GPP/WIN is the latest in Windows-based programming for PLCs from Mitsubishi Electric's MELSoft suite of software.
GPP/WIN is the latest in Windows-based programming for PLCs from Mitsubishi Electric's MELSoft suite of software.
The new product is a powerful programming tool which supports all Mitsubishi MELSEC controllers, from the FX0S micro PLC to the Q4AR process controller, and even to motion controllers.
It will appeal particularly to engineers wishing to move from the DOS-based MELSEC MEDOC programming package.
GPP/WIN gives the user full support of the standard Windows functions such as copy and paste.
For example, sections can be copied within a program, and finished program components copied from one project to another for re-use.
Comment lists can also be transferred simply to and from Excel, allowing for easy project documentation. Multiple sessions of GPP/WIN can be run simultaneously, with the Project Navigator providing a clear overview of an entire project.
Project Navigator aids compiling by allowing the programmer to move around the program very quickly and painlessly, and can be turned off when not required.
Among other things, Navigator gives the user access to PLC parameters, network configurations and comment tables, making it easy for the user to switch between any function by a simple click of the mouse.
In GPP/WIN programming formats can be switched between instruction list and ladder diagram programming and the software provides a huge range of monitor and diagnostic functions.
A comprehensive set of import filters enables the re-use of existing programs written with systems such as Mitsubishi's MELSEC MEDOC and FX-PCS-WIN, making historical projects future proof.
To make commissioning and maintenance easy the PLC program can be monitored in ladder diagram format and devices can be monitored as decimal, hexadecimal or ASCII values.
On-line changes of the program can be made when the PLC is in run mode and devices forced, allowing for flexible program configuration and maintenance.
With GPP/WIN, networks can be configured without the need for PLC code.
For example, to configure a Mitsubishi CC-Link network with 2 slave units, users simply fill in a table with number of slave station, type of station (digital, analogue etc.) and the address of the devices where data should be stored in the CPU.
All PLC parameters and network configuration settings can be checked for plausibility on entry, allowing even the most inexperienced programmer to create simple or complex networks fast.
"Our objective is to make it simple, straightforward and effective to move from DOS-based MEDOC programming to the Windows environment offered by GPP/WIN. Programmers making the transfer will find they can use the same keystrokes, reducing both training effort and implementation," says marketing manager David Folley,
