If an ACF program runs as an independent process, what are the ways to drive its execution? Additionally, within the ACF framework, is it possible to call self-written native function blocks?
I’m not sure I understand, so I will start with some definitions to try to clarify the question:
The Application Component Framework (ACF) is a programming framework that enables component-based platform development as well as expandability and configurability of the entire PLCnext Runtime.
One Component in the PLCnext Runtime is the „Program Library Manager“ (PLM Component), which allows program instances to be created and executed by the Execution and Syncronization Manager (ESM).
The PLCnext Info Center includes information on how users can create their own ACF Components and PLM Programs in C++. These are two different types of solutions - ACF components are suitable when deterministic real-time performance is not required, while PLM program instances can be executed by the ESM in the same way as programs written in IEC-61131 languages in PLCnext Engineer.
To clarify your questions:
* When you say "ACF program", do you mean an ACF Component, or a PLM Program, or something else?
* I don't understand what you mean when you say that this "runs as an independent process". Where did you get this information?
* What do you mean by "driving the execution" of the application? We have information on how to start an ACF Component, and how to start a PLM Program instance, and how data can be transferred to and from these instances via Global Data Space (GDS) ports. Is that what you mean?
within the ACF framework, is it possible to call self-written native function blocks?
No, a self-written native function block will be compiled into a PLCnext Engineer function block library. That PLCnext Engineer function block library can only be used in a PLCnext Engineer project. It's not possible to call those function blocks from an ACF Component or from a PLM (C++) Program.