You're reading from PLCs for Beginners An introductory guide to building robust PLC programs with structured text

Product type Paperback

Published in May 2024

Publisher Packt

ISBN-13 9781803230931

Length 380 pages

Edition 1st Edition

Languages

PLC programming

Tools

PLC

Concepts

PLC Programming

Author (1):

M. T. White

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Table of Contents (25) Chapters

Preface

1. Part 1: Basics of Computer Science for PLC Programmers FREE CHAPTER

2. Chapter 1: Computer Science Versus Automation Programming

3. Chapter 2: PLC Components – Integrating PLCs with Other Modules

4. Chapter 3: The Basics of Programming

5. Chapter 4: Unleashing Computer Memory

6. Chapter 5: Designing Programs – Unleashing Pseudocode and Flowcharts

7. Chapter 6: Boolean Algebra

8. Part 2: Introduction to Structured Text Programming

9. Chapter 7: Unlocking the Power of ST

10. Chapter 8: Exploring Variables and Tags

11. Chapter 9: Performing Calculations in Structured Text

12. Chapter 10: Unleashing Built-In Function Blocks

13. Chapter 11: Unlocking the Power of Flow Control

14. Chapter 12: Unlocking Advanced Control Statements

15. Chapter 13: Implementing Tight Loops

16. Part 3: Algorithms, AI, Security, and More

17. Chapter 14: Sorting with Loops

18. Chapter 15: Secure PLC Programming – Stopping Cyberthreats

19. Chapter 16: Troubleshooting PLCs – Fixing Issues

20. Chapter 17: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI)

21. Chapter 18: The Final Project – Programming a Simulated Robot

22. Assessments

23. Index

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Keywords

Every programming language has keywords. Keywords are reserved words for a programming language that performs certain tasks. For example, keywords are used to declare control statements, function blocks, functions, datatypes for tags, variable blocks, and so much more. In other words, keywords are commands. When a keyword is used, it will signal to the PLC to do something such as compare two numbers or create a variable.

Keywords cannot be used to name variables, functions, function blocks, or anything else; as such, they are referred to as reserved words. Keywords in a decent programming editor will change color to let you know that you are using a reserved word. Keywords will vary greatly from language to language as well as their functionality.

Dos and don’ts of learning keywords and syntax

Keywords and syntax can pose a major pitfall to developing programmers. Many inexperienced developers feel they have to memorize a language’s syntax and keywords...