IEC 61804-3:2006

Function blocks (FB) for process control - Part 3: Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL)

IEC 61804-3:2006 specifies the Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) technology, which enables the integration of real product details using the tools of the engineering life cycle. It specifies EDDL as a generic language for describing the properties of automation system components.

Blocs fonctionnels (FB) pour les procédés industriels - Partie 3: Langage de description électronique de produit (EDDL)

La CEI 61804-3:2006 spécifie la technologie de langage de description électronique d'appareil (Electronic Device Description Language: EDDL), qui permet en utilisant les outils d'ingénierie l'intégration de produit dans les systèmes tout au long du cycle de vie. Elle spécifie EDDL en tant que langage générique pour décrire les propriétés des composants système mettant en oeuvre des automatismes.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 24-Sep-2006
• ICS: 25.040.40 - Industrial process measurement and control
• ICS: 35.240.50 - IT applications in industry
• Technical Committee: SC 65E - Devices and integration in enterprise systems
• Drafting Committee: WG 7 - TC 65/SC 65E/WG 7
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Start Date: 29-Nov-2010
• Completion Date: 26-Oct-2025

Relations

• Replaces: IEC 61804-2:2004 - Function blocks (FB) for process control - Part 2: Specification of FB concept and Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL)
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revised: IEC 61804-3:2010 - Function blocks (FB) for process control - Part 3: Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL)
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Overview

IEC 61804-3:2006 defines the Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) as part of the IEC 61804 series - Function Blocks (FB) for process control. The standard specifies EDDL as a generic, vendor-neutral language that "enables the integration of real product details using the tools of the engineering life cycle." It standardizes how automation components (field devices, controllers, instruments) are described so engineering tools and operator systems can interpret device capabilities, parameters and user interface elements consistently.

Key topics and technical requirements

• EDDL model and lexical structures: formal definitions for the language syntax and structure required for compliant device descriptions (EDD files).
• Core language elements: standardized building blocks such as BLOCK, VARIABLE, MENU, CHART, GRAPH, GRID, IMAGE, METHOD, PROGRAM, COLLECTION, COMMAND and others used to describe device data, behavior and UI.
• Import and referencing mechanisms: rules for modular EDD creation and reuse (import/LIKE/REFERENCE structures).
• Builtins and profiles: a builtin library and profile definitions that provide common functions, types and implementation profiles for consistent interoperability.
• Conformance, identification and versioning: attributes and revision metadata (DD_REVISION, DEVICE_REVISION, EDD_PROFILE, etc.) required for lifecycle management and tool support.
• Normative annexes: formal language definition, builtin library, profiles and example EDD to guide implementation and testing.

Practical applications and users

Who uses IEC 61804-3 / EDDL:

• Device manufacturers - to publish interoperable device descriptions that embed device parameters, diagnostics and operator screens.
• Automation system vendors and DCS/SCADA/HMI tool developers - to integrate device-specific UI, parameterization and diagnostics without custom drivers.
• System integrators and end users (plant engineers, control engineers) - to speed commissioning, configuration and asset management by using standardized EDDs for online/offline access.
• Certification bodies and test labs - to verify EDDL conformance and interoperability across tools.

Practical benefits:

• Faster device integration and reduced engineering time during commissioning and maintenance.
• Consistent operator displays and parameter semantics across toolsets.
• Reuse of language constructs via profiles and builtins to lower implementation cost.
• Support for full engineering lifecycle: design, configuration, commissioning, diagnostics and maintenance.

Related standards

• Part of the IEC 61804 series (Function Blocks for process control); EDDL is positioned alongside other automation standards to ensure device description interoperability within the broader industrial automation ecosystem.

Keywords: IEC 61804-3, EDDL, Electronic Device Description Language, device description, function blocks, process control, automation interoperability, field device integration, engineering life cycle.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD 61804-3
First edition
2006-09
Function blocks (FB) for process control –
Part 3:
Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL)

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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD 61804-3
First edition
2006-09
Function blocks (FB) for process control –
Part 3:
Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL)
© IEC 2006 – Copyright - all rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission, 3, rue de Varembé, PO Box 131, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Telephone: [phone] Telefax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web: www.iec.ch
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Международная Электротехническая Комиссия
For price, see current catalogue

– 2 – 61804-3  IEC:2006(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.16

INTRODUCTION.18

1 Scope.19

2 Normative references.19

3 Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and acronyms .20

4 Conformance statement.26

5 Conventions for lexical structures .27
6 EDD and EDDL model .28
6.1 Overview of EDD and EDDL.28
6.2 EDD architecture .28
6.3 Concepts of EDD .28
6.4 Principles of the EDD development process .29
6.5 Interrelations between the lexical structure and formal definitions.30
6.6 Builtins .30
6.7 Profiles.30
7 Electronic Device Description Language.30
7.1 Overview .30
7.2 EDD identification information.40
7.3 AXIS.43
7.4 BLOCK .44
7.5 CHART.53
7.6 COLLECTION.56
7.7 COMMAND.57
7.8 CONNECTION.63
7.9 DOMAIN.64
7.10 EDIT_DISPLAY .65
7.11 FILE .67
7.12 GRAPH .67
7.13 GRID.69
7.14 IMAGE .72
7.15 IMPORT .74

7.16 LIKE .85
7.17 LIST .86
7.18 MENU .87
7.19 METHOD.98
7.20 PROGRAM . 100
7.21 RECORD. 101
7.22 REFERENCE_ARRAY . 101
7.23 Relations . 102
7.24 RESPONSE_CODES. 103
7.25 SOURCE . 104
7.26 VALUE_ARRAY. 107
7.27 VARIABLE. 108
7.28 VARIABLE_LIST. 123
7.29 WAVEFORM . 124

61804-3  IEC:2006(E) – 3 –
7.30 Common attributes . 131

7.31 Output redirection (OPEN and CLOSE) . 134

7.32 Conditional expression. 134

7.33 Referencing. 135

7.34 Strings. 141

7.35 Expression . 143

7.36 Text dictionary. 149

Annex A (normative) EDDL formal definition . 150

Annex B (normative) EDDL Builtin Library. 224
Annex C (informative) EDD Example . 337
Annex D (normative) Profiles of EDDL and Builtins . 350
Annex E (informative) Historical background . 376

Bibliography . 377

Figure 1 – Position of the IEC 61804 series related to other standards and products.18
Figure 2 – EDD generation process .29
Figure 3 – BLOCK_A.32
Figure 4 – CHART.32
Figure 5 – COLLECTION.33
Figure 6 – COMMAND.33
Figure 7 – DOMAIN.33
Figure 8 – EDIT_DISPLAY .34
Figure 9 – FILE .34
Figure 10 – GRAPH .34
Figure 11 – GRID .34
Figure 12 – IMAGE.35
Figure 13 – LIKE .35
Figure 14 – LIST .35
Figure 15 – MENU.36
Figure 16 – PROGRAM .36

Figure 17 – RECORD.36
Figure 18 – REFERENCE_ARRAY .37
Figure 19 – REFRESH .37
Figure 20 – UNIT .37
Figure 21 – WRITE_AS_ONE.37
Figure 22 – SOURCE .38
Figure 23 – VALUE_ARRAY .38
Figure 24 – VARIABLE .38
Figure 25 – VARIABLE_LIST.38
Figure 26 – WAVEFORM.39
Figure 27 – EDDL import mechanisms.74
Figure 28 – MENU activation (ACCESS OFFLINE).94

– 4 – 61804-3  IEC:2006(E)
Figure 29 – Action performed after a new value is entered.95

Figure 30 – Action performed after all VARIABLE inputs of the MENU are accepted

(ACCESS OFFLINE) .95

Figure 31 – Method execution .95

Figure 32 – MENU activation (ACCESS ONLINE) .96

Figure 33 – Cyclic reading of dynamic VARIABLEs (ACCESS ONLINE) .97

Figure 34 – Action performed after all VARIABLE inputs of the MENU are accepted
(ACCESS ONLINE) .97

Figure 35 – Time for read-and-write operation . 122

Figure C.1 – Example of an operator screen using EDD. 337

Table 1 – Field attribute descriptions .27
Table 2 – DD_REVISION attribute .40
Table 3 – DEVICE_REVISION attribute .41
Table 4 – DEVICE_TYPE attribute.41
Table 5 – EDD_PROFILE attribute .41
Table 6 – EDD_VERSION attribute.42
Table 7 – MANUFACTURER attribute.42
Table 8 – MANUFACTURER_EXT attribute .42
Table 9 – AXIS attributes .43
Table 10 – MAX_VALUE, MIN_VALUE attribute.43
Table 11 – SCALING attribute .44
Table 12 – BLOCK_A attributes.45
Table 13 – CHARACTERISTIC attribute .45
Table 14 – PARAMETER attributes .46
Table 15 – AXIS_ITEMS attribute .46
Table 16 – CHART_ITEMS attribute .46
Table 17 – COLLECTION_ITEMS attribute .47
Table 18 – EDIT_DISPLAY_ITEMS attribute .47
Table 19 – FILE_ITEMS attribute.47
Table 20 – GRAPH_ITEMS attribute.48
Table 21 – GRID_ITEMS attribute .48

Table 22 – IMAGE_ITEMS attribute .48
Table 23 – LIST_ITEMS attribute.48
Table 24 – MENU_ITEMS attribute .49
Table 25 – METHOD_ITEMS attribute .49
Table 26 – PARAMETER_LISTS attributes .50
Table 27 – REFERENCE_ARRAY_ITEMS attribute.50
Table 28 – REFRESH_ITEMS attribute.50
Table 29 – SOURCE_ITEMS attribute .51
Table 30 – UNIT_ITEMS attribute.51
Table 31 – WAVEFORM_ITEMS attribute.51
Table 32 – WRITE_AS_ONE_ITEMS attribute .51
Table 33 – BLOCK_B attributes.52

61804-3  IEC:2006(E) – 5 –
Table 34 – NUMBER attributes.52

Table 35 – TYPE attributes.53

Table 36 – CHART attributes.53

Table 37 – CYCLE_TIME attribute.54

Table 38 – HEIGHT/WIDTH attribute .54

Table 39 – LENGTH attribute .55

Table 40 – TYPE attribute .55

Table 41 – COLLECTION attributes.56

Table 42 – item–type.56
Table 43 – COMMAND attributes.58
Table 44 – OPERATION attribute .58
Table 45 – TRANSACTION attributes .59
Table 46 – REPLY and REQUEST attributes .60
Table 47 – INDEX attribute.61
Table 48 – BLOCK_B attribute.61
Table 49 – NUMBER attribute.61
Table 50 – SLOT attribute .62
Table 51 – CONNECTION attribute .62
Table 52 – HEADER attribute .62
Table 53 – MODULE attribute.63
Table 54 – CONNECTION attribute .63
Table 55 – APPINSTANCE attribute .63
Table 56 – DOMAIN attributes.64
Table 57 – HANDLING attribute.64
Table 58 – EDIT_DISPLAY attributes .65
Table 59 – EDIT_ITEMS attribute .65
Table 60 – DISPLAY_ITEM attributes .66
Table 61 – POST_EDIT_ACTIONS, PRE_EDIT_ACTIONS attribute.67
Table 62 – FILE attributes .67
Table 63 – GRAPH attributes .68
Table 64 – HEIGHT/WIDTH attribute .68

Table 65 – CYCLE_TIME attribute.69
Table 66 – X_AXIS attribute .69
Table 67 – GRID attributes.70
Table 68 – VECTORS attribute.70
Table 69 – HANDLING attribute.71
Table 70 – HEIGHT/WIDTH attribute .71
Table 71 – ORIENTATION attribute.72
Table 72 – VALIDITY attributes .72
Table 73 – IMAGE attributes .72
Table 74 – PATH attribute .73
Table 75 – LINK attribute .73
Table 76 – VALIDITY attributes .73

– 6 – 61804-3  IEC:2006(E)
Table 77 – Importing Device Description.75

Table 78 – Redefinition attributes .76

Table 79 – Redefinition rules for AXIS attributes.76

Table 80 – Redefinition rules for BLOCK_A attributes .77

Table 81 – Redefinition rules for BLOCK_B attributes .77

Table 82 – Redefinition rules for CHART attributes.78

Table 83 – Redefinition rules for COLLECTION attributes.78

Table 84 – Redefinition rules for COMMAND attributes.78

Table 85 – Redefinition rules for CONNECTION attributes.79
Table 86 – Redefinition rules for DOMAIN attributes .79
Table 87 – Redefinition rules for EDIT_DISPLAY attributes.79
Table 88 – Redefinition rules for FILE attributes .79
Table 89 – Redefinition rules for GRAPH attributes.80
Table 90 – Redefinition rules for GRID attributes .80
Table 91 – Redefinition rules for IMAGE attributes.80
Table 92 – Redefinition rules for LIST attributes .81
Table 93 – Redefinition rules for MENU attributes.81
Table 94 – Redefinition rules for METHOD attributes .82
Table 95 – Redefinition rules for PROGRAM attributes .82
Table 96 – Redefinition rules for RECORD attributes .82
Table 97 – Redefinition rules for REFERENCE_ARRAY attributes .82
Table 98 – Redefinition rules for RESPONSE_CODES attributes .83
Table 99 – Redefinition rules for SOURCE attributes .83
Table 100 – Redefinition rules for VALUE_ARRAY attributes .83
Table 101 – Redefinition rules for VARIABLE attributes .84
Table 102 – Redefinition rules for VARIABLE_LIST attributes .85
Table 103 – Redefinition rules for WAVEFORM attributes.85
Table 104 – LIKE attributes .86
Table 105 – LIST attributes .86
Table 106 – TYPE attribute .86
Table 107 – CAPACITY, COUNT attribute .87

Table 108 – MENU attribute .88
Table 109 – ITEMS attribute.89
Table 110 – ACCESS attribute .89
Table 111 – ENTRY attribute.90
Table 112 – POST_EDIT_ACTIONS, PRE_EDIT_ACTIONS, POST_READ_ACTIONS,
PRE_READ_ACTIONS, POST_WRITE_ACTIONS, PRE_WRITE_ACTIONS attributes.90
Table 113 – PURPOSE attribute.92
Table 114 – ROLE attribute .93
Table 115 – STYLE attribute .93
Table 116 – VALIDITY attributes .94
Table 117 – METHOD attributes.98
Table 118 – ACCESS attributes.98
Table 119 – TYPE attributes.99

61804-3  IEC:2006(E) – 7 –
Table 120 – VALIDITY attributes .99

Table 121 – PROGRAM attributes . 100

Table 122 – ARGUMENT attribute. 100

Table 123 – RECORD attributes. 101

Table 124 – REFERENCE_ARRAY attribute . 101

Table 125 – ELEMENTS attribute . 102

Table 126 – REFRESH attributes . 102

Table 127 – UNIT attributes . 103

Table 128 – WRITE_AS_ONE attribute. 103
Table 129 – RESPONSE_CODES attributes . 104
Table 130 – SOURCE attributes . 104
Table 131 – EMPHASIS attribute. 105
Table 132 – LINE_COLOR attribute. 105
Table 133 – LINE_TYPE attribute . 106
Table 134 – Y_AXIS attribute . 106
Table 135 – VALUE_ARRAY attributes . 107
Table 136 – NUMBER_OF_ELEMENTS attribute . 108
Table 137 – TYPE attribute . 108
Table 138 – VARIABLE attributes . 108
Table 139 – CLASS attributes . 109
Table 140 – TYPE attributes. 110
Table 141 – DOUBLE, FLOAT, INTEGER, UNSIGNED_INTEGER attributes . 112
Table 142 – BIT_ENUMERATED attributes. 114
Table 143 – status–class attributes . 115
Table 144 – ALL, AO, DV, TV attributes. 116
Table 145 – Enumerated types attributes. 116
Table 146 – Index type attributes. 117
Table 147 – Object reference type attribute . 117
Table 148 – DEFAULT_REFERENCE attributes . 117
Table 149 – String types attributes . 119
Table 150 – CONSTANT_UNIT attribute. 119

Table 151 – DEFAULT_VALUE attribute. 119
Table 152 – HANDLING attribute. 120
Table 153 – INITIAL_VALUE attribute. 120
Table 154 – POST_EDIT_ACTIONS, PRE_EDIT_ACTIONS, POST_READ_ACTIONS,
PRE_READ_ACTIONS, POST_WRITE_ACTIONS, PRE_WRITE_ACTIONS,
REFRESH_ACTIONS attributes. 121
Table 155 – READ/WRITE_TIMEOUT attributes. 123
Table 156 – STYLE attribute . 123
Table 157 – VALIDITY attributes . 123
Table 158 – VARIABLE_LIST attributes. 124
Table 159 – WAVEFORM attributes. 124
Table 160 – TYPE attribute . 125
Table 161 – XY attribute. 125

– 8 – 61804-3  IEC:2006(E)
Table 162 – YT attribute. 126

Table 163 – HORIZONTAL attribute . 127

Table 164 – VERTICAL attribute. 127

Table 165 – EMPHASIS attribute. 127

Table 166 – HANDLING attribute. 128

Table 167 – EXIT_ACTIONS, INIT_ACTIONS, REFRESH_ACTIONS attribute . 128

Table 168 – KEY_POINTS attribute . 129

Table 169 – X_VALUES, Y_VALUES attribute . 129

Table 170 – LINE_COLOR attribute. 130
Table 171 – LINE_TYPE attribute . 130
Table 172 – Y_AXIS attribute . 131
Table 173 – DEFINITION attributes . 131
Table 174 – HELP attribute . 132
Table 175 – LABEL attribute. 132
Table 176 – MEMBERS attributes. 133
Table 177 – RESPONSE_CODES attribute. 133
Table 178 – OPEN and CLOSE attributes. 134
Table 179 – IF, SELECT conditional . 135
Table 180 – Referencing an EDD instance. 136
Table 181 – Referencing elements of VARIABLE. 136
Table 182 – Referencing elements of RECORD. 136
Table 183 – Referencing elements of VALUE_ARRAY. 137
Table 184 – Referencing members of COLLECTION . 137
Table 185 – Referencing members of REFERENCE_ARRAY. 137
Table 186 – Referencing members of VARIABLE_LISTS . 138
Table 187 – Referencing members of a BLOCK_A PARAMETERS . 138
Table 188 – Referencing members of BLOCK_A PARAMETER_LISTS . 138
Table 189 – Referencing members of BLOCK_A LOCAL_PARAMETER. 138
Table 190 – Referencing BLOCK_A CHARACTERISTICS. 139
Table 191 – Referencing members of FILE. 139
Table 192 – Referencing elements of LIST . 139

Table 193 – Referencing members of CHART . 140
Table 194 – Referencing members of GRAPH . 140
Table 195 – Referencing members of SOURCE. 140
Table 196 – Referencing AXIS of a GRAPH. SOURCE, WAVEFORM . 141
Table 197 – String as a string literal . 141
Table 198 – String as a string variable. 141
Table 199 – String as an enumeration value . 142
Table 200 – String as a dictionary reference. 142
Table 201 – Referencing HELP and LABEL attributes of EDD instances . 142
Table 202 – String operation . 143
Table 203 – Format specifier. 143
Table 204 – Primary expressions. 144

61804-3  IEC:2006(E) – 9 –
Table 205 – Attribute values of VARIABLEs. 144

Table 206 – AXIS Attribute Values. 145

Table 207 – LIST Attribute Values . 145

Table 208 – Unary expressions . 145

Table 209 – Multiplicative operators . 146

Table 210 – Additive operators . 146

Table 211 – Shift operators . 147

Table 212 – Relational operators. 147

Table 213 – Equality operators . 147
Table 214 – Text dictionary attributes . 149
Table A.1 – Conventions for integer constants. 154
Table A.2 – Using escape sequences in string literals. 155
Table A.3 – Using language codes in string literals . 155
Table A.4 – EDDL operators. 156
Table A.5 – EDDL keywords . 156
Table B.1 – Format for the Builtins lexical element tables . 224
Table B.2 – Contents of the lexical element table. 224
Table B.3 – Builtin abort .225
Table B.4 – Builtin abort_on_all_comm_errors. 225
Table B.5 – Builtin ABORT_ON_ALL_COMM_STATUS. 226
Table B.6 – Builtin ABORT_ON_ALL_DEVICE_STATUS. 226
Table B.7 – Builtin ABORT_ON_ALL_RESPONSE_CODES . 227
Table B.8 – Builtin abort_on_all_response_codes . 227
Table B.9 – Builtin abort_on_comm_error. 227
Table B.10 – Builtin ABORT_ON_COMM_ERROR . 228
Table B.11 – Builtin ABORT_ON_COMM_STATUS. 228
Table B.12 – Builtin ABORT_ON_DEVICE_STATUS. 229
Table B.13 – Builtin ABORT_ON_NO_DEVICE . 229
Table B.14 – Builtin ABORT_ON_RESPONSE_CODE . 230
Table B.15 – Builtin abort_on_response_code . 231
Table B.16 – Builtin abs . 231

Table B.17 – Builtin ACKNOWLEDGE . 232
Table B.18 – Builtin acknowledge . 232
Table B.19 – Builtin acos.
...

IEC 61804-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2006-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Function blocks (FB) for process control –
Part 3: Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL)

Blocs fonctionnels (FB) pour les procédés industriels –
Partie 3: Langage de description électronique de produit (EDDL)

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IEC 61804-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2006-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Function blocks (FB) for process control –

Part 3: Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL)

Blocs fonctionnels (FB) pour les procédés industriels –

Partie 3: Langage de description électronique de produit (EDDL)

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE
XH
CODE PRIX
ICS 25.040.40; 35.240.50 ISBN 978-2-83220-541-9

– 2 – 61804-3  IEC:2006
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 16
INTRODUCTION . 18

1 Scope . 19
2 Normative references. 19
3 Terms, definitions, abbreviated terms and acronyms . 20
4 Conformance statement . 26
5 Conventions for lexical structures . 27
6 EDD and EDDL model . 28
6.1 Overview of EDD and EDDL . 28
6.2 EDD architecture . 28
6.3 Concepts of EDD . 28
6.4 Principles of the EDD development process . 29
6.5 Interrelations between the lexical structure and formal definitions . 30
6.6 Builtins . 30
6.7 Profiles . 30
7 Electronic Device Description Language . 30
7.1 Overview . 30
7.2 EDD identification information . 40
7.3 AXIS . 43
7.4 BLOCK . 44
7.5 CHART . 53
7.6 COLLECTION . 56
7.7 COMMAND . 57
7.8 CONNECTION . 63
7.9 DOMAIN . 64
7.10 EDIT_DISPLAY . 65
7.11 FILE . 67
7.12 GRAPH . 67
7.13 GRID . 69
7.14 IMAGE . 72
7.15 IMPORT . 74
7.16 LIKE . 85
7.17 LIST . 86
7.18 MENU . 87
7.19 METHOD . 98
7.20 PROGRAM . 100
7.21 RECORD . 101
7.22 REFERENCE_ARRAY . 101
7.23 Relations . 102
7.24 RESPONSE_CODES . 103
7.25 SOURCE . 104
7.26 VALUE_ARRAY . 107
7.27 VARIABLE . 108
7.28 VARIABLE_LIST . 123

61804-3  IEC:2006 – 3 –
7.29 WAVEFORM . 124
7.30 Common attributes . 131
7.31 Output redirection (OPEN and CLOSE) . 134
7.32 Conditional expression . 134
7.33 Referencing . 135
7.34 Strings . 141
7.35 Expression . 143
7.36 Text dictionary . 149

Annex A (normative) EDDL formal definition . 150
Annex B (normative) EDDL Builtin library . 224
Annex C (informative) EDD example . 337
Annex D (normative) Profiles of EDDL and Builtins . 350
Annex E (informative) Historical background . 376

Bibliography . 377

Figure 1 – Position of the IEC 61804 series related to other standards and products . 18
Figure 2 – EDD generation process . 29
Figure 3 – BLOCK_A . 32
Figure 4 – CHART . 32
Figure 5 – COLLECTION . 33
Figure 6 – COMMAND . 33
Figure 7 – DOMAIN . 33
Figure 8 – EDIT_DISPLAY . 34
Figure 9 – FILE . 34
Figure 10 – GRAPH . 34
Figure 11 – GRID . 34
Figure 12 – IMAGE . 35
Figure 13 – LIKE . 35
Figure 14 – LIST . 35
Figure 15 – MENU . 36
Figure 16 – PROGRAM . 36
Figure 17 – RECORD . 36
Figure 18 – REFERENCE_ARRAY . 37
Figure 19 – REFRESH . 37
Figure 20 – UNIT . 37
Figure 21 – WRITE_AS_ONE . 37
Figure 22 – SOURCE . 38
Figure 23 – VALUE_ARRAY . 38
Figure 24 – VARIABLE . 38
Figure 25 – VARIABLE_LIST . 38
Figure 26 – WAVEFORM. 39
Figure 27 – EDDL import mechanisms . 74
Figure 28 – MENU activation (ACCESS OFFLINE). 94

– 4 – 61804-3  IEC:2006
Figure 29 – Action performed after a new value is entered . 95
Figure 30 – Action performed after all VARIABLE inputs of the MENU are accepted
(ACCESS OFFLINE) . 95
Figure 31 – Method execution . 95
Figure 32 – MENU activation (ACCESS ONLINE) . 96
Figure 33 – Cyclic reading of dynamic VARIABLEs (ACCESS ONLINE) . 97
Figure 34 – Action performed after all VARIABLE inputs of the MENU are accepted
(ACCESS ONLINE) . 97
Figure 35 – Time for read-and-write operation . 122
Figure C.1 – Example of an operator screen using EDD. 337

Table 1 – Field attribute descriptions . 27
Table 2 – DD_REVISION attribute . 40
Table 3 – DEVICE_REVISION attribute . 41
Table 4 – DEVICE_TYPE attribute . 41
Table 5 – EDD_PROFILE attribute . 41
Table 6 – EDD_VERSION attribute . 42
Table 7 – MANUFACTURER attribute . 42
Table 8 – MANUFACTURER_EXT attribute . 42
Table 9 – AXIS attributes . 43
Table 10 – MAX_VALUE, MIN_VALUE attribute . 43
Table 11 – SCALING attribute . 44
Table 12 – BLOCK_A attributes . 45
Table 13 – CHARACTERISTIC attribute . 45
Table 14 – PARAMETER attributes . 46
Table 15 – AXIS_ITEMS attribute . 46
Table 16 – CHART_ITEMS attribute . 46
Table 17 – COLLECTION_ITEMS attribute . 47
Table 18 – EDIT_DISPLAY_ITEMS attribute . 47
Table 19 – FILE_ITEMS attribute . 47
Table 20 – GRAPH_ITEMS attribute . 48
Table 21 – GRID_ITEMS attribute . 48
Table 22 – IMAGE_ITEMS attribute . 48
Table 23 – LIST_ITEMS attribute . 48
Table 24 – MENU_ITEMS attribute . 49
Table 25 – METHOD_ITEMS attribute . 49
Table 26 – PARAMETER_LISTS attributes . 50
Table 27 – REFERENCE_ARRAY_ITEMS attribute . 50
Table 28 – REFRESH_ITEMS attribute . 50
Table 29 – SOURCE_ITEMS attribute . 51
Table 30 – UNIT_ITEMS attribute . 51
Table 31 – WAVEFORM_ITEMS attribute . 51
Table 32 – WRITE_AS_ONE_ITEMS attribute . 51
Table 33 – BLOCK_B attributes . 52

61804-3  IEC:2006 – 5 –
Table 34 – NUMBER attributes . 52
Table 35 – TYPE attributes. 53
Table 36 – CHART attributes . 53
Table 37 – CYCLE_TIME attribute . 54
Table 38 – HEIGHT/WIDTH attribute . 54
Table 39 – LENGTH attribute . 55
Table 40 – TYPE attribute . 55
Table 41 – COLLECTION attributes . 56
Table 42 – item–type . 56
Table 43 – COMMAND attributes . 58
Table 44 – OPERATION attribute . 58
Table 45 – TRANSACTION attributes . 59
Table 46 – REPLY and REQUEST attributes . 60
Table 47 – INDEX attribute . 61
Table 48 – BLOCK_B attribute. 61
Table 49 – NUMBER attribute. 61
Table 50 – SLOT attribute . 62
Table 51 – CONNECTION attribute . 62
Table 52 – HEADER attribute . 62
Table 53 – MODULE attribute . 63
Table 54 – CONNECTION attribute . 63
Table 55 – APPINSTANCE attribute . 63
Table 56 – DOMAIN attributes . 64
Table 57 – HANDLING attribute . 64
Table 58 – EDIT_DISPLAY attributes . 65
Table 59 – EDIT_ITEMS attribute . 65
Table 60 – DISPLAY_ITEM attributes . 66
Table 61 – POST_EDIT_ACTIONS, PRE_EDIT_ACTIONS attribute . 67
Table 62 – FILE attributes . 67
Table 63 – GRAPH attributes . 68
Table 64 – HEIGHT/WIDTH attribute . 68
Table 65 – CYCLE_TIME attribute . 69
Table 66 – X_AXIS attribute . 69
Table 67 – GRID attributes . 70
Table 68 – VECTORS attribute . 70
Table 69 – HANDLING attribute . 71
Table 70 – HEIGHT/WIDTH attribute . 71
Table 71 – ORIENTATION attribute . 72
Table 72 – VALIDITY attributes . 72
Table 73 – IMAGE attributes . 72
Table 74 – PATH attribute . 73
Table 75 – LINK attribute . 73
Table 76 – VALIDITY attributes . 73

– 6 – 61804-3  IEC:2006
Table 77 – Importing Device Description. 75
Table 78 – Redefinition attributes . 76
Table 79 – Redefinition rules for AXIS attributes . 76
Table 80 – Redefinition rules for BLOCK_A attributes . 77
Table 81 – Redefinition rules for BLOCK_B attributes . 77
Table 82 – Redefinition rules for CHART attributes . 78
Table 83 – Redefinition rules for COLLECTION attributes . 78
Table 84 – Redefinition rules for COMMAND attributes . 78
Table 85 – Redefinition rules for CONNECTION attributes . 79
Table 86 – Redefinition rules for DOMAIN attributes . 79
Table 87 – Redefinition rules for EDIT_DISPLAY attributes . 79
Table 88 – Redefinition rules for FILE attributes . 79
Table 89 – Redefinition rules for GRAPH attributes . 80
Table 90 – Redefinition rules for GRID attributes . 80
Table 91 – Redefinition rules for IMAGE attributes . 80
Table 92 – Redefinition rules for LIST attributes . 81
Table 93 – Redefinition rules for MENU attributes . 81
Table 94 – Redefinition rules for METHOD attributes . 82
Table 95 – Redefinition rules for PROGRAM attributes . 82
Table 96 – Redefinition rules for RECORD attributes . 82
Table 97 – Redefinition rules for REFERENCE_ARRAY attributes . 82
Table 98 – Redefinition rules for RESPONSE_CODES attributes . 83
Table 99 – Redefinition rules for SOURCE attributes . 83
Table 100 – Redefinition rules for VALUE_ARRAY attributes . 83
Table 101 – Redefinition rules for VARIABLE attributes . 84
Table 102 – Redefinition rules for VARIABLE_LIST attributes . 85
Table 103 – Redefinition rules for WAVEFORM attributes . 85
Table 104 – LIKE attributes . 86
Table 105 – LIST attributes . 86
Table 106 – TYPE attribute . 86
Table 107 – CAPACITY, COUNT attribute . 87
Table 108 – MENU attribute . 88
Table 109 – ITEMS attribute . 89
Table 110 – ACCESS attribute . 89
Table 111 – ENTRY attribute . 90
Table 112 – POST_EDIT_ACTIONS, PRE_EDIT_ACTIONS, POST_READ_ACTIONS,
PRE_READ_ACTIONS, POST_WRITE_ACTIONS, PRE_WRITE_ACTIONS attributes . 90
Table 113 – PURPOSE attribute . 92
Table 114 – ROLE attribute . 93
Table 115 – STYLE attribute . 93
Table 116 – VALIDITY attributes . 94
Table 117 – METHOD attributes . 98
Table 118 – ACCESS attributes . 98
Table 119 – TYPE attributes . 99

61804-3  IEC:2006 – 7 –
Table 120 – VALIDITY attributes . 99
Table 121 – PROGRAM attributes . 100
Table 122 – ARGUMENT attribute . 100
Table 123 – RECORD attributes . 101
Table 124 – REFERENCE_ARRAY attribute . 101
Table 125 – ELEMENTS attribute . 102
Table 126 – REFRESH attributes . 102
Table 127 – UNIT attributes . 103
Table 128 – WRITE_AS_ONE attribute . 103
Table 129 – RESPONSE_CODES attributes . 104
Table 130 – SOURCE attributes . 104
Table 131 – EMPHASIS attribute . 105
Table 132 – LINE_COLOR attribute . 105
Table 133 – LINE_TYPE attribute . 106
Table 134 – Y_AXIS attribute . 106
Table 135 – VALUE_ARRAY attributes . 107
Table 136 – NUMBER_OF_ELEMENTS attribute . 108
Table 137 – TYPE attribute . 108
Table 138 – VARIABLE attributes . 108
Table 139 – CLASS attributes . 109
Table 140 – TYPE attributes . 110
Table 141 – DOUBLE, FLOAT, INTEGER, UNSIGNED_INTEGER attributes . 112
Table 142 – BIT_ENUMERATED attributes . 114
Table 143 – status–class attributes . 115
Table 144 – ALL, AO, DV, TV attributes . 116
Table 145 – Enumerated types attributes . 116
Table 146 – Index type attributes . 117
Table 147 – Object reference type attribute . 117
Table 148 – DEFAULT_REFERENCE attributes . 117
Table 149 – String types attributes . 119
Table 150 – CONSTANT_UNIT attribute . 119
Table 151 – DEFAULT_VALUE attribute . 119
Table 152 – HANDLING attribute . 120
Table 153 – INITIAL_VALUE attribute . 120
Table 154 – POST_EDIT_ACTIONS, PRE_EDIT_ACTIONS, POST_READ_ACTIONS,
PRE_READ_ACTIONS, POST_WRITE_ACTIONS, PRE_WRITE_ACTIONS,
REFRESH_ACTIONS attributes . 121
Table 155 – READ/WRITE_TIMEOUT attributes . 123
Table 156 – STYLE attribute . 123
Table 157 – VALIDITY attributes . 123
Table 158 – VARIABLE_LIST attributes . 124
Table 159 – WAVEFORM attributes. 124
Table 160 – TYPE attribute . 125
Table 161 – XY attribute . 125

– 8 – 61804-3  IEC:2006
Table 162 – YT attribute . 126
Table 163 – HORIZONTAL attribute . 127
Table 164 – VERTICAL attribute . 127
Table 165 – EMPHASIS attribute . 127
Table 166 – HANDLING attribute . 128
Table 167 – EXIT_ACTIONS, INIT_ACTIONS, REFRESH_ACTIONS attribute . 128
Table 168 – KEY_POINTS attribute . 129
Table 169 – X_VALUES, Y_VALUES attribute . 129
Table 170 – LINE_COLOR attribute . 130
Table 171 – LINE_TYPE attribute . 130
Table 172 – Y_AXIS attribute . 131
Table 173 – DEFINITION attributes . 131
Table 174 – HELP attribute . 132
Table 175 – LABEL attribute . 132
Table 176 – MEMBERS attributes. 133
Table 177 – RESPONSE_CODES attribute . 133
Table 178 – OPEN and CLOSE attributes . 134
Table 179 – IF, SELECT conditional . 135
Table 180 – Referencing an EDD instance. 136
Table 181 – Referencing elements of VARIABLE . 136
Table 182 – Referencing elements of RECORD . 136
Table 183 – Referencing elements of VALUE_ARRAY . 137
Table 184 – Referencing members of COLLECTION . 137
Table 185 – Referencing members of REFERENCE_ARRAY . 137
Table 186 – Referencing members of VARIABLE_LISTS . 138
Table 187 – Referencing members of a BLOCK_A PARAMETERS . 138
Table 188 – Referencing members of BLOCK_A PARAMETER_LISTS . 138
Table 189 – Referencing members of BLOCK_A LOCAL_PARAMETER . 138
Table 190 – Referencing BLOCK_A CHARACTERISTICS . 139
Table 191 – Referencing members of FILE . 139
Table 192 – Referencing elements of LIST . 139
Table 193 – Referencing members of CHART . 140
Table 194 – Referencing members of GRAPH . 140
Table 195 – Referencing members of SOURCE . 140
Table 196 – Referencing AXIS of a GRAPH. SOURCE, WAVEFORM . 141
Table 197 – String as a string literal . 141
Table 198 – String as a string variable . 141
Table 199 – String as an enumeration value . 142
Table 200 – String as a dictionary reference . 142
Table 201 – Referencing HELP and LABEL attributes of EDD instances . 142
Table 202 – String operation . 143
Table 203 – Format specifier . 143
Table 204 – Primary expressions . 144

61804-3  IEC:2006 – 9 –
Table 205 – Attribute values of VARIABLEs . 144
Table 206 – AXIS Attribute Values . 145
Table 207 – LIST Attribute Values . 145
Table 208 – Unary expressions . 145
Table 209 – Multiplicative operators . 146
Table 210 – Additive operators . 146
Table 211 – Shift operators . 147
Table 212 – Relational operators . 147
Table 213 – Equality operators . 147
Table 214 – Text dictionary attributes . 149
Table A.1 – Conventions for integer constants .
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