What is a linked Group object ?

Definition

A linked Group object is a member of a family of linked Group objects. The family consists of any number of Group objects which you want to be able to update simultaneously and dynamically. The functionality allows you to update the properties of existing objects and to add new objects to the Groups in the family.

The family consists of a parent Group from which any number of child Groups can be created. When you make a change in the parent Group, the change can be distributed to all the child Groups.

 

Scenarios for use

Many scenarios are possible, but here’s a typical example:

 

  1. Create a basis diagram where all objects follow the same name convention, for example, PST01-<object name>. The convention will allow us to replace PST01 with PST02, PST03, etc. as we create the child Groups.
  2. Include all the objects in the parent Group and set up the appropriate name and PLC address substitution rules.
  3. Export the parent Group to a Configuration Group File (.cgf).
  4. Import the .cgf file into either a new diagram or onto the same diagram (using the “Reusable diagram” functionality). You can even import the file into another configuration.
  5. Import the .cgf file as many times as the number of child Groups you want.
  6. Create a new object on the basis diagram, for example, PST01-q3 and include it in the parent Group.
  7. Re-import the child Groups, thus updating them with the new object from the parent Group. The new object is, of course, renamed according to the name and PLC address substitution resulting in, for example, PST02-q3, PST03-q3, PST04-q3, etc.

 

Graphical overview

The above scenario is illustrated in the graphic below. The object PST01-q3 is created in the parent Group and then re-imported into the two child Groups.

images\Parent_and_Child.gif