MESA GPIO input and Field Inputs

Hello everybody I hope everybody is healthy and well.
I have a quick question concerning the GPIO Pins.
I have my homing switched hocked up and Pncconf made a connection with
net home-x     <=  hm2_7i76e.0.gpio.017.in
in my hal file.
This would be the pin hm2_7i76e.0.7i76.0.0.input-00.
When I start linuxcnc and open HAL Show I see that hm2_7i76e.0.7i76.0.0.input-00 reacts to the switch being triggered.
However hm2_7i76e.0.gpio.017.in is not.

My questions would be:
1. What is the right way of defining inputs? Do I use gpio or input?
2. If I should use GPIO how do I create the connection? With a net in the custom hal?

Thanks
Andreas from Berlin

Inputs and outputs.
So the line in hal should be:

You might want to try my 7i76e Configuration Tool...

gnipsel.com/mesa/7i76e/install.html

JT