Technical data

Appendix

27.3 Data Types and Parameter Types

Programming with STEP 7

616 Manual, 05/2010, A5E02789666-01

27.3.4.5 Format of the Parameter Type ANY

STEP 7 stores the parameter type ANY in 10 bytes. When constructing a parameter of the type

ANY, you must ensure that all 10 bytes are occupied because the called block evaluates the whole

contents of the parameter. If, for example, you specify a DB number in byte 4, you must also

explicitly specify the memory area in byte 6.

STEP 7 manages the data of elementary and complex data types differently from the data for

parameter types.

ANY Format for Data Types

For elementary and complex data types STEP 7 stores the following data:

• Data types

• Repetition factor

• DB number

• Memory area in which the information is stored

• Start address of the data

The repetition factor identifies a quantity of the indicated data type to be transferred by the

parameter type ANY. This means you can specify a data area and also use arrays and structures

in conjunction with the parameter type ANY. STEP 7 identifies arrays and structures as a number

(with the help of the repetition factor) of data types. If, for example, 10 words are to be transferred,

the value 10 must be entered for the repetition factor and the value 04 must be entered for the data

type.

The address is stored in the format Byte.Bit where the byte address is stored in bits 0 to 2 of byte

7, in bits 0 to 7 of byte 8, and in bits 3 to 7 of byte 9. The bit address is stored in bits 0 to 2 of byte

With a null pointer of the type NIL all bytes from byte 1 are assigned 0.