Signal port mapping
Dashboard overview
With the Port mapping dashboard it is possible to view and edit the port connections between controllers and resources, that are connected electrically in the layout. With this the signal mapping between the components can be defined identical to the situation as in reality.
The dashboard has the following content:
| Left side | |
 | List of all controllers in the active layout. The selected controller for which the ports are displayed, is highlighted. With the Search option on top of this section, a string can be inserted to search for a matching controller(s). |
| Right side | |
 | On top the selector is placed to display a certain part of the controller ports. It can be switched between the logical in-ports and out-ports and the resource joint-ports. |
| Below the port selector the mapping overview is displayed of available and in-use ports with their connections. |
 |  |  | ||
| In-ports | Out-ports | Joint ports |
For a better graphical overview of the connected resources and the port connections, each resource frame can be grabbed with the left mouse button and dragged to another location inside this area of the dashboard.
Controller logical ports
The number of logical ports on the controller is defined in the Port configuration in the controller properties dashboard.
A port has 4 attributes.
| Attribute | Description | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The name of the port. | Editable. |
| Number | The number of the port. | Editable. |
| Address | The address of the port. | Automatically distributed and defined by the port configuration. |
| Type | The type of the port. | By default of type Boolean. The symbol represents the type. |
The port type can be changed. On the specific port the Pie menu can be called to change the type of the port.
byte (8-bit)
32-bit float
32-bit
integer
16-bit
integer
When changing the type, a group is created at that port location with a number of ports that the type uses. The change is marked at the starting port, as in the example below.
The Edit button opens the port group. Changes to the attributes can be made here.
On the Edit button the Pie menu can be called to remove the group and revert the port to the default boolean type.
Changing the port type can only be done when the port is not connected already and when the controller does have enough free ports to be assigned to the new type. When changing is not possible, a warning message appears.
Resource logical ports
The resource frame displays its available logical ports and their attributes. These attributes cannot be modified here.
Controller joint ports
The number of joint ports on the controller is defined in the Port configuration in the controller properties dashboard.
A port has 4 attributes.
| Attribute | Description | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Name | The name of the port. | Editable. At initial connection the resource joint names are taken over. |
| Group | The group number of the port. | Editable. Per connected resource the system increases the group number at initial connection. |
| Joint index | The index number of the port. | Automatically distributed at initial connection. Editable. |
| Type | The type of the port. | By default of type float (real). |
Resource joint ports
The resource frame displays its available joint ports and their attributes. These attributes cannot be modified.
Signal connections
Hovering the mouse over a controller or resource indicates and highlights each port with a green circle.
The circle can be picked and dragged. A connection curve is drawn. Then releasing it on the opposite port will create the connection. It is obvious that only ports of the same type can be connected.
This sequence of picking, dragging and dropping works in both directions..
On the controller side the Pie menu can be called on the port. It offers a command to create multiple connections in a single step.
On the resource side the Pie menu can be called on a port to build a connection.
Connections can be selected to modify them. Markers are shown and can be dragged to redraw the connection curve.
Connections can be deleted with the Delete command in the Pie menu on the connection curve, or by picking the connection and pressing the 
button on the keyboard. Calling the Pie menu on the controller or resource and use the Delete command will remove all the connections of the component.
Information about the connection will be displayed when hovering over it.
Port connections can only be edited (or removed) in the active layout in which they have been created. The connection shows a dashed curve when it is no part of the active layout.
Import & Export
At the left top side of the dashboard the Import and Export command buttons are present.
The Export commands writes all port information, not the connections, to an XML file. A standard window appears to pick the folder and set the name of the file.
The Import command reads a corresponding XML file with port information to apply that information on the current layout.
