Step 3.1. Specify Initialization for Virtual Points

  • Analog or BOOLEAN point initialization.
  • Text point initialization.

Analog or Boolean point initialization

Options for analog or Boolean point initialization are as follows.

  • None
  • Initialized
  • Saved
  • Saved or Initialized
1 None

(Default) No reset/startup condition is defined.

2 Initialized

Requires an initial value.

An initial value is:

  • An integer
  • A constant value.

Each element in an array is initialized to the initial value.

Example

A UINT point:

  • Is an array with 4 elements.
  • Has an initial value of 1000.
  • Each element in the array is initialized to 1000.
3 Saved

The last saved value of the point when the project is stopped.

Note: When points are saved is specified in the Project Properties dialog box, Settings tab.

Choices for when to save the point are:

  • Every time a point changes.
  • When the project shuts down normally.
4 Saved or Initialized

The last saved value of the point if there is one; otherwise the constant entered in the Initial Value field.

Text point initialization

Options for text point initialization are as follows.

  • None
  • Initialized
  • Saved
  • Saved or Initialized
1 None

No reset/startup condition is defined.

2 Initialized

A constant value entered in the Initial Value field (C) is initialized.

Following are examples of an initial value based on the array type.

Array type Initial Value
Multi-character Each element in the array is initialized to the Initial Value.

Example

A String array:
  • Is an array of 4.
  • Has an Initial Value of ABCDEFGH.
  • Each element in the array is initialized to ABCDEFGH.
Single character Each element in the array is initialized with the corresponding character in the Initial Value field.

Example

A String array:
  • Is an array of 8.
  • Has an Initial Value of ABCDEFGH.
  • Sets STRING[0] to A
  • Sets STRING[1] to B, etc.
3 Saved

The last saved value of the point when the project starts.

Note: When points are saved is specified in the Project Properties dialog box, Settings tab.

Choices are:

  • Every time a point changes.
  • When the project shuts down normally.
4 Saved or Initialized

The last saved value of the point if there is one; otherwise the constant entered in the Initial Value field.

Important: When working with initialization values for string arrays, if:
  • Too many elements are given in Initial Value, the string truncates at the number of elements.
  • The Initial Value does not specify enough elements; the remaining elements of the string are initialized to the Null character.