CIMPLICITY Machine Edition Getting Started, GFK-1868E

Logic Developer - PC
SFC Editor
SFC EDITOR
SFC logic is a graphical language for organizing the sequential execution of
control logic. The SFC editor is an easy-to-use graphical tool for editing sequential
function charts in the Machine Edition environment. With the SFC editor, you can
work on a disk copy of a sequential function chart (offline) or monitor the
execution of an SFC running in the Controller (online). You can also configure the
appearance and behavior of the SFC editor.
Sequential Function Chart
Navigator: Project tab
SFC nodes
To add a new SFC
An SFC is much like a flow chart; it is a high level control program that organizes
detailed blocks of logic into a state-like flow. In general, an SFC consists of steps
alternating with transitions. A transition can be a BOOL variable or a Structured
Text statement, which resolves to a BOOL value. Each step represents a state that
the program is in until the transition following it allows execution to proceed to the
next step. Each step contains actions that are user-defined sections of ladder, IL, or
ST logic. The actions in a step are executed in the order they are listed and are
repeated each Controller scan while the step is active. Each action in a step has a
qualifier associated with it that governs when and how the action will be executed.
An SFC document is a grid of cells. Each cell can contain an instruction. The
instruction set includes steps, transitions, branches, parallels and jumps.
An SFC can be expanded by adding macros. Each macro is a special SFC
document that can be referenced any number of times from its SFC document or
other macros.
Want to know more? In the Help Index, look up Macro and choose “SFC Macro”. You can also
see the SFC Tutorial in the online help (look up SFC in the Help Index). This tutorial takes you, stepby-step,
through the creation of a Sequential Function Chart that controls traffic signals.
1. In the Project tab of the Navigator, right-click the Logic folder or a user-defined folder, point to New,
and then choose SFC.
The new SFC appears under the Logic folder or a user-defined folder in
alphabetical order.
2. (Optional) Enter a unique name for the new SFC.
GFK-1868E
Getting Started 35