I've not used that one however I've been taking classes that use Connected components workshop by Allen Bradley and I must say that it's a really good program besides the fact that you can't simulate anything...

When you're still practicing it's a big minus( especially since it's a free program). You have to have the machine, everything connected and wait while the program gets downloaded to the machine... This really disturbs the workflow for someone who isn't a professional.

On a positive note, that's excellent practice. Arguably the most important part of dealing with PLCs is uploading/downloading properly. As you now know, the terms upload and download are used in reverse fashion from what we are used to as download consumers. The completely uninitiated person would most likely erase a PLC by downloading a blank program to it. The somewhat initiated person would most likely upload a program with out data memory areas, make a change, and then download the program back to PLC with blank data memory areas, erasing all parameters that the PLC needs to function. (Ask me how I know). Another way to mess up is to upload a program with comments and then download it without.

Doing it over and over again makes it muscle memory and makes you much less likely to make a PLC faux pas.

 

The stupid idea of replacing the old, well tested dropdown menus (as in old Office) with the absurd "ribbons" full of obscure icons you need to learn instead of reading a list.

 

Right off hand, the ATMs at Chase Bank are a bit annoying.

The tap buttons are obscured by large pictures of stuff that have nothing to do with the task to be performed. If I'm depositing a check, the only thing on the screen should be the buttons and not a picture of some couple with their family dog. On AT&T's payment kiosks, the ENTER button is usually under the key pad, but at other times, it's in the lower side of the screen.

Thank goodness that toilets still have a little lever on the tank for a user interface, However, I'm wondering what to do if the "AutoFlush" in some office buildings doesn't work!!!

 

There are toilets that don't have the sensible handle. I ran into one, can't remember where, that had a largish square chome button on the wall above the tank that was a bit puzzling. Since I've drifted into the bathroom space there was a shower in a hotel in Johannesburg (Hyatt Regency Rosebank) that I found totally baffling. The impressive array of nozzles was controlled by an incomprehensible collection of knobs and buttons. I called the front desk and they sent a guy up to give me a lesson. I was pretty embarrased but tried to act cool watching in my bathrobe.

 

The Allen Bradley PLC's they had at work, to turn a certain individual machine on the production line, off when changing over to a new part number you had to select between "enabled" or "disabled". Enabled meant that the individual machine was off, totally made some not able to do their own setups.

Well, it seemed obvious to some engineer that that you need to ENABLE the DISABLE status.

 

On a positive note, that's excellent practice. Arguably the most important part of dealing with PLCs is uploading/downloading properly. As you now know, the terms upload and download are used in reverse fashion from what we are used to as download consumers. The completely uninitiated person would most likely erase a PLC by downloading a blank program to it. The somewhat initiated person would most likely upload a program with out data memory areas, make a change, and then download the program back to PLC with blank data memory areas, erasing all parameters that the PLC needs to function. (Ask me how I know). Another way to mess up is to upload a program with comments and then download it without.

Doing it over and over again makes it muscle memory and makes you much less likely to make a PLC faux pas.

My bad It's true that the upload and download is reversed to how we are used to it. Happened to me once! Fortunately it was only a program that took about 5 minutes to create.

The downside to not being able to do it in simulation is that there is very little that you can do at home to test your code unless you have the PLC and everything else needed.