Create a tag with general properties

Use tags to allocate and reference data stored in the controller. A tag can be a simple, single element, or an array, or a structure.
Prerequisites
  • Create an
    FactoryTalk Smart Object
    .
  • Create a program.
  • Create a routine.
  • Add an instruction to the routine.
To create a tag with general properties
  1. On the explorer bar, select System icon
    System
    .
  2. In
    System
    , double-click the routine.
  3. In the routine, select a red instruction operand, type a new for a new tag, and then click elsewhere.
    TIP: To enter the full path of a tag, use the following formats where "owner" is an alias used in the path for a program tag and "owner.owner" is an alias used in the path for a controller tag:
    • Program scope:
      • ControllerName.ProgramName.TagName
      • Area.SOName.ProgramName.TagName
      • SOName.ProgramName.TagName
      • ProgramName.TagName
      • Owner.TagName
    • Controller scope:
      • ControllerName.TagName
      • Owner.Owner.TagName
  4. Right-click the new tag name and then select
    Create new tag
    .
  5. On the
    General
    tab of
    Create new tag
    , complete:
    Parameter
    Description
    Name
    The name for the tag.
    Data Type
    Browse to select the tag data type, enter the array dimensions, and then select
    Apply
    . Some instructions are limited to specific data types.
    Usage
    Select a usage value for the tag or LOCAL, INPUT, OUTPUT, or INOUT.
    Scope
    The tag scope:
    • Controller. Controller tags apply to the entire controller, and can be used by all programs. In other words, the data in a controller tag is available to every task or program within the controller application. These tags can be used as global variables.
    • Program. Program tags contain data that is used exclusively by the routines within an individual program. This means that program tags can have the same name in more than one program, allowing programs to be copied and reused more easily. These tags can be seen as local variables.
    Description
    An optional description of the tag.
  6. Select
    Create
    .
    TIP: If you enter the tag path in an instruction operand and use the alias "owner" or "owner.owner", the path of the tag appears under the instruction operand in the routine.
  7. Select FTDStudioTagsIcon
    Tags and parameters
     and select the new tag.
  8. In
    Properties
    for the tag, complete:
    • Type
      . Enter the data type of the tag, such as BOOL, Counter, or INT. To see a complete list of available data types, browse to open
      Select Data Type
       and select the data type from the list. To configure array values, see Array concepts.
    • Value
      . Enter a data value for the tag.
    • Style
      . On the
      General
      tab in
      Properties
      , select the style.
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