EAE Runtime.Base Library Reference

Reference guide for the Runtime.Base standard library - ~100 built-in IEC 61499 function blocks for EcoStruxure Automation Expert.

Use this skill to:

• Find the right block for a task
• Understand block interfaces (events, inputs, outputs)
• Learn correct usage patterns
• Troubleshoot block behavior

Quick Start

User: I need to delay an event by 5 seconds
Claude: Use E_DELAY - pass T#5s to DT input, trigger START

User: How do I create a cyclic task?
Claude: Use E_CYCLE with DT=T#100ms for 100ms cycle, or E_HRCYCLE for high-resolution

User: What blocks handle MQTT?
Claude: MQTT_CONNECTION (setup), MQTT_PUBLISH, MQTT_SUBSCRIBE

Triggers

• /eae-runtime-base
• "which Runtime.Base block"
• "how to use E_DELAY"
• "find block for..."
• "Runtime.Base reference"
• "standard library block"

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Library Categories

Category	Count	Purpose
Basics	14	Event routing primitives (split, merge, select, permit)
Composites	2	Trigger detection (rising/falling edge)
Services	80+	Timers, math, logic, communication, data handling
Resources	2	Embedded resource types

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Quick Reference by Task

Event Flow Control

Block	Purpose	Key Inputs
E_SPLIT	1 event → 2 outputs	EI → EO1, EO2
E_MERGE	2 events → 1 output	EI1, EI2 → EO
E_SELECT	Route by boolean	G (guard), EI0, EI1 → EO
E_SWITCH	Boolean switch	G, EI → EO0, EO1
E_PERMIT	Gate events	PERMIT, EI → EO
E_DEMUX	1 event → N outputs	K (index), EI → EO0..EOn
E_REND	Rendezvous (sync)	EI1, EI2, R → EO

Timing

Block	Purpose	Key Inputs
E_CYCLE	Periodic events	DT (period) → EO every DT
E_HRCYCLE	High-res periodic	DT, PHASE → EO
E_DELAY	Delay single event	DT, START → EO after DT
E_DELAYR	Retriggerable delay	DT, START → EO
E_TRAIN	Event train/burst	DT, N → N events at DT
E_TABLE	Scheduled sequence	DT[], START → EO at times

Edge Detection

Block	Purpose	Interface
E_R_TRIG	Rising edge	EI, QI → EO when FALSE→TRUE
E_F_TRIG	Falling edge	EI, QI → EO when TRUE→FALSE

Latches & Flip-Flops

Block	Purpose	Interface
E_SR	Set-Reset (S dominant)	S, R → Q
E_RS	Reset-Set (R dominant)	R, S → Q
E_D_FF	D Flip-Flop	CLK, D → Q
E_CTU	Up counter	CU, R, PV → Q, CV

Arithmetic

Block	Purpose	Interface
ADD	Addition	IN1 + IN2 → OUT
SUB	Subtraction	IN1 - IN2 → OUT
MUL	Multiplication	IN1 * IN2 → OUT
DIV	Division	IN1 / IN2 → OUT
ANAMATH	Analog math	Multiple operations
CALC_FORMULAR	Formula evaluation	Expression string

Logic

Block	Purpose	Interface
AND	Logical AND	IN1, IN2 → OUT
OR	Logical OR	IN1, IN2 → OUT
NOT	Logical NOT	IN → OUT
XOR	Exclusive OR	IN1, IN2 → OUT
COMPARE	Compare values	IN1, IN2 → LT, EQ, GT
SELECT	Conditional select	G, IN0, IN1 → OUT

Bit Manipulation

Block	Purpose	Interface
BITMAN	Bit manipulation	Operations on bits
SHL	Shift left	IN, N → OUT
SHR	Shift right	IN, N → OUT
ROL	Rotate left	IN, N → OUT
ROR	Rotate right	IN, N → OUT

Communication - MQTT

Block	Purpose	Key Inputs
MQTT_CONNECTION	Broker connection	ServerURI, ClientID, User, Password
MQTT_PUBLISH	Publish messages	ConnectionID, Topic, Payload, QoS
MQTT_SUBSCRIBE	Subscribe to topics	ConnectionID, Topic

Communication - Other

Block	Purpose	Key Inputs
WEBSOCKET_SERVER	WebSocket server	Port, Path
NETIO	Network I/O	IP, Port
SERIALIO	Serial communication	Port, BaudRate
QUERY_CONNECTION	HTTP/REST queries	URL, Method

Data Handling

Block	Purpose	Key Inputs
BUFFER	Data buffer	IN → buffered → OUT
BUFFERP	Persistent buffer	With persistence
ANY2ANY	Type conversion	IN (any) → OUT (any)
SPLIT	Split data	IN → OUT1, OUT2
AGGREGATE	Combine data	IN1, IN2 → OUT

JSON

Block	Purpose	Interface
JSON_BUILDER	Build JSON	Key/Value pairs → JSON string
JSON_PARSER	Parse JSON	JSON string → Values
JSON_FORMAT	Format JSON	Structured → Formatted

Configuration & Parameters

Block	Purpose	Interface
CFG_ANY_GET	Get config value	Path → Value
CFG_ANY_SET	Set config value	Path, Value → OK
CFG_DIRECT_GET	Direct param read	Address → Value
CFG_DIRECT_SET	Direct param write	Address, Value → OK
PERSISTENCE	Persist values	Save/Load from storage

Process Data (PD)

Block	Purpose	Interface
PD_ANY_IN	Process data input	Address → Value
PD_ANY_OUT	Process data output	Value → Address
PD_DIRECT_IN	Direct PD read	Hardware address
PD_DIRECT_OUT	Direct PD write	Hardware address
PD_COPY	Copy process data	Source → Destination

System & Diagnostics

Block	Purpose	Interface
LOGGER	Log messages	Message, Level → Log
SYSLOGLOGGER	Syslog logging	Remote syslog server
CPUTICK	CPU tick counter	→ TICK (timing)
REPORT_APP_STATE	Application state	State → HMI/OPC-UA
ALARM_BIT	Alarm handling	Condition → Alarm

Value Encoding

Block	Purpose	Interface
VTQ_ENCODE	Value+Time+Quality encode	V, T, Q → VTQ
VTQ_DECODE	VTQ decode	VTQ → V, T, Q
VALFORMAT	Format value to string	Value, Format → String
VALSCAN	Parse string to value	String → Value

Resources

Block	Purpose	Use Case
EMB_RES_ECO	Economy resource	Standard applications
EMB_RES_ENH	Enhanced resource	High-performance

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Common Patterns

Pattern 1: Cyclic Execution

E_CYCLE (DT=T#100ms)
    └── EO → Your_FB.REQ

Pattern 2: Event Synchronization

Source1.CNF ──┐
              ├── E_REND.EI1, EI2 → EO → Next_Step
Source2.CNF ──┘

Pattern 3: Conditional Routing

Condition ─── E_SWITCH.G
Event     ─── E_SWITCH.EI
              ├── EO0 (when G=FALSE)
              └── EO1 (when G=TRUE)

Pattern 4: MQTT Publishing

MQTT_CONNECTION (ServerURI, ClientID)
    │
    ├── INITO → MQTT_PUBLISH.INIT (ConnectionID)
    │               │
    │               └── INITO → Ready to publish
    │
    └── CONNECTO → Connection established

Pattern 5: Delayed One-Shot

Trigger ─── E_DELAY.START (DT=T#5s)
                │
                └── EO → Action (5s later)

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Block Interface Conventions

All Runtime.Base blocks follow IEC 61499 conventions:

Element	Convention
INIT	Initialization event input
INITO	Initialization confirmation output
REQ	Request event input
CNF	Confirmation event output
QI	Input qualifier (BOOL)
QO	Output qualifier (BOOL)
STATUS	Status string output

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Scripts

Block Lookup

Search Runtime.Base blocks by keyword, category, or list all:

# Search for blocks matching keyword
python scripts/lookup_block.py "delay"
# Returns: E_DELAY, E_DELAYR

# Show categories with search results
python scripts/lookup_block.py "mqtt" --category
# Returns: MQTT_CONNECTION, MQTT_PUBLISH, MQTT_SUBSCRIBE [MQTT]

# List all block categories
python scripts/lookup_block.py --list-categories

# List all blocks
python scripts/lookup_block.py --list-all

# JSON output for automation
python scripts/lookup_block.py "timer" --json

Features:

• Searches block names, descriptions, and keywords
• Supports 17 categories covering ~100 blocks
• JSON output for CI/CD integration

Exit codes:

• 0 - Success (matches found or list completed)
• 1 - Error (invalid arguments)
• 2 - No matches found

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Troubleshooting

Issue	Check
Block not firing	Verify input events are connected
E_CYCLE not running	START event must be triggered
MQTT not connecting	Check ServerURI format, credentials
Timer drift	Use E_HRCYCLE for precision
Data not updating	Check With associations in events

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Related Skills

Skill	Relationship
eae-se-process	Higher-level process blocks (motors, valves, PID) built on Runtime.Base
eae-basic-fb	Create custom Basic FBs
eae-composite-fb	Create Composite FBs using these blocks
eae-cat	Create CAT blocks
eae-skill-router	Main EAE skill router

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References

• Block Catalog - Complete block listing with details
• Common Patterns - Usage patterns and examples

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Extension Points

1. Add new blocks as Runtime.Base library expands
2. Create domain-specific pattern guides (MQTT, timers, etc.)
3. Add troubleshooting flowcharts for common issues