Choosing a PLC and choosing a PLC software are both related to each other. It is a thumb rule that a PLC will have only one software to configure it. So, if you are choosing a PLC, you should also take care of it’s software when selecting. It should not be like you have considered all the aspects of the PLC hardware but forgot to check some specifics of the software. Then, it will be of no use to have selected the PLC, because it is only going to affect the programmer who will program that.
Factors Affect the Choice of PLC Programming Software
So, in this post, we will see the factors which affect the choice of PLC programming software.
Programming language:
The very first thing to consider is the programming language. A basic PLC will have ladder logic at the most. But, if your system is large with many loops and IO’s, then writing it in ladder logic will become cumbersome. The programmer will find it difficult to understand. So, choose the software which has many languages in it, according to your requirements. This will provide you more flexibility and the CPU too will be able to execute the program more quickly.
Simulation:
If you are choosing a particular PLC for the very first time and are unaware of it’s behavior or functionality, then choose the one which will have simulation features in it. Due to this, you can check the code offline without PLC, and also do not require PLC for checking. If the simulation is not there, then you would have to be dependent on the hardware for going online and checking the logic. And if project commission time is hectic or large, then this tool proves very handy.
Online editing:
When you are commissioning a very critical project, and if you are not able to change anything online, then downloading the code every time will reset the PLC and also stop the process each time it is done. This can prove very costly to the business. So, depending on the nature of the project, choose the software which has facilities for online change it. Otherwise, you will have to shut off the process every time to change any code.
Find and replace:
If you are working on a big project with a large number of tags, and how to replace a name of a particular one, this feature proves very beneficial. Otherwise, you will have to manually change the tag wherever used. This will consume your time during development. It is normal for a small project but proves costly for bigger ones. So, look for this feature in the software you choose.
User-defined libraries and data types:
This is another feature which affects the choice of software. Nowadays, in many software, you get an option to create your own libraries and data types. This is helpful for repeated types of logic or large amounts of data, similar to how we use software-defined function blocks. It helps save programming time and also reduces complexity to a drastic extent. If you are working on a large project and just manually repeating all the logic every now and then, it will consume unwanted memory and also increase troubleshooting issues for the programmer.
User-friendly software:
Whenever you are using a PLC software, you will require that its navigation and facilities are user-friendly and quick to use with ease. If it is not easy to understand, then half of your time will go into finding the features. Your programming time will be totally wasted. So, it should be like whatever tool you require is available with ease in the software, and no unwanted juggling is present.
License:
This is a term which obviously cannot be missed. Some software is free of use, some licensed. If you are tight on budget and do not want to invest in buying software, then you will have to choose free software. This will automatically change your PLC choice. It is a major factor and needs to be considered surely before finalizing the PLC. There are other choices where a trial version is available, but it will be of use to you only when you have it’s licensed version in some other workstation. Otherwise, a license will be required to be bought then.
In the other way, it is also to be noted that a bulky PLC software with large size and RAM requirements will also require your workstation to be compatible in that way. If not, then you need to upgrade your workstation for accommodating it.
In this way, we saw what features to consider when selecting a PLC programming software.
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