Echelon NodeBuilder FX - Manual (Page 85)

NodeBuilder FX User's Guide 71
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 LonMaker 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
LonMaker 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 LonMaker browser or an LNS 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 LonMaker stencil. New custom LonMaker 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 LonMaker stencil.
Note: Custom LonMaker shapes can contain multiple functional blocks, devices, and connections. For
example, you can create custom LonMaker 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 LonMaker User’s Guide for more information on creating complex
custom LonMaker shapes.
Creating an LNS Device Plug-in
You can create an LNS device plug-in to simplify and automate the installation of your devices for
network integrators. An LNS device plug-in is an application that implements the LNS Plug-in API.
LNS device plug-ins are typically written in a .NET programming language such as C# or Visual Basic
.NET, but you can write an LNS device plug-in in any development environment that allows the
creation of an (COM) automation server for Windows. For more information on writing LNS device
plug-ins and the LNS Plug-in API, see the LNS Plug-in Programmer’s Guide.