clicknick 0.12.1

Modern IDE Features for Automation Direct CLICK PLC Programming

ClickNick

Modern IDE Features for Automation Direct CLICK PLC Programming.

ClickNick adds autocomplete, bulk editing, and visual organization tools to CLICK Programming Software.

	Standard CLICK	ClickNick
Instruction Entry	Type addresses C123	✅ Autocomplete nicknames
Address Editing	One-by-one in app	✅ Bulk edit, multi-window, search/replace
Organization	Flat list	✅ Color named blocks + tree outline (hierarchy & arrays)
DataView	Input raw addresses, limited reordering	✅ Autocomplete, add entire grouped structures and blocks, drag and drop reordering
Price	Free (bundled)	Free (open source)
Best For	Simple projects	Complex projects, productivity

Features at a Glance

• ✨ Nickname Autocomplete – Type Valve5 instead of C123, with smart filters and hover tooltips
• 🛠️ Modern Address Editor – Bulk edit with search/replace, color-coded blocks, multi-window support
• 📑 Navigation Dock – Tree view with automatic hierarchy and array grouping
• 📊 Dataview Editor – Tabbed interface, nickname lookup, unlimited reordering
• 🔌 Connectivity – CSV import and live ODBC database support

Beta Disclaimer – This is beta software. Use at your own risk and always back up .ckp files.

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Prerequisites

• OS: Windows 10 or 11
• CLICK Software: v2.60–v3.80 (download here)
• ODBC Drivers: Microsoft Access Database Engine (for live DB connection; install link)
• Python: 3.11+ (only if using pip; uv manages Python automatically)

Quick Start

Option 1: uv (recommended)

uvx clicknick@latest              # Try it without installing
uv tool install clicknick         # Install for offline use
clicknick                         # Run (command line or Start Menu)

New to uv? See installation instructions.

Option 2: pip

pip install clicknick
python -m clicknick

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Detailed Features

✨ Nickname Autocomplete

Skip the addresses – Select Valve5 instead of typing C123
Flexible filters – Prefix, partial match/contains, or abbreviation (e.g., Motor Speed ↔ Mtr_Spd)
Hover tooltips – View address comments at a glance
Exclusion filters – Hide system or internal addresses (e.g., SC/SD, __private__)

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🛠️ Modern Address Editor

Multi-window – Edit different address sections simultaneously
Bulk editing – Edit before saving, copy/paste multiple cells, live duplicate detection and validation
Search & Replace (Ctrl+F / Ctrl+R) - With Find in Selection toggle
Custom blocks – Drag to create color-coded groups for organization and quick navigation

[!NOTE]
Nicknames edited in the Address Editor appear immediately in autocomplete. Existing ladder logic refreshes after editing via the built-in Address Picker (Ctrl+T) or reopening the project.
See issue https://github.com/ssweber/clicknick/issues/36

⚠️ Search & Replace Behavior
Replace affects all visible columns. Hidden columns (Initial Value, Retentive) are only modified if you make them visible first. Use "Find in Selection" to limit scope.

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📑 Navigation Dock

Navigate large projects – See all your nicknames in an organized tree view
Spot patterns – Arrays and related items grouped automatically

Hierarchy: Single underscores create levels. SupplyTank_Pump_Status becomes:

SupplyTank
    └── Pump
        └── Status

Arrays: Trailing numbers auto-group. Alm1_id, Alm1_value, Alm2_id, Alm2_value becomes:

Alm[1-2]
1
  ├── id
  └── value
2
  ├── id
  └── value

One-click access – Double-click any item to edit.

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📊 Dataview Editor

Project integration – Loads all DataViews (.cdv files) from your CLICK project in tab-interface
Nickname lookup – Add addresses by typing nicknames instead of raw addresses
Drag-and-drop reordering – Rearrange rows freely with cut/paste support
Flexible row limit – No hard 100-row limit while organizing; overflow rows shown in grey (excluded from save)
Navigator integration – Double-click nicknames or entire structures from the Outline/Blocks panel to insert

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🔌 Connectivity

• CSV nickname import – No drivers needed. Import from any spreadsheet
• Live ODBC database connection – Direct, real-time access to CLICK project database

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Block Tag Specification

Note: The Address Editor provides buttons to create and manage blocks. This section documents the underlying format for power users.

Add tags in the Comment field to create visual blocks:

Syntax:

• <BlockName> - Opening tag for a range
• </BlockName> - Closing tag for a range
• <BlockName /> - Self-closing tag for a singular point
• <BlockName bg="#color"> - Adds background color

Colors: Use HEX codes or keywords: Red, Pink, Purple, Deep Purple, Indigo, Blue, Light Blue, Cyan, Teal, Green, Light Green, Lime, Yellow, Amber, Orange, Deep Orange, Brown, Blue Grey

Example: <Alm Bits bg="Red"> ... </Alm Bits>

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Motivation

CLICK PLCs were my first PLC experience, but remembering addresses became painful. Other platforms autocomplete—why not CLICK? ClickNick adds the modern tools I wish I'd had.