In one embodiment, an industrial automation device having a visual component is provided that includes a user viewable screen displaying a visual representation of a first object, wherein the first object comprises a plurality of properties, connections, and text associated with the object, second object, wherein the second object comprises a plurality of properties, connections, and text, and wherein the output from the first object is coupled to the second object via a connection, wherein the output of the first object is converted from a first type to a second type. A method is also provided that includes receiving a signal into a first object, outputting data from the first object, wherein the data has a first type, converting the data into a second type, and receiving the data into a second object.