Creating Ladder Logic Programs 4–3
Products That Support Datalinks
To use datalinks, your SCANport product must support them. Refer 
to your product user manual.
Using Datalinks
The following are the rules for using datalinks:
• Normally, each enabled datalink reserves two words in both the 
input and output image tables of the controller. This increases 
your I/O image size. The starting module group on the module 
must be set to support the size of the I/O image table. Truncation 
can be used to minimize the required rack size used by the 
Remote I/O module. Refer to Chapter 2.
• Each set of datalink parameters in a SCANport product can be 
used by only one communications module. If more than one 
module is connected to a single SCANport product, they must not 
attempt to use the same datalink.
• Parameter settings in the SCANport product determine the data 
passed through the datalink mechanism. Refer to the user manual 
for your SCANport product for more information.
• When you use a datalink to change a value, the value is not 
written to the EEPROM. The value is stored in volatile memory 
and lost when the drive loses power.
• The 1336 FORCE and 1336 IMPACT drives use datalinks in a 
special way. Refer to their user manuals for information.
Example Application 1
The simplest application of datalinks is to set a parameter number 
into a Data In parameter. The controller output image table word 
connected to this datalink will then control the value of the parameter 
set into the Data In parameter.
For example, to change the value of parameter 27 in a 1336 PLUS 
drive, you need to:
1. In the 1336 PLUS drive, set parameter 111 (Data In A1) to 27. 
2. On the communications module, slide SW 3.4 to ON. See Figure 
2.6.
3. If your communications module is configured like Figure 4.1, 
word 3 (fourth word) in the output image will be the value that 
parameter 27 uses. This value is stored in volatile memory and 
lost when the drive loses power.
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