Echelon LonMaker - Manual (Page 110)

94 Designing Networks
2. Select one or more message tag shapes to add to the virtual functional block from the list of
available message tags. If you select multiple message tags, additional shapes will automatically
be added to the virtual functional block. To select all of the listed message tags, click Select All.
3. Click OK. The selected message tag shapes appear on the virtual functional block shape in the
appropriate position.
Tip: You can change the name or position of a message tag shape in the same manner as a network
variable shape. See Changing Network Variable Name and Changing Network Variable Position for
how to do this.
Deleting Message Tag Shapes
You can remove message tag shapes from one or more virtual functional blocks in the same manner as
network variable shapes. See Deleting a Network Variable Shape in the next section for how to do
this.
Creating Network Variables
Network variables allow a device to send and receive data over the network to and from other devices.
Network variables are data items (such as temperature, the state of a switch, or actuator position
setting) encapsulated within functional blocks that a particular device application expects to receive
from other physical devices (an input network variable) or expects to make available to other physical
devices (an output network variable).
There are two types of network variables: static and dynamic. A static network variable is defined by
the device application and is always available in the functional block. Most L ON W ORKS devices have
functional blocks that include static network variables. A dynamic network variable is added to a
functional block after the device has been commissioned. Some L
ON W ORKS devices support dynamic
network variables. Other types of devices that support dynamic network variables include controllers
and gateways with dynamic interfaces.
Creating a Network Variable Shape
You can create a network variable shape and then use it to either create a new network variable master
shape with an associated type and direction, or add a dynamic network variable with a specified type
and direction to a functional block that supports dynamic network variables. To create a new network
variable shape, follow these steps: