Creation of KNX group objects

Attention

This information refers to Automation Builder as of version 2.2.0.

The data exchange with the KNX bus is done via KNX group objects.

Double-click node “KNX” in the device tree “click General click Add”.

The window Communication object appears.
Enter your properties:
- Group Object Number:
  
  The number of the KNX Group Object must match within the controller. It is displayed in the ETS and influences the display order in the ETS and the Automation Builder.
- Type:
  
  Selection of the communication direction.
  - Input means that the controller receives values from the KNX bus.
  - Output means that the controller sends values to the KNX bus.
- Data Point Type:
  
  Specification of the KNX data point type (DPT) of the Group Object. This determines the memory size, scaling and unit. For further information see the KNX Standard.
- Group Object Name:
  
  The name of the KNX Group Object. It is freely selectable and is displayed in the ETS under the field name.
- Group Object Function:
  
  The name of the function of the Group Object. It is freely selectable and is displayed in the ETS under the field Function.

Based on this selection, the flags of the KNX Group Object are set accordingly in the ETS.

You can use the [Export CSV...] button in the “General” tab menu bar to display the list of KNX group objects in a spreadsheet program such as Excel and edit and extend it flexibly. Then you can import them again via [Import CSV].

After you have created all the required KNX group objects, export them using the [Export to ETS] button. This exported file contains the configuration of the KNX group objects of the PLC and is imported by ETS for linking to other KNX devices. If you have not yet created project information under main menu “Project Project Information”, the default values will be used during the export.

To use these KNX group objects in your application program, you must assign them with IEC61131-3 variables. This additional abstraction layer of an additional variable allows you to create modular automation programs that are independent of the used bus system or input / output modules.

The assignment is possible either via the parameter page “KNX I/O Mapping” or “I/O mapping list”. Both editors offer the same function in different representations.

On the KNX I/O Mapping page, the KNX variables are shown hierarchically. Each KNX Group Object consists of several channels with additional information. These differ depending on whether it is an input or an output.

The view is structured as follows:

Variable:

Enter the name of the IEC 61131-3 variable that you want to assign to this channel (KNX Group Object).
Mapping:

Shows if the channel is already linked
Channel:

Name of the Channel (Channel name)
Address:

The memory address under which the information is stored in the memory of the PLC. Inputs start with %I and outputs start with %Q.
Type:

Specification of the IEC 61131-3 variable type
Default Value:

The value used after starting the controller.
- At a KNX Group Object input, this value is used by the automation program until a value has been received from the KNX bus.
- At a KNX Group Object output, this value is sent to the bus when the controller is started.
Unit:

Specification of the KNX data point type (DPT)
Description:

Note text

A KNX Group Object “input” consists of a status and a control part:

The Channel name of the status part consists of: Object Number + Object Name + Object Function and include the following informations:

UpdateFlag:

This status flag is set to the value “true” for one cycle as soon as a new KNX telegram has been received. Even if the value of the telegram does not differ from the previous one.
ValueChanged:

This status flag is set to the value “true” as soon as a new KNX telegram has been received and the value differs from the previous one.
ValueValid:

This status flag is set to the value “true” as soon as a KNX telegram has been received for the first time after the controller has been started.
WatchdogTimeout:

As of Automation Builder 2.2.1 it will be possible to define a Watchdog Timeout for each input object. If a timeout occur this flag will be set to the value “true” for one cycle.
Value:

The current value of the KNX Group Object received from the KNX bus.

The Channel name of the control part consists of: “Control” + Object Number + Object Name + Object Function and include the following control possibilities:

Reset status flags:

When this flag is set from “false” to “true” by the automation program then the above-mentioned status flags of the KNX Group Object are reset to the value “false”.
Send value read:

When this flag is set from “false” to “true” by the automation program, a ValueRead telegram is sent to the KNX bus. This causes the KNX remote device to send back its current value.

A KNX Group Object “output” is represented as follows:

The Channel name of the Group Object consists of: Object Number + Object Name + Object Function

Trigger Output:

When this flag is set from “false” to “true” by the automation program, the current value is sent immediately to the KNX bus. The sending conditions that are may be activated in the ETS (send on change and cyclic sending) will be restarted
Disable Output:

As long this flag is set to “true” by the automation program, the sending conditions send on change and cyclic sending in the ETS are deactivated.
Value:

The current value of the KNX Group Object that is sent to the KNX bus.

The permanently defined Program LED Status represent the function as known in other KNX devices, showing the status of the programming LED.