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Settings Init

This block initializes settings with default values or restores settings to defaults. Use it at application startup or for factory reset functionality.

Settings Init Block

Overview​

The Settings Init block sets initial values for settings, ensuring proper configuration at application startup or restoring factory defaults.

Configuration​

  • Setting: Which setting to initialize
  • Value: Default value to set
  • Condition: When to initialize (always, if empty, if invalid)

Initialization Modes​

Always Initialize​

Set value every time block executes:

  • Force specific value
  • Restore to defaults
  • Override current value

Initialize if Empty​

Set value only if setting is not configured:

  • First-time setup
  • Preserve user configuration
  • Default value for new settings

Initialize if Invalid​

Set value only if current value is invalid:

  • Recover from corruption
  • Handle out-of-range values
  • Fix configuration errors

Use Cases​

Common settings initialization scenarios:

Application Startup​

Initialize critical settings on boot:

On System Boot:
- Settings Init: MQTT Server = "mqtt.example.com"
- Settings Init: Poll Interval = 60
- Settings Init: Temperature Unit = "Celsius"

Factory Reset​

Restore all settings to defaults:

On Factory Reset Button:
- Settings Init: All settings to defaults
- Clear data tables
- Reboot device

First-Time Setup​

Configure new device:

If (first_boot == true):
- Settings Init: Device Name = "Device-{serial}"
- Settings Init: Network Mode = "DHCP"
- Set first_boot = false

Migration​

Update settings after firmware upgrade:

If (config_version < 2.0):
- Settings Init: New settings to defaults
- Migrate old settings
- Update config_version

Setting Types​

Initialize various setting types:

Text Settings​

Device Name: "My Device"
WiFi SSID: "MyNetwork"
MQTT Topic: "devices/sensor1"

Numeric Settings​

Poll Interval: 60
Temperature Setpoint: 22
Alarm Threshold: 100

Boolean Settings​

Enable Logging: true
Auto Reconnect: true
Debug Mode: false

Selection Settings​

Network Mode: "WiFi" (from list: WiFi, Cellular, Ethernet)
Temperature Unit: "Celsius" (from list: Celsius, Fahrenheit)

Default Values​

Define appropriate defaults:

  • Safe operating values
  • Common use case values
  • Values that work out-of-box
  • Comply with regulations

Validation​

Validate initialization:

  • Check value ranges
  • Verify required format
  • Ensure dependencies
  • Test default configuration

Startup Sequence​

Typical initialization sequence:

  1. System Boot
  2. Settings Init blocks execute
  3. Load user-configured values (if exist)
  4. Initialize features with settings
  5. Start application logic

Multiple Settings​

Initialize multiple settings:

  • Create separate init blocks
  • Execute in proper order
  • Handle dependencies
  • Group related settings

Conditional Initialization​

Initialize based on conditions:

Environment-Based​

If (hardware_type == "industrial"):
    Settings Init: Max Temperature = 85
Else:
    Settings Init: Max Temperature = 70

Feature-Based​

If (cellular_enabled):
    Settings Init: APN = "internet"
    Settings Init: Data Limit = 1000

Linking to Variables​

Settings can be linked to variables:

  • Initialize variable-linked settings
  • Establish default variable values
  • Configure hardware defaults

Reset Functionality​

Implement reset features:

Partial Reset​

Reset specific setting groups:

  • Network settings only
  • Application settings only
  • Hardware settings only

Full Reset​

Restore all settings to factory defaults

Selective Reset​

User chooses which settings to reset

Persistence​

Settings persistence:

  • Initialized values saved to non-volatile memory
  • Survive power cycles
  • Backed up for recovery
  • Exportable for cloning

Security​

Secure initialization:

  • Don't hardcode sensitive values
  • Use secure default passwords
  • Initialize security settings properly
  • Clear sensitive data on reset

Testing​

Test initialization:

  • Verify default values applied
  • Test first boot scenario
  • Validate factory reset
  • Check setting persistence

Documentation​

Document default values:

  • Reason for each default
  • Acceptable value ranges
  • Dependencies on other settings
  • Effects of changing defaults

Best Practices​

Settings initialization best practices:

  1. Initialize all critical settings
  2. Use safe default values
  3. Test first-boot experience
  4. Provide factory reset capability
  5. Document all defaults
  6. Validate initialized values
  7. Handle initialization errors

Migration Strategy​

Handle setting changes across versions:

If (settings_version == 1):
    Settings Init: New setting = default
    Convert old settings format
    Set settings_version = 2

Error Handling​

Handle initialization errors:

  • Invalid default value
  • Storage write failure
  • Dependency conflicts
  • Recovery procedures

Integration​

Settings Init integrates with:

See Also​