Multi-mode editor for configuring process control blocks including both logical functions and arithmetic computations

A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for providing a multi-mode editor that facilitates editing a LOGIC BLOCK object for use in a process control system, the computer executable instructions facilitating carrying out the steps of:

• providing, by the editor, a first LOGIC BLOCK editing mode wherein LOGIC BLOCK logic is represented by a graphical definition comprising instruction shapes and connections between the instruction shapes;
• providing, by the editor, a second LOGIC BLOCK editing mode wherein LOGIC BLOCK logic is represented by a text definition comprising lines of text instructions;
• switching, while a LOGIC BLOCK object is open in the editor, between the first and second LOGIC BLOCK editing modes, the switching comprising the sub-steps of:
• storing a first graphical representation and a first text representation of the LOGIC BLOCK logic;
• converting the first graphical representation to a second text representation of the LOGIC BLOCK logic;
• comparing the second text representation attributes with the first text representation attributes to confirm attributes did not change during said converting step;
• generating a second graphical representation from the first text representation of the LOGIC BLOCK logic;
• and
• performing a synchronization test that compares the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation.

A method for providing a multi-mode editor, via a computing system including a graphical display that facilitates editing a LOGIC BLOCK object for use in a process control system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing, by the editor, a first LOGIC BLOCK editing mode wherein LOGIC BLOCK logic is represented by a graphical definition comprising instruction shapes and connections between the instruction shapes;
• providing, by the editor, a second LOGIC BLOCK editing mode wherein LOGIC BLOCK logic is represented by a text definition comprising lines of text instructions;
• switching, while a LOGIC BLOCK object is open in the editor, between the first and second LOGIC BLOCK editing modes, the switching comprising the sub-steps of:
• storing a first graphical representation and a first text representation of the LOGIC BLOCK logic;
• converting the first graphical representation to a second text representation of the LOGIC BLOCK logic;
• comparing the second text representation attributes with the first text representation attributes to confirm attributes did not change during said converting step;
• generating a second graphical representation from the first text representation of the LOGIC BLOCK logic;
• and
• performing a synchronization test that compares the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation.

A workstation including thereon a physical computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for providing a multi-mode editor that facilitates editing a LOGIC BLOCK object for use in a process control system, the computer executable instructions facilitating carrying out the steps of:

• providing, by the editor, a first LOGIC BLOCK editing mode wherein LOGIC BLOCK logic is represented by a graphical definition comprising instruction shapes and connections between the instruction shapes, wherein said definition further comprises object attributes for process control;
• providing, by the editor, a second LOGIC BLOCK editing mode wherein LOGIC BLOCK logic is represented by a text definition comprising lines of text instructions, wherein said definition further comprises object attributes for process control;
• switching, while a LOGIC BLOCK object is open in the editor, between the first and second LOGIC BLOCK editing modes, the switching comprising the sub-steps of:
• storing a first graphical representation and a first text representation of the LOGIC BLOCK logic;
• converting the first graphical representation to a second text representation of the LOGIC BLOCK logic;
• comparing the second text representation attributes with the first text representation attributes to confirm attributes did not change during said converting step;
• generating a second graphical representation from the first text representation of the LOGIC BLOCK logic;
• and
• performing a synchronization test that compares the first graphical representation and the second graphical representation.