Echelon OpenLNS Commissioning Tool - Manual (Page 130)

114 Designing Networks
Creating a Connection with the Network Variable Connection
Dialog Box
You can create a connection using the Network Variable Connection dialog box. This dialog box
provides a powerful and flexible method for creating connections. It provides a hierarchal view of the
devices, functional blocks, and network variables in your OpenLNS CT network. You use this view to
select the network variable hub and one or more targets to connect. It is the quickest method for
creating fan-in or fan-out connections because you can select multiple network variable targets to
connect to a hub network variable with a few mouse clicks. You can change the properties of the
connection while you are creating it (you can also change the properties after you create the
connection).
You must use this dialog if you want to connect network variables or message tags that are located in
different subsystems, or if you are connecting a functional block without network variable or message
tag SmartShapes.
To create a connection using the Network Variable Connection dialog box, follow these steps:
1. To connect two or more functional blocks or supernodes in the same subsystem, hold down CTRL
and click the functional blocks and supernodes to be connected. The selected functional blocks
and supernodes will be highlighted pink, and a green box will appear around them. Right-click
one of the selected functional blocks or supernodes and then click Connect on the shortcut menu.
• To connect functional blocks in different subsystems or to select network variables to be
connected, right-click an empty space in your OpenLNS CT drawing, and then click Connect
on the shortcut menu. The Select Objects window opens. Use the network navigator to select
the functional blocks and/or supernodes you want to connect and then click OK.
• To create a turnaround connection, right-click a functional block or supernode and then click
Connect on the shortcut menu. The Select Objects window opens. Use the network
navigator to select the functional block or supernode to connect and then click OK.
2. The Network Variable Connection dialog box opens.