Echelon IzoT NodeBuilder - Manual (Page 78)

3. Create custom functional block shapes. Custom functional block shapes let you provide network
integrators with functional block shapes that have built-in network variable shapes. To do this
follow these steps:
a. Verify that functional block shapes for each functional block defined by the device interface
have been added to the IzoT CT drawing. To create a functional block shape, drag a
Functional Block shape from the NodeBuilder Basic Shapes 4.00 stencil on the left of the
IzoT CT window to the drawing, and then complete the Functional Block wizard.
b. Configure the default network variable and configuration property values for the custom
functional block using the IzoT browser or an IzoT device plug-in (if you have created one for
your device). You can create several versions of the same functional block for different
configurations of that functional block.
c. Drag each functional block shape to your IzoT CT stencil. New custom IzoT CT master
shapes with the functional block names specified in the Functional Block wizard appear in the
stencil.
d. Click the disk icon ( ) on the stencil’s title bar to save your IzoT CT stencil.
Note: Custom IzoT CT shapes can contain multiple functional blocks, devices, and connections. For
example, you can create custom IzoT CT shapes for two connected functional blocks, or for a device
and all of its configured functional blocks. To do this, select multiple shapes and drag and drop them
to a custom stencil. See the IzoT Commissioning Tool User’s Guide for more information on creating
complex custom IzoT CT shapes.
Creating an IzoT Device Plug-in
You can create an IzoT device plug-in to simplify and automate the installation of your devices for
network integrators. An IzoTdevice plug-in is an application that implements the IzoTPlug-in API.
IzoTdevice plug-ins are typically written in a .NET programming language such as C# or Visual Basic
.NET, but you can write an IzoTdevice plug-in in any development environment that allows the
creation of an (COM) automation server for Windows. For more information on writing IzoTdevice
plug-ins and the IzoTPlug-in API, see the OpenLNS Plug-in Programmer’s Guide.
64 Creating and Opening IzoT NodeBuilder Projects