Method and apparatus for developing application software for automation systems

摘要

An interactive graphical application program combines a graphical command language and a control program to enable a user to graphically select and generate an automation sequence to control an automation application. A computer system stores a first program containing flow sequences and a set of controls representing possible hardware for use in the automation application. Structure is graphically displayed depicting each sequence step and transition to the next step in accordance with user selections. The first program is automatically linked with the controls to enable an application software program to be generated in response to user commands. Any step and transition may be defined as a scripting language step or transition or a mathematical express variable. Each transition may also be defined as an object from an external source outside of the application program.