A virtual function block can be used in one of two modes:
- input: inputs a value in the PLC processing logic through MQTT.
- output: outputs a value from the PLC processing logic through MQTT.
INPUT(S)
- IN: datatype STRING, input for the value that should be published through MQTT, provision this input when using the virtual function block in output mode.
OUTPUT(S)
- OUT: datatype STRING, output for the value that is received through the MQTT subscription. provision this output in other processing logic when using the virtual function block in input mode.
METHOD(S)
-
ConfigureFunctionBlockAsVirtualInput: configures the behaviour of the function block as a virtual input using the parameters below:
DefaultValue
: datatype STRING, value to set at startup if default value at startup behavior is configured.SetDefaultValueStartup
: datatype BOOL, set to TRUE to set the DefaultValue at PLC startup.PublishAtStartup
: datatype BOOL, set to TRUE to get an MQTT publish message of the virtual input value at PLC startup.UsePersistentAtStartup
: datatype BOOL, set to TRUE to use persistence to maintain the virtual input value through power cycles.ConfirmReceival
: datatype BOOL, set to TRUE to get an MQTT publish message when the value is updated.
-
ConfigureFunctionBlockAsVirtualOutput: configures the behaviour of the function block as a virtual output using the parameters below:
PublishAtStartup
: datatype BOOL, set to TRUE to get an MQTT publish message of the virtual output value at PLC startup.
-
InitMQTT: enables MQTT events on the FB, an overview of the parameters:
MQTTPublishPrefix
: datatype POINTER TO STRING, pointer to the MQTT publish prefix that should be used for publishing any messages/events for this FB. Suffix is automatically set to FB name.MQTTSubscribePrefix
: datatype POINTER TO STRING, pointer to the MQTT subscribe prefix that should be used for publishing any messages/events to this FB. Suffix is automatically set to FB name.pMqttPublishQueue
: datatype POINTER TO FB_MqttPublishQueue, pointer to the MQTT queue to publish messages.pMqttCallbackCollector
: datatype SD_MQTT.CallbackCollector, pointer to the MQTT callback collector, required to register FB for subscriptions on a certain topic.MqttQos
: datatype SD_MQTT.QoS, configures the MQTT Qos for the function block published messages.MqttRetain
: datatype BOOL, configures the MQTT retain flag for the function block published messages.
-
PublishReceived: callback method called by the callbackcollector when a message is received on the subscribed topic by the callbackcollector.
-
SetValue: method to set the function block virtual value, only works if the function block is in output mode.
Requires method call InitMQTT
to enable MQTT capabilities. Only applicable if the function block is configured in output mode, outputting the value on input IN
or set using the SetValue method through MQTT.
Event | Description | MQTT payload | QoS | Retain flag | Published on startup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
input changes: IN | A change is detected on input IN . |
TRUE/FALSE |
configured in method call InitMQTT |
configured in method call InitMQTT |
configured in method call InitMQTT |
MQTT publish topic is a concatination of the publish prefix and the function block name.
Requires method call InitMQTT
to enable MQTT capabilities. Only applicable is the function block is configured in input mode which will allow the input of a value to the PLC through MQTT which will be exposed on the function block OUT
output.
Commands are executed by the FB if the topic MQTTSubscribeTopic
matches the MQTT topic and the payload exists in the table below.
Command | Description | expected payload | Additional notes |
---|---|---|---|
Change output to string value | Request to change output to a specific string value. | a string value |
MQTT subscription topic is a concatenation of the subscribe prefix variable and the function block name.
- variables initiation:
MqttPubVirtualPrefix :STRING(100) := 'Devices/PLC/House/Out/Virtuals/';
MqttSubVirtualPrefix :STRING(100) := 'Devices/PLC/House/In/Virtuals/';
FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001 :FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_MQTT;
- Init MQTT method call (called once during startup):
FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001.InitMqtt(MQTTPublishPrefix:= ADR(MqttPubVirtualPrefix),
MQTTSubscribePrefix:= ADR(MqttSubVirtualPrefix),
pMqttPublishQueue := ADR(MqttVariables.fbMqttPublishQueue),
pMqttCallbackCollector := ADR(MqttVariables.collector_FB_VIRTUAL_MQTT),
MqttQos:=SD_MQTT.QoS.ExactlyOnce,
MqttRetain:=FALSE
);
The MQTT publish topic in this code example will be Devices/PLC/House/Out/Virtuals/FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001
(MQTTPubSwitchPrefix variable + function block name). The subscription topic will be Devices/PLC/House/In/Virtuals/FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001
(MQTTSubSwitchPrefix variable + function block name).
- Configuring the function block as a virtual input (called once during startup):
FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001.ConfigureFunctionBlockAsVirtualInput(DefaultValue:='helloworld',
SetDefaultValueStartup:=TRUE,
PublishAtStartup:=TRUE,
UsePersistentAtStartup:=FALSE,
ConfirmReceival:=TRUE
);
- Calling the virtual function block to allow processing (cyclic):
FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001();
- Using the virtual function block value when using input mode (cyclic):
X:=FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001.OUT;
A value X in the PLC is set to the OUT value of the virtual function block, the OUT value being controlled through MQTT.
- Using the virtual function block value when using output mode (cyclic):
FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001.IN:=X;
A value X in the PLC is set to the IN value of the virtual function block, the IN value being published through MQTT.
When using the function block as a virtual output use the YAML code below in your MQTT Sensor config to integrate with Home Assistant:
mqtt:
sensor:
- name: "FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001"
state_topic: "Devices/PLC/House/Out/Virtuals/FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001"
qos: 2
availability_topic: "Devices/PLC/House/availability"
payload_available: "online"
payload_not_available: "offline"
When using the function block as a virtual input use the YAML code below in your Input Text config to integrate with Home Assistant:
input_text:
fb_virtual_string_001:
name: friendly name
initial: Hello PLC!
Configure the automation below in your automations.yaml file to publish any changes on the Input Text entity on a MQTT topic:
- id: fb_virtual_string_001-to-mqtt
alias: FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001 value changed
trigger:
platform: state
entity_id: input_text.fb_virtual_string_001
action:
service: mqtt.publish
data_template:
topic: 'Devices/PLC/House/In/Virtuals/FB_VIRTUAL_STRING_001'
retain: true
payload: "{{ states('input_text.fb_virtual_string_001') | string }}"