Device item definitions

You cannot change the predefined item syntax/name for the GE PLC. However, to make it easier to remember item names, you can create aliases for these item names. For example, it may be easier for you to remember the item syntax "R4087" as "Temperature."

The GESRTP Communication Driver supports a maximum of 1,000 aliases.

Select the Device Items tab in the OI Server Manager user interface to create new, modify, delete, export, or import device item definitions for an object. Configure the device item names using the Device Items dialog box, which appears when you click the Device Items tab in the New_GEFANUC_PLC_000 Parameters configuration view.

After you configure item names, the Communication Driver can perform OPC item browsing. When the Communication Driver is running and an OPC client requests item information, the configured items appear under the PLC hierarchy node. User-defined data types appear with a flat address space when browsed through OPC.

Note: The Communication Driver does not provide run-time browsing of PLC items using the SRTP protocol or the GE programming software.

Create or add device items

1. Right-click in the Device Items box and click Add.

2. In the Name column, type a unique item name. The maximum is 32 characters. For example, "Temperature."

3. Double-click the line in the Item Reference column and enter the correlated item reference for the name you created. For example, "R4087."

   Note: If the name and the item reference are the same, it is only necessary to enter a name. The Communication Driver assumes that the item reference is the same. This is necessary if you want to add some items for browsing via the OPC, even if they do not have a symbolic name.

Rename device items

• Right-click the device item to be renamed and click Rename. Make the changes.

Delete device items

• Right-click the device item to be deleted from the list and click Delete.

Clear all device items

• Right-click in the Device Items box and click Clear All. All the device items listed are cleared after you confirm their deletion.