Getting Started With The NT2S-SF126B-E

OMRON Helpsheets
Getting started with the NT2S-SF126B-E
Introduction
This helpsheet is aimed at getting you started with the basics of programming the NT2S-SF126B-E, a simple
yet highly functional 2-line programmable display/data entry unit designed for use with Omron PLC’s.
As this helpsheet focuses on basic programming, it is assumed that the reader is reasonably familiar with
Omron PLC’s, how to connect the NT2S-SF126B-E to these PLC’s, and is familiar with Microsoft Windows
(the environment within which the NT2ST software operates). This helpsheet refers to NT2ST version 1.3A.
NT2ST Software overview

It is recommended that programming steps be performed by accessing the Windows menu items at the top
of the program window. If it is enable, deactivate the Tool Station (the Desktop cartoon image) by selecting
Options…Tool Station. The tool station should disappear. Select Help at any point within NT2ST to view
context sensitive help information. The help document will provide a more thorough explanation than this
document will for most functions.
Step 1 – Create a new project

Select Project…New, then select the NT2S-SF126B-E and the PLC model you are using:
Step 2 – Project setup

Select Edit…Setup:
The Setup dialog is used to configure

various NT2S parameters. Generally, there
is no need to change the default settings.
The only parameters that need to be set by
the user are Power up screen number and
the function key password settings:
STR This setting tells the NT2S which Tag (and so which PLC address) to reference for
the Screen Trigger Register. The default Tag is “Screen Trigger Reg” and is
addressed to PLC word DM0000.
Power Up Screen Enter the screen number for the screen that should appear at system start-up. This
screen number is only referenced internally from the NT2S and is not written down to
the STR in the PLC.
Serial Port settings Set the serial port parameters for serial printer connection. Serial port setting apply
only to the NT2S to printer setup and do not affect PC to NT2S communications.
This document produced by Omron Electronics Ltd. www.omron.co.uk Omron Europe website - manuals and
Document reference : NT2S-001, version 1, 18.10.2002 help on the web: www.eu.omron.com Page 1 of 7
OMRON Helpsheets
Step 3 – Tag database

The very next step, and central to all functions, is to define the Tag database. The Tag database is a list of
names (tags) that reference PLC addresses (registers=words and coils=bits). When programming screens,
reference is made to this Tag database, and you can choose to reference the Tags either by name or PLC
address. Tags can always be edited or modified later in the project. Select Edit…Tag database:
By default, one Tag is predefined – the Screen Trigger Register at PLC address DM0000. This address can
be changed if desired. To enter new tags, click on the New button. The dialogue then expands:
Tag type (Coil=PLC bit,

Register=PLC word)
PLC word address Add Tag,

close this
dialogue
PLC bit address (for

Coil-type Tags only) Add Tag,
prompt for
another
From this dialogue it should be reasonably obvious how this works, and how to create the Tags. For the sake
of example, create one register-type Tag and one coil-type Tag so you can use these in a screen defined
next.
OMRON Helpsheets
Step 4 – Creating the Screens

To launch the screen editor, select Edit…Screens. This will show a list of screens defined. Naturally, none
are defined for a new project, so click on the New screen button to create one:
3 different types of screens can be selected from the New Screen dialogue - Normal, Special, and Function.
Choose a screen type, enter a screen number, and select OK to launch the Editing Screen dialogue.
Normal screen type

Normal screens will make up 90% of all project screens. This type can be used for text message display,
scrolling text messages, display of coil (i.e. PLC bit) status, display of register (i.e. PLC word) values, and
function key control. The function keys, in red below, can be programmed uniquely for each normal screen:
The text window in the upper left corner represents the NT2S display. For fixed text, simply enter the text you
nd
want in this window. To display text on the 2 line, pad the end of the first line out with spaces:
Enter characters on the top line until the cursor is just

past the end of the line:
Type any character on the keyboard to start the

second line:
OMRON Helpsheets
Some Normal screen settings include:
Display Half Set display for ALL, TOP, or BOTTOM. This is primarily used with scrolling messages. If ALL
is selected, the scrolling rolls in from the bottom right and then pauses on the top line as the
message continues to scroll in on the bottom. If TOP is selected the message forms a
continuous scroll across the top line. Likewise for the BOTTOM setting.
Scroll Set to NO, SLOW, MEDIUM, FAST, this activates scrolling messages. Scrolling messages
cannot display imbedded coil or register values. During NT2S operation, scrolling messages
cannot be interrupted. The screen cannot be changed until the entire scrolling message has
been displayed.
Flash Selection box that causes the NT2S message to blink.
Print Selection box that allows the NT2S screen data to print out from the top serial port.
Min Time A minimum time can be assigned to assure an operator can view the screen. If a number is
entered in this field, screens will display for the specified minimum time. This is useful when
displaying chained messages, confirming function key action, or displaying alarm/error
messages.
Chained to If a screen number is placed in this box, the “chained to” screen will be displayed after this
one. You can the have the “chained to” screen chained to another, and so on. The screens in
a “chain” will each display for the specified time in the Min Time box.
Embed Bit This button launches an editing window where text is assigned to coil values. In the example
Text shown to the right, the status of a PLC bit referred to by a Tag called “Test bit” will be
displayed as “Running” when ON, and “Stopped” when OFF. The embedded text will appear
on the NT2S display at the position of the cursor in the text window described previously.
Multiple Bit Text elements can be placed on a single NT2S screen. The program will allow up
to 32 single character bit text messages per screen. It is also possible to have one of the
states, On or Off, to have no text displayed by simply using spaces.
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Embed This button launches an editing window for specifying numeric data display. This editing
Register window allows the selection of data Tag, type, and format. Probably the most common data
type with an Omron PLC will be BCD. The example below will display the value of a PLC word
referred to by a tag called “Test reg” as a 4-digit BCD number in the format ###.#. So, if the
PLC word contained the value 1234, the display would show 123.4.
Keys for The buttons shown in the lower right-hand side of the screen dialog are for editing the function
Screen keys for that screen. This is considered as local programming for function keys, effective only
for the current screen. Global programming must be performed by creating a Function Key
screen, or by selecting Edit…Function Keys. Double-click on the appropriate key to program
it. Basically, you program the key to perform an action on a register or bit Tag, such as set it a
value, or increment/decrement it by a constant value. Once chosen, one of the following
Editing Key screens will be displayed – the dialogue box on the left below will be displayed if a
register Tag is chosen in the register list box. Choosing a coil Tag will display dialogue box on
the right. Most operations should be self-explanatory – the “Hold Off” and “Hold On”
operations will turn the coil off/on for as long as the key is pressed:
OMRON Helpsheets
Special screen type

Special screens are used to enter
register (i.e. PLC word) values or set
digital states. When creating a Special
screen, the first screen to be
displayed will be the Edit Action field
dialogue (shown right). Operations
can be performed on register or coil
Tags, although it would be normal to
use Special screens to change
register values only, as function keys
on a Normal screen can be used for
changing coil states.
Edit One Word Assign a value to the specified PLC register using the calculator-style keypad. Values
are actually updated in the PLC when the Enter key is pressed.
Unsigned Integer Sends a specified unsigned integer constant value (0-65535) to the specified tag.
HEX constant Sends a specified HEX constant value (0-FFFF) to the specified tag.
Binary constant Sends a specified Binary constant value to the specified tag.
BCD constant Sends a specified BCD constant value (0-9999) to the specified tag.
Add constant Add an unsigned integer constant value (0-65535) to the specified tag.
Subtract constant Subtract an unsigned integer constant (0-65535) value from the specified tag.
After selecting OK on the Edit Action Field screen, the Editing Screen dialogue will appear. Enter any fixed
text (the example shows “Target=” as fixed text), then insert the Action Field on to the NT2S screen by
clicking on the Action field here button:
OMRON Helpsheets
Function screen type

Function screens allow function keys to be defined globally. Function key screens, which can be created for
each key, have the screen numbers Fxxxx1. A pop-up message can be programmed to appear when the
function key is pressed – if this is left blank then no message will be displayed and the key will simply carry
out the function assigned to it. The programming of these Global function keys can be overridden by local
function key programming. You can also get to the Editing Key dialogue by clicking on Edit…Function keys.
Programming begins by clicking on the function key that requires programming. Configure the action of the
function key by clicking on Perform action on… button. Once the action is set, you may choose to enter text
in the text window at the upper left. As mentioned earlier, if text is entered here, a message will be displayed
when that function key is pressed. If the field is left blank, the screen will not change from the current screen.
Bit controlled text, and register information can be placed on the function key pop-up screen using the
Embed Bit Text and Embed Register
buttons. Select the Accept changes to key
button when finished programming. Select
another function key number to edit, or
select the Close button.
When utilizing the pop-up window feature for

the global function keys, it is necessary to
enter a minimum time for the screen to
display. If this is not done, then the screen
will appear to quickly to read. Follow the
instructions below for editing a Function Key
screen to gain access to this setting.
To get to the main function key editing dialogue, launch the screen list by selecting Edit…Screens, then
double-click on the appropriate function key screen:

Getting Started With The NT2S-SF126B-E

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OMRON Helpsheets

Getting started with the NT2S-SF126B-E

NT2ST Software overview

Step 1 – Create a new project

Step 2 – Project setup

The Setup dialog is used to configure

Step 3 – Tag database

Tag type (Coil=PLC bit,

PLC word address Add Tag,

PLC bit address (for

Step 4 – Creating the Screens

Normal screen type

Enter characters on the top line until the cursor is just

Type any character on the keyboard to start the

Flash Selection box that causes the NT2S message to blink.

Special screen type

Function screen type

When utilizing the pop-up window feature for

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