Custom Workspace Operations

Different useful operations can be performed in order to give a better organization of your project.Creating a folderIn order to create a folder select the root item of the project tree or, if you want to nest it, an existing folder then choose the [Add>New folder] voice of the context menu.This operation adds a new customizable folder (by default named New folder) unit ready to be renamed.Editing folder properties – Set folder as read-onlyYou can edit the folder properties choosing Edit folder properties from its context menu.Once inside the folder properties window, you can choose to mark the folder as read only; doing so you’ll be asked to set a password. The content of the folder is now not modifiable until someone remove the read only attribute by inserting the correct password.Editing folder properties – Set folder as a library folderStill from the folder properties window, you can mark the folder as a library folder (select Enable from the Library generation options section). Doing so you’ll be allowed to set other informations about the library folder (like the version number or a description).If your folder is a library folder, it’ll be represented with a different icon in the tree:In the context menu of the folder, now, you’ll find a new voice: Generate library; selecting it will create a new .plcprj library in the project folder (inside AutoGeneratedLibraries sub folder) with the name of the library folder and all of its content.This is an easy and efficient way to create complex libraries.Creating a Global variables GroupIn order to create a global variables group select the root item of the project tree or an existing folder then choose the [Add>New global variables group] voice of the context menu.This operation adds a new customizable folder (by default named New_var_group1) unit ready to be renamed.Rename a unit (folder or Global variables group)In order to rename a global variables group or a folder select it than choose [Rename] voice of the context menu.This operations makes the name of the unit ready to be renamed.Deleting a unit (folder or Global variables group)In order to delete a global variables group or a folder select it than choose [Delete] voice of the context menu.If the units contains any child you will be prompted for three possibilities:

• Delete all child elements too (this may impact the PLC).
• Do not delete child elements, they will be moved upwards following the project tree.
• Cancel the operations and do nothing.

Deleting multiple objectsDelete operation can be done on multiple homogeneus objects (more than one folders, mor than one POUs…); select the elements keeping pressed CTRL button, then press DEL.Export objects to libraryIn order to export all elements of a global variables group or a folder, select it than choose [Export objects to library] voice of the context menu.This operation allows you to export recursively all child elements of the selected item into a library (see 4.8.2 for more information about new library).Export objects as PLCopenGF_ProjectVX code allows you to export all elements of a global variables group or a folder in PLCo- pen format. Like Export to library you can export the selected elements to an existing .xml file or to a new .xml file (in the latter case the file will be created), the PLCopen format will be maintained.This operation allows you to export recursively all child elements of the selected item into a PLCopen file.Moving UnitYou can simply drag&drop units to a different location of the tree in order to organize your project workspace. All children are moved if the parent item is moved, following the original structure.Moving variables is also possible both from project tree (single selection) and from the variable grid (single and multiple selections) (see Paragraph 6.6 for more information about variables editor).Sorting folderIt is possible to manually sort the folder order to better organize the project tree (by default folder are sorted alphabetically). To do so you have to enable the Custom sort of project folder, in the project options; then, from the context menu of a folder, you can choose Move Up or Move Down to move the folder.