Questions regarding time

[sagatowski]

Question asked by e-mail:
Helo Jakob,

I am currently writing my diploma thesis and I am using the TcUnit application you developed. I really like what you have created, I will make great use of it!
However, I have not yet found answers to some questions.:
1:
For example, I have a function block (FB) which, after x time, sets one of its outputs to TRUE in response.
I would like to measure this "x" time to see if it is accurate. So I would wait for that "x" time and then check the output.

2:
Also I use the "TC Measurement" application to visualize/export the test results. For this I would need some delay between TESTs. So when a test is run it should wait e.g. 10ms, then start the next test (I found a partial solution to this problem, RUN_IN_SEQUENCE(), but then each test should be in a separate FB? I currently use Method, and it would be nice if it could stay that way. ) Thanks for your help and reply.

[sagatowski]

For 1:
Simply create a TON and once the TON has triggered, simply evaluate (assert) the output.
So simply something like

fbTon : TON := (PT := T#10S);
fbTestBlock : FB_YourBlockUnderTest;
---
TEST('HelloWorld');
fbTon(IN := TRUE);
IF fbTon.Q THEN
    AssertEquals(Expected := TRUE,
                         Actual := fbTestBlock.bBool,
                         Message := 'Not Matching');
END_IF
TEST_FINISHED();

For 2: The only two ways are RUN_IN_SEQUENCE() or by using this way.
You could also run TEST_ORDERED() and simply add a TON at the end of the test to delay the output of the test. Please see this.

[bumbasor]

Hi, I have a similar problem with timer and am also working on my master thesis :)

I have a function block that has a part with TON timer and after timer is finished, output variable receives some value.
But, when I try to add TON to unit test as you showed, my asserts under 'IF fbTon.Q ' are not checked because time of tests being run is much lower than my time constant for timer. Is there any way to check that output value that should be written in the variable with unit test?

[sagatowski]

Please answer this question:
Do you have the timer declared as an instance variable?

[bumbasor]

Yes, I have.
tTon :TON := (PT := T#10MS);

[sagatowski]

That doesn't answer the question.
Is it declared as an instance variable or as a local method variable?

[bumbasor]

Now I get it. Previously I declared it in the method of a FB.
Thanks a lot! :)

[sagatowski]

You're welcome.