How to Use logiCAD3 and PiCtory (Compact)

logiCAD3 is the engineering software used to create control applications on the RevolutionPi. The runtime system logi.RTS is pre-installed as a test version. You can activate this test version in the web server. After restarting RevPi you can use the trial version for one hour. With a licence the runtime system can be extended to a full version. This can be purchased in our online shop.

NOTE
After upgrading the runtime system logi.RTS you may have problems transferring data from logiCAD3 to the target system. This can happen if the runtime system version and the software version are not compatible. You can solve this problem by also updating the software logi.CAD3 or by retaining the logi.RTS version. Further details can be found under Logicals in the Release Notes.
When you update (“sudo apt update” “sudo apt upgrade”) the following window appears before updating, summarising this information again.

Projekt "Update Laufzeitsystem logi.RTS Warnung" Screenshot
Update runtime system logi.RTS warning
NOTE
With “sudo apt-mark hold logi-rts” you can hold the runtime system logi.RTS at the currently installed version. To update the runtime system again, you will have to undo this hold with “sudo apt-mark unhold logi-rts” before updating.
logiCAD3 itself must be installed on a development computer (Windows or Linux). You can download  logiCAD3 for free from our online shop.

 

  • Open logi.CAD3.
  • Click on File/New to create a new project..

The folder logi.CAD3 Example projects for hardware connection contains the example project Counter project for Revolution Pi.

  • Open the file RevolutionPi.iecplc in the project explorer.
Projekt "Zähler-Projekt für Revolution Pi" Screenshot

Project “Counter project for Revolution Pi”

  • Enter the IP address of the RevPi for the value “ADDRESS”.

Tasks are defined in the lower section. For the example project we don’t have to change anything except the IP address.

Projekt "RevolutionPi.iecplc" Screenshot
RevolutionPi.iecplc

The next step is to activate the logi.RTS service and create the PiCtory configuration.

  • Enter the IP address of your RevPi Compact in your browser’s address bar.

The login window opens.

pictory-anmelden
  • Log in with the username “admin”.
  • Enter your password. You will find it on the sticker on the side of your RevPi Compact.
  • Click on “Login”

You will now see the current device status of your RevPi Compact.

Apps Reiter Screenshot

 

  • Click on the “SERVICES” tab and activate the logi.RTS runtime system.
  • Save the changes with “SAVE ALL”
Apps Reiter Screenshot
  • Click on the “APPS” tab.
  • Click on the start button behind the entry “PiCtory” to open PiCtory.

PiCtory is opened.

Modulkonfiguration über PiCtory Screenshot
Module configuration via PiCtory

Arrange your devices on the virtual DIN rail in the same way as the devices are arranged in reality:

  • Select your RevPi Compact or RevPi Connect in the Device Catalog.
  • Drag and drop it into the empty slot on the virtual DIN rail
  • Right-click on the empty slot next to your RevPi Compact

A context menu opens.

  • Click on “Insert empty columns”.
  • Drag and drop the modules you are using from the Device Catalog into the empty slot.
  • In this way you can replicate your device composition exactly as you did it in reality.
  • In the Value Editor -below right- you can rename the inputs and outputs.
  • Behind each variable in the Value Editor you will find the checkbox “Export”. If you check this variable, you will be able to use it later in logi.CAD3.
Modbus RTU Eingang in Input umbenennen
Rename Modbus RTU input
Modbus RTU Ausgang in Output umbenennen
Rename Modbus RTU output
  • Click on File/Save to save the current configuration.
  • Click on  Tools/Reset Driver to apply the configuration.
  • Click on  File/Export.

A selection box opens.

  • Select Structured Text IEC 61131-3 and enter a file name.
  • The definition of the global variable is created and opened in an editor.
  • Copy the entire text to the clipboard.
Export Formats
Export Formats
  • In the globals folder in logi.CAD3, open the file sample.global.
import globals
Import globals
  • Delete the contents and paste the text from the clipboard instead.
RevolutionPiProgramm
RevolutionPiProgram

The example program counts up the output; with the input it is possible to change the counting direction.

Applikationstest
Application test
    • Switch to the Application test view.
    • Click on the green gears button to connect to the RevPi.
    • Click on the Start button to start the program.

Now the “Output” on the Modbus RTU module should be counted up. You can check whether the “Output” is really counted up on the process image using “piTest -r Output”.

Alternatively, if you are familiar with Modbus you can use a Modbus RTU Master to read the output register of the Modbus RTU Slave on the RevPi.