Automated programming system for industrial control using area-model

A development tool for creating control programs executable on an industrial controller to control a controlled process, the development tool implemented on an electronic computer and comprising:

• an area-model developer generating an area-model representing physical equipment and phases of operation of the physical equipment used in the controlled process, the area-model linking phases of operation to the physical equipment in a hierarchy;
• a library providing a plurality of program fragments executable on the industrial controller to perform the phases of operation, the program fragments having control variables representing physical inputs or physical outputs communicating with the controlled process;
• and
• a program integration wizard receiving the area-model and the library and accepting input from a user to match program fragments from the library to phases of operation of particular equipment in the area-model to produce the control program and upon the matching to uniquely denote the control variables of all program fragments of the control program according to the hierarchy.