Emerson Exchange 365

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Conversion of Machine Edition Ladder Logic to a Readable Format

I currently have a simple, but large, Machine Edition ladder logic program and would like to convert this to a text description to form the basis of an FDS. Is there any mechanism to convert this program to an open electronic readable format, e.g. XML which I could then parse into text? I can’t see anything but perhaps I have missed something. Thanks.

• ladder
• Machine Edition
• PAC

karibi

• 17 Jul 2023 7:35 AM
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4 Replies

• Steve Ward

  

  • 17 Jul 2023 7:45 AM

  PAC Machine Edition will let you select, copy and paste ladder into a text document. The pasted text consists of the mnemonics that form the logic.
  
  You can also export logic blocks to a file, the underlying format is XML but this might not be easily readable and this format is not documented.
  
  There's an idea to try a generative AI to summarise the logic but current models probably don't work.
  
  Another suggestion is to look at the machine or process and define this as the FDS. The FDS is more about the machine or process than how the application is implemented - implementation is defined in a Software Design Specification,

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• karibi

  

  • 17 Jul 2023 8:54 AM

  In reply to Steve Ward:

  Thank you, very helpful response.

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• Martin Rooke

  

  • 19 Jul 2023 4:37 AM

  In reply to Steve Ward:

  Steve Ward, I also wondered if generative AI might be useful here. Interested to hear what success (or otherwise) others have had with this approach.

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• Vikram Pungaliya (Prime Controls)

  

  • 19 Jul 2023 4:56 AM

  In reply to Martin Rooke:

  I remember GE 9030 supported this optional language - state logic language, which was closest to what a process person would love to implement, no much knowledge of ladder or sequential function chart required....

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