Read Variable
- Updated2025-07-30
- 3 minute(s) read
Reads from a network-published shared variable, I/O variable, or I/O variable container.
For I/O variables and I/O variable containers, this function performs a scanned read operation.

Inputs/Outputs
shared variable refnum in
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data type
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data type specifies the data type of the shared variable or I/O variable container. For I/O variable containers, you must specify an array data type. This input is available only if the data type has not been previously specified. You can specify a data type by placing a checkmark in the Specify Data Type checkbox on the Configuration page of the Properties dialog box for the variable refnum. If you specify the data type upon opening the connection, this terminal is unavailable on subsequent read and write functions.
error in (no error)
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error in describes error conditions that occur before this node runs. This input provides standard error in functionality.
shared variable refnum out
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data out
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data out is the data read from the shared variable or I/O variable container.
error out
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error out contains error information. This output provides standard error out functionality.
timestamp
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timestamp is the timestamp indicating when the current data was written to the shared variable. This output is available only if you place a checkmark in the Read Timestamp checkbox on the Configuration page of the Properties dialog box for the variable refnum. I/O variable containers do not support timestamps. |
Use this function when you need to read the current value regardless of value changes. If you need to read only new data values, use the Read Variable with Timeout function.
shared variable refnum in
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data type
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error in (no error)
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shared variable refnum out
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data out
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error out
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timestamp
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