Structure data types

Structure data types are always user-defined data types. In contrast to the simple data types that only allow a flat variable list, they allow to build a structure. This structure can even be nested and so it can become very complex.

If a structure variable is needed, a structure data type has to be created first. A structure consists of a structure name and structure elements. Structure elements can be simple data types or other structures. Structure elements can also be arrays with up to three dimensions.

Example for a structure datatype:

Two structures are displayed in the illustration above.

The structure Controller consists of two elements: Engine speed set and Engine speed actual.

The structure element Engine speed actual is linked to the datatype INT, i.e. all properties of the datatype INT are inherited to this structure element.
The structure element Engine speed set is embedded into the structure. So all properties of this datatype can be configured in the structure element itself.

Generally, it is possible to switch between embedded and linked mode at any time. There is a property for this setting.

Attention

If an embedded structure element is changed to a linked structure element, all properties defined in the element itself are lost!

The structure Engine consists of the following structure elements: Activity Input, Charging Rate, Voltage, Temperature[3] and Engine Speed Control.

The structure element Activity Input is linked to the pre-defined data type UINT - all properties are taken from UINT.
The structure element Charging Rate has the embedded data type INT - all properties can be defined in the structure element.
The structure element Voltage is linked to the user-defined data type Voltage. The element gets all properties from this data type.
The structure element Temperature is a one-dimensional array of three elements of the pre-defined data type SINT.
The structure element Engine Speed Control is linked to the structure Controller mentioned above. Structures in a structure cannot be embedded. They are always linked to the original structure. The structure contains two further structure elements: Engine Speed Set and Engine Speed Actual, which get their properties from the original structure.