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Reference Number: AA-02290// Views: AA-02290// Created: 2024-03-20 13:56:32// Last Updated: 2024-03-20 15:10:54
HowTo
How to Automate IO Connections using Python Script

This process can be used to automate the connection from OpInputs and OpOutputs defined on the Simulink model with the corresponding IO connection. This can be used with Opal-Boards or with communication protocols.


Here it is the step-by-step of the process:

 

1 – In your the model, configure the OpInput and OpOutput blocks mask like this:


In this way, the RT-LAB alias will be the same as the name block.

 

2 – Save and Build the model

 

3 – Configure the I/O interface according to your usage, for IOs and/or Communication Protocols

 

          3.1  - Set the general configurations

 

          3.2 -  Enable the channels or add the number of registers that will be used.

 

4 – Create a python script file  on the project folder where you can find the .llp file.

 

         4.1 – To create a pyhton script you can simply create a text file and change the extension to .py. This should automatically convert it to a Python file:

 

 

5 – Open the python script directly in RT-LAB. You will be able to find it inside of your project folder:


6 – Edit your python script:

 

          6.1 – Start by importing the RtlabApi library:


          6.2 – Add the command to open your project. Change the Project path to the llp file of the corresponding project:

 

          6.3 –  Create the lists of points to connect, it should have a list for the datapoints from the Simulink model (OpInputs/Opoutputs) and another list for the datapoints from the IO driver.

To fill the lists, it can be done manually or you can create loops which will make the process easier.

In this case, using the “same name + number” format would be helpful for doing multiple connections at the same time, where the number can come from the created loop.

Example:


 

For the model_datapoint  path you can find the information on the corresponding OpInput/OpOutput block, right-click, Properties:



 

For the drive_datapoint variable, the corresponding information should be the path of the channel that will be from the driver

For the drivers datapoint, you have to get it from the driver structure:

 

Example for the communication protocol:


Path: DNP3 Slave/Slaves/Slave_1/Binary inputs/Binary input 1

Example on Opal-Board:


Path: OPAL-RT Board/Slot1A - Digital bi-directional/Channels0 - 7 (input)(Static)

 

7 – After the list creation, enter the command to create the connections. You can use a try/except structure to check if an error happens:


 

8 – Save the python script (Ctrl+S)

 

9 – Run the Python Script


10 – Check in the Configurations if the connections were created properly.