag address – MAPware will then search through the database and highlight the tag.

You can also reorder the tag database by clicking any of the column headings. The tags reorder alphabetically according to the entries in that column.

There is also the option to filter the Tag Database.

Clicking the filter button at the top of the Tag Database opens the filter options.

Tag Usage

This feature allows you to select a tag in the tag database and view where used in your project:

Importing and Exporting Tags

The tag database created in MAPware exports as a CSV (comma-separated value) file. You can edit this file then import back into MAPware. This provides the following advantages:

• Tag databases can be moved from one project to another without copying the entire project.
• If you wish to modify many tags, this is quickly done by editing a CSV file.
• In some cases, you may be able to import the PLC addresses you use in your external PLC ladder logic program, thus saving time.

System Tag Memory

The following tables list all of the internal memory of the HMC which is reserved for specific purposes.

S memory (Boolean System Tags)

SW memory (System registers)

M memory (I/O configuration Coils)

In addition to the tags listed here, M addressed tags are assigned when an I/O module is added to the project and are used to control the I/O module. For a list of MW tags available for each module and detailed information on how to use them, refer to the appropriate product line I/O Module Guide

MW memory (I/O configuration registers)

In addition to the tags listed here, MW addressed tags are assigned when an I/O module is added to the project and are used to control the I/O module. For a list of MW tags available for each module and detailed information on how to use them, refer to the appropriate product line I/O Module Guide