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RAPID tasks & program execution
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RAPID variables & symbols

Read and write RAPID variables, persistents and constants, search symbols in the loaded program, and validate a value before writing it.

A RAPID symbol is anything the program declares: a variable, a persistent, a constant, a routine, a type, a module, a task. robot.Rws.Rapid reads and writes them by their path, with the same two methods for every RAPID type.

Reading a value needs nothing more than a connection. Writing one needs the Rapid mastership.

The path of a symbol

AVAILABLE ON
RWS 1.0
RWS 2.0
The paths, the methods and the text of the values are the same on an IRC5 and on an OmniCore.

Every symbol has a path. It starts with RAPID, then the task, then the module, then the name. This path is what GetSymbolValue and SetSymbolValue take.

// A variable declared in the module MainModule of the task T_ROB1
robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/myCounter");
// reg1 and the other predefined registers live in the built-in module "user"
robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/user/reg1");
// A leading slash is accepted, it is removed by the SDK
robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue("/RAPID/T_ROB1/user/reg1");
// A module of the task, and the task itself, are symbols too
robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolProperties("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule");
robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolProperties("RAPID/T_ROB1");
// A RAPID type has a path of its own, without any task
robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolProperties("RAPID/robtarget");
PathWhat it names
RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/myCounterA variable, a persistent or a constant of a module
RAPID/T_ROB1/user/reg1reg1 to reg5, which live in the built-in module user
RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModuleThe module itself
RAPID/T_ROB1The task itself
RAPID/robtargetA RAPID type, which belongs to no task

The path is case sensitive on the name of the module and on the name of the symbol. A leading slash is accepted, the SDK removes it. When no symbol has that path, the controller answers 404 and the SDK throws an RwsException.

If you do not know where a variable is declared, do not guess the path, search for it with SearchSymbols.

Read a value

GetSymbolValue returns the value as the text RAPID writes it with, plus where the declaration sits in the module. There is no typed overload, a num, a bool and a robtarget all come back as a string.

// A value always comes back as the text RAPID writes it with. Reading needs no mastership.
RapidSymbolValue value = robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/user/reg1");
Console.WriteLine(value.Value); // "42"
Console.WriteLine(value.DeclarationPosition); // where the declaration sits in the module
// num and dnum: parse with the invariant culture, RAPID uses a dot as decimal separator
double number = double.Parse(robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/user/reg1").Value,
CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
// bool: the controller writes TRUE or FALSE
bool flag = robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/myFlag")
.Value.Trim().Equals("TRUE", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
// string: the value carries the RAPID quotes, remove them
string text = robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/myText").Value.Trim('"');
Console.WriteLine(number + " " + flag + " " + text);
RAPID typeWhat Value holds
num, dnum42, 1.5, 9E+09. Always a dot as decimal separator.
boolTRUE or FALSE, in capitals
stringThe RAPID quotes are part of the value, "hello"
robtarget, pos, any recordThe bracketed form, [[515,0,712],[1,0,0,0],[0,0,0,0],[9E+09,...]]
An arrayOne value too, [1,2,3]

Parse the numbers with CultureInfo.InvariantCulture. On a machine configured with a French or a German locale, double.Parse("1.5") without it gives 15.

Write a value

SetSymbolValue takes the same text form. The controller checks the value against the type of the symbol and answers 400 when it does not match.

// Writing needs the RAPID mastership. Take it, write, give it back.
robot.Rws.Mastership.Request(MastershipDomain.Rapid);
try
{
// num: format with the invariant culture, "1,5" is refused, "1.5" is accepted
double speed = 1.5;
robot.Rws.Rapid.SetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/user/reg1",
speed.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// bool: TRUE or FALSE, in capitals
robot.Rws.Rapid.SetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/myFlag", "TRUE");
// string: the RAPID quotes are part of the value
robot.Rws.Rapid.SetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/myText", "\"hello\"");
}
finally
{
robot.Rws.Mastership.Release(MastershipDomain.Rapid);
}

What readers get wrong, in order:

  • The mastership. Without the Rapid mastership the controller answers 403. In manual mode it also wants the write access an operator grants from the FlexPendant.
  • The culture. speed.ToString() on a French machine writes 1,5, which the controller refuses. Always format with CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.
  • The quotes of a string. The value of a RAPID string carries them, "\"hello\"" and not "hello".
  • A constant. A CONST cannot be written while the program runs. GetSymbolProperties reports it, its ReadOnly property is true.
  • A local variable. A variable declared inside a routine only exists while the routine runs.

Writing a variable does not change the declaration. After a program reset the symbol goes back to the value written in its source, see below.

Methods of RapidService :
// Gets the value of a RAPID symbol and where it is declared (synchronous)
RapidSymbolValue GetSymbolValue(string symbolUrl);
// Sets the value a RAPID symbol is declared with, which is the one it goes back to when the program is reset (synchronous)
void SetSymbolInitialValue(string symbolUrl, string value);
// Sets the value a RAPID symbol currently holds (synchronous)
void SetSymbolValue(string symbolUrl, string value);

Every method also exists in an asynchronous version, with the same name followed by Async and an optional CancellationToken.

Members of Rws.Data.RapidSymbolValue :
public class RapidSymbolValue {
// Initializes a new instance of the <xref href="UnderAutomation.ABB.Rws.Data.RapidSymbolValue" data-throw-if-not-resolved="false"></xref> class
public RapidSymbolValue()
// Where the symbol is declared, null when the controller did not report it
public RapidTextRange DeclarationPosition { get; set; }
// Where the initial value of the symbol is written, null when the controller did not report it.
//
// <p>The controller reports zeros when the declaration carries no initial value.</p>
public RapidTextRange InitialValuePosition { get; set; }
// Returns a string representation of this value
public override string ToString()
// Value of the symbol, written the way RAPID writes it
public string Value { get; set; }
}
Members of Rws.Data.RapidTextRange :
public class RapidTextRange {
// Initializes a new instance of the <xref href="UnderAutomation.ABB.Rws.Data.RapidTextRange" data-throw-if-not-resolved="false"></xref> class
public RapidTextRange()
// Column the range begins at, null when the controller did not report it
public int? BeginColumn { get; set; }
// Line the range begins at, null when the controller did not report it
public int? BeginRow { get; set; }
// Column the range ends at, null when the controller did not report it
public int? EndColumn { get; set; }
// Line the range ends at, null when the controller did not report it
public int? EndRow { get; set; }
// Returns a string representation of this range
public override string ToString()
}

Records, arrays and the initial value

A record is not taken apart by the SDK. You get the bracketed text, in the same order as the components of the type, and you write it back the same way.

// A record comes back in the bracketed form RAPID writes it with. The SDK does not
// take it apart, you get the text and parse what you need.
RapidSymbolValue target = robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/pHome");
Console.WriteLine(target.Value);
// [[515,0,712],[0,0,1,0],[0,0,0,0],[9E+09,9E+09,9E+09,9E+09,9E+09,9E+09]]
// An array is one value too, its elements separated by commas
Console.WriteLine(robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/myArray").Value); // [1,2,3]
// Build the text with the invariant culture, a comma as decimal separator is refused
double x = 515.5, y = 0, z = 712;
string pose = string.Format(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture,
"[[{0},{1},{2}],[0,0,1,0],[0,0,0,0],[9E9,9E9,9E9,9E9,9E9,9E9]]",
x, y, z);
robot.Rws.Mastership.Request(MastershipDomain.Rapid);
try
{
// The value has to carry every component the type declares
robot.Rws.Rapid.SetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/pHome", pose);
}
finally
{
robot.Rws.Mastership.Release(MastershipDomain.Rapid);
}

SetSymbolInitialValue writes the value the declaration carries, the one the symbol goes back to when the program is reset. It rewrites the source of the module, so the module counts as changed afterwards. SetSymbolValue only changes what the symbol holds right now.

InitialValuePosition of RapidSymbolValue says where that initial value sits in the source. The controller reports zeros when the declaration carries none.

Check a value before writing it

ValidateSymbolValue asks the controller whether it would accept a value for a given type, without writing it anywhere. It returns false for a refused value instead of throwing, so it is what an editor uses to tell an operator that what they typed is wrong.

// Ask the controller whether it would take the value, without writing it anywhere
Console.WriteLine(robot.Rws.Rapid.ValidateSymbolValue("T_ROB1", "num", "1.5")); // true
// A value that does not fit the type gives false, it does not throw
Console.WriteLine(robot.Rws.Rapid.ValidateSymbolValue("T_ROB1", "num", "hello")); // false
robot.Rws.Mastership.Request(MastershipDomain.Rapid);
try
{
if (robot.Rws.Rapid.ValidateSymbolValue("T_ROB1", "num", "1.5"))
robot.Rws.Rapid.SetSymbolValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/user/reg1", "1.5");
// The value written in the declaration, the one the symbol goes back to when the
// program is reset. This rewrites the source of the module.
robot.Rws.Rapid.SetSymbolInitialValue("RAPID/T_ROB1/MainModule/myCounter", "0");
}
finally
{
robot.Rws.Mastership.Release(MastershipDomain.Rapid);
}

Any other failure, a type that does not exist for example, is still reported as an RwsException.

Methods of RapidService :
// Asks the controller whether a value would be accepted for a given RAPID type, without writing it anywhere (synchronous) This is what an editor uses to tell an operator that what they typed is wrong before the write is attempted.
bool ValidateSymbolValue(string task, string dataType, string value);

Every method also exists in an asynchronous version, with the same name followed by Async and an optional CancellationToken.

Search symbols

SearchSymbols walks the program and returns the symbols matching a set of criteria. It is the way to list the robtarget of a module, to find every persistent of a task, or to check that a variable exists before writing it.

// Always give a starting point, a search without any criterion walks the whole system
RapidSymbolSearchCriteria criteria = new RapidSymbolSearchCriteria();
criteria.View = RapidSymbolSearchView.Block;
criteria.BlockUrl = "RAPID/T_ROB1";
criteria.Recursive = true;
criteria.NamePattern = "^p[0-9]+$"; // regular expression on the name
criteria.DataType = "robtarget";
// Only the first entry is sent, search again for another kind
criteria.SymbolTypes = new RapidSymbolType[] { RapidSymbolType.Persistent };
foreach (RapidSymbolProperties symbol in robot.Rws.Rapid.SearchSymbols(criteria))
{
Console.WriteLine(symbol.Name + " (" + symbol.DataType + ")");
// SymbolUrl is the path the other symbol methods take
Console.WriteLine(robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolValue(symbol.SymbolUrl).Value);
}
// What one symbol is declared as, without reading its value
RapidSymbolProperties properties = robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSymbolProperties("RAPID/T_ROB1/user/reg1");
Console.WriteLine(properties.SymbolType); // Variable, Persistent, Constant, ...
Console.WriteLine(properties.DataType); // num
Console.WriteLine(properties.ReadOnly); // null when the controller did not report it

Always set BlockUrl. A search with no criterion at all walks the whole system and takes seconds.

RapidSymbolSearchViewWhere the search looks
BlockIn the block named by BlockUrl, and in what it contains when Recursive is true
ScopeIn what is visible from a position of the source, which needs PositionRow and PositionColumn
StackIn what is visible from a frame of the call stack, which needs the program pointer to be set
UndefinedLet the controller decide

SymbolTypes filters on the kind of symbol: Variable, Persistent, Constant, Function, Procedure, Trap, Module, and the others of RapidSymbolType. The controller keeps only one kind per search, so only the first entry of the array is sent. Search once per kind when you need several.

NamePattern is a regular expression, not a wildcard. DataType takes the name of a RAPID type, for example robtarget.

GetSymbolProperties returns the same information for one symbol: its kind, its type, whether it is local to its module, whether it is read only. A property the controller did not report comes back as null, so test the nullable properties before using them.

Methods of RapidService :
// Gets what a RAPID symbol is declared as (synchronous)
RapidSymbolProperties GetSymbolProperties(string symbolUrl);
// Finds the RAPID symbols matching a set of criteria (synchronous)
RapidSymbolProperties[] SearchSymbols(RapidSymbolSearchCriteria criteria);

Every method also exists in an asynchronous version, with the same name followed by Async and an optional CancellationToken.

Members of Rws.Data.RapidSymbolProperties :
public class RapidSymbolProperties {
// Initializes a new instance of the <xref href="UnderAutomation.ABB.Rws.Data.RapidSymbolProperties" data-throw-if-not-resolved="false"></xref> class
public RapidSymbolProperties()
// Name of the type of the symbol, for example "num"
public string DataType { get; set; }
// Size of each array dimension as the controller worded it, empty when the symbol is not an array
public string Dimension { get; set; }
// Number of array dimensions of the symbol, null when the controller did not report it
public int? Dimensions { get; set; }
// Whether the symbol is allocated on the heap, null when the controller did not report it
public bool? Heap { get; set; }
// Whether the declaration is complete, null when the controller did not report it
public bool? Linked { get; set; }
// Whether the symbol is local to its module, null when the controller did not report it
public bool? Local { get; set; }
// Name of the symbol, for example "reg1"
public string Name { get; set; }
// Whether the symbol is named, null when the controller did not report it
public bool? Named { get; set; }
// Whether the symbol may not be written, null when the controller did not report it
public bool? ReadOnly { get; set; }
// How the controller stores the symbol, for example "loaded"
public string Storage { get; set; }
// What kind of symbol this is
public RapidSymbolType SymbolType { get; set; }
// Path of the symbol, which the other symbol methods take
public string SymbolUrl { get; set; }
// Whether the symbol is global within its task, null when the controller did not report it
public bool? TaskVariable { get; set; }
// Returns a string representation of this symbol
public override string ToString()
// Path of the type of the symbol, for example "RAPID/num"
public string TypeUrl { get; set; }
}
Members of Rws.Data.RapidSymbolSearchCriteria :
public class RapidSymbolSearchCriteria {
// Initializes a new instance of the <xref href="UnderAutomation.ABB.Rws.Data.RapidSymbolSearchCriteria" data-throw-if-not-resolved="false"></xref> class
public RapidSymbolSearchCriteria()
// Path the search starts from, for example "RAPID/T_ROB1"
public string BlockUrl { get; set; }
// Name of the type a symbol has to have to be kept, for example "robtarget"
public string DataType { get; set; }
// Regular expression the name of a symbol has to match to be kept
public string NamePattern { get; set; }
// Whether only the symbols the program actually refers to are kept, null to leave it to the controller
public bool? OnlyUsed { get; set; }
// Column the search starts from, used together with <xref href="UnderAutomation.ABB.Rws.Data.RapidSymbolSearchView.Scope" data-throw-if-not-resolved="false"></xref>
public int? PositionColumn { get; set; }
// Line the search starts from, used together with <xref href="UnderAutomation.ABB.Rws.Data.RapidSymbolSearchView.Scope" data-throw-if-not-resolved="false"></xref>
public int? PositionRow { get; set; }
// Whether the search also walks what the starting point contains, null to leave it to the controller
public bool? Recursive { get; set; }
// Whether the symbols shared between tasks are skipped, null to leave it to the controller
public bool? SkipShared { get; set; }
// Frame of the call stack the search starts from, used together with
// <xref href="UnderAutomation.ABB.Rws.Data.RapidSymbolSearchView.Stack" data-throw-if-not-resolved="false"></xref>
public int? StackFrame { get; set; }
// Kinds of symbol the search keeps, empty to keep every kind
public RapidSymbolType[] SymbolTypes { get; set; }
// Which variables the search keeps, by what may be done with them
public RapidSymbolVariableType VariableType { get; set; }
// Which part of the system the search walks
public RapidSymbolSearchView View { get; set; }
}
Members of Rws.Data.RapidSymbolType :
public enum RapidSymbolType {
// An alias of another type
Alias = 4
// Any of the other types, which a search uses to mean that it does not filter on the type
Any = 17
// A built-in type such as num or string
Atomic = 2
// A constant
Constant = 6
// The loop variable of a FOR statement
ForVariable = 11
// A function
Function = 12
// A label
Label = 10
// A module
Module = 15
// A parameter of a routine
Parameter = 9
// A persistent variable, whose value survives a restart
Persistent = 8
// A procedure
Procedure = 13
// A record type
Record = 3
// One component of a record
RecordComponent = 5
// A task
Task = 16
// A trap routine
Trap = 14
// The type is not defined
Undefined = 1
// The controller reported a type this library does not know
Unknown = 0
// A variable
Variable = 7
}
Members of Rws.Data.RapidSymbolSearchView :
public enum RapidSymbolSearchView {
// Search the block the search path names, and optionally what it contains
Block = 1
// Search what is visible from a position of the source, which the search path and the
// position both have to be given for
Scope = 2
// Search what is visible from a frame of the call stack, which needs the program pointer to be set
Stack = 3
// Let the controller decide
Undefined = 0
}
Members of Rws.Data.RapidSymbolVariableType :
public enum RapidSymbolVariableType {
// Any of them
Any = 4
// Only the loop variables
Loop = 3
// Only the variables that can be read but not written
ReadOnly = 2
// Only the variables that can be read and written
ReadWrite = 1
// Let the controller decide
Undefined = 0
}

Persistent variables shared between tasks

A PERS declared in several tasks holds the same value in all of them, as long as the module is synchronized with the others. GetSyncPersStatus reports it, SyncPersistentVariables does the synchronization.

// A persistent declared in several tasks holds the same value everywhere, as long as
// the module is synchronized with the other tasks declaring it
Console.WriteLine(robot.Rws.Rapid.GetSyncPersStatus("T_ROB1", "MainModule"));
robot.Rws.Mastership.Request(MastershipDomain.Rapid);
try
{
robot.Rws.Rapid.SyncPersistentVariables("T_ROB1", "MainModule");
}
finally
{
robot.Rws.Mastership.Release(MastershipDomain.Rapid);
}
Methods of RapidService :
// Gets whether the persistent variables of a module are kept synchronized with the other tasks declaring them (synchronous)
bool GetSyncPersStatus(string task, string module);
// Synchronizes the persistent variables of a module with the other tasks declaring them (synchronous)
void SyncPersistentVariables(string task, string module);

Every method also exists in an asynchronous version, with the same name followed by Async and an optional CancellationToken.

Errors you can expect

StatusWhat happened
400The value does not match the type of the symbol, or the number was formatted with a comma
403Your connection does not hold the Rapid mastership, or the user account lacks the UAS grant
404No symbol has that path. Check the case of the module and of the name.
500The controller cannot do it in its current state, for example writing a local variable of a routine that is not running

A complete example, with a num, a bool, a string and a robtarget, is given in Read & write RAPID variables.

The values of the RAPID symbols are the same on the two controller generations. The starting and stopping of the program that uses them is on RAPID tasks & program execution, and the source of the modules declaring them on RAPID modules & program files.

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