Juxtaposition based machine addressing

Pursuant to the present invention, server (105) is programmed to perform various processes that at least partially automate the task of customizing PLC programs to communicate with specific line devices as a function of the relative juxtapositions of the devices with respect to each other and their respective network addresses. In general, each method requires that server (105) receive information from which the relative juxtapositions of line devices can be determined and then use information that typically already exists to associate the line devices with tag specific information. This invention relates generally to network addressing concepts and more specifically to a method and apparatus for assigning network addresses to resources that are integrated to perform a process controlled by a processor running a program and to a method for verifying addresses as a function of relative juxtapositions of resources that are assigned the addresses.