Different cores of a multicore processor are used to provide diagnostics of sophisticated hardware without full redundancy by static assignment of the cores during individual cycles of the control program and comparison of the outputs. A method of automatically generating diverse programs for execution by these cores may modify one program to compile two different instructions without functionally changing that program through the use of DeMorgan equivalents and diverse compiler optimizations.

Techniques for configuring and presenting multiple languages at a user interface executing in an operating environment of a process plant include configuring, in a configuration environment, a multi-language interface object to indicate a plurality of languages that may be presented at the user interface. The multi-language interface object includes a parameter whose value is changeable, within the operating environment, to indicate a desired language that is to be presented on the user interface. A configuration of the graphical display view that references the configured multi-language interface object is downloaded into the operating environment. Thus, during runtime, changes in the language utilized at the user interface are implemented without any additional downloads from or communications with the configuration environment. Independently selectable user controls may be provided to independently control the language utilized by fixtures of the user interface and the language in which graphical display view content is presented.

An assistance method for execution of a format change in an automatic machine can include dividing the format change into an orderly succession of operations for the removal of components designed for the old format and installation of components designed for the new format; communicating the orderly succession of removal and installation operations to an operator; electronically and automatically detecting the actual presence or absence of a component designed for the old or new format before communicating to the operator the operation for removal or installation of the component; electronically and automatically detecting the actual absence or presence of a component designed for the old or new format after having communicated to the operator; and communicating to the operator the operation following an operation for the removal or installation of a component only after having electronically and automatically checked for the actual absence or presence of the component.

Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.

A program modification support device supports modifications of programs realizing functions of a process control system comprising a first process control device and a second process control device. The program modification support device includes a selector configured to select, from data used in a first program among the programs, data required to be maintained for continuing a first function when switching from the first process control device to the second process control device is performed, the first program being for realizing the first function required to be continued when the switching is performed.

Techniques for presenting historized process parameter values in a process plant include presenting, via a user interface of an operator application, indications of process control elements in a first display region within a layout of a display view. Each of the process control elements is associated with one or more process parameters. The operator application also presents a trend display view in a second display region within the layout of the display view. The trend display view includes sets of historized process parameter values for process parameters presented in the first display region. For example, the trend display view in the second display region is linked to the display view in the first display region. In this manner, the trend display view presents charts or other graphical depictions of historized process parameter values for process parameters included in the first display region.

Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.

An information-linkage supporting apparatus includes: a schema-information acquiring unit acquiring schema information concerning the configuration of numerical control data stored by a numerical-control-data storing apparatus as a database, from the numerical-control-data storing apparatus; a memory-map-information acquiring unit acquiring memory map information concerning memory allocation in the data memory of the numerical control data stored by a numerical control apparatus in an inside thereof, from the numerical control apparatus; a mapping-table generating unit generating, on the basis of association instruction information inputted from the outside for instructing association between constituent elements of the schema information and constituent elements of the memory map information, a mapping table, which is information for information linkage obtained by associating and mapping the constituent elements of the schema information and the constituent elements of the memory map information; and a mapping-table transmitting unit transmitting the mapping table to the numerical control apparatus.

Methods for post processor development and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes generating a machine tool post processor having a plurality of levels including a library level, a controller level, and at least one other level. The method includes interacting with a user in a dynamic user interface corresponding to the machine tool post processor. The method includes storing the machine tool post processor.

Flexible graphic element objects in a process plant are configurable both in a run-time operating environment in which a process is being controlled and in a configuration environment. An instantiated flexible graphic element object may be a display view or may be another graphic element included on a display view. A graphic element object may be linked to and/or derived from another graphic element object, and changes to a particular graphic element object may be propagated to its derivations, e.g., according to a distribution policy. Changes to definitions corresponding to a particular graphic element object (e.g., to the definition of a graphic element attribute such as a shape, animation, event handler or property) may be overridden or modified in another object derived from the particular graphic element object. The modified derived object may be renamed and saved separately from the particular graphic element object.