4 The Strategy Builder

Transcription

1 4 The Strategy Builder This chapter describes Strategy Builder operation and how to set up a PC-30 strategy. As described earlier in Chapter 1: Introduction, a PC-30 strategy consists of Algorithms you select from the Algorithm Library which, when connected together and interfaced to a process system form a working process control and/or a SCADA system. Note This chapter only contains information required to describe specific algorithm blocks. Complete algorithm descriptions are contained in Chapter 6: Algorithms. 4.1 What Is A PC-30 Strategy? A PC-30 strategy is a plan for controlling a process system (Process Control) and acquiring data from it (SCADA). A PC-30 Strategy performs such operations as (but not limited to): Strategy Builder Process Control Logging Calculating Displaying process point results Displaying calculated values Using the results to monitor or control the process. PC-30 User s Manual 4-1

2 What Is A PC-30 Strategy? The Strategy Builder A PC-30 Strategy is stored as a group of files. Files belonging to a particular strategy can be identified by the filename prefix which directly reflects the strategy s assigned name. A set of files belonging to a particular strategy are collectively referred to as the strategy database. The following files are created for each Strategy you build: Table 4.1 Strategy Builder Files and Functions Filename <strategy>.db <strategy>.ca <strategy>.ci <strategy>.cfg <strategy>.mdb <strategy>.xdb Function algorithm block database file I/O connection description file algorithm connections database file system configuration parameters file peripheral database file I/O hardware device parameters database Once you create and save a strategy, you can update, modify and edit it at any time. A completed Strategy is executed by the PC-30 Runtime module (subsequently called Runtime). See Chapter 1: Introduction and Chapter 8: The Runtime System for more information on Runtime. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

3 The Strategy Builder What Is The Display Builder? 4.2 What Is The Strategy Builder? The Strategy Builder is a tool for creating PC-30 Strategies from algorithms in the Algorithm Library. It contains all the tools necessary to layout and interconnect these algorithms to create a strategy. The Strategy Builder also contains the Display Builder. 4.3 What Is The Display Builder? For enhanced user interface and monitoring a powerful display building feature is available in the Strategy Builder. The PC-30 Display Builder can be used to add graphic screens to any strategy. Display screens built and connected to a strategy appear during Runtime and significantly enhance operator interfacing and process monitoring. You enter and exit the Display Builder from the Strategy Builder. Strategy Displays are connected to particular strategies and can be copied, modified and used repeatedly with the same or different strategies. Strategy Builder Refer to Chapter: Introduction and Chapter 7: The Display Builder for more information. PC-30 User s Manual 4-3

4 PC-30 and Real-World Processing The Strategy Builder 4.4 PC-30 and Real-World Processing PC-30 Strategies interact with the real-world process system I/O via one or more device drivers you select when you purchase the PC-30 product. Device Drivers are software modules specific to real-world hardware I/O devices. You can purchase these optional device drivers any time. One driver of your choice is included in the purchase of a PC-30 system. Drivers are available for over one hundred different I/O devices currently in popular use. You can also obtain special drivers as well as the software tools (the DD-Kit) to enable you to build your own. Device drivers are installed into PC-30 strategies using Device Blocks (special algorithm blocks which link the strategy to the device drivers). Although you can build a strategy without using a device driver and execute that strategy in Runtime, in order to fully configure a strategy for real-world process system applications you must set up and use at least one device driver to interface to your process system. For more information on device drivers, refer to Chapter 2: Installation and Chapter 5: I/O Device Configuration. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

5 The Strategy Builder Using The Strategy Builder 4.5 Using The Strategy Builder The first step in creating a new Process Control or SCADA strategy is to build it with the Strategy Builder. In many cases you can start from an existing strategy and modify it in the Strategy Builder to create a new strategy. Note Before You Begin Using The Strategy Builder As an exercise, you can begin using Runtime immediately with the example strategy Drum supplied with PC-30. (Refer to Chapter 2: Installation.) Before using the Strategy Builder to construct a new strategy, determine the type of measurement and control strategy you want to implement. Also suggested: Read Chapter 3: Before You Begin to understand some of the fundamental functions of PC-30 to consider prior to building a strategy. Refer to Chapter 6: Algorithms to learn about each of the numerous algorithms available. Sketch out the flow of data to and from the process, and list the calculations to be performed at each step before building a strategy. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-5

6 Using The Strategy Builder The Strategy Builder Getting Started Begin by invoking the Strategy Builder. Be sure you set up system parameters correctly in METACONF. IMPORTANT Note If you did not perform the METACONF configuration procedure during installation, (or if any computer system parameters such as the mouse type, have changed), RUN METACONF NOW. Refer to the section entitled Metaconf in Chapter 2: Installation for the METACONF procedure. 1. With the DOS prompt on your screen, use the DOS CD (Change Directory) command to move into your PC-30 system directory. 2. When the DOS prompt reappears on your screen, type PC30 and press [Enter]. The PC-30 boot screen displays (Figure 4.1). You can type in a file name after PC30, however, if your mouse is not installed or set correctly in METACONF, you cannot use the Configurator. You must reboot your PC and run CHKDSK /F. It is recommended you run PC-30 from different directories. Include the PC-30 directory in the PATH statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

7 The Strategy Builder Using The Strategy Builder VERSION 5.0 ABB Kent-Taylor Copyright (C) by ICONICS Inc. All Rights Reserved. Press any MOUSE key to continue or <ESC> to Exit Figure 4.1 Configurator boot screen Pressing any mouse key while the boot screen is displayed on the screen causes the Strategy Builder s initial work space to appear on the screen. Figure 4.2 shows you the Strategy Builder s initial workspace, the large boxed window that is your viewport of the world workspace, and the arrow mouse cursor in the center of the screen. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-7

8 Using The Strategy Builder The Strategy Builder Note If the initial work space does not appear on your screen, refer to Chapter 2: Installation to review the installation procedure. If the arrow mouse cursor does not appear in the work space, review your entries in the Mouse Type and/or Mouse Command Line fields in the METACONF configuration menu described in Chapter 2. Exit Eraser Files Invoke Display Builder Edit Initial workspace Pan & Zoom Connections Query Algorithm Library Menu Current group selection Figure 4.2 Initial Strategy Builder screen Mouse cursor Current SEL group icons RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

9 The Strategy Builder Using The Strategy Builder Creating a Strategy Using the Strategy Builder, you construct a flowchart-like model of your inputs, calculations, and outputs. Each input, output, and calculation block appears as a box on the screen (Figure 4.3), with connection lines graphically representing the flow of process signals out of and into each block. The individual blocks, regardless of their exact function, are referred to as algorithms. Algorithm Connection line Function icons Strategy Builder Figure 4.3 Elements of a strategy PC-30 User s Manual 4-9

10 Using The Strategy Builder The Strategy Builder PC-30 lets you create displays that change with the values measured or calculated by your control loops. The Display Builder also lets you create displays with fields for entering values directly into process variables. Versions of such a display with initial values in place can be stored and recalled by the operator as a form of recipe. Refer to Chapter 7: The Display Builder for more information. When you know the logical relationships for blocks in your strategy, create the strategy by performing the following steps (refer to the Using Strategy Builder Functions section in this chapter for a specific description of each menu function): 1. Invoke the Strategy Builder by following the procedure in the Getting Started section. Note that the initial workspace you see on the screen (the HOME screen) is a view-port onto the much larger world workspace. Use the Pan & Zoom functions to control how much of the workspace you see by zooming in or out as needed and to pan across the workspace to control the part of the screen you want to view. Use the Strategy Builder s EDIT functions to erase mistakes or change values while you are working. 2. Pick algorithm blocks from the SEL (Select) submenus and place them in the desired locations on the screen. 3. Query each block after you select it using the? (Query) function to open the parameter windows and enter the values required by your application. 4. Use the Connection function to connect the devices to the I/O blocks and work forward through each algorithm block. Remember, always connect outputs of an algorithm to inputs of the next. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

11 The Strategy Builder Using The Strategy Builder 5. Supply all the parameters requested in the System Configuration submenu. If you omit this step, your system may not function properly. 6. Name your control strategy and save it periodically to disk as you work and when you complete it. Note Using Strategy Builder Functions A backup copy of the original strategy, prior to the last SAVE operation, is automatically created when you type Y (yes) into the Automatic Backup field in the META- CONF menu. However, you should save your work periodically and keep a backup copy. The initial workspace is the empty default workspace position that appears when you start the Strategy Builder. It contains the following selections, which also may have submenus: Files function Edit function Exit function Connect function Query function SEL (Select) function Eraser function Pan & Zoom function Invoke Display Builder Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-11

12 The Files Function The Strategy Builder I/O (This is not a window selection. This icon displays the currently selected algorithm group.) 4.6 The Files Function Show Directory Use the Files function to save, load, and delete strategy files. There is no default value so your operation must be selected from the Files submenu. Using any mouse button, click on the File icon in the Strategy Builder screen to display the Files submenu. Figure 4.4 shows the four selections in The Files function submenu: Save Load? (Show Directory) X (Delete Strategy) Filename prompt Delete Click here to abort RG-GA /23/93 Figure 4.4 Files function submenu 4-12 PC-30 User s Manual

13 The Strategy Builder The Files Function SAVE Caution LOAD Save, Load, and Delete perform their respective operations on the selected File. The name of the selected file must appear at the FILENAME prompt in the submenu on the lower left of the screen. You can type in the file name from the keyboard at the submenu prompt or select a file from a directory submenu using the? (Show Directory) function. To save a file, click on the Save icon with the left mouse key. When you save a file, PC-30 displays a warning prompt appears on the screen to confirm your action. If Automatic Backup is enabled (from METACONF), PC-30 creates a backup by replacing the last two characters of the eight-character main file name with _B. For example, the existing strategy file FULLNAME.DB generates the backup name FULLLNA_B.DB. Strategy names should be unique in the first six characters. Names that differ only in the seventh and/or eighth characters generate the same backup file names, where the backup files contain a backup of the most recently saved strategy. This function reads and loads the strategy specified in the FILE- NAME prompt into the Strategy Builder. When you initiate loading a strategy, the current contents of the workspace is replaced by the strategy being loaded. If your current work is not saved prior to the Load operation, the system prompts you to do so or it overwrites your current work. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-13

14 The Files Function The Strategy Builder Select the strategy to load by typing the name of the strategy at the FILENAME prompt. You can also select a strategy from a directory of existing strategy files by using the? (Show Directory) function ? (Show Directory) Directory path name No buttons if all files fit in a single submenu Type file name directly from the keyboard To open the file directory submenu containing a list of strategy file names, click on the? (question mark) icon with the left mouse key (Figure 4.5). If the directory includes more than 16 files, UP, DN, TOP, or BOT buttons automatically appear that allow you to scroll through the directory by clicking on the desired button. If the list is shorter than 16 names, these buttons are not displayed. Figure 4.5 Sample Files - Show Directory submenus Click on button to display additional files Click here to abort RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

15 The Strategy Builder The Files Function To close the directory submenu, click on the Exit button. You return to the Files submenu. To the left of the Exit button is a cursor that allows you to type in from the keyboard the name of the desired strategy file to be selected. After the display file name is typed press [Enter]. Using the mouse, point to the desired strategy file name that you want to select and click the left mouse key. The directory submenu disappears and the selected file name appears at the FILENAME prompt in the Files submenu. Click on the LOAD icon with the left mouse key and the selected strategy displays. Loading Password Protected Strategies When an attempt is made to load a password protected strategy into the Strategy Builder, the Configurator Security submenu (Figure 4.6) displays in the work area. Point to the Enter Password field with the mouse cursor and click the left mouse key to enable (highlight) the field. Strategy Builder Figure 4.6 Configurator Security submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-15

16 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder With the Enter Password field highlighted in red, enter the appropriate password (including upper/lower case) from the keyboard and press [Enter], or click on the OK (ENTER) button with the left mouse key. If the password is correct, the desired strategy loads into the Strategy Builder. If the password is incorrect, a message is displayed stating so and the protected strategy is not loaded. Note X (Delete Strategy) 4.7 The Edit Function Setting a strategy password is done in the System Configuration s SYS CNFG submenu. Refer to the System Configuration section in this Chapter for more information about setting strategy passwords. To delete the selected strategy from the disk, click on the X (Delete Strategy) icon with the left mouse key. A confirmation prompt appears on the screen for the selected strategy to be deleted to prevent accidental strategy deletions. The Edit function consists of a variety of operations that allow the modification and reporting of strategy blocks and connections. Algorithm blocks and connections must be selected before an edit operation can be used. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

17 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function The Edit function is the default Strategy Builder operation. Once you finish working with any Strategy Builder function, the Edit function is automatically enabled. (All Strategy Builder functions are highlighted in blue when they are enabled.) Move/Resize Blocks When the EDIT icon is clicked on with the center mouse key the Edit submenu (Figure 4.7) displays on the screen. The Edit submenu contains icons for all of the editing operations that can be performed on selected blocks and connections as well as providing a means by which strategy information and reporting is generated. Print Connection & Database Report Preferences Tag Magnifier Copy Blocks Tag Finder Cut & Paste Create Connection & Database Report Convert to Graphic Flex-Size Convert to Graphic Figure 4.7 Edit subwindow Convert to AutoCAD Flex-Size Convert to AutoCAD Memory Status Click here to abort Print Strategy Graphic Toggle Display Grid Adjust Grid Spacing Toggle Magnetism Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-17

18 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Selecting Blocks/ Connections To select a single block or connection within a strategy, perform the following steps: 1. Enable the Edit function by clicking on the EDIT icon with the left mouse key. The Edit function is enabled when the EDIT icon is highlighted. Selected block s connections Selected block with handles 2. Point the mouse cursor inside the desired block and click the left mouse key. The block and all of the connections to and from it now have a selection box around them, similar to the those in Figure 4.8. The highlighted box around each block has handles at each corner that you can use to resize the block. RG-GA /23/93 Figure 4.8 Block with connections selected 4-18 PC-30 User s Manual

19 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function 3. Select a single connection by clicking on either the head or tail of the connection with the left mouse button. The selection box appears around that connection. To select multiple blocks/connections, perform the following steps: 1. Enable the Edit function by clicking on the EDIT icon with the left mouse key. The Edit function is enabled when the EDIT icon is highlighted. 2. Place the mouse cursor at a location in the work space that is beyond the group of blocks/connections that you want to select. 3. With the left mouse key pressed, move the mouse so that an Edit selection frame is drawn around the desired blocks/connections; release the mouse key. All blocks and connections contained within the Edit selection frame are now selected. Another way to select multiple blocks/connections is to: 1. Enable the Edit function by clicking on the EDIT icon with the left mouse key. The Edit function can be identified as enabled when the EDIT icon is highlighted. 2. Click on the first block or connection with the left mouse key so that the selection box appears around it. 3. Click on the next block or connection to be queried with the right mouse key. 4. Keep selecting all of the desired blocks/connections by successively clicking on them with the right mouse key. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-19

20 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Note Two-button mice can perform multiple blocks/connections selections by pointing the mouse cursor over the successive block/connection to be selected and pressing the [Space] bar. Repeat this procedure for each additional block/connection to be selected. Deselecting Blocks/Connections There are several methods you can use to deselect blocks/connections. The deselecting method requires that you enable the Edit function prior to their operation. The following paragraphs describe each method: To deselect all previously selected blocks/connections: click the left mouse key while the mouse cursor is positioned in an empty area in the Strategy Builder work space (void of blocks/connections). A block or connection can be individually deselected by pointing the mouse cursor on that selected block/connection and pressing the right mouse key. A block/connection can be deselected by pointing the mouse cursor on a different block or connection (one that is not currently selected) and pressing the left mouse key. The original block/connection is deselected while the block/connection that was pointed to is now selected. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

21 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Move/Resize The Edit function s Move/Resize operation allows you to move and/or resize previously selected blocks and connections. The following steps define the procedure for performing the various Move/Resize operations. Note Connections cannot be moved or resized individually. They must be moved and/or resized along with their respective block(s). 1. Enable the Edit function by clicking on the EDIT icon with the left mouse key. The Edit function can be identified as enabled when its EDIT icon is highlighted. 2. Select the blocks and connections to be moved by following the procedure described earlier for selecting blocks and connections. 3. Place the arrow cursor over (inside) any one of the selected blocks or connections. 4. Press the center mouse key and drag the selected block to its new location in the strategy. As you drag the mouse across the screen, a framed box, similar to the one shown in Figure 4.9 moves across the screen and represents the space required for the block being moved. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-21

22 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder 1 Point mouse inside a selected block and hold down the left mouse key 2 3 Drag mouse to desired location Framed box moves with the mouse and defines space for blocks being moved Figure 4.9 Move/Resize frame box 5. Release the mouse key; the selected block and all of its connections move from their old location to their new location. If necessary, PC-30 automatically adjusts the block s existing connections to accommodate the block s new location. Repeat this operation as many times as necessary until the selected blocks/connections are placed in the desired strategy location. To move multiple blocks as a group: 1. Enable the Edit function by clicking on the EDIT icon with the left mouse key. The Edit function is enabled when the EDIT icon is highlighted. 2. Select all of the blocks to be moved using the procedure described earlier for selecting multiple blocks. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

23 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function 3. Click on the EDIT icon with the right mouse key. The Edit submenu (Figure 4.7) displays on the screen. 4. Click on the Move/Resize icon with the left mouse key. The algorithm block s individual selection boxes are replaced by the single group selection box (Figure 4.10). Group Resize Box Strategy Builder Figure 4.10 Resizing a group of selected blocks 5. Place the mouse cursor anywhere within the group selection box. 6. While holding down the center mouse key, drag the group selection box to the new location. As you drag the mouse, the group selection box moves across the screen and represents the space required for the group of blocks being moved. PC-30 User s Manual 4-23

24 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder 7. Release the center mouse key. The selected blocks and all of their respective connections move from their old location to their new location. If necessary, PC-30 automatically adjusts the blocks existing connections to accommodate their new location. The group selection box remains active should you want to move the selected blocks/connections again. 8. To deactivate the Move/Resize function, press either the left or right mouse key, or the space bar. This enables the cursor to be moved outside the current workspace area. After the function is deactivated, all the blocks previously selected in the group appear individually selected. To resize single algorithm blocks: 1. Select the block to be resized following the procedure described earlier for selecting a single block/connection. 2. Position the arrow cursor over one of the corner handles of the selected block. 3. Hold down the center mouse key and drag the selected block s handle to the desired size. 4. Release the center mouse key. The block is now resized. If necessary, PC-30 automatically adjusts the block s existing connections to accommodate the block s new size. To resize multiple blocks as a group: 1. Select all of the blocks to be resized using the procedure described earlier for selecting multiple blocks. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

25 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function 2. Click on the EDIT icon with the right mouse key. The Edit submenu (Figure 4.7) displays on the screen. 3. Click on the Move/Resize icon with the left mouse key. The algorithm block s individual selection boxes are replaced by a single group selection box (Figure 4.10). 4. Place the arrow cursor over one of the group selection box handles. 5. Hold down the center mouse key and drag the selected handle until the box is the desired size. All of the blocks within the group are automatically resized. All of the respective connections within the group as well as the connections to/from other blocks outside the group are adjusted to the new block sizes. The group selection box remains active on the screen to allow you to size the selected blocks again, if desired. 6. To deactivate the Move/Resize function press either the left or right mouse key, or the space bar. This enables the cursor to be moved outside the current work space area. After the function is deactivated, all the blocks previously selected in the group appear individually selected. Strategy Builder Block Copy The Edit function s Block Copy operation provides the means by which single as well as multiple strategy blocks can be copied and relocated anywhere in the strategy. The following steps define the procedure for performing the various Block Copy operations. PC-30 User s Manual 4-25

26 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Reminder To copy existing strategy block(s), the blocks must be selected first. 1. Point the cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the Strategy Builder work area. 2. Point the cursor inside the COPY icon and click the left mouse key. The Block Copy Tag Transformation submenu (Figure 4.11) displays on the screen. Figure 4.11 Block Copy Tag Transformation submenu RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

27 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function 3. Enter the desired Block Copy parameters (described later in this section) and click on the OK (ENTER) button with the left mouse key or press [Enter]. A white Block Copy box appears around the blocks selected to be copied, similar to the one (Figure 4.12). This white box represents the area of the blocks being copied. As you move the mouse around the workspace, the white Block Copy box moves respectively. Block copy box moves with mouse to the destination of the copy Strategy Builder Figure 4.12 Block Copy box around copied blocks 4. Click the left mouse key when the white Block Copy box is positioned in the desired location for the copied block. The copied blocks appear with their new tag names, generated based upon the Block Copy parameters specified in the Block Copy Tag Transformation submenu (Figure 4.11), described later in this section. PC-30 User s Manual 4-27

28 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder After the copied blocks are drawn on the screen, the message Hit Left Mouse Key to Copy Again appears in the message area of the screen. By clicking the left mouse key, another set of the copied blocks can be placed in the strategy. All ensuing sets of the same copied blocks will contain tag names using the Auto-# numbering scheme. Clicking any other mouse key or pressing any keyboard key, terminates the current Block Copy operation. Block Copy Parameters Because each block in a strategy must have a unique tag name, the Block Tag Transformation submenu (Figure 4.11) provides the facility for you to specify how the tag names for the new blocks being copied are generated. The three fields that appear in this submenu determine how the tag names for the copied blocks are generated. Each of the possible field settings are described in the following paragraphs. Copy Mode (Auto-# or Wild Copy) This field determines the mode for copying the selected blocks. Clicking on this field with the left mouse key toggles between the two valid settings: Auto-# and Wild Copy. Auto-# mode (the default) causes the copied blocks to contain numbered tag names that are automatically generated. The tag name numbers are generated based upon the number of blocks that already exist in the strategy prior to the Block Copy operation, i.e. a block being copied within a strategy that contains five blocks has an Auto-# mode generated tag name of #006. This is the same tag name gen- RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

29 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function eration scheme used when placing new algorithm blocks into a strategy. When this field is set to Auto-#, the TAG Mask field (refer to TAG Mask on the following page) is disabled. Wild Card mode causes the copied blocks to contain generated tag names based upon two sources: The contents of their source block s tag names The contents of the TAG Mask field Selecting Wild Card mode and entering a wild card string into the TAG Mask field causes the copied block tag names to use their source block s tag names and the wild card string to generate a new unique tag name for the blocks being copied. For example, a TAG Mask string of *2 causes all copied blocks to contain the original tag name of their respective source with a 2 appended to the end. A string of?2 causes the generated tag names of the copied blocks to contain only the first character of their source block s tag names with a 2 appended to the end. Conversely, a string of 2? causes the second character of the source block s tag name to be placed after the 2 in the generated tag name. Because block tag names have a maximum of 8 characters, the source block s tag name is truncated in the direction of the wild card, e.g. the generated block tag name DRUMLEV2 results when Wild Copy mode is used in conjunction with the TAG Mask string *2 on the source block tag name DRUMLEVL. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-29

30 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Note Each block s tag name must be unique. Whenever a conflict occurs during the Block Copy procedure that would result in a duplicate tag name(s), Auto-# mode is automatically enabled for tag name generation. Copy Source Connections (NO or YES) This field allows you to specify whether or not connections that are made to the blocks being copied from strategy blocks, not selected for the current Block Copy operation, are maintained in the copied blocks. The default setting of NO indicates that only connections which are totally contained within the blocks being copied to also exist in the copied blocks. When you click on this field with the left mouse key until the setting YES appears, it causes all of the connections that terminate in the source blocks to also exist in the copied blocks. TAG Mask This field allows you to declare up to an 8 alphanumeric character mask string that, when used in conjunction with the Wild Copy copy mode, causes tag names to be generated in the copied blocks that are based upon the contents of their source block s tag names. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

31 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Note The TAG Mask string is only functional when the Copy Mode field is set to Wild Copy. The TAG Mask field supports both the * and? wild card characters. Either character can be used at the beginning or end of the string but not in both locations; nor can the wild card characters be intermixed in the same string. The * wild card character causes all characters in the source tag name to be used up to the point where the mask string is asserted. For instance, when you copy a source block with a tag name of SETPOINT and a Wild Copy TAG Mask string of *LEVEL, the resulting copied block contains a tag name of SETLEVEL. The? wild card character causes only the individual character in that exact position in the source block s tag name to appear in the copied blocks generated tag name. Unlike the * wild card character, the? wild card character can be used in the middle of the mask string, e.g. if the? appears as the second character, the second character of the source block s tag name is placed in the copied blocks generated tag names. Strategy Builder For example, when you use a Wild Copy TAG Mask string of????temp, the resulting copied blocks include generated tag names that contain the first four characters of their source block s tag name with the letters TEMP appended to the end of the tag name. For example, a source block with a tag of OVENSETP has a copied block that contains the tag OVENTEMP. Using a mask string of AB?12, a source block with the tag LEVEL results in a copied block tag name of ABV12. PC-30 User s Manual 4-31

32 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Note Each block s tag name must be unique. Whenever a conflict occurs during the Block Copy procedure that would result in a duplicate tag name(s), Auto-# mode is automatically enabled for tag name generation Find Tag The Edit function s Find Tag operation allows you to locate a specific block within the current strategy according to its unique tag name. Once the specified tag name is located, the strategy is repositioned appropriately so that the located tag name (block) is in the center of the current workspace. To use the Find Tag operation: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Find Tag icon with the left mouse key to display the submenu (Figure 4.13). Figure 4.13 Find Tag submenu RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

33 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Tag Magnifier 3. Enter the desired tag name into the Tag Name field directly from the keyboard, or display a directory of strategy tag names by clicking on Show Tag Directory button with the left mouse key. The Show Tag Directory function allows you to select a tag name to find from a directory listing submenu of all current strategy tag names. With the directory submenu displayed on the screen, point to the desired tag name and click the left mouse key. The tag name appears in the Find Tag submenu s Tag Name field. When you declare the desired tag name, click on the OK (ENTER) button or press [Enter]. The Strategy Builder screen location is automatically positioned in the strategy so that the requested tag (block) is in the center of the screen. The Edit function s Tag Magnifier operation causes PC-30 to display the tag name of each strategy block whenever the magnifier cursor is placed on the respective block. This function is extremely useful when a strategy is very large and blocks are very small or when a strategy is displayed with the Pan and Zoom function and the blocks are reduced to a point where the tag names are unreadable. To use the Tag Magnifier function: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Tag Magnifier icon with the left mouse key to activate it. The Tag Magnifier cursor (a magnifying glass) appears as long as the Tag Magnifier function is active. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-33

34 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder 3. Place the magnifying glass cursor over any strategy block and the assigned tag name appears next to the SEL icon on the screen (Figure 4.14) Cut & Paste 1 2 Place Block magnifying highlights in glass workspace cursor over and tag block name appears Figure 4.14 Sample Tag Magnifier operation 4. Deactivate the Tag Magnifier function by moving the cursor out of the current workspace. The Cut & Paste function performs two different operations within a given strategy. The Cut portion of the function copies selected sections of a strategy and saves them to a separate cut & paste file (<file name>.cut). Once the Cut function is executed, the selected blocks are only copied from the current strategy into the cut and paste file; the selected blocks remain in the strategy. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

35 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Cutting from a Strategy The following steps describe how to use the Cut function: 1. Select the blocks/connections to be cut using the previously defined procedure for selecting blocks/connections. Note Connections cannot be Cut (copied) individually. They must be Cut to a Cut & Paste file along with their respective block(s). 2. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 3. Click on the Cut & Paste icon with the left mouse key. The Cut & Paste submenu (Figure 4.15) displays on the screen. This submenu looks similar to the Files submenu except that it performs the operations on Cut & Paste files rather than strategy database files. Delete Strategy Builder Show Directory FILE NAME prompt Click here to abort Figure 4.15 Cut & Paste submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-35

36 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Note 4. Type the name of the Cut & Paste file to which the selected blocks are saved at the FILENAME prompt of the Cut & Paste submenu. Click on the Save icon to save the selected blocks to disk under the entered file name (with a.cut extension indicating that it is a Cut & Paste file). You can also select an existing Cut & Paste file name by clicking on the? (Show Directory) icon with the left mouse key to display the directory of existing cut and paste files. Clicking on the desired file name from the Show Directory directory submenu with the left mouse key causes that file name to appear in the FILENAME prompt in the Cut & Paste submenu. Should a Cut & Paste file name exist when the SAVE icon is clicked on, PC-30 prompts you to confirm whether or not you want to overwrite the existing file or abort the SAVE operation. For more information on the operations of the SAVE, LOAD,? (Show Directory), and X (Delete) operations, refer to the Files Function section in this chapter. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

37 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Note Cut & Paste files (indicated by a.cut extension) can only be used for cutting and pasting operations; they cannot be executed in the Runtime environment. Files created in Version 5.0 of the Strategy Builder that contain intelligent I/O device information are not compatible with previous versions of the Strategy Builder. Pasting into a Strategy The Paste function inserts a previously defined cut & paste file into a strategy. Once the Paste function is executed, the strategy blocks in the selected cut & paste file, as well as any connections completely contained within the cut blocks, are inserted into the current strategy. The Move/Resize function is immediately activated for the pasted files. Refer to the Move/Resize section in this chapter for more information on the Move/Resize function. To use the Paste function, perform the following steps: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Cut & Paste icon with the left mouse key. The Cut & Paste submenu displays in the workspace. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-37

38 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder 3. Type the name of the Cut & Paste file to be pasted into your strategy at the FILENAME prompt of the submenu (Figure 4.15), or select the cut & paste file by clicking on the? (Show Directory) icon. The? function displays a directory of existing Cut & Paste files from which you can select the desired file to paste by clicking on the file name with the left mouse key. That selected file name then appears in the FILENAME prompt of the submenu. 4. Click on the LOAD icon with the left mouse key. The selected cut & paste file is loaded into the current strategy where you can then drag it to the desired location. If there is not enough room in the current work space for the entire Cut & Paste file to be seen when it is pasted in, PC-30 automatically pans out to a location in the strategy that shows the pasted blocks in the center of the workspace with the rest of your current strategy. For example, if the blocks (Figure 4.10) are cut using the Cut & Paste function, Figure 4.16 shows the exact location the cut blocks maintained in their respective strategy. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

39 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Representation of previous workspace Figure 4.16 World workspace view of Cut blocks Now you want to paste those blocks into the strategy (Figure 4.14). The current location in the strategy is shown in Figure Since the Cut & Paste file is too large to be pasted into the current location in the strategy, PC-30 automatically pans out to a location where the pasted blocks are now in the center of the screen (Figure 4.18). The Group Resize function is activated so the pasted blocks can be moved to the exact location in the current strategy. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-39

40 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Strategy Screen Display Actual Location in Strategy Figure 4.17 Strategy screen display and the actual location of pasted block Pasted file is automatically placed in Group Resize mode Display is zoomed out to view entire pasted file RG-GA /23/93 Figure 4.18 Pasted blocks in Group Resize mode 4-40 PC-30 User s Manual

41 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Deleting Cut & Paste Files Use the X (Delete Cut & Paste file) function to delete Cut & Paste files no longer needed from the disk. To delete a Cut & Paste file: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Cut & Paste icon with the left mouse key. The Cut & Paste submenu displays in the workspace. 3. Type the name of the Cut & Paste file to be deleted from the disk at the FILENAME prompt of the submenu (Figure 4.15), or select the Cut & Paste file by clicking on the? (Show Directory) icon. The? function displays a directory of existing Cut & Paste files from which you can select the desired file to delete by clicking on the file name with the left mouse key. The selected file name appears in the FILENAME prompt of the submenu. 4. Click on the X (Delete Cut & Paste file) icon with the left mouse key. PC-30 displays a confirmation message. Click the right mouse to key abort the current delete operation. Click the left mouse key to confirm the delete operation and the selected Cut & Paste file is deleted from the disk. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-41

42 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Caution PC-30 maintains dynamic connections in graphic displays (from the Display Builder), e.g. data entries, color changes, process points, selectors, etc., to their source strategy variables internally using tag ID numbers. Caution If a Cut & Paste file is pasted into a strategy where existing blocks are moved or modified, possibly occupying vacated tag ID numbers, the warning message (Figure 4.19) displays on the screen. Click the right mouse key to abort the current paste operation. Click the left mouse key to continue with the current Paste operation. If the Paste operation is confirmed, be sure to check all.grp graphic displays that may contain dynamic connections to the existing block(s) moved or modified and verify that their dynamic connections are maintained. If a block is pasted into a strategy and the pasted block s tag name is used by another block in the strategy, PC-30 uses its Auto-# tag name generation function and assigns the block(s) being restored the next available tag name number, e.g. #007, #103, etc. Figure 4.19 Cut & Paste warning message RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

43 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Preferences The Edit function s Preferences operation lets you turn off the connection lines between all blocks in a strategy currently displayed in the Strategy Builder. To turn off the connection lines in a strategy, perform the following steps: 1. Click on any block in the strategy to highlight it. 2. Click on the EDIT icon in the Strategy Builder screen with the right mouse key to display the Edit submenu. 3. Click on the Preferences icon with the left mouse key. PC-30 displays the Preferences submenu (Figure 4.20). Strategy Builder Figure 4.20 Preferences submenu 4. Click on the Draw Connect Lines field to toggle to NO. Valid values are: YES and NO. The default value is YES. 5. Click on OK (ENTER). The connections lines display in blue, indicating they are turned off. PC-30 User s Manual 4-43

44 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Note Disabling the connection lines does not effect the buffer size requirements in your PC Create Connection & Database Report The Edit function s Create Connection & Database report operation allows you to generate two separate ASCII formatted reports and store them on disk. The Connection Signal List Report and Database List Report identify various variable and connection information about the current strategy. All points in Intelligent I/O device blocks are listed, however, information in PLC blocks is not. The file naming convention used to store these reports on disk is <strategy>.cir for the Connection Signal List Report and <Strategy>.DBR for the Database List Report in your strategy. To generate the Connection & Database Reports, perform the following steps: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the floppy disk icon with the left mouse key. PC-30 displays a confirmation message. Click the right mouse key to abort the current report generation operation. Clicking the left mouse key confirms the operation and the Connection & Database reports are generated. Once created, these reports can viewed on the screen or sent to a printer. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

45 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Note PC-30 assigns the default names REPORT.CIR and REPORT.DBR if the strategy you are currently working on is not yet been saved to disk and is still unnamed. A sample of each appears in Figure Connection Report Contents The Connection Signal List Report (top portion of Figure 4.21) contains point-to-point connection information about each block in the strategy. The report identifies each connection (wired and wireless) that exists in the strategy. Each connection entry in the report provides source-to-destination information which includes the source s: tag name, block type, and variable; to the destination s: tag name, block type, and variable. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-45

46 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Connection Report Database Report Figure 4.21 Sample Connection & Database reports Database Report Contents The Database report (the lower portion of Figure 4.21) contains parameter and variable information about each block in the strategy. The report is formatted in a manner similar to the Configuration menus of each respective strategy block, where each block s parameter and variable settings/values are easily identifiable. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

47 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Print Connection & Database Report The Edit function s Print Connection & Database report operation allows you to direct two separate reports to your configured printing device (System Configuration s System Printer Port and Graphics Printer fields). This is set in METACONF. The Connection Signal List Report and Database List Report identify various variable and connection information about the current strategy. To direct the Connection & Database Reports to your printer, perform the following steps: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the this icon (printer with lined paper) with the left mouse key. PC-30 displays a confirmation message. Click the right mouse key to abort the current report printing operation. Click the left mouse key to confirm the operation, and the Connection & Database reports are directed to your configured printing device. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-47

48 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Note Executing the Print Connection & Database Report operation does not cause the respective.cir and.dbr report files to be stored to disk. To store the Connection & Database reports to disk the Create Connection & Database Report operation must be executed separately Print Strategy Graphic The Edit function s Print Strategy Graphic operation allows you to print a graphic representation of the current strategy screen image to your configured graphics printing device (System Configuration s System Printer Port and Graphics Printer fields). This is set in METACONF. Only the portion of the strategy that currently appears on the screen are graphically printed. To direct the portion of the strategy that currently appears on the screen to your graphics printer, perform the following steps. 1. Position the strategy so only the portion of the strategy you want graphically printed is visible in the Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 3. Click on the this icon (printer with blocks on paper) with the left mouse key. PC-30 starts to send the current screen image to your configured graphics printing device. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

49 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Caution The Print Strategy Graphic operation begins as soon as you click on its icon from the EDIT submenu and cannot be interrupted. PC-30 does not prompt for confirmation of this operation, so make sure that this is the operation you want to perform prior to its execution Convert to Graphic The Edit function s Convert to Graphic operation allows you to convert the current strategy into a.grp display file(s) that can be loaded into the Display Builder and/or Runtime environments. To use the Convert to Graphic operation to convert the current strategy, in its entirety, into a graphic display file, perform the following steps: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Convert to Graphic icon (compass & triangle) with the right mouse key. The Strategy to Display Options menu (Figure 4.22) appears which allows you to customize the converted display. To bypass the Strategy to Display Options menu and proceed with the conversion using the default settings, click on the Convert to Graphic icon with the left mouse key. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-49

50 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Caution If you choose to bypass the Strategy to Display Options menu, the Convert to Graphic operation begins as soon as you click on its icon from the EDIT submenu with the left mouse key. PC-30 does not prompt for confirmation of this operation, so make sure this is the operation you want to perform prior to its execution. Figure 4.22 Strategy to Display Options menu 3. Configure the parameters in the Strategy to Display Options menu. Each parameter is described on the following page. To select the desired field, do one of the following: point to the specific field and click the left mouse key, press the [Tab] key, or press the arrow cursor keys (,,, ). With the desired field selected (highlighted in red), click on the left and right mouse keys to scroll forward and backward, respectively, through any preset values. (You may also use the [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys). RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

51 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function 4. When you finish setting the parameters, click on the OK(ENTER) button or press the [Enter] key to store your data and begin the strategy to display conversion. PC-30 displays the message: Generating GRP Files for <filename>nn.grp Clicking on the CANCEL (ESC) button or pressing the [Esc] key aborts all changes made, restores all previous values, and exits the Strategy to Display Options menu without converting the display to a graphics file. The Strategy to Display Options menu contains the following fields: File Name This field specifies the name of the display file that will be created from the strategy. Up to eight alphanumeric characters are permitted. Do not include the.grp file extension in this field. The default is the strategy name; or STRATEGY if the strategy is unnamed. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-51

52 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Note Only the first six characters of the display name are used. When a strategy is converted to display format, two numbers are appended to the first six characters of the display name entered in the File Name field. The two numbers correspond to the grid location of the display (explained later in this section). Display Security (None 0, Operator 1, Tech. 2, Engineer 3) This field determines the security level for viewing this display. The settings for this field correspond to the overall system security setting is the System Security (PASS WORD) configuration menu. (See section System Configuration for a description of this menu and security levels). The default is None 0. This security setting for this display can be overridden by the system security setting if the system security is higher than the Display Security. Connection Names (ENABLED/DISABLED) Setting this field to ENABLED causes the converted display to create text labels at the connections that display the actual process variable associated with each connection. The default is DISABLED. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

53 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Pick Fields (ENABLED/DISABLED) Setting this field to ENABLED places a pick field on each block of the strategy display which allows the Tag Details ([F2]), Auto/Manual ([F9]), and Remote/Local ([F10]) functions to be used on the display during Runtime. The default is DISABLED. Event Colors: (DISABLED, Black, Blue, Green, Cyan, Red, Magenta, Brown, White, Gray, Lt Blue, Lt Green, Lt Cyan, Lt Red, Lt Magenta, Yellow, Lt White) Setting these fields to a color places a color change connection on each block or connection line of the display. This allows the blocks and connection lines in the display to change color based on individual events during Runtime. A list of these events is provided below. Note that the color change connections for Digital Connection events are placed on the connection lines in the display while the color change connection for all other events are placed on the block in the display. The default setting for all events is DISABLED. Strategy Builder Digital Connections Remote/Local switching Low Alarms Rate Alarms Digital Alarms Fail Alarms Auto/Manual switching High Alarms Deviation Alarms PC-30 User s Manual 4-53

54 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder As PC-30 converts a strategy into a display(s) it breaks the entire world strategy workspace into 100 individual graphic display files, represented by a 10-by-10 matrix, similar to the one shown in Figure Each display file contains the portion of the strategy that appears in its corresponding matrix cell. <strat>98.grp <strat>90.grp <strat>00.grp <strat>99.grp <strat>89.grp <strat>55.grp Figure 4.23 Strategy-to-display conversion - files matrix <strat>09.grp Each display s file name is designated by the first six letters of the name specified in the Strategy to Display Options menu (Figure 4.22) or strategy name if the menu was bypassed. Two numeric characters representing the corresponding row/column position of each cell in the matrix are appended to the file name. For example, if the DRUM strategy were converted to a display file using the Convert to Graphic function, the display file is called DRUM55.GRP since the DRUM strategy only occupies the center (HOME) cell of the entire strategy workspace. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

55 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function The matrix cells are numbered so that position 0,0 is the lower left corner of the strategy and position 9,9 is the upper right corner of the strategy. If only the default window is used in a strategy, such as DRUM in our example, the file would be in the 5,5 position. Note Only the matrix cells that actually contain strategy components are created as display files; empty cells are not converted to files. An example display file is shown in Figure 4.24A. This example display file was converted using the default settings in the Strategy to Display Options menu (Figure 4.22). Strategy Builder Figure 4.24A Sample display file converted from a strategy (default settings) PC-30 User s Manual 4-55

56 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder The display shown in Figure 4.24B was generated with the Connection Names field set to ENABLED in the Strategy to Display Options menu. The text labels indicate the actual process variable to which they are connected Flex-Size Convert to Graphic Figure 4.24B Sample display file converted from a strategy (Connection Names enabled) This function performs the same Convert to Graphic operation described in the previous section. However, this function does not convert the entire strategy to a graphics display (.GRP) file. An added panning feature allows the user to select a particular portion of the strategy. This portion of the strategy is converted to a graphic display. Perform the following steps to use the Flex-Size Convert to Graphic operation: RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

57 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Flex-Size Convert to Graphic icon (compass & triangle with yellow box) with the right mouse key to display the Strategy to Display Options menu (Figure 4.22). If you wish to bypass the Strategy to Display Options menu and use the default settings, click on the Flex-Size Convert to Graphic icon with the left mouse key and skip to Step 4. Caution If you choose to bypass the Strategy to Options menu, PC-30 does not prompt for confirmation of this operation. PC-30 begins the file conversion as soon as the portion of the strategy is selected (step 5 below). Make sure that this is the operation you want to perform prior to its execution. 3. Configure the parameters in the Strategy to Display Options menu. The parameters for this menu are described in the previous Convert to Graphic section. 4. After completing the Strategy to Display Options menu, click on the OK (ENTER) button or press the [Enter] key to save the changes made. Click on the CANCEL(ESC) button or press the [Esc] key to discard all changes and abort the operation. The screen illustrated in Figure 4.25 appears. This screen displays the entire strategy as well as a yellow pan box that is controlled by the mouse. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-57

58 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Yellow panning box Strategy Note Click on the right mouse key and drag the mouse to resize the panning box Figure 4.25 Panning strategy to select.grp file conversion area 5. Select the portion of the strategy you wish to convert by positioning the yellow pan box over the desired area and clicking on the left mouse. You can resize the pan box by dragging the mouse while pressing the right mouse key. Once you click on the left mouse key to select the strategy portion, PC-30 begins its strategy to graphic display conversion and displays the message: Generating GRP Files for <strategy>.grp Because this function converts the selected area of the strategy to a single display, no row/column numbers are appended to the specified File Name (Figure 4.22) or strategy name (default). The full eight character name is used. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

59 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function DXF (Convert to AutoCAD) The Edit function s DXF operation allows you to convert the current strategy file, in its entirety, into an AutoCAD compatible DXF formatted file. The resulting DXF strategy file can be used by AutoCAD and other DXF compatible CAD packages for plotting and any other function available in the respective CAD package. To use the DXF (Convert to AutoCAD) operation, perform the following steps: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the DXF icon with the right mouse key. The DXF Options menu (Figure 4.26) appears. This menu allows you to specify the name of the DXF file that will be created. You also have the option of aborting the operation by clicking on the CANCEL (ESC) button or pressing the [Esc] key. If you wish to bypass the DXF Options menu, click on the DXF icon with the left mouse key. PC-30 will default to using the strategy name for the DXF file name. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-59

60 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Caution If you choose to bypass the DXF Options menu, the DXF (Convert to AutoCAD) operation begins as soon as you click on its icon from the EDIT submenu with the left mouse key. PC-30 does not prompt for confirmation of this operation, so make sure that this is the operation you want to perform prior to its execution. Figure 4.26 DXF Options menu 3. Enter the name for the DXF file in the DXF Options menu and click on the OK (ENTER) button or press the [Enter] key to begin the DXF file conversion operation. PC-30 begins its strategy to graphic display conversion and displays the message: Generating DXF File for <strategy>.dxf The DXF file generated by PC-30 contains the contents of the entire strategy resident in the Strategy Builder, not just the portion visible in the work space. When viewed in AutoCAD or other DXF compatible CAD packages, all connections to/from strategy blocks contain a label at each end of the connection similar to the graphic shown previously in Figure 4.24B, indicating the process variable involved in each connection. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

61 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Note To import a DXF file into AutoCAD, the AutoCAD command DXFIN should be used. Refer to your AutoCAD documentation for specific instructions on the exact use of this command. For CAD packages other than Auto- CAD, refer to the instructions relating to that software package for information on how DXF files are handled Flex-Size DXF (Convert to AutoCAD) The Edit function s Flex-Size DXF operation allows you to convert one specific portion of the strategy into an AutoCAD compatible DXF formatted file. The resulting DXF file can be used by AutoCAD and other DXF compatible CAD packages for plotting and any other function available in the respective CAD package. To use the Flex-Size DXF (Convert to AutoCAD) operation, perform the following steps. 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Flex-Size DXF icon (DXF with a yellow box) with the right mouse key. The DXF Options menu (Figure 4.26) appears. This menu allows you to specify the name of the DXF file that will be created. You also have the option of aborting the operation by clicking on the CANCEL (ESC) button or pressing the [Esc] key. If you want to bypass the DXF Options menu, click on the Flex-Size DXF icon with the left mouse key. PC-30 will default to using the strategy name for the DXF file name. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-61

62 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Caution If you choose to bypass the DXF Options menu, the DXF (Convert to AutoCAD) operation begins as soon as you select the portion of the strategy you wish to convert (step 5). PC-30 does not prompt for confirmation of this operation, so make sure that this is the operation you want to perform prior to its execution. 3. Click on OK(ENTER) button or press the [Enter] key. PC-30 displays the entire strategy along with a yellow pan box that can be positioned using the mouse (Figure 4.27). Yellow panning box Click on the right mouse key and drag the mouse to resize the panning box Strategy Figure 4.27 Panning strategy to select.dxf file conversion region 4. Position the yellow cursor box over the portion of the strategy you wish to convert and click on the left mouse key. You can resize the pan box by dragging the mouse while pressing the right mouse key. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

63 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function When the left mouse key is pressed, PC-30 begins its strategy to graphic display conversion and displays the message: Generating DXF File for <strategy>.dxf When viewing the converted file in AutoCAD or other DXF compatible CAD packages, all connections to/from strategy blocks contain a label at each end of the connection similar to the graphic shown previously in Figure 4.24, indicating the process variable involved in each connection. Note Grid Functions To import a DXF file into AutoCAD, the AutoCAD command DXFIN should be used. Refer to your AutoCAD documentation for specific instructions on the exact use of this command. For CAD packages other than Auto- CAD, refer to the instructions relating to that software package for information on how DXF files are handled. The grid is a network of gray lines that can be displayed on the screen. The grid is useful in controlling the exact placement of blocks and connections in the workspace. Using the grid functions from the start allows you to create a strategy that is visually organized, regardless of the size of the strategy in the workspace. When you use grids in conjunction with the Move function after you complete or partially complete a strategy, they allow you to clean up a strategy that is hard to read during the course of your work. The Grid functions consist of the following operations: Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-63

64 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Toggle Display Grid The Toggle Display Grid function allows you to toggle on and off the actual displaying of the grid. To toggle the display grid, perform the following steps: Hint Note 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Toggle Display Grid icon (the small grid) with the left mouse key. The grid is either turned on or off based upon the state of the grid prior to it being clicked on. If you cannot see the grid after it is turned on, adjust your monitor s contrast control until the grid becomes visible. The default states of the Strategy Builder grid (on/off, magnetism, size) can be customized in METACONF s Control Grid fields. Refer to Chapter 2: Installation for additional information on how to set these fields to the desired values. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

65 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Toggle Magnetism The Toggle Magnetism function allows you to enable/disable grid magnetism (gravity). Enabling the Toggle Magnetism function causes the cursor, as well as the lower left corner of any block(s) being moved, to snap to the nearest grid intersection regardless of whether the actual grid lines are currently displayed. To enable/disable grid magnetism, perform the following steps: Adjust Grid 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Toggle Magnetism icon (the magnet) with the left mouse key. Grid magnetism is either enabled or disabled based upon the magnetism state prior to it being clicked on. When Toggle Magnetism is enabled, a small magnet appears in the EDIT icon box. Magnetism indicator The Adjust Grid function allows you to alter the grid spacing in the same way you alter the size and shape of an individual block. To adjust the spacing of the grid, perform the following steps: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the Adjust Grid icon with the left mouse key. The cursor is displayed as a piece of grid. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-65

66 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Memory Status 3. Hold down the center mouse key and drag the mouse to change the spacing of the grid line. As you drag the mouse the grid spacing is altered. 4. When the grid cursor is sized to the desired spacing, click the left mouse key. The grid spacing is adjusted to match the spacing set with the grid cursor. Grid spacing adjustments take effect with or without the grid lines displayed. The Memory Status function provides current information regarding the availability and consumption of database and system memory. This function is useful in identifying the size of the current database, number of connections, number of blocks, etc. If your system has expanded memory, the Memory Status function identifies how much is found and how much is currently being used. To display the Memory Status submenu on the screen, perform the following steps: 1. Point the arrow cursor inside the EDIT icon and click the right mouse key. The EDIT submenu displays in the current Strategy Builder workspace. 2. Click on the % (percent) icon with the left mouse key. The Memory Status submenu (Figure 4.28) displays in the Strategy Builder screen. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

67 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function Figure 4.28 Memory Status submenu 3. When you finish viewing the information in the Memory Status submenu, click on the CANCEL (ESC) button or press [Esc] to return to the Strategy Builder. The information provided in the Memory Status submenu is divided into two sections: Database Information and Memory Status. A brief description of each field in these two sections of the submenu is provided in the following paragraphs. Database Information The Database Information portion of the Memory Status submenu provides on-line information about the current strategy. A brief description of each field is provided below. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-67

68 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Note When creating a large strategy, it is possible to increase the default limits that PC-30 establishes for several of the database sizing parameters displayed in the Memory Status submenu. Refer to the Extended METACONF Parameters section in Chapter 2: Installation for information regarding these parameter settings. Database Size This field indicates the size, in kilobytes, of the current strategy database. As algorithm blocks are added, configured, and the strategy saved, the size of strategy database increases. PC-30 s implementation of XMS support allows systems with expanded memory to construct significantly larger strategy databases. Refer to Chapter 3: Before You Begin for more information regarding XMS support. # Blocks This field indicates the number of blocks that currently exist in the strategy. Note that the Extended METACONF parameters allow you to modify the default limit of 1000 blocks. Peripheral Database This field indicates the size, in kilobytes, of the strategy s peripheral database. The Peripheral Database is where information about the strategy s distributed I/O device blocks is stored. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

69 The Strategy Builder The Edit Function The existence of extended memory (XMS) in your system increases the capacity of the Peripheral Database. Refer to Appendix F: XMS and EMS Memory for additional information on expanded and extended memory. # Peripheral Blocks This field indicates the number of distributed I/O blocks that currently exist in the strategy. Note that the Extended METACONF parameters allow you to modify the default limit of 1000 blocks. # Connections This field indicates the number of inter-block connections (wired and wireless) that currently exist in the strategy. Note that the Extended METACONF parameters allow you to modify the default limit of 1500 connections. Link Buffer Left This field indicates how much, in kilobytes, of the Link Buffer is still available. The Link Buffer is used in maintaining wired connections within the strategy. Note that the Extended METACONF parameters allow you to modify the default limit of a 34K buffer. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-69

70 The Edit Function The Strategy Builder Memory Status The Memory Status portion of the Memory Status submenu provides information about the current memory availability. A description of these fields is provided below. Available DOS Memory This represents the amount of memory available to DOS when the PC running PC-30 is first turned on. The following fields apply to Conventional, Upper, and High memory in your system. Memory The amount of unused memory. Used The amount of memory used by the current application. Biggest The amount of memory still available for use by the application. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

71 The Strategy Builder The Connect Function 4.8 The Connect Function Connections channel the flow of measurements and control information from block to block through your strategy. A connection is made when an output variable of a source strategy block is to supply input values into another strategy block. The Connection function provides two methods for making connections between configured strategy blocks: Wired connections and Wireless connections. Wired connections (the default Connection operation) are the standard method for making links between configured strategy blocks. Making wired connections consists of physically drawing the connection lines between the two strategy blocks. Wireless connections allow you to make connections between strategy blocks without physically drawing the connection lines. Wireless connections extend strategy development two benefits: conservation of valuable space in the Configurator s Link Buffer, and the ability to make connections between strategy blocks that cannot be viewed reasonably at the same time and/or in the same workspace. Connections (wired and wireless) can only be made between strategy blocks previously configured via the Query function (?). Blocks displayed in white are unconfigured and cannot be used in any connection operation. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-71

72 The Connect Function The Strategy Builder IMPORTANT! PC-30 only allows 256 connections (wired and wireless combined) into and/or out of Intelligent I/O device blocks. Refer to Chapter 5: I/O Device Configuration Wired Connections Wired connections is the default operation of the Connection function. Making wired connections involves physically drawing a connection line(s) between two configured strategy blocks. Strategy blocks must be configured using the Query function (?) before connections can be made to/from them. To establish wired connections, perform the following steps: 1. Click on the Connect icon (the right angle arrow) with the left mouse key. The Connection cursor appears on the screen as you move the mouse into the workspace. 2. Move the cursor inside the desired source block and click the left mouse key. A submenu of valid output variables displays on the screen. (Some blocks, for example, the SEQ block, contain multiple pages. To view them, click off the menu to bring up the next page.) RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

73 The Strategy Builder The Connect Function Note The current connection operation can be aborted by clicking the left mouse key outside of the submenu of valid output/input variables. 3. Move the cursor inside the desired output variable icon and click the left mouse key. A connection line appears on the perimeter of the source strategy block. As you move the cursor (mouse), the connection line s size and position on the perimeter of the block can be altered. 4. Drag the mouse until the connection line segment moves inside the desired destination block, then click the left mouse key. A submenu of valid input variables displays on the screen. 5. If it is graphically impossible or unpleasant to the eye to make a single, straight line connection to the destination block, the connection can be routed via connection line segments. To make a connection line segment, click the left mouse key while the current connection line is at a desired location, outside of any existing strategy blocks. The current line segment can now be turned at any 90 interval and sized. Make as many line segments as needed until you reach the destination block (optional). Strategy Builder Note Each vertex in a connection line consumes additional space (5 bytes) in the Connection Link Buffer. 6. With the submenu of valid input variables on the screen, move the cursor inside the desired input variable icon and click the left mouse key. If the connection is valid, the connection is completed and an arrowhead appears at the desti- PC-30 User s Manual 4-73

74 The Connect Function The Strategy Builder nation block. When the completed connection is drawn, the style of the line in the connection identifies the type of signal (analog or digital) involved. Line styles indicate the following: A solid white line represents an analog connection. A dashed white line represents a digital connection. A bright white line represents a packed I/O connection. An arrowhead shows the direction of the flow of information. If during the connection process an attempt is made to make an invalid connection, e.g. attempting to connect an analog source variable to a digital input variable, a message appears on the screen indicating the problem and the current connection line is aborted. Make the connection again using the appropriate source/destination variable. As an example, a wired connection is made between a configured AIN block and a FILT block (a Calculation algorithm). First click on the Connect icon with the left mouse key. Then click inside the AIN block with the left mouse key. A submenu of valid output variables appears (Figure 4.29). RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

75 The Strategy Builder The Connect Function 1 3 Select output variable, connection line appears and moves with mouse 2 Connection line Click on AIN block to display output connection submenu Click on Connection icon to enable wired connections 4 Click to turn a corner 5 Click on FILT block to display input connection variables submenu MEAS 6 Select input variable and connection is made Figure 4.29 Example of making a wired connection Click on the OUT variable with the left mouse key. A connection line appears and can be sized as you drag the mouse to the FILT (filter) block. If necessary, click with the left key between blocks to turn corners and maneuver the line around other blocks. Click inside the filter block with the left mouse key to display the list of valid input variables (with only one choice, MEAS, in this case) (Figure 4.29). Click on your choice with the left mouse key; the completed connection line appears with an arrowhead pointing to the destination block. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-75

76 The Connect Function The Strategy Builder For complete information about the various choices for outputs and inputs to/from each strategy block, refer to Chapter 6: Algorithms. Note It is possible to query any connection in the strategy to display its source input and destination output variables. See the Query Connection section in this chapter for more information. Connection Link Buffer PC-30 utilizes a Connection Link Buffer to maintain wired connections within each strategy. Each wired connection and the number of vertices (if any) used in making the connection consumes space within this buffer. Since wireless connections do not require physical wires (lines) to be connected between blocks, they do not consume space within the Link Buffer. Each connection (source to destination) consumes at least 8 bytes in the buffer. Each vertex in the connection consumes an additional 5 bytes. The default size of the Connection Link Buffer (34 K) can be modified via the Extended METACONF parameters. Editing the size of the Link Buffer is only recommended for systems that have expanded memory installed and functioning in their system. Refer to the Extended METACONF parameters section in Chapter 2: Installation. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

77 The Strategy Builder The Connect Function Wireless Connections Wireless connections allow you to make connections between strategy blocks without physically drawing the connection lines. The Wireless connections function extends strategy development two benefits. First, it conserves valuable space within the Configurator s Connection Link Buffer. Second, it lets you make connections between strategy blocks that cannot be viewed reasonably at the same time and/or in the same workspace. To use the Connect function for making wireless connections, perform the following steps: 1. Click on the Connect icon (the right angle arrow) with the right mouse key. The Connection submenu shown in Figure 4.30 displays in the current workspace. Wired Connections (Default) Wireless Connections Click here to abort Strategy Builder Figure 4.30 Connections submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-77

78 The Connect Function The Strategy Builder The icon on the left enables Wired connections, the default connection operation. The icon on the right represents the Wireless Connections function. 2. Move the cursor inside the Wireless Connections icon and click the left mouse key; the following message appears above the current block icons, near the bottom of the screen: LEFT=CONNECT CENTER,RIGHT=CANCEL Click on either the center or right mouse keys to abort the Wireless Connections function. Click the left mouse key for a directory submenu of block tag names, similar to the one shown in Figure 4.31, to display in the workspace. This directory submenu provides a listing of all of the block tag names that exist in the current strategy. RG-GA /23/93 Figure 4.31 Sample tag name directory submenu 4-78 PC-30 User s Manual

79 The Strategy Builder The Connect Function 3. Point the connection cursor to the desired source block s tag name and click the left mouse key. A submenu of valid source variables for the selected block displays in the workspace. Note The current connection operation can be aborted by clicking on the left mouse key outside of the submenu of valid output/input variables. 4. Point the connection cursor inside the desired source variable icon and click the left mouse key. 5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 for selecting the destination block (by its tag name) and input variable. Note If during the connection process an attempt is made to make an invalid connection, e.g. attempting to connect an analog source variable to a digital input variable, a message appears on the screen indicating the problem and the current connection line is aborted. Make the connection again using the appropriate source/destination variable. After the source output and destination input variables are successfully selected, the connection is made. Figure 4.32 shows a sample strategy with a wireless connection made between the AIN block s STM.out and the INT block s DRUM.meas variables. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-79

80 The Connect Function The Strategy Builder Caution Edit Wireless connection Figure 4.32 Sample strategy with Wireless Connection As shown in this figure, the source block contains a solid white dot on its perimeter indicating a wireless connection originates from this block. The destination block contains an empty arrowhead along its perimeter indicating that a wireless connection has been made into this block. Configured Wireless Connections behave just as wired connections, i.e. they can be queried, erased, cut, etc.. Strategies containing Wireless Connections are not backwards compatible with some earlier Configurator versions. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

81 The Strategy Builder The Query Function (?) 4.9 The Query Function (?) The Query function allows you to set the algorithm parameters of each block and reports the details for each connection made between strategy blocks. The default action of the Query function is to query blocks. Before a block or connection can be queried, it must be selected. Multiple blocks or connections can be queried successively by selecting all of the desired blocks/connections prior to invoking the Query function Query Block This default function allows you to set/edit the parameters of any block within the current strategy. To query single blocks, perform the following steps: 1. Select the block to be queried by following the selection procedure in the Edit Function section in this chapter. 2. Using the left mouse key, click on the? (Query) icon. The configuration menu for that strategy block displays within the workspace like the AIN block example shown in Figure Strategy Builder 3. Set the desired algorithm parameters. Refer to Chapter 6: Algorithms for a description of each parameter in a specific algorithm. 4. Store your entered data by pressing [Enter]. The entered data is not saved to the strategy database until the strategy is saved using the File Function s SAVE operation. PC-30 User s Manual 4-81

82 The Query Function (?) The Strategy Builder 1 Select the block by clicking on it with the left mouse key 2 Click on the Query icon Note Figure 4.33 Query block example 3 Configuration submenu appears Previously unconfigured strategy blocks are displayed in white. When the a query operation is performed on them, the block s outline changes to dark blue, indicating that parameters have been set. Data that is entered/edited in a block s configuration menu is updated as soon as you press ENTER. This data is not saved permanently to the strategy s database disk file until the strategy is saved using the File Function s SAVE operation. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

83 The Strategy Builder The Query Function (?) Query Connection This function identifies the variables involved at either end of a connection (wired or wireless). The details of the connection can be reviewed and individual connections cut. To view these connections, perform the following steps: 1. Select a connection to be queried by following the selection procedure in the Edit Function section in this chapter. 2. Point the cursor inside the? (Query) icon and press the center mouse key. The Query submenu shown in Figure 4.34 displays in the current workspace. Query Connections Query Blocks (Default) Figure 4.34 Query submenu Click here to abort Strategy Builder 3. With the Query submenu on the screen, click on the Query Connection icon (the? with an arrow icon on the right). A Control Connections submenu, similar to the one shown in Figure 4.35 displays on the screen. PC-30 User s Manual 4-83

84 The Query Function (?) The Strategy Builder Selected connection Figure 4.35 Sample Query/Control Connections submenu 4. When you finish viewing the Control Connections submenu, click on the CANCEL (ESC) button or press [Esc] to exit from the Query Connection function and return to the Strategy Builder. The Control Connections submenu specifies details about the connection being queried. Connection Type Specifies whether the connection is analog, digital, etc. RG-GA /23/93 Source Name The origin of the connection Destination Name Where the connection is tied in the strategy PC-30 User s Manual

85 The Strategy Builder The Query Function (?) The format of the Source Name and Destination field path names in the Control Connections submenu is: <tag name>.<variable> Note where tag name is the unique tag identification assigned to the source/destination block and variable is the process variable within that block that has been connected. Cutting Individual Connections PC-30 lets you cut individual connections between strategy blocks. To do this, click on the Cut Connection button in the Control Connections submenu with the left mouse key. You return to the Strategy Builder screen, and the connection is cut. (It will not display on the screen). Connections can also be cut using the Eraser function. Refer to the Eraser Function section of this chapter for more information. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-85

86 The Query Function (?) The Strategy Builder Querying Multiple Blocks/ Connections When there are several blocks/connections that need to be queried, it is possible to perform a successive query that allows you to query one after the other without having to click on the? (Query) icon for each item. To query multiple blocks/connections, perform the following steps: 1. Select the blocks or connections by following the procedure for selecting multiple blocks or connections in the Edit Function section in this chapter. 2. Click on the? (Query) icon with the left mouse key to query successive blocks. To query successive connections, click on the? (Query) icon with the center mouse key; the Query submenu displays on the screen. Then click on the Query Connection icon. 3. The first block/connection in the series is selected, and the message shown below appears to the right of the SEL icon near the bottom of the screen. LEFT=Query CENTER=Cancel RIGHT=Skip This message instructs you to click the left mouse key to query the block/connection currently selected (highlighted). Click on the right mouse key to skip the current block/connection and select the next block/connection in the group. Click on the center mouse key to abort the entire successive query process. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

87 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function 4.10 The SEL Function The SEL (select) function consists of a submenu that allows you to select algorithms groups, system configuration menus, option blocks/enable functionality, and I/O device blocks. Click on the SEL icon to display the Algorithm Library submenu shown in Figure Not available in Basics Displayed as SCADA in SCADA systems Not available in SCADA systems Strategy Builder Selectable only if NETWORK option is installed Figure 4.36 Algorithm Library submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-87

88 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Figure 4.36 shows the Algorithm Library selections that are available with PC-30 packages. Depending on the type of PC-30 package you are using (Basics, SCADA, or Complete), the Algorithm Library submenu may not contain specific selections. The following selection groups are not available in their respective packages: System Configuration Not available in Basics: Packed I/O Not available in SCADA packages: Control User Algorithms All of the selection buttons from the Algorithm Library submenu except for the System Configuration lead to the placement of strategy blocks within the workspace. All algorithm groups are discussed in Chapter 6: Algorithms. The System Configuration functions set default values and preferences that determine the overall behavior of PC-30 during Runtime sessions. The parameters in each of the System Configuration submenus should be defined in order to create a fully functional strategy. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

89 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Clicking on the System Configuration button from the Algorithm Library submenu with the left mouse key causes the System Configuration group of icons to appear to the right of the SEL icon. This group consists of the six icon choices (Figure 4.37). The following sections describe each of the configuration submenus available within the System Configuration functions. Figure 4.37 System Configuration selection icons I/O CNFG This selection icon reports device blocks previously selected from I/O hardware for use within PC-30. The submenu that is displayed in conjunction with the I/O CNFG icon does not allow the configuration of any system/device parameters. To view the Device Drivers (I/O CNFG) submenu, perform the following steps: 1. Click on the SEL icon with the left mouse key to display the Algorithm Library submenu. 2. Click on the System Configuration button with the left mouse key which causes the System Configuration icons (Figure 4.37) to appear along the bottom of the screen. 3. Click on the I/O CNFG icon with the left mouse key to display the Device Drivers submenu shown in Figure Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-89

90 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Figure 4.38 I/O CNFG - Device Drivers submenu 4. When you finish viewing the Device Drivers submenu, click on the OK (ENTER) button with the left mouse key or press [Enter] to return to the Strategy Builder. The Device Drivers submenu refers to a multi-driver version of PC-30. Single-driver versions show only one device driver. SYS CNFG The System Configuration menus store basic data that determines how PC-30 behaves for certain Configurator and Runtime operations. To access the System Configuration parameters, perform the following steps: 1. Click on the SEL icon with the left mouse key to display the Algorithm Library submenu. RG-GA /23/93 2. Click on the System Configuration button with the left mouse key which causes the System Configuration icons to appear along the bottom of the screen PC-30 User s Manual

91 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function 3. Click on the SYS CNFG icon with the left mouse key. The System Configuration main menu (Figure 4.39) displays in the current workspace. The System Configuration main menu contains buttons that invoke configuration submenus for system, display, cache, historian, and trend parameters. Figure 4.39 System Configuration SYS CNFG main menu 4. Click on the desired Parameters button with the left mouse key. The corresponding configuration submenu displays in the workspace. Submenus contain parameter fields specific to the system function selected. Each submenu and its parameters are described later in this section. Strategy Builder 5. Move to and select the desired field in the configuration submenu by: pointing to the specific field and click on the left mouse key, pressing [Tab], or pressing the arrow cursor keys (,,, ). 6. With the desired field selected (highlighted), click the left mouse key or press [PgUp] or [PgDn] to toggle through any preset values. Fields that do not have presets must have their values typed in from the keyboard. (Preset values appear in yellow). PC-30 User s Manual 4-91

92 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder 7. When you finish setting the parameters, click on the OK (ENTER) button or press [Enter] to store your data. Clicking on the CANCEL (ESC) button or pressing [Esc] aborts all changes made, restores all previous values, and exits the submenu. Note 8. The System Configuration main menu returns to the workspace. You may at this time select another submenu. Clicking on the CANCEL (ESC) button with the left mouse key or pressing the [Esc] key aborts any changes made to the menus and returns to the strategy builder workspace. Data that is entered/edited in a SYS CNFG submenu is updated for ensuing Configurator work as soon as you click on the OK (ENTER) button or press the [Enter] key. This data is not saved permanently to the strategy s database disk file until the strategy is saved using the Files Function s SAVE operation. Refer to the Files Function section in this chapter for information on how to perform the SAVE operation. Most of the parameters set in the SYS CNFG submenus can be changed during a Runtime session by pressing [Alt-A] to call up the System Parameters subwindow. Hence, the values entered for these parameter s in the SYS CNFG submenus represent the initial state rather than a final decision. Other parameters cannot be changed; this is noted in the discussion of the specific parameter. Refer to the Links To The Runtime Session section in this chapter for a summary of links between choices made in the Strategy Builder and the behavior of the Runtime System. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

93 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function System Parameters Clicking on the System Parameters button in the SYS CNFG main menu with the left mouse key displays the System Parameters submenu (Figure 4.40). The parameters in this submenu determine the overall behavior of the PC-30 Runtime system. Figure 4.40 System Parameters submenu I/O Scanner (OFF, ON, On Demand) Click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the choices OFF, ON, or On Demand. The I/O Scanner must be ON to access any I/O hardware installed. This field cannot be changed during a Runtime session. The default setting is OFF. You can run your strategy with the I/O Scanner set to OFF in a simulation mode for test purposes. Setting the I/O Scanner to ON indicates that all I/O blocks (variables) in the strategy are scanned each time the driver is called. This is of use when there are a substantial number of variables that need to be polled for alarms during a Runtime session. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-93

94 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Note The rate at which the port is scanned is determined by the setting of the port s Scan Rate parameter. Refer to the COMM CNFG portion of this section for information on setting communication port Scan Rate parameter. On Demand is the setting used for most strategy applications. On Demand indicates that only specific I/O points are scanned during Runtime. The I/O points scanned are: All historically logged variables All System Trend function variables (not Trend Window variables) All points required for networking (Network option) All points required for Reports and Recipes (REPORT and RECP options) All variables dynamically updated in the current Runtime graphic display For example, a strategy is created that contains fifty I/O blocks and has two displays associated with it. Ten of the points are being logged historically and 10 are being trended via the System Trend function. Fifteen points are connected to bar graphs and/or dynamic data entries on the first display and 15 are connected to process points and a Trend Window on the second display. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

95 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function When the strategy is executed in Runtime, the 10 variables in the Trend List are always scanned. The 10 history points are only scanned when the HIST block is logging. The 15 points in the first display (as well as any upstream and/or downstream points and the 10 trend points) are only scanned when their display is placed in the Runtime s Main Window. The data points in the second display are scanned when that display is placed in the Runtime Main Window. Note If you plan to use the PC-30 Database Caching feature in your strategy, the I/O Scanner must be set to OFF or ON DEMAND. Refer to the Cache Parameters heading in this section for information on enabling database caching. It is possible to override the On Demand setting on a block by block basis so that block s points are always scanned. By setting the FULL SCAN parameter to Y (yes) in a block s configuration menu, all of the variables within that block are scanned, regardless of the current Runtime display, historically logged variables, or Trend variables. Refer to Chapter 6: Algorithms for more information on setting the FULL SCAN for each individual block. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-95

96 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Caution If you are not using the Alarm Cache option, points that may require alarming should have their respective blocks FULL SCAN parameter set to Y so that point values will always be read during Runtime. The Alarm Cache option (included with PC-30) allows alarming for cached points. Refer to the Enabling PC-30 Options section in this chapter for more information on the Alarm Cache option. Strategy Password This field allows you to assign up to an 8-character string that is used to password protect the current strategy. Once a password is attached to a strategy, it cannot be loaded into the Strategy Builder without the appropriate password (case sensitive) being entered first. By pointing to the Strategy Password field and clicking the left mouse key, the field is selected (highlighted in red) for entry from the keyboard. With the Strategy Password field highlighted, enter up to an 8 alphanumeric character string to be assigned as the password to the resident strategy. If you make a mistake, press [Backspace] to erase the mistake and retype the desired character string. After a password is successfully attached to a strategy, that exact password, including upper/lower case, must be entered into the Configurator Security submenu that displays on the screen before the strategy can be loaded into the Strategy Builder. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

97 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Caution If you forget your password, you cannot get into the strategy. To recover the strategy, you must send it to Technical Support. System Printer Port (LPT1:-3:, COM1:-4:) This parameter lets you specify the port to be used as the Runtime system printer port. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key, or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to scroll through the LPT1:, LPT2:, LPT3:, COM1:, COM2:, COM3: or COM4: settings. If you specify a communications port, its corresponding communications port must be configured in the Communications Configuration submenu. This field cannot be changed during a Runtime session. The default setting is LPT1:. Operator events are output to the specified System Printer Port if the ALRM CNFG (Alarm-Event Configuration) submenu s Operator Events and its corresponding Log To Printer parameters are enabled. Strategy Builder User Algorithm File (Not Available in SCADA Packages) This parameter allows you to type in from the keyboard (after the field is selected) the main file name (up to eight characters) of the file containing the executable code for any custom algorithm written in the C programming language and is to be integrated into your strategy. The file must have the extension.exe on the disk but do not enter the.exe extension into this field. This file must be in the strategy directory. PC-30 User s Manual 4-97

98 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder This field cannot be changed during a Runtime session. Refer to the User Algorithms section in Chapter 6: Algorithms. Graphics Printer (Up to 8 characters) This parameter indicates which PC-30 printer driver (.PTR) is used for communicating with your printing device during Runtime. Graphics communications is directed to the port specified in the System Printer Port parameter. In Runtime, the PC-30 Installation program automatically installs the EPSON_MX driver into the user-defined PC-30 system directory. Additional printer drivers are available on the PC-30 Utilities diskette (.PTR extension). To specify a different printer driver, click on the Graphics Printer field with the left mouse key to select (highlight) it. Once selected, type in the name of the printer driver. The default setting of this parameter is EPSON_MX. If the supplied printer drivers do not function with your printing device, an extended set of printer drivers is available. Contact Technical Support for information on how to obtain this extended set of printer drivers. You can also use a serial printer for graphic output. To do this, you need to: RG-GA /23/93 1. Modify the printer driver using the Printer Tool Kit utility. 2. Change the communications port to 0 for COM1: or 1 for COM2: PC-30 User s Manual

99 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function 3. Copy the printer driver to your PC-30 directory. This changes the port that graphics are printed from. 4. Define the driver in the Configurator Installation Menu in METACONF. To print from a serial printer in Runtime, you must enable the communications port in the System Configuration Serial Port Configuration Menu (COMM CNFG). Key Macro Library (Up to 8 characters) This field allows you to type in from the keyboard (after the field is selected) a customized Key Macro library file. The library file, generated using the KEYMAC compiler utility, must have a.kml extension on the disk but do not enter the extension into this field. The Key Macro library file indicates all the keystroke and Named Macro assignments in effect for the current strategy when it is executed in Runtime. When this field is left blank, the standard PC-30 keystroke commands are used. This file must be in the strategy directory. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-99

100 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Reminder Any Key Macro assignments that are attached to a specific graphic display override the strategy-specific assignments set by the library file declared in this field only when that display is present in the Runtime Main Window. Once that display is removed, the strategy assignments are restored. Refer to the Key Macros section in Chapter 3: Before You Begin, the Strategy Key Macros section, and the Display Key Macros section in Chapter 7: The Display Builder for more information on Key Macros and when they are in effect. Blind Node (ENABLED or DISABLED) The Blind Node parameter lets you run a strategy with BLIND.EXE. This is a version of PC-30 Runtime that runs on a PC without a keyboard or monitor and requires less memory. When enabled it causes PC-30 Runtime to run without graphics support. Valid values are: ENABLED and DISABLED. The default value is DIS- ABLED). Language Version (U.S., French, U.K., German, Spanish, Italian, Norway, Swd/Fin, Belgium, Denmark) The Language Version parameter lets you define the type of keyboard support you use. Valid keyboard types are: U.S., French, U.K., German, Spanish, Italian, Norway, Swd/Fin, Belgium, and Denmark. The default value is U.S. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

101 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Warm Start (DISABLED or ENABLED) The Warm Start parameter operates with the Checkpoint (CKPT) algorithm block, which can save the current state of the strategy in Runtime to a special *.NEW file based on the state of a digital event. The updated <strategy>.db file is written as <strategy>.new. You can also use [Alt- C] to save the file. Refer to Chapter 6 for information on the CKPT algorithm block. When enabled the Runtime system looks for a.new file and determines if it is less than the warm start time old. If it is less than the warm start time, it uses it unless there is a more recent.db file. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use the [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices DISABLED and ENABLED. The default setting is DISABLED. Warm Start Time (1 to 255 minutes) If during a Runtime session, PC-30 experiences a hardware failure or power loss, perform the CHKDSK /F command to check the memory on your hard drive before you reboot Runtime. If Warm Start is set to ENABLED, Runtime looks for a.new strategy file. If the age of the file is less than the time specified here as the Warm Start Time in minutes, the strategy is restarted from the.new version. If the file is older, a cold start is performed. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-101

102 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Note It it recommended to have a UPS with an output to indicate a power failure. This signal can be read into a strategy and can use the DOS Exit function in a SYS block for a normal exit. For example, if your Warm Start Time is set to 10 minutes, your.new file is updated every 10 minutes. If the system were to lose power for 15 minutes, a cold start would be performed. If you lose power for only 5 minutes, a warm start might be performed, depending on the exact time of the last update, the time required by your computer to reboot, and other factors. With this field selected, type in from the keyboard a time in minutes into this field that declares the Warm Start time limit. Valid entries are from 1 to 255 minutes and should be entered in integer form. The default setting is 10 minutes. Display Comm Msgs (YES or NO) This parameter lets you display or inhibit the following alarm communication error messages during Runtime: SCANNER OVERRUN COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVER TIMEOUT RECEIVE FAULT TRANSMIT FAULT The error message displays on the lower left corner of the screen. Valid values are YES and NO. The default is YES. If you choose not to show alarm communications error messages, you should check the Alarm/Events Summary or Alarm Summary screens for any alarms that occurred dur- RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

103 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function ing the Runtime session. Figure 8.16 in Chapter 8: The Runtime System shows an example of an alarm communications error message. Alarm Message Line (ENABLED or DISABLED) Enabling this field causes the Alarm Message Line to appear in the lower right corner of the screen when an alarm occurs. The Alarm Message Line displays the block tag or description, depending on the setting of the Alarm Message With field. Click on the Alarm Message Line field with the left mouse key to toggle the choices. The default is ENABLED. Start-Up Subwindow (ENABLED or DISABLED) When enabled, the first page of the Help subwindows appears at the start-up of a Runtime session. When disabled, you can still display the Help subwindows during a Runtime session by pressing [?]. Pressing [Alt-X] clears the subwindow area from the screen during a Runtime session. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices ENABLED and DISABLED. The default setting is ENABLED. Strategy Builder Note The KEYHELP facility allows you create customized Help subwindows to be used in place of the standard PC-30 Help subwindows. Refer to the KEYHELP section in Chapter 8: The Runtime System for information on creating customized Help subwindows. PC-30 User s Manual 4-103

104 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Alarm Message with (TAG or DESC) This parameter lets you display the tag or description of a block when an alarm occurs. The message displays in the lower right corner of the screen during Runtime when an alarm occurs. The entire message is 22 characters. The description can contain 11 characters only. Valid values are: TAG and DESC. This field only applies if the Alarm Message Line field is ENABLED. The default value is TAG. Display Parameters Clicking on the Display Parameters button in the SYS CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the Display Parameters submenu (Figure 4.41). The parameters in this submenu determine the overall behavior of the Operator Displays during a Runtime session. RG-GA /23/93 Figure 4.41 Display Parameters submenu PC-30 User s Manual

105 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Note Display Update Period (.1,.25,.5, 1-5 sec) This parameter allows you to declare the rate at which graphic displays are updated when they are shown in the Runtime s Main Window. Updating a display involves refreshing all dynamic and animated objects to reflect the process current status. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use the [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys after the field is selected to toggle between the valid entries of:.1,.25,.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 seconds. Longer update times leave more computing resources for executing the strategy and fewer resources for updating the display or doing disk I/O. The default setting is 1 sec. If desired, the Display Update Period can be customized for specific displays. This is accomplished by loading the desired display in the Display Builder and setting the custom Display Update Period in the Display Information submenu. Refer to the Display Information section in Chapter 7: Display Builder for more information on setting custom update periods. The Display Update Period can also be changed during Runtime via the standard Alt-A System Parameters subwindow. Strategy Builder Tab Cursor To (ALL, DE & Picks, DEs & PPTs, DEs) This parameter lets you define the movement of the Runtime cursor to successive data entry fields, pick fields, and process point fields in graphic displays each time you press [Tab] or [Shift-Tab]. PC-30 User s Manual 4-105

106 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices ALL, DE & Picks, DEs & PPTs, and DEs. The default setting is ALL. PPT Deadband (0-10 Million) This parameter lets you enter a value to configure the deadband. That is, how much a number needs to be changed to arrive at the next threshold to show a process point update on screen during Runtime. The range of values you can enter for this parameter is 0 to 10 million. The default value is Database Cache Parameters Clicking on the Cache Parameters button in the SYS CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the Database Cache Parameters submenu (Figure 4.42). The parameters in this submenu determine the overall behavior of the PC-30 Database Caching feature during a Runtime session. Note that to use the following caching features you need a 386 computer with XMS memory and I/O scanning must be off or set to ON DEMAND. Refer to the Database Caching section in Chapter 3 for details regarding the overall functionality of database caching. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

107 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Figure 4.42 Database Cache Parameters submenu Distributed Caching (ENABLED, DISABLED) Distributed (Intelligent) I/O refers to the type of device described in Intelligent I/O Device Configuration in Chapter 3. When ENABLED these types of I/O points are cached. I/O Block Caching (ENABLED, DISABLED) The following I/O blocks are cached when this field is set to ENABLED: AIN, AOUT, DIN, DOUT, PAIN, PAOT, PAIO, PDIN, PDOT, and PDIO. Strategy Builder Cache Block Size ( Bytes) Allows you to adjust the size of the memory block (bytes) swapped in and out of the cache buffer. The default value of 16 suffices for most applications. (Refer to the Cache Block Size section in Chapter 3 for a discussion of cache block size considerations.) PC-30 User s Manual 4-107

108 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Cache Size (1K to 150K) The total amount of memory (in Kilobytes) allocated for the caching function. Cache goes in conventional or upper memory and requires a contiguous segment. Values between 1K and 150K can be entered. The default value of 64K suffices for most applications. Historian Parameters Clicking on the Historian Parameters button in the SYS CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the Historian Parameters submenu (Figure 4.43). The parameters in this submenu allow fine tuning of the History Replay function (Refer to Replaying History Files in Chapter 8: The Runtime System). RG-GA /23/93 Figure 4.43 Historian Parameters submenu PC-30 User s Manual

109 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Historian Path This sets the DOS path that history files (.PRN) will be logged to are read from during Runtime. The default path is the directory that Runtime was executed from. Click on this field with the left mouse key and type the desired DOS path name. The path length cannot exceed 45 characters. The default is no path (Runtime directory). Samples to Find Date (1 to 65535) Sets a limit on how many samples the historian replay function searches (back) to find the date stamp of the sample. To change the value, click on this field with the left mouse key and type in the number. Valid entries are from 1 to The default value is 500. Replay Settings (DEFAULT, RECALL) Setting this field to RECALL causes the history file to display in its last view state when the history file is reopened. The default setting causes the history file to begin display data from the beginning of the file. To select RE- CALL, click on the field with the left mouse button. The default is DEFAULT. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-109

110 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Display Period (0.1 to 8760 Hrs.) This specifies the range of the replay period in hours. To change the default, click on the field with the left mouse key and make an entry via keyboard. Valid entries are 0.1 to 8760 hours. The default value is 1 Hr. Max File Size (No Limit / 360k / 720k / 1.2M / 1.44M / 2M / 3M / 4M / 5M / 10M / 20M ) This parameter set the maximum size for all history files generated by any HIST blocks in the strategy. When the maximum file size is reached, the current history file closes and data begins logging to a new file. For append history files, a backup file is created from the current history file and the current history file is cleared. Logging resumes from the top of the active file. For nonappend history files, the file closes and a new file opens with the nnn file number increased by 1. Refer to the Event-Driven Historian section of Chapter 6: Algorithms for information regarding the differences between append and non-append history files. Click on this field with the left mouse key or press the [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys to scroll through the available choices. The default is No Limit. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

111 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Number Hist Files (1-1000) This parameter specifies the number of non-append history files that are generated by Runtime before the nnn file number resets to 000. When nnn resets to 000, the oldest history file (HIST000.PRN) is overwritten. The numbering sequence continues in the regular fashion (incrementing by 1 each time a new file is generated). Click on this field with the left mouse key and enter a value. The valid range is 1 to The default is Trend Parameters Clicking on the Trend Parameters button in the SYS CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the Trend Parameters submenu (Figure 4.44). The parameters in this submenu determine the overall behavior of the PC-30 System Trend function during Runtime. Strategy Builder Figure 4.44 Trend Parameters submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-111

112 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Trend Display Mode (STRIPCHART or X/Y) During a Runtime session, you can display system trends in two formats: STRIPCHART or X/Y plots. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid STRIPCHART or X/Y settings. The default setting is STRIPCHART. Average Trend Points (NO or YES) PC-30 collects trend data for the System Trend function every second. For the standard one-minute trend, each of the 60 one-second samples are displayed. For the standard six-minute trend, the 60 data points that are displayed can represent either the actual sample taken at the six-second interval (setting this parameter to NO) or the average of the preceding six one-second samples (setting this parameter to YES). Averaging can also be performed for the third trend period. (See the Third Trend Period parameter). Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid NO or YES settings. The default is NO. Third Trend Period (0.5 to 48 hours) During a Runtime session, you can display trends in three different time bases. The first two time bases, one minute and six minutes, are fixed. This field specifies the third RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

113 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function time base in hours, such as 0.5 or 1.0. You cannot change this parameter during a Runtime session. Click on this field with the left mouse key to select it (highlight). Once it is selected, you can type in the desired parameter setting. Valid entries can range from 0.5 to 48 hours. The default setting is 0.5 hr. List Tag Description (Y/N) The parameter enables you to show the description field of an algorithm block for a system trend on screen during Runtime. The description is specified in the DESC field of the algorithm block. (Refer to Chapter 6: Algorithms for more information on algorithm block descriptions.) Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid Y (to show the description) and N (not show the description). The default value is N. Data Precision (1-8) This parameter enables you to show the number of decimal places to the right of a decimal point for the value of each algorithm being displayed in a system trend during Runtime. Valid values you can enter are from 1 to 8. The default value is 2. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-113

114 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder TRND LIST PC-30 collects trend data via the System Trend function continuously. Consecutive samples of trend data are stored in an internal buffer and can be displayed during a Runtime session by the operator. The System Trend function collects data in this memory buffer for up to 20 variables simultaneously. Up to five of the variables specified in this TRND LIST submenu can be graphically displayed [Shift-F9] at a time when the System Trend function is used during a Runtime session. There are specific variables (for blocks that contain them) that are valid when assigned in this submenu for trended data. Table 4.2 at the end of this section identifies which blocks contain these allowed trend variables. To enter data into the Trend List submenus: 1. Click on the SEL icon with the left mouse key to display the Algorithm Library submenu. 2. Click on the System Configuration button with the left mouse key which causes the System Configuration icons to appear along the bottom of the screen. 3. Use the left mouse key to click on TRND LIST icon that appears along the bottom of the workspace. The first page of the Trend List shown in Figure 4.45 appears on the screen. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

115 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function 4. Move to each field by: using the mouse to click (with the left mouse key) on the specific field, pressing [Tab], or pressing the arrow keys. While selected, type in from the keyboard the values to be trended. The actual trend values are specified in the Tag Name fields (which identify the block) and by the variable s mnemonic in the Variable TYPE fields. Table 4.2 identifies the valid variables and which blocks they can be found in. 5. When you finish setting the first 10 variables, click on the OK (ENTER) button or press [Enter] to move to the Trend List Page 2. The second page is where you can supply trend variables When you finish setting the second 10 variables (even if none were entered), click on the OK (ENTER) button or press [Enter] to store both pages and return to the Strategy Builder. Click on the CANCEL (ESC) button or press [Esc] from either submenu (Page 1 or Page 2) to abort all changes made, restore all previous values, and exit the TRND LIST configuration submenu. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-115

116 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Note Figure 4.45 TRND LIST Page 1 configuration submenu Data entered/edited in of the TRND LIST submenu is updated for ensuing Configurator work as soon as you click on the OK (ENTER) button or press the [Enter] key. This data is not saved permanently to the strategy s database disk file until the strategy is saved using the Files Function s SAVE operation. Refer to the Files Function section in this chapter for information on how to perform the SAVE operation. RG-GA /23/93 You can change the contents of the Trend List during a Runtime session, but your initial entries define the starting selections. You cannot assign trend pens here; the operator must assign them during the Runtime session PC-30 User s Manual

117 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Note The Display Builder also allows you to create Trend Windows as part of a graphic display with up to eight variables trended simultaneously. That function is completely independent of the Trending allowed by the Trend List. Refer to the Trend Windows section in Chapter 7: Display Builder for information about Trend Windows. Table 4.2 Valid Trend Variables with Source Blocks SETP - setpoint ALARM, DGAP, INTG, PD, PID OUT and DOUT - output (also OUT2, OUT3, OUT4 when available) ADD, AIN, AMB, and, AND, AOUT, AVG, CHAR, CNT, COS, DGAP, DIN, DIV, DTIM, e x, F(x), FILT, HIST, HSEL, INTG, LLAG, LOG, LSEL, MSEL, MULT, NAND, NOR, NOT, not, OR, or, PD, PID, PUL, pul, RAMP, SETPT, SIM, SIN, SWCH, TAN, TIMER, TOT, USER ALG, XOR, xor MEAS - measured variable ALARM, AMB, AOUT, CHAR, COS, DGAP, DTIM, e x, FILT, INTG, LLAG, LOG, PD, PID, SIM, SIN, SPC, TAN, TOT Strategy Builder HLIM - high limit ADD, AMB, AVG, CHAR, COS, DIV, DTIM, e x, HSEL, INTG, LLAG, LOG, LSEL, MSEL, MULT, PD, PID, RAMP, SETPT, SIN, SWCH, TAN, TOT LLIM - low limit ADD, AMB, AVG, CHAR, COS, DIV, DTIM, ex, HSEL, INTG, LLAG, LOG, LSEL, MSEL, MULT, PD, PID, RAMP, SETPT, SIN, SWCH, TAN, TOT PC-30 User s Manual 4-117

118 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Table 4.2 Valid Trend Variables with Source Blocks (con t) HALM - high alarm AIN, ALARM, AMB, FILT, INTG, LLAG, PAIN, PAIO, PD, PID, RAMP, SETPT, SIM, SPC, TOT LALM - low alarm AIN, ALARM, AMB, FILT, INTG, LLAG, PAIN, PAIO, PD, PID, RAMP, SETPT, SIM, SPC, TOT HALV - high alarm value AIN, ALARM, AMB, FILT, INTG, LLAG, PD, PID, RAMP, SIM, TOT LALV - low alarm value AIN, ALARM, AMB, FILT, INTG, LLAG, PD, PID, RAMP, SIM, TOT Blocks with multiple inputs: INP1, INP2, INP3, INP4 ADD, AND, and, AVG, DIV, F(x), HOST HSEL, LSEL, MSEL, MSG, MULT, SWCH, NAND, NOR, OR, or, USER ALG, XOR, xor Packed blocks: AO1 TO AO8 - packed analog outputs PAIN, PAIO RG-GA /23/93 AI1 TO AI8 - packed analog inputs PAIO, PAOT DO1 TO DO16 - packed digital outputs PDIN, PDIO, SETPT, SEQ PC-30 User s Manual

119 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function DI1 TO DI16 - packed digital inputs PDIO, PDOT COMM CNFG The Serial Port Configuration submenu shown in Figure 4.46 allows you to specify various interfacing parameters for your system s serial communications ports. The parameters set in this submenu determine how PC-30 initializes the respective COM ports for all related Configurator and Runtime communications. Strategy Builder Figure 4.46 COMM CNFG Serial Port Communications configuration submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-119

120 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder To access the Serial Port Configuration parameters, perform the following steps: 1. Click on the SEL icon with the left mouse key to display the Algorithm Library submenu. 2. Click on the System Configuration button with the left mouse key which causes the System Configuration icons to appear along the bottom of the screen. 3. Click on COMM CNFG icon with the left mouse key. The Serial Port Configuration submenu (Figure 4.46) displays in the current workspace. 4. Move to and select the desired field by: pointing to the specific field and click on the left mouse key, pressing [Tab], or pressing the arrow cursor keys (,,, ). 5. With the desired field selected (highlighted), click the left mouse key successively or press [PgUp] or [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle through any preset values. Fields that do not have presets, e.g. Port Scan Periods, Base Address, etc., must have their values typed in from the keyboard. 6. When you finish setting the parameters, click on the OK (ENTER) button with the left mouse key or press [Enter] to store your data. Click on the CANCEL (ESC) button or press [Esc] to abort all changes made, restore all previous parameter values, and exit from the Serial Port Configuration submenu. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

121 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Note Data that is entered/edited in the COMM CNFG submenu is updated for ensuing Configurator work as soon as you click on the OK (ENTER) button or press the [Enter] key. This data is not saved permanently to the strategy s database disk file until the strategy is saved using the Files Function s SAVE operation. Refer to the Files Function section in this chapter for information on how to perform the SAVE operation. The Serial Port Configuration submenu contains the following fields: Communication Port (1-4) (NOT USED, INSTALLED or NETWORK) This field turns the port on or off or allows the port to be used with the Serial NETWORK option (see the documentation accompanying the Serial NETWORK option for more information.) Ports 3 and 4 are typically located on add-on boards and memory-mapped to a Base Address in your PC. If using Port 3 and/or Port 4 make sure to enter the correct hexadecimal value from the information provided by the manufacturer of this equipment into the Base Address field in this submenu. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices: NOT USED, INSTALLED, and NETWORK. The default setting is NOT USED. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-121

122 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Baud Rate (300 to 38.4K Baud) This field allows you to define the baud rate for each respective communications port. The baud rate you define should match the setting of the hardware you want to communicate with. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices: 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19.2K, and 38.4K. The default setting is Parity (NONE, ODD, EVEN) This field allows you to define the parity being used by each respective communications port. The parity you define should match the setting of the hardware you want to communicate with. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices: NONE, ODD, or EVEN. The default setting is NONE. Character Length (5 bits, 6 bits, 7 bits, 8 bits) This field allows you to define the length of the character words to be used by each respective communications port. The character length you define should match the setting of the hardware you want to communicate with. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

123 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices: 5 bits, 6 bits, 7 bits, or 8 bits. The default setting is 8 bits. Stop Bits (1 or 2) This field allows you to define the number of stop bits used by each respective communications port. The number of stop bits you define should match the setting of the hardware you want to communicate with. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices 1 or 2. The default setting is 1. IRQ Selection (IRQ3, 4, 5, 7) This field is unique to serial ports 3 and 4. If installed and enabled, the interrupt request can be set to four possible settings. The selected setting instructs PC-30 to use that interrupt request when addressing the respective COM port. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices: IRQ3, IRQ4, IRQ5, or IRQ7. The default setting is IRQ4 for Port 3 and IRQ3 for Port 4. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-123

124 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Caution Systems that contain all four COM ports typically have IRQ assignments of: COM1: = IRQ4 COM2: = IRQ3 COM3: = IRQ5 or 7 (cannot match Port 4) COM4: = IRQ5 or 7 (cannot match Port 3) Two serial ports should not share the same interrupt request setting. Unpredictable results can occur if two enabled (installed) ports share the same interrupt request. Port (1-4) Scan Period (0 to 1600 seconds) This field allows you to specify a scan period for each of up to four possible serial ports. The value of this field determines how fast PC-30 scans the respective serial port for data. Clicking on this field with the left mouse key selects (highlights) it for value entry. This scan period (set in COMM CNFG) should be set to scan twice as fast as the fastest block (i.e. block processor) or I/O block scan rate associated with it. Type the value of the scan period in seconds. Valid values can range from 0 to 1600 seconds. The default value is 0 seconds. RG-GA /23/93 Base Address (0000 to FFFF) This field allows you to specify the hexadecimal base address for either Port 3 or Port 4. The hexadecimal base address you define should match the setting of the hardware you want to communicate with PC-30 User s Manual

125 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Clicking on this field with the left mouse key selects (highlights) it for value entry. Type in from the keyboard the hexadecimal value of the base address period in seconds. Valid values can range from 0000 to FFFF. The default value is 3E8 for Port 3 and 2E8 for Port 4. PASSWORD PC-30 provides system security that allows you to password protect various Runtime operations. The System Security configuration submenu shown in Figure 4.47 is where you identify three individual user-password assignments at each of the three security levels. Strategy Builder Figure 4.47 PASSWORD System Security configuration submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-125

126 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Based upon the security level a user has when the user logs in, a defined set of permitted operations are enabled. The scope of operations available with each security level are defined in Table 4.3 later in this section. To access and setup the System Security users and password, perform the following procedures: 1. Click on the SEL icon with the left mouse key to display the Algorithm Library submenu. 2. Click on the System Configuration button with the left mouse key which causes the System Configuration icons to appear along the bottom of the screen. 3. Click on PASSWORD icon with the left mouse key. The System Security submenu (Figure 4.47) displays in the current workspace. 4. Move to and select the desired field by: pointing to the specific field and clicking on the left mouse key, pressing [Tab], or pressing the arrow cursor keys (,,, ). 5. With the desired field selected (highlighted), click the left mouse key successively or press [PgUp] or [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle through any preset values. The Default Level field is the only field with preset fields that can be scrolled through. All other fields require their values (passwords and user names) to be typed in from the keyboard after they are selected. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

127 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function 6. After you finish setting up users/passwords, click on the OK (ENTER) button with the left mouse key or press [Enter] to store your data. Click on the CANCEL (ESC) button or press [Esc] to abort all changes made, restore all previous parameter values, and exit from the System Security submenu. Note Data entered/edited in the PASS WORD submenu is updated for ensuing Configurator work as soon as you click on the OK (ENTER) button or press the [Enter] key. This data is not saved permanently to the strategy s database disk file until the strategy is saved using the Files Function s SAVE operation. Refer to the Files Function section in this chapter for information on how to perform the SAVE operation. The System Security submenu contains the following fields: Default Level (Engineer 3, Technician 2, Operator 1, View-Only 0) The Default Level parameter determines the security level at which the Runtime System starts operation. There are four basic levels at which the Runtime System can operate, each with greater privileges. Successively clicking on this field with the left mouse key toggles through the four valid selections: Engineer 3, Technician 2, Operator 1, and View-Only 0. The default setting is Engineer 3. Strategy Builder Note Each security level s scope of operations is defined in Table 4.3 at the end of this section. PC-30 User s Manual 4-127

128 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Password A:-C: Three Password fields are available for each of the three security levels. With the desired Password field selected (for the appropriate security level), type in up to a 10-character password for the respective user s Name. A default Engineer level password of PC-30 is supplied. Name A:-C: Three Name fields are available for each of the three security levels. With the desired Name field selected (for the appropriate security level), type in up to a 10-character user name to be attached to that user s assigned Password. At the beginning of a Runtime session, an operator must first log in. Whenever an operator event is logged during Runtime execution, the currently logged-in operator is identified in the log. The Runtime system keeps a list of those individuals logged in and displays the name of the remaining person with the highest priority after someone logs out. For more information about the behavior of the System Security function in Runtime sessions, refer to Chapter 8: The Runtime System. Table 4.3 Security Level Scope of Operations Name and Level Scope Permitted RG-GA /23/93 View Only - 0 Operator -1 No changes, no submenus can be displayed, does not exit to DOS. Data entries in User Displays can be modified, no submenus can be displayed, does not exit to DOS PC-30 User s Manual

129 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Technician - 2 Engineer - 3 Algorithm submenus can be displayed and values on the first page can be changed, mode of operation can be switched between Auto and Manual. All values can be changed during the Runtime session. ALRM CNFG The Strategy Builder Alarm-Event Configuration menus let you customize how process alarms and operator events are handled during Runtime. To access the Alarm/Event Configuration parameters, perform the following steps: 1. Click on the SEL icon with the left mouse key to display the Algorithm Library submenu. 2. Click on the System Configuration button with the left mouse key which causes the System Configuration icons to appear along the bottom of the screen. 3. Click on the ALRM CNFG icon with the left mouse key. The Alarm/Event Configuration main menu (Figure 4.48) displays in the current workspace. The Alarm/Event Configuration main menu contains buttons that invoke submenus pertaining to specific alarm/event functions. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-129

130 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Figure 4.48 Alarm/Event Configuration main menu 4. Click on the desired button with the left mouse key. The corresponding configuration submenu displays in the workspace. Each submenu and its parameters are described later in this section. 5. Move to and select the desired field by: pointing to the specific field and clicking on the left mouse key, pressing [Tab], or pressing the arrow cursor keys (,,, ). 6. With the desired field selected (highlighted), click the left mouse key successively or press [PgUp] or [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle through any preset values. Fields that do not have presets must have their values typed in from the keyboard. (Preset values appear in yellow). RG-GA /23/93 7. When you finish setting the parameters, click on the OK (ENTER) button with the left mouse key or press [Enter] to store your data. Clicking on the CANCEL (ESC) button or pressing the [Esc] key aborts all changes made, restores all previous parameter values, and exits the submenu PC-30 User s Manual

131 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function The Alarm/Event Configuration main menu returns to the workspace. You may at this time select another submenu. 8. Click on the CANCEL (ESC) button with the left mouse key or press the [Esc] key to return to the Strategy Builder. Note Data that is entered/edited in an ALRM CNFG submenu is updated for ensuing Configurator work as soon as the OK (ENTER) button or [Enter] is pressed. This data is not saved permanently to the strategy s database disk file until the strategy is saved using the Files Function s SAVE operation. Refer to the Files Function section in this chapter for information on how to perform the SAVE operation. Logger Parameters Clicking on the Logger button in the ALRM CNFG main menu with the left mouse key displays the Logger Parameters submenu (Figure 4.49). This menu contains parameters that control master squelch level for all alarms and the number of pages reserved for displaying alarms to the screen. These parameters are described below. Strategy Builder Figure 4.49 Logger Parameters submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-131

132 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Alarm Squelch Level (0-9) The Alarm Squelch level is a filter that lets you prevent low priority alarms from distracting the operator. This acts as a master filter for all alarms and has priority over the Display, Disk, Printer, and Annunciator sub-squelch levels which are specified in the appropriate submenu (Display, File, etc.). All alarms with priorities below the Alarm Squelch level are squelched. For example, if the Alarm Squelch Level were set to 4 and the Disk Squelch set to 6, a priority 5 alarm would appear in the Alarm-Event Summary screen during Runtime but would not be logged to disk. To specify a different squelch level, click on the appropriate field with the left mouse key to select (highlight) it. Once selected, type in the new value for the squelch level. The Alarm Squelch Level can be changed during Runtime in the [Alt-A] System Parameters subwindow. Valid values range from 0 to 9. The default value is 0. Number of Alarm Pages (1-35) This parameter lets you specify the number of pages of alarms (20 alarms displayed per page) available for use during Runtime. The number of alarm pages entered may affect system performance by decreasing the amount of system memory available to the Runtime environment and also slowing the update of the Alarm/Event Summary. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

133 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function To specify a different number of alarm pages, click on the Number of Alarm Pages field with the left mouse key to select it. Once selected, type in the new value for the squelch level. The range of valid pages is from 1 to 35. The default setting is 3. Display Parameters Clicking on the Display button in the ALRM CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the Display Parameters submenu (Figure 4.50). This menu contains parameters that control the manner in which alarms are displayed to the Alarm/Event Summary and Alarm Summary screens. Strategy Builder Figure 4.50 Display Parameters submenu Display Squelch (0-9) This sub-squelch level determines if an alarm will appear on the Alarm-Event Summary and Alarm Summary screens during Runtime. Alarms with a priority less than both the Display Squelch level and Alarm Squelch level PC-30 User s Manual 4-133

134 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder (Figure 4.49) are printed to the Alarm-Event Summary and Alarm Summary screens. Click on the field with the left mouse key (the field becomes highlighted in orange) and enter the Display Squelch level. The valid entries are 0 through 9. The default value is 0. Return to Normal (ENABLED or DISABLED) This field determines whether or not a NORM message appears in the TYPE field of the Alarm/Event Summary or Alarm Summary screen when a point comes out of alarm. This action occurs as a supplement to the color change (default=green) of the alarm message. (Refer to the Color Configuration section in this chapter for more information on color coding alarm messages). The NORM message always appears in printed alarms and the alarm log files regardless of whether this field is DISABLED. Click on this field with the left mouse key to toggle between ENABLED and DISABLED. Enabling this field causes the message to appear. The default is ENABLED. "Precision of Value" (Normal or Enhanced) This field lets you enhance the precision of alarm/event summary values that display in the Alarm/Event Summary screen during Runtime. Normal gives you a precision of 6.1 (6 digits available with 1 digit being to the right of the decimal point). Enhanced gives you a precision of 11.6 (11 available digits with a maximum of 6 to the right of the decimal point). When Enhanced precision is enabled, RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

135 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function the value of the alarm or event starts 3 places to the left of where it normally does, and removes up to five characters of the description field if one is present. Click on this field with the left mouse key to toggle between Normal and Enhanced. The default value is Normal. File (Disk) Parameters Clicking on the File button in the ALRM CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the File Parameters submenu (Figure 4.51). This menu contains parameters that control how alarms are logged to disk. Strategy Builder Figure 4.51 File Parameters submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-135

136 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Log Alarms to Disk (NO or YES) This parameter determines whether or not alarm events are logged to a disk file. When set to NO alarm logging to disk is disabled. When set to YES alarm events are written to disk files in the current directory. The alarm log files are created in the format: LOG<nn>.TXT where nn is a number from 0 to 99. Alarm logging starts as soon as a Runtime session starts. The current log file is closed either when a Runtime session is exited or this function is turned off by the operator via the standard Runtime [Alt-A] subwindow functions. The next time the function starts, the LOG file number (nn) increments. The maximum number of log files that are created before the file number resets to 0 is specified by the Number of Alarm Files parameter. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices NO and YES. This setting can be changed during Runtime in the [Alt-A] System Parameters subwindow. The default setting is NO. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

137 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Disk Squelch (0-9) This sub-squelch level determines if an alarm will be logged to disk during Runtime. Alarms with a priority greater than both the Disk Squelch level and Alarm Squelch level (Figure 4.49) are logged to disk. The Disk Squelch level only applies if the Log Alarms to Disk field is set to YES. Click on this field with the left mouse key (the field becomes highlighted in orange) and enter the Disk Squelch level. The valid entries are 0 through 9. The default value is 0. Alarm Event File This field lets you declare an alternate naming scheme for alarm/event log files that are to be written to disk. You may enter up to 5 legal DOS characters that will name all of the alarm/event log files. For example, if ALRM were entered in this field, PC-30 would create ALRMnn.TXT files where nn represents a number from 0 to the maximum number of alarm files (specified by the Number Alarm Files parameter). Strategy Builder To specify a different alarm log file, click on the Alarm Event File field with the left mouse key to select it. Once selected, type in the new prefix value for the alarm log files. The default alarm/event log file prefix is LOG. PC-30 User s Manual 4-137

138 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder File Path This field specifies the DOS file path that alarm log files will be stored in. If no entry is made in this field, alarm log files are generated in the directory that the Runtime system was invoked from. To specify a path, click on this field with the left mouse key and type in the DOS path name. The path length cannot exceed 45 characters. The default is no path (Runtime system directory). Number Alarm Files (1-100) This field specifies the maximum number of alarm log files that are created before the file numbering sequence resets and PC-30 starts overwriting the existing alarm files (beginning with the oldest). For example, suppose 50 alarm files were specified. When LOG49.TXT has logged the maximum number of pages configured in the Alarm Pgs/Log File field, the next file generated would be LOG00.TXT, which would overwrite the first alarm file generated in the strategy. To specify the number of alarm files, click on this field with the left mouse key and type in the new value. The valid range is from 1 to 100. The default is 100. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

139 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Alarm Pgs/Log File ( ) This field specifies the maximum number of alarm pages that are logged to one alarm file before that file is closed and a new file is generated. This parameter is useful for preventing extremely large alarm files associated with days that may have many alarms. To specify the number of alarm pages per file, click on this field with the left mouse key and type in a value. The valid range is from 0 to The default is 0. Printer Parameters Clicking on the Printer button in the ALRM CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the Printer Parameters submenu (Figure 4.52). This menu contains parameters that control how alarms are sent to the printer during Runtime. Strategy Builder Figure 4.52 Printer Parameters submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-139

140 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Alarm Printer (OFF or ON) The Alarm Printer field determines whether or not alarms are directed to the configured Alarm Printer Port when an alarm occurs. When set to OFF alarm printing is inhibited. When set to ON alarms are printed. The state of this parameter can be changed during a Runtime session. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices OFF and ON. The default is OFF. Printer Squelch (0-9) This sub-squelch level determines if an alarm will be sent to the printer during Runtime. Alarms with a priority less than both the Printer Squelch level and Alarm Squelch level (Figure 4.49) are printed. The Printer Squelch level only applies if the Alarm Printer field is set to YES. Click on the field with the left mouse key (the field becomes highlighted in orange) and enter the Printer Squelch level. The valid entries are 0 through 9. The default value is 0. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

141 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Alarm Printer Port (LPT1:-3, COM1:-4) This field specifies the printer port to which alarms are directed. If this port corresponds to the SYS CNFG s System Printer Port, alarms and operator events may appear intermixed on a line-by-line basis. The state of this parameter cannot be changed during a Runtime session. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices: LPT1:, LPT2:, LPT3:, COM1:, COM2:, COM3:, or COM4:. The default setting is LPT1:. Note The Alarm Printer parameter in this submenu must be set to ON in order for alarms to be directed to the specified Alarm Printer Port. Annunciator Parameters Clicking on the Annunciator button in the ALRM CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the Annunciator Parameters submenu (Figure 4.53). This menu contains parameters that control alarming sounding when an alarm occurs during Runtime. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-141

142 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Figure 4.53 Annunciator Parameters submenu Alarm Sound (OFF or ON) The Alarm Sound parameter determines whether or not alarms sound over the computer s speaker. The higher the priority of the alarm, the higher the pitch of the produced sound. When set to OFF, no sound is produced. When set to ON, sound is produced. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices OFF and ON. This parameter can be changed during Runtime in the [Alt-A] System Parameters subwindow. The default setting is OFF. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

143 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Annunciator Squelch (0-9) This sub-squelch level determines if an alarm will sound during Runtime. Alarms with a priority less than both the Annunciator Squelch level and Alarm Squelch level (Figure 4.49) are sounded. The Annunciator Squelch level only applies if the Alarm Sound field is set to YES. Click on the field with the left mouse key (the field becomes highlighted in orange) and enter the Annunciator Squelch level. The valid entries are 0 through 9. The default value is 0. Event Configuration Clicking on the Events button in the ALRM CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the Event Configuration submenu (Figure 4.54). This menu contains parameters that control how events are handled during Runtime. Strategy Builder Figure 4.54 Event Configuration submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-143

144 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Operator Events (ENABLED or DISABLED) This field determines whether or not operator events are logged. Operator events include user logon/logoffs to security levels, changing a block from auto to manual and back, changing the setpoint from remote to local and back, changing the block outputs, setpoints, and most other parameters and acknowledging alarms. This parameter can be changed during Runtime in the [Alt-A] System Parameters subwindow. When this field is enabled, events are logged to the printer, to a file, or both (based on the settings of the Log To Disk and Log To Printer fields). Regardless of the Operator Events setting, events are always displays in the Alarm-Event Summary and Event Summary screens. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices ENABLED and DISABLED. The default setting is ENABLED. Log to Disk (NO or YES) This field specifies whether or not operator events are logged to the log file specified in the Alarm Event File parameter field on this submenu. This parameter is only valid when the Operator Events parameter is set to EN- ABLED. This setting can be changed during Runtime in the [Alt-A] System Parameters subwindow. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

145 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices NO and YES. The default is NO. Log to Printer (NO or YES) This field specifies whether or not operator events are directed to the printing device specified in the Alarm Printer Port parameter field on this submenu. This parameter is only valid when the Operator Events parameter is set to ENABLED. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the valid choices NO and YES. The default is NO. Color Configuration Clicking on the Color Configuration button in the ALRM CNFG main menu with the left mouse key invokes the Color Configuration submenu (Figure 4.55). This menu contains parameters that control the display colors of alarms and events in the Alarm-Event Summary screens. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-145

146 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Figure 4.55 Color Configuration submenu System Alarms (DEFAULT or a specific color) This parameter specifies the color in which system-type alarms are displayed during Runtime sessions. System alarms are generally classified as all process generated alarms not generated by an I/O device(s). The System Alarms parameters contain three fields for setting customized alarm display colors: Active Color, Normal Color, and Acknowledge Color. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the 15 valid color choices: DEFAULT, Blue, Green, Cyan, Red, Magenta, Brown, White, Grey, Lt. Blue, Lt. Green, Lt. Cyan, Lt. Red, Lt. Magenta, Yellow, and Lt. White. The default setting is DEFAULT which is equivalent to Active=Red, Normal=Green, and Acknowledge=Yellow. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

147 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Device Alarms (DEFAULT or a specific color) This parameter lets you specify the color in which I/O device alarms display during Runtime sessions. Device alarms are generally classified as process generated alarms generated by an I/O device(s). The Device Alarms parameters contain three fields for setting customized alarm display colors: Active Color, Normal Color, and Acknowledge Color. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the choices: DEFAULT, Blue, Green, Cyan, Red, Magenta, Brown, White, Grey, Lt. Blue, Lt. Green, Lt. Cyan, Lt. Red, Lt. Magenta, Yellow, and Lt. White. The default setting is DEFAULT which is equivalent to Active=Red, Normal=Green, and Acknowledge=Yellow. Operator/Event Color (DEFAULT or a specific color) This group of parameter fields lets you specify the color in which the three different types of operator events are reported during a Runtime session. The Operator/Event Color parameters contain three fields that define the types of operator events. These fields are: System, Device, and Network. Successively click on this field with the left mouse key or use [PgUp] and [PgDn] after the field is selected to toggle between the choices: DEFAULT, Blue, Green, Cyan, Red, Magenta, Brown, White, Grey, Lt. Blue, Lt. Green, Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-147

148 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Lt. Cyan, Lt. Red, Lt. Magenta, Yellow, and Lt. White. The default setting is DEFAULT which is Cyan Placing All Other Algorithms After you use the SEL function to choose the desired group of algorithm blocks, the placement and sizing of all algorithm (strategy (blocks) other than the System Configuration group discussed previously) is performed in the same manner. Refer to Figure 4.56 when you use the following procedure to work with the various strategy blocks: 1. Using the procedures defined earlier for selecting algorithm groups, use the SEL function to select and display the desired group of algorithm icons along the bottom of the Strategy Builder screen. 2. Select the desired algorithm icon from the group of algorithm icons displayed at the bottom of the screen by clicking on it with the left mouse key. When you move the cursor into the workspace, it turns into a white box that represents the selected algorithm block. This algorithm box can be resized by dragging the mouse while the center mouse key is pressed. 3. When the algorithm box is at the desired location in the workspace, it can be placed by clicking on the left mouse key. You may place additional blocks (of the current type) by moving to a new location and clicking on again with the left mouse key. You can resize the algorithm box any time as you are placing blocks. When you place the box the algorithm name displays in the block with a default tag (#1, #2, etc.). The outline of the box is white, indicating that parameters for the box are not set. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

149 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function 4. Configure the block(s) using the? (Query) function. A configured block appears in a blue outline. When you specify a tag name in a block s configuration menu, it replaces the default numeric tag. 2 Point mouse over handle to resize or inside the block to move; then hold down the center mouse key 3 Drag mouse to desired size/location and release the mouse key 1 Click left mouse key to place the block 4 Box is resized/moved to the specified size/location Strategy Builder Figure 4.56 Placing and sizing an algorithm block 5. Connect the block(s) to others in your strategy with the Connect function. Note All of the functions required in the previous procedures are described in this chapter. Refer to the appropriate section for further information on a specific function. PC-30 User s Manual 4-149

150 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Enabling PC-30 Options The Options algorithms let you access any of the PC-30 options installed in your system. There are two types of PC-30 options: option blocks and Enable User options. The options are contained on two pages in the Strategy Builder (Figure 4.57). Click on the arrows icon ( ) to toggle between the two pages. Figure 4.57 Two pages of PC-30 Options If you ve installed an option successfully, it s icon is highlighted (a bright white box with red letters) in the SEL (selection) area of the Strategy Builder screen. When the option is highlighted, it can be clicked on with the mouse and configured. If the option is not installed, the icon appears dim (a grey box with blue letters) and cannot be selected. The first Options page contain the option blocks. You can incorporate the function of these options into your strategy by clicking on the option box and dragging the desired option block in it. Once the block is placed in the strategy, its functionality is incorporated by configuring the block (querying) for your specific strategy requirements. The procedures for configuring each of the option blocks is described in each option s User Guide. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

151 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function The following option blocks are available for PC-30 systems: Page 1 SPC (statistical process control) S/P (setpoint programmer) HOST (Host communications) REPORT (report generator) RECP (recipe module) NET XFER (NETWORK file transfer) SHADOW (Shadow) The second page of PC-30 options contain the Enable User options. These option must be enabled to be used in the strategy during Runtime. To enable these options, click on the option box with the left mouse key. Configuration specific to the selected option appear. Configure the parameters in these menus and save the changes (click on the OK (ENTER) button or press the [Enter] key). After completing the menus the option is installed and will be used by Runtime. The MOUSE and ALM CACH options are provided with PC-30. A description and walk-through of these options is provided later in this section. Consult the option documentation for information regarding the configuration of the other PC-30 options. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-151

152 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder The following Enable User options are available for PC-30 systems: Page 2 USER TASK (User task) MODEM (modem support for Host communications) NETWORK (PC-30 networking) HOST COMM (Host communications) TOUCH (touch screen operator interface) MOUSE (Runtime mouse support) COMM (external communications option) ALM CACH (alarming for cached points) Enabling the Runtime Mouse PC-30 contains a mouse support file (MOUSE.OPT) that allows use of a mouse during Runtime. However, in order for the mouse to operate as a pointing device during a Runtime session, Runtime mouse functionality must be enabled from the second page of the Options group of icons. Before the Runtime mouse functionality can be enabled, the Runtime mouse support software must be installed into your PC-30 system directory. This software is located in the \MOUSE subdirectory on the PC-30 Utilities diskette. Use the DOS COPY command to copy the contents of this subdirectory into your PC-30 system directory. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

153 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function To enable the Runtime mouse functionality, perform the following steps: 1. Load the strategy requiring the Runtime mouse operation into the Strategy Builder. 2. Click on the SEL icon with the left mouse key to display the Algorithm Library submenu. 3. Click on the Options button. The first page of the Options icons appear along the bottom of the screen. 4. Click on the down and up arrow icon ( ) with the left mouse key (this icon is located directly below the SEL icon). This displays the Enable Option group of icons at the bottom of the screen. 5. Click on the MOUSE icon from the Enable Options icons. The Mouse Option submenu (Figure 4.58) displays in the current workspace. Strategy Builder Figure 4.58 Mouse Option submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-153

154 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder 6. Enter the appropriate parameters for the Runtime mouse into the parameter fields in the Mouse Option submenu. After the desired parameters are set, click on the OK (EN- TER) button or press [Enter] to save your data. The fields in the Mouse Option submenu include: Mouse (DISABLED or ENABLED) Runtime mouse operations for the current strategy are enabled or disabled in this field. Click on this field successively with the left mouse key to toggle between the valid settings: ENABLED and DISABLED. The default setting is DISABLED. Cursor Off Delay (1-255 seconds) This field lets you specify a time duration (in seconds) that defines how long the mouse cursor remains on the Runtime screen after movement stops. If the mouse cursor remains idle for the period of time specified by this setting, it disappears from the Runtime screen. When the mouse is moved again, the cursor reappears. Click on this field with the left mouse key to select it (the field is highlighted and a cursor appears). Once the cursor appears, enter a valid value between 1 and 255 that represents the number of seconds an idle cursor remains on the screen before it is removed. The default is 5 seconds. RG-GA /23/93 Mouse Color This field lets you define the color of your mouse cursor in the Runtime environment PC-30 User s Manual

155 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Click on this field successively with the left mouse key to toggle between the valid colors: Lt Blue, Lt Green, Lt Cyan, Lt Red, Lt Magenta, Yellow, Lt White, and Bright White. The default color is Bright White. Mouse Size in Screen Units (0 to 255) This field lets you define the size of the mouse cursor. The valid range is 0 to 255 (number of pixels from the center of the cursor). The default setting is 10. Enabling the Alarm Cache Option The PC-30 Alarm Cache option works in conjunction with the PC-30 database caching feature. The Alarm Cache option polls cached I/O points for alarms. This feature only applies to I/O points connected to device blocks, i.e., I/O blocks and MCONNS (Distributed I/O blocks). The rate at which these points are polled for alarms is user configurable on a block by block basis and is set independent of the I/O scanner and block scan rate. The Alarm Cache option allows the user to specify which device block s I/O points will be polled during Runtime. Refer to Chapter 3: Before You Begin for more information on how database caching operates. Strategy Builder To enable the Alarm Cache option, perform the following steps: 1. Load the strategy requiring the Alarm Cache operation into the Strategy Builder. 2. Click on the SEL icon with the left mouse key to display the Algorithm Library submenu. PC-30 User s Manual 4-155

156 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder 3. Click on the Options button. The first page of the Options icons appear along the bottom of the screen. 4. Click on the arrows icon ( ) with the left mouse key (located directly below the SEL icon). This displays the Enable User option group icons at the bottom of the screen. 5. Click on the ALM CACHE icon from the Enable Options icons. The Database Alarm Caching submenu (Figure 4.59) displays in the current workspace. Cache Usage Configure Device List Figure 4.59 Database Alarm Caching submenu The Database Alarm Caching submenu contains three parameter fields and three function buttons. The parameter fields are used to configure the Alarm Cache option. The function buttons are used to select, delete, and edit devices that will be used by the Alarm Cache option. RG-GA /23/93 6. Configure the parameters for the Alarm Cache option. The parameters are described below: PC-30 User s Manual

157 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Alarm Cache (DISABLED/ENABLED) This field determines if Runtime uses the Alarm Cache option for this strategy. Setting this field to ENABLED activates the Alarm Cache option. Click on this field with the left mouse key to toggle the choices (DISABLED, EN- ABLED). The default is DISABLED. Scan Period (0.1 to sec) This parameter sets the base frequency at which the I/O points in the cache are scanned for alarms. This is the overall scan rate for the Alarm Cache option. The scan rate for each individual device block can be configured using the Scan Multiplier parameter in the Edit Device submenu (Figure 4.61). To configure the Scan Period, click on the field with the left mouse key or tab to this field. (The field becomes highlighted in orange). Type in the desired scan frequency for the Alarm Cache option. The valid range is 0.1 to seconds. The default is 10 seconds. Strategy Builder Cache Usage (100 / 200 / 300 / 400 / 500 / 1000 / 1500 / 2000 / 3000 / 4000 / 5000 / 6000 / No Limit) This parameter specifies the maximum number of cache points that the system will use at any one time. This acts as a throttle to prevent the option from using all of the cache. This Alarm Cache option will never use more cache points than specified in this field. PC-30 User s Manual 4-157

158 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Click on this field with the left and right mouse keys to scroll through forward and backward through valid choices. (You may also tab to this field and use the [PgUp] and [PgDn] keys to scroll through the choices). The valid choices are 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and No Limit. The default is No Limit. 7. Using the three function buttons, select and edit the device blocks whose I/O points will be scanned by the Alarm Cache option. Each function button is described on the following pages: Add Device This button adds a device block to the list of device blocks that are scanned by the Alarm Cache option. Clicking on this button with the left mouse key displays the menu shown in Figure This menu lists the device blocks currently configured in the strategy but not accessed by the Alarm Cache option. The format for each device block name is as follows: <device number> <device name> <block tag name>(if applicable) RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

159 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Figure 4.60 Available device blocks Select the device block by clicking on the block name with the left mouse key. After selecting the device block, the Edit Device submenu (Figure 4.61) displays. Click on the EXIT button to abort the Add Device operation. Strategy Builder Figure 4.61 Edit Device submenu PC-30 User s Manual 4-159

160 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder This submenu displays the name of the device block chosen and contains the following parameter: Scan Multiplier (1 to 10000) This parameter allows you to configure the rate at which the points in this device block are scanned for alarms. The value entered in this field is a constant that will be multiplied by the Scan Period parameter in the Alarm Database Cache submenu (Figure 4.59). For example, if the Scan Period were set to 10 seconds and the Scan Multiplier for device block #001 were set to 2, I/O points in device block #001 would be scanned every 20 seconds for alarms. Click on this field with the left mouse key or tab to this field. (The field becomes highlighted in orange). Type in the desired value for the Scan Multiplier. The valid range is 1 to The default is 1 (scan rate equal to the Scan Period). RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

161 The Strategy Builder The SEL Function Remove Device This button deletes a device block from the list of device blocks that are accessed by the Alarm Cache option. Clicking on this field with the left mouse key displays the submenu shown in Figure This submenu lists the device blocks that have been enabled for use with the Alarm Cache option. The format for each device block name is as follows: <device number> <device name> <block tag name>(if applicable) Strategy Builder Figure 4.62 Device blocks enabled for Alarm Caching To remove a device from the list, click on the device block name with the left mouse key. Clicking on the EXIT button aborts the Remove Device operation. PC-30 User s Manual 4-161

162 The SEL Function The Strategy Builder Edit Device This button allows you to change the Scan Multiplier parameter for a device block that is already enabled for the Alarm Cache option. Clicking on this field with the left mouse key displays the list of device blocks currently enabled for use with the Alarm Cache option (Figure 4.62). Clicking on a device block name with the left mouse key displays the Edit Device submenu (Figure 4.61) that applies to the chosen device block. 8. After creating the list of device blocks to be accessed by the Alarm Cache option, click on the OK(ENTER) button with the left mouse key or press the [Enter] key. Be sure that the Alarm Cache field in the Database Alarm Caching submenu (Figure 4.59) is switched to ENABLED if you want to use the Alarm Cache option. The Alarm Cache option is now configured and enabled for use with the strategy. RG-GA /23/ PC-30 User s Manual

163 The Strategy Builder The Exit Function 4.11 The Exit Function 4.12 The Eraser Function The Exit function allows you to exit the Strategy Builder and return to DOS. When you click on the Exit icon (the stop sign) with the left mouse key, you leave the Strategy Builder and return to DOS. If changes are made to the current strategy and not saved, or if the current strategy is not configured properly prior to the Exit function being performed, a prompt appears on the screen. It indicates the current condition and asks whether you really want to quit without saving the changes or adjusting the strategy configuration first. This is to help you prevent accidental loss of data or improper Runtime operation. There is no default operation for saving of files. Be sure to save your work before exiting. The Eraser function provides the means for removing selected blocks, connections, or the entire strategy from the screen. The Eraser s Undo function also provides the ability to restore block and connection erase operations performed previously. Click on the Eraser icon with the left mouse key to invoke the default Eraser function to erase the selected blocks. The other Eraser functions are accessible from the Eraser submenu (Figure 4.63). To display this submenu, click on the Eraser icon with the right mouse key. Strategy Builder PC-30 User s Manual 4-163