System and method for function block execution order generation

In a controller configuration system, a computer-implemented method for generating a control routine from a function block diagram having a plurality of function blocks, the function blocks each have one or more inputs, the method comprising:

• determining input data availability for the inputs of the plurality of function blocks by assuming data availability for a first input of a first function block based in part upon determining that the first input is associated with an input reference;
• automatically assigning next available execution order numbers to respective function blocks in the function block diagram based at least in part upon determining whether data is available for inputs of the first function block;
• determining that an unnecessary feedback loop exists in the function block diagram upon detecting absence of a feedback wire in the feedback loop;
• reporting an error to a user upon determining that an unnecessary feedback loop exists in the function block diagram;
• and
• generating a control routine from the function block diagram according to the execution order.

A computer-implemented execution order generator for generating an execution order for a function block diagram having a plurality of function blocks, the function blocks each have one or more inputs, the execution order generator comprising:

• means for determining input data availability of at least a first function block upon assigning an execution order number to a second function block;
• means for automatically assigning an execution order number to each of a plurality of function blocks based at least in part upon whether the input data source is part of a feedback loop;
• means for determining whether an unnecessary feedback loop exists in the function block diagram;
• and
• means for reporting an error to a user upon determining that an unnecessary feedback loop exists in the function block diagram.