PLC Code Generation Basics

Overview of how to generate structured text code

The basic steps for code generation are:

Create a model or open an existing model.
Configure the model for code generation by selecting the solver.
Configure PLC Coder code generation options.

The PLC Coder configuration parameters provide several options for the code generation.

Apps

Generate structured text and ladder diagram code from Simulink models, Stateflow charts, and MATLAB functions

Functions

`plccoderdemos`	Product examples
`plccoderpref`	Manage user preferences
`plcgeneratecode`	Generate structured text or ladder diagram (L5X) for the atomic subsystem
`plcopenconfigset`	Open Configuration Parameters dialog box for subsystem
`plcsetup`	Set up model parameters for PLC code generation (Since R2023b)

Topics

Getting Started

Generate and Examine Structured Text Code

Get started with structured text code generation from a simple Simulink^® model.
- STEP 1: Prepare Model for Structured Text Generation
- STEP 2: Generate and Examine Structured Text Code
- STEP 3: Import and Verify Structured Text Code
- STEP 4: Deploy Structured Text
Integrate Generated Code with Custom Code
Call the generated function block with different values of the ssMethodType argument for subsystem initialization and computation steps.
Generated Code Structure for Simple Simulink Subsystems
Map model objects in your Simulink subsystem to constructs in generated structured text code.

Code Generation Files and Folders

Files Generated by Simulink PLC Coder
Find the location of files for manually importing the generated structured text code to your IDE.
Specify Custom Names for Generated Files
Override the default naming convention, that uses the model name for the generated Structured Text code file.

Code Generation for Simulink Models

Generated Code Structure for Triggered Subsystems
Generate structured text code from a triggered subsystem and identify the trigger event-based execution in the generated code.
Generated Code Structure for Subsystem Mask Parameters
Generate structured text code from a masked subsystem and identify the mask parameters in the generated code.
Generate Structured Text Code from For Each Subsystems
You can use For Each subsystems to convert inefficient, repetitive algorithms into compact, easy-to-read code.
Generate Structured Text Code for Width Blocks
The Width block is commonly used with the For Each subsystem block to compute the signal width inside the for-each loop.

Code Generation for Stateflow charts

Generated Code Structure for Stateflow Charts
Generate structured text code from a Stateflow^® Chart and identify event-based transitions or absolute time temporal logic in the generated code.
Generate Structured Text Code That Has Logging Instrumentation
Workflow for generating structured text code with logging instrumentation.
Generate Structured Text Code for a Stateflow Chart That Uses Absolute-Time Temporal Logic
Model, simulate, and generate code for a Stateflow® chart that uses absolute-time temporal logic.
Simulate and Generate Structured Text Code for a Stateflow Chart
This example shows how to simulate and generate code for the ControlModule Stateflow® chart from the plcdemo_stateflow_controller model.

Code Generation for MATLAB Function Block

Generated Code Structure for MATLAB Function Block
Generate structured text code from a MATLAB Function block and identify the MATLAB^® function content in the generated code.

Featured Examples

Generating Structured Text for a Feedforward PID Controller

The code generated for a Feedforward PID Controller implemented using Simulink® library blocks.

Open Script

Generate Structured Text Code for Reusable Subsystems

Simulate and generate structured text code for an atomic reusable subsystem. Reusable subsystems enable you to model commonly used blocks as a subsystem and reuse the subsystems multiple times within a model. Use reusable subsystems in your model to :

Open Live Script

Variable Step Speed Cruise Control System

Simulate and generate code for the Controller subsystem from a speed cruise control model by using variable continuous step solver.

Open Script

Generate Structured Text Code for Simulink Model That Has Fixed-Point Data Types

Generate structured text code for a Simulink® model that has fixed-point data types by using Simulink® PLC Coder™.

Open Live Script

Generate Structured Text Code for a Simulink Subsystem That Has Multirate Components

Model, simulate, and generate code for a Simulink® subsystem that has components running at different sample times (multirate). Multirate systems are common in industrial applications and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). For example, within a PLC there is a task to collect information from sensors to control a process that runs at a slower rate and the actual logic to control the process that runs at a faster rate. To set up your multirate model for simulation and code generation, see Generating Simulink PLC Coder Structured Text Code for Multirate Models.

Open Live Script

Simulate and Generate Code for Speed Cruise Control System

Simulate and generate code for a speed cruise control system. The cruise control system is modeled using Simulink® and Stateflow®.

Open Live Script

Simulate and Generate Code for Airport Conveyor Belt Control System

Simulate and generate code for the Controller subsystem from an airport conveyor belt model.

Open Script

Generate Structured Text Code for Variable-Size Signals

Deploy applications such as machine learning models to your target PLC by generating code for variable-size signals. Verify the generated structured text code by generating test bench code and importing the generated test bench code into your target IDE.

Open Script

Generate Bus Variables as STRUCT Data Types in Structured Text Code

Use Simulink® PLC Coder™ to generate bus variables as STRUCT data types in the generated structured text. To generate bus variables as STRUCT data types in the generated code, you must model your buses as nonvirtual buses. To create a nonvirtual bus, see Create Nonvirtual Buses. Simulink® PLC Coder™ does not support the generation of STRUCT data types from virtual buses.

Open Live Script

Generate Structured Text Code for Shuttle and Robot Control

Generate and verify structured text code for the control system of a virtual assembly line that has two robotic work cells and a shuttle that goes between the robotic cells. The assembly line is based on a modular industrial framework created by ITQ GmbH known as Smart4i. This system consists of two robotic work cells that are connected by a shuttle track and a conveyor belt. One robot places cups onto the shuttle, and the other robot places balls in the cups. The control system is modeled using Stateflow®.

Open Live Script

New

Use Configuration Reference to Select Code Generation Target and Generate Testbench Code

Use a configuration reference to select a code generation target and generate a testbench without modifying the model that you generate the code from. Use a shared configuration set when you want to:

Since R2024b
Open Live Script