08-01-2013, 10:50 AM
Installing RSLogix Emulate software
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This chapter explains how to install and start RSLogix Emulate software. This
chapter includes information on the following:
system requirements
installation procedures
starting the software
System requirements
To effectively use RSLogix Emulate, your personal computer must meet the
following hardware and software requirements:
Hardware requirements
a Pentium™ or Pentium-compatible microprocessor
256 MB of RAM
10 MB of available hard disk space
a CD-ROM drive
a 3.5-inch, 1.4 MB disk drive
Software requirements
The operating system must be Microsoft Windows NT® 4.0 with Service
Pack 6 or greater, Microsoft Windows 2000®, Microsoft Windows XP®,
Microsoft Windows ME®, or Microsoft Windows 98®.
RSLinx™ communication software, version 2.00.118 or later.
Troubleshooting installation
If RSLogix Emulate does not start up or run properly, keep the following in
mind:
Do you have the correct version of RSLinx installed? The software requires
RSLinx version 2.00.118 or later.
Does your computer have enough memory? Running RSLogix Emulate
requires a minimum of 256 MB of RAM (or more, depending on how many
other applications you wish to run at the same time).
What RSLogix Emulate does
RSLogix Emulate is a troubleshooting and debugging tool that can emulate
most operations of Allen-Bradley PLC-5 and SLC-500 family processors. It
executes your ladder logic programs in your computer, updating your
programs' data tables, allowing you to approximate what is going to happen
when you download your programs to physical PLC-5 processors.
Simulating I/O
There's something missing when RSLogix Emulate runs a processor's program:
the I/O. Since your computer will not be connected to your I/O modules,
RSLogix Emulate uses debug files to simulate the inputs for your ladder logic
program.
Debug files are sections of ladder logic that you program to simulate your
process' inputs. The ladder logic in a debug file can be edited like any other
program file. For more information about using debug files, see page 11.
RSLogix Emulate has some powerful troubleshooting features. You can:
scan your ladder logic continuously, one rung at a time, or one program scan
at a time
restrict the program scan to a block of rungs that you specify
set breakpoints in your ladder logic to stop execution when a specified event
occurs (e.g., when an important value goes out of range), freezing the
conditions that caused the breakpoint to trigger
Channel 0 emulation
RSLogix Emulate also allows you to emulate Channel 0 on your processor (for
those projects that use Enhanced PLC-5s or the SLC-5/03 and -5/04). This
feature is handy for troubleshooting programs that interface with serial devices
(e.g., bar code readers, scales, terminals, etc.).
What happens when RSLogix Emulate runs
RSLogix Emulate uses your computer's CPU to scan the rungs in your ladder
program. The rungs in your program read inputs from and write outputs to the
data table stored offline with your ladder logic project. The offline data table is
also active during emulation.
RSLogix Emulate reads the ladder program and data table into your computer's
memory before executing the ladder logic. The files on your disk are not
affected by the emulator.
The basic order of events during emulation is no different from when a
processor runs a project. RSLogix Emulate scans your rungs, pauses to update
the output and input image tables, and scans your rungs again. (During normal
operation, RSLogix Emulate repeats the program scan until you tell it to stop.
There are other scanning modes you can use.