Echelon LonPoint Application and Plug-In - Manual (Page 16)

1-10 LonPoint System Overview
type file containing the new network variable type from
this list.
Type List Lists all network variable types in the selected file that
are compatible with the selected network variable. Select
the new network variable type from this list.
Compatible Types Indicates how compatibility is decided. For all functional
blocks except the Type Translator, this is by Base Type
(e.g., floating-point or enumeration). The Type Translator
uses the Length <= option, listing all types less than or
equal to four bytes long. You cannot change this option.
Network Variable Formats
Many floating-point network variable types have at least two standard formats: one
for SI units (i.e. the metric system, which are the default units of most SNVTs), and
one for comparable U.S. units. There may also be more than one format for either of
these two basic systems (e.g. SNVT_flow has U.S. formats for both gallons per
second and cubic feet per minute). If there is more than one format, one of them is
considered the default. The LonMaker and LonPoint Plug-in installation programs
allow installing format files that have either all SI units as the default, or all U.S.
units as the default.
Selecting a format does not affect the actual network variable data on the network
or configuration property data in the device. This data is always in the native units
of the network variable or configuration property. The format only affects how the
data is displayed (or interpreted when doing data entry). Any format that does not
use the native configuration property or network variable units will convert the data
to or from the native units using conversion values associated with that format. For
example, if U.S. units are being used, data being entered is converted internally to
SI units, and converted back to U.S. units for display. Due to floating-point
rounding, values displayed may not always be exactly what was entered.
Changing Network Variable Formats
You can change the format of most LonPoint floating-point network variables, as
well as the network variables in the Type Translator functional block.
Note:
Changing the format of a network variable affects the display of related fields in
the LonPoint Plug-in, the LonMaker tool, and other third-party LNS
applications. The format change will be immediately visible in the LonPoint
plug-in. However, other applications may not reflect the format change until
some action causes the format to be refreshed; this can be accomplished by
restarting the application or by some explicit command, such as the LonMaker
Browser's Refresh All command.
To change a network variable format, click the network variable shape in the LonPoint
Plug-in window, then click the Change Format button in the Network Variable
Information
dialog. The following Change Network Variable Format dialog
appears: