Control system configurator and methods with edit selection

Apparatus for configuring a control system, comprising

• a plurality of objects instantiated in a store coupled to a digital data processor that represent entities in any of the control system, a system controlled thereby, a control level hierarchy, and the apparatus for configuring the control system,
• at least a selected one of the plurality of objects (the “selected object”) having one or more parameters identifying characteristics of the respective entity represented by the selected object,
• at least a selected parameter having one or more attributes having respective values,
• at least the selected object including an edit control type identifier,
• an editor, coupled to the store and executing on the digital data processor, that presents at least a selected attribute of the selected parameter of the selected object for editing with an edit control that is based on the edit control type identifier.

Method for configuring a control system, comprising

• maintaining a plurality of objects instantiated in a store coupled to a digital data processor that represent entities in any of the control system, a system controlled thereby, a control level hierarchy, and an apparatus executing the method for configuring the control system,
• the maintaining step including maintaining with at least a selected one of the plurality of objects (the “selected object”) one or more parameters identifying characteristics of the respective entity represented by the selected object,
• at least a selected parameter having one or more attributes having respective values,
• at least the selected object including an edit control type identifier,
• presenting at least a selected attribute of the selected parameter of the selected object for editing with an edit control that is based on the edit control type identifier.