Echelon LonMaker - Manual (Page 25)

LonMaker User’s Guide 9
Automatic Reference Connection Shape Alignment
You can automatically align and keep aligned all the reference connection shapes in a subsystem or the
reference connection shapes attached to a specific functional block. This feature eliminates the need to
manually move functional block, connector, and connector reference shapes to keep your LonMaker
drawing organized. See Aligning Reference Connection Shapes in Chapter 4, Designing Networks, for
more detailed information on using this feature.
Monitoring—Data Point Shape
The LonMaker tool includes a new Data Point shape that you can use to monitor and control a
network. You can use the Data Point shape to monitor and control the value of any network variable,
configuration property, or functional block state (enabled or in override) in your network. In addition,
you can use the Data Point shape to create simple human-machine interfaces (HMIs) in your
LonMaker drawing.
The Data Point shape serves as a replacement for the LNS Text Box shape, which was introduced in
LonMaker 3. The Data Point shape functions similarly to the LNS Text Box shape and has all the
same functions, but it performs significantly better. The Data Point shape keeps Visio in design mode,
does not crash Visio when a page is deleted, makes saving a LonMaker drawing easier, and improves
security because it does not remove the digital signature associated with a LonMaker drawing. The
LNS Text Box shape is still available for legacy drawings, but new drawings should use the Data Point
shape because of its improved performance.
See Using Data Point Shapes in Chapter 6, Monitoring and Controlling Networks, for more detailed
information on using the Data Point shape.
Network Explorer
The new features in the LonMaker Turbo Editions for the Network Explorer are described in the
following sections. See Network Explorer in Chapter 4, Designing Networks, for more information on
using these new features.
Network Variable Access
You can access network variables and view their properties from the Network Explorer. To show
network variables in the Network Explorer for all new LonMaker networks or for an existing
LonMaker network, select Subsystems, Devices, FBs and NVs in the network properties: Network
Explorer options category. To access network variables from the Network Explorer, expand a device
and then expand one of its functional blocks. The network variables appear listed alphabetically below
their respective functional blocks, and they are marked with black arrows within a grey icon.
New Channel and Device Template Views
You can view the devices in a LonMaker drawing organized by subsystem, channel, or device
template. You can click the new Channels and Device Templates tabs to find all the devices on a
particular channel, or to find all the devices using a specific device template. In the Channel and
Device Template tabs, the channels and device templates in your LonMaker drawing are listed
alphabetically, and the objects that you selected to be displayed in the Network Explorer are listed in a
hierarchal manner (in the order of devices, functional blocks, and then network variables) under their
respective channel or device template.
Device Template Menu
To work with a device template, open the Network Explorer, click the Device Templates tab, and then
right-click a device template to open the Device Template menu. This menu, previously located under
the LonMaker menu, has been enhanced with several new options and features. It includes access to a
new Device Properties dialog box where you can set new device validation options, and it contains
new options for updating a device template.