FBxDesigner
D301861X012
FBxDesigner™
Emerson’s FBxDesigner™ software provides a fully
compliant IEC 61131-3 programming environment that
enables you to configure both continuous and discrete
control applications for FB3000 Series RTUs. The advantages
of IEC 61131-3 have made it the international standard
programming environment currently employed by most
PLC manufacturers. Because of its standardization and
widespread acceptance, IEC 61131-3 enables you to choose
the most appropriate controller hardware system without
being required to learn a new programming language for
each platform. Further, the flexibility of IEC 61131-3 allows
each manufacturer to augment the basic set of functions
with product-specific higher-level functions to take
maximum advantage of each product’s distinguishing
capabilities, yet strictly adhere to the IEC 61131-3
standards.
Operating from a Microsoft® Windows® platform,
FBxDesigner offers standard functionality (zooming,
scrolling, customizable toolbars, drag & drop operations,
shortcut manager, and dockable windows), enabling you to
create, edit, compile, debug, document, and print both
simple and complex process control applications.
FBxDesigner
Remote Automation Solutions
Product Data Sheet
July 2019
FBxDesigner includes an extensive library of more than 300
basic IEC 61131-3 functions and function blocks common to
many IEC 61131-3 based products. These include:
▪ Flip-flops, counters, and timers
▪ Ladder diagram functions (such as coils and contacts)
▪ Numerical, arithmetic, and Boolean functions (such as
sine, cosine, add, subtract, square root, and, and or)
▪ Selection and comparison (such as Min, Max, Greater
than, Equal, and Less than)
▪ Type conversions (such as Integer-to-Real and
Boolean-to-Word)
FBxRTU Function Block Library
In addition to the basic functions and function blocks,
FBxDesigner brings the benefit of over 20 years of SCADA
and plant control experience in Emerson’s FBxRTU function
block library. The library includes over 60 function blocks
FBxDesigner July 2019

applicable for use in oil and gas, water and wastewater, and
process measurement and control applications. Further, the
FBxRTU library is designed to take full advantage of the
significant features Emerson’s FB3000 RTU offers. This
library includes function blocks for:
▪ PID & Lead/Lag
▪ Alarm and Event Log Management
▪ File handling
▪ System Database Interaction
Even without previous programming experience, your
engineers can appreciate the ability of the FBxRTU function
blocks to perform the most common process measurement
and control applications. Function Block Diagram
Function Block Diagram programs also allow the use of
Language Support Ladder Logic in the same program. With FBxDesigner, you
While many IEC 61131-3 programming tools offer only can even define Ladder objects as inputs to function block
Ladder Diagram or a limited set of languages, FBxDesigner objects and as outputs from function block objects. You can
supports all five languages available in the IEC 61131-3 also add user-defined function blocks to FBD programs.
standard. The first three languages (Ladder Diagram,
Sequential Function Chart (SFC) allows you to program
Function Block Diagram, and Sequential Function Chart) are
sequential operations graphically, as might occur in a flow
graphical programming languages, and the remaining two
chart. The steps represent the actions, which can be
(Structured Text and Instruction List) are text-based
performed either in sequence or in parallel, and the
languages. You can use any one, two, or all five languages to
transitions represent the conditions that must be completed
implement a process control scheme.
to advance to the next step.
Ladder Diagram (LD) employs the elements common to
traditional PLCs, such as normally open & normally closed
contacts and coils. Ladder is typically used for sequential
logic, interlocks, and on/off control applications.

Sequential Function Chart

Ladder Diagram
Function Block Diagram (FBD) is a graphical programming
language that resembles the P&I drawings or circuit
diagrams commonly found in process control applications.
The graphical representation makes analog control loops
visually easy to understand and auto-documents the control
scheme.
Structured Text (ST) is a high-level text-based language
containing all the elements of a modern programming
language. In addition to providing a convenient method of
including the library of function blocks and creating custom
function blocks, it allows IF-THEN-ELSE and other
conditional branching statements.

Structured Text

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Instruction List (IL) is also a text-based language similar to

assembly. It consists of a series of instructions, where each
instruction (depending on type) may be augmented with
modifiers and operands. This is particularly suitable for small
and straightforward programs.
Instruction List
User Defined Function Blocks –
Online Program Debug Tools
Regardless of your level of expertise, there is always a need
for powerful software debug tools. FBxDesigner offers a
comprehensive set of online tools to help you test, analyze,
and troubleshoot your application program. The program
can display real-time data values and program execution for
all five languages.
The Variables Cross Reference list contains all variables,
function blocks, actions, transitions, steps, jumps, labels,
and connectors which are used within the current project. It
is a helpful tool for debugging and fault isolation.
The Logic Analyzer is a powerful tool for recording values of
variables over a certain time interval. They are displayed
graphically in the Logic Analyzer window. All recorded
values and settings of the Logic Analyzer are stored
automatically with the project.
The Watch Window can be used to collect variables from
different worksheets to gain an understanding about how
these variables work together. In addition you can use the
watch window to force and overwrite variables.

Reusable Applications Breakpoint, Single Step and Single Cycle program execution
provides a step-and-trace function that is extremely useful
With FBxDesigner, once you create and test a program for program debugging. These functions allow you to
containing one or more functions or function blocks, you continue the program execution line-by-line after reaching a
can save it to a user-defined function block library. You can breakpoint.
then reuse this new user-defined function block (object) as
often as necessary and even transport it to other projects. Specifications
The user-defined function blocks have re-assignable inputs
and outputs, allowing each instance of the function block to ▪ CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 or similar (Minimum)
have different variables attached to the terminals. Each new ▪ Operating System: Windows 7, Windows 10
project can draw on previous development to significantly ▪ RAM: 8 GB
reduce implementation time. This object-oriented ▪ Disk Space: 1 GB free space
programming concept is an extremely valuable tool in
▪ Comm: 10/100 MHz Ethernet
application development.
▪ Display: 1280 x 800 or better resolution
Multitasking Operation
FBxDesigner runs in a multitasking environment in which
you can schedule and prioritize program execution. While
FBxDesigner scan times are extremely fast, multitasking
capability gives you greater control over critical task
execution.

Program Security
For program security, you can zip the entire program (with
all associated variables and graphics) into a single project
file. You can then download this project file, store it in
FB3000 memory, and later upload it for recovery or
modification by the FBxDesigner software. All variable
names, graphics, comments, and page layouts are uploaded
with the application program so that the uploaded project is
identical to the original downloaded file. In addition, the
zipped project source is automatically downloaded along
with the application executable to ensure synchronization
between the source and the executing application program.

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FBxRTU Function Blocks

Function Block Description

Differentiator Calculates the rate of change for an analog signal.

FileClose Closes a file stream previously opened with FileOpen.
FileOpen Opens a file stream.
FileRead Reads binary data from a file previously opened with FileOpen.
FileReadStr Reads text from a file previously opened with FileOpen.
FileWrite Writes binary data to a file previously opened with FileOpen.
FileWriteStr Writes text to a file previously opened with FileOpen.
GetByTag_DINT Reads parameters from the database of type double signed integer (32 bit).
GetByTag_INT Reads parameters from the database of type signed integer (16 bit).
GetByTag_LINT Reads parameters from the database of type long signed integer (64 bit).
GetByTag_LREAL Reads parameters from the database of type double precision floating point (64 bit).
GetByTag_REAL Reads parameters from the database of type floating point (32 bit).
GetByTag_SINT Reads parameters from the database of type signed small integer (8 bit).
GetByTag_STRING Reads parameters from the database of type string.
GetByTag_UDINT Reads parameters from the database of type double unsigned integer (32 bit).
GetByTag_UINT Reads parameters from the database of type unsigned integer (16 bit).
GetByTag_ULINT Reads parameters from the database of type long long unsigned integer (64 bit).
GetByTag_USINT Reads parameters from the database of type unsigned small integer (8 bit).
GetInstance Retrieves all parameters from a database object group at once.
GetParamAttributes Retrieves the various attributes of an individual parameter in the database.
GetParamDataType Reads the data type of a parameter in the database.
GetParamsByTag Allows for reading of multiple database parameters at once.
GetTime Reads the time of the device as a value in seconds since January 1, 2000.
IsNaN_REAL Detects if a 32-bit floating point number is not a number (NaN).
IsNaN_LREAL Detects if a 64-bit double precision floating point number is not a number (NaN).
IsUserObject Determines if an object reference is for an application or firmware.
IsUserParam Determines if a parameter reference is for an application or firmware.
LeadLag Adds controlled delay effects to an analog signal.
LicenseCheckIn Checks a license previously checked out back into the system.
LicenseCheckOut Checks out a license to an application.
LicenseGetAssigned Determines the number of licenses that have been checked out to the application.
LicenseGetAvailable Determines the total number of licenses for an application available to be checked out.
LogEvent Writes an event to the event log.
LogTextAlarm Writes an alarm to the alarm log.
LogValueAlarm Writes an alarm to the alarm log, indicating that alarm’s value and/or associated
parameter.
ParamNumToTag Retrieves a parameter reference (tag) from a given object reference and parameter
number.
Pid3Term Provides a process control algorithm which allows proportional (P), proportional/integral
(PI) or proportional/integral/derivative (PID) modes.

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Function Block Description

SetByTag_DINT Writes parameters to the database of type double signed integer (32 bit).
SetByTag_INT Writes parameters to the database of type signed integer (16 bit).
SetByTag_LINT Writes parameters to the database of type long signed integer (64 bit).
SetByTag_LREAL Writes parameters to the database of type double precision floating point (64 bit).
SetByTag_REAL Writes parameters to the database of type floating point (32 bit).
SetByTag_SINT Writes parameters to the database of type short signed integer (8 bit).
SetByTag_STRING Writes parameters to the database of type string.
SetByTag_UDINT Writes parameters to the database of type double unsigned integer (32 bit).
SetByTag_UINT Writes parameters to the database of type unsigned integer (16 bit).
SetByTag_USINT Writes parameters to the database of type short unsigned integer (8 bit).
SetParamByTagUnits_DINT Writes parameters (with their units) to the database of type double signed integer (32
bit).
SetParamByTagUnits_INT Writes parameters (with their units) to the database of type signed integer (16 bit).
SetParamByTagUnits_LINT Writes parameters (with their units) to the database of type long signed integer (64 bit).
SetParamByTagUnits_LREAL Writes parameters (with their units) to the database of type double floating point (64 bit).
SetParamByTagUnits_REAL Writes parameters (with their units) to the database of type floating point (32 bit).
SetParamByTagUnits_SINT Writes parameters (with their units) to the database of type short signed integer (8 bit).
SetParamByTagUnits_UDINT Writes parameters (with their units) to the database of type double unsigned integer (32
bit).
SetParamByTagUnits_UINT Writes parameters (with their units) to the database of type unsigned integer (16 bit).
SetParamByTagUnits_USINT Writes parameters (with their units) to the database of type short unsigned integer (8
bit).
SetInstance Applies updates to all parameters for a particular database object group at once.
SetMeasurementType Sets the measurement type attribute of database parameters.
SetMeasurementUnit Sets the selected unit attribute of database parameters.
SetParamsByTag Allows for setting multiple database parameters at once.
SetParamUpdate Sets the parameter attribute which defines a parameter’s behavior when an update or
change occurs.
SetTime Sets the time on the device.
SetTimeByDateTime Sets the time on the device by individual components (year, month, day, hour, etc).
VLimit Transfers the value of Input to Output1.

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FBxDesigner July 2019

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July 2019 FBxDesigner

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visit www.Emerson.com/SupportNet.
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Emerson Automation Solutions
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www.Emerson.com/RemoteAutomation
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