OMRON NB-Designer OPERATION MANUAL (NB-series, 2020)

3 Functions of NB-Designer

Transport Font: In this mode, both Vector Font and Bitmap Font can be used, and the font size,

alignment method or color etc can be changed.

z Load Graphic

The

icon can be used to add the graphic when you create a new bitmap. For the creation of the

bitmap, refer to 3-5-6 Bitmap (Page 3-65).

z Screen Toolbar

[Add Screen]: To add the Edit Window

[Delete Screen]: To delete the current Edit Window

[Current Screen Property]: To display the Properties of the current Edit Window

[Previous Page]: The previous Edit Window

[Current Page]: The title of the current Edit Window

[Next Page]: The next Edit Window

[Magnify]: To magnify in the current Edit Window

[Zoom]: 100%, 200%, and 300% available

[Dwindle]: To dwindle the current Edit Window

[1:1]: The current Edit Window displayed in 100%

z Line Style Toolbar

They are used for the selection of line width

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

z System Toolbar

[Compile]: To only compile the parts with changes in the current project and to check whether there

is an error or not. The project must be compiled before the download or test. otherwise the

download or test will fail.

[Recompile]: To recompile the items in the current project

[Clear Compiled Result]: To clear the result of the current project

[Download]: To download the project into PT

[Transmission Setting]: To set the transmission method. Either of the Ethernet, USB port, or serial

port can be set.

[Offline test]: To perform offline test of the project

[Indirect Online test]: To perform online test of the project indirectly

[Direct Online test]: To perform online test of the project directly

[Decompile]: To decompile the project

Code Edit Toolbar

Macro

New

Bookmark

Variable Table

Next Bookmark

Delete Bookmark

Previous Bookmark

[New Bookmark]: To create a new bookmark

[Next Bookmark]: To check the next bookmark

[Previous Bookmark]: To check the previous bookmark

[Delete Bookmark]: To delete the bookmark

[Macro Variable Table]: To open or close the Macro Variable Table

Status Bar Toolbar

Displays the information such as the current mouse position, the width/height of the destination

object and editing state etc.

z Pattern Toolbar

Select one fill effect among various styles as above to set to the drawing components or Edit

Window.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

In order to set the fill effect to the displayed window, double-click the window and check “Use

Background Color” in the displayed “Screen Property”, as shown below.

Then select the pattern color and the background color as well as the fill effect you want, as shown

below.

In order to add fill effect to the shapes, select the shape to add fill effect and select the fill effect. The

procedure to set the fill effect is the same as the one for adding fill effect to the PT. But when setting

the fill effect to the components, [Pattern Color] is applied to the outline color and [Background color]

is applied to the component's color. The parameters set to the shape is reflected as below.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

3-2-4

Screen Menu

The corresponding contents in the [Screen] menu shown as below have been described in [3-2-3 View

Menu], here only the function of [Copy/Delete Screen] and [Save Screen Image] are described in

details.

z Copy/Delete Screen

Click [Screen]˘ [Copy/Delete Screen], and the following dialog box will be displayed.

z Operation Type

(1) Copy Screen

It can be one or more and its range is between 1 and 999.

• Copy Single Screen

When the number is 1, both the starting source screen ID and the starting destination screen ID

can be set, which means the screen and Properties of the source screen will be copied into the

destination screen.

If the destination screen doesn’t exist, the screen with a specified number will be created

automatically after the copy operation. And if the destination screen exists already, “Copy error: the

destination screen ID already exists!” will prompt.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

When the number is greater than 1, both the starting source screen ID and the starting destination

screen ID can be set, and the destination screen ID will increase automatically according to the

copied number in this case, which means the screen and Properties of the source screen will be

copied into the screens between the starting destination screen and the end destination screen

respectively.

• Copy Multi-Screens

When the number is 1, both the starting source screen ID, the end source screen ID and the

starting destination screen ID can be set, and the end destination screen ID will increase

automatically according to the number of the source screen, which means the screens and

properties of the screens between the starting source screen and the end source screen will be

copied in order into the screens between the starting destination screen and the end destination

screen respectively.

When the copy number is greater than 1, the starting source screen ID, the end source screen ID

and the starting destination screen ID can be set, and the end destination screen ID will increase

automatically according to the copied number and the number of the source screen, which means

the screens and properties of the screens between the starting source screen and the end source

screen will be copied in order and as specified number into the screens between the starting

destination screen and the end destination screen respectively.

• Copy and Paste to Other Project

Screens of a project can be copied and pasted to other project by specifying the project in [Project].

Copied screens are pasted to the destination project given the screen numbers which begin with

the next number of the last screen number.

Note The destination screen ID must be a new screen ID because the existing screen ID doesn’t support the

screen copy.

(2) Delete Screen

Supports single-screen deletion or multiple-screen deletion.

• Delete Single Screen

The starting screen ID can be set, which means to delete the screen with this ID.

• Delete Multi-Screens

Both the starting screen ID and the end screen ID can be set, which means to delete the screens

with the ID between the starting ID and the end ID.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

z Save Screen Image

Select a project data and open a screen to enable this function.

Click [Screen] - [Save Screen Image] , then the dialog box below appears to save the screen images.

z Screen Range

Specify the screen area to save to a file. Select [All] to save all screens. Click [Specify], then the field

[From] and [To] are enabled. Specify the range to save.

z Output Folder

Designate a folder to save the file. The folder where the project data is stored is specified by default.

A screen image data is saved as bitmap file to the designated folder.

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3-3

NB-Designer Software Window

NB-Designer has quite a few windows, which will be illustrated in this part.

3-3-1

Project Library Window

When starting the NB-Designer, you will see Project Library Window, Project File Window, and Project

Work Space shown as below. For the concept of the “screen”, the brief will be provided in 3-4 Screen

Concept (Page 3-47).

Project File Window

Project Library Window

Project Work Space

The Project Library Window contains: Connector, PT, PLC, Parts, Function Parts and Project

Database.

Connector: Serial Port, Ethernet

PT: NB3Q-TW00B, NB3Q-TW01B, NB5Q-TW00B, NB5Q-TW01B...

PLC: OMRON, SIEMENS, MITSUBISHI, Schneider…

Parts: Bit Button, Bit Switch, Word Lamp, Data Log, XY Graph, Number Input, Text Input…

Function Parts: Scale, Function Key, Alarm Display, Timer…

Project Database: Text Library, Variable Table, PLC Control…

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

Directions:

Connector

Just click “Serial Port”, and drag it to the Project Work Space.

Check your PT type, find and drag the PT with the same type in the “PT” to the Project Work

Space.

PLC

Check your PLC type, find and drag the PLC with the same type in the “PLC” to the Project

Work Space.

After finishing selection of the PLC, PT and Connector, carry out connection. The connection

method is as follows: move the locations of PT and PLC accordingly, or click one end of the

connection line and drag it to the vicinity of the COM port of the PLC or the PT, then bring the

connection port close to either end of the connection line, and a successful connection can be

completed.

Note If the PLC or PT is not dragged into the “Project Work Space”, both of the “Project File Window” and “Project

Work Space” will be empty, as shown below.

PT and Graphics

are empty

PT and PLC

is empty

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

Once the PLC and PT are dragged in, the “Project File Window” and “Project Work Space” will

be filled with appropriate content, as shown below:

PT with appropriate

contents

PT and PLC with

appropriate contents

Parts

These include various editing components, as shown below:

When a project is created, and the Edit Window is entered, it just needs to drag the required

components to the Edit Window.

As to the usage methods of the components, refer to 3-6 Parts (Page 3-82).

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

3-3-2

Project File Window

The Project File Window is intended for displaying information about the PT, Macro, Recipe and Vector

Graphic, etc. contained in a project. If this project uses 1 PT, only one “HMI0.whe” will appear below the

[PT]. if 3 PTs are involved, “HMI0.whe, HMI1.whe, HMI2.whe” will appear accordingly. The rest can be

deducted from this. See the following diagram.

By clicking the “+” or “-” symbol on the left of the icon, the folder tree can be unfolded or folded.

By double-clicking a specific file, the editing state can be entered.

Note The recipe file (.RCP) can only be imported and deleted, but not be edited in the Edit Window.

Graphics

The Graphics mainly indicates this project contains how many Vector Graphics and bitmaps. If a new

Vector Graphics or bitmap is created in this project, it will show up immediately here. If a created Vector

Graphics or bitmap is double-clicked, the screen will be switched to the graphics edit window

immediately. For Vector Graphics and bitmaps, refer to 3-5-5 Vector Graphic (Page 3-60) and 3-5-6

Bitmap (Page 3-65).

3-3-3

Project Work Space

The Project Work Space is mainly intended for displaying the structure of the project, and contains two

parts: PT and PLC, as shown below.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

And the schematic diagram is shown as below.

Part 0

Project Name

Screen 0

Part 1

HMI

HMI 0

Screen 1

Part n

PLC 0

Screen n

PLC

PLC 1

PLC n

z PT

It mainly displays (stores) the PT used in the project, each of which also has a subfolder. Every

folder stores its own structure.

z PLC

It mainly displays (stores) the number of PLC, PLC No. and Station No. addresses used in the

project.

Note Creating a new project for each PT is recommended.

z Tree View

All the components contained in each screen will be displayed here, and if there is no component in

a screen, nothing will appear below it.

By clicking the “+” or “-” symbol on the left of icon, the folder tree can be unfolded or folded. Directly

double-click the Screen or the component No. in the Screen to skip to the edit page involving the

component. When a Screen or component is selected, pressing the DELETE button can delete the

related screen or component.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

Explanation about the characters on the top of the PLC Property window.

The first digit indicates the PLC No. currently used.

The second digit indicates the Station No. of PLC currently used.

z Screens Preview

Click [Screens Preview] in the [Project Work Space] to display the preview of the corresponding

screen. This makes browsing the thumbnails quite conveniently.

z PLC and PT replacement

• Supporting PLC Model Replacement

Note PLC replacement must be carried out through the [Change PLC Model] option. If you do not use this

function and delete all the settings of PLC to reconnect with the new PLC, the PLC area is replaced with

all the local addresses of PT.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

It provides a parameter setting dialog box for the PLC to be replaced and other PLCs in the

navigation mode for the user to make replacement operation. Select a PLC and right-click it in the

Configuration and Setup Window to make the pull-down menu popup, and then click “Change PLC

Model”.

Then, the Change PLC Model dialog box will pop up, as shown below.

A dialog box as shown above will pop up automatically, and all the supported PLC names are

included in the pull-down list of the PLC names. When the user select a PLC, the memory address

types supported by this PLC will be added to the address type box. The default selections are LB &

LW, but the user can select different address types according to the specific PLC. After being

confirmed by the user, the PLC will be replaced, and the corresponding PLC memory address in the

project will also be replaced at the same time.

Note The function does not support the replacement from the unit type of the Ethernet connections to the unit type

of the serial connections.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

An example of setting addresses for [Current PLC] and [New PLC] are as follows.

• Supporting PT Model Replacement

Note PT replacement must be carried out through the [Change PT Model] option. If you do not use this

function and delete all the settings of PLC to reconnect with the new PLC, the PLC area is replaced with

all the local addresses of PT.

When the PT needs to be replaced, you can select the PT by right-clicking it in the Configuration

and Setup Window, and select “Change PT Model” in the pop-up menu.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

The following dialog box will pop up automatically.

Here, the name and descriptions of the Current PT cannot be altered, while the pull-down box of the

New PT lists all the supported [PT type], and the descriptions displayed at the lower part will be

updated automatically according to the type selected by the user. After being confirmed, the PT will be

replaced, and all the size of graphics in the PT will zoom automatically according to the resolution of the

screen.

After the PT is replaced, the original user edit screen will be adjusted by related scales according to the

difference of the resolution of various types. All the components with screen display will adjust

automatically. For example, all the components (such as the bitmaps, Vector Graphics, button and

lamp, etc.) with location and size adjustments can all change their sizes automatically. However, note

that there are a few exceptions: as the font size of text strings and label can’t be changed, the

components using text strings and label will be restricted to mainly display the text in the minimum

display area when size changes, especially when it becomes smaller as square components like the

Analog Meter change sizes in a “square” way, the changed sizes may disrupt the proportion among the

component sizes, therefore it requires a second fine-adjustment by the user.

By the [Special screen settings] in the dialog box, the special screen which will be replaced to Replace

PT is set. If the [Special screen settings] is not used, the special screen of the Current PT will continue

to be used.

If the resolutions of the Current PT and New PT are the same, no adjustment is required. But on the

contrary, if they are different, it will require the user to adjust the fonts and pictures to appropriate sizes.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

3-3-4

Output Window

The Output Window mainly displays compilation information of the project so that the user can precisely

pinpoint where errors lie, as shown below.

When the project is opened, the Output Window will display the loaded information of the project. when

the project is compiled, the Output Window will display the compilation process and error information.

z Clearance/Export of Message

The compiled information can be cleared or exported in the Output Window. Right-click the mouse

in the [Output Window], the following menu will pop up.

Clear Message: All the information in the Output Window will be removed.

Export Message: All the contents in the Output Window are exported to the folder which contains

the current project, forming a file named “log.txt”.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

3-3-5

Component List Window

If the [Component List Window] is selected from the [View] menu, the Component list window will pop

up.

This window displays all the component information used by the project, including PT No., Screen,

Component's Name, Read PLC, Read Address, Write Address, Functional Address etc. Double-click

an item to reveal the Properties of the selected component, and the Edit Window will skip to the screen

where this component locates.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

3-4

Screen Concept

3-4-1

Screen Types

The project of the NB-Designer is composed of multiple screens. There are 3 types of screen, i.e. Base

Screen, Common Sheet and Menu Screen. The Base Screen after its size is changed can also be used

as Pop-up Screen. All the screen can be used as the Sheet Screen.

Base Screen

This is the common-type screen. When Base Screen is switched by using “Screen switching”

command, the current screen will be cleared (All the screen rather than Common Sheet and Menu

Screen will be cleared.), and Base Screen to be switched to will be displayed in the current screen.

When the component in Base Screen calls the pop-up screens out, the original information in Base

Screen will be reserved, and the called pop-up screen will be attached to the current Base Screen.

The master-slave relationship is between Base Screen and all of related pop-up screens. When

Base Screen N is switched to Base Screen M, all of the sub-screens of Base Screen N will be

closed while Base Screen M and its sub-screens will be displayed. Base Screen must cover the

whole screen.

Menu Screen

Menu Screen is the screen called by pressing the button of Menu Screen while the task-bar is

displayed, and it will be always displayed in the screen until the operation button makes it hidden.

Therefore, it can be used to put screen-switching button or some other common components. The

default Menu Screen is Frame 2. When the other screen is set as Menu Screen, the size of that

screen must be same as that of Menu Screen.

Common Sheet

Common Sheet will always be displayed in the screen, and the components to be displayed forever

can be put in Common Sheet. In this way, you can see the state of this component or operate this

component at any time. The default Common Sheet is Frame 1. You can use [Change Common

Sheet] function key to switch the other screen as the current Common Sheet, but only one screen

can be used as the current Common Sheet.

Sheet Screen

3 Sheet Screens (max.) can be set for the screen in [Screen Property] dialog box. Sheet Screen is

generally used to put some common components such as background graphics, charts and titles

and so on for the multiple components. Each screen can be set as Sheet Screen.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

As shown above, Sheet Screen can be selected directly from the [Sheet Screen] option. Sheet

Screen is different from the general screen. The components in Sheet Screen will be inserted into

the general screen during the running, and in fact Sheet Screen isn’t displayed at all, but the display

and control of its components are similar to that of the components in the general screen.

z The Relationship of Screen

One screen can include Common Sheet, Base Screen and Menu Screen while one Common Sheet

or Base Screen can include many pop-up screens. And the relationship between them is shown as

below.

Screen

Base Screen

Menu Screen

Common Sheet

When the screen-switching command is executed, the PT will clear the current screen (the pop-up

screen attached on the current screen etc included) and switch to the screen to be displayed, but

Common Sheet will always be displayed in the screen. The original contents of Base Screen can’t

be changed by the pop-up screen that called by the direct screen or indirect screen, and the pop-up

screen is just attached to Base Screen. In addition, up to 3 sheet screens can be set for each screen

in screen property setup.

When one Base Screen (Screen No. is 0 or ranges from 10 to 32767) is called out, all the

components in this screen will be displayed in the PT. If Base Screen has the Sheet Screen, all the

components defined in its Sheet Screen will be displayed. All of the Touch Trigger components

(such as Bit Button, Function Key etc.) defined in the Sheet Screen are valid in the current screen. If

there are display components in Common Sheet, they will be displayed in the current screen. And

all the Touch Trigger components defined in Common Sheet are valid.

Each project includes 32768 screens (max.) (Base Screen, Common Sheet and Menu Screen etc

included), and only one screen can be used as Menu Screen. But you can use [Change Menu

Screen] function key to make the screen switch to the specified screen as Menu Screen. For details,

refer to 3-7-2 Function Key (Page 3-201).

Each new project has a default initial screen, and the default screen No. is 0 (If you want to change

it, you just need to make changes in [PT Property] in project editing screen.). The valid screen No.

ranges from 0 to 32767.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

The default Common Sheet and Menu Screen for the project are Frame 1 and Frame 2. If you want to

change the default Menu Screen and Common Sheet, you just need to double click PT to modify [PT

Extended Property], as shown below:

Note 1

16 pop-up screens can be opened simultaneously.

More than two of the same screens cannot be called from one screen simultaneously.

Therefore you can’t open the same screen by using 2 direct (indirect) screens in the Base Screen.

The screens closed by the function keys can’t close the Direct Screen or Indirect Screen, because the

opening or closing of Direct Screen is related to the ON/OFF status of bit address that controls the Direct

Screen, while the opening and closing of Indirect Screen is just related to the data content of the word

address that controls the Indirect screen. The screen closed by the function keys can’t change the values

of these bits (words) addresses, so it can’t close these screens mentioned above.

All the Pop-up Screens are attached to the current Base Screen, so when the current screen is closed (or

switched to the other Base Screen), the attached Pop-up Screen will be closed. In this case, if the screen

is switched back to this Base Screen, you will find that the Pop-up Screens originally attached to this Base

Screen still exist (Otherwise there are commands sent to close them.)

Base Screen must cover the whole screen.

Every Pop-up Screen belongs to the screen where the component ejecting them locates, and master-

slave relationship is between them. Therefore, the screen opened by the component in Common Sheet

will always be displayed until Common Sheet closes it again.

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3 Functions of NB-Designer

3-4-2

Screen Property

The methods to change the screen property:

• Double-click the area in which no components are arranged in the screen.

• Do not click the components in the screen and click the

icons of tool bar.

Title

Assign the unique name for each screen for convenient differentiation. Of course, the screen title

can be changed.

Screen No.

Screen No. range is from 0 to 32767. When a new screen is created, automatically is assigned a

Screen No.

Screens from 0 to 10 are fixed. The screen No. of the other screens can be changed by the user.

Screen No. can be not consecutive.

Position

When the screen is the screen ejected by using “Pop-up Screen” function of the function key, the

vertex in the upper-left of the screen will be displayed in this position.

Width and Height

Width and height can be set for the Pop-up Screen, and if it is the Base Screen, it must be set to the

default size (i.e. the size of the full screen).

Screen Attribute

Keyboard page determines whether to set the screen as Keyboard Screen. Print page can be used

to set the size of this screen regardless of the limitation of the actual resolution of the PT. The NB

Series does not support [Print page].

Protect key mapping on common sheet screen

The NB Series does not support this function.

Switching to the lowest security level when screen closed

If the security level is set for one screen to realize the function, i.e. the password will be cleared

automatically when the screen is closed, and the password needs to be input again when the screen

is entered again, the security level will become 0 only if the screen is closed.

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z Background Color

If the filling effects for the screen are needed, select this option.

z Pattern Color and Background Color

The selected [Pattern Color] is applied as outline color and the selected [Background Color] is

applied as ground color. (For details, refer to the descriptions of “Fill Style Toolbar” in 3-2-3 View

Menu (Page 3-16)). In the default settings, the [Pattern style] is set to 0 so that only the background

color is displayed by this setting.

z Pop-up Screen Type

The types are “Tracking”, “Modal”, “Clipping” and “Fixed”.

The above parameters show the relationship between one Pop-up Screen and its adjacent screen.

If one Pop-up Screen features “Modal”, the location of parent screen will be frozen after it pops up,

and the pop-up screen will always be displayed in the Top layer. If one Pop-up Screen features

“Clipping”, the border of this screen will be restricted by its parent screen, i.e. the part displayed out

of the border of its parent screen will be cut off. If one Pop-up Screen features “Tracking”, it will

move together when its parent screen moves.

Note If “Clipping” is selected, “Tracking” must be selected simultaneously.

The following Screen A and Screen B are both attached to the Base Screen. Generally, Screen A

will be displayed in the Top layer when it is touched. But if “Fixed” is selected for Screen A, it will not

be displayed in the Top layer even if it is touched, but it will always be attached to its parent screen.

Note The screen No. can’t be changed once it is created, but the name, frame and background can be changed

still.

z Security Level

Set the corresponding security level for the screen. For details, refer to 3-13 Security Level (Page 3-

354).

z Sheet Screen

Set the corresponding Sheet Screens for the current screen. The screen to be set as the Sheet

Screen must be the created screen, where the components used by the multiple screens together

can be put.

z Frame

Refers to the frame recommended to be used by the Pop-up Screen. The width of the frame can be

any number from 0 to 16. If the width is not 0, the color can be selected for the frame.

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z Transparency

It is only valid for the Pop-up Screen and the Menu Screen.

Example of transparency of Pop-up Screen

Placing one function key to [Pop-up screen] “Frame 10” with the property in “Frame 0”, as shown

below.

• When the transparency is 0%.

Set the width and height of Frame 10 to “200” each, the [Background color] to “Yellow”, and the

[Transparency] to “0%”, as shown below.

Perform the offline test, as shown below.

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OMRON NB-Designer OPERATION MANUAL (NB-series, 2020) - page 3