Echelon LNS - Manual (Page 47)

LNS Programmer's Guide 33
Because subsystems are logical divisions of a network, and devices can belong to multiple
logical divisions, you can create multiple subsystems that cross-reference a network for
different purposes with your application, and add individual devices to each one. In this
manner, devices could appear in multiple subsystems. For example, you could create one
subsystem to represent the physical layout of your network, and another to represent the
functional layout, separating the HVAC, lighting and security systems in this way.
Each of the object types defined in the LNS Object Server includes its own set of
properties and methods. Properties contain information defining the current
configuration and operational behavior of an object. Methods provide a mechanism to
perform various operations on each object. The LNS Object Server also defines a set of
events that you can use to keep your application informed when the configurations of
certain objects are modified, or when certain operations are performed.
The LNS Object Server supports all valid COM data types. In addition, the LNS Object
Server contains a series of defined exceptions, which are error messages that will be
generated if you write invalid data to any of the properties or objects defined in the LNS
Object Server, or if an operation caused by the invocation of a method fails for any
reason.
The complete LNS Object Server Hierarchy is displayed below. The various objects
included in this diagram are described in this manual, and in the LNS Object Server
Reference help file.
NOTE: You can use the LNS Object Browser to browse the contents of the LNS Object
Hierarchy when developing your application. The LNS Object Browser application offers
point-and-click access to almost every object, method, and property in the LNS Network
Operating System. This makes the Object Browser the ideal tool to investigate an
existing LNS-based environment during LNS application development, or to explore LNS
for training purposes. It can also be used to manipulate an LNS-based system by
modifying properties and invoking methods. Consult the online help provided with the
LNS Object Browser for more information on the utility.