Step 2.1. Enter Virtual Point Basic General Properties

The virtual point's data type choices are on the General tab of the Point Properties dialog box. The data type choices available to you for a virtual point depend on the type you selected when you created it.

Basic general specifications include the following:

  • Description
  • Data type
  • Elements (in an array)
  • Read only
1 Description

(Optional) Enter a Description up to 80 characters.

This description:

  • Displays when you position the cursor over the point in the Workbench
  • Can be entered in the Point browser when you want to find and display or use the point
2 Data type

Select one Data Type from the drop down list that appears for the point type you selected:

The Data Types are:

  • Analog virtual points.
  • Boolean virtual points.
  • Text virtual points.

Analog virtual points

Data Type Description
DINT 4 byte (32 bit) ranging from -2,147,483,648 to + 2,147,483,647.
INT Integers ranging from -32,768 to +32,767.
QINT 8-byte (64-bit) signed integer ranging from -9223372036854775808 to + -9223372036854775808.
REAL Floating-point numbers.
SINT Integers ranging from -128 to +127.
UDINT Unsigned integers ranging from 0 to 4,294,967,295.
UINT Unsigned integers ranging from 0 to 65,535.
UQINT 8-byte (64-bit) unsigned integer ranging from 0 to +18446744073709551615.
USINT Unsigned integers ranging from 0 to 255.

Boolean virtual points

Data Type Description
BOOL A one digit Boolean point with a value of 0 or 1.
BYTE 8-bits of data
WORD 16 bits of data
DWORD 32 bits of data

Text device points

Data Type Description
STRING  A one character alphanumeric
STRING_20  A 20 character alphanumeric string
STRING_8 An 8character alphanumeric string
STRING_80  An 80 character alphanumeric string
3 Elements (in an Array)

CIMPLICITY software treats all points as array points.

You can define single points and array points. Using array points is one way to provide more efficient data collection. An array point can represent one instance of several process variables, or several instances of one process variable.

Enter:

A 1 The array is a single element array
B 2 or more The array is a multiple element array.
Important: Array points are not supported by all CIMPLICITY software functions. Support for array points is as follows:
CimEdit Objects can be configured to display array elements and use them for movement or animation
CimView Array elements can be displayed, and can control movement or animation.
Alarm Viewer Alarms cannot be generated for array points.
Database Logger Individual array elements can be logged.
4 Read only
Option Description
Clear The point can be used as a set point.
Checked The point cannot be used as a set point.