Multi-language generation of control program for an industrial controller

A method of bilingually developing a source program and generating a control program therefrom utilizing a computer system, the control program being executable by a controller to control the operation of one or more devices, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving one or more instructions of the source program in a high-level, text-based, non-machine language;
• converting the one or more instructions of the source program into first corresponding instructions in a ladder-based language;
• editing the first corresponding instructions of the source program in the ladder-based language;
• converting the first corresponding instructions, as edited, into second corresponding instructions in the high-level text-based language;
• editing the second corresponding instructions of the source program in the high-level text-based language to form an edited source program;
• and
• compiling the edited source program to form the control program.

A system for generating a control program utilizing a computer system, the control program executable by a controller to control the operation of a one or more devices, the system comprising:

• receiving means for receiving one or more instructions of a source program in a high-level text-based language;
• conversion means, in communication with the receiving means, for converting at least one of the one or more instructions of the source program in the high-level text-based language into first corresponding instructions in a ladder-based language;
• a user-operated ladder-language editor, in communication with the conversion means, for editing the first corresponding instructions of the source program in the ladder-based language to form an edited source program;
• and
• a compiler which compiles the edited source program to form the control program.

A system for developing a source program bilingually and generating a control program therefrom utilizing a computer system, the control program being executable by a controller to control the operation of one or more devices, the system comprising:

• receiving means for receiving one or more instructions of the source program in a high-level, text-based, non-machine language;
• first conversion means, in communication with the receiving means, for converting the one or more instructions of the source program into first corresponding instructions in a ladder-based language;
• a user-operated ladder-language editor, in communication with the first conversion means, for editing the first corresponding instructions of the source program in the ladder-based language;
• second conversion means, in communication with the user-operated ladder-language editor, for converting the first corresponding instructions, as edited, into second corresponding instructions in the high-level text-based language;
• a user-operated text editor, in communication with the second conversion means, for editing the second corresponding instructions of the source program in the high-level text-based language to form an edited source program;
• and
• a compiler which compiles the edited source program to form the control program.