PmMelsecQA - Driver for communication with Mitsubishi PLC devices of the Q/A/L/iQ-R/iQ-F series

This driver serves for communication with Mitsubishi PLC devices of the Q, A, L, iQ-R and iQ-F series. The "Compatible 1C/3C/3E frames" formats are supported.
See also Communication with Mitsubishi PLC devices.

- PLC devices of the iQ-R and iQ-F series:

- See Description of the configuration of the PLC device of the iQ-R/iQ-F series for communication by the PmMelsecQA driver.

- These PLC devices have the R - SLMP protocol type implemented.

- In the driver set:

Protocol format = "3E/ASCII".

- in the PLC device set:

Enable/Disable Online Change = Enable All (SLMP)

Communication Data Code = ASCII

in the Detailed Setting window, in the External Device Configuration configurator, add SLMP Connection Module from the list of modules and set the TCP port value in the Port No. column.

- PLC devices of the FX series:

- These PLC devices have another protocol type implemented on the serial programming communication port - for this the PmMelsecFXS communication driver can be used. If the PLC device has also another port, then it is sometimes necessary to use the PmMelsecQA driver. For example:

- The PLC device with integrated Ethernet port (e.g. FX3GE, FX5UJ).

for FX3GE type:
In the driver set: Protocol format = "A1E/BIN".
In the PLC device set: Communication Data Code = Binary Code.

for FX5UJ type:
In the driver set: Protocol format = "3E/ASCII".
In the PLC device set: Communication Data Code = ASCII (X, Y, HEX).

- The PLC device MELSEC FX2N-16MR has another module for serial link. It is possible to communicate via this link by the driver PmMelsecQA that has the "Compatible 1C frames" format set.

- PLC devices of the A series:

- The driver can be used also for communication with Ethernet communication module A1SJ71E71-B2/B5 for PLC devices of the A series.

Before using this driver in the PROMOTIC application it is highly recommended to watch "PROMOTIC video tutorial 4 - Communication drivers".

Basic properties of the driver:

- Usage of this driver requires purchase of the PmMelsec licence. When developing the application in the freeware mode PmFree, or with development environment and while testing it in runtime, this component is always functional.

- The communication is done for Ethernet (PROMOTIC application is client) or for serial link (COM1, COM2 ...).

- The 1C and 3C formats are designed for serial link (for C24 modules).

- The 3E format is designed for Ethernet (for E71 modules).

- But the driver allows to use all these formats on both interfaces. For example, the "RS232/Ethernet" converter can be used and use the 1C format for communication via Ethernet.

- The PROMOTIC application is the Master (it means that it initiates the data transfer) from this communication point of view.

- The driver is incorporated into the PROMOTIC system by means of the PmaComm object.
The driver supports the usage of both PmaCommMsg and PmaCommGroup objects. For common case of the data transfer, it is better to use the PmaCommGroup object.
For easy integration of this driver into the application it is handy to use: Preconfigurations in group "Mitsubishi"

- This is a network communication, it means that one PmaComm object can communicate with multiple devices (the protocol supports multiple device addressing).

List of data areas (devices) supported by the driver:

X-Input	Bit device	The address in ItemId is entered in hexadecimal.
Y-Output	Bit device	The address in ItemId is entered in hexadecimal.
M-Internal Relay	Bit device
L-Latch Relay	Bit device
S-Step Relay	Bit device
B-Link Relay	Bit device	The address in ItemId is entered in hexadecimal.
F-Annunciator	Bit device
D-Data register	Word device
W-Link register	Word device	The address in ItemId is entered in hexadecimal.
R-File register	Word device
TS-Timer (contact)	Bit device
TC-Timer (coil)	Bit device
TN-Timer (current value)	Word device
CS-Counter (contact)	Bit device
CC-Counter (coil)	Bit device
CN-Counter (current value)	Word device
SM-Special Relay	Bit device
SD-Special register	Word device

Recommended values of the PmaComm object parameters:

Baud rate	19200 Bd
Number data bits	8 / 7 (depends on the PLC setting)
Parity	NO / EVEN
Number of stop bits	1
Number of repeats after unsuccessful transmission	0
Timeout between receiving 2 characters	100 ms
Delay between receive-send	0 ms
RTS flow control	log.1
DTR flow control	log.1

Recommended values for the Ethernet-client parameters:

TCP/UDP remote port number	The configured value must correspond with setting in the PLC device (on the communication card or in the converter). It is the port on the PLC side.
TCP/UDP local port number	TODO In the PLC device it is also possible to set the client side port - i.e. on the PROMOTIC application side. TODO
Ethernet transfer type	TCP. It is also possible to choose UDP if it is configured in the PLC device, the communicaton card or in the converter.

Description and recommended values for the Protocol parameters:

Protocol format	Specifies the structure of the protocol. Depends on the PLC type and the settings (e.g. depends on setting the MODE switch on AJ71C24 communication module). 3E/ASCII = Q/L series ethernet (3E compatible), ASCII Format - The protocol for Ethernet for PLC devices of the Q and L series. It is a modification of the "ASCII code" (the modification of the "binary code" has not been implemented in the driver). 3C/CF1 = Q series serial (3C compatible), Control Format 1 - The protocol for serial link for PLC devices of the Q C24 series. It is the basic (recommended) mode and there are three derived submodes. 3C/CF2 = Q series serial (3C compatible), Control Format 2 (Format 1 with block num added) - Submode of the 3C/CF1 format, with added block number. 3C/CF3 = Q series serial (3C compatible), Control Format 3 (Format 1 with STX+ETX added) - Submode of the 3C/CF1 format, where the protocol starts with the STX (=2) character and ends with the ETX (=3) character. 3C/CF4 = Q series serial (3C compatible), Control Format 4 (Format 1 with CR+LF added) - Submode of the 3C/CF1 format, where the two CR+LF characters are placed at the end of each message. 1C/CF1 = A series (1C compatible), Control Format 1 - Protocol for serial link for PLC devices of the A series, but also can be used for PLC devices of the Q series. It is the basic (recommended) mode and there are three derived submodes. 1C/CF2 = A series (1C compatible), Control Format 2 (Format 1 with block num added) - Submode of the 1C/CF1 format, with added block number. 1C/CF3 = A series (1C compatible), Control Format 3 (Format 1 with STX+ETX added) - Submode of the 1C/CF1 format, where the protocol starts with the STX (=2) character and ends with the ETX (=3) character. 1C/CF4 = A series (1C compatible), Control Format 4 (Format 1 with CR+LF added) - Submode of the 1C/CF1 format, where the two CR+LF characters are placed at the end of each message. A1E/ASCII = A series Ethernet ASCII (for A1SJ71E71 Ethernet interface module) - The protocol for Ethernet for PLC devices of the A series with additional communication module A1SJ71E71-B2/B5. The SW2 switch is in the ASCII protocol syntax position. A1E/BIN = A series Ethernet Binary (for A1SJ71E71 Ethernet interface module) - The protocol for Ethernet for PLC devices of the FX series with integrated Ethernet port and PLCs of the A series with additional communication module A1SJ71E71-B2/B5. In the PLC device the Communication Data Code switch (or SW2 switch on modules) must be switched to binary protocol syntax position.
Message Wait Time	0 ms. Only if the protocol format is set to 1C or A1E. Value specifies generating delay time in response transmission from the PLC device. This value designates the minimum time that PLC must wait before sending a result after receiving a command from PROMOTIC. The value is in the range from 0 to 150 ms.
Response receipt timeout	500 ms. Only for serial link. The time (in milliseconds) the driver is waiting for the response on sending the message. If no response comes during this time, then the transmission of the message is terminated (the onEndOfTransfer event is triggered with error 24 or 66).
CheckSum enabled	No. Only if the protocol format is set to 1C or 3C. (depends on SW21 switch setting on AJ71C24 communication module)

The communication description by means of the PmaCommGroup object

The PmaCommGroup objects can be used for this driver. For usual data transmissions it is more favourable than using the PmaCommMsg object.
The variables in the PmaCommGroup object (or even better the variables in the PmaData object with ExtComm data extension) can be of arbitrary number, type and order. The driver uses optimized internal communication messages for reading the data from the device.
All variables are read (if the "Data refresh enabled" configurator is checked). On writing into the variable, only the single variable is sent into the device (if the "Auto send on writing to item" configurator is checked).

Description of the "ItemId" configurator:
ItemId is the text identifier of the item that is used for addressing the item in the device. The "ItemId" configurator tells the driver how to receive or send the item value.
The text can be either written manually, or it can be assembled in the window opened by the button to the right of the configurator.
Macro expression can be used for input (it is evaluated after the application is launched).
The ItemId identifier may look like for example "X.1f9.W", where:

X = Data area type. See the data area types listed in the table above.

1f9 = The data area address (for some areas is entered in decimal and for others in hexadecimal). For bit areas the bit address is always used (not only for the b data type, but also for W, I, etc.).

W = Data type (b=Bit, W=Word unsigned, I=Word signed, L=DWord signed, R=Real).

Description of the "PmaCommGroup > Parameters > Special Parameters" configurator:

CPU	Only if the protocol format is set to 1C. Processor type of the PLC device. ACPU AnCPU
Destination station address	The standard value is 0. Specifies the number of the station in the network.
Destination I/O address	Only if the protocol format is set to 3E. The standard value is 03FF hexa, i.e. 1023 in decimal. This number, multiplied by 16 specifies the basic I/O signal address.
CPU monitoring timer	Only if the protocol format is set to 3E. Specifies the wait time from when the Q E71 series (after receiving a request from the PROMOTIC application) outputs a read/write request to the PLC CPU till when the request is returned. 0 - Waits unifinitely 1 - 65535 - Wait time (unit is 250 ms)
Max.read of BIT device points in BIT units	256 (64 for A1E/BIN interface modul). The number of bit values (read from the "Bit device" areas, for example X,Y ...), that can be transmitted simultaneously in one message. Depends on the PLC type, but all PLCs can transmitt at least 256 bit values. It is used for variables, that read from the "Bit device" of the b=Bit data type.
Max.read of BIT device points in WORD units	64. The number of Word (2-Byte) values (read from the "Bit device" areas, for example X, Y ...), that can be transmitted simultaneously in one message. Depends on the PLC type, but all PLCs can transmitt at least 64 Word values (i.e. 64*16=1024 bit values). It is used for variables, that read from the "Bit device" of the data type: W=Word unsigned, I=Word signed, L=DWord signed or R=Real.
Max.read of WORD device points in WORD units	512. The number of Word (2-Byte) values (read from the "Word device", for example D, W, TN ...), that can be transmitted simultaneously in one message. Depends on the PLC type, but all PLCs can transmitt at least 512 values.

The communication description by means of the PmaCommMsg object

The PmaCommMsg object can be used for special communications, that cannot be executed by the PmaCommGroup object. For example when reading the data in precisely specified order is required.

Description of the "PmaCommMsg > Parameters > Message parameters" configurator:

CPU	Only if the protocol format is set to 1C. Processor type of the PLC device. ACPU AnCPU
Device	Data area type. See the data area types listed in the table above.
Data type	Bit - Only for data of the "Bit device" type. In the PROMOTIC application represented by the Boolean data type. Word unsigned - For data of "Word device" and "Bit device" type. In the PROMOTIC application represented by the Long data type. Word signed - For data of "Word device" and "Bit device" type. In the PROMOTIC application represented by the Integer data type. DWord signed - For data of "Word device" and "Bit device" type. In the PROMOTIC application represented by the Long data type. Real - For data of "Word device" and "Bit device" type. In the PROMOTIC application represented by the Single data type.
Command	Command type. Batch Read - batch reading the data from the PLC device Batch Write - batch data writing into the PLC device
Number of Points	The number of (read or write) data items.
Address in Data-Write	Only if the protocol format is set to 1C. Here you can specify, whether the data address is to be entered here or in the variable on the "Data-sent" tab. The recommended way is to enter the address into the variable on the tab because there it can modified dynamically even when the application is running (and therefore this configurator is not available for newer protocols).