B0700BD FoxView™ Software

I/A Series® System

FoxView™ Software

B0700BD

Rev EMay 31, 2011

Invensys, Foxboro, FoxCAE, FoxDraw, FoxSelect, FoxView, I/A Series and the Invensys logo are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, and affiliates.All other brand names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Copyright 2004-2011 Invensys Systems, Inc.All rights reserved

SOFTWARE LICENSE AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Before using the Invensys Systems, Inc. supplied software supported by this documentation, you should read and understand the following information concerning copyrighted software.

1. The license provisions in the software license for your system govern your obligations and usage rights to the software described in this documentation. If any portion of those license provisions is violated, Invensys Systems, Inc. will no longer provide you with support services and assumes no further responsibilities for your system or its operation.

2. All software issued by Invensys Systems, Inc. and copies of the software that you are specifically permitted to make, are protected in accordance with Federal copyright laws. It is illegal to make copies of any software media provided to you by Invensys Systems, Inc. for any purpose other than those purposes mentioned in the software license.

Contents
Figures.................................................................................................................................... ix

Tables..................................................................................................................................... xi

Preface................................................................................................................................. xiii

Audience ................................................................................................................................ xiii

Revision Information ............................................................................................................. xiii

Reference Documents ............................................................................................................ xiii

Conventions ........................................................................................................................... xivMenu Bar Commands ....................................................................................................... xivCommand and File Name Syntax ...................................................................................... xiv

1. Introduction to FoxView ................................................................................................... 1

Overview of FoxView ................................................................................................................ 1I/A Series Hardware ............................................................................................................. 2Multi-Headed Workstations ................................................................................................. 2

I/A Series Environments ............................................................................................................ 3

I/A Series Applications .............................................................................................................. 4System Management ............................................................................................................ 4Alarm Manager .................................................................................................................... 4

Configurators ............................................................................................................................ 4FoxCAE ............................................................................................................................... 4DD Explorer ........................................................................................................................ 5IACC ................................................................................................................................... 5FoxDraw .............................................................................................................................. 5FoxPanels Configurator ........................................................................................................ 5AIM*Historian ..................................................................................................................... 6Integrated Control Configurator .......................................................................................... 6

Printer Setup ............................................................................................................................. 6

2. Process Displays ................................................................................................................ 9

Introduction to Process Displays ............................................................................................... 9Access to Process Displays .................................................................................................... 9Top Priority Display .......................................................................................................... 10User-Built Displays ............................................................................................................ 10

Block Detail Displays .............................................................................................................. 11Block Alarm Summary Area ............................................................................................... 12Trend Area ......................................................................................................................... 12Faceplate ............................................................................................................................ 13

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B0700BD – Rev E Contents

Block Detail Display Buttons ............................................................................................. 13Overlay Buttons ................................................................................................................. 15Alarms Overlay ................................................................................................................... 16Alarm Text Fields ............................................................................................................... 17

Compound Detail Displays ..................................................................................................... 18Compounds ....................................................................................................................... 18

Station Block Detail Displays .................................................................................................. 20Overview of Station Block Detail Displays ......................................................................... 20Station Load Overview Base Display .................................................................................. 20Control Loading Overlay ................................................................................................... 22OM Scanner Loading Overlay ............................................................................................ 24Supervisor Setpoint Control (SSC) ..................................................................................... 25Group Device Assignments Overlay ................................................................................... 26

Trends ..................................................................................................................................... 26Overview of Trends ............................................................................................................ 26Trend Data ........................................................................................................................ 27Examples of Trends ............................................................................................................ 28Trend Area Presentation ..................................................................................................... 30Real-Time Trends and Historical Trends ........................................................................... 31Auto-Scaling and Guardband ............................................................................................. 32

Online Trend Configuration ................................................................................................... 33Major Steps of Configuring an Online Trend .................................................................... 33

X/Y Plots ................................................................................................................................. 34X/Y Plot Appearance .......................................................................................................... 35X/Y Plot Functions ............................................................................................................. 37

Alarm Notification .................................................................................................................. 38System Button .................................................................................................................... 38Process Button ................................................................................................................... 39Alarm Displays ................................................................................................................... 39Alarms ................................................................................................................................ 40

ScratchPads ............................................................................................................................. 40

Shortcut Menus ...................................................................................................................... 41

Moveable Overlays .................................................................................................................. 44

Profile Plots ............................................................................................................................. 46

3. FoxView Window and Dialog Boxes ............................................................................... 47

FoxView Window ................................................................................................................... 47Menu Bar ........................................................................................................................... 47System Bar ......................................................................................................................... 48Display Bar ........................................................................................................................ 48Status Bar ........................................................................................................................... 48Display Area ....................................................................................................................... 49Control Menu .................................................................................................................... 49

Menu Bar Items ...................................................................................................................... 51

iv

Contents B0700BD – Rev E

File Menu ........................................................................................................................... 51View Menu ........................................................................................................................ 51Disp (Disp_1, Disp_2) Menu ............................................................................................ 53Config Menu ...................................................................................................................... 53ScratchPads Menu .............................................................................................................. 53Help Menu ........................................................................................................................ 53

Dialog Boxes ........................................................................................................................... 54History Start/Stop Time Dialog Box .................................................................................. 54Data Rate Selection Dialog Box .......................................................................................... 55FoxView Preferences Dialog Box ........................................................................................ 55

4. Using FoxView ................................................................................................................ 57

Checking the System ............................................................................................................... 57

Setting the Date and Time ...................................................................................................... 57

Specifying FoxView Preferences .............................................................................................. 58

Operating on Environments .................................................................................................... 58Accessing the Operator Environment ................................................................................. 58Changing the Environment ................................................................................................ 59Data Entry Error Messages ................................................................................................. 59

Working with Trends .............................................................................................................. 60Opening a Trend ................................................................................................................ 60Selecting a Time Period for Historical Data ....................................................................... 60Configuring Trend Duration and Scan Rates ..................................................................... 61Pausing a Trend ................................................................................................................. 62Navigating Alarm Displays ................................................................................................. 63Paging a Trend ................................................................................................................... 64Accessing a Trend Readout ................................................................................................. 64Assigning an Updating Value to a Trend ............................................................................ 64Changing the Pen for Y-Axis Scale Display ......................................................................... 65

Working with ScratchPads ...................................................................................................... 66ScratchPad Trends ............................................................................................................. 66ScratchPad Trend Shortcut Menu ...................................................................................... 69

Online Trend Configuration ................................................................................................... 77Selecting a Process Variable to Configure an Online Trend ................................................ 77Assigning a Point to a Trend .............................................................................................. 78

Working with Displays ........................................................................................................... 79Accessing a Block Detail Display ........................................................................................ 79Accessing Compound Detail Displays ................................................................................ 79Assigning Displays to the Display Bar ................................................................................ 80Accessing a User-Built Display ........................................................................................... 80

Working with Alarms .............................................................................................................. 80Accessing Alarm Displays ................................................................................................... 80Acknowledging Process Alarms ........................................................................................... 81Changing Parameters .......................................................................................................... 81Viewing Source and Sink Information ................................................................................ 81

v


Ramping a Value ................................................................................................................ 82Entering a Value into a Data Entry Field ............................................................................ 82

Operating on the FoxView Window ....................................................................................... 82Moving and Sizing the FoxView Window .......................................................................... 82Printing a Display .............................................................................................................. 84Starting and Closing Additional Instances of FoxView ....................................................... 84Changing the Cursor’s Size ................................................................................................. 85Configuring Windows Off Mode ....................................................................................... 85

Customizing an Environment ................................................................................................. 85Assigning Displays to the Display Bar ................................................................................ 85

Displaying the Shortcut Menu ................................................................................................ 86Displaying the Shortcut Menu for a Variable ..................................................................... 86

5. Overview of FoxSelect ..................................................................................................... 87

Overview ................................................................................................................................. 87Station View ....................................................................................................................... 88Block View ......................................................................................................................... 90Report Views ...................................................................................................................... 92

Interfacing with FoxView ....................................................................................................... 93

6. FoxSelect Window and Dialog Boxes .............................................................................. 95

The FoxSelect Window ........................................................................................................... 95Parts of the Window .......................................................................................................... 95

Dialog Boxes ......................................................................................................................... 103Find Dialog Box ............................................................................................................... 103Configure Report Dialog Box ........................................................................................... 107NEW/EDIT/COPY Report Dialog Box ........................................................................... 108FoxSelect Print Dialog Box .............................................................................................. 109Control Menu .................................................................................................................. 110

7. Using FoxSelect ............................................................................................................. 111

Invoking/Exiting FoxSelect ................................................................................................... 111

Operating on Compounds and Blocks .................................................................................. 111Expanding a Station ......................................................................................................... 111Searching Connected Stations for a Station, Compound, or Block ................................... 112Searching the Network for a Station, Compound, or Block .............................................. 113Selecting Stations, Compounds, or Blocks ........................................................................ 113Turning Compounds ON or OFF ................................................................................... 114Printing a Block List ......................................................................................................... 114Viewing the Control Database .......................................................................................... 115Viewing the Block List ..................................................................................................... 115Performing a Refresh ........................................................................................................ 115Performing a Refresh All .................................................................................................. 116Adjusting the Width of a Column .................................................................................... 116

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Contents B0700BD – Rev E

Configuring Report Views .................................................................................................... 116

Moving/Resizing a Window .................................................................................................. 118

Accessing Displays ................................................................................................................. 119Accessing a Station Block Detail Display .......................................................................... 119Accessing a Compound Detail Display ............................................................................. 119Accessing a Block Detail Display ...................................................................................... 120Viewing Multiple Detail Displays ..................................................................................... 120

8. Online Trend Configuration ......................................................................................... 121

Overview of Trends ............................................................................................................... 121Online Trend Configuration ............................................................................................ 121Real-Time and Historical Trends ..................................................................................... 121Trend Duration and Scan Rate ......................................................................................... 122Trend Line Auto-Scaling .................................................................................................. 122

Online Trend Configuration ................................................................................................. 123Permission to Configure an Online Trend ....................................................................... 123Trend Presentation ........................................................................................................... 124Select and Assign Capability ............................................................................................. 124Trend Scales Configuration .............................................................................................. 125Online Trend Configuration Session ................................................................................ 126

Windows and Dialog Boxes .................................................................................................. 127Online Trend Configuration Dialog Box ......................................................................... 127Advanced Graph Tab ....................................................................................................... 128Advanced Pen Tab ........................................................................................................... 130Advanced Trend Configuration Browser Dialog Box ........................................................ 132Data Rate Selection Dialog Box ........................................................................................ 133Select Filter Dialog Box .................................................................................................... 133Valid Scan Rates Dialog Box ............................................................................................ 133

Using the Online Trend Configurator .................................................................................. 134Selecting a Process Variable for Trending ......................................................................... 134Assigning a Process Variable to a Trend Pen ..................................................................... 135Deleting a Pen from a Trend ............................................................................................ 135Testing the Configured Trend .......................................................................................... 136Exiting the Configurator .................................................................................................. 136

Trend Configuration ............................................................................................................. 137Specifying a Trend’s Data Rate ......................................................................................... 137Configuring Scales for a Linear Trend .............................................................................. 137Configuring Scales for a Logarithmic Trend ..................................................................... 138Specifying a Trend’s Display Style .................................................................................... 138Specifying a Trend’s Text Formatting .............................................................................. 139Specifying a Trend’s Gridlines .......................................................................................... 140Specifying a Trend’s Line Style ......................................................................................... 140Specifying a Trend’s Static Lines ...................................................................................... 141Specifying a Trend’s Off-Normal Regions ........................................................................ 141Specifying a Trend’s Decimal Places ................................................................................. 141

vii


9. FoxView Utilities........................................................................................................... 143

pos_win Utility ..................................................................................................................... 143

pos_win Utility Examples ..................................................................................................... 144Example #1 ...................................................................................................................... 144Example #2 ...................................................................................................................... 144Example #3 ...................................................................................................................... 145

10. Profile Plots................................................................................................................. 147

Profile Plot Appearance ......................................................................................................... 149Operator Buttons and Data Fields .................................................................................... 151Data Updates ................................................................................................................... 151Profile Plot Data ............................................................................................................... 152

Appendix A. Frequently Asked Questions.......................................................................... 155

FoxView ................................................................................................................................ 155

FoxSelect ............................................................................................................................... 158

Appendix B. Glossary ........................................................................................................ 159

Index .................................................................................................................................. 161

viii

Figures
2-1. Block Detail Display ................................................................................................... 112-2. Trend Area .................................................................................................................. 122-3. Faceplate ..................................................................................................................... 132-4. Overlay Buttons .......................................................................................................... 152-5. Alarms Overlay ........................................................................................................... 162-6. Typical Trend ............................................................................................................. 262-7. Trend Example #1 ...................................................................................................... 282-8. Trend Example #2 ...................................................................................................... 292-9. Trend Example #3 ...................................................................................................... 292-10. Example of a X/Y Plot ................................................................................................. 342-11. Plotted Data on Plots .................................................................................................. 352-12. FoxView Alarm Bar ..................................................................................................... 382-13. ScratchPads Menu ....................................................................................................... 402-14. Example of Shortcut Menu for Block Detail Display .................................................. 412-15. Examples of Shortcut Menus for Initial and Operator Environments .......................... 422-16. Examples of Shortcut Menus for Process and Software Engineers Environments ......... 432-17. FoxView Moveable Overlay – Typical ......................................................................... 452-18. Multi-line Profile Plot ................................................................................................. 463-1. Alarm Bar .................................................................................................................... 483-2. Control Menu ............................................................................................................. 494-1. History Start/Stop Time Dialog Box ........................................................................... 614-2. Data Rate Selection Dialog Box .................................................................................. 624-3. Trend List Overlay ...................................................................................................... 664-4. Trend_Setup Overlay .................................................................................................. 674-5. Different Sizes of Trends ............................................................................................. 674-6. ScratchPad Trends Shortcut Menu ............................................................................. 694-7. Trend Location Overlay .............................................................................................. 694-8. Trend Button Name Overlay ...................................................................................... 704-9. Trend Mode Overlay .................................................................................................. 714-10. Group_list Overlay ..................................................................................................... 724-11. Label Overlay .............................................................................................................. 734-12. Group Base ................................................................................................................. 734-13. Group_config Overlay ................................................................................................ 745-1. FoxSelect Views .......................................................................................................... 875-2. Expanded Station ........................................................................................................ 895-3. Block View .................................................................................................................. 915-4. Sample of a Blocks-in-Alarm Report ........................................................................... 925-5. Sample of a Blocks-in-Manual Report ......................................................................... 936-1. Menu Bar .................................................................................................................... 956-2. Options Menu ............................................................................................................ 966-3. Compound Menu ....................................................................................................... 986-4. View Menu ................................................................................................................. 986-5. Help Menu ................................................................................................................. 996-6. Toolbar ..................................................................................................................... 100

ix

B0700BD – Rev E Figures

6-7. Compound Toolbar .................................................................................................. 1016-8. Touchscreen Toolbar ................................................................................................ 1016-9. Find in View tab - Find Dialog Box .......................................................................... 1046-10. Find on Network Tab in Find Dialog Box ................................................................ 1066-11. Configure Report Dialog Box ................................................................................... 1076-12. Configure Report Dialog Box ................................................................................... 1088-1. Online Trend Configuration Dialog Box .................................................................. 12710-1. Multi-line Profile Plot ............................................................................................... 14710-2. Bar and Line Profile Plots with Reference Lines and Alarm Limits (Bottom) ............. 14910-3. Bar Profile Plots with Alarm Limits and Reference Lines ........................................... 15010-4. Line Profile Plot with Operator Buttons .................................................................... 151

x

Tables
1-1. Menu Items .................................................................................................................. 32-1. Block Detail Display Buttons ...................................................................................... 132-2. Alarm Text Fields ........................................................................................................ 172-3. Compound Attributes ................................................................................................. 182-4. Title Box Attributes .................................................................................................... 202-5. Loading Summary Box Attributes ............................................................................... 212-6. Sink Peer-to-Peer Status Box Attributes ...................................................................... 212-7. Station Free Memory (Bytes) Box Attributes ............................................................... 222-8. Operator Button Attributes ......................................................................................... 222-9. Overruns Box Attributes ............................................................................................. 222-10. Phase Sync Control box .............................................................................................. 232-11. Sample Values for Load Sync Fields ............................................................................ 232-12. Trend Types ............................................................................................................... 302-13. System Button and Equipment Status Information ..................................................... 382-14. Process Button Status .................................................................................................. 392-15. Alarm Displays ............................................................................................................ 393-1. Menu Items ................................................................................................................ 473-2. System Bar Sections .................................................................................................... 483-3. Control Menu Commands (Windows) ....................................................................... 493-4. Control Menu Commands (Solaris) ............................................................................ 503-5. File Menu Commands ................................................................................................ 513-6. View Menu Commands .............................................................................................. 523-7. Disp Menu Commands ............................................................................................... 533-8. ScratchPads Menu Commands .................................................................................... 533-9. Help Menu Commands .............................................................................................. 533-10. Fields and Buttons - History Start/Stop Time Dialog Box ........................................... 544-1. Data Entry Error Messages .......................................................................................... 594-2. Fields and Buttons - History Start/Stop Time Dialog Box ........................................... 604-3. Selection Methods ....................................................................................................... 774-4. Control Menu Commands (Windows) ....................................................................... 834-5. Control Menu Commands (Solaris) ............................................................................ 835-1. Station Status .............................................................................................................. 885-2. Compound Status ....................................................................................................... 905-3. Block Status ................................................................................................................ 905-4. Block View Properties ................................................................................................. 916-1. Options Menu Commands ......................................................................................... 966-2. Compound Menu Commands .................................................................................... 986-3. View Menu Commands .............................................................................................. 986-4. Help Menu Commands .............................................................................................. 996-5. Tabbed pages in the FoxSelect Window ...................................................................... 996-6. Toolbar Buttons and their Functions ........................................................................ 1006-7. Compound Toolbar Buttons and their Functions ..................................................... 1016-8. Touchscreen Toolbar Icons and their Functions ....................................................... 1016-9. Elements of the Find in View Tab in the Find Dialog Box ........................................ 104

xi

B0700BD – Rev E Tables

6-10. Elements of the Find on Network Tab in the Find Dialog Box ................................. 1066-11. Elements of the Configure Report Dialog Box .......................................................... 1076-12. Elements of the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report Dialog Box .......................................... 1096-13. Elements of the FoxSelect Print Dialog Box .............................................................. 1096-14. Options - Control Menu ........................................................................................... 1107-1. Commands – Control Menu ..................................................................................... 1188-1. Advanced Graph Tab Options .................................................................................. 1288-2. Advanced Pen Tab Options ...................................................................................... 1308-3. Advanced Trend Configuration Browser Dialog Box Options ................................... 1328-4. Data Rate Selection Dialog Box Options ................................................................... 1338-5. Select Filter Dialog Box Options ............................................................................... 1338-6. Hardware Types and Trending Methods ................................................................... 1349-1. Argument Descriptions ............................................................................................. 1449-2. Window Status Commands ...................................................................................... 14510-1. Contents of Data Arrays ............................................................................................ 153

xii

Preface
This document describes FoxView™ software (“FoxView”), the user interface to I/A Series® process displays. It also describes FoxSelect™ software (“FoxSelect”), the user interface for accessing compounds and blocks. Additional topics include the Online Trend Configurator, pos_win utility, shortcut menus, moveable overlays and profile plots.

The information in this document is also available from FoxView Online Help. This document describes both the Solaris™ and Windows® versions of the software.

AudienceThe information in this document is intended for process operators and engineers.

Revision InformationFor FoxView™ software V10.2.3, the following changes have been made:

Chapter 1 “Introduction to FoxView”

Updated the menu information for Software Engineer in Table 1-1.

Chapter 3 “FoxView Window and Dialog Boxes”

Updated description for Select Point in Table 3-5.

Reference DocumentsRefer to the following documents for more information:

AIM*Historian User’s Guide (B0193YL)

Alarm and Display Manager Configurator (B0700AM)

Display Commands (B0193DF)

Display Engineering for FoxView Software and Display Manager Software (B0193MQ)

FoxCAE™ V4.0 Computer Aided Engineering for I/A Series Control Station Databases (FoxCAE) Version 4.0 (B0193MR)

FoxDraw™ Software (B0700BE)

Integrated Control Configurator (B0193AV)

Control Processor 270 (CP270)Integrated Control Software Concepts (B0700AG)

Process Operations and Displays (B0700BN)

System Management Displays (B0193JC)

Workstation Alarm Management (B0700AT).

These are available on the I/A Series Electronic Documentation CD-ROM (K0173TQ or K0173WT) provided by the Foxboro business unit of Invensys Operations Management. The latest revisions may also be available through the Global Customer Support athttp://support.ips.invensys.com.

xiii

B0700BD – Rev E Preface

Conventions

Menu Bar CommandsThis document uses an abbreviated format for menu bar commands.

Example

From FoxView, click ScratchPads > group_list.

means:

Click (or touch if using the touchscreen) ScratchPads in the top menu bar.

Move the cursor to group_list, and click (or touch) to select it.

Command and File Name SyntaxIn commands and directory paths and file names, variables are formatted in italics.

Example of command syntax

To add a trend_list to display bar button 18, enter:

dmcmd dbar_button 18 “dmcmd sublist

$SPAD_DIR/../Trends/trend_sublist.txt” -l “button_label”

where button_label is the name that appears on the button.

Example of directory path and file name syntax

When a new trend is assigned to an environment trend_list, one of files is copied into the \opt\customer\ScratchPads\EnvironmentName\Trends directory. The copied file is renamed as trend_button#.fdf, where button# is the number of the button that was assigned to open the trend, and EnvironmentName is the name of the FoxView environment.

xiv

1. Introduction to FoxView
This chapter introduces FoxView and discusses I/A Series environments and applications, printer setup, configurators, and alarms.

Overview of FoxViewFoxView is the I/A Series user interface between you and the process.

From FoxView, you can interact with any or all of the real-time plant, field, and process data available in the I/A Series system.

FoxView provides:

Entry into user-configurable operating environments specific to each user

Execution of embedded real-time and historical trending

Direct access to dynamic process displays

Access to the four most recently used displays

Service and display of process alarms, using the Alarm Manager

FoxSelect, which in turn, provides an overview of the compounds and blocks in the control database, and access to Block Detail Displays

Access to other applications (if permitted), such as:

System Management

FoxDraw™ software (“FoxDraw”) for building and configuring dynamic user graphics

Integrated Control Configurator for configuring the control database

AIM*Historian for configuring the historization of process data and system messages.

Display Editor (DEdit), Display Converter (DConvert)

NOTEOn Solaris 10 workstations, FoxDraw software is not accessible from FoxView software.

1

B0700BD – Rev E 1. Introduction to FoxView

I/A Series HardwareYour I/A Series system can include these hardware items:

Fieldbus modules, Fieldbus processors, and power modules

Modular Industrial workstations

Personal workstations

Application workstations

Multi-headed workstations

Pointing devices, including mice, trackballs, or touchscreens

X Terminals

VT100 compatible terminals

Printers

Annunciator keyboards

Data storage devices.

Multi-Headed WorkstationsAn I/A Series workstation can support multiple monitors. This feature, called multi-headed operation, allows a workstation to display up to four times as much information as can be viewed on a single screen.

Multi-headed workstations can support:

Four annunciator keyboards

Four annunciator keyboard horns

Two console horns

Two external horns.

When configured for multi-headed operation, standard (non-touchscreen) monitors share a single keyboard and pointing device, and the cursor moves from one screen to the other screen.

Solaris Based WorkstationsSolaris based workstations can be configured for two standard or touchscreen monitors.

An application opens on the screen from which it is called. Additional FoxViews can be configured for different window sizes and can call different Alarm Managers.

Windows Based WorkstationsWindows XP based workstations such as the AW70 can be configured for up to four monitors, and a maximum of two touchscreens.

The Windows XP based P92 workstation can be configured for two monitors and two touch-screens.

You can open an application on one screen and move it to another screen.

2

1. Introduction to FoxView B0700BD – Rev E

I/A Series EnvironmentsAn environment is a collection of programs, utilities, and displays grouped according to users and the tasks they perform.

Each environment has its own menu bar, menu commands, and display bar (left side of screen).

If required, an environment may also include an access password for security, as well as protection levels to disable certain menu options or buttons. Access levels are used by the I/A Series system to enforce protection.

The default environments provided by Invensys include the menus listed in Table 1-1.

The FoxView menu bar includes a Disp menu (and optionally additional menus such as Disp_1 and Disp_2), from which to call up process displays.

The Software Engineer and Process Engineer environments include a SftMnt menu for maintaining I/A Series software and a Config menu for accessing I/A Series configurator programs:

FoxDraw

FoxPanels

AIM*Historian

Integrated Control Configurator

Refer to “FoxView Window” on page 47.

Table 1-1. Menu Items

Environment Menus

Initial File, Help

Operator File, Disp, Disp_1, Disp_2, ScratchPads, Help

Process Engineer File, View, Config, Disp, Disp_1, Disp_2, SftMnt, ScratchPads, Help

Software Engineer File, View, Config, Disp, Disp_1, Disp_2, SftMnt, Help

3


I/A Series Applications

System ManagementSystem Management is the I/A Series software that monitors the health of your system’s network and hardware.

The status of the FoxView System button indicates system health. A changed system status is indicated by this button’s color and blinking. Clicking the System button calls up the System Management application window, permitting you to:

Acknowledge system alarms

Monitor the equipment and communication status at each station

Perform tasks, such as checkpointing the system, updating an EEPROM, or turning equipment on or off.

Diagnostics.

For more information about System Management, refer to System Management Displays (B0193JC).

Alarm ManagerThe I/A Series Alarm Manager provides seven alarm displays for viewing and responding to pro-cess alarms.

By default, clicking the FoxView Process button calls up the Alarm Manager’s Current Alarms Display, which shows all existing alarm conditions. Alarms are color coded by priority to help you quickly focus on critical conditions.

From the Alarm Manager’s Operations display, you can access any of the other Alarm Manager displays.

You can use the Alarm Manager’s Find capability to acknowledge and clear specific sets of alarms, and the Match/Filter capability to specify the alarms you want to view based on a time frame (for example, a particular compound or block, or an alarm type).

For more information about the Alarm Manager and the alarm displays, refer to the Alarm Manager On-Line Help (am.hlp) or the I/A Series Workstation Alarm Management (B0700AT) document.

Configurators

FoxCAEFoxCAE software is an optional engineering package for designing the control database and AIM*Historian database, and producing typical loop drawings. Use FoxCAE to build software loops of control strategies using a tag list and standards such as typicals and default values.

Typicals are built with a graphic loop editor, enabling you to view the layout of the loops during the planning stages as well as print out a loop drawing.

You can load a database (created using the Integrated Control Configurator) into FoxCAE to generate loop drawings for the database.

4


DD ExplorerDD Explorer, used with FoxCAE, translates H1 device descriptions in device templates that can be imported into FoxCAE, eliminating the need for NI-bus communication. DD Explorer is also used with IACC to provide device-appropriate configuration options for DCI Function blocks used with H1 devices.

IACCIACC offers the following coordination with FoxView:

Quick View is a commissioning tool available for on-platform IACC clients. Quick View automatically generates a FoxView group display with a faceplate for each block in the control strategy diagram (CSD) showing live data from the CP. The faceplates are arranged in the same relative positions as the block in the CSD.

IACC is integrated with the FoxDraw software so you can create FoxView displays by simply dragging block objects from the IACC Project Navigator into the FoxDraw Editor. IACC also supports download of the drawing files to the I/A Series workstations.

FoxDrawFoxDraw is the display builder/configurator used to create and maintain graphic displays for viewing process dynamics.

Use FoxDraw drawing tools and graphic object palettes to create process displays representing the plant, a process area, or a portion of the process. Use FoxDraw to connect display objects to process variables and operator picks, providing dynamic updates as a method interacting with the process.

Refer to the FoxDraw On-Line Help (foxdraw.hlp) or FoxDraw (B0700BE) for more information.

FoxPanels ConfiguratorUse the optional FoxPanels Configurator to create and configure these types of alarm panels:

Customized alarm panels

Emulated annunciator keyboards (soft alarm panels)

Hardware annunciator keyboards

You can specify panel layout, button appearance, button labels, access to process displays, program, script execution, and the blocks to be monitored.

You can also configure workstation horns for both process and system alarms.

Refer to the FoxPanels Configurator On-Line Help (foxpancf.hlp), FoxPanels Runtime On-Line Help (foxpanel.hlp), or I/A Series Workstation Alarm Management (B0700AT) for more information.

5


AIM*HistorianAIM*Historian collects, processes, and stores control data for trends, logs, reports, spreadsheets, and application programs. A typical Historian database can contain a combination of process analog or digital variables (points), application-generated messages, and system and process alarms.

You can configure the following types of data collection:

Point sample collection

Message groups (predefined groups only)

Archive groups

Manual Data Entry groups

For these data collections, you can configure and edit point members, groups, group members, and Manual Data Entry variables. For more information, refer to AIM*Historian User’s Guide (B0193YL).

Integrated Control ConfiguratorUse the Integrated Control Configurator to define blocks and logical groupings of blocks (called compounds) to perform specific control tasks, and to install them into a control station.

The configurator also lets you configure Equipment Control Blocks (ECBs), which provide the software communication link between the control blocks and the hardware. For more information, refer to Integrated Control Configurator (B0193AV).

Printer SetupThe default graphics printer depends on the platform:

To configure the Printer:

1. Click Panel Launch button to add keyboard shortcut to “Print Screen” key.

2. Launch Preferences > Desktop Preference > Keyboard > Shortcuts. The Keyboard Shortcuts preference tool window appears.

3. To disable the "Take a Screenshot” command:

a. Select Take a Screenshot command

b. Select shortcut column, press Delete button.

c. Now the Take a Screenshot command is disabled.

4. Press New button to add the command. A Custom Binding dialog is displayed.

5. Enter the command /usr/local/pref -<DMNAME> dmcmd psc. Click OK.

6. Click on the Shortcut column, while clicking you can see the New accelerator text.

7. Click Print Screen key to associate with the command.

For Windows based workstations:

The default workstation printer.

For Solaris based workstations: The first printer configured in the/etc/printers file.

6


8. Click on the Key to Get Print of the Display.

NOTEYou can get more information for configuring from HELP of the Keyboard Short-cuts preference tool.

7


8

2. Process Displays
This chapter describes different process displays that you can invoke from FoxView, including block, compound and station block displays and trends.

Introduction to Process DisplaysProcess displays include default displays (supplied by Invensys) and displays that have been customized for your site’s process control needs.

Invensys Supplied DisplaysInvensys provides these default displays:

Block Detail Displays

Compound Detail Displays

Station Block Detail Displays.

Customized DisplaysA site can include customized displays to meet its needs. Customized displays include:

Group displays, showing trends and faceplates of selected blocks

Customized Block Detail Displays

User-built displays that can take any form.

Access to Process DisplaysYou can access process displays from:

Disp menus from the FoxView main menu bar

The Display Bar (located on the left side of FoxView window)

FoxSelect

Alarm displays

The four most recently used displays (listed near the bottom of FoxView File menu)

Annunciator keyboards or FoxPanels windows

A pick within a process display.

9

B0700BD – Rev E 2. Process Displays

Top Priority DisplayThe top priority display can be a Block Detail Display or a user-built display. It refers to the display associated with the highest priority alarm, according to the sort option configured for the Alarm Alert database.

From an alarm display, you can access the top priority display by clicking the Top Priority button.

Refer to the Alarm Manager On-Line Help or Workstation Alarm Management (B0700AT), for information about configuring the Alarm Alert database.

User-Built DisplaysUser-built displays are displays created with FoxDraw or Display Builder (older systems).

Refer to “Accessing a User-Built Display” on page 80.

Displays Created from FoxDrawFoxDraw built displays can take virtually any form and can provide access to control information for monitoring and manipulating your process. They can contain graphic objects that are updated dynamically from the process and objects that allow you to change process values.

FoxDraw generated displays can include objects such as faceplates, trends, X/Y plots, and bitmaps.

Group DisplaysGroup displays contain faceplates and trends grouped into unique layouts with connections to different blocks to meet changing operational needs. For example, a group display can include four faceplates over four trends, together with control buttons for acknowledging an alarm, toggling a Boolean value, toggling an Auto/Manual state, or calling up a Block Detail Display.

A faceplate can show a block description, measurement, and outputs. Use a faceplate to manipulate the block state and provide direct access to Block Detail Displays.

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2. Process Displays B0700BD – Rev E

Block Detail DisplaysInvensys provides a Block Detail Display, which is a process control interface, for each block type. From a Block Detail Display, you can:

View and control alarms

View trend data

Tune loops

Perform manual control actions, such as ramping a value.

NOTEIf a block is configured for Supervisory Setpoint Control (SSC), you can enable or disable SSC.

A Block Detail Display (Figure 2-1) consists of a base detail display, which contains the most important control data, and overlays containing additional information.

Figure 2-1. Block Detail Display

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Block Alarm Summary AreaThis area shows all outstanding block alarms, identified with a mnemonic (such as LOABS or LODEV) and, if applicable, the alarm name and alarm text.

This example has the alarm text MEAS LOW ALARM and LOW DEVIATION.

The alarm name and alarm text are specified during block configuration.

Trend Area A trend area is an overlay that covers the block alarm area display.

Trend areas are a collection of pre-built display fields that show lines (trends) representing changing data values from real-time data or historical databases. Figure 2-2 displays a trend area.

Figure 2-2. Trend Area

Refer to “Opening a Trend” on page 60.

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FaceplateThe faceplate, located in the upper-right of the Block Detail Display, includes:

Header, the upper area that is common to most block types

Data area, located below the header.

The data area varies, depending on the parameter and the block type. Figure 2-3 is an example of a faceplate.

Figure 2-3. Faceplate

Block Detail Display ButtonsInvensys supplied displays include a standard set of operator buttons at the bottom of the window. The buttons are common to most displays. If a button is not applicable to a particular display, it is replaced with another button or left blank. The buttons and their descriptions are listed in Table 2-1.

Table 2-1. Block Detail Display Buttons

Button Description

Acknowledges alarms.

Calls up the previous Block Detail Display or Compound Detail Display.

Calls up the Block Detail Display on typical group displays.

Opens overlay for inputs on point source and sink information. Refer to “Viewing Source and Sink Information” on page 81.

Header

Data Area Tag Value Area

Alarm Area, when present

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Toggles a Boolean value (0 or 1).

Ramps the value up by 5%.Refer to “Ramping a Value” on page 82.

Ramps the value up by 1%.

Data entry field (also called the value box).Refer to “Entering a Value into a Data Entry Field” on page 82.

Ramps the value down by 1%.

Ramps the value down by 5%.

Toggles the write access between Locked and Unlocked. In locked mode, a “W” appears on the block’s faceplate.

Toggles between Auto and Manual output mode: In Auto mode, an “A” appears on the block’s faceplate. In Manual mode, an “M” appears.

Toggles between Remote and Local setpoint: In Remote mode, an “R” appears on the block’s faceplate. In Local mode an “L” appears.

Enables/disables Supervisory Setpoint Control (SSC) on blocks assigned to Supervisory Setpoint Control.

Table 2-1. Block Detail Display Buttons (Continued)

Button Description

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Overlay ButtonsOverlay buttons (located to the left of the faceplate), as shown in Figure 2-4, open overlay pages, containing additional block information.

Figure 2-4. Overlay Buttons

Clicking the ALARMS button, for example, displays alarm information.

Clicking the CONFIG overlay button displays the block’s configuration parameters.

NOTESequence blocks and programmable logic blocks have special overlays.

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Alarms OverlayThe Alarms overlay opens over the bottom half of a Block Detail Display’s base display. The example in Figure 2-5 shows an alarms overlay for a PID Block Detail Display.

Figure 2-5. Alarms Overlay

Depending on a block’s configuration, alarms can be inhibited or disabled. Inhibiting an alarm suppresses alarm messages. Disabling an alarm prevents alarm detection.

An overlay can be a custom size. An overlay can be opened in different ways. Normally an overlay closes when you open another overlay on top of it or close an overlay that was opened before it.

Alarm Statusand LimitFields

Alarm Inhibitedor DisabledStatus Field

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Alarm Text FieldsTable 2-2 lists the alarm text fields and their associated limits:

Table 2-2. Alarm Text Fields

Alarm Text Alarm Definition Alarm Limit

ABSDB Absolute alarm deadband ABSDB

BADIO Bad input/output None

DEVADB Deviation alarm deadband DEVADB

HHABS High-high absolute HHALIM

HIABS High absolute MEASHL

HIDEV High deviation HDALIM

HIOUT High output HOALIM

HLDB High/low deadband HLDB

LLABS Low-low absolute LLALIM

LOABS Low absolute MEASLL

LODEV Low deviation LDALIM

LOOUT Low output LOALIM

MEASDB Measurement alarm deadband MEASDB

OUTADB Output alarm deadband OUTADB

POINT1 to POINT8 Input Point1 to Point8 state alarms None

PTARG Pretarget HHALIM

RANGE Out of range HSCO, LSCO

RATE Rate of change ROCLIM, ROCTIM

STATE State None

TARG Target HABLIM

TRIP Trip TRP_DT

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Compound Detail DisplaysA Compound Detail Display shows information about the selected compound.

From this display you can:

View compound parameters

Turn a compound ON or OFF

Change settable parameters

Acknowledge alarms for all blocks in this compound.

Use a Compound Detail Display to view these compound parameters:

Period associated with execution time

Compound phasing

Block alarm level inhibit

Operational state of Sequence Control blocks within a compound

Highest block alarm level within a compound

Initialization state

Names of the alarm device to which block alarm messages are sent.

CompoundsProcess control for I/A Series systems is based on compounds and blocks. A compound is a logical collection of blocks that perform a control strategy.

Refer to Control Processor 270 (CP270) Integrated Control Software Concepts (B0700AG) for more information.

The compound attributes are listed in Table 2-3.

Table 2-3. Compound Attributes

Attribute Description

Name A configured user-defined name.

Descriptor A configured user-defined identification.

On/Off A parameter that enables or disables the execution of all blocks within the compound (1=on; 0=off ).

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Period/PhasingPeriod and phasing allow the starting time of one compound/block to lead or lag the starting time of another compound/block. This is often used to level the block processor load. You can assign a phase number to each compound using a range of integer values that varies with the assigned period.

Settable Parameters

ON Settable Boolean input:

When true, allows the compound to be processed.

When false, turns the compound off.

CINHIB Specifies the priority levels of alarm inhibit within the compound as follows:

0 = No inhibit

1 = Inhibit all priority alarms

2 = Inhibit levels 2 - 5 inclusive



5 = Inhibit level 5 only

Non-Settable Parameters

ALMLEV Specifies the highest priority of all active alarms within the compound.

SSTATE Represents the collective operational state of all Sequence Control blocks in the compound. SSTATE can be:

INACT = Inactive

ACTIVE = Active

EXCEPT = Exception

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Station Block Detail Displays

Overview of Station Block Detail DisplaysA Station Block Detail Display conveys information about control station resources.

A Station block is installed automatically in the control station when the control database is loaded. This block provides global data storage for station functions. Each Station block has a unique pathname with this format:

letterbug_STA:STATION

For example, the station block for the control station CP6001 is CP6001_STA:STATION.

The Station Block Detail Display consists of:

Station Load Overview base display

Control Loading overlay

Object Manager Scanner overlay

Group Device Assignments overlay

Supervisory Groups.

Station Load Overview Base DisplayThe Station Block Detail Display’s Station Load Overview consists of four information boxes and a set of operator buttons. The information boxes are:

Title

Loading Summary

Sink Peer-to-Peer Status

Station Free Memory (Bytes).

Table 2-4 describes the Title box attributes.

Table 2-4. Title Box Attributes


Data Collection Active or Inactive

Select this box to enable or disable performance data collection and station loading updates.

Station BPC Displays the Basic Processing Cycle (BPC) for the station. This is the rate at which the station executes blocks. The BPC is set during system configuration.

Soft Vers Displays the I/A Series control software version for this station.

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Table 2-5 describes the Loading Summary box attributes.

The Sink Peer-to-Peer Status box displays data about points that are being collected into this station to satisfy the station database’s remote inter-block linkages. There is no information about peer-to-peer data that this station is sending to other stations. Table 2-6 describes the Sink Peer-to-Peer Status box attributes.

NOTEThis option does not apply to stand-alone stations. Some systems show this data as a result of interprocess communications.

Table 2-5. Loading Summary Box Attributes


Field Bus Scan Percent (%) of BPC (basic processing cycle) time spent reading and writing data from Fieldbus Modules. This is primarily the time spent by the Fieldbus coprocessor communicating with Fieldbus Modules.

Cont Blks Percent (%) of BPC time that is spent executing all Continuous blocks.

Seq Blks Percent (%) of BPC time that is spent executing all Sequence blocks.

Total Control Cycle

Percent (%) of BPC time that is spent collecting data from Fieldbus modules and executing Continuous and Sequence blocks. In other words, Field bus scan plus Cont blks equals total control cycle.

OM Scan Percent (%) of BPC time that is spent scanning the control database. This value is the average load of the past 12 scans.

Station Idle Time Percent (%) of time that the main processor is executing an idle loop.

Table 2-6. Sink Peer-to-Peer Status Box Attributes


Total Points Displays the total number of unique remote inter-block linkages that exist within this station’s database. For example, if each of 20 blocks has a remote reference to rem_compound:pid.out, only one remote inter-block linkage is counted in the total points field.

Points Disconnected

Displays the number of points that were connected at one time, but are currently disconnected. It may indicate failure or reboot of the source station.

Points Deleted Displays the number of points that were connected, but have had the remote source of data deleted from the station. This is normally a transient state that lasts between the time that the block was deleted and the checkpoint completing on that station.

Points Not Found

Displays the number of points that have never been located on the system. This can occur while multiple stations are being loaded via the loadall process. Other common reasons for points not found include errors (typos) in the Compound:Block.Parameter name, or source block not built.

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Table 2-7 lists the Station Free Memory box attributes and their descriptions.

Table 2-8 lists the Operator buttons attributes and their descriptions.

Control Loading OverlayThe Station Block Detail Display’s Control Loading overlay includes the attributes. Table 2-9 describes the Overruns box attributes.

Table 2-7. Station Free Memory (Bytes) Box Attributes


Largest Seg Displays the largest contiguous segment of memory within the free pool for the station. The largest objects that ever exist within the CP’s user memory are 32,000 bytes (Sequence blocks and OM lists). If the largest seg is less than 32,000 bytes (the size of the largest sequence block), reduce the CP load. Installing (or editing) large Sequence blocks may be a problem. You can reduce the CP load by deleting control blocks, closing user graphics, or shutting down applications such as AIM*Historian.

Total Free Displays the sum of all free-memory segments of user memory. If this value is less than 250,000 bytes, reduce the processor memory load.

Table 2-8. Operator Button Attributes


Control Loading Opens the Control Loading overlay on the lower half of the screen.

OM Scanner Loading Opens the OM Scanner overlay on the lower half of the screen.

Group Assignments Opens the Group Device Assignments overlay on the lower half of the screen.

Supervisory Setpoint Control

If your system is configured for Supervisory Setpoint Control (SSC), a supervisory application can control setpoints, ratios, or measurement values.

Table 2-9. Overruns Box Attributes


compound proc Displays the number of times the Compound Processor task has over-run since the station was rebooted or the counter was reset.

reset button Sets the overruns counter to 0.

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Table 2-10 describes the Phase Sync Control box attributes.

Normally, the total control cycle and continuous block load boxes represent data collected over the past ten Compound Processor scans. The Phase Sync Control box allows you to lock the data collection onto a fixed set of phases.

Table 2-11 gives sample values for load sync fields.

Total Control Cycle (% of BPC) Box

This box shows ten bars/values representing ten consecutive phase executions of the Compound Processor (the left bar is the oldest one). The values are elapsed time for the total control cycle, expressed as a percentage of the station BPC. This includes Fieldbus scanning, Continuous block execution, and Sequence block execution.

When lodsyn is inactive, the ten bars represent the last ten Compound Processor cycles.

Continuous Block Load (% of BPC) Box

This box shows ten bars/values representing ten consecutive phase executions of the Compound Processor (the left bar is the oldest one). The values are elapsed time for just the Continuous block execution, expressed as a percentage of the station BPC.

When lodsyn is inactive, the ten bars represent the last ten Compound Processor cycles.

Table 2-10. Phase Sync Control box


LODSYN Active or Inactive

Toggle to ACTIVE to lock data collection onto the phase defined by the LODPHS entry. Toggle to INACTIVE to collect data on a contin-uous basis in accordance with the default LODPER, starting at the cur-rent execution phase.

LODPER Specifies the data collection period for the TOTAL CONTROL CYCLE and CONTINUOUS BLOCK LOAD boxes. If the station BPC is 0.5 seconds and the LODPER is 5.0 seconds, the ten bars in the loading boxes will represent all scans of the Compound Processor. If the LODPER is 10.0 seconds, the ten bars in the loading boxes represent ten of the 20 phases beginning with the phase defined in LODPHS.Enter the number (5 to 3600) of seconds. The default is 10 BPC.

LODPHS Displays the phase that is shown in the first (far left) bars of the TOTAL CONTROL CYCLE and CONTINUOUS BLOCK LOAD boxes.

Table 2-11. Sample Values for Load Sync Fields

Loading Periods (LODPER)

Valid Phases (LODPHS)

5.0 0-9

10.0 0-19

60.0 0-119

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OM Scanner Loading OverlayThe Station Block Detail Display’s OM Scanner Loading overlay includes these parts:

Total Inter-Station IPC Connections Box

Overruns Box

Object Manager Scanner Data (% of BPC) Last 12 Scans Box.

NOTEThe resolution of loading calculations is 10/BPC, where BPC is in milliseconds. If, for example, BPC is 0.5 s (500 ms), the resolution is 2% (10/500 = 0.02).

Total Inter-Station IPC Connections BoxThis box displays the total Interprocess Communications (IPC) connections among applications running in the workstation.

The OM Server receives peer-to-peer data. The OM Scanner transmits data to other applications. The Database Installer interfaces to the Control Configurator.

Overruns Box

OM Scanner

Displays the number of times the OM Scanner task has overrun since the station was rebooted or the counter was reset. Overruns occur when:

Communications to a station are disconnected. In this case, overruns typically occur at one-minute intervals.

Too many stations are connected. This may be corrected by reducing the number of concurrent applications.

Block processing overload does not leave enough time for the OM Scanner to complete processing.

Sequence logic contains too many full pathname references.

Reset Button

Click the Reset button to set the overruns counter to 0.

Object Manager Scanner Data (% of BPC) Last 12 Scans BoxThis box shows 12 bars/values representing the last 12 scans of the Object Manager Scanner (the left bar is the oldest). The values are elapsed time for scanning as a percentage of the station BPC. The values may change significantly between scans if Compound Processor scans interrupt the scans on some cycles but not others.

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Supervisor Setpoint Control (SSC)If your system is configured for Supervisory Setpoint Control (SSC), a supervisory application can control setpoints, ratios, or measurement values.

All I/A Series Control Processors (CPs) and most Application Processors (APs), Workstation Processors (WPs) and Application Workstations (AWs) support SSC. The AP10 does not support SSC. The WP20 supports all features except the timer enable/disable actions and the supervisory control enable/disable actions at the group level.

The system engineer assigns blocks to one of eight supervisory groups maintained in the Station block. From a Station Block Detail Display, you can enable/disable SSC for a group of blocks.

Refer to Process Operations and Displays (B0700BN) for details.

How SSC WorksIn simplified terms, SSC works as follows:

The supervisory application receives a setpoint, ratio, or measurement from each block as a back-calculated value.

The supervisory application sends a separate supervisory setpoint, ratio, or measurement to the appropriate control block in a supervisory group.

Each time the supervisory setpoint, ratio, or measurement is sent, it resets a fallback timer associated with one of eight supervisory groups.

If the supervisory application fails to send the supervisory setpoint, ratio, or measurement within a specified time period, the group fallback timer expires and the blocks in the supervisory group fall back to the originally configured control mode.

While a Block is Under SSCWhile a block is under SSC, an operator:

Cannot set parameters (that is, Local/Remote (LR), Set Point (SPT), Remote Switch (REMSW), Local Switch (LOCSW)) associated with the setpoint.

Can lock out write access to setpoint parameters when SSC is enabled and can lock out other operators from write access to block parameters.

You can request (initiate) fallback action for any group (if the group is configured for fallback), and enable/disable any group timer. The use of the timers is optional. If automatic fallback is not desired, the timers can remain disabled. Without automatic fallback, when you disable SSC in the supervisory group, control falls back to the configured mode.

At the individual Station Block Detail Display, you can also enable/disable SSC for a block and request fallback on an individual block or group basis.

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Group Device Assignments OverlayThe Station Block Detail Display includes a Group Device Assignments overlay.

This overlay shows the system output devices (for example, printers) assigned to alarm message groups via the Integrated Control Configurator. You specify the device names and a hexadecimal value that assigns the devices to the group by editing the Station block in the letterbug_STA compound via the Integrated Control Configurator.

The overlay shows generic device names, DEV 1 to DEV 16 (LP001 is typical for a printer), and the group hexadecimal value. You can assign up to 16 devices to up to five groups (GR4 to GR8). Messages assigned to a specific group are sent to all the devices whose bit is set true (1) for that group.

Trends

Overview of TrendsA trend consists of:

A graph area

Numerical readout fields

Pause and scroll buttons.

The trend’s graph area includes lines (pens), representing changing real-time data values or values from a historical database. Trends can be configured for auto-scaling, which adjusts the maximum and minimum scale values (Y-axis) according to the current data points being displayed.

Figure 2-6 represents a typical trend.

Figure 2-6. Typical Trend

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Trend DataTrend data is plotted as a series of data points, each point representing the value of a variable at a given moment in time. These plotted points are connected by straight lines and are scaled accord-ing to the high limit and low limit configured for each trend line. Data scrolls to the left as new data is entered. The new data appears at the configured scan rate.

Trending supports:

Up to four trend lines (pens) per graph representing real, integer, or packed Boolean data

Trend duration displayed in HH:MM:SS (hours, minutes, seconds)

Real-time data collection at a configured scan rate

A data parameter name (such as MEAS) and related numerical value (for example, 96.61)

Status conditions shown with different line styles. A BAD status is displayed as a dashed line, and the text field shows asterisks (*****)

Time stamp along X-axis on an even tick division.

You can pause the trend to page forward and backward through historical data, and view a numerical readout for a requested time. FoxView display time is local time, adjusted for daylight or standard time.

NOTEFor log scale data, values of 0.0 or less are displayed as 1.0, as the log (base 10) of these values is undefined.

Refer to “Selecting a Time Period for Historical Data” on page 60.

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Examples of TrendsThese examples show trends with different configurations.

Example #1

The trend configuration in Figure 2-7 specifies:

Two lines (pens)

Banded mode

No Y-axis scales

Local time stamps.

Figure 2-7. Trend Example #1

Example #2


Five markers per line

Merged mode

High and low limits (off-normal areas) at 95% and 5% of the graph area, respectively

No Y-axis scales

Local time stamps.

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Example #3


Relative time stamps

Logarithmic Y-axis.


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Trend Area PresentationEach trend’s configuration options determine its presentation. Refer to Table 2-12.

Table 2-12. Trend Types

Option Specifies

Trend type Whether the trend is to be linear or logarithmic. This trend area attri-bute applies to all lines trended in the graph.

Time stamp format The format of the trend area’s bottom edge (X-axis). FoxView permits two styles: local time and relative time. The illustrations below respectively show local time and relative time.

.

Markers Whether markers are to be used and their color, symbol, quantity, and so on.Trend lines (pen lines) are composed of line segments, which can optionally be connected by markers. Each pen is configured with a line color.Optionally, the trend’s configuration may specify the use of a marker on each point or a specific number of markers per line. Markers include these symbols:

FoxView allows you to specify the size of the marker in pixels. This marker size applies to all markers displayed within an instance of Fox-View.

Off-normal area A trend can be configured with off-normal operating areas at the top and bottom of the trend graph. These areas, which can be configured in any color, are based on a percentage of range for the entire graph.

Background color A trend area’s configuration includes its background color.

Display style Each trend is configured to be merged or banded. A merged trend can display up to four trend lines inside the same graph area. A banded trend displays each line inside an individual quarter-height area. Banded format is often used for auto-scale trends. Banded format can not be used for logarithmic trends.

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Real-Time Trends and Historical TrendsA real-time trend displays continuously updating trend graphs. Only the most recent data appears on the graph.

NOTEYou can also view historical data. A historical trend provides data from a database file.

Trend data displays as a series of plotted points connected by straight lines. Data scaling on the vertical axis is according to high scale and low scale limits configured for each trend line, or according to auto-scaling provided by FoxView.

The real-time trend data scrolls to the left as new trend data is added on the right. New data displays at the configured scan rate. However, if the configured scan rate is less than four seconds, new data is temporarily stored. (The display is not updated more often than every four seconds.) The grid is scrolled with the trend data.

For trending historical data, scrolling buttons near the bottom of the trend allow you to scroll the trend to the left or right.

The Pause and Update buttons provide a means of toggling between trends representing real-time and historical data.

Y-axis scales A trend’s configuration can include the display of scale settings (labels) along the trend area’s Y-axis. Each trend pen (line) can be con-figured to include its own scales. Within FoxView, you can assign the pen for scale display. The scale color matches the color of the assigned pen. Each trend pen's data is plotted according to the pen's configured scale values, regardless of which pen's scale is currently visible on the Y-axis.

Y-axis If the Y-axis is visible, selecting within the Y-axis area displays the next trend pen's scales. Each scale is displayed in the color of the trend pen.

Static Lines Each trend can have a set of four static lines configured either through the Advanced Graph tab in the OnLine Trend Configurator or the Pens tab in FoxDraw.

Format Decimal Digit Each trend can be configured to display -1 to 4 decimal places in the OnLine Trend Configurator or the Timing tab in FoxDraw.

Table 2-12. Trend Types (Continued)

Option Specifies

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Auto-Scaling and GuardbandFoxView performs the auto-scaling two ways:

Enlarging the trend scales – As new data is displayed, FoxView determines whether the new data can fit within the trend graph. If the data does not fit, FoxDraw rescales (and redraws) the graph area.

Rescaling occurs as trend peaks (highest recorded values) are added to the trend area.

Decreasing the trend area – In addition to scale validation during updates, FoxView also checks all currently displayed data at configured time intervals to determine whether the scales can be reduced to increase trend resolution.

Rescaling is performed as trend data peaks are scrolled off the trend area.

When rescaling trend lines, FoxView adds a pre-configured guardband above and below the newly calculated scales. This area provides a buffer area for displaying new data that falls outside of the new scales. Guardband is configured as a percentage of the recalculated scale, and has a default value of 10%. At this default setting, a trend line occupies 80% of the graph, with a 10% buffer both above and below the line data.

In addition to a guardband, a minimum span is also configured. This prevents the absolute span from becoming too small, as may be the case when nearly straight lines are recorded. This mini-mum span is configured a percentage of the data point’s full scale, and defaults to 10% of scale.

The following items are also noteworthy with regard to auto-scaling:

Once a line has been set up for auto-scaling, the numerical updating value on the trend is surrounded by a rectangle in the pen’s color. This indicates that auto-scaling is currently in effect.

Before a trend is redrawn, all other trend lines are checked for the condition described under “Decreasing the trend area” (second bulleted item above).

When the Auto-Scale function is in effect, FULL SCALE, ZOOM, and SHIFT are inactive (dark brown) on the Online Trend Configurator.

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Online Trend ConfigurationFoxView includes an online trend configuration capability. To access this capability, your environment must have the necessary access levels (permission).

Online trend configuration allows you to change the contents and general appearance of a time-based trend after it has been called into FoxView.

The changes you make to a trend through this method are temporary; that is, these changes exist until the display is swapped out of FoxView.

NOTEIf configured, the changes you make can be saved for future use.

If you have the proper permission access levels, you can configure an online trend and view it immediately. In addition, if you have the proper permission, you can save the trend configuration, which overwrites the FoxDraw generated trend configuration for use with subsequent displays of the trend.

NOTEIf a display contains more than one trend and you make changes to more than one trend, you must first save each changed trend before saving the entire display.

Major Steps of Configuring an Online TrendDuring an online configuration session, the FoxView display continues to update without interruption. All actions can still be taken from within FoxView. If the display being configured is closed, the Online Trend Configurator is also closed.

Refer to “Online Trend Configuration” on page 121 for complete details.

Refer to the Online Trend Configurator’s On-Line Help system for more information.

An online trend configuration session includes these tasks:

Selecting a process variable (point) for trending.

Selecting a trend to which you assign the process variable.

Assigning the process variable to a particular trend pen.

Configuring the pen’s scaling method (specifying minimum and maximum scale values).

Configuring the trend duration and trend presentation. These criteria affect all the trend’s pens.

Viewing the resulting trend.

Saving the trend configuration.

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X/Y PlotsFoxView supports X/Y plots (Figure 2-10) that allow you to plot two process variables against each other. You configure these plots through FoxDraw. An X/Y plot allows up to four relations to be plotted within a single plot area. FoxView supports a maximum of 16 plots per display. Plots consist of a trace line that shows all data points corresponding to the relation.

Figure 2-10. Example of a X/Y Plot

X/Y plots support both linear and logarithmic scales on both the X and Y axes. The color and visibility of grid lines are configured in FoxDraw.

The relation data that is plotted can come from one of three sources:

Current real-time data

X/Y points from a read data file

Historical data.

Use FoxDraw to configure FoxView to retrieve historical data, on a pen-by-pen basis, for X and Y data points individually and include this historical data in the X/Y Plot.

FoxView supports the ability to retrieve X/Y plot data from an ASCII file, created with a text editor or a user’s application that contains data for a single relation. For the format of this data file, see FoxDraw Software (B0700BE).

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X/Y Plot AppearanceThe appearance of an X/Y plot is determined by:

The X/Y plot’s configuration (via FoxDraw), which defines items such as the number of points that can be displayed and the scan rate, the use of a time delay, whether markers are to be used, the X/Y plot’s background color, whether a grid is to appear, the appearance of X-axis and Y-axis scales, and plot relation labels. Additionally, the number of pens and their configured colors affect the X/Y plot’s appearance.

The X/Y plot’s object data file. This creates background objects and affects the color of points that lie in various portions of the X/Y plot area.

A pen’s X/Y plot data file. When an X/Y plot is invoked, data specified in an X/Y plot data file loads into the pen’s data buffer and is displayed on the X/Y plot.

Real-time and historical data values (compound:block.parameters values, shared variable values, or both).

Up to 50 static text fields within the graph area. You can specify the location, color, font, font style, and font size for each static text field.

Up to 50 polygon/polyline objects.

MarkersAn X/Y plot can display up to four series of plotted points (also called lines or pens). Each pen’s appearance can display:

A leading marker with the previously plotted points indicated by the vertices of a polyline (for example, -------o, or ------+).

A marker at each point (for example, ooooo or ++++++). The markers can be connected with polylines (for example, o---o---o---o).

In the X/Y plot, the marker configured for the plotted pair appears in the area next to the names of the X and Y pairs. The example indicator in Figure 2-11 distinguishes plotted data on plots containing more than one plotted pair.

Figure 2-11. Plotted Data on Plots

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ColorIn addition to the marker (quantity and style) configuration, specifications made in FoxDraw for the X/Y plot’s background color and pen color (point color) affect the X/Y plot’s appearance.

The newest X/Y pair can be drawn in one color, and previously plotted points may be drawn in a different color. Additionally, the color of the most recent point can be based on another variable.

If one of the data values in a plotted pair is unavailable, out-of-service, bad, or in error, then no data is plotted for the pair. A data field indicates the data quality of the current values for each pair.

Plot Area BackgroundThe X/Y plot area is user-defined in FoxDraw. The plot area can include background display objects (by the inclusion of a data object file).

X-Axis and Y-Axis ScalesScales are displayed if all pens within the plot are plotted with the same scales. If this is not the case, FoxDraw allows you to select the relation's scale to be displayed by FoxView on the X-axis and Y-axis of the plot. You can also specify that no scales be displayed.

In FoxView, the color of the X-axis and Y-axis scales indicate the relation whose scales are currently shown.

Real-Time Data ValuesReal-time values for the X/Y points are derived from Object Manager-connectable variables (pro-cess or shared) within the system. These values appear on the X/Y plot area at the configured scan rate, once per scan period. The number of values displayed and retained in memory (data buffer) is also configured in FoxDraw (up to 600 X/Y points).

Once this buffer is filled, the oldest points are removed from the plot. The X/Y plot displays up to the configured limit within the plot. For example, if the plot is configured to display 300 points, and 400 points are read in from a data file, only the last 300 points are displayed within the X/Y plot. If the plot is configured for 300 points, after 300 real-time points are collected and displayed, the oldest point (301st point) is erased.

If one of the data values in a plotted pair is unavailable, out-of-service, bad, or in error, no data is plotted for the pair. This data field (indicating the current values for each pair displayed) includes an indicator of the data quality.

Historical Data ValuesFoxView plots real-time plot values before retrieving historical data to ensure that delays in locating historians do not delay the display of real-time data. FoxView adds real-time data to the plot at the configured scan rate.

FoxView places historical data received from the historian in a FIFO data buffer in front of the real-time data. When the plot reaches the configured limit, FoxView removes historical data points from the FIFO buffer as new data points are added to the plot. The color and marker style for plotted historical data are the same as that of real-time updates.

If historical data cannot be retrieved for both parameters of a relation, FoxView plots no historical data. If a relation is configured for both historical data and read file data, FoxView only displays the historical data.

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Out-of-Normal PolygonsFoxView displays out-of-normal polygons (polygons that represent out-of-normal processing values) on X/Y plots. Out-of-normal polygons can be closed objects or open objects. FoxView reads the data for the out-of-normal polygons from the object description file as described in Fox-Draw (B0700BE). You can configure two behaviors with out-of-normal polygons:

As the most recent point of a plotted relation enters a closed polygon, the color of the point changes (plotted markers and connecting line segments) to the color configured in the polygon for the most recent point. If any relation is within the area defined by the closed polygon, the line color of the out-of-normal polygon changes to the config-ured color. If there are no longer any most recent points within the polygon, the line color of the out-of-normal polygon reverts to the original configured color.

As the most recent point of a plotted relation enters a closed polygon, the edge color of the polygon can be configured to change. As long as the most recent point of any relation is within the polygon, the edge color remains at the configured color. If a most recent point is within two polygons, only the edge color of the topmost polygon changes.

Optional Buttons on an X/Y PlotIf configured, an X/Y plot can have buttons that permit you to:

Save (write) X/Y plot points to a file

Run an application program to perform a linear regression analysis on the X/Y plot points that have been saved as a file

Clear the plot area

Read a file containing X/Y plot data, displayed as points on the X/Y plot

Pause the plotting of points on the X/Y plot

Update the X/Y plot; resumes the plotting of points after a pause

Stop collecting data points

Start collecting and plotting data points

Flush the plot data buffers

Redraw the data that is stored in the data buffers.

X/Y Plot FunctionsDepending on the X/Y plot’s configuration, the display may include buttons allowing you to:

Write the X/Y pairs to a file (called an X/Y plot data file).

Perform a linear regression analysis on the points. An application program would use the X/Y plot data file as input.

Plot data points from an X/Y plot data file.

NOTEThe points plotted from the X/Y plot data file can be configured to be drawn on the X/Y plot in a different color to distinguish the points.

Clear the plot area.

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Alarm NotificationThe FoxView Alarm Bar includes a System button and a Process button, as shown in Figure 2-12, which indicate the health of the system equipment and the process, respectively.

Figure 2-12. FoxView Alarm Bar

You can also be made aware of an alarm from:

Alarm Manager displays

The faceplate of a Block Detail Display or Group Display

User-built displays that include alarm status

Designated printers and historians

Annunciator keyboards and FoxPanels.

System ButtonFailures can occur at stations, at peripherals attached to stations, or during communications to Fieldbus modules, Fieldbus processors, controllers, and I/O cards.

The System button indicates your I/A Series system’s equipment status, as listed in Table 2-13.

Clicking the System button accesses System Management.

Table 2-13. System Button and Equipment Status Information

System button Equipment status

Steady green All equipment is healthy.

Blinking green All equipment is healthy, but one or more previous failures are unacknowl-edged. One half of a fault-tolerant module has failed.

Steady red One or more acknowledged equipment failures exist.

Blinking red One or more unacknowledged equipment failures exist.

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Process ButtonWhen a block or group of blocks related to the process goes into alarm, the FoxView Process but-ton turns red and blinks. The Process button status is described in Table 2-14.

Clicking the Process button accesses the Alarm Manager, where you acknowledge alarms and monitor alarm conditions.

Alarm DisplaysThe Alarm Manager’s multiple windows provide alarm displays, which in turn, provide access to process displays.

You can view an alarm display to assess the criticality of process alarms before acknowledging and resolving alarm conditions. From an alarm display you can quickly access a Block Detail Display, a user-built display, or the top priority display.

By default, there are six alarm displays and an operator’s window, but your site may be configured to use only the displays that are required. The alarm displays are described in Table 2-15.

For more information about alarm displays, refer to the Alarm Manager On-Line Help or I/A Series Workstation Alarm Management (B0700AT).

Table 2-14. Process Button Status

Process Button Process Status

Steady green No process alarms exist.

Blinking green One or more alarms that have returned to normal are still unacknowledged.

Steady red One or more acknowledged alarms exist.

Blinking red One or more unacknowledged alarms exist.

Table 2-15. Alarm Displays

Alarm Display Provides

Most Recent Alarms Most recent unacknowledged alarms, updated every second.

New Alarm Summary All active unacknowledged alarms.

Unacknowledged Alarm Summary

All unacknowledged alarms that have returned to normal.

Acknowledged Alarm Summary

All active acknowledged alarms.

Alarm History All alarm and return to normal messages from a selected historian.

Operations Horn management and access to other environments.

39


AlarmsAlarms and status messages are generated by alarm blocks and alarm options in certain blocks. These alarms have priorities from 1 to 5 (1 is the highest priority), allowing you to quickly focus on the most important plant alarm conditions.

Each compound has an alarm summary parameter (ALMLEV) that contains the priority of the highest current alarm in that compound. To avoid nuisance alarms, you can inhibit low priority alarms at the compound level via the CINHIB parameter.

Alarm messages from the blocks within the compound are sent to designated groups of workstations or applications (workstations, AIM*Historian instances, printers) according to the configured alarm groups.

ScratchPadsFoxView installation includes a set of ScratchPad trends (named trend_list) and group displays (named group_list). Each of these ScratchPad applications allows you to set up a unique set of 20 trend overlays and 20 group displays for each FoxView environment. These overlays and displays are configured within FoxView, without using FoxDraw. Each of these ScratchPad sets has been implemented using existing FoxView commands and features.

Both trend_list and group_list can be added to any FoxView environment. trend_list and group_list have been added to the Process_Eng environment. In addition, trend_list has been added to the Operator environment. In the directory /opt/fox/displib/ScratchPad/Com-mon, refer to the files readme_trend.txt and readme_group.txt for installation and opera-tional information regarding this feature.

When added to an environment, a new menu entry appears in the menu bar titled ScratchPads, as shown in Figure 2-13.

Figure 2-13. ScratchPads Menu

You can use the group_list or the trend_list menu commands to configure the corresponding ScratchPad within FoxView. ScratchPad configurations for each environment are maintained separately.

40


Shortcut MenusFoxView provides context-sensitive shortcut menus of display commands for use in the Block Detail displays and user-built displays. When you click the right-click mouse button on an updat-ing field, overlay, or base display, the assigned shortcut menu opens. If you right-click over an updating field, and the display also has menu commands associated with the display, the menu commands for the updating object appear first, and then the menu commands for the display appear. There are specific shortcut menus for use with specific operating environments such as the Operator or Process Engineer environment.

In Block Detail displays, FoxView invokes the assigned shortcut menu when you right-click on an updating field, indicator bar, limit indicator, or other areas on the base display. Figure 2-14 shows an example of the default shortcut menu invoked when the process engineer right-clicks on the measurement indicator bar in the control with bias overlay of a PID block detail display.

Figure 2-14. Example of Shortcut Menu for Block Detail Display

Shortcut Menu

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Figure 2-15 shows examples of the default shortcut menus provided for the Initial and Operator environments. Figure 2-16 shows examples of the default shortcut menus provided for the Process Engineer and Software Engineer environments.

You can create custom shortcut menus and specify their contents through menu definition files. For more information on menu definition files, refer to Display Engineering for FoxView Software and Display Manager Software (B0193MQ).

Figure 2-15. Examples of Shortcut Menus for Initial and Operator Environments

Overlay Shortcut Menu

Updating Field Shortcut Menu

Limit Indicator Shortcut Menu

Closes the base display

C:B.P to which the updating field is connected

C:B.P that moves the limit indicator vertically* C:B.P that controls the visibility of limit indicator*


When an object has more than one dynamic connection, right-clicking on one of the connections displays the shortcut menu for that connection.

*

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Figure 2-16. Examples of Shortcut Menus for Process and Software Engineers Environments

Overlay Shortcut Menu

Updating Field Shortcut Menu

Limit Indicator Shortcut Menu

C:B.P that moves the limit indicator vertically*C:B.P that controls the visibility of limit indicator*


C:B.P to which the updating field is connected

Opens the base display in FoxDraw to configure objects

Enables moving the overlay

Disables moving the overlay

Opens the base display in FoxDraw to configure objects


Opens the block detail display

When an object has more than one dynamic connection, right-clicking on one of the connections displays the shortcut menu for that connection.

*

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Moveable OverlaysFoxView supports moveable overlays (see overlay PIDC_11 in Figure 2-17). When first invoked, moveable overlays are located on the FoxView window in the same position as stationary overlays. However, you can move the overlays around or off the FoxView window.

You can move these overlays anywhere on the desktop. On Windows multi-head stations, you can move overlays to any of the heads on the desktop. On Solaris multi-head stations, overlays are restricted to the head on which they were first invoked.

Moveable overlays can be hidden behind the FoxView window, but the number of moveable over-lays currently opened for each FoxView is displayed on the right of the FoxView status bar. You can either see the open overlays, or determine if some are hidden behind the FoxView window. On Solaris workstations, if any overlays are hidden behind the main window, you can use a View menu command to move all the overlays on top of the FoxView window.

Moveable overlays have a standard window frame and title bar. You use the title bar and frame for selecting the window for repositioning and resizing. The window control menu is also available, allowing windows to be closed and iconized. The title bar contains the name of the overlay.

A moveable overlay is initially displayed in a size relative to its FoxView window. In other words, a 1/4 screen overlay will occupy one quarter of the FoxView window, regardless of the actual size of the window.

Moveable overlays are resizable. When resized, they retain their original aspect ratio. You cannot resize an overlay to smaller than it would appear if it were inside the minimized FoxView window. The minimum size for a FoxView window is generally specified as 1/4 the screen.

When FoxView is iconized, all overlays are also iconized. When the FoxView window is closed, all the overlays close.

FoxView supports a maximum of 16 stationary and moveable overlays.

You can build moveable overlays via FoxDraw or include an argument specifying that the overlay to be invoked be moveable using either the ov and ov_conn commands.

FoxView supports an embedded display script that is run when the overlay is closed. This feature configures overlays that have no Close button to be moveable and allows them to be closed from the window control menu.

FoxView provides a way for overlays that were built with previous versions of FoxView to be made moveable. By default, however, FoxView opens all overlays in the manner in which they were built. Thus, FoxView opens all previously built overlays as stationary and all newly built overlays according to the way they were built in FoxDraw.

Using the View menu commands, you can open stationary overlays and make them moveable, or you can open the overlays as built in FoxDraw. Clicking Moveable Overlays in the View menu forces all overlays built prior to FoxDraw release 9.0 to open as moveable. It also forces all overlays configured as “FoxView mode” in FoxDraw 9.0 or later to open as moveable. However, overlays built as stationary with FoxDraw 9.0 or later do not open as moveable.

FoxView provides shortcut menu commands to switch stationary overlays to moveable and move-able overlays to stationary. Right-clicking a stationary overlay opens a shortcut menu from which you can click Moveable to change the overlay to a window that you can move by clicking and dragging the title. Right-clicking a moveable overlay opens a shortcut menu from which you can click Stationary to change the overlay to a stationary one.

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Figure 2-17. FoxView Moveable Overlay – Typical

MoveableOverlay

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Profile PlotsProfile plots comprise sets of Y-axis variable values plotted against an X-axis variable such as length, distance, or frequency. Figure 2-18 shows an example of a multi-line profile plot using different colors for each set of data points.

Figure 2-18. Multi-line Profile Plot

Up to four color-coded sets of data points can be displayed in the plot area in either a line style or a bar style. Only linear scaling is supported on the X and Y axes.

Both the line and bar style profile plot use color to indicate:

Each line or bar line (1 to 4) with data values within normal limits

Each line or bar line of data values exceeding alarm limits

Each reference line (1 to 4)

The fill colors for bars if filled bars are configured.

For more information on profile plots, see Chapter 10 “Profile Plots”.

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3. FoxView Window and Dialog Boxes
This chapter describes the FoxView window and describes menu items, menu bar items, and buttons.

FoxView WindowThe FoxView window includes the main menu bar, System Bar, Display Bar, status bar, and the display area.

Menu BarThe menu bar’s menu items vary, depending on the current operating environment, as listed in Table 3-1.

Table 3-1. Menu Items

Environment Menus

Initial File, Help

Operator File, Disp, Disp_1, Disp_2, ScratchPads, Help

Process Engineer File, View, Config, Disp, Disp_1, Disp_2, SftMnt, Help, ScratchPads

Software Engineer File, Config, Disp, Disp_1, Disp_2, SftMnt, Help

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B0700BD – Rev E 3. FoxView Window and Dialog Boxes

System BarThe System Bar (located beneath the menu bar) is divided into three sections, as listed in Table 3-2.

Figure 3-1. Alarm Bar

Display BarThe Display Bar is the vertical bar at the left side of the FoxView window. It contains 18 label-only buttons or eight buttons with thumbnail images. Clicking a display bar button executes a command or opens a display.

Refer to “Assigning Displays to the Display Bar” on page 85.

Status BarThe status bar (located across the bottom of the FoxView window) indicates the current display, the current operating environment, and the associated Historian.

Table 3-2. System Bar Sections

Section Description

Alarm Bar Contains two buttons (Figure 3-1): The System button indicates system equipment health. Select this

button to access System Management, where you can acknowledge sys-tem horns, monitor system health, and perform equipment-related tasks.

The Process button indicates process health. Select this button to open the Alarm Manager, where you can acknowledge alarms, respond to alarm conditions, and review current and previous alarms.

Message Bar Displays the last 25 operator error messages and application-related messages.

Time/Date Bar Indicates the current date and time.

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3. FoxView Window and Dialog Boxes B0700BD – Rev E

Display AreaYou can open a display in the display area from:

The menu bar

The Display Bar

The File menu (select one of the four most recently used displays)

An annunciator keyboard or FoxPanels

FoxSelect

Alarm Manager

Another display.

Control MenuThe control menu (Figure 3-2), located in FoxView upper-left corner, provides the means to resize the FoxView window. This menu is different on Solaris and Windows based workstations.

Figure 3-2. Control Menu

Windows Based WorkstationTable 3-3 lists the commands available from a Windows based workstation.

Table 3-3. Control Menu Commands (Windows)

Command Description

Restore Restores a maximized window to its previous size.

Move Lets you move the window by placing the cursor in the title bar and dragging.

Size Lets you reduce or enlarge the window manually by dragging an edge or corner.

Minimize Reduces the window to a button on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

Maximize Enlarges the window to full screen.

Close Exits FoxView.

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Solaris Based WorkstationTable 3-4 lists the commands available from a Solaris based workstation.

Table 3-4. Control Menu Commands (Solaris)

Command Description

Close Iconifies FoxView.

Full Size/Restore Size Enlarges the window to full screen size/restores the window to its previous size.

Move Lets you move the window by placing the cursor anywhere in the window and dragging it. Note: To move the window without using this command, drag the title bar.

Resize Lets you reduce or enlarge the window by dragging any edge. The window always maintains its height to width ratio. Note: To resize without using this command, drag any corner.

Back Places the window behind other application windows. To bring FoxView to the front again, click its title bar.

Refresh Redraws the screen.

Quit Exits FoxView.

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Menu Bar Items

File MenuThe File menu includes the commands listed in Table 3-5.

View MenuTable 3-6 lists commands that are available from the Disp menu.

Table 3-5. File Menu Commands

Command Description

Change Environment (CTRL+E)

Opens the Change Environment dialog box to select the desired environment. If required, enter a password.

FoxSelect Opens the FoxSelect window, an expandable hierarchical view of the control database, showing the Station, Station Block, Compounds, and Blocks.

Proc_Summary Invokes Process Summary Reporter. Refer to Process Summary Report Configurator (B0193DG).

Print (CTRL+P) (Windows) Opens the Print dialog box to print the current window. This command captures the current window and any dialog boxes on top of the window.(Solaris) Prints the current display.

Start FoxView on other screen

Enables you to start FoxView that is dedicated to second CRT. This option is applicable only in the context of dual headed monitor setup for Solaris. It should not be used in any other context.

Additional FoxView (Windows only) Opens another previously configured FoxView window. Refer to Display Engineering for FoxView Software and Display Manager Software (B0193MQ).

FoxView Usage Brings up the Usage Summary screen from which you can select the name of a display manager to be opened. Refer to Display Engineering for Fox-View Software and Display Manager Software (B0193MQ).

Select Point Places FoxView into Point selection mode.

List of most recently used displays(CTRL+1, CTRL+2, CTRL+3, CTRL+4)

Lists the last four opened displays in descending order, with the current display at the top. Clicking an entry entries opens its display.

SelectTrend Places FoxView into trend selection mode.

Exit Quits the FoxView window. The initial FoxView window can be exited, but immediately restarts. FoxView can be iconified.

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Table 3-6. View Menu Commands

Command Description

Window Preferences Selecting this item opens the FoxView Preferences dialog box from which you can specify the FoxView window’s appearance.

Moveable Overlays Selecting this opens overlays as moveable.

As Built Overlays Selecting this opens overlays as they were originally built.

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Disp (Disp_1, Disp_2) MenuTable 3-7 lists commands that are available from the Disp menu.

Config MenuThis menu lists the standard and optional configurators used to define your process control system. Examples of configurators are FoxDraw, Historian, and the Integrated Control Configu-rator. For workstations with the Solaris 10 operating system, it also includes conversion tools like DEdit, DConvert.

ScratchPads MenuFoxView installation includes a set of ScratchPad Trends (named trend_list) and Group displays (named group_list). When added to an environment, a new menu entry appears in the menu bar titled ScratchPads. The ScratchPads menu commands are listed in Table 3-8.

Help MenuThe commands in the Help menu are described in Table 3-9.

NOTEContents and Utilities Help commands are available only in the Process Engineer and Software Engineer environments.

Table 3-7. Disp Menu Commands

Command Description

Disp Opens a list of the displays and subdirectories in: /opt/menus (Solaris) \opt\menus (Windows).

The list cascades to show the contents of the directory and subdirectories.

Disp_1 Opens a list of the displays in the /opt/menus/d1 directory.

Disp_2 Opens a list of the displays in the /opt/menus/d2 directory.

Table 3-8. ScratchPads Menu Commands

Command Description

group_list Used to access a set of 20 group displays for each environment.

trend_list Used to access a set of 20 trend overlays for each environment.

Table 3-9. Help Menu Commands

Command Description

Contents Displays the Contents Tab of the FoxView On-Line Help screen.

Utilities Help Brings up the Help Topics Dialog box with the tabs: Contents, Index, and Find.

About FoxView Displays the FoxView version and copyright information.

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Dialog Boxes

History Start/Stop Time Dialog BoxTable 3-10 lists the fields and buttons on the History Start/Stop Time dialog box.

About I/A Displays the version of the I/A Series software installed.

Table 3-10. Fields and Buttons - History Start/Stop Time Dialog Box

Field or Button Description

Start A read-only field showing the start of the historical trend period.

Stop A read-only field showing the end of the historical trend period.

Duration Displays the Duration value, specified through the Data Rate Selection dialog box.

Scan Rate Displays the Scan Rate value, specified through the Data Rate Selection dialog box.

Month Click the down arrow for a list and select the start month. Or use the Month left and right arrow buttons (located to the right of the calendar) to move the selected month backward or forward.

Year Click the down arrow for a list and select the start year. Or use the Year left and right arrow buttons (located to the right of the calendar) to move the selected year backward or forward.

Duration Selection Click this button to open the Data Rate Selection dialog box where the Scan Rate and the Duration values can be specified.

Calendar Click the desired start day. The calendar updates when you select a new start month or year.

Year arrows Use the left and right arrow buttons to move the selected year backward or forward.

Month arrows Use the left and right arrow buttons to move the selected month backward or forward.

Week arrows Use the left and right arrow buttons to move the selected day backward or forward by a week.

Format Click the down arrow for a list and select the clock format, 24 Hours or AM/PM.

Hours Select the start hour, 00 to 23.

Min Select the start minute, 00 to 59.

Table 3-9. Help Menu Commands (Continued)

Command Description

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Data Rate Selection Dialog BoxUse this dialog box to specify the data rate (duration and scan rate) for the trend. These settings affect each of the trend’s pens.

Click the arrow keys to increase or decrease the value of entries in the days, hours, and minutes boxes.

When you click OK, the values are stored and the dialog box closes. If the duration and scan rate values conflict, the Valid Scan Rates dialog box presents one or more valid scan rates from which to select.

Duration refers to the length of the time that displays on the trend.

Scan Rate refers to the time between plotted points.

FoxView Preferences Dialog BoxThis dialog box, available only on Windows based workstations, allows you to select options that customize your FoxView window.

NOTEOptions selected from this dialog box override settings configured from the Alarm and Display Manager Configurator (ADMC).

The dialog box has two tabbed pages: Window/Application Options and Window Position.

55


Window/Application Options TabThis tabbed page includes check boxes and a set of option buttons.

Window Position TabThis tabbed page includes one set of option buttons.

Window Size and Placement

Option buttons allow you one of three choices listed next.

Select To

Allow move Permit the FoxView window to be moved.

Allow maximize Permit the FoxView window to be maximized.

Allow minimize Permit the FoxView window to be minimized.

Allow resize Permit the FoxView window to be resized.

Show Display bar Permit the display of the FoxView Display Bar.

Show Status bar Permit the display of the FoxView Status Bar.

Allow application exit Permit the closing of this FoxView window.

Save preferences on application exit

Retain all the selections made in this dialog box upon exiting this FoxView instance.

Save above options With regard to the above settings, select one of the choices listed next.

Choose To

Don’t save Temporarily set up options, but maintain the original settings upon closing FoxView.

Save now Immediately save the above settings.

Save on app exit Temporarily set up the above options, and save these settings upon closing FoxView.

Choose To

Don’t save Temporarily use the current window size and placement settings, but maintain original settings upon closing FoxView.

Save now Immediately saves the current window size and placement settings, which are maintained until they are manually reset.

Save on app exit Automatically save the existing window size and placement settings when FoxView closes.

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4. Using FoxView
This chapter describes FoxView procedures, such as system checks, time/date settings, working with trends, displays and alarms, and customizing environments.

Checking the SystemWhen you begin a shift, perform these checks before relieving the outgoing operator.

To check the system:

1. Verify that the green LED on each Fieldbus Module, Fieldbus processor, and power module is illuminated.

NOTEAlso check the indicators on other equipment that supports the process.

2. Check the operator log for power outages or conditions requiring restart.

3. Check the scrollable message bar in the menu bar and the printer for significant error messages.

4. Open the Alarm Manager and check the most recent alarm conditions.

5. Make sure there is adequate paper in all printers.

6. If necessary, adjust the brightness and contrast on the monitors.

Setting the Date and TimeAt a workstation allowing protected actions, you can change the time and date.

CAUTION!Only personnel with authorization should perform the following procedure. Resetting the time can affect Historian data collection, trending, reporting, and other parts of the system.

This capability requires the use of System Management. Refer to System Management Displays (B0193JC).

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B0700BD – Rev E 4. Using FoxView

Specifying FoxView PreferencesOn Windows based workstations only, you can specify FoxView window preferences.

These preference settings control the appearance and behavior of the FoxView window. These settings override the settings that were configured from the Alarm and Display Manager Configurator.

To specify preferences:

1. Click View > Window Preferences.

The FoxView Preferences dialog box appears.

2. Select the appropriate options for your needs.

Two tab pages allow you to retain two sets of information. Window size and place-ment is controlled by one option button; other options are controlled by another choice.

3. Optionally, click Save now to immediately save your settings or Save on app exit to save your settings when you close FoxView.

The default setting Don’t save maintains the original settings when you close FoxView.

4. Click OK or Apply.

Operating on Environments

Accessing the Operator EnvironmentTo access the Operator environment:

1. Click File > Change Environment.

The Change Environment dialog box appears.

2. Click the down arrow.

A list of available environments appears.

3. Choose Operator.

4. If required, enter a password.

5. Click OK.

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4. Using FoxView B0700BD – Rev E

Changing the EnvironmentYou can change from one environment to another environment.

By default, the File menu’s most recently used display list clears each time you change environments.

After changing environments, nothing happens when you press Ctrl+2 or the Previous Display button. As displays are called in, entries are added to the most recently used list.

To change to another environment:

1. Click File > Change Environment.

2. Click the down arrow.

3. Choose the desired environment from the list of available environments.

4. If required, enter a password.

5. Click OK.

Data Entry Error MessagesPotentially, you might receive one of the messages, as listed in Table 4-1, when you enter data.

Table 4-1. Data Entry Error Messages

Message Meaning

Bad pick No parameter is selected.

Bad set The selected parameter is not settable.

Bad name Non-Boolean parameter cannot be toggled.

Bad type The selected value cannot be ramped.

Range error Invalid range for ramp.

Range type Invalid range type for ramp.

****** FoxView cannot access the parameter to be ramped.

Val type String value cannot be ramped.

Name error Ramp parameter is not defined.

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Working with Trends

Opening a TrendTo open a trend:

From the Block Detail Display, click the TREND overlay button.

For more information, refer to “Trends” on page 26.

Selecting a Time Period for Historical DataYou can specify a trend’s start/stop time, duration, and format of the date/time stamp.

To select a time period for historical data:

1. Pause the trend.

2. Click any date/time stamp.

The History Start/Stop Time dialog box appears. Table 4-1 lists the dialog box fields and buttons.

Table 4-2. Fields and Buttons - History Start/Stop Time Dialog Box


Start A read-only field showing the start of the historical trend period.

Stop A read-only field showing the end of the historical trend period.

Duration Displays the Duration value, specified in the Data Rate Selection dialog box when the Duration Selection button is selected.

Scan Rate Displays the Scan Rate value, specified through the Data Rate Selection dialog box, by clicking the Duration Selection button.

Month Click the down arrow for a list and select the start month. Or use the Month left and right arrow buttons (located to the right of the calendar) to move the selected month backward or forward.

Year Click the down arrow for a list and select the start year. Or use the Year left and right arrow buttons (located to the right of the calendar) to move the selected year backward or forward.

Duration Selection Click this button to open the Data Rate Selection dialog box where the Scan Rate and the Duration values can be specified.

Calendar Click the desired start day. The calendar updates when you select a new start month or year.

Year arrows Use the left and right arrow buttons to move the selected year backward or forward.

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3. Select a year, month, day, hour, minute, and a history duration.

4. Click OK.

Configuring Trend Duration and Scan RatesTo change a scan rate or duration, click the Duration Selection button in the History Start/Stop Time dialog box, as shown in Figure 4-1.

Figure 4-1. History Start/Stop Time Dialog Box

Month arrows Use the left and right arrow buttons to move the selected month backward or forward.

Week arrows Use the left and right arrow buttons to move the selected day backward or forward by a week.

Format Click the down arrow for a list and select the clock format, 24 Hours or AM/PM.

Hours Select the start hour, 00 to 23.

Min Select the start minute, 00 to 59.

Table 4-2. Fields and Buttons - History Start/Stop Time Dialog Box (Continued)


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This invokes the Data Rate Selection dialog box, as shown in Figure 4-2, where trend duration and scan rates may be entered for the trend. This Data Rate Selection dialog box is the same dialog box that is displayed within the Online Trend Configurator.

Figure 4-2. Data Rate Selection Dialog Box

Pausing a TrendYou pause a trend to:

More easily view the graph

Page forward or backward

Activate the trend readout feature.

To pause a trend:

Click the Pause button.

Trend updating stops, but trend data collection continues. Data that is not plotted is saved until you unpause the trend.

Click in the graph area to display the vertical readout cursor. As you move the cursor, the numerical readout fields display the values of the trend variables at the cursor position, and the date and time at cursor position display in the Duration and Scan Rate area.

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To choose a History Start/Stop Time:

When the trend is paused, click the time/date stamp at the left of the chart to specify the time period for historical trend data.

To unpause a trend:

Click the Update button.

The graph displays all the data points that were collected during the pause, and new values appear at the right.

Trend readout is disabled. The readout cursor disappears, the data area again displays the most recently plotted trend variables, and the time area displays the duration/scan data.

Navigating Alarm DisplaysTo access the initial alarm display:

In the Alarm bar, click Process.

By default, the Current Alarms Display appears.

To access additional alarm displays:

From the Displays menu, choose one of the following: Current Alarms

Most Recent Alarms

New Alarm Summary

Unacknowledged Alarm Summary

Acknowledged Alarm Summary

Alarm History

Operations.

To close an alarm display:

(Windows) Click File > Dismiss.

(Solaris) Perform one of these actions:

Click File > Dismiss.

From the Control menu (top-left of window), click Close.

To exit the Alarm Manager:

(Windows) Perform one of the following actions:

Press ALT+F4.

Click the X (in the top-right corner of window).

From the Control menu (top-left of window), click Close.

(Solaris) From the Control menu (top-left of window), click Quit.

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Paging a TrendTo page through trend data to view historical data:

1. Click the Pause button.

2. Click the left arrow button to page backward, click the right arrow button to page for-ward.

Accessing a Trend ReadoutWhen a trend is paused, clicking in the graph area displays the readout cursor, which is a vertical hairline. As you move the cursor, the data area displays the time and values of the trend variables at the cursor position.

Assigning an Updating Value to a TrendOn any display, you can pick an updating value field (such as a fill bar on a faceplate or a numerical readout) and assign that variable to a trend.

The trend can be part of the same display or a different display, or it can be running on another FoxView instance.

When selecting an updating graphic object with the right mouse button to copy the connected variable to the clipboard, all process variables that are connected to the object get displayed in the selection menu and can be selected. Connected variables are often copied to the clipboard so that they can be assigned to a trend pen.

NOTESome process variables are not appropriate for trending. For example, although .BLKSTA and .ALMSTA are parameters that are often used in process graphics, these parameters are bit strings and cannot be trended without specifying the bits to be trended.

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To select an updating field (entering Select and Assign mode):

NOTEOn a touchscreen workstation, first choose Select Point from the File menu, and then touch the updating field.

1. Position the cursor over an updating point and press and hold the right mouse button.

2. Click File > Select Point.

NOTEOn a Windows based workstation, be sure to touch or click Select Point at the far right side of the menu.

If you are using a mouse, when you point at an updating field the cursor changes from a left-pointing arrow to a magnifying glass. When you release the right mouse button on an updating field, the Dynamic Attribute type and the variable name appear in the FoxView message line.

3. Click the message to select the variable.

4. Access a trend.

To assign the variable to a trend line:

In the trend configuration area, click an A (Assign) button.

NOTESelect and Assign is the same as Select_Pnt in Display Manager. Refer to display engineering concepts documentation for information on protecting this feature using the SAA_PROT variable.

Changing the Pen for Y-Axis Scale DisplayIf the Y-axis scales are visible and all pens are not configured with same scale, you can change the pen for scale display on the left side of the trend graph.

To change the pen for a Y-axis scale display:

Click the scale area of the trend.

The display of trend scales changes to the next pen in the trend graph. The color of the scale numbers changes to match the color of the scales of the pen being displayed.

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Working with ScratchPadsFoxView installation includes a set of scratchpad trends (named trend_list) and group displays (named group_list). Each of these scratchpad applications allows you to set up a unique set of 20 trend overlays and 20 group overlays for each FoxView environment.

ScratchPad Trends

Accessing Trend_list

To open the list of available trends (Figure 4-3):

Click ScratchPads > trend_list.

Figure 4-3. Trend List Overlay

Creating a New Trend on trend_list

To create a new trend on trend_list:

1. Select an A (Assign) button next to the trend button to be assigned (Figure 4-3).

The trend_setup1.fdf overlay opens in the top center of the display (Figure 4-4).

2. In the trend setup overlay, give the trend button a label by entering a name in the Button Label area, and then pressing Return.

This label can be up to 10 characters long. You can use any alphanumeric characters. Spaces are converted to underscores, and lowercase letters are converted to uppercase.

20 trend buttons Buttons to assign newavailable for assignment trends to the adjacent

trend buttons

A Help button with general operating instructions

A Close button to close the trend_list overlay

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3. Select the type of overlay to use (Default, Stationary or Moveable), as shown in Figure 4-4.

Default opens the overlay in the mode to which FoxView is set. Stationary or Moveable opens the overlay as described by the term.

4. Select the size of the trend to be used (Figure 4-4).

The trend setup_size.fdf overlay opens (Figure 4-5).

Figure 4-4. Trend_Setup Overlay

5. Select one of the four screen size overlays (Figure 4-5) for each trend:

To position the overlay in the display, you can either enter coordinates into the ROW and COLUMN text boxes, or move the horizontal and vertical slider.

Figure 4-5. Different Sizes of Trends

6. Click Save after the trend positions are set.

Trend_list Button Label

Overlay Types

Trend sizes

trend_setup.fdf

Selected Overlay Type

Selected Button Label

Half Screen Quarter Screen Eighth Screen Full Screentrend_setup_1_2.fdf trend_setup_1_4.fdf trend_setup_1_8.fdf trend_setup_1_full.fdf

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Adding Pens to a Trend

There are several ways to configure the pens of the trend overlay through FoxView.

Select point can be used by right-clicking the mouse over a configured object:

1. Open a display that has the I/O point to be trended.

2. Right-click an object to which the I/O point is connected.

This opens a list of configurations that are connected to the object.

3. Click the configuration for Compound:Block.Parameter to be trended.

The Compound:Block.Parameter is copied to the system clipboard.

4. Open the trend_list overlay from the ScratchPads menu and select the appropriate trend button.

5. In the pen information area of the trend, click an A (Assign button) to assign the Compound:Block.Parameter on the clipboard to the pen.

When using a touch screen, use Select Point from FoxView’s File menu:

1. Open a display that has the I/O point to be trended.

2. In FoxView, click File > Select Point.

3. Click an object to which the I/O Point is connected.


4. Click the configuration that is to be trended to copy the Compound:Block.Parameter to the system clipboard.

5. Open the trend_list overlay from the ScratchPad menu and select the appropriate trend button.

6. In the pen information area of the trend, click an A (Assign button) to assign the Compound:Block.Parameter on the clipboard to the pen.

Use the Online Trend Configurator:

1. Open the trend_list overlay from the ScratchPads menu and select the appropriate trend button.

2. Right-click in the Trend Grid Area to open the Online Trend Configurator.

For information on using the Online Trend Configurator, refer to “Online Trend Configuration” on page 123.

Saving Pens of a Trend

To save the pen assignments:

1. Right-click in the trend grid area to open the Online Trend Configurator.

2. Click the Permanent button in the Save/Exit Choices section of the display.

3. Click OK.

NOTEPen assignments that were not saved are lost when the trend is closed.

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ScratchPad Trend Shortcut MenuA shortcut menu (Figure 4-6) is accessible from the trend_list overlay by right-clicking a config-ured trend_list button.

From this shortcut menu you can change:

The location where the trend opens

The label of the button that appears in the trend list

The mode in which the overlay opens: Moveable or Stationary.

Figure 4-6. ScratchPad Trends Shortcut Menu

Change Trend LocationChange Location, in the ScratchPad Trends shortcut menu, opens the Trend Location overlay (Figure 4-7). You can change the location in which the trend opens without rebuilding and configuring a new trend.

Figure 4-7. Trend Location Overlay

Shortcut Menu

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To change the location of the trend:

1. Right-click a configured trend_list button.

2. From the shortcut menu, click Change Location.

3. Click one of the nine predefined overlay location setup buttons.

The buttons correspond to the relative screen location (UL=Upper Left, UP=Upper Center, and UR=Upper Right).

4. Enter a value for ROW (% down from the top of the screen) and press Enter, then enter a value for COLUMN (% across from the left) and press Enter. Click ASSIGN.

The location selections are display in the New Loc field.

5. Click one of the following:

SAVE to save the changes to the trend_list button.

CANCEL to exit without saving the changes.

Change Trend LabelChange Label, in the ScratchPad Trend shortcut menu, opens the Trend Button Name overlay (Figure 4-8). you can change the label that appears in the trend list overlay.

Figure 4-8. Trend Button Name Overlay

To change the label that appears on a trend list overlay:

1. Right-click a configured trend_list button and choose Change Label from the shortcut menu.

2. In the New Name field, enter the name that is to appear on the trend_list button, and press Enter.




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Change Trend ModeChange Mode, in the ScratchPad Trend shortcut menu, opens the Trend Mode overlay (Figure 4-9). You can change the mode in which the overlay opens (Default, Moveable, or Sta-tionary) without building or configuring a new display.

Figure 4-9. Trend Mode Overlay

To change the mode in which the overlay opens:

1. Right-click a configured trend_list button.

2. From the shortcut menu, click Change Mode.

3. Click:

DEFAULT to open the overlay as configured in FoxDraw.

STATIONARY to open the overlay in stationary mode.

MOVEABLE to open the display in moveable mode.




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ScratchPad Group Displays

Accessing Group_list

To access the group_list:

From FoxView, click ScratchPads > group_list.

The list of available group displays appears. Refer to Figure 4-10.

Figure 4-10. Group_list Overlay

20 trend buttons Buttons to assign newavailable for assignment trends to the adjacent

trend buttons

A Help button with general operating instructions

A Close button to close the trend_list overlay

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Creating a Group Display on the group_list

To create a group display on the group_list:

1. Add a new group display by selecting the A (Assign) button next to the group button to be assigned, as shown in Figure 4-10.

This button opens the label.fdf overlay in the top center of the display, as shown in Figure 4-11.

Figure 4-11. Label Overlay

2. In the group setup overlay, give the group button a label by selecting and typing in the Label area, and then pressing Return.

The label can be up to 10 characters long. You can use any alphanumeric characters. Spaces are converted to underscores, and lowercase letters are converted to uppercase.

3. After entering the Group Display label, click Create to create the new Group display.

Adding Faceplates and Trends to the Group Display

There is a button at the bottom of the group display called Group Editor (Figure 4-12). Select this button to open the Group_config.fdf overlay shown in Figure 4-13. This overlay lets you define the overlays to be opened in each location of the group display. A location can be EMPTY, connected to a COMPOUND:BLOCK faceplate, or connected to a TREND.

Figure 4-12. Group Base

Button label

Creates Group Display

1 2 3 4

8765

FaceplatePositions

GroupConfiguration

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Figure 4-13. Group_config Overlay

There are several ways to assign a Compound Block Faceplate to a tile position.

Select Point can be used by right-clicking the mouse on a configured object:

1. Open a display that has an I/O point to be trended.

2. Right-click on an object to which the I/O point is connected.


3. Click the configuration that is connected to the Compound:Block.Parameter to be trended to copy the Compound:Block.Parameter to the system clipboard.

4. Open the group display from the group list, or choose the group display from FoxView recent file list, if it is there.

5. Open the Group Editor overlay and select an ASGN (Assign) button next to the tile position where the faceplate is to appear.

6. To save the changes click Update.

The new group display opens.

Tile Positions

SaveChanges

Cancel Changes

Group DisplayName

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Manually enter the Compound:Block

1. Select the text field for one of the position variables P1 through P8.

2. Enter the Compound:Block name.

3. Press Enter when done.

Upper and lowercase may be used. The Update button converts everything to uppercase.

4. To save the changes, click Update.


When using a touch screen, use Select Point from the FoxView File menu.

1. Open a display that has an I/O point to be trended.

2. From FoxView, click File > Select Point.

3. Click an object to which the I/O point is connected.


4. Click the configuration for the Compound:Block.Parameter to be trended.

The Compound:Block.Parameter is copied to the system clipboard.

5. Open the group display from the group list or select the group display from the FoxView recent file list.

6. Open the Group Editor overlay and select an ASGN (Assign) button next to the tile position where the faceplate is to be assigned.



To add a trend to a tile position:

1. Select the text field for one of the position variables P1 through P8.

2. Type the word TREND, and press Return.

Upper and lowercase can be used. The Update button converts everything to uppercase.



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To remove a position configuration:

1. Click the Delete button next to the position to be removed.

To save this change, click Update, or select the text field for one of the position variables (P1 through P8).


2. Type the word EMPTY, and press Enter.

Upper and lowercase may be used. The Update button converts everything to uppercase.



You can also rename the group label that appears on the group_list by selecting the GROUP NAME text area, located at the bottom of the overlay, entering the new name, and pressing Enter.

This label can be up to 10 characters long. You can use any alphanumeric characters. Spaces are converted to underscores, and lowercase letters are converted to uppercase.

NOTEPressing Enter is required to assign the new label.

4. Once the edits are made, you can do one of the following:

Save the edits by clicking the Update button in the lower right corner of the overlay.

Cancel the edits by clicking the Cancel button.

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Online Trend Configuration

Selecting a Process Variable to Configure an Online TrendYou can select a process variable (point) and assign it to a trend pen. The method you use depends on your workstation’s hardware, as described in Table 4-3.

To select a point on a touchscreen workstation:

1. Bring up the display that contains the point you want to trend.

2. From FoxView, click File > Select Point.

3. Touch the field or graphic that you want to trend. Select the Point (C:B:P)

The process variable is copied to the clipboard for pasting and appears in the FoxView message bar.

To use the Select and Assign capability (this procedure requires a mouse):


2. Place the mouse pointer on the object (graphic or field).

3. Right-click the mouse. Click the Point (C:B:P)

The process variable is copied to the clipboard for pasting and appears in the FoxView message bar.

Table 4-3. Selection Methods

Hardware You can

Touchscreen Place the workstation into trend mode.

Mouse Use the FoxView Select and Assign capability.

Keyboard Enter the name of the process variable (Compound:Block.Parameter) and optionally enter a label/description.

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Assigning a Point to a TrendUpon selecting a point, you must assign it to a trend pen. The assignment method you use depends on your workstation.

To use trend mode (touchscreen workstation):

1. Bring up the trend to which you want to assign the point.

2. Click File > Select Trend.

FoxView is placed into trend selection mode. The trend area is now pickable, invoking the Online Trend Configurator.

NOTEYou cannot call up the Online Trend Configurator when the trend is in the paused state. In the paused state, a mouse click within the trend area initiates a cursor readout, displaying the value of the trend lines at the cursor in the data fields.

3. Touch the trend’s graph area.

The Online Trend Configuration dialog box appears.

4. Touch one of the pen’s A (Assign) buttons.

The object’s process variable (Compound:Block.Parameter) appears in the Variable box.

To use the Select and Assign capability (this procedure requires a mouse):


2. Place the mouse pointer on the graph area and right-click the mouse.


3. Place the mouse on one of the four pen’s A (Assign) buttons and click the left-mouse button.


To assign a the point using a keyboard:


2. Place the mouse pointer on the graph area and right-click the mouse.


3. For one of the four pens, enter the Compound:Block.Parameter in the Variable box.

Refer to the Online Trend Configurator’s On-Line Help system for more information.

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Working with Displays

Accessing a Block Detail DisplayFoxView allows you to select a point (process variable) and call up the point’s Block Detail Display.

To access a Block Detail Display by selecting a point:

1. Perform one of these actions.

Right-click the mouse on a point to access a shortcut menu, then select the point by clicking either mouse button.

From the File menu, click Select Point. Select the point on the display to access a shortcut menu, and select a point by clicking either mouse button.

A message is displayed on the FoxView message line.

2. Click FoxSelect in the Display Bar.

The Block Detail Display appears.

To access a Block Detail Display from FoxSelect:

1. From the FoxSelect window, expand a compound.

2. Select the desired block.

3. Click the Show Detail Display button.

NOTEYou can also access a Block Detail Display from a group display, or by pressing either an annunciator key or a FoxPanels button.

Accessing Compound Detail DisplaysYou can call up a Compound Detail Display from the FoxSelect window.

To call up a Compound Detail Display:

1. From the FoxSelect window, expand the list of stations.

2. Select the desired compound.

3. Click the Show Detail Display button.

Refer to “Overview of FoxSelect” on page 87.

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Assigning Displays to the Display BarYou can assign a display to the Display Bar in your current environment.

When you change to a different environment, neither the thumbnail nor the display assignment is saved. The Display Bar reverts to the assignment set in the environment file.

NOTETo permanently assign a bitmap to the Display Bar, refer to Display Engineering for FoxView Software and Display Manager Software (B0193MQ).

To assign a display to the Display Bar:

1. Open the desired display.

2. Place the cursor on the button to which the display is to be assigned.

3. Right-click to display a pop-up menu.

4. Choose Assign.

The display name appears on the button.

Accessing a User-Built DisplayYou can access a user-built display from:

The menu system

The display bar

Other displays

Annunciator panel keys (or FoxPanels buttons)

Alarm displays (the Alarm Manager).

Working with Alarms

Accessing Alarm DisplaysTo access alarm displays:

Click the Process button in the Alarm bar.

By default, the Current Alarms Display appears.

NOTEYour system may be configured to call up one of the other displays provided by the Alarm Manager.

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Acknowledging Process AlarmsYou can acknowledge alarms from these alarm displays:

Current Alarms

Most Recent Alarms

New Alarm Summary

Unacknowledged Alarm Summary.

Although it is not recommended, you can also acknowledge alarms from the Alarm History Dis-play that is configured with an Ack Alarm button.

To acknowledge a selected alarm:

1. Highlight the alarm message.

2. Click Ack Alarm.

To acknowledge all alarms associated with a particular compound:

1. Highlight an alarm message associated with a block in the compound.

2. Click Ack Cmpd.

To acknowledge all alarms on the page:

Click Ack Page.

All blocks that have an UNACK or ALMSTA connection are acknowledged.

NOTETo prevent Priority 1 alarms from being acknowledged, use a Display Command. Refer to Operator Actions in the FoxDraw On-Line Help.

Changing ParametersA blue box appears around a selectable field when you pass the cursor over it.

To change a parameter:

1. Select the parameter.

The highlighted box changes color.

2. You can:

Perform the desired action by clicking an operator button.

Enter a value in the data entry field.

Viewing Source and Sink InformationTo view source and sink information:

1. Select an input point (for example, MEAS).

2. Click SRC.

An overlay appears with sink path, sink status, and source path.

If you select a point other than an input point, an error message occurs.

3. From the source overlay, click Sink Detail or Source Detail.

Status information appears in the block alarm summary area of the display.

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Ramping a ValueTo ramp a value:

1. Select the parameter to be ramped.

2. To ramp one increment, select and release the ramp button.

To ramp continuously, select and hold the button.

For every half second the button is held, the system makes one incremental ramp.

The ramp increment is added to the last updated value and sent to the control station database. This ensures that the updated value is never different from the value in the control station by more than one ramp increment.

If the parameter value is at its clamped limit, the ramp entry is ignored.

TIPYou can also ramp a value by typing a value in the data entry field and pressing Enter.

Entering a Value into a Data Entry FieldYou can enter setpoint values, integers, floating-point numbers, and so on into a data entry field.

To enter a value into a data entry field:

1. Open the Control overlay.

2. Select a parameter.

NOTEThe Control overlay must be in manual mode.

3. Select the data entry field.

4. Enter a new value.

5. Press Enter.

The new value displays in the selected parameter.

If you enter an incorrect value for the parameter, the system ignores your entry.

Operating on the FoxView Window

Moving and Sizing the FoxView WindowYou can position the FoxView window on your workstation screen for easy viewing.

To move or resize the window on a Windows based workstation:

1. Click the FoxView icon in the Window’s top left corner.

The Control menu opens.

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2. Choose one of the commands listed in Table 4-4 to operate on the FoxView window.

To move or resize the window on a Solaris workstation:

1. Click the Window menu box in the window’s top-left corner.

The Control menu opens.

2. Choose one of the commands listed in (Table 4-5) to operate on the FoxView window.

Table 4-4. Control Menu Commands (Windows)

Command Description

Move Allows you to move the window by placing the cursor in the title bar and dragging.

Size Allows you to reduce or enlarge the window by dragging an edge or corner. The window always maintains its height to width ratio.

Quarter Screen Reduces the window to 1/4 screen.

Minimize Reduces the window to a button on the task bar at the bottom of the screen.

Maximize Enlarges the window to full screen.

Default Screen Restores the window to the FoxView default (5/6 screen).

Restore Restores the window to its previous size.

Close Exits FoxView.

Table 4-5. Control Menu Commands (Solaris)

Command Description

Close Iconifies FoxView.

Full Size or Restore Size

Full Size enlarges the window to full screen size.Restore Size restores window to the previous size.

Move Lets you move the window by placing the cursor anywhere in the window and dragging. (To move the window without using this command, drag the title bar.)

Resize Lets you reduce or enlarge the window by dragging any edge. The window always maintains its height to width ratio. (To resize without using this command, drag any corner.)

Back Places the window in back of other application windows. To bring FoxView to the front again, click its title bar.

Refresh Redraws the screen.

Quit Exits FoxView.

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Printing a DisplayTo print the contents of the FoxView window:

Perform one of these actions:

Click File > Print.

From the Display bar, click Print Screen.

Press CTRL+P.

Everything in the FoxView window is printed, including open dialog boxes.

Windows Based WorkstationsIf a printer was not set up during software installation, this message appears:

There is no default printer. Use the Print Manager to install and select a default printer.

Starting and Closing Additional Instances of FoxViewIf licensed and configured, you can start additional instances of FoxView.

You can run multiple FoxView windows on the same physical screen, on different screens of a dual-headed workstation, or on remote screens.

Each instance of FoxView is independent, and operates as if it were running on a separate workstation. Actions you take in one FoxView window do not affect other instances of FoxView.

Windows Based WorkstationsTo start another instance of FoxView:

Click File > Additional FoxView.

The new FoxView window appears.

To exit FoxView:

From the FoxView window to be closed, click File > Exit.

Solaris Based WorkstationsTo start another instance of FoxView:

1. Click File > FoxView Usage.

The FoxView Usage Summary display appears.

2. Select a FoxView display from the list of display managers.

3. Click Start.

To exit FoxView:

1. Click File > FoxView Usage.

The FoxView Usage Summary display appears.

2. Select a FoxView display from the list of display managers.

3. Click Stop.

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Changing the Cursor’s Size(Solaris only) You can use a larger cursor in the FoxView window. You can also use the following procedure on touchscreen workstations.

If you do not have the init.user file on your system, copy the /usr/fox/wp/data/init.user.rel file to /usr/fox/wp/data/init.user. The init.user.rel file is a template file for init.user.

To change the cursor’s size, add the following line to the /usr/fox/wp/data/init.user file:

FXCURSOR=/opt/fox/wp/FoxView/cursor/crosshair_large

NOTEDo not place spaces between the words.

Configuring Windows Off Mode(Solaris only) FoxView supports Windows Off mode.

To configure the workstation for Windows Off mode, refer to Control Processor 270 (CP270) Inte-grated Control Software Concepts (B0700AG) or the Alarm and Display Manager Configurator On-Line Help.

Customizing an EnvironmentYou can customize each environment by specifying:

Menu bar options

Commands available in each pull-down menu

Displays assigned to the display bar

Buttons or mini-displays.

For information on customizing environments, refer to the display engineering documentation.

Assigning Displays to the Display BarYou can assign a display to the display bar in your current environment.

When you change to a different environment, neither the thumbnail nor the display assignment is saved. The display bar reverts to the assignment set in the environment file.

NOTETo permanently assign a bitmap to the display bar, refer to Display Engineering for FoxView Software and Display Manager Software (B0193MQ).

To assign a display to the display bar:

1. Open the desired display.

2. Place the cursor on the button to which the display is to be assigned.

3. Press the right mouse or trackball button.

A pop-up menu appears.

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4. Choose Assign.

The display is assigned, with the display name on the button.

Displaying the Shortcut MenuIn normal operation, FoxView highlights all graphic objects that have been configured for opera-tor action as the cursor is moved over the object. To display the shortcut menu for a variable, you must place FoxView in the sElect Point mode. In this mode, FoxView only highlights objects that have a menu associated with them. In general, these objects include any that have been configured for dynamic updates.

NOTEObjects with dynamic updates can be excluded from shortcut menus through configuration within FoxDraw. Fields normally selectable by the operator are disabled (for example, buttons that activate other displays).

If the selected graphic object has more than one connected variable, a submenu displays to allow selection of the desired parameter.

If any display menu commands have been specified, right-clicking anywhere within the display window displays the menu commands for that display file. Menu behavior is the same for display menus as for object menus.

Displaying the Shortcut Menu for a Variable

Using the MouseTo display the shortcut menu for a variable on a display:

1. Hold down the right mouse button and place the cursor on the display.

As the cursor moves over updating fields, the cursor image changes and the graphic object is highlighted to indicate the field is selectable.

2. Release the right mouse button while over the updating field.

The shortcut menu appears next to the cursor.

Using the TouchscreenTo display the shortcut menu for a variable on a display:

1. Choose File > Select Point.

2. Place the cursor on the display.

As the cursor moves over updating fields, the cursor image changes and the graphic object is highlighted to indicate the field is selectable.

3. Lift your finger from the touchscreen while over the updating field.

The shortcut menu appears next to the cursor.

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5. Overview of FoxSelect
This chapter gives an overview of FoxSelect and describes the different views available in the FoxSelect window.

OverviewFoxSelect (the Compound and Block Overview Display) provides a representation of control databases. FoxSelect replaces the Select Screen in Display Manager.

Use FoxSelect to:

Bring detail displays (Block Detail Displays, Compound Detail Displays, or Station Block Detail Displays) into FoxView.

Turn ON and OFF compounds and their associated blocks.

Expand a list of the network’s stations and compounds, revealing the hierarchical structure of the control database.

View a list of blocks within all connected stations, and sort the list by different criteria.

The FoxSelect window provides two views, as shown in Figure 5-1.

Figure 5-1. FoxSelect Views

Station View: A scrollable hierarchical view of stations and compounds on the left panel and a list of blocks for the selected compound on the right panel.

For more information, refer to “Viewing the Control Database” on page 115.

Block View: A scrollable and sortable list of blocks within all connected stations.

For more information, refer to “Viewing the Block List” on page 115.

NOTEThe data in Station View and Block View are not updated until you perform a Refresh operation on the stations.

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B0700BD – Rev E 5. Overview of FoxSelect

Station ViewThe I/A Series database is organized by stations, compounds, and blocks. The database can be viewed by placing FoxSelect in Station View. The stations and compounds appear on the left panel of the screen, while the blocks for the selected compound appear on the right panel.

Stations in the DatabaseWhen you open the FoxSelect window for the first time after installation, only the stations appear. Each station, represented by a station icon, indicates its connection status, as listed in Table 5-1.

Table 5-1. Station Status

Station Icon Connection Status Indicates

Unconnected No attempt was made to connect the station, or the station has been marked to be excluded from Refresh All. An out-of-network station (a station that is not on /etc/wpcplns file), when unconnected, displays the same icon as that of the connected station, but deletes all compounds and blocks from the station view and block view.Note: A Refresh All does not change the connection status of unconnected stations.

Connected FoxSelect has successfully retrieved data for the sta-tion. Out-of-network stations are displayed with a green icon rather than blue.

Failed connection Attempts to connect the station have failed, rendering the data unavailable.

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5. Overview of FoxSelect B0700BD – Rev E

The Expanded StationThe expanded station displays its compounds on the left panel, as shown in Figure 5-2.

NOTEOnly connected stations can be expanded.

Each compound displays the following:

Status (ON or OFF), indicated by the icon

Name

Highest alarm priority number (if an alarm exists).

Figure 5-2. Expanded Station

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The icons in Table 5-2 indicate a compound’s status:

When a compound is selected, it displays the blocks in the right panel, as shown in Figure 5-2. For each block you can view its:

Block status, indicated on the block icon

Block name

Highest alarm priority number (if an alarm exists)

Block type.

Block ViewBlock View displays a list of blocks within all connected stations. This list does not include ECB blocks. For viewing the ECB blocks, select the compound containing ECB blocks from the Station View. The icons in Table 5-3 indicate a block’s status.

Table 5-2. Compound Status

Icon Compound status

Compound is ON.

Compound is OFF.

Table 5-3. Block Status

Icon Block status

Automatic

Manual

No Manual/Auto parameter

Undefined

Error

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The Block View appears as shown in Figure 5-3, and a description of the columns is provided in Table 5-4.

Figure 5-3. Block View

Table 5-4. Block View Properties

Column Description

Block The name of the block. Block state icons.

Status The block’s status.

Alarm The highest alarm priority for the block, if in alarm.

Type The block’s type.

Compound The name of the compound containing the block.

ON Y indicates the compound is ON.N indicates the compound is OFF.

Station The name of the station containing the block.

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Report ViewsYou can configure custom report views to display certain information on selected compounds or blocks in the connected stations that you select. Using search filters you can also limit the report to compounds or blocks containing specific characters.

Predefined templates are available to provide information for the following conditions:

Compounds off-scan

Compounds in-alarm

Compounds with alarms inhibited

Blocks off-scan

Blocks in-alarm

Blocks with alarms inhibited

Blocks not in control

Blocks in manual

Blocks with bad I/O.

Figure 5-4 shows a sample view of the blocks-in-alarm report for a selected station. This report lists all the blocks in alarm along with the associated compound, description, and alarm priority.

Figure 5-4. Sample of a Blocks-in-Alarm Report

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Figure 5-5 shows a sample view of the blocks-in-manual report for a selected station. This report lists all the blocks in manual along with the associated compound and description.

Figure 5-5. Sample of a Blocks-in-Manual Report

Interfacing with FoxViewAccess for turning compounds ON or OFF is based on the current state of FoxView. If turning compounds ON and OFF is protected in FoxView, this capability is protected in FoxSelect.

NOTEIf you enable access in FoxView, you must restart FoxSelect to read the new access information.

Turning compounds ON and OFF is performed by the associated FoxView. FoxSelect sends a message to the associated FoxView. The FoxSelect window is not updated with new ON/OFF status information until all the compounds have been processed by FoxView.

Since turning compounds ON and OFF is through FoxView, these actions are logged to the Operator Action Journal if this feature is enabled in FoxView.

When running multiple FoxView sessions, be aware that FoxSelect communicates with the FoxView from which it was invoked.

Refer to Display Engineering for Display Manager Software and FoxView Software (B0193MQ) for more information on setting up the ON/OFF access.

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6. FoxSelect Window and Dialog Boxes
This chapter describes the FoxSelect window and provides detailed information on the menu bar commands, toolbar, touchscreen icons, and dialog boxes.

The FoxSelect WindowThe FoxSelect window allows you to view the control database and perform the following functions:

Call in a Block Detail Display to FoxView

Turn ON or turn OFF a compound in the control database

Search for a station, compound, or block.

Parts of the Window

Menu BarThe menu bar appears as shown in Figure 6-1.

Figure 6-1. Menu Bar

Options Menu

The Options menu appears as in Figure 6-2. A description of each command is available in Table 6-1.

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B0700BD – Rev E 6. FoxSelect Window and Dialog Boxes

Figure 6-2. Options Menu

Table 6-1. Options Menu Commands

Command Description

Refresh Retrieves the current station and compound information from the selected control stations, which can be in any state.

Refresh All Retrieves the current station and compound information from the control station for all connected stations in the view. Therefore, Refresh All does not retrieve data for stations that are in unconnected state.

Exclude from Refresh The icons for excluded stations indicates that they are Unconnected (Table 5-1). Note: Use this option when you do not need information from certain stations or when you want to speed up the Refresh All operation.

Multi-Select On Allows selection of more than one station, compound, or block. Select this command if you want to deselect the selected objects. Enables you to turn multiple compounds ON or OFF simultaneously, perform a Refresh operation on more than one station at once, or cycle through several detail displays by repeating a single action (touch or click). Note: When selected, you cannot mix stations and compounds.

Find... Opens the Find dialog box, which allows you to search for stations, compounds, or blocks in the view or on the network.

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Show Detail Display The action of this command depends on the type of block selected. For most block types, the behavior of this command is similar to the Show Parameter Detail Display command. The two block exceptions are: PLB blocks Sequence blocks with SFC configuration.

Show ParameterDetail Display

Displays a block, compound or station detail display in FoxView. Note: This option always shows the Block Detail display for PLB and sequence blocks, in FoxView.

Save and Refresh from File

When the option is checked, FoxSelect saves all the data about Com-pounds and Blocks into a dat file. When the application is restarted, it fetches all the Compound, Block information and populates the tree control of the station view and the list control of the Block View. The created dat file will be saved in \opt\fox\wp\FoxSelect for Windows and /opt/fox/wp/FoxSelect for Solaris named as FS<Station Name>. By default FoxSelect opens with Save and Refresh from file unchecked.Command Line Command:

For Solaris:/opt/fox/wp/FoxSelect/FoxSelect -refresh option opens FoxSelect with station refreshes from file.

For Windows:\opt\fox\wp\FoxSelect\FoxSelect -refresh option opens FoxSelect with station refreshes from file.

Note: 1) FoxSelect station has to be refreshed after the Save and Refresh option from the file menu is checked for the first time, to create the dat file. When the option is checked every time, C:B.Ps populates from dat file. If the user wants to see the current CP data, the option has to be unchecked, FoxSelect has to be restarted and then the stations have to be refreshed.2) If you want to see the current CP data, Save and Refresh from file option has to be unchecked, restart the FoxSelect and refresh the sta-tion.3) This feature is only for Station view and Block view but not for Report View.

Save As... Opens the View Save As dialog box for saving the Block View or any custom report view as a text file (.txt) or comma separated value (.csv) file in the /usr/fox/psr/files/ directory.

Select IA Printer Opens the Select Printer dialog box (Solaris only) for selecting the default printer for printing a custom report view.


Command Description

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Compound Menu

The Compound menu appears as shown in Figure 6-3. A description of each command is available in Table 6-2.

Figure 6-3. Compound Menu

View Menu

The View menu appears as shown in Figure 6-4, and a description of each command is available in Table 6-3. A check mark appears next to selected items in the View menu.

Figure 6-4. View Menu

Print Block List Opens the FoxSelect Print dialog box for specifying whether to print all items or only selected items in the Block View or a custom report view.

Exit Exits from FoxSelect.

Table 6-2. Compound Menu Commands

Command Description

Compound ON Turns the selected compounds ON.

Compound OFF Turns the selected compounds OFF.


Command Description

Toolbar Displays or hides the buttons that invoke the most frequently used commands.

Compound Toolbar Displays or hides the buttons for turning the selected compounds on or off.

TouchScreen Toolbar Displays or hides the Touchscreen toolbar.


Command Description

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Help Menu

The Help menu appears as shown in Figure 6-5. A description of each command is available in Table 6-4.

Figure 6-5. Help Menu

Station and Block View tabsFoxSelect provides two tabs to view the Station View and the Block View. A brief description of the views are provided in Table 6-5.

Status BarThe following information is displayed in the FoxSelect Status bar, depending on the number of items selected:

Current selection (if one item is selected)

Number of items (if more than one item is selected)

Date and time for the last Refresh command.

Status Bar Displays or hides the Status Bar at thebottom of the FoxSelect window.

TouchScreen Font Toggles the screen to Touchscreen mode with larger fonts and toolbar buttons.

Configure Report Opens the Configure Report dialog box for creating and activating custom reports views.

Table 6-4. Help Menu Commands

Command Description

Help Topics Displays the FoxSelect On-Line Help screen.

About FoxSelect Displays the FoxSelect version and copyright information.

Table 6-5. Tabbed pages in the FoxSelect Window

Choose To display

Station View A hierarchical view of the control database.

Block View A table view of all the blocks (excluding ECB blocks) in all connected stations.


Command Description

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When the mouse is placed over a toolbar icon, a description of the task is displayed in the status bar.

ToolbarFigure 6-6 displays the toolbar, and Table 6-6 lists the functions of the individual buttons.

Figure 6-6. Toolbar

Table 6-6. Toolbar Buttons and their Functions

Toolbar Button Function

With compounds or blocks selected, opens the corresponding detail display.Note: Same as the Show Detail Display command in the Options menu.

Select this button to select multiple stations, compounds or blocks. Click the button again to deselect the selected objects.Note: Same as the Multi-Select On command in the Options menu.

Refreshes the selected stations.Note: Same as the Refresh command in the Options menu.

Opens the Find dialog box, which allows you to search for stations, compounds, or blocks in the view or on the network.Note: Same as the Find command in the Options menu.

Displays FoxSelect version number and copyright information.Note: Same as the About FoxSelect command in the Help menu.

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Compound ToolbarFigure 6-7 displays the Compound toolbar, and Table 6-7 lists the functions of the individual buttons.

Figure 6-7. Compound Toolbar

Touchscreen ToolbarFigure 6-8 displays the touchscreen toolbar, and Table 6-8 lists the functions of the individual icons.

Figure 6-8. Touchscreen Toolbar

Table 6-7. Compound Toolbar Buttons and their Functions

Toolbar Button Function

With one or multiple compounds selected, turns OFF the selected compounds. Note: Same as the Compound OFF command in the Compound menu.

With one or multiple compounds selected, turns ON the selected compounds.Note: Same as the Compound ON command in the Compound menu.

Table 6-8. Touchscreen Toolbar Icons and their Functions

Icon Function

Scrolls the selected pane up one page.

Scrolls the selected pane down one page.

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Scrolls the selected pane up one line.

Scrolls the selected pane down one line.

Exits from FoxSelect.

Table 6-8. Touchscreen Toolbar Icons and their Functions (Continued)

Icon Function

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Dialog Boxes

Find Dialog BoxThe Find dialog box is invoked by clicking the Find button in the toolbar, or by selecting the Find option from the Options menu.

Use this dialog box to locate:

Stations, compounds, and blocks that are in the current view

Any station, compound, or compound:block that are on the network.

NOTEA keyboard is required to use the Find dialog.

The Find dialog box is shown in Figure 6-9 with the Find in View Tab selected and appears as shown in Figure 6-10 with the Find on Network tab selected.

Find in View tabSelect this tab to search for any station, compound or block in the current view.

You have to restrict your search to conform to objects within the right or left panel. For example, you can search for a station:compound by entering the station and the compound names in their respective fields, as the stations and compounds are located in the same panel. However, a com-pound:block search, or a station:compound:block search is not feasible, as the stations and com-pounds are located in the left panel and the blocks in the right panel.

To perform a compound:block search:

Select the specific compound, use the Block field to enter the name of the block to be located within the compound.

To perform a station:compound:block search:

Select the desired station and compound, use the Block field to enter the name of the block to be located within the compound.

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The Find dialog box, with the Find in View tab selected is shown in Figure 6-9.

Figure 6-9. Find in View tab - Find Dialog Box

Table 6-9 describes the elements of the Find in View tab in the Find dialog box.

Table 6-9. Elements of the Find in View Tab in the Find Dialog Box


Station Enter the name of the required station (maximum of six characters). Check the Match Whole Word check box to search for an exact match of the specified station name.

Compound Enter the name of the required compound (maximum of 12 characters). Check the Match Whole Word check box to search for an exact match of the specified compound.

Block Enter the name of the required block (maximum of 12 characters). Check the Match Whole Word check box to search for an exact match of the specified block.

Match Whole Word Only available from the Find in View tab. Select this check box to force an exact match.

Find Station Searches for a station that matches the find criteria in the view. Click this button to locate the next occurrence. If the multiselect option is set, every station that meets the criteria remains selected as you continue to search for the required station. Note: If the Match Whole Word option is not checked, this option searches for station names that contain the specified search string.

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Find Compound Searches for a compound that matches the find criteria in the view. Click this button to locate the next occurrence. If the multiselect option is set, every compound that meets the criteria remains selected as you continue to search for the required compound. You can also enter the station name in the Station field to find the station:compound.Note: If the Match Whole Word option is not checked, this option searches for compound names that contain the specified search string.

Find Block Searches for a block that matches the find criteria in the view. Click this button to locate the next occurrence. If the multiselect option is set, every block that meets the criteria remains selected as you continue to search for the required block. To search for a compound:block, select the required compound to

and enter the block name in the Block field. To perform a station:compound:block search, select the required

station and compound and enter the block name in the Block field.

Note: If the Match Whole Word option is not checked, this option searches for block names that contain the specified search string.

Done Closes the Find dialog box.

Table 6-9. Elements of the Find in View Tab in the Find Dialog Box (Continued)


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Find on Network tabSelect this tab to search for any station, compound, or compound:block on the network. You have to provide the complete name for the search.

The Find dialog box, with the Find in Network tab selected, is shown in Figure 6-10.

Figure 6-10. Find on Network Tab in Find Dialog Box

Table 6-10 describes the elements of the Find on Network tab in the Find dialog box.

Table 6-10. Elements of the Find on Network Tab in the Find Dialog Box


Station Enter the name of the station (maximum of six characters). You must enter a complete name.

Compound Enter the name of the compound (maximum of 12 characters). You must enter a complete name.

Block Enter the name of the block (maximum of 12 characters). You must enter a complete name.Note: To search for a given block, the station and compound names have to be provided. Find then searches for the station:compound:block or compound:block.

Find Station Searches for a station that matches the find criteria.

Find Compound Searches for a compound that matches the find criteria. You can also enter the complete station name in the Station field to find a station:compound.

Find Block This field is disabled until the compound name or the station and compound names are provided. Find then searches for the compound:block or the station:compound:block.

Done Closes the Find dialog box.

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Configure Report Dialog BoxUse the Configure Report dialog box to activate or deactivate existing custom report views and to create new or edit existing custom reports via the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box. You invoke the Configure Report dialog box by clicking Configure Report in the View menu.

Figure 6-11 shows the Configure Report dialog box with two reports, one of which is activated.

Figure 6-11. Configure Report Dialog Box

Table 6-11 describes the elements of the Configure Report dialog box.

Table 6-11. Elements of the Configure Report Dialog Box


Custom Reports Lists the existing reports that you can edit, activate, deactivate or delete.

New Opens the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box for creating a new report.

Edit Opens the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box for editing an existing report.

Activate Checks the selected report for activation by a Refresh command.

Deactivate Unchecks the selected report. It is not activated by a Refresh command.

Delete Deletes the selected report from the configuration.

OK Saves the report configuration changes and closes the dialog box.

Cancel Discards the report configuration changes and closes the dialog box.

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NEW/EDIT/COPY Report Dialog BoxUse the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box to configure custom report views for displaying certain information on selected compounds or blocks in the connected stations that you select. Using search filters, you can also limit the report to compounds or blocks containing specific characters.

The NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box is invoked by clicking the New or Edit button in the Configure Report dialog box.

Figure 6-12 shows the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box with a configured blocks-in-alarm report type.

Figure 6-12. Configure Report Dialog Box

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Table 6-12 describes the elements of the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box.

FoxSelect Print Dialog BoxUse the FoxSelect Print dialog box to print a block list. The elements of this dialog box are listed in Table 6-13.

Table 6-12. Elements of the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report Dialog Box


Report Title Enter the title of the report.

Report Type Click a report type from this list of available report types.

Compound Enter a text string (for example, R110*), to limit the search to compounds containing specific characters.

Blocks Enter a text string (for example, P110*), to limit the search to blocks containing specific characters.

Select All Stations Select this check box to search all stations.

Select All Alarms Select this check box to search all alarms for blocks.

Available List of stations or alarms available for searching.

Selected List of stations or alarms selected for searching.

Moves selected stations or alarms from the Available list to the Selected list.

Moves selected stations or alarms from the Selected list to the Available list.

Save Saves the report configuration and closes the dialog box. Save is active when an existing report configuration has been edited, but the Report Title field has not been changed.

Save As Saves the report as a new report and closes the dialog box. The Save As button becomes active when the Report Title field is modified.

Cancel Discards the report configuration changes and closes the dialog box.

Table 6-13. Elements of the FoxSelect Print Dialog Box


Print all items Prints the entire block list.

Print only selected items Prints portions of the block list.

OK Saves the selection and closes the dialog box.

Cancel Discards any change and closes the dialog box.

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Control MenuYou can operate on the FoxSelect window by selecting commands from the Control menu.

NOTEThe Control menu on Windows based workstations is slightly different from the Control menu on Solaris based workstations.

The Control menu commands are described in Table 6-14.

Table 6-14. Options - Control Menu

Command Platform Description

Restore Windows Restores a maximized window to its previous size.

Move Windows Lets you use arrow keys to move the window. Pressing Enter maintains the new location.

Solaris

Size Windows Lets you reduce or enlarge the window by successively pressing keyboard arrow keys. Pressing Enter maintains the new size.

Minimize Windows Reduces the window to a button on the task-bar at the bottom of the screen.

Maximize Windows Enlarges the window to full screen.

Close Windows Exits FoxSelect.

Solaris Iconifies the FoxSelect window.

Full Size/Restore Size Solaris Expands the window to its full screen or its previous size, respectively.

Resize Solaris Allows you to reduce or enlarge the window using the arrows keys. Pressing Enter, then maintains the new size. Note: You can also use the mouse to drag the window’s corner handles.

Back Solaris Moves the window to the rear (behind other windows).

Refresh Solaris Refreshes the screen.

Quit Solaris Closes the FoxSelect application.

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7. Using FoxSelect
This chapter gives a step-by-step description of the tasks you can perform using FoxSelect.

Invoking/Exiting FoxSelectTo invoke FoxSelect, perform one of these actions:

In the FoxView Display Bar, click FoxSelect.

From FoxView, click File > FoxSelect.

To exit FoxSelect, perform one of these actions:

From FoxSelect, click Options > Exit.

In the FoxSelect toolbar, click .

Operating on Compounds and Blocks

Expanding a StationTo expand a station, perform one of these actions from the Station View tab:

Click the + box in front of the connected station.

Double-click the station icon.

The Station compound, Equipment Control compound, and all configured control compounds appear on the left panel of the window.

To view the blocks in a compound:

1. In the Station View tab, select a station and expand it.

2. In the list of compounds that appear on the left panel, click the required compound.

The blocks for the selected compound appear on the right panel of the window.

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Searching Connected Stations for a Station, Compound, or BlockYou can locate a station, compound, or block using the Find dialog box. For more information on the Find feature, refer to “Find Dialog Box” on page 103.

To search for a specific station, compound, or block:

1. Perform one of these actions:

In the toolbar, click .

Click Options > Find.

The Find dialog box appears.

2. Click the Find in View tab.

3. Enter the station name, compound name, or block name in the appropriate box.

If you do not enter the complete name, FoxSelect locates objects that contain the specified search string.

4. If you want an exact match against the complete name, select the Match Whole Word check boxes.

5. Click Find Station, Find Compound, or Find Block as appropriate.

FoxSelect attempts to locate the next object name that contains the specified search string.

6. To locate the next occurrence, repeat step 5.

Upon reaching the end of the list, the find operation loops to the beginning of the list.

NOTEIf Multi-Select On is selected, each found object name remains selected.

7. When you are finished, click Done to close the Find dialog box.

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Searching the Network for a Station, Compound, or BlockYou can search the entire network to locate a station, compound, or compound:block.

To search the network for a specific station, compound, or block:


In the toolbar, click .

Click Options > Find.

The Find dialog box appears.

2. Click the Find on Network tab.

3. Perform one of the following actions:

In the Station box, enter a complete station name.

In the Compound box, enter a complete compound name.

Enter both the compound name and block name in the Compound box and Block box respectively.

NOTEEach box requires a complete name.


FoxSelect searches for the next object name that exactly matches the specified names.

5. To locate the next occurrence, repeat step 4.

Upon reaching the end of the list, the find operation loops to the beginning of the list.

6. When you are finished, click Done to close the Find dialog box.

Selecting Stations, Compounds, or BlocksYou can select multiple stations, compounds or blocks and then perform an action on them.

To select multiple stations, compounds or multiple blocks, perform one of these actions:

Click in the toolbar and select the desired stations, compounds, or blocks.

Click Options > Multi-Select On, and click the desired stations, compounds, or blocks.

The status bar indicates the number of items selected.

To deselect multiple stations, compounds, or blocks, perform one of these actions:

Click in the toolbar a second time.

Click Options > Multi-Select On a second time.

To locate a Click

Station Find Station

Compound Find Compound

Compound:Block Find Block

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Turning Compounds ON or OFFWhen you turn a compound ON or OFF from FoxSelect, the following changes occur:

The compound’s icon changes.

The screen refreshes.

Turning OFF a compound stops the control logic performed by that compound.

To turn a single compound ON or OFF:

1. Click the compound.


Click Options > Compound ON or Options > Compound OFF.

Click or in the compound toolbar.

To turn multiple compounds ON or OFF:

1. Select the compounds, using the multiselect feature.


Click Options > Compound ON or Options > Compound OFF.

Click or in the toolbar.

Refer to the section,“Interfacing with FoxView” on page 93.

Printing a Block ListTo print a block list on a Windows based workstation:

1. Click Options > Print Block List.

The FoxSelect Print dialog box appears.

2. Select the required option as described in the following table.

3. Select the printer from the Printer dialog box and click Print.

The block list is printed to the selected printer.

To print a block list on Solaris based workstations:

1. Click Options > Select IA Printer.

2. Select the desired printer, and click OK.

3. Click Options > Print Block List.

The block list is printed to the selected printer.

Select To

Print all items Print the entire block list.

Print only selected items Print the selected items in the block list.

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Viewing the Control DatabaseYou can view a scrollable structure that shows the hierarchy among stations and compounds. The blocks for the selected compound appear in the right panel of the FoxSelect window.

To view the control database:

Click the Station View tab.

A list of stations appears.

Viewing the Block ListYou can view a list of all the blocks (excluding ECB blocks) within the connected stations. The list is scrollable and you can sort any column.

To view the list of blocks:

Click the Block View tab.

To view the ECB blocks:

Select the compound that contains the ECB blocks.

The block list appears on the right panel.

Performing a RefreshThe Refresh operation updates the following:

Connection status

Compound information

ON/OFF status and alarm priority (if it exists) for each compound

Status (for example, Manual/Automatic) and alarm priority of each block.

To perform a Refresh:

1. Select the required station.

2. Do one of the following:

Click in the toolbar.

Click Options > Refresh.

NOTE1. FoxSelect automatically performs a Refresh of the station when you turn a

compound ON or OFF.2. If you perform a Refresh on a station that FoxSelect cannot access, FoxSelect tries

to access the station for seven seconds, during which time FoxSelect is unresponsive.

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Performing a Refresh AllRefresh All refreshes the following information for all the connected stations:

Compound information

ON/OFF status and alarm priority (if it exists) for each compound

Status (for example, Manual/Automatic) and alarm priority of each block.

To perform a Refresh All:

Click Options > Refresh All.

Adjusting the Width of a ColumnYou can adjust the width of columns on the Block View tab.

To automatically adjust a column’s width:

At the top row of a column, double-click the vertical rule to the right of the column.

The column’s width resizes to conform to the size of the widest cell in the column.

To manually adjust a column’s width:

Click a vertical rule and drag it to another position.

Configuring Report ViewsYou can configure custom reports for display in tabbed pages on the FoxSelect window using the following dialog boxes:

“Configure Report Dialog Box” on page 107

“NEW/EDIT/COPY Report Dialog Box” on page 108.

To configure a report view:

1. Click View > Configure Report.

The Configure Report dialog box appears.

2. Perform the following operations as required:

To configure a new report, click New to open the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box, and go to step 3.

To edit an existing report, click the report title in the Custom Reports list to open the NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box, and go to step 3.

To activate an existing report, click the report title in the Custom Reports list, then click Activate.

This selects the check box next to the selected report.

To deactivate an existing report, click the report title in the Custom Reports list, then click Deactivate.

This deselects the check box next to the selected report.

To delete an existing report, click the report title in the Custom Reports list, then click Delete.

When you have completed configuring reports, click OK to close the Configure Report dialog box.

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3. In the Report Title box, enter the title of the report.

4. In the Report Type list, click the desired report type.

5. In the Search Control Station group box, select the stations for the report by perform-ing one of the following:

To generate the report for all available stations that are connected, select the Select All Stations check box.

In the Available list, click the stations for which you want to generate the report, then click to move them to the Selected list.

To move stations from the Selected list to the Available list, select the stations, then click .

To select several stations, use the Multi-Select function.

6. In the Select Alarm Filters group box, select the alarms for the report by performing one of the following:

To generate the report for all available alarms, select the Select All Alarms check box.

In the Available list, click the alarms for which you want to generate the report, then click to move them to the Selected list.

To move alarms from the Selected list to the Available list, select the alarms, then click .

TIPTo select several alarms, use the Multi-Select function.

7. In the Search Filter group box, set the search filters:

In the Compound box, enter a text string to limit searching to only those com-pound names containing this string. You can use the * as a wild card, for example, BOILER* limits searching to only those compounds that start with BOILER.

In the Blocks box, enter a text string to limit searching to only those block names containing this string. You can use the * as a wild card, for example, TEMP* limits searching to only those blocks that start with TEMP.

8. Click Save As, then click Yes to confirm the save operation and close the Configure Report dialog box.

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Moving/Resizing a WindowYou can use the window’s handles (corners) to resize the window. You can point the mouse at the window’s title bar (caption) and drag the window to a different screen position. Additionally, you can operate on the FoxSelect window by selecting commands from the Control menu.

To move or resize the window using the Control menu:

1. Click the FoxSelect icon in the top left corner of the window.

The Control menu appears.

NOTEThe Control menu on Windows based workstations is slightly different from the Control menu on Solaris based workstations.

2. Select the appropriate command, from the list of commands in Table 7-1.

Table 7-1. Commands – Control Menu

Command Platform Description

Restore Windows Restores a maximized window to its previous size.

Move Windows Lets you use arrow keys to move the window. Press the keyboard’s Enter key to drop the window.

Solaris

Size Windows Lets you reduce or enlarge the window by successively pressing keyboard arrow keys. Press the keyboard’s Enter key to drop the window.

Minimize Windows Reduces the window to a button on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

Maximize Windows Enlarges the window to full screen.

Close Windows Exits FoxSelect.

Solaris Iconifies the FoxSelect window.

Full Size/Restore Size Solaris Full Size expands the window, and Restore Size returns the size to the previous state.

Resize Solaris Allows you to use the arrow keys to move the window. Press the keyboard’s Enter key to drop the window. You can also use the mouse to drag the window’s corner handles.

Back Solaris Moves the window to the rear (behind other windows).

Refresh Solaris Refreshes the screen.

Quit Solaris Closes the FoxSelect application.

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Accessing Displays

Accessing a Station Block Detail DisplayA Station Block Detail Display provides information such as the Continuous Control block pro-cessing load, total control load, basic processing cycles and overruns, amount of dynamic free memory, and number of peer-to-peer connections.

To access a Station Block Detail Display:

1. Expand the station.

2. Click the Station compound.

3. Click the Station block from the right panel.



Double-click the station block.

Click Options > Show Detail Display.

Accessing a Compound Detail DisplayA Compound Detail Display provides information on the period, compound phasing, block alarm level inhibit, highest block alarm level within the compound, operational state of Sequential Control blocks, initialization state, and names of the device groups to which block alarm information is sent.

To access a Compound Detail Display:

1. Expand the station to show its compounds.

2. Click the compound.



Double-click the compound.


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Accessing a Block Detail DisplayBlock Detail Displays allow you to view and control alarms, view trend data, tune loops, and per-form process control tasks such as ramping.

The Block Detail Display contains the block alarm summary, buttons to open various overlays, the faceplate, the contents of the control input/output page, and buttons for manipulating block parameters and moving from page to page in the display.

To view a Block Detail Display:

1. Click a block.



Double-click the block name.


To view a Block Detail Display for PLB and Sequence Blocks:

Select a block and click Options > Show Parameter Detail Display.

Viewing Multiple Detail DisplaysTo view multiple detail displays:

1. Select multiple compounds or blocks by performing one of the following steps:

Click in the toolbar and click the required items.

Click an item, then press and hold the keyboard’s Shift key and click another item. This selects a range of items.

NOTEYou can select stations or compounds, but not both.

2. In the toolbar, click repeatedly to cycle through the detail displays.

Displays appear in the sequence that the compounds or blocks were selected. The FoxSelect and FoxView status bars identify the name of the active compound or block.

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8. Online Trend Configuration
This chapter describes online trend configuration.

Overview of TrendsA trend is a pre-built display object, configured in FoxDraw, which shows continuously changing data within a graph area. The data, which appears as a polyline within the graph, moves across the display from the right side to the left side.

A trend can:

Display up to four independent process variables (points in the control system)

Display a label/description next to the trend line

Show a variable amount of data, based on the trend’s duration and scan rate

Take one of two presentation formats (merged or banded)

Be configured to display different scales (min/max, max/decades, Boolean labels)

Be temporarily or permanently modified.

Online Trend ConfigurationOnline trend configuration allows you to change the contents and general appearance of a time-based trend after it has been called into FoxView.

Real-Time and Historical TrendsTrend areas display data (trends) representing changing data values from the real-time and historical databases.

Real-time trend areas are continuously updating trend graphs, displaying the most recent trend variable data. Optionally, historical data from the AIM*Historian can also be displayed within the trend.

Trend data displays as a series of plotted points connected by straight lines. Scaling of the data on the vertical axis is according to:

High-scale and low-scale limits configured for each trend line

Auto-scaling

Stored control processor (CP) values

Current limits.

Real-time trend data scrolls to the left as new trend data displays on the right. New data displays at the configured scan rate.

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B0700BD – Rev E 8. Online Trend Configuration

Trend Duration and Scan RateYou can configure the graph area attributes that control the trend duration and scan rate.

Values for duration and scan rate are entered via the Data Rate Selection dialog box. If the duration and scan rate values conflict, the Valid Scan Rates dialog box presents one or more valid scan rates from which to select.

To improve the speed with which changes in the field are reflected in the Trend, use the Fast Scan option in FoxDraw. Select Display Properties from the FoxDraw File menu and click the OM_Data tab in the Display Properties dialog box. The dialog box also allows you to set a Scan Rate and Scan Delay.

Duration and Scan Rate RulesThe values for duration and scan rate rely on each other. If the scan rate changes, a new duration is computed. Conversely, if the duration changes, a new scan rate is computed. The values for duration and scan rate follow these rules:

The default value for duration is 15 minutes.

The default value for scan rate is 3 seconds.

The scan rate value has a minimum of one second (corresponding to a minimum duration of 60 seconds) and may change in minimum increments of whole seconds.

The ratio of duration to scan rate must be less than or equal to 600:1.

Trend Line Auto-ScalingFoxView can automatically scale a trend. The use of this scaling method continually resets a pen’s minimum and maximum scale values, based on the current data points being displayed. The resulting trend provides maximum resolution.

How FoxView Auto-Scales a TrendFoxView performs auto-scaling in two ways: by enlarging the scales and by shrinking the scales.

As points are plotted, minimum and maximum scales are checked to determine whether new points fall outside of the current minimum and maximum.

If points fall outside these limits, FoxView enlarges the scale to accommodate the points and redraws the trend.

If all the points lie inside the scales (such that the scale minimum value would increase or the scale maximum value would decrease), FoxView shrinks the scale and redraws the trend. Scales are rounded up to the next whole number for maximum scale and rounded down to the next whole number for minimum scale.

When rescaling of trend lines occurs, a minimum span value is configured as a percentage of the full scale to prevent the range from becoming too small. This value defaults to 10% of the scale and can only be modified within FoxDraw.

All rescaling occurs when the new points are plotted. You can auto-scale trend lines on a line-by-line basis. Auto-scaling of a line is indicated in the trend area with data values surrounded by a rectangle, which is the same color as the pen.

Duration The length of the period that is displayed on the trend.

Scan Rate The time between plotted points.

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8. Online Trend Configuration B0700BD – Rev E

Online Trend ConfigurationOnline trend configuration allows you to change the contents and general appearance of a time-based trend after it has been called into FoxView.

CapabilitiesOnline trend configuration capabilities allow you to:

Assign a process variable to a trend pen

Delete a pen from a trend

Change a trend’s duration and scan rate

Configure trend presentation (merged/banded, off-normal regions, grids, markers, colors, time stamp format, and pen data type)

Select how a pen’s scale values are to be configured

Add static lines at user-defined values

Specify the number of decimal places a trend displays.

Save configuration changes.

Boolean PensPens configured in FoxDraw to be Boolean, and which are not modified within the Online Trend Configurator, display as Boolean pens within FoxView.

NOTELogarithmic trends do not support the Boolean pen type.

Permission to Configure an Online TrendVarious features of the Online Trend Configurator may be protected from unauthorized use. Specific protection prevents unauthorized persons access from:

Accessing the Online Trend Configurator (TND_PROT).

Using the keyboard to specify the process variable or description for a trend pen (TLC_PROT, TLD_PROT).

Permanently saving online trend configuration changes (PSV_PROT).

Refer to Display Manager Commands (B0193DF) for details.

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Saving an Online Trend ConfigurationIf you have access to the Online Trend Configuration dialog box’s Permanent button, after modifying a trend configuration, clicking this button saves the original trend display file.

Access to the Permanent button may be denied based on the type of display that contains the trend being configured or based on the security settings of the current environment.

The Permanent button is disabled when:

The current user does not have permission to make permanent changes

The trend is in a Detail Display

The trend is in a display that had been converted on invocation from a Display Manager packed display file (.pdf ) to FoxView display file (.fdf )

The trend is in a display that cannot be optimized.

Trend PresentationA trend can be configured to:

Be merged or banded

Trend pen lines and markers

Include off-normal areas

Display grid lines

Display static lines

Use a local or regional time stamp.

In addition, you can configure a trend’s data rate and scales.

Select and Assign CapabilityUse FoxView’s select point mode to select a process variable by picking an updating numeric graphic object (such as a tank level or moving marker) on a display. This capability allows you to assign an object’s connection variable to a trend line without using a keyboard.

For example, when you are in select point mode and you pick an updating tank, the tank level connection is selected and the connection variable is available for assignment to a trend line.

When selecting an updating graphic object with the right mouse button to copy the connected variable to the clipboard, all process variables that are connected to the object get displayed in the selection menu. For example, the process variables for both the Fill level and Fill color connec-tions are displayed in the pop-up menu. Either menu item may be selected. Connected variables are often copied to the clipboard so they can be assigned to a trend pen.

NOTESome process variables are not appropriate for trending. For example, although .BLKSTA and .ALMSTA are parameters that are often used in process graphics, these parameters are bit strings and cannot be trended without specifying the bits to be trended.

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Keyboardless Assignment of a Selected Object to a Trend LineKeyboardless (mouse-based or pointer-based) assignment of a selected object connection variable to a trend line is performed using a ScratchPad or non-ScratchPad display, in conjunction with FoxView’s Select and Assign capability.

Before assigning the selected object connection variable to a trend line, note that:

The assignment of Boolean data (packed Boolean or packed long parameters) is supported only in part by the Select and Assign function. If a Boolean data type is assigned, the trend line displays the data (0 or 1) as a numeric trend line, with a range of 0 to 100. The data type can be changed only within FoxDraw, not within the Online Trend Configurator.

The FoxView with the source connection need not be the same as the FoxView with the destination trend area; however, the two FoxView applications must display on the same screen of a single-head configuration, or on either head of a multi-head configuration. The Select and Assign capability does not work across multiple desktops. Both FoxView and Display Manager can be used interchangeably as the source or the destination.

Once a selected point is assigned (retrieved), the selection is cleared and the selection process must be repeated if the point is to be assigned to another trend line.

The newly trended point acquires default parameters (such as ranges and engineering units) from the Control Processor’s database. You must access the Online Trend Configurator to modify these default values.

The AIM*Historian instance for the selected point is automatically found.

Trend Scales ConfigurationThe scales you configure for the trend depend on whether the trend is linear or logarithmic.

Linear TrendsA linear trend allows you four ways to configure the maximum and minimum values.

Auto-scale FoxView uses auto-scaling for the pen.

CP Values FoxView uses the values stored with the Control Processor (CP).

User Entered Allows you to enter the minimum and maximum values for the scale. You can type in the Max and Min fields, or use the zooming buttons and arrow buttons to adjust the range.

Use Current Limits Sets the scales based on the trend data currently displaying in the online trend. This button provides a one shot capture capability that reads the current maximum and minimum values of the data points in the display and sets the scale range based only on their data values.

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Logarithmic TrendsA logarithmic trend that uses Boolean data allows you to configure a state 0 name and a state 1 name.

A logarithmic trend that uses numeric data allows you to configure these items:

Numeric DataWhether the trend is linear or logarithmic, for numeric data, you can specify:

Online Trend Configuration SessionIf you have the proper permission (access levels), you can configure a trend and view it immediately. If you have the proper permission, you can also create and save a new trend configuration, which overwrites the current configuration and is automatically launched in subsequent applications of the trend.

NOTEIf a display contains more than one trend, each trend is permanently saved indepen-dently. Saving one trend does not affect the configuration of other trends.

During an online configuration session, FoxView continues to update without interruption. All actions can still be taken from within FoxView. If the display being configured is dismissed, the Online Trend Configurator is also dismissed.

Only one Online Trend Configurator session is allowed at a time for each FoxView.

Configuration Session TasksAn online trend configuration session includes these tasks:

Selection of a process variable (point) for trending.

Selection of a trend to which to assign the process variable.

Assignment of the process variable to a particular trend pen.

Configuration of the trend, including:

Selection of graph attributes (data rate, presentation)

Selection of pen attributes (data type, scaling, color, label, markers).

Review of the resulting trend.

Saving the trend configuration, if permitted.

Max The maximum scale value.

Low Decade The number of the low decade, which is equal to the exponent.

Delta The deadband.

Engineering Units The engineering units.

Guard Band The additional range or buffer added to the calculated range when FoxView determines the range for an auto-scaled pen.

Minimum Span The absolute range between the minimum and maximum values set by auto-scale. For example, if Minimum Span is set to 5.0, this is the minimum range for the pen.

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Windows and Dialog Boxes

Online Trend Configuration Dialog BoxThis dialog box includes these portions:

Figure 8-1. Online Trend Configuration Dialog Box

Title (top) Station name, FoxView name, and window title.

Left side Pen’s process variable, description, and fields for selecting a pen for configuration or deletion.

Right side Available fields and buttons depend on whether the trend is linear or logarithmic.

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Advanced Graph TabUse the Advanced graph tab of the Advanced Trend Configuration dialog box to configure the selected trend. Table 8-1 describes the Advanced Graph tab options.

Table 8-1. Advanced Graph Tab Options

Item Description

Data Rates Group BoxSelect Invokes the Data Rate Selection dialog box from which to specify duration

and scan rate.

Duration Displays the size of the time period that the trend will display. A short time period displays dat1.a points more frequently.

Scan Rate Displays the time between plotting points.

Off-Normal Group BoxHigh-Limit Specifies the off-normal operating area at the top of the graph.

Low-Limit Specifies the off-normal operating area at the bottom of the graph.

Gridline VisibilityVisible Displays grid lines by default.

Number of Divisions Field for selecting the number of grid lines for the trend. The default is ten.

Y–Axis ScaleUse Same Scale Activates the three fields associated with this group of settings. This setting

allows FoxView to display multi-pen graphs.

Scale Increment Set the increments for display between the low and high scale.

Low Scale Sets the lower bound for display.

High Scale Sets the upper bound for display.

FormatDecimal Digit Specifies the number of decimal places a trend displays. The range is from

-1 to 4.

Line-StyleMarker Specifies whether to use markers to display plotted lines.

Markers Per Line Specifies the number of markers to display per line.

Markers Every Point Displays a marker on each plot point. When you do not select this option, a marker is placed on the most recent point only.

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Graph Attributes (Bottom of Dialog Box)

Graph Color Specifies the trend area’s background color.

Off-Normal Color Specifies the off-normal operating areas at the top and bottom of the trend graph. These areas, which can be configured in any color, are based on a percent of range for the entire graph.

Grid Line Color Specifies the color for the grid lines. By default, this is gray.

Display Style Merged specifies that up to four trend lines appear in one field. This is the default. Banded presents four trend lines on four separate, quarter height fields. If there are fewer than four trends, the trend area is divided equally among the trends. Banded format is especially useful for viewing auto-scaled trends.

Saving Options Temporary specifies that the online trend configuration settings be used on a time-based trend after the trend has been called into FoxView. Once the trend is closed or dismissed, the online trend configuration edits are lost.Permanent specifies that the online trend configuration settings be used sand saved. After saving permanent changes, calling up a display that contains the modified trend includes changes from the online trend configuration session.Note: Depending on your workstation’s configuration, you may not be able to permanently save the online trend configuration.

Time Stamp Local specifies a local time stamp.Relative specifies a relative time stamp.

Reset Reverts to previous settings.

Help Invokes the Online Trend Configurator On-Line Help.

Static Line Settings

HI-LOLO-LOHI-HILO-HI

Specifies a percentage value and color for each of the status lines. The lines can also be configured in the FoxDraw Grid tab.

Table 8-1. Advanced Graph Tab Options (Continued)

Item Description

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Advanced Pen TabThe Advanced Trend Configuration dialog box offers four Advanced Pen tabs (Table 8-2). Each tab configures one trend pen. For example, Advanced Pen 4 configures pen 4.

NOTEDepending on the method (linear or logarithmic) used to configure a pen in Fox-Draw, a Pen Scale group box or a Log Scale group box appears within this dialog box. The selection of logarithmic or linear scales is a plot area attribute and, therefore, applies to all lines plotted in the trend.

The data type selection (Numeric or Boolean) determines the available specification boxes.

Table 8-2. Advanced Pen Tab Options

Item Description

Advanced Trend Configuration Dialog Box Assign button Places the object’s process variable in the Variable box.

Variable box (To the right of the Assign button) Displays the object’s process variable (Compound:Block.Parameter).

Browse Invokes the Advanced Trend Configurator Compound:Block.Parameter browser from which to select a process variable.

Delete Removes the name of a process variable from the Variable box.

Description Displays the description text that appears beside the pen. If you have permission, you can enter text into this box.

Historian Name Displays the name of the AIM*Historian instance from which the specified process variable’s data values are to be obtained. If you have permission, you can enter the instance name or click the down arrow to select the historian.

Show this Scale Check the Y-Axis Scale Visible and Show this Scale for Pen 2 to select Pen 2's scale for use by FoxView and sets the color of the scale to Pen 2's color.

Pen Scale Group BoxAuto FoxView uses auto-scaling for the pen.

CP Values FoxView uses the values stored with the Control Processor (CP).

User Entered Allows you to enter the minimum and maximum values for the scale. You can type in the Max and Min fields, or use the zooming buttons and arrow buttons to adjust the range.

Use Current Limits

Sets the scales based on the trend data currently displaying in the online trend. This button provides a one shot capture capability that reads the current maximum and minimum values of the data points in the display and sets the scale range based only on their data values.

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Max Enter a maximum value for the pen scale.This field is available only when User Entered is selected.

Min Enter a minimum value for the pen scale.This field is available only when User Entered is selected.

Increment Enter an increment value for the pen scale.This field is available only when User Entered is selected.

Log Scale Group BoxMax If the trend is configured for logarithmic scales, enter the maximum scale value.

Low Decade If the trend is configured for logarithmic scales, enter the number of the low decade. The decade number is equal to the exponent.

Data Type Group BoxData Type Specifies the data type (Numeric or Boolean).

Numeric enables the Delta, Engineering Units, Guard Band, and Minimum Span boxes.Boolean enables the State 0 Name and State 1 Name boxes.

Delta Specifies the deadband (for numeric variables only). This field is enabled only for a Numeric data type.

Engineering Units

Specifies the engineering units (for numeric variable only).This field is enabled only for a Numeric data type.

Guard Band The additional range or buffer added to the calculated range when FoxView determines the range for an auto-scaled pen. A value appears only when Auto is specified in the Pen Scale group box. This field is enabled only for a Numeric data type.

Minimum Span Specifies the absolute range between the minimum and maximum values set by auto-scale. For example, if Minimum Span is set to 5.0, this is the minimum range for the pen.This field is enabled only when Auto is selected. This field is enabled only for a Numeric data type.

State 0 Name Select a state 0 name. The choices are: 0, closed, down, false, high, left, low, normal, off, right, state 0, stop, or zero.This field is enabled only for a Boolean data type.

State 1 Name Select a state 1 name. The choices are: 1, high, left, low, normal, on, one, opened, start, state 1, true, or up. This field is enabled only for a Boolean data type.

Trend Line Color

Clicking this button invokes the standard Color dialog box from which to select a color for the trend pen.

Save Option This read-only text displays the state of the save operation (Temporary or Permanent) as specified at the bottom of the Online Trend Configuration dialog box.

Table 8-2. Advanced Pen Tab Options (Continued)

Item Description

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Advanced Trend Configuration Browser Dialog BoxUse this dialog box to view and select a process variable (Table 8-3). The browser includes filters to narrow the search.

Marker Symbol This option specifies the marker for pen. The choices for Windows based workstation are shown below:

The diamond, square, triangle, double crosshair, and X are not available on Solaris based workstations.

Default Clicking this button obtains the values from the Control Processor.

Reset Clicking this button changes the values back to the settings in use before you modified them.

Help Clicking this button invokes Online Trend Configurator On-Line Help.

Table 8-3. Advanced Trend Configuration Browser Dialog Box Options

Item Description

Pen Variable This text box displays the pen’s current process variable.

Filter box For each of the three columns (Compound, Block, and Parameter), you can optionally employ a filter. The current filter criteria (if applicable) display in these boxes.

Change Filter Clicking this button invokes the Select Filter dialog box in which to specify filter criteria.

Clear Filter Clicking this button deletes any filter criteria from the Filter box.

OK Places the name of the process variable in the Variable box on an Advanced Pen tab page, and closes the browser dialog box.

Cancel Discards any edits to the process variable and closes the browser dialog box.

Table 8-2. Advanced Pen Tab Options (Continued)

Item Description

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Data Rate Selection Dialog BoxUse this dialog box to specify the data rate (duration and scan rate) for the trend. These settings affect each of the trend’s pens.

Click the arrow keys to increase or decrease the value of entries in the days, hours, and minutes boxes. When you click OK, the values are stored and the dialog box closes. If the duration and scan rate values conflict, the Valid Scan Rates dialog box presents one or more valid scan rates from which to select (Table 8-4).

Select Filter Dialog BoxUse this dialog box to specify the filter criteria for the particular portion of the process variable’s name (Compound, Block, or Parameter).

Compound Filter

Block Filter

Parameter Filter.

The filter box displays the current filter criteria (Table 8-5). Wildcard characters (such as *) are not supported.

Valid Scan Rates Dialog BoxThe display of this dialog box means that the duration and scan rate that you specified in the Data Rate Selection dialog box are in conflict.

This dialog box presents one or more valid scan rates from which to select. Click a button to use the scan rate.

Table 8-4. Data Rate Selection Dialog Box Options

Item Description

Duration The length of the period that is displayed on the trend.

Scan Rate The time between plotted points.

Table 8-5. Select Filter Dialog Box Options

Item Description

Restriction Select one restriction (Begins With, Contains, or Ends With).

OK Places the filter criteria in the Variable box on a Filter box of the Advance Trend Configurator Browser dialog box.

Cancel Discards any edits to filter criteria and closes the browser dialog box.

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Using the Online Trend Configurator

Selecting a Process Variable for TrendingYou can select a process variable (point) and assign it to a trend pen. Use one of the methods listed in Table 8-6.

To select a point from a touchscreen workstation:


2. From FoxView’s File menu, touch Select Point.

3. Touch the field or graphic that you want to trend.

A menu containing the name of the variable represented by the display object appears. Touch an entry in this menu.

The process variable, which is copied to the clipboard for pasting, appears in FoxView’s message bar.

To select a point using Select and Assign capability (requires use of a mouse):

1. Bring up the display that contains the point to be trended.

2. Move the mouse pointer over the object (graphic or field).

3. Right-click the mouse.

A menu containing the name of the variable represented by the display object appears. Select an entry in this menu.

The process variable, which is copied to the clipboard for pasting, appears in the FoxView message bar.

Table 8-6. Hardware Types and Trending Methods

Hardware You can

Touchscreen Place the workstation into Select and Assign mode. Then use FoxView Select and Assign capability.

Mouse Use FoxView Select and Assign capability.

Keyboard Enter the name of the process variable (Compound:Block.Parameter) and optionally enter a label/description.

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Assigning a Process Variable to a Trend PenUpon selecting a point, you must assign it to a trend pen. The assignment method you use depends on your workstation.

To use trend mode (on a touchscreen workstation):


2. From FoxView’s File menu, touch Select Trend.



4. Touch one of the four pen Assign buttons.


To use the Select and Assign capability (requires a mouse):


2. Move the mouse pointer over the graph area and right-click the mouse.


3. Move the mouse over one of the four pen’s Assign buttons and click the left-mouse button.


To assign a point using a keyboard:




3. For one of the four pens, enter the Compound:Block.Parameter in the Variable box.

Deleting a Pen from a TrendA trend can contain up to four pens (trend lines). You can delete a pen from a trend.

To delete a pen (on a touchscreen workstation):

1. Bring up the trend from which you want to delete a pen.

2. From FoxView’s File menu, touch Select Trend.



4. Touch one of the four pen’s Delete buttons.

The pen is deleted from the trend.

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To delete a pen (on a workstation that has a mouse):

1. Bring up the trend from which you want to delete a pen.



3. Move the mouse over one of the four pen’s Delete buttons and left-click the mouse.

The pen is deleted from the trend.

Testing the Configured TrendAfter making configuration changes to a trend, view the revised trend. Continue making changes until you are satisfied with the results.

To test the reconfigured trend:

1. Click Temporary.

2. Click Apply.

The changes are reflected in the trend display within FoxView.

3. Verify the changes.

4. To save the changes, click Permanent.

5. Click OK to end the configuration session.

Exiting the ConfiguratorThe configuration you have entered can be temporary or permanent. You must have permission (the proper access level) to permanently save an online trend configuration.

To exit the configurator:

1. After pressing OK or Apply, perform one of these actions:

Click Permanent to save the new configuration. This saves only the trend currently being configured.

Click Temporary to have FoxView modify the display with the specified changes. Changes are lost when the display is dismissed.


Click OK close the dialog box and performs the specified actions.

Click Apply to make the specified changes to the trend, but does not close the dialog box.

Click Cancel to ignore any changes made since an Apply was performed and to close the dialog box.

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Trend Configuration

Specifying a Trend’s Data RateEvery trend presents data as specified by its duration and scan rate settings. Duration indicates the total time span covered by the trend graph. Scan rate is the time between plotting points. New data is displayed at the configured scan rate.

This procedure assumes that the Online Trend Configuration dialog box or the Advanced Graph tab is open.

To specify a trend’s data rate:


From the Online Trend Configuration dialog box, click Duration Selection.

From the Advanced Graph tab, click Select.

The Data Rate Selection dialog box appears.

2. For Duration, click the appropriate arrow buttons to obtain the desired duration.

You can specify duration composed of days, hours, or minutes.

3. For Scan Rate, click the appropriate arrow buttons to obtain the desired duration.

You can specify a scan rate composed of days, hours, or minutes.

4. Click OK.

If the values of duration and scan rate conflict, the Valid Scan Rates dialog box appears. In this dialog box, click one of the suggested valid scan rates.

Configuring Scales for a Linear TrendFor a linear trend, the Online Trend Configurator provides four methods to configure a pen’s maximum and minimum scale values.

If you have not done so already, click one of the four pen buttons (located on the left side of the Online Trend Configuration dialog box) to select the pen to be configured. The pen number appears above the Auto button.

To configure a pen’s scales using auto-scale:

Click Auto.

FoxView uses auto-scaling for the trend.

To manually specify a pen’s scales:

Click User Entered.

This allows you to enter the minimum and maximum values for the scale. You can type in the Max and Min fields, or use the zooming buttons and arrow buttons to adjust the range.

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To configure a pen’s scales using CP values:

Click CP Values.

FoxView uses the values stored with the Control Processor (CP).

To configure a pen’s scales using current limits:

Click Use Current Limits.

FoxView reads the current maximum and minimum values of the data points cur-rently being displayed in the trend. FoxView sets the scales based on the current data values.

Configuring Scales for a Logarithmic TrendFor a logarithmic trend, you can specify a maximum limit and the number of low decades for numeric data only. For Boolean data, you can only define a state 0 name and a state 1 name.

You can select one of four methods to specify a pen’s maximum and minimum scale values.

To specify the scale for a numeric type logarithmic trend:

1. If not already selected, click one of the four pen buttons on the left side of the Online Trend Configuration dialog box.

The pen number appears to the left of the High Scale box above the double-arrow button.

2. Enter values in the High Scale and Low Decades boxes.

Specifying a Trend’s Display StyleYou can configure the following characteristics of a trend’s display style:

Whether the trend is merged or banded

Whether the online trend configuration is to be saved

The trend’s time stamp style

The trend’s background color.

This procedure assumes that the Online Trend Configuration dialog box is open.

To specify a trend’s display style:

1. Click the Advanced Graph tab.

2. In the Display Style group box, click one of these buttons.

Merged Places up to four trend lines in one field. Banded Places each pen in its own region of the graph area. When

there are four pens, each occupies a quarter height field. If there are fewer than four pens, the trend area is divided equally among the pens. Banded format is especially useful for viewing auto-scaled trends.

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3. In the Saving Options group box, click one of these buttons.

4. In the Time Stamp group box, choose a time presentation style used on the trend’s X-axis.

5. Click Graph Color to select the background color for the trend’s graph area.

6. Click OK.

Specifying a Trend’s Text FormattingYou can specify the following aspects of the text:

Fill and Edge characteristics

Text type (True Type or Hershey)

Font size and style for True Type fonts only.

To configure text formatting:

1. Click the desired trend and then select Graphic Attributes from the right-click menu.

The Set Selection Attributes dialog box, containing three tabs, appears:

2. Choose one of the Font Selections: True Type or Hershey

3. Click OK to save your selections.

Temporary Specifies that the online trend configuration settings be used on a time-based trend after the trend has been called into FoxView. Once the trend is closed or dismissed, these online trend configuration edits are lost.

Permanent Specifies that the online trend configuration settings be used and saved. After you save the changes as permanent, calling up a display that contains the modified trend includes the changes from this online trend configuration session.Note: Depending on your workstation’s configuration, you may not be able to permanently save the online trend configuration.

Local Displays the local time. Relative Displays a time relative to the right side of the trend.

Fill Sets the text fill, direction, type, pattern and color.

Edge Sets the edge style and width.

Text Sets the text direction, text alignment, font type and font characteristics, if using True Type fonts.

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Specifying a Trend’s GridlinesA trend can be configured to include gridlines. These lines help in viewing the graphs. You can make gridlines visible, and can specify their color and number of divisions.


To specify a trend’s gridlines:


2. In the Gridline Visibility group box, click Visible.

3. In the Number of Divisions box, select the number of divisions.

4. Click Grid Line Color and specify a color for the grid lines (the default is gray).

5. Click OK.

Specifying a Trend’s Line StyleYou can configure the line style used on the trend. You must decide whether to use markers and, if so, their quantity. For each pen, you must specify its line color and, if desired, a marker symbol.


To specify a trend’s line style:


2. In the Line Style group box, click Marker.

If you do not want to use markers, do not select this option.

3. Perform one of the following actions:

In the Markers Per Line box, select the number of markers you desire for each pen.

Select Markers Every Point to place a marker at every data point.

4. Click OK.

To specify a pen’s style, perform this procedure for each pen:

1. Click the Advanced Pen tab for the pen of interest.

2. If Marker is selected on the Advanced Graph tab, select one of the symbols in the Marker Symbol box.

3. Click Trend Line Color and specify the color for the pen.

4. Click OK.

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Specifying a Trend’s Static LinesTrends can be configured with up to four static lines for use as references when viewing trended data.

To configure static lines:

1. Click the Advanced Trend Configuration window Advanced Graph tab.

2. Enter values in the HI-LO, LO-LO, HI-HI, and LO-HI fields.

3. Configure a color for each line by clicking the color selection box associated with it, choosing a color and clicking OK.

4. Click Apply.

Specifying a Trend’s Off-Normal RegionsA trend can be configured to include off-normal operating areas. These areas, which can be configured in any color, are based on a percent of range for the entire graph.


To specify a trend’s off-normal areas:


2. In the Off-Normal group box, specify the High-Limit.

3. In the Off-Normal group box, specify the Low-Limit.

4. Click Off-Normal Color and specify a color for the off-normal area.

5. Click OK.

Specifying a Trend’s Decimal PlacesThe number of decimal places used in a trend display can be set in the range from 0 to 4, or you can specify automatic decimal formatting.

To configure the number of decimal places:

1. Click the Advanced Trend Configuration window Advanced Graph tab.

2. Enter the number of decimal places (0 through 4), or enter -1 for automatic format-ting.

With automatic formatting, FoxView sets the number of decimal places based on the field value. The format for Real parameters is as follows:

Four decimal places for numbers less than 1

Two decimal places for numbers less than 100.

No decimal if the value is 100 or greater

3. Click Apply.

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9. FoxView Utilities
This chapter provides a description of the pos_win utility with examples.

pos_win UtilityUse the pos_win utility to size and position windows on a workstation.

Description

The pos_win utility moves a window to a specified location, changes a window size to a specified size, or both. If the window is iconified, the window opens as specified in the command.

A window is identified by the text in its title bar. If the text matches any part of the title bar text in a particular window, that window is considered a match. If more than one window on the work-station contains matching title bar text, only the first matching window is used.

Instead of making multiple calls to the pos_win utility to position multiple windows, you can provide a file containing multiple window titles to the utility.

On Solaris workstations, hostname may be specified, allowing the pos_win utility to affect win-dows on a remote station.

Utility Location

Syntaxpos_win [[[-h[elp]] | [-file filename] | [title-match-text]] [hostname] [-size WxH] | [-position [XxY]]

orpos_win [title-match-text] [-status [show | restore | minimize | maximize]]

Solaris /usr/fox/wp/bin/tools/pos_win

Windows \usr\fox\wp\bin\tools\pos_win.exe

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Table 9-1 gives the argument descriptions.

pos_win Utility ExamplesThese examples demonstrate the use of the pos_win utility.

Example #1The following command moves the FoxView window to the upper-left corner on a workstation named AW0001:

pos_win “FoxView AW0001:AW0001” -size 500x500 -position 0x0

NOTEThe title-match-text is surrounded by quotes, since this is a multi-word title string.

NOTEThe title-match-text AW0001 would also match this window title, but this work-station may include many windows with this string in the title. Locating the specific FoxView window requires that the title-match-text contain the text “FoxView”.

Example #2You can specify multiple windows in a single command by creating a text file, containing the following lines:

“FoxView AW0001:AW0001” -size 500x500 -position 0x0 “FoxView AW0001:AW0002” -size 500x500 -position 500x250

Then, issue the following command, in which filename is the name of the file containing the window specifications.

Table 9-1. Argument Descriptions

Argument Description

<none> Prints a list of all the window titles on the workstation.-help Displays a list of arguments.

-file filename Specifies the name of the input file that contains title-match-text information.title-match-text Identifies the window to be sized and positioned.

The text may be any part of the window title string, not necessarily the complete title. If the text contains multiple words, surround them with quote characters (for example, “FoxView AW0001:AW0001”).

hostname (Solaris only) Specifies the name of the X Server.-size WxH Specifies the width and height of the window in pixels.

-position XxY Specifies the position of the upper-left corner of the window in pixels.-status Specifies the status of the window i.e. show, restore, minimize or maximize.

Note: This -status option is presently supported only for windows platform.

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9. FoxView Utilities B0700BD – Rev E

pos_win -file filename

Example #3You can specify the window status in a single command by providing different options, containing the following lines:

Table 9-2. Window Status Commands

Command Description

pos_win “FoxView AW0001:AW0001” -status show

to raise the window

pos_win “FoxView AW0001:AW0001” -status restore

to restore the window

pos_win “FoxView AW0001:AW0001” -status minimize

to minimize the window

pos_win “FoxView AW0001:AW0001” -status maximize

to maximize the window

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B0700BD – Rev E 9. FoxView Utilities

146

10. Profile Plots
This chapter describes the line and bar profile plots that comprise a series of data values plotted against a specific X-axis engineering unit.

The profile plot area displays a series of data points along its X-axis. The X-axis may represent, for example, length, distance, or frequency. The Y-axis represents the value of each data point. Up to four color-coded sets of data points may be displayed in the plot area in either a line style or a bar style. Only linear scaling is supported on the X and Y axes. Figure 10-1 shows an example of a multi-line profile plot for a paper-manufacturing machine.

Figure 10-1. Multi-line Profile Plot

Both the line and bar style profile plot use color to indicate:

Each line or bar line (1 to 4) with data values within normal limits Each line or bar line of data values exceeding alarm limits

Each reference line (1 to 4)

The fill colors for bars, if filled bars are configured.The profile plot supports NAN (Not-A-Number) values. Because NAN values are not displayed, line gaps in the profile plot indicate the NAN values.

The profile plot area is user-defined. Within FoxDraw, you can access different-sized plots from the profile-templates directory (\opt\fox\displib\ProfilePlots).

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The following profile plot attributes are configurable via FoxDraw:

Number of pens and their colors

Number of points that can be displayed

Profile style (line or bar)

Reference line

Scan rate for the trigger

Appearance of markers

Profile plot background color

Appearance of a grid

Number of grid lines along the X-axis

Appearance of the Y-axis scales.

Operator buttons, typically located at the bottom of a plot area, can be configured via FoxDraw to allow you to:

Select the configured plot area to execute a display command such as accessing an overlay or displaying read-out values.

Toggle between the pause mode and unpaused mode. When in the paused mode, the plot area is not updated.

Read out a data point by selecting the point along the X-axis. A vertical hairline appears at the selected X-coordinate, and the point number and value on each line are recorded in FoxView memory and optionally displayed in the read-out fields in the profile area.

After performing a read-out, select a button to send the point number and value for each line to the configured compound:block.parameter or shared variable.

Select an object configured with both read-out and send, in order to read and send point numbers and values with one selection.

Request FoxView/DM to redraw the profile plot.

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Profile Plot AppearanceEach of the plot lines (line or bar) has its own:

High and low scale values

High and low alarm limits, and Reference line value.

This information is available from the profile-line-options configuration information or if not configured, from the Data Header record in the Data Array.

When the high and low alarm limit values are exceeded, a line or bar is drawn in the specified alarm color (see Figure 10-2). The fill color of a bar that has exceeded the alarm limits changes to the alarm color (see Figure 10-3).

Figure 10-2. Bar and Line Profile Plots with Reference Lines and Alarm Limits (Bottom)

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Figure 10-3. Bar Profile Plots with Alarm Limits and Reference Lines

Lines or bar lines can be drawn:

On the X-axis from left to right (see Figure 10-1) or mirrored along the Y-axis (called “reverse X-axis”).

With a reference line indicating either the median value of the data (Figure 10-3) or located on the X-axis representing the low scale value.

When “reverse X-axis” is configured, the profile line is mirrored through the Y-axis. The line that is normally drawn from left to right is drawn from right to left creating a mirror image.

Depending on the profile style selected, the reference line (optional) is drawn under or on top of the line. When “line” is configured, the reference line appears under the plot line; when “bar” is configured, the reference line appears on top of the bar line.

The color and value of the reference line are configurable via FoxDraw. The reference line value is defined either by the display file, a process control variable, or the data-array header. It may be the median value or the low scale value represented by the X-axis. For example, the bar graph in Figure 10-3 has a different appearance depending on whether the reference line is the median value or the low scale value represented by the X-axis.

If any of the data values in a plotted profile is unavailable, out-of-service, bad, or in error, then no data is plotted for that point. A blank appears at that data point. In line plots, a break appears in the line. In bar plots, the bar is not plotted for that point number. On the read-out value field, ***** appears.

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Operator Buttons and Data FieldsProfile plot displays typically include operator buttons at the bottom and data fields at the top of each plot area.

For the bar and line profile plots of Figure 10-2, the Point, Value and Time fields provide the point number and current value and time for the bar and line profile plots. The Prev Display button opens the previously displayed profile plot.

The buttons in the line profile plot of Figure 10-4, allow you to pause or redraw the profile plot.

Figure 10-4. Line Profile Plot with Operator Buttons

Data UpdatesAll data points on a profile plot are updated simultaneously and the previous values are discarded.

A profile plot (line or bar) with multiple configured lines has the following line priority scheme: Line 1 has the highest priority, Line 2 has the next highest priority, and so forth. The lines are drawn on the screen in the following order: from Line 4 (lowest priority) to Line 1 (highest prior-ity). When one line is redrawn, all the other lines are also redrawn.

In bar profiles, when a single point changes every bar is redrawn.

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Profile Plot DataThe data to be plotted is a set of string variables, which consists of Object Manager shared vari-ables. The data source for the set of string variables is an application program. The data source maintains an Object Manager list variable (the trigger connection), which is altered each time a change is made to the data stored in the string variables. The connection trigger name for each plot line is configured in FoxDraw.

Each profile line is connected to a trigger path variable via a change-driven connection. When a new value appears in the trigger variable, FoxView reads (via the Data Array path name) all the values from the set of string variables to be displayed.

When the trigger connection and the data array connection names indicate that both variables are in the same station, the FoxView/DM will use the OM list references to retrieve the PSAP address through a getval_list() OM call. To be valid for such a call, the Trigger name and Data Array name should be:

Data_Array_Name=trigger_name01

In case the names do not match the syntax described above, a single global_find() call is issued per trend line, which causes an IPC broadcast message. All the data arrays for the same profile line must be located on the same station; thus they must have the same PSAP address.

For optional connections, all the optional OM data variables must reside in the same station. The PSAP address is retrieved through a global_find() OM call once. If the global_find() call fails, no more attempts are made to retrieve the PSAP address or any of the optional connection data.

It is recommended that:

Per profile area, the trigger connection and the data connection variables reside in one station

Per profile plot line, the optional input connections all reside in the same station.

NOTE1. Profile plots do not support connections to individual data points or individual bars.2. The number of data points is not necessarily the width of the graph area in pixels. FoxView/DM expands the space occupied by each point to fill the width of the graph area.3. When a plot line has more points than pixels, the points may overlap when the plot line is drawn.

String variables are capable of holding multiple values to be plotted. The maximum length of string variables is 255 bytes. Therefore a string variable can hold a maximum of one of the following:

63 float or long values 127 integer values

255 byte values.

For example: Trigger Connection Name: PAPER

Data Array Name: PAPER01

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The first Data Array contains the Data Header information as well as a set of data values. The Data Header includes the following information, which is only used if not defined in the profile plot configuration:

The data type being used (always used)

The number of points

High and low scale limits High and low alarm limits

The reference value.Therefore, the first Data Array cannot hold as many data points as subsequent data arrays. If the number of points in a profile plot exceeds the number of data values available in the first Data Array, additional string variables are used. (Table 10-1).

When multiple strings are required, the subsequent Data Arrays contain the same path name as the first Data Array with the exception of the last two characters. These characters are automatically substituted with a number depending on the array, for example, 02 for the second array, 03 for third array ... 59 for last array.

If you need to display 480 data points that are stored in the data array type “float”, the number of string arrays needed is:

1 + (480-55)/63 = 8 data arrays

These 8 string arrays may be named, for example, FLOATARR01, FLOATARR02 ..... FLOATARR08.

When the 480 values are packed into the data array type “integer”, the number of arrays needed is:

1 + (480-114)/127 = 4 data arrays

Packing the same 480 values into a byte array would result in 2 arrays.

A special tool (/opt/fox/bin/tools/omary50) is used to create, get, set, or delete the Object Manager string arrays. Refer to Object Manager Calls (B0193BC).

To engineer data array access, refer to Display Engineering for FoxView Software and Display Manager Software (B0193MQ).

Table 10-1. Contents of Data Arrays

Type Type LengthNumber Of Values In First Data Array

Number Of Values In Subsequent Arrays

FLOAT 4 55 63

LONG 4 55 63

INTEGER 2 114 127

BYTE 1 234 255

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154

Appendix A. Frequently Asked Questions
This appendix lists the answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

FoxViewWhy did dmsepass not change the environment password?

Probably the environment name argument was not entered correctly. The environment names are the names that appear in the Change Environment dialog box, not the name of the file. For exam-ple, the Process_Eng environment is made up of many files: Process_Eng.env, Process_Eng.mbr, Process_Eng.dbr.

The correct way to change the password is with the command:

dmsepass Process_Eng -p new_password

Can I increase the FoxView cursor size on Solaris to make touchscreen work easier?

Yes, the FoxView cursor can be changed to a large cursor.

Change this line:

/usr/fox/wp/data/init.user

to the following line:FXCURSOR=/opt/fox/wp/FoxView/cursor/crosshair_large

The cursor size does not change until the station is rebooted.

What can I do to shorten display call-up time?

1. Obtain the fastest possible workstation and do not overload it.

The P79 and P80 are the fastest Solaris workstations.

The Windows XP based P92 is the fastest Windows workstation.

If you are running on a slower box (such as 85 MHz or 110 MHz SPARC5s) with one FoxView/FoxDraw, install the 170 MHz CPU upgrade. Refer to P0971VJ.

NOTEThis upgrade is for SPARC5s only. It does not work on a SPARC4® (Model 51B). SPARC4s run at 110 MHz.

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B0700BD – Rev E Appendix A. Frequently Asked Questions

2. Configure the displays in FoxDraw to use the Fast Scan option, as described in Fox-Draw Software (B0700BE).

3. Call-up is generally faster on WPs than on AWs because WPs compete less for system resources.

Do not use four FoxViews if you only require two FoxViews. Do not use two FoxViews if you only require one FoxView.

WPs are intended to be operator workstations. AWs are intended to be engineering workstations. If call-up time and security are major concerns, do not try to save money by forcing AW functionality and overhead onto operator workstations.

4. Use one font only. As often as possible, keep font sizes the same.

Do not use more than two font styles and three font sizes. Use the same font style and size for updating text. Human interface designers suggest using one font:

Helvetica on Solaris workstations

Arial on Windows based workstations.

5. Use the fewest number of display connections as possible. Call-up time is proportional to the number of connections. 175 points is considered a large display. The use of more than 175 points slows down display call-up time. 500-point displays can be created fairly easily, but require a call-up time of six to eight seconds (or more).

6. Be judicious with 3D objects. Use as few “fancy” objects as necessary to communicate the idea.

CAUTION!It is possible to create 100,000 polygons in a matter of seconds by copying and pasting fancy tanks, turbines, and other objects. Observe precautions.

7. If possible, use submodels for fancy graphics.

If you have more than two of the same configured object, such as a valve with fill color connections, use custom faceplates. Custom faceplates are preconfigured graphical objects in which all connections are made to the same block. The compound:block association is made once and applied to each parameter configuration, as would be done in a conventional PID faceplate.

8. Always test call-up time as you are building displays.

Do not spend weeks creating hundreds of complex displays only to learn that the displays take six seconds to call up when the process application requires a two-second call-up time!

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Appendix A. Frequently Asked Questions B0700BD – Rev E

9. If you plan to perform a remote draw from a Solaris FoxView to a PC X Server, use 32-bit X Server software. Ensure that the PC has at least 32 MB of RAM.

NOTEWindows 3.1 and 16-bit X Servers cannot do the job.

If you are going to use an X Terminal, ensure that it has at least 32 MB of RAM. X Terminals, which have no virtual memory, are starved for memory.

X Terminals are not cost effective WPs. Do not attempt to run configurators (such as ICC) on X Terminals. If the network connection breaks, or someone powers down the X Terminal, ICC is left running with no way to exit. This leads to the CP database being out of sync with the ICC work files, requiring a major clean up.

Remember that X Terminals are not WPs. They are inexpensive because they have extremely limited capability.

A remote FoxView uses the resources (memory and CPU) of the station that hosts it.

10. Keep the following in mind when configuring your system:

If you process many Display Manager (dmcmd) commands when opening overlays, the commands are processed serially.

If your display button is configured to run several commands and then open the overlay, there is a delay while the commands are being performed.

11. Use links to commonly used objects, rather than copies.

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B0700BD – Rev E Appendix A. Frequently Asked Questions

How should I distribute display files to workstations?

The main issue is the possible corruption of display files. When you close a display, the display is saved to disk. Corruption can occur if the display is copied while it is being saved.

To avoid corruption, ensure that the displays are not being changed on the workstation as the updated displays are being distributed.

The safest way to distribute displays over these workstations is to call in a static display on the workstations and not allow the display to be changed until the distribution is completed. It is not necessary to optimize the displays before distribution.

FoxSelectThe docking positions for toolbars cannot be changed when intouchscreen font state. What is the reason?

When in touchscreen font state, the toolbars are always docked at the top left corner of the application window and cannot be moved. This feature prevents the movement when the toolbar buttons are selected in the touchscreen font state.

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Appendix B. Glossary
This chapter provides a glossary of key terms used in this document.

Annunciator keyboard

Hardware panel with keys that light and blink to indicate process alarms. A horn can also be configured to the keyboard.

Depending on how the annunciator keyboard is configured, pressing a key:

Acknowledges an alarm

Calls up a display

Carries out a command.

The I/A Series system also includes FoxPanels, software alarm panels that can emulate the same functions as hardware annunciator panels.

Checkpoint Run the Equipment Change Display command (from System Management) to save changes to the control database, process tuning changes, and Fieldbus module status changes.

Compound A logical collection of blocks that performs a control strategy. When you configure the system, you can connect any block in any compound to any other block in any other compound in the system.

Detail Display A standard Invensys supplied display for a compound or block.

Use a Compound Detail Display to change modifiable parameters and to turn the compound on or off.

Use a Block Detail Display to tune loops, perform control tasks, view and control alarms, and view trend data.

EEPROM Update Command

This command, executed from System Management, overwrites firmware in the selected peripheral with updated EEPROM software supplied by Invensys.

Environment A collection of displays, programs, and utilities grouped according to users and the tasks they need to perform. The menu bar, menu options, and Display bar vary from one environment to another. Invensys supplies four default environments: Initial, Operator, Process Engineer, and Software Engineer.

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B0700BD – Rev E Appendix B. Glossary

Equipment Control Compound

An Invensys supplied compound that is automatically installed in the Control Processor (CP) on initial boot. The Equipment Controlcompound (ECC) contains the built-in primary Equipment Control Block (ECB) and any other Equipment Control Blocks that you insert.

FoxSelect FoxSelect is a window that provides an expandable hierarchical view of the control database, showing:

Stations

Station blocks

Compounds

Blocks.

You typically use this window to call up a Block Detail Display. Refer to the FoxSelect On-Line Help.

Group Display An arrangement of process displays grouped to meet your site’s operational needs.

Each Group Display includes:

Buttons that allow you to toggle a selected parameter on a face-plate or call up a Block Detail Display

Faceplates and real-time trend connections to different blocks.

A faceplate, for example, displays the block description, a measurement, and outputs. You can use a faceplate to manipulate the block state and provide direct access to a Block Detail Display.

ScratchPads A set of 20 trend overlays and 20 group overlays that can be created using the ScratchPad menu bar command.

Station block An Invensys supplied block that is automatically installed in the Control Processor (CP) on initial boot. The Station block holdsinformation about the station’s data collection status (active or inactive), processing cycle, processing load, and alarm output devices.

Station Compound

An Invensys supplied compound that is automatically installed in the Control Processor (CP) on initial boot. The Station compoundcontains the built-in Station block.

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Index
AAlarm Displays

accessing 80navigating 63

Alarm Manager 4Alarm, acknowledging 81Applications, I/A Series 4

BBlock Detail Displays 11

accessing 79, 119viewing 119

Blockssearching for 112, 113selecting 113viewing 115

Buttons, overlay 15

CChange-driven connection 152Compound Detail Displays 18

accessing 79Compound toolbar 101Compounds 90

about 18access to turn them on and off 93searching for 112, 113selecting 113turning on and off 114

Configurators 4Configure Report dialog box 107Control Database

maneuvering within 111viewing 115

Cursorchanging size 85changing size of FoxView cursor 155

DData entry error messages 59Data Rate Selection dialog box 55, 62Date, setting 57DDE Explorer 5

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B0700BD – Rev E Index

Dialog boxConfigure Report 107Data Rate Selection 55, 62FoxView Preferences 55History Start Time 60History Start/Stop Time 54, 61NEW/EDIT/COPY Report 108

Displaycall-up time, reducing 155files, distributing 158

Display barassigning a display to 85

Displaysassigning to the Display Bar 80Block Detail 11Compound Detail 18printing 84process 9user-built 10

EEnvironment

changing 59customizing 85operating on 58

Environments, I/A Series 3Error messages, data entry 59

FFoxCAE 4FoxDraw 5FoxPanels 5FoxSelect

exiting 111invoking 111overview 87using 111window 95

FoxViewchanging the cursor size 155control menu 49dialog boxes 47introduction to 1main window 47moving 82operating on the window 82overview 1sizing 82

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Index B0700BD – Rev E

using 57FoxView Preferences dialog box 55

GGlobal_find() call 152

HHardware, I/A Series 2Historian 6Historical data

selecting a time period 60values 36

History Start Time dialog box 60History Start/Stop Time dialog box 54, 61

II/A Series

applications 4environments 3hardware 2

IACC 5

MMenu definition file 42Moveable overlays 44Multi-headed workstation 2

NNetwork View 88Network, searching for a station, compound, or block 113NEW/EDIT/COPY Report dialog box 108

OObject Manager shared variables 152Online trend configuration 121

saving 124Operator’s environment, accessing 58Out-of-normal polygons 37Overlay buttons 15Overlays, moveable 44

PParameters, changing 81Pausing a trend 62Phasing 19

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B0700BD – Rev E Index

Plots, X/Y 34Polygons, out-of-normal 37Printer, setup 6Printing

a Block List 114a display 84

Process displays 9access to 9acknowledging 81

Process variable, selecting for trending 134Profile plot 147

area 147data 152data array 153data header 153lines 149string variables 152

PSAP address 152

RRamping a value 82Real-time trend 121Report views 92

SScan rates, configuring 61ScratchPad group displays

procedures 72accessing group_list 72adding faceplates and trends to group display 73creating a group display on group_list 73

ScratchPad trendsprocedures

accessing trend_list 66adding pens to a trend 68creating a new trend on trend_list 66saving pens of a trend 68

ScratchPads, overview 40Shortcut menu 41

displaying for a variable 86Station

expanded 89expanding 111searching for 112, 113

String variables, profile plot 152System

checking 57System Management 4

164

Index B0700BD – Rev E

TTime, setting 57Toolbar docking position, touchscreen 158Trend

about 26assigning an updating value 64data 27historical 121online configuration 121opening 60paging 64real-time 121working with 60

Trend duration, configuring 61Trend pen, assigning a process variable to 135Trending, selecting a process variable 134Trigger path variable, profile plot data 152

UUser-built displays 10

VValue

entering into a data entry field 82ramping 82

Variable, displaying shortcut menu 86

WWindows Off Mode, configuring 85Workstation, multi-headed 2

XX/Y plots 34

165

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