Technical Bulletin Issue Date October 4, 2010 LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool...2 Key Concepts... 3 GPI Overview...3 GPI System Requirements... 3 GPI User Interface... 4 Detailed Procedures... 5 Installing Device Configuration Plug-ins... 5 Registering the Device Configuration Plug-ins... 6 Adding a Device to the Network Database... 7 2010 Johnson Controls, Inc. www.johnsoncontrols.com Code No. LIT-12011449
LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool Technical Bulletin 2 LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool The Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) tool makes Building Automation System (BAS) programming effortless by providing you with the building blocks necessary to meet your needs. By dragging and dropping a few block objects from the GPI tool s vast library and linking them with a simple click, select, and release, you can quickly assemble common and customized programs. The GPI tool is designed to program free programmable controllers and also supports the configuration of a line of battery-less wireless devices, as well as smart sensors (a series of communicating sensors with Liquid Crystal Display [LCD]). Developed with Microsoft Windows operating system User Interface (UI) standards using Visual Basic.NET, the GPI tool provides users an intuitive programming environment. With a dynamic range of menu windows that can be moved, docked and hidden, you can make this tool your own. The programming area is where you can illustrate their code, and when several codes need to be managed, new program drawing sheets can always be created and layered relative to each other. For additional information about GPI and GPI functionalities, please refer to the GPI online help.
3 LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool Technical Bulletin Key Concepts GPI Overview The GPI s block object toolbox supplies you with an ample collection of components and functions that can be used to create simple and more complex control sequences. If you wish to design innovative codes, you can easily create your own custom blocks. Block objects not only make coding clean and easy, but they also reduce basic errors that may arise when writing code conventionally. Furthermore, the GPI tool s smart code compiling, error-list pane and live debugger enable users to execute their codes, view input/output values and troubleshoot errors in real time. The GPI tool supports powerful features that allow for lean, efficient and cost effective system design. Fan-in bindings help reduce programming time by comparing several variables at once. Schedules can be used to save energy and resources and can also be bound to receive information from a building automation system for optimum start sequencing. Many other features, including a real-time clock, persistent values, and Proportional plus Integral plus Derivative (PID) loops, make the GPI tool a complete BAS programming package. GPI System Requirements Table 1 details the GPI system requirements. Table 1: GPI System Requirements Operating System Processor Memory Hard Drive Display Accessories Network Interfaces Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, Vista Business or Vista Ultimate operating systems or Microsoft Windows XP operating system Vista: 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) 2GHz P4 or AMD equivalent recommended XP: 1GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) 1.5Ghz P4 or AMD equivalent recommended Vista: 1 GB RAM 2 GB RAM recommended XP: 1 GB RAM 2 GB RAM recommended Vista: 500 MB hard disk space 1 GB recommended XP: 500 MB minimum free disk space 1 GB recommended Vista: 128 MB video card XP: Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) 800 x 600 minimum. 1024 x 768 recommended CD-ROM drive, mouse or other Windows operating system compatible pointing devices LONWORKS network interface required
LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool Technical Bulletin 4 GPI User Interface The GPI UI was developed to follow Windows UI standards. The UI employs a number of easy-to-use and dynamic utility panes and toolbars. The utility panes can be moved, docked and/or hidden to suit the user s needs. With such versatility, the user can truly configure the GPI tool to make the tool their own. Figure 1: The GPI User Interface (UI) Programming Sheet Properties Pane Main Menu Bar and Toolbars Toolbox Pane Error Pane Statistics Pane Project Explorer Pane
5 LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool Technical Bulletin Detailed Procedures Installing Device Configuration Plug-ins To install the device configuration plug-ins, follow the steps below: 1. Close any programs that are running on the computer. 2. Double-click the device configuration plug-in setup executable file. The installation welcome screen opens (Figure 2). 3. Click Next to continue. Figure 2: Plug-In installation welcome window 4. Follow the on-screen instructions for any subsequent prompts that may appear (depending on whether this is a new installation of the plug-in or an update). 5. Click Finish to complete the installation. Note: When you update a previous version of the plug-in, you are given the option to reboot the computer now or later. We highly recommend you reboot the computer immediately and not run other software/plug-in setups before rebooting.
LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool Technical Bulletin 6 Registering the Device Configuration Plug-ins Registering the device configuration plug-in adds the device template to the active network database. The device template is used for device commissioning, and the plug-in is used for device configuration. This section describes how to register the device configuration plug-in using LN-Builder 3.2. If an alternate LNS network management tool is used please refer to its documentation for a description on how to register a plug-in. To register device configuration plug-ins do the following: 1. Open a network database in LN-Builder 3.2 by double-clicking the network name in the Tree-view Pane. The Register Plug-Ins window automatically opens (Figure 3). If you checked the Skip this window on next startup option the Register Plug-Ins window does not open automatically. If the Register Plug-Ins window does not open automatically, right-click on a subsystem and select Plug-Ins (SubSystem) > Register. 2. Select the newly installed device configuration plug-ins and click Add. Figure 3: Register Plug-Ins 3. The selected plug-ins appear in the To Register box. Click OK to complete the registration process.
7 LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool Technical Bulletin 4. The registration process may take several minutes depending on the number of plug-ins being registered and the speed of the computer. Adding a Device to the Network Database In the Tree-view pane of LN-Builder 3.2: 1. Right-click the desired subsystem where a device is to be added. 2. Select Add > Device. The Add Device window appears (Figure 4). Figure 4: Add Device - Commission 3. Type in the desired name for the device in the Device field. 4. Enable the Commission Device option if the device is already physically connected to the network. Otherwise leave the option disabled. You may enter a description for the device in the Description field if you choose 5. Click Next.
LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool Technical Bulletin 8 Figure 5: Add Device Device Channel and Location 6. Specify the Device Channel on which you want to install the device. 7. You may type in the device s location in the Location field if you choose. 8. Click Next. Figure 6: Add Device External Interface Definition and Application Image
9 LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool Technical Bulletin 8. Load the External Interface Definition from the device template by selecting the Load from template option and then selecting the appropriate template from the Template Name drop-down menu. 9. Load the Application Image into the device by selecting the Load Image option. LN-Builder 3.2 normally detects the Application Binary File (APB) that is compatible with the device template that was selected in step 10. Verify that the correct APB file was detected by examining the name and then click Next. If the device is not being immediately commissioned on the network (the Commission Device had been disabled; see step 4), the Load Image option appears grayed out. The APB file can be loaded later on once the device is attached to the network and it is ready to be commissioned. Figure 7: Add Device Ping Interval, Configuration Properties and Initial State 10. Set the Ping Interval to Longest (by default the interval is already set to Longest). 11. Under Configuration Properties select Default Values. 12. Set the Initial State to Online and then click Next.
LN Graphical Programming Interface (GPI) Tool Technical Bulletin 10 Figure 8: Add Device Device Identification Method 13. Configure the Device Identification Method using one of the following methods: a. If the device is already connected to the network and can be easily accessed, select the Service Pin method and then click Finish. You receive a prompt to press the service pin on the device. Press the service pin to commission the device and add it to the network database. b. If the device is not connected to the network but the Neuron ID (found on a sticker on the device) is available, select Manual Entry. Type in the device s Neuron ID in the Neuron Id column and then click Finish. LN-Builder 3.2 displays a warning if an improper APB file is trying to be loaded into the device. If the Program ID Check option has been disabled in the LN-Builder 3.2 Settings menu and the wrong APB file is loaded into the device, the Neuron chip in the controller may be damaged and it may become unstable. If the Service Pin method does not properly detect the device or if an incorrect APB file is loaded, the Memory Erase jumper can be used to erase the Neuron chip s memory and return it to an application-less state. Please refer to the device s Installation Instructions for more information. Building Efficiency 507 E. Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Metasys and Johnson Controls are registered trademarks of Johnson Controls, Inc. All other marks herein are the marks of their respective owners. 2010 Johnson Controls, Inc.