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by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not
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Organization of This Manual............................................................................................... xix
BridgeVIEW Concepts.......................................................................................... xix
G Tutorial ............................................................................................................... xx
Appendices, Glossary, and Index .......................................................................... xxi
Conventions Used in This Manual......................................................................................xxii
Related Documentation......................................................................................................xxiii
Customer Communication .................................................................................................xxiii
PART
I
Chapter 1
Welcome to BridgeVIEW....................................................................................................1-1
Required System Configuration ............................................................................1-2
Installation.............................................................................................................1-2
What Is BridgeVIEW?.........................................................................................................1-3
How Does BridgeVIEW Work? ..........................................................................................1-3
Tag Configuration .................................................................................................1-5
Data Type................................................................................................1-5
General....................................................................................................1-5
Connection ..............................................................................................1-6
Operations ...............................................................................................1-6
Alarms ...................................................................................................................1-6
Events ....................................................................................................................1-7
Historical Data Logging and Extraction................................................................1-7
Security..................................................................................................................1-7
What Is the BridgeVIEW System Architecture? .................................................................1-8
User HMI Application...........................................................................................1-8
BridgeVIEW Engine .............................................................................................1-9
Device Servers.......................................................................................................1-9
Where Should I Start?........................................................................................................1-10
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Chapter 2
What Is G?........................................................................................................................... 2-1
Controls Palette..................................................................................................... 2-5
Functions Palette................................................................................................... 2-5
Boolean................................................................................................... 2-7
Tag.......................................................................................................... 2-8
What Is the BridgeVIEW Engine Manager?..................................................................... 2-12
What Are System Errors and Events? ............................................................................... 2-15
What Is the Tag Browser? ................................................................................................. 2-16
What Is the Tag Monitor?.................................................................................................. 2-18
Simple/Complex Help View ............................................................................... 2-23
Links to Online Help Files.................................................................................. 2-24
Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
General Attributes................................................................................... 3-2
Connection Attributes............................................................................. 3-2
Operation Attributes ............................................................................... 3-2
Scaling Attributes ................................................................................... 3-2
Alarm Attributes..................................................................................... 3-3
Static vs. Dynamic Attributes ............................................................................... 3-3
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What Is the Tag Configuration Editor?................................................................................3-3
How Do You Create a Tag? ..................................................................................3-5
How Do You Edit a Tag?......................................................................................3-5
How Do You Delete a Tag? ..................................................................................3-5
What are Network Tags?.......................................................................................3-6
How Do You Add Network Tags?........................................................................3-7
How Do You Configure Tags? ..........................................................................................3-10
Data Type ............................................................................................................3-10
Analog Tags ..........................................................................................3-10
Discrete Tags.........................................................................................3-10
Bit Array Tags.......................................................................................3-10
String Tags ............................................................................................3-11
General ................................................................................................................3-11
Connection...........................................................................................................3-12
I/O Group Configuration.......................................................................3-14
I/O Group Configuration Options...........................................3-15
Item Configuration................................................................................3-18
Item Configuration Options—Configuring
Item Names..........................................................................3-18
Operations............................................................................................................3-22
What Is Deadband? ...............................................................................3-24
Scaling.................................................................................................................3-25
Analog Tags ..........................................................................................3-27
Example—Linear Scaling......................................................3-27
Example—Square Root Scaling ............................................3-28
How Do You Assign Units to an Analog Tag?.....................................3-28
Discrete Tags.........................................................................................3-28
Bit Array Tags.......................................................................................3-29
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Alarms................................................................................................................. 3-31
How Do You Configure Alarms for a Tag? ......................................... 3-34
Analog Tags ...........................................................................3-34
User Must Ack .......................................................................3-38
How Do You Configure Other Engine Parameters? ......................................................... 3-44
How Do You Turn on Historical and Event Logging at Startup?....................... 3-44
How Do You Set the File Paths for Historical and Events Files?....................... 3-44
How Do You Configure Shifts?.......................................................................... 3-44
How Do You Configure Engine Parameters?..................................................... 3-44
from the Tag Configuration Editor?................................................................. 3-46
How Do You Access or Change Tag Configuration Information
Chapter 4
Front Panel Objects............................................................................................... 4-3
HMI G Wizard ...................................................................................................... 4-3
Generate the Block Diagram .................................................................. 4-8
Control Editor....................................................................................... 4-12
Importing Graphics............................................................................... 4-13
How Do You Configure Front Panel
Objects Programmatically?................................................................ 4-15
How Do You Monitor and Control Tags?......................................................................... 4-16
Tag Data Type..................................................................................................... 4-17
Tags VIs and Alarms and Events VIs ................................................................. 4-20
How Do the Tags, and Alarms and Events VIs
Affect Startup/Shutdown?.................................................................. 4-24
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General Principles of G HMI Programming......................................................................4-25
How Do You Implement Event-Driven Programming in G?..............................4-25
How Do You Implement Polled Programming in G? .........................................4-27
How Do You Initialize and Shut Down Multiple-Loop Applications?...............4-28
How Can You Use Tag Attributes to Configure HMI Indicator
Attributes Programmatically? ..........................................................................4-31
Chapter 5
What are Alarms and Events?..............................................................................................5-1
Alarm States ..........................................................................................................5-1
Alarm Limit...........................................................................................................5-1
Alarm Priority........................................................................................................5-2
Alarm Summary ....................................................................................................5-2
Event History.........................................................................................................5-2
How Do You Display Alarm Summary Information?.........................................................5-2
How Do You Display Event History Information? .............................................................5-6
How Do You Acknowledge Alarms? .................................................................................5-6
How Do You Configure Logging and Printing of Alarms and Events?............................5-10
How Do You Log Alarms and Events?...............................................................5-12
How Do You Print Alarms and Events?..............................................................5-13
How Do You View Alarms and Events?.............................................................5-14
Chapter 6
What Is a Trend?..................................................................................................................6-1
Real-Time Trend ...................................................................................................6-1
What Is Citadel?...................................................................................................................6-1
How Do You Log Historical Data? .....................................................................................6-2
Historical Data VIs................................................................................................6-4
Historical Trend Viewer (HTV)............................................................................6-9
How Do You Select the Tags to Display? ............................................6-10
How Do You Change the Time Axis? ..................................................6-10
Panning Buttons......................................................................6-11
Manual Changes .....................................................................6-11
How Do You Change the Timespan of Data Displayed? .....................6-12
How Do You View the Value of a Tag at
a Specific Point in Time? ...................................................................6-12
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How Do You Change the Y Axis? ....................................................... 6-12
How Do You Change the Plot Colors and Style in the Trend? ............ 6-13
How Do You Export Data to a Spreadsheet? ....................................... 6-13
How Do You Get Online Help for the HTV?....................................... 6-13
How Do You Set Tag, Time, and Color Preferences?.......................... 6-13
It Has Been Logged to Citadel?......................................................... 6-14
How Do You Incorporate the HTV into Your HMI Application? ....... 6-14
Chapter 7
How Do You Build an HMI with Multiple Panels?............................................................ 7-1
How Do You Configure When a Button Will Be Polled?...................... 7-3
VI Server Functions .............................................................................................. 7-5
How Do You Control Panel Size?.......................................................... 7-6
How Do You Control Panel Visibility?.................................................. 7-7
BridgeVIEW System Control.............................................................................................. 7-7
System VIs ............................................................................................................ 7-7
How Do You Start or Stop the BridgeVIEW Engine
from Your Application?....................................................................... 7-8
Tag Attributes VIs............................................................................................................... 7-9
Environment Security ......................................................................................... 7-13
How Do You Log In and Out? ............................................................. 7-15
How Do You Find Your Access Level?............................................... 7-15
How Do You Find Your Environment Privileges? .............................. 7-15
How Do You Change Your Password? ................................................ 7-16
How Do You Check a User’s Privileges?............................................. 7-16
How Do You Prompt the Operator to Log In
to Your Application? ......................................................................... 7-16
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to Your Application?..........................................................................7-17
How Do You Programmatically Log an Operator Out
How Do You Identify the Current Operator? .......................................7-17
How Do You Restrict Access to the BridgeVIEW Environment? .......7-17
How Do You Modify the List of Available User
Access Levels?...................................................................................7-19
How Do You Export a List of Users to a File?.....................................7-19
How Do You Export Users to Another Computer
on the Network? .................................................................................7-20
How Do You Import Users from Another Computer
on the Network? .................................................................................7-21
Environment Privileges? ....................................................................7-22
Operator Interface Security .................................................................................7-22
Chapter 8
Servers
What Are BridgeVIEW Device Servers? ............................................................................8-1
How Do You Install and Configure a Device Server?.........................................................8-2
the BridgeVIEW Device Servers CD .................................................................8-4
Registering Simulation Servers.............................................................................8-4
How Do You Use OPC Servers with BridgeVIEW?...........................................................8-5
Using Remote OPC Servers ..................................................................................8-7
How Do You Use DDE Servers with BridgeVIEW? ..........................................................8-9
How Do You View BridgeVIEW Server Configuration? ...................................................8-9
Registered Server Device and Item Parameters ..................................................8-11
How Do You Develop an IA Device Server?....................................................................8-12
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Contents
G Tutorial
Chapter 9
Creating VIs
How Do You Build a VI?.................................................................................................... 9-1
What is a SubVI?............................................................................................................... 9-12
Hierarchy Window.............................................................................................. 9-12
Search Hierarchy .................................................................................. 9-14
Opening, Operating, and Changing SubVIs........................................................ 9-19
How Do You Debug a VI? ................................................................................................ 9-21
Chapter 10
Customizing VIs
Set Window Options ........................................................................................... 10-1
Chart Modes........................................................................................................ 11-2
Faster Chart Updates........................................................................................... 11-3
Overlaid Versus Stacked Plots............................................................................ 11-3
While Loops ...................................................................................................................... 11-4
Mechanical Action of Boolean Switches............................................................ 11-7
Timing................................................................................................................. 11-9
Preventing Code Execution in the First Iteration.............................................. 11-10
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Shift Registers..................................................................................................................11-11
Using Uninitialized Shift Registers...................................................................11-15
For Loops.........................................................................................................................11-20
Numeric Conversion..........................................................................................11-21
Case and Sequence Structures and the Formula Node
Case Structure....................................................................................................................12-2
Sequence Structures...........................................................................................................12-5
Formula Node ..................................................................................................................12-11
Artificial Data Dependency .............................................................................................12-15
Front Panel Object Attributes
Arrays.................................................................................................................................14-1
How Do You Create and Initialize Arrays? ........................................................14-1
Auto-Indexing......................................................................................................14-2
Using Array Functions ........................................................................................14-9
Build Array ...........................................................................................14-9
Initialize Array ....................................................................................14-10
Array Size ...........................................................................................14-11
Array Subset........................................................................................14-12
Index Array .........................................................................................14-13
What is Polymorphism?...................................................................................................14-17
Clusters ............................................................................................................................14-17
Graphs..............................................................................................................................14-18
Customizing Graphs..........................................................................................14-18
Graph Cursors .....................................................................................14-19
Graph Axes .........................................................................................14-20
Data Acquisition Arrays....................................................................................14-20
Intensity Plots ..................................................................................................................14-23
Chapter 15
Application Control
What is the VI Server? ........................................................................................15-2
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Use Top-Down Design...................................................................................................... 16-1
SubVIs with Required Inputs.............................................................................. 16-4
Good Diagram Style.......................................................................................................... 16-4
Watch for Common Operations .......................................................................... 16-4
Use Left-to-Right Layouts .................................................................................. 16-5
Watch Out for Missing Dependencies ................................................................ 16-7
Avoid Overuse of Sequence Structures .............................................................. 16-8
Study the Examples............................................................................................. 16-8
Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Appendix B
Customer Communication
Glossary
Index
Figures
Figure 2-1.
Figure 2-2.
Figure 2-3.
Figure 2-5.
Engine Manager Display........................................................................... 2-12
Engine Manager with System Events Displayed...................................... 2-14
Tag Browser Utility .................................................................................. 2-16
Tag Monitor Utility................................................................................... 2-19
Status Details Dialog Box......................................................................... 2-21
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Write to Tag dialog box.............................................................................2-22
Figure 3-8.
Tag Configuration Editor ............................................................................3-4
Tag Operations Dialog Box.......................................................................3-24
Analog Tag Scaling Dialog Box ...............................................................3-29
Figure 3-10. Scaling for Bit Array Tag Configuration ..................................................3-31
Figure 3-11. Alarms for Analog Tag Configuration ......................................................3-36
Figure 3-12. Alarms for Discrete Tag Configuration.....................................................3-37
Figure 3-13. Alarms for Bit Array Tag Configuration...................................................3-38
Figure 4-1.
Figure 4-2.
Figure 4-3.
Figure 4-4.
Figure 4-5.
HMI G Wizard Dialog Box.........................................................................4-6
Control Dialog Box ...................................................................................4-11
Monitor Tag Value and Alarm VI.............................................................4-26
Process View Display VI ..........................................................................4-28
Two Trend Display VI ..............................................................................4-30
for a Real-Time Trend Display .................................................................4-30
Front Panel Indicators, Frame 0 ................................................................4-32
Front Panel Indicators, Frame 1 ................................................................4-33
Historical Trend Viewer..............................................................................6-9
Select Tags Dialog Box.............................................................................6-10
Figure 7-1.
Figure 7-2.
Figure 7-3.
Figure 7-4.
Figure 7-5.
Figure 7-6.
Panel G Wizard ...........................................................................................7-2
Access Levels Dialog Box ........................................................................7-14
Privileges Dialog Box ...............................................................................7-15
Edit User Accounts Dialog Box ................................................................7-17
Add a User Account ..................................................................................7-17
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Figure 8-1.
Server Browser............................................................................................ 8-6
Tables
Table 3-7.
Table 3-9.
Table 3-12.
Alarms Configuration Attributes ............................................................ 3-33
Events with Alarm Deadband = 1.0% ...................................................... 3-39
Configurable Memory Allocation Parameters ......................................... 3-47
Table 6-2.
Panning Button Functions......................................................................... 6-11
Table 7-1.
Table 7-2.
BridgeVIEW Environment Privileges .................................................... 7-12
Abbreviations Used to Enable Privileges for a User ............................... 7-19
Table B-1.
Data Transform Commands .......................................................................B-5
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Activities
Activity 2-1. Open and Run a VI......................................................................................2-8
Activity 3-1. Configure a Tag, and View the Tag Configuration
Parameters and Tag Values .......................................................................3-40
Activity 4-1. Use the HMI G Wizard ...............................................................................4-8
Activity 4-2. Import a Graphic Image into BridgeVIEW...............................................4-13
Activity 4-3. Read a Tag.................................................................................................4-20
Activity 5-1. Build an Alarm Summary Display ..............................................................5-3
Activity 6-1. Use the Historical Data VIs.........................................................................6-6
Activity 6-2. Use the Historical Trend Viewer...............................................................6-15
Activity 7-1. Use the Panel G Wizard ..............................................................................7-3
Activity 7-2. Use Tag Attributes.....................................................................................7-10
Activity 7-3. Apply Security to the Alarm Summary Display .......................................7-23
Activity 9-1. Create a VI...................................................................................................9-6
Activity 9-2. Document a VI ..........................................................................................9-10
Activity 9-3. Create an Icon and Connector ...................................................................9-16
Activity 9-4. Call a SubVI ..............................................................................................9-19
Activity 9-5. Debug a VI in BridgeVIEW......................................................................9-21
Activity 10-1. Use Setup Options for a SubVI.................................................................10-2
Activity 11-1. Experiment with Chart Modes .................................................................11-3
Activity 11-2. Use a While Loop and a Chart .................................................................11-4
Activity 11-3. Change the Mechanical Action of a Boolean Switch...............................11-8
Activity 11-4. Control Loop Timing................................................................................11-9
Activity 11-5. Use a Shift Register................................................................................11-13
Activity 11-6. Create a Multiplot Chart and Customize Your Trends...........................11-17
Activity 11-7. Use a For Loop.......................................................................................11-22
Activity 12-1. Use the Case Structure .............................................................................12-2
Activity 12-2. Use a Sequence Structure.........................................................................12-5
Activity 12-3. Use the Formula Node............................................................................12-13
Activity 14-1. Create an Array with Auto-Indexing........................................................14-3
Activity 14-2. Use Auto-Indexing on Input Arrays.........................................................14-7
Activity 14-3. Use the Build Array Function ................................................................14-15
Activity 14-4. Use the Graph and Analysis VIs ............................................................14-20
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About This Manual
The BridgeVIEW User Manual contains the information you need to get
started with the BridgeVIEW software package. This manual explains the
BridgeVIEW environment, tag configuration, human machine interfaces,
alarms and events, and historical data logging and extraction. This manual
also reviews the concepts of G programming.
Throughout both sections of this manual, there are activities that teach
you what you need to know to build your own virtual instruments, and
ultimately, your own SCADA system. This manual assumes that you
know how to operate your computer and that you are familiar with its
operating system.
Organization of This Manual
This manual is divided into two parts. Part I, BridgeVIEW Concepts,
introduces you to the basic BridgeVIEW concepts, and includes Chapters 1
through 8. Part II, G Tutorial, describes the G programming language, and
how it works within BridgeVIEW, and includes Chapters 9 through 15.
We encourage you to work through all the activities in this manual before
create with the BridgeVIEW activities in the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory. To view the VI(s) for an activity that you have not completed
yourself, see the BridgeVIEW\Activity\Solutionsdirectory for the
manual, and the BridgeVIEW\Activity\Solutiondirectory for the
BridgeVIEW Concepts
Part I, BridgeVIEW Concepts, contains the following chapters.
•
to Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition (SCADA). It also contains system configuration,
installation instructions and basic information that explains how
to start using BridgeVIEW to develop industrial automation
applications.
•
Chapter 2, BridgeVIEW Environment, describes the BridgeVIEW
environment. It explains the basic concepts behind G, the
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BridgeVIEW Engine Manager, system errors and events, the Tag
Monitor utility, and the Tag Browser utility. This chapter also explains
that illustrates how to examine the front panel and block diagram of a
virtual instrument (VI).
•
•
Editor, and how you edit tags within the BridgeVIEW system.
Chapter 4, Human Machine Interface, explains what a Human
from your HMI.
•
•
Chapter 5, Alarms and Events, introduces the basic concepts of alarms
and events, and explains how to view, acknowledge, and configure
Chapter 6, Historical Data Logging and Extraction, explains the
concept of a trend, how to log and extract historical data, and how to
use the Historical Trend Viewer (HTV), a utility that displays historical
data that has been logged to disk with BridgeVIEW.
•
•
Chapter 7, Advanced Application Topics, explains the advanced topics
you need to understand to make optimum use of BridgeVIEW for
developing applications. The advanced topics covered in this chapter
are the Panel G Wizard, BridgeVIEW System Control, Tag Attributes
VIs, and BridgeVIEW Security.
BridgeVIEW supports several types of servers including OPC Servers,
G Tutorial
•
Chapter 9, Creating VIs, introduces the basic concepts of virtual
and connector, how to use a VI as a subVI, how to use the VI Setup…
option, and how to use the SubVI Node Setup… option.
•
•
Chapter 10, Customizing VIs, introduces the basic concepts used for
customizing VIs.
Chapter 11, Loops and Charts, introduces structures and explains
the basic concepts of charts, the While Loop, and the For Loop.
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•
Chapter 12, Case and Sequence Structures and the Formula Node,
introduces the basic concepts of Case and Sequence structures, and
provides activities that explain how to use the Case structure, how
how to use them.
•
•
•
Chapter 13, Front Panel Object Attributes, describes objects called
appearance and functional characteristics of controls and indicators.
Chapter 14, Arrays, Clusters, and Graphs, introduces the basic
concepts of polymorphism, arrays, clusters, and graphs and provides
Chapter 15, Application Control, introduces the VI Server and
provides an activity that explains how to use it within BridgeVIEW.
The VI Server allows you to control when a VI is loaded into memory,
run, and unloaded from memory.
•
Chapter 16, Program Design, suggests some techniques to use when
creating programs and offers programming style recommendations.
Appendices, Glossary, and Index
•
Appendix A, HMI Function Reference, describes error handling
for BridgeVIEW VIs and contains an explanation of the VIs in the
BridgeVIEW VI library. In this appendix, the VIs are arranged
Historical Data, System, Tags, and Tag Attributes), then by VI name.
•
•
Appendix B, Citadel and Open Database Connectivity, describes the
Citadel database and the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver,
Appendix C, Customer Communication, contains forms to help
you gather the information necessary to help us solve your
the product documentation.
•
•
The Glossary contains an alphabetical list of terms used in this
manual, including abbreviations, acronyms, metric prefixes,
mnemonics, and symbols.
The Index contains an alphabetical list of key terms and topics in
this manual, including the page where you can find each one.
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Conventions Used in This Manual
The following conventions are used in this manual:
bold
Bold text denotes a parameter, menu name, palette name, menu item,
return value, function panel item, or dialog box button or option.
italic
Italic text denotes mathematical variables, emphasis, a cross reference,
or an introduction to a key concept.
bold italic
Bold italic text denotes an activity objective, note, caution, or warning.
monospace
Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should literally enter
from the keyboard. Sections of code, programming examples, and syntax
examples also appear in this font. This font also is used for the proper
names of disk drives, paths, directories, programs, subprograms,
subroutines, device names, variables, filenames, and extensions, and
for statements and comments taken from program code.
monospace bold
Bold text in this font denotes the messages and responses that the computer
automatically prints to the screen. This font also emphasizes lines of code
that are different from the other examples.
monospace italic
Italic text in this font denotes that you must enter the appropriate words or
values in the place of these items.
<>
-
Angle brackets enclose the name of a key on the keyboard—for example,
<PageDown>.
A hyphen between two or more key names enclosed in angle brackets
denotes that you should simultaneously press the named keys—for
example, <Control-Alt-Delete>.
<Control>
Key names are capitalized.
»
The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options
to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options»Substitute
Fonts directs you to pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item,
select Options, and finally select the Substitute Fonts option from the last
dialog box.
paths
Paths in this manual are denoted with backslashes (\) to separate drive
names, directories, and files, as in C:\dir1name\dir2name\filename.
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About This Manual
This icon to the left of bold text denotes the beginning of an activity, which
contains step-by-step instructions you can follow to learn more about
BridgeVIEW.
This icon to the left of bold text denotes the end of an activity, which
contains step-by-step instructions you can follow to learn more about
BridgeVIEW.
This icon to the left of bold italicized text denotes a note, which alerts you
to important information.
Abbreviations, acronyms, metric prefixes, mnemonics, symbols, and terms
are listed in the Glossary.
Related Documentation
The following documents contains information that you might find helpful
as you read this manual:
•
G Programming Reference Manual
•
BridgeVIEW Online Reference, available online by selecting
Help»Online Reference
Customer Communication
National Instruments wants to receive your comments on our products
and manuals. We are interested in the applications you develop with our
products, and we want to help if you have problems with them. To make it
easy for you to contact us, this manual contains comment and configuration
forms for you to complete. These forms are in Appendix C, Customer
Communication, at the end of this manual.
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Part I
BridgeVIEW Concepts
configuration, Human Machine Interface, alarms and events, historical data
logging and extraction, servers, and advanced application topics such as
system control and security.
Part I, BridgeVIEW Concepts, contains the following chapters.
•
to Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition (SCADA). It also contains system configuration,
installation instructions and basic information that explains how
to usestart using BridgeVIEW to develop industrial automation
applications.
•
Chapter 2, BridgeVIEW Environment, describes the BridgeVIEW
environment. It explains the basic concepts behind G, the
BridgeVIEW Engine Manager, system errors and events, the Tag
Monitor utility, and the Tag Browser utility. This chapter also explains
how to access online help for BridgeVIEW and provides an activity
that illustrates how to examine the front panel and block diagram of a
•
Chapter 3, Tag Configuration, explains tags, the Tag Configuration
Editor, and how you edit tags within the BridgeVIEW system. Before
configuration.
•
•
Chapter 4, Human Machine Interface, explains what a Human
Machine Interface (HMI) is and how you can monitor and control tags
from your HMI.
Chapter 5, Alarms and Events, introduces the basic concepts of alarms
and events, and explains how to view, acknowledge, and configure
them within the BridgeVIEW system.
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•
•
Chapter 6, Historical Data Logging and Extraction, explains the
concept of a trend, how to log and extract historical data, and how to
use the Historical Trend Viewer (HTV), a utility that displays historical
data that has been logged to disk with BridgeVIEW.
Environment Securitythe advanced topics you need to understand to
make optimum use of BridgeVIEW for developing applications. The
advanced topics covered in this chapter are the Panel G Wizard,
BridgeVIEW System Control, Tag Attributes VIs, and BridgeVIEW
Security.
•
Chapter 8, Servers, explains how to use servers with BridgeVIEW.
BridgeVIEW supports several types of servers including OPC Servers,
DDE Servers, and IA Device Servers.
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1
Introduction
This chapter describes the unique BridgeVIEW approach to
Human Machine Interface (HMI) and Supervisory Control and Data
Acquisition (SCADA). It also contains system configuration, installation
instructions, and basic information that explains how to start using
BridgeVIEW to develop industrial automation applications. This chapter
refers you to other chapters or manuals for more information.
Welcome to BridgeVIEW
BridgeVIEW adds real-time process monitoring, historical trending, alarm
and event reporting, online configuration tools and PLC connectivity to a
premiere graphical development environment, G.
BridgeVIEW makes use of an intuitive graphical user interface combined
with a powerful graphical programming language, G, that enables you to
perform data acquisition and analysis, create an operator interface or
Human Machine Interface (HMI), and develop advanced supervisory
control applications.
BridgeVIEW provides the following features for the development of your
Industrial Automation applications.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Graphical human-machine interface (HMI)
Easy-to-use, fill in the blank configuration utilities
Graphical programming tools
Real-Time Database (RTDB)
Historical data collection and trending (Citadel)
Alarm and event reporting and logging
Security
Connectivity to PLC and industrial device networks
OPC Server Support
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Chapter 1
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Required System Configuration
BridgeVIEW is distributed on a CD-ROM that includes the complete
BridgeVIEW 2.0 release.
The Windows 95/NT version of BridgeVIEW runs on any system that
supports Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0. A minimum of 24 MB of RAM
is required for this version to run effectively. We recommend 32 MB of
RAM and at least 30 MB of swap space available on your system.
Note
The standard BridgeVIEW installation requires approximately 110 MB of disk
space. A full installation requires approximately 150 MB. If you plan to install the
NI-DAQ Server as well, an additional 30 MB of disk space is required.
Installation
Complete the following steps to install BridgeVIEW.
1. Insert the CD in your CD-ROM drive.
2. Run the BridgeVIEW installer.
a. If you have Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 and your system
uses the AutoPlay feature, the Welcome to BridgeVIEW screen
appears a short time after you insert the CD.
b. If you have a system not using AutoPlay, run the following
program:
X:\bvsetup.exe
where Xis the letter of your CD-ROM drive.
3. Choose an installation. The installer offers several installation types:
Standard, Full, Minimum, and Custom. The Standard installation
requires approximately 110 MB. The Full installation, which also
includes Data Acquisition, GPIB, and VISA libraries and examples,
requires approximately 150 MB of disk space. The Standard
installation is recommended.
4. After selecting an installation, follow the instructions that appear on
your screen.
Note
If you plan to use National Instruments Data Acquisition (DAQ) devices, VISA, or
GPIB instrumentation, you can perform either the Full installation, which installs
all necessary drivers and example programs, or the Custom installation, in which
you select the items to install.
After you have installed BridgeVIEW completely, it is ready to run.
You might need to re-boot your machine after installation so that updated
system, DAQ, VISA, or GPIB drivers can be loaded properly.
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Chapter 1
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What Is BridgeVIEW?
BridgeVIEW is a software package specifically targeted at industrial
automation applications. BridgeVIEW provides configurable solutions for
common HMI and SCADA functions while leveraging the flexibility of
graphical programming. BridgeVIEW is built around the G programming
language, created by National Instruments Corporation.
With BridgeVIEW, you can acquire data and control one or more
distributed devices in an overall facility. BridgeVIEW can change set points
or send control instructions to the individual devices while monitoring the
entire system. It also can gather information like alarms and measurement
points from these devices.
Common devices used for data acquisition include Programmable Logic
Controllers (PLCs), plug-in Data Acquisition boards, and other distributed
Input/Output (I/O) modules. BridgeVIEW device servers communicate
with these non-plug-in devices through RS-232, RS-485, TCP/IP, DDE,
netDDE, direct I/O, or other proprietary interfaces. BridgeVIEW device
servers provide the necessary protocol software to communicate with
these devices. BridgeVIEW also operates directly with OPC servers.
How Does BridgeVIEW Work?
BridgeVIEW uses a combination of tags, events, and data. A tag is a
happens to a tag or to the BridgeVIEW Engine in general. The
BridgeVIEW Engine communicates with device servers on one end,
and with your HMI application at the other end. The BridgeVIEW
Engine maintains a Real-Time Database (RTDB) of tag information and
logs historical data and events. You can build your HMI to interface with
the BridgeVIEW Engine using virtual instruments (VIs) to read and write
tag values, view alarm information and trend data. A virtual instrument is
a BridgeVIEW function, written in the graphical programming language G.
For more information about G, see any of the chapters in the G Tutorial
section of this manual.
Start by configuring all the tags in your system with the Tag Configuration
Editor. Then, you can launch the BridgeVIEW Engine, which reads your
can create your HMI application to display tag values, trends, and alarms.
You also can acknowledge alarms and control output tags. You can build
the HMI using BridgeVIEW VIs to read and write tag values, view alarm
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Chapter 1
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information, acknowledge alarms, view real-time trends and retrieve
historical data. For more information about how to get started with
BridgeVIEW, see the Where Should I Start? section at the end of this
chapter.
G Programming
G is the easy-to-use graphical data flow programming language
BridgeVIEW is based upon. G simplifies scientific computation,
process monitoring and control, test and measurement, and a wide
variety of other applications.
G was first introduced by National Instruments as the programming
language behind LabVIEW, the program development application used
commonly for test and measurement purposes. BridgeVIEW has taken all
the functionality of G and enhanced it for your industrial automation needs.
The G Tutorial section of this manual covers the functionality of G that you
need to get started with most BridgeVIEW applications. For a more
extensive explanation of BridgeVIEW functionality, see the
G Programming Reference Manual.
The basic concepts of G that are covered in this manual are as follows:
•
the block diagram, and the icon/connector. The front panel specifies
executable code that you create using nodes, terminals, and wires.
With the icon/connector, you can use a VI as a subVI in the block
diagram of another VI. For more information about VIs, refer to
Chapter 9, Creating VIs, and Chapter 10, Customizing VIs.
•
Loops and Charts—G has two structures to repeat execution of a
border of the loop structure. The While Loop executes as long as the
number of times. Charts are used to display real-time trend information
to the operator. For more information about loops and charts, refer to
•
Case and Sequence Structures—The Case structure is a conditional
branching control structure, which executes a subdiagram based on
executes its subdiagrams in numeric order. For more information about
Case or Sequence structures, refer to Chapter 12, Case and Sequence
Structures and the Formula Node.
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•
•
Attribute Nodes—Attribute nodes are special block diagram nodes that
you can use to control the appearance and functional characteristics of
refer to Chapter 13, Front Panel Object Attributes.
Arrays, Clusters and Graphs—An array is a resizable collection of
of data elements of the same or different types. Graphs commonly are
used to display data. For more information about arrays, clusters, and
graphs, refer to Chapter 14, Arrays, Clusters, and Graphs.
•
VI Server—The VI Server allows you to control when a VI is loaded
into memory, run, and unloaded from memory. For more information
about VI Control VIs, refer to Chapter 15, Application Control.
Tag Configuration
A tag value is acquired and/or controlled by a device server that
communicates with the BridgeVIEW Engine and can be read or set by
a VI in your HMI application. Tags can be of the following types: input,
output, Input/Output, or memory. You can configure tags through the
Tag Configuration Editor. A tag configuration consists of its data type,
connection, scaling, operations, and alarms settings. For more information
about this topic, refer to Chapter 3, Tag Configuration.
Data Type
A tag data type can be analog, discrete, bit array, or string. Analog tags
have continuous values with a specified range (such as 0.0 to 100.0).
Discrete tags have values that are either ON (1) or OFF (0). Bit array tags
are comprised of up to 32 bits, each of which can have an ON (1) or OFF (0)
state. String tags consist of ASCII characters or binary data and can be of
any length.
General
General includes the following tag attributes:
•
•
•
•
Tag name
Tag description
Tag group
Length (for bit array and string tags)
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Connection
Connection includes the following tag attributes:
•
•
•
•
•
Access rights (input only, output only, Input/Output, or memory)
Server name
I/O group name
Item name
Access path (for OPC servers)
Scaling
Scaling controls the type of scaling to perform on a tag when
communicating with a device server, and the expected engineering
range and units for the tag.
Operations
You can specify how the BridgeVIEW Engine updates the Real-Time
Database (RTDB), when it logs the tag data to disk, if it logs events
associated with the tag, and what value exists in the database at startup.
The operations that can be performed on a tag are as follows:
•
•
•
•
Updating the Real-Time Database
Historical logging
Event logging
Event printing
Alarms
An alarm is an abnormal process condition. For example, an analog
tag can be configured to be in a HI alarm state when its value is greater
than 25. You can set alarm limits for a tag in the Tag Configuration Editor.
Each alarm limit has a priority associated with it to determine the severity
of the alarm.
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Events
An event is something that happens within the BridgeVIEW system.
Events can be divided into two groups: those that pertain to individual
tags and those that pertain to the overall BridgeVIEW system. Events
pertaining to tags include the following:
•
•
•
A tag going in or out of alarm
An operator changing the value of a tag
An operator acknowledging an alarm
Events pertaining to the system include the following:
•
•
•
The launching or shutting down of the Engine
A new operator logging on
An error from a server
The Engine also maintains alarm summary and event history information
pertaining to tags. This information can be viewed by the user’s HMI and/or
be logged to disk.
Historical Data Logging and Extraction
Citadel Historical Database. A trend is a view of data over time. Trends can
be real-time (current data) or historical (logged data). You can view logged
data with a user interface (HMI) or with the Historical Trend Viewer
(HTV). For more information about historical data logging and extraction
or the Citadel Historical Database, see Chapter 6, Historical Data Logging
and Extraction, or Appendix B, Citadel and Open Database Connectivity.
Security
Environment security is built into BridgeVIEW and determines access to
certain parts of the BridgeVIEW environment. BridgeVIEW security is
broken into two general categories:
•
•
BridgeVIEW Environment Access Privileges
Operator Interface Security
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Chapter 1
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What Is the BridgeVIEW System Architecture?
The BridgeVIEW system contains three sets of processes: the user HMI
Application, the BridgeVIEW Engine, and industrial automation device
servers, as shown in Figure 1-1. These processes interact through a
client-server relationship.
HMIs
Real-Time Database
Servers
VIs
Tags
• EU Scaling
• Alarming
BridgeVIEW
Engine
• Event/Alarm Logging
• Trending
PLC
DAQ
OPC Other (including DDE)
Figure 1-1. BridgeVIEW Architecture
The BridgeVIEW Engine, with any device servers, runs as a separate
process independent of your HMI application. Your HMI application is
built as a collection of VIs developed using the G programming language.
BridgeVIEW maintains a high performance Real-Time Database in
the BridgeVIEW Engine that provides information to client applications.
The BridgeVIEW Engine also performs other functions including
the following:
•
•
•
Data acquisition, engineering unit (EU) scaling, and alarm processing
Alarm and event logging
Historical data collection and trending
EU scaling converts the Raw Range value from the device server to the
engineering value used in the user application and vice versa.
User HMI Application
The end user of the BridgeVIEW system sees and interacts with an
HMI. The HMI application is a collection of VIs that you build with the
G programming language in BridgeVIEW. You build VIs that interact
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with the BridgeVIEW Engine to read and write tag values, acknowledge
alarms, access historical data, and read and write tag attributes.
BridgeVIEW makes development of operator graphic displays easy and
fast. Floating palettes provide controls and functions necessary to develop
effective HMI and SCADA applications. The Controls palette provides a
for building your HMI. The Functions palette provides a set of functions
and VIs you can use for I/O, analysis, historical data, and networking.
BridgeVIEW Engine
The BridgeVIEW Engine is the heart of the BridgeVIEW System. It runs as
a separate process, independent of your HMI application. This minimizes
interference between the Engine and your HMI. The BridgeVIEW Engine
maintains the Real-Time Database of all tag values and alarm states. It
reads values from the various device servers. These values are scaled and
compared with their alarm limits. If a tag is in an alarm state, the Engine
generates appropriate events and logs them to disk.
The Real-Time Database (RTDB) is an in-memory snapshot of the state of
or its alarm state changes, the RTDB is updated. Along with tag values, the
RTDB also stores status, date, time, and alarm information.
Device Servers
A device server is the application that communicates with the I/O devices
such as PLCs and plug-in cards. Several National Instruments device
servers are written to a National Instruments standard client/server
Application Programming Interface (API) for the BridgeVIEW
Engine. BridgeVIEW also communicates with OPC and DDE Servers.
There are different servers for different device manufacturers and
communication networks.
The device servers that support the BridgeVIEW Engine are stand-alone
programs launched by the BridgeVIEW Engine, and thereafter run in the
background, reading selected input items and writing them on demand.
Each server either is configured by BridgeVIEW when tags are created,
or has a specific configuration utility that determines communication
parameters, I/O poll rates, and device addresses. A server completes
operation only when the BridgeVIEW Engine shuts down.
Input items are polled by servers at a rate determined by the BridgeVIEW
I/O group configuration. For each input item, the device server passes
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the value, the timestamp of when the item was sampled, and status
information to the BridgeVIEW Engine. Output items are written on
demand only when the BridgeVIEW Engine passes a new output
value to the server.
The device server monitors the items and encapsulates all device and
hardware-specific details, thereby providing a hardware- and
software-independent layer to the user HMI and SCADA application.
For more information about device servers, see Chapter 8, Servers.
Where Should I Start?
The following table lists what is included in the different installation types.
Installation
Type
Includes
Minimum
Tag Configuration Editor, basic security tools,
core VI libraries
Standard
Full
Tag Configuration Editor, all security tools,
Historical Trend Viewer, Tag Browser, Tag
Monitor, core VI libraries, advanced analysis
libraries, online help, activities, and graphics files
Tag Configuration Editor, all security tools,
Historical Trend Viewer, Tag Browser,
Tag Monitor, core VI libraries, advanced
analysis libraries, online help, activities,
graphics files, Instrument Wizard, DAQ, GPIB,
and VISA libraries
Custom
Select which utilities and libraries to install.
We recommend that you work through the activities in this manual.
These activities comprehensively illustrate how BridgeVIEW works.
If you are new to the G programming language, begin with the activities
in Chapters 9 through 16, and then continue with those in Chapters 2
through 8. If you are an experienced G programmer, begin with Chapter 2
and continue through the entire manual so that you might learn the
important BridgeVIEW concepts, and review any G programming
techniques that you might be familiar with already.
Save all of the VIs you create with the BridgeVIEW activities in the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory. There is also a Solution directory
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(BridgeVIEW\Activity\Solutions) that contains the completed VIs
for each activity in this manual. You can view the VI for an activity that
you have not completed yet, or use the VIs in this directory as a means
of verifying your work.
Another good place to start is the Examplesdirectory. Use the VI called
readme.vi, at the top level of this directory, to browse through the
available examples.
If you are going to use device servers, including OPC servers, read
Chapter 8, Servers, which contains important information about servers,
including what you need to develop your own device servers.
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2
BridgeVIEW Environment
This chapter describes the BridgeVIEW environment. It explains
the basic concepts behind G, the programming language upon which
BridgeVIEW is built, the BridgeVIEW Engine Manager, system errors
and events, the Tag Monitor utility, and the Tag Browser utility. This
chapter also explains how to access online help for BridgeVIEW and
provides an activity that illustrates how to examine the front panel
and block diagram of a virtual instrument (VI).
What Is G?
G is a programming language, much like various commercial C or BASIC
development languages. However, G is different from those applications
in one important respect. Other programming languages are text-based
languages that create lines of code, while G is a graphical programming
language that creates programs in block diagram form.
You can use G with little programming experience. G engineers and
programmers rely on graphical symbols and data flow rather than textual
language to describe programming actions. Data flow is a programming
system in which nodes execute when they have received all required input
data, and produce output automatically when they have executed.
G has extensive libraries of functions and subroutines for most
programming tasks. BridgeVIEW includes conventional program
development tools for G, so you can set breakpoints, animate program
execution to see how data passes through the program, and single-step
through the diagram to make debugging and program development easier.
How Does G Work?
G includes libraries of functions and development tools designed
specifically for HMI development, data acquisition, and instrument
appearance and operation imitate actual instruments. However, they are
analogous to functions in conventional programming languages.
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BridgeVIEW Environment
Virtual Instruments
VIs have both an interactive user interface and a source code equivalent,
and accept parameters from higher-level VIs. VIs have three main parts:
•
The front panel
•
•
The block diagram
The icon/connector
With these features, G promotes and adheres to the concept of modular
programming. You divide an application into a series of tasks, which
you can divide again until a complicated application becomes a series
of simple subtasks. You build a VI to accomplish each subtask and then
combine those VIs on another block diagram to accomplish the larger task.
Finally, your top-level VI contains a collection of subVIs that represent
application functions.
application, debugging is much easier. Furthermore, many low-level
subVIs often perform tasks common to several applications, so you can
develop a specialized set of subVIs and reuse them in different applications.
For more information about VIs, see Chapter 9, Creating VIs, and
Chapter 10, Customizing VIs, in this manual, or refer to the
G Programming Reference Manual.
Front Panel
VIs contain an interactive user interface, which is called the front panel,
because it simulates the panel of a physical device. The front panel can
contain knobs, push buttons, graphs, and other controls and indicators.
You input data using a keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or other device
and then view the results on the computer screen.
The front panel contains a toolbar of command buttons and status indicators
that you use for running and debugging VIs. It also contains font options
and alignment and distribution options for editing VIs. Pictures of the front
panel toolbar, and its buttons, are shown below.
Continuous Run button—Runs the VI over and over; useful for
debugging.
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Stop button—Aborts VI execution.
Pause/Continue button—Pauses VI execution/Continues VI execution.
Font ring—Sets font options, including font type, size, style, and color.
Alignment ring—Sets alignment options, including vertical, top edge, left,
and so on, for two or more objects.
Distribution ring—Sets distribution options, including gaps,
compression, and so on, for two or more objects.
Reorder ring—Allows you to restack overlapping objects by moving a
selected object above or below the others.
Block Diagram
VIs are executed from a block diagram, which you construct in G. The
block diagram supplies a pictorial solution to a programming problem.
The block diagram contains the source code for the VI.
The block diagram toolbar contains additional options that are not included
on the front panel toolbar. Use these additional options for debugging VIs.
The block diagram toolbar is shown below.
Highlight Execution button—Displays data as it passes through wires.
Step Into button—Steps into loops, subVIs, and so on.
Step Over button—Begins single stepping, steps over a loop, subVI,
and so on.
Step Out button—Completes execution of loops, VIs, block diagrams,
and so on.
Icon/Connector
programs, or as subprograms within other programs. A VI within another
VI is called a subVI. The icon/connector pane of a VI works like a
graphical parameter list so that other VIs can pass data to it as a subVI.
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BridgeVIEW Environment
Tools Palette
BridgeVIEW has a floating Tools palette, which you can use to edit and
debug VIs. You use the <Tab> key to tab through the commonly used tools
on the palette. If you have closed the Tools palette, select Windows»Show
Tools Palette to display the palette. A shortcut for bringing up the Tools
palette is to right click while pressing the <Shift> key. The following
illustration shows the Tools palette.
Operating tool—Places Controls and Functions palette items on the front
panel and block diagram.
Positioning tool—Positions, resizes, and selects objects.
Labeling tool—Edits text and creates free labels.
Wiring tool—Wires objects together in the block diagram.
Object pop-up menu tool—Brings up a pop-up menu for an object.
Scroll tool—Scrolls through the window without using the scrollbars.
Breakpoint tool—Sets breakpoints on VIs, functions, loops, sequences,
and cases.
Probe tool—Creates probes on wires.
Color Copy tool—Copies colors for pasting with the Color tool.
Color tool—Sets foreground and background colors.
Note
You can pop up on an object by clicking on it with the right mouse button.
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Controls Palette
The Controls palette consists of a graphical, floating palette that opens
when you launch BridgeVIEW. You use this palette to place controls
and indicators on the front panel of a VI. Each top-level icon contains
subpalettes. If the Controls palette is not visible, you can open it by
selecting Windows»Show Controls Palette from the front panel menu.
You also can right-click, or pop up, on an open area in the front panel to
access a temporary copy of the Controls palette. The Controls palette is
available only when the front panel is the active window. The following
illustration displays the top-level of the Controls palette.
Functions Palette
The Functions palette consists of a graphical, floating palette that opens
automatically when you switch to the block diagram. You use this palette
to place nodes (constants, indicators, VIs, and so on) on the block diagram
of a VI. Each top-level icon contains subpalettes.
If the Functions palette is not visible, you can select Windows»Show
Functions Palette from the block diagram menu to display it. You can
also pop up on an open area in the block diagram to access the Functions
palette. The Functions palette is available only when the block diagram is
the active window. The following illustration displays the top-level of the
Functions palette.
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Controls and Indicators
Controls and indicators in G are similar to input and output parameters
or graphs in traditional programming languages. BridgeVIEW contains
a variety of controls and indicators that you can choose according to the
kind of values or quantities you want to evaluate or display.
You can configure all the controls and indicators using options from their
pop-up menus. Popping up on individual components of controls and
indicators displays menus for customizing those components. To access
the pop-up menu, right-click on any object that has a pop-up menu.
The primary data types you use in BridgeVIEW applications—numeric,
Boolean, string, and tag, are described in the following sections.
Numeric
You use numeric controls to enter numeric quantities, while numeric
indicators display numeric quantities. The two most commonly used
numeric objects are the digital control and the digital indicator, shown
below. You can find these controls and indicators in the Numeric
subpalette of the Controls palette.
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Label
Increment Buttons
Digital Control
Digital Indicator
Label
Boolean
You use Boolean controls and indicators for entering and displaying
Boolean (TRUE/FALSE) values. Boolean objects simulate switches,
buttons, and LEDs. The most commonly used Boolean objects are
the vertical switch and the round LED, shown below, found in the
Boolean subpalette.
String
You use string controls and indicators for entering and displaying ASCII
characters. You can use strings for simple text messages displayed to the
user and for character streams sent to serial devices, instruments, or files.
You can find the string control and indicator in Controls»String
Table Tags. You can enter or change text inside a string control using
the Operating tool or the Labeling tool. Enlarge string controls and
indicators by dragging a corner with the Positioning tool.
If you want to minimize space that a front panel string control or indicator
occupies, select Show»Scrollbar. If this option is dimmed, you must
increase the vertical size of the window to make it available.
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Tag
You use tag controls and indicators for entering and displaying tag names
or group names contained in the loaded tag configuration (.scf) file.
You can find tag controls and indicators in Controls»String Table Tags.
For more information about the tag data type, see the section Tag Data
Type, in Chapter 4, Human Machine Interface.
Activity 2-1. Open and Run a VI
Your objective is to familiarize yourself with the basic concepts of virtual
instruments. You will open, examine, and operate the front panel and
block diagram of a VI.
1. Select File»Open, and open Tank Simulation.vifrom the
BridgeVIEW\Examples\G Examples\Apps\tankmntr.llb.
The front panel appears as shown in the following illustration.
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2. Run the VI by clicking on the Run button in the toolbar. The button
changes appearance to indicate that the VI is running.
3. Use the Operating tool to change the values of the Inflow Rates and
other controls. First, highlight the old value, either by double-clicking
on the value you want to change, or by clicking and dragging across
the value with the Labeling tool. When the initial value is highlighted,
type a new value and press <Enter>. You also can click on the Enter
button in the toolbar, or click the mouse in an open area of the window
to enter the new value.
4. Stop the VI by clicking on the Stop button.
5. Open the block diagram of the Tank Simulator VI by choosing
Windows»Show Diagram.
The following illustration shows the block diagram.
6. Examine the different objects in the block diagram.
Every front panel in BridgeVIEW has an accompanying block
diagram, which is the VI equivalent of a program. Think of the block
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diagram as source code. The components of the block diagram
represent program nodes such as For Loops, Case structures, and
multiplication functions. The components are wired together to show
the flow of data within the block diagram.
The outermost structure in this diagram is the While Loop. It continues
to run until the power switch is turned off. The objects inside the loop
include functions and subVIs that generate simulated data that is
displayed on the historical trends and other objects on the front panel.
At this point, you do not need to understand all of the structures and
objects completely. Chapters 9 through 16 of this manual describe in
greater detail each element that appears in a VI.
7. Close the VI.
End of Activity 2-1.
BridgeVIEW Environment Project Menu
The BridgeVIEW system is comprised of the G programming language
and a collection of software tools designed specifically for industrial
automation applications. You can access these tools through the Project
menu in your BridgeVIEW system. Table 2-1 provides a brief description
of the items in the Project menu.
Table 2-1. BridgeVIEW Project Menu Items
Project Menu Item
Description
Configure BridgeVIEW
Startup
Opens a utility you can use to configure BridgeVIEW to start
particular VIs whenever you start BridgeVIEW.
Historical Trend Viewer
Launches the Historical Trend Viewer (HTV). You can use the
HTV to view historical data logged in the Citadel Historical
Database. For more information about the HTV, see Chapter 6,
Historical Data Logging and Extraction.
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Table 2-1. BridgeVIEW Project Menu Items (Continued)
Project Menu Item
Launch Engine
Description
Launches the BridgeVIEW Engine. The BridgeVIEW Engine
manages the Real-Time Database, communicates with device
logging. The BridgeVIEW Engine runs according to a
configuration file called a .scf(SCADA Configuration File)
file. You can create and edit .scffiles using the Tag
Configuration Editor. For more information about the
BridgeVIEW Engine, see the section What Is the BridgeVIEW
Engine Manager? in this chapter.
Security»Access Levels
Opens a utility you can use to add, remove, and modify access
levels in your BridgeVIEW system. If user accounts are defined in
list of access levels. For more information about security and
access levels, see Chapter 7, Advanced Application Topics.
Security»Change Password Opens a dialog box to change the current user password. You must
be logged in to change your password. For more information about
security and passwords, see Chapter 7, Advanced Application
Topics.
Security»Edit User
Accounts
Opens a utility you can use to create and edit user accounts in your
you must have Administration privileges to create and edit user
accounts. For more information about security and user accounts,
see Chapter 7, Advanced Application Topics.
Security»Login
Opens a dialog box you can use to log in to the system. For more
information about security, see Chapter 7, Advanced Application
Topics.
Security»Logout
Security»Privileges
Opens a dialog box you can use to log out of the system. For more
information about security, see Chapter 7, Advanced Application
Topics.
Opens a utility you can use to view your access privileges. For
more information about security and access levels, see Chapter 7,
Advanced Application Topics.
Server Tools»Server
Browser
Launches the Server Browser. You can use the Server Browser to
view information about the BridgeVIEW device servers. For more
information about the Server Browser, see Chapter 8, Servers.
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Table 2-1. BridgeVIEW Project Menu Items (Continued)
Project Menu Item
Description
Tag»Browser
Launches the Tag Browser. You can use the Tag Browser to view
information on all of the tags in the currently-loaded .scffile.
If the BridgeVIEW Engine is not running, you can use the Tag
Browser to load a different .scffile. For more information about
the Tag Browser, see the section What Is the Tag Browser? in
this chapter.
Tag»Configuration
Tag»Monitor
Launches the Tag Configuration Editor. You can use the Tag
Configuration Editor to define all of the tags in your BridgeVIEW
system. Also, you can configure other Engine parameters in the
Tag Configuration Editor. For more information about the Tag
Configuration Editor, see Chapter 3, Tag Configuration.
Launches the Tag Monitor. You can use the Tag Monitor to
monitor the value, alarm state, and status of all tags in the system,
as well as write the value to an output or input/output tag. The Tag
Monitor launches the BridgeVIEW Engine if it is not already
running. For more information on the Tag Monitor, see the What
Is the Tag Monitor? section in this chapter.
What Is the BridgeVIEW Engine Manager?
Database, the BridgeVIEW Engine launches automatically, opening either
the configuration (.scf) file you edited most recently or the one your
application selects programmatically.
Launching the BridgeVIEW Engine brings up the Engine Manager
display, shown in Figure 2-1. The Engine Manager is a window into the
BridgeVIEW Engine, through which you can control some of the behavior
of the BridgeVIEW Engine.
Figure 2-1. Engine Manager Display
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Table 2-2 provides a description of each of the fields in the Engine
Manager dialog box. This table provides basic information about the
Engine Manager dialog box options. For a more complete understanding
of how or why you might use the Engine Manager in a BridgeVIEW
application, you must understand how to configure tags. See Chapter 3,
Tag Configuration.
Table 2-2. Engine Manager Field Descriptions
Field
Description
Engine Status
Displays the current status of the BridgeVIEW Engine—whether launching,
running, or stopped.
Log Historical
Data
Turns on or off logging of historical data to file. This button is pressed
automatically if you selected Start logging on system start-up in your
configuration file. If you do not have a valid event log path configured,
or do not have a printer configured, this checkbox is disabled.
Log Events
Print Events
Turns on or off logging of alarms and events to file. This button is pressed
automatically if you selected Start event logging on system start-up in your
configuration file. If you do not have a valid event log path configured, this
checkbox is disabled.
Turns on or off printing of alarms and events to your line printer. This button
is pressed automatically if you selected Start printing on system start-up in
your configuration file. If you do not have a printer configured, this checkbox
is disabled.
Run/Stop Engine
Quit Engine
Starts the BridgeVIEW Engine, or stops the BridgeVIEW Engine and shuts
down any loaded servers.
Closes and exits the BridgeVIEW Engine process.
Enable Error
Dialog
Enables or disables the showing of the Error dialog box. If this box is checked,
a System Error Display dialog box pops up for you to acknowledge the event
when a system error occurs.
Server Browser
Launches the Server Browser Utility. With this utility, you can see the servers
in your system, including OPC servers; view server information; and display
the server front panel if the server is running (VI-based servers only).
Show/Hide
System Event
Display
Shows or hides the System Event Display.
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The Engine Manager shows the current state of the Engine, and has a
System Event Display that shows the following:
•
•
•
•
BridgeVIEW System Events
When the Engine started and stopped
Which servers have been launched
Any System Errors that have occurred
This information is written to the current BridgeVIEW System Log File,
found in the BridgeVIEW\Syslogfolder. Figure 2-2 shows how the
Engine Manager Display looks when the Show System Events Display
button is enabled.
Figure 2-2. Engine Manager with System Events Displayed
Once the BridgeVIEW Engine is launched and running, the Engine
Manager is minimized and appears in your Windows taskbar. Click on
the BridgeVIEW Engine icon in your taskbar to bring up the Engine
Manager display.
You can leave the BridgeVIEW Engine Manager display minimized unless
you want to start or stop the Engine, or start or stop historical logging, event
logging and printing, view system events, or view server information.
From the Engine Manager, you can reach the Server Browser utility, shown
in Figure 2-4, by pressing the Server Browser… button. With this
utility, you can see the servers in your system, view server information,
and display the server front panel if the server is running (VI-based
servers only).
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The Server Browser is shown in the following illustration. For more
information about device servers, see Chapter 8, Servers.
Figure 2-3. Server Browser
The Show Server User Interface button appears on the Server
Browser dialog box only when you invoke the Server Browser from
the Engine Manager.
If your application does not shut down within a few seconds after you
close the BridgeVIEW Engine Manager, BridgeVIEW displays a dialog
box notifying you to shut down your HMI application. You can ensure
your application shuts down when the Engine shuts down by monitoring
the shutdown output of any Tags or Alarms VI or the Engine Status VI
Machine Interface.
What Are System Errors and Events?
System errors are conditions on a system level (as opposed to a per tag
basis) that result in problematic functioning of the BridgeVIEW system.
When a system error occurs, BridgeVIEW prompts the user with a dialog
box. You can turn this dialog box on or off.
System events are changes in the system that cause a change in behavior
that is not problematic. These include events reported by utilities such as
the Tag Configuration Editor.
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Detailed system error and event messages are logged to a system log file.
The messages are written to an ASCII file with a .logextension in the
SYSLOGdirectory. BridgeVIEW automatically creates this directory, if
it does not exist already. The system log file names take the format,
and MM= minute.
What Is the Tag Browser?
With the Tag Browser utility, shown in Figure 2-4, you can view the
Tag Browser by selecting Project»Tag»Browser.
A list of all the configured tags appears in the listbox. Select a tag by
clicking on it, and the configuration for that tag displays on the right.
For more detailed tag configuration information or to learn how to edit
a tag configuration, see Chapter 3, Tag Configuration.
Figure 2-4. Tag Browser Utility
Table 2-4 describes each of the fields in the Tag Browser Utility dialog box.
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Table 2-3. Tag Browser Field Descriptions
Field
Description
Configuration File Displays the name of the configuration file you are browsing.
Browse
If the BridgeVIEW Engine is not running, press this button to select a
different configuration file.
Location
Displays the full path of the directory containing the configuration file you
are browsing.
Engine Status
Configured Tags
Displays the current state of the BridgeVIEW Engine, whether it is loaded,
running or stopped.
Displays the list of all tags currently configured. Click on a tag to display the
tag configuration on the right.
Edit
Edits the selected tag in the Tag Configuration Editor.
Name
Displays the name of the currently selected tag. Use this display to select and
copy the tag name and paste it into your HMI diagram.
Description
Type
Displays the description field for the currently selected tag.
Displays the type of the currently selected tag: analog, discrete bit array, or
string.
Access
Group
Server
I/O Group
Item
Displays the access rights for the currently selected tag: Memory, Input,
Output, or Input/Output.
Displays the group to which the selected tag belongs. If this field is blank, the
tag does not belong to a group.
Displays the name of the server connected to the currently selected tag.
If the tag is a memory tag, no server is associated with it.
Displays the name of the I/O group for the currently selected tag. If the tag is
a memory tag, no server or I/O group is associated with it.
Displays the name of the item connected to the selected tag. If the tag is a
memory tag, no server, I/O group, or item is associated with it.
Alarms Enabled
Auto Ack
Displays whether alarms are enabled for the selected tag.
Displays whether alarms for the selected tag are acknowledged automatically.
Full Scale
Displays the full scale engineering value for the tag. This is displayed for
analog tags only.
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Table 2-3. Tag Browser Field Descriptions (Continued)
Field
Description
Zero Scale
Displays the zero scale engineering value for the tag. This is displayed for
analog tags only.
Units
Displays the engineering unit for the tag. This is displayed for analog tags
only.
If the BridgeVIEW Engine is loaded, you can view the tags currently
loaded with the Tag Browser. If the BridgeVIEW Engine is not loaded, the
Tag Browser displays the currently loaded .scffile. Use the Browse…
button to change the .scffile.
The Tag Browser is a useful tool if you need to look at how a tag is
Tag Browser to change the loaded configuration file.
If you want to access the configuration information for a tag
programmatically, you can use the VIs in the Tag Attributes palette.
For more information about the Tag Attributes VIs, refer to Appendix A,
HMI Function Reference.
What Is the Tag Monitor?
state, and status for selected tags in the system, as well as write the value to
Project»Tag»Monitor. When you first launch the Tag Monitor, a tag
selection dialog box displays all the tags configured in the currently
selected tag configuration file. For more information about configuring
tags, refer to Chapter 3, Tag Configuration.
Figure 2-5 shows the Tag Monitor.
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Figure 2-5. Tag Monitor Utility
Note
Selecting the Tag Monitor from the Project menu automatically launches the
Tag information is shown in a table format, sorted by tag name. When a tag
has a non-zero tag status, the Status column indicates if the tag status is
Warningor Error.
Table 2-4 describes the fields and captions in the Tag Monitor Utility.
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Table 2-4. Tag Monitor Utility Field Descriptions
Field
Tag Display Table
Descriptions
Alphabetically lists the information for tags you have selected, including the
value, units, timestamp, status, alarm state and error, if any. For writable
tags, which have a yellow background, clicking on the tag's value field
brings up the Write to Tag dialog box, that lets you specify a new value for
that tag. For bit array tags, the radix of the input value must be the same as
that of the tag's value field in the Tag Display Table. Click OK to write the
value in Value to Input and exit the dialog box. Click Apply to write the
value in Value to Input and keep the dialog box open.
Trigger Tag
Displays which tag, if any, you have selected to trigger refreshing of the Tag
Display Table. If you selected a tag to trigger refreshing of the Tag Display
Table, the display refreshes when that tag changes value in the database, or
the monitor timeout period is exceeded, whichever occurs first.
Monitor Timeout
(sec)
Displays the time interval in seconds that the Tag Display Table is
configured to refresh or update. If no trigger tag is selected, the display
updates at this time interval. Otherwise, the Tag Display Table refreshes
when the tag changes or the timeout interval is exceeded, whichever
occurs first.
Status Details
Brings up the Status Details dialog box, shown in Figure 2-6, that displays
a summary of the status for each tag in the system.
Select Tags to
Monitor
Brings up the Select Tags to Monitor dialog box, shown in Figure 2-7, that
lets you select which tags to monitor and configure how often to refresh the
monitor display.
The Status Details dialog box, shown in Figure 2-6, displays a summary
of the status for each tag in the system. Tags that have a warning are
highlighted in blue, and tags in error are red. BridgeVIEW provides a
description of the error or warning when possible. Internal codes are
reported by BridgeVIEW; the Server Code is returned by the server
of the tag. Clicking on Status Details is equivalent to selecting
Tag Monitor»Status Details….
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Figure 2-6. Status Details Dialog Box
With the Select Tags to Monitor dialog box, shown in Figure 2-7, you can
select which tags to monitor and configure how often to refresh the monitor
display. The Available Tags list box shows the tags not displayed in the Tag
Display Table. By default, the timeout is set to 1.00 second. This controls
how often the Tag Display Table is refreshed. By default, no tag is selected
to trigger a refresh of the Tag Display Table. You can select a tag to trigger
a refresh of the Tag Display Table from the Trigger Tag Ring. Then, the Tag
Display Table refreshes each time that tag is updated in the database, or
when the timeout interval elapses, whichever occurs first. Clicking on
Select Tags to Monitor is equal to selecting Tag Monitor»Select Tags….
Figure 2-7. Select Tags to Monitor Dialog Box
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Select Tag Monitor»Preferences to bring up the Tag Monitor
Preferences dialog box, shown in Figure 2-8, which lets you choose how
certain types of tags are displayed. You can control how the displayed
precision for analog tags by modifying the Digits of Precision field. For bit
array tags, the values can be in binary, octal, or hexadecimal format. The
possible values for discrete tags can be 0 and 1 corresponding to Numeric
Value; or a set of user-customizable strings, one equivalent to TRUE and
the other to FALSE. Check the Monitor Same Tags in Next Session check
box to keep the same tag list for the next time you launch the Tag Monitor.
Figure 2-8. Tag Monitor Preferences Dialog Box
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How Do You Access Online Help?
Choose Help»Show Help. When you place one of the tools on a subVI
node, the Help window shows the icon for the subVI with wires attached
to each terminal. The following illustration shows an example of online
help. This is the Acknowledge Alarm VI from the Functions»Alarms &
Events subpalette.
Simple/Complex Help View
In the Help window, you can specify whether you want to display the
simple or complex view for block diagram objects.
Note
When you open the Help window, BridgeVIEW automatically defaults to the
simple help view.
In simple help view, BridgeVIEW displays only the required and
recommended inputs for VIs and functions. In complex help view,
BridgeVIEW displays the required, recommended, and optional inputs
for VIs and functions. It also displays the full path name of a VI.
To access the simple help view, press the Simple/Complex Diagram
Help switch or choose Help»Simple Help.
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In the Help window, required inputs appear in bold text, recommended
inputs appear in plain text, and optional inputs appear in gray text.
When designing your own VIs, you can specify which inputs are required,
recommended, or optional by popping up on an input or output on the
connector pane and selecting the correct option from the
This Connection Is submenu.
Links to Online Help Files
In the Help Window, you can click on the Online Help button to access
BridgeVIEW online help as well as help files you have created using a
help compiler. For more information on creating help files, see the section
Creating Your Own Help Files, in Chapter 5, Printing and Documenting
VIs in G, in the G Programming Reference Manual.
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Tag Configuration
This chapter describes tags, the Tag Configuration Editor, how
you edit tags within the BridgeVIEW system, and includes an activity that
BridgeVIEW application, you must specify a tag configuration.
What Is a Tag?
A tag is a data value in the BridgeVIEW Engine. Tags can be used to
monitor an I/O point, to store a result of a calculation based on other tags,
or to monitor a tag on another BridgeVIEW Engine. A memory tag is a tag
used for user-specified calculations, and a network tag is a tag remotely
connected to any type of tag on another BridgeVIEW Engine.
This section defines a tag in terms of its attributes and describes how tag
attributes affect Engine operations. You can define and configure tags with
the Tag Configuration Editor, described later in this chapter.
Tag Attributes
The BridgeVIEW Engine manages the Real-Time Database (RTDB) which
contains information about all the tags in the system. The Engine handles
the following tasks:
•
•
•
Communicates with device servers or other BridgeVIEW Engines
Scales tag values
Tracks alarms and events associated with tags, system errors and
events
•
Logs tag values, alarms, events and system messages to disk
You can customize these tasks by configuring each tag with the Tag
Configuration Editor. The Tag Configuration Editor displays five
categories of attributes for each tag: general information, connection,
operations, scaling, and alarms.
Operations, scaling, and alarms attributes describe how the Engine handles
a tag’s data. Each attribute can be further classified by the effect on a
running Engine from changing the attribute.
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General Attributes
General attributes include data type, maximum length for string and bit
array tags, and the name, description, and tag group of the tag. The
BridgeVIEW system supports four types of tags: analog, discrete, string,
and bit array. These types differ by the inclusion of attributes within the
operations, scaling, and alarm categories. The tag type is fixed when it is
created. You must use the tag name to identify a particular tag. For
information on how to configure the general attribute of a tag, see the
General section later in this chapter.
Connection Attributes
I/O connection attributes describe where the Engine sends or receives
values for the tag and how to access that data. These tags have access rights
of input, output or input/output. To configure the I/O connection attributes
of a tag, refer to the Connection section later in this chapter.
Memory tags are not connected to a real world I/O point. Memory tags
provide more complex monitoring, alarming, or control. For more
information about memory tags, see the What Is a Memory Tag? section
later in this chapter.
Operation Attributes
Operation attributes describe additional functionality that the Engine
performs on a tag or its values. These operations include tasks such as
setting initial values and enabling logging operations. To configure
the operation attributes of a tag, refer to the Operations section later in
this chapter.
Scaling Attributes
Scaling attributes describe what linear scaling function is applied to a tag's
value. Scaling is useful for converting the range of values from measured
units into a calculated range. Only analog (numeric) and Bit Array tags
have Scaling attributes. To configure scaling attributes of a tag, see the
Scaling section later in this chapter.
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Alarm Attributes
Alarm attributes describe abnormal process conditions for a given tag.
Alarms are useful for notifying users of abnormal conditions. For example,
if an analog tag measures the volume of a tank, a HI alarm can be used to
indicate that the tank is full and an operator must perform some action
and acknowledge this state before processing can proceed. For information
later in this chapter.
Static vs. Dynamic Attributes
Tag attributes are classified as either static or dynamic attributes. Static
the Tag Configuration Editor. A static attribute change is marked with
a solid diamond in the Tag Configuration Editor. Examples of static
attributes are general attributes and I/O connection attributes, such as
server, device, or item.
Configuration Editor can change a dynamic tag attribute in a running
Engine. A dynamic attribute change is marked with a hollow diamond in
the Tag Configuration Editor. Examples of dynamic attributes include
enabling logging operations, alarm attributes, and some scaling attributes.
For more information about dynamic tag attributes, see the Tag Attributes
VIs section of Chapter 7, Advanced Application Topics.
What Is the Tag Configuration Editor?
The Tag Configuration Editor is a tool that assists you in configuring all
the parameters of the BridgeVIEW Engine. The chief component of this
tool is the configuration of all tags in the system. Other configuration
components include Alarm and Event Logging, and Historical Logging.
To start the Tag Configuration Editor, select Project»Tag»
Configuration… from the menu bar of an open VI. Figure 3-1 shows
the Tag Configuration Editor with tanks.scfloaded.
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Figure 3-1. Tag Configuration Editor
The Tag Configuration Editor records all tag information and Engine
parameters and stores this information in a BridgeVIEW Configuration
File with the extension .scf(SCADA Configuration File). The
BridgeVIEW Engine reads this file to determine all of the configuration
parameters for execution. With the Tag Configuration Editor, you can
specify the following:
•
•
Tags used in the system
File paths for historical data and event logging
The .scffile does not contain any information about the VIs in your
HMI. In fact, it is not specific to a single user application. Multiple user
applications can run concurrently as long as they use the same set of tags.
When you launch the Tag Configuration Editor, the last opened .scffile
opens automatically.
Note
Only one .scffile can be loaded and running in the BridgeVIEW Engine
at a time.
If you edit a .scffile while the Engine is running and select Save or
Save As…, a dialog box confirms if you want to update the Engine
with your latest changes. If you want to update the Engine and any static
attributes have been changed, the Engine shuts down and restarts. If you
have changed only dynamic attributes in the .scffile, the Engine is
updated without restarting.
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Note
Communication between the BridgeVIEW Engine and any device server is
stopped temporarily when the Engine shuts down and restarts.
How Do You Create a Tag?
From the main panel of the Tag Configuration Editor, press one of the
following buttons: Create Analog Tag(s)…, Create Discrete Tag(s)…,
Create String Tag(s)…, or Create Bit Array Tag(s)…. A separate
within a given configuration (.scf) file. Select OK on the pop-up window
when you finish creating the new tag, or Create New Tag to finish creating
the new tag and create another tag of the same type. Any changes are not
written to disk until you select Save from the File menu. For step by step
instructions on using the Tag Configuration Editor to create a tag, see
Activity 3-1, later in this chapter.
How Do You Edit a Tag?
From the main panel of the Tag Configuration Editor, select one or more
tags from the tags listed and press the Edit Tag(s)... button. A separate
window displays the attributes for the tags you select, which you can then
edit. When you finish editing a tag, select OK to save your changes and
return to the main panel, Edit Next Tag to save your changes and go on
to the next tag, or Cancel to discard your changes and return to the main
panel. Selecting Cancel only cancels the changes made to the current tags.
Any changes you make are not permanent until you save the configuration
You also can use a spreadsheet to edit multiple tags. Use File»Export… to
export the tag information to a spreadsheet file, edit the fields, and then use
File»Import… to import the tag configuration information from the edited
spreadsheet file. For more information, see the section How Do You Use
Spreadsheet Files for Tag Configuration? in this chapter.
How Do You Delete a Tag?
To delete a tag from a configuration, select the tag(s) from the main panel
of the Tag Configuration Editor and press the Delete Tag(s) button, and
then save the SCF. Tags that will be deleted when you save the SCF are
marked with a trashcan symbol. The Delete Tag(s) button also serves as an
Undelete Tag(s) button if all selected tags have a trash can symbol. If you
decide you want to keep one or more deleted tags, select those tags and
press the Undelete Tag(s) button.
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Note
If you delete a tag and save the .scffile, the tag and its configuration information
are removed from the .scffile. You still can retrieve historical and event
information about the tag, but information such as the tag description, units,
range, and alarm settings is lost.
What are Network Tags?
BridgeVIEW makes it easy to create distributed applications so more than
one computer can be involved in an HMI application.
A BridgeVIEW server is a computer that allows tags configured in the
current .scffile to be accessed by other machines connected to the server
via a network. The server machine may or may not have an HMI running
Engine must use an.scffile that has the Allow Network Access option
enabled.
A BridgeVIEW client is a computer that gets its data through tags from one
or more BridgeVIEW servers. Tags remotely accessed from BridgeVIEW
servers are network tags. An .scffile for a BridgeVIEW client can have
network tags from multiple BridgeVIEW servers. However, a BridgeVIEW
client .scfcan import network tags from only one .scffile per server
machine.
A BridgeVIEW server can also act as a client and get its data from other
BridgeVIEW server machines, as shown in the illustration below.
BridgeVIEW Servers
BridgeVIEW
Server/Client
BridgeVIEW Clients
Figure 3-2. Flowchart of Server/Client Interaction
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How Do You Add Network Tags?
On the BridgeVIEW server, all tags in an allowed .scffile can be viewed
and selecting Configure»Allow Network Access. The tags are not shared
until the .scffile is saved on the server side.
On the BridgeVIEW client, open the Tag Configuration Editor and select
File»Import Network Tags…. The Select Tags for Network Import
dialog box, shown in Figure 3-3, allows you to browse the network for an
.scffile and select tags you wish to import. After selecting the tags you
wish to import, save the .scffile on the BridgeVIEW client and start the
BridgeVIEW Engine.
Figure 3-3. Select Tags for Network Import Dialog Box
How Do You Set Default Values for Tag Configuration Fields?
You can simplify the tag configuration process by defining default
values for several fields. These default values are then used when you
create tags automatically, such as with the Configuration Wizard or by
importing. For example, you might want to set the default to Log Data
or Log Events, or set the log deadband to a particular value by default.
You can set default values for tag parameters using the Set Default
Parameters dialog box, shown below. To access this dialog box,
select Configure»Default Parameters….
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The default values apply when creating a new tag, importing a tag from
the server registry, or importing a tag from a spreadsheet. In the case of
spreadsheet, a value in the spreadsheet overrides the default value for
the field. For more information about the individual fields, see the How Do
You Configure Tags? section in this chapter.
How Do You Use Spreadsheet Files for Tag Configuration?
With the Tag Configuration Editor, you can export tag configuration
information to spreadsheet files, and import tag configuration information
from spreadsheet files. The files are tab-delimited text (.txt) files.
Select File»Export… to save the file as a tab-delimited .txtfile. When
you select Export…, a dialog box prompts you to select and order the
fields you want in your spreadsheet file. If you intend to edit the
spreadsheet file and then import the edited information back into the Tag
Configuration Editor, select the All>> button to select all available fields.
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For easy viewing and editing in the spreadsheet, press the
Use Default Order button.
After you edit the file, save it as a .txtfile. Then, from the Tag
Configuration Editor, select File»Import… to import the information
from the spreadsheet file.
If you use spreadsheet files with the Tag Configuration Editor, it is
important that you understand the following points:
•
If you do not choose all of the fields when exporting your data, you
lose configuration information when you import it back to the Tag
Configuration Editor.
•
You might choose to export a subset of information, and then rely
on tag default parameters when you import the data back in to the
Configuration Editor. However, each row in the spreadsheet file must
contain the tag name and data type fields, or the import mechanism
cannot read it.
•
•
Some configuration parameters, such as Historical Logging
Configuration and Event Configuration, are inherited from the
currently open .scffile when you import spreadsheet data.
When importing, you can append the imported tags to the current
.scffile.
Note
If the tag name and data type fields are missing, the File»Import… option does
not work on the spreadsheet file.
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How Do You Configure Tags?
When you configure a tag with the Tag Configuration Editor, you define
several attributes for the tag. You can separate these attributes into five
categories: general, connection, operations, scaling, and alarms. Each of
these categories is explained in detail later in this section.
If you import tag configuration information from a spreadsheet, follow
the same format in your spreadsheet as indicated in the Attribute column
of each of the tables listed above. For more information about using
spreadsheets, see the How Do You Use Spreadsheet Files for Tag
Configuration? section in this chapter.
Data Type
The following sections discuss the details of tag configuration for each
data type.
Analog Tags
An analog tag is a continuous value representation of a connection to
a real-world I/O point or memory variable. This type of tag can vary
continuously over a range of values within a signal range.
Use an analog tag when you want to express a continuous value
(for example, 0 to 100).
Discrete Tags
A discrete tag is a two-state (ON/OFF) value representation of a
connection to a real-world I/O point or memory variable. This type of
Use a discrete tag when you want to express a two-state (ON/OFF) value.
Bit Array Tags
A bit array tag is a multi-bit value representation of a connection to a
real-world I/O point or memory variable. This type of tag can be comprised
of up to 32 discrete values.
Use a bit array tag when you have a multi-bit value in which each of the
bits represents a flag or single value that is turned on or off. The maximum
length of a bit array tag is 32.
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String Tags
A string tag is an ASCII character representation of a connection to a
real-world I/O point or memory variable.
Use a string tag when you have binary information or an ASCII value.
For example, you might use a string tag to obtain values from a bar code
reader, or if you have data that does not fit into any other data type.
General
The general attributes of a tag include the name of the tag you are
configuring, the group name to use for the tag, a description of the tag,
and the maximum length for string and bit array tags. Figure 3-4 shows
the General tab of the Tag Configuration dialog box.
Figure 3-4. General Attributes Dialog Box
Table 3-1 provides descriptions of the general attributes of a tag.
For tag attribute information about the other configuration categories,
see Tables 3-2, 3-4, 3-5, and 3-7.
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Table 3-1. General Configuration Attributes
Applies to
Data Types
Attribute
Description
Tag Name
all
Determines the name of the tag you are configuring. Always refer
to a tag by its name. Tag names are not case sensitive and can
include any combination of printable characters (including
space) with the exception of “/” (forward slash) and “\”
(backslash).
Tag Group
all
all
Determines the group name to use for this tag. You can use
groups to assist in alarm management and reporting and to help
organize tags in an application.
Tag
Provides a description of the tag.
Description
Maximum
Length
string,
bit array
Determines the maximum number of bits in the bit array.
The length is between 1 and 32 for bit array tags. String tags
can be of any length.
Connection
You associate a tag with its real-world I/O point by assigning it a Server,
I/O Group, and Item in the Connection tab of the Tag Configuration
dialog box, shown in Figure 3-5. If an I/O Group does not already exist for
the server, you must create one before you can select or enter an item for
the tag. The I/O Group is user-defined and provides you with a place to
you select the device as part of the I/O group configuration. For OPC
servers, the I/O group conforms to an OPC group.
When you edit a tag, use the ring inputs to assign values to the tag. Use the
Create…, Edit…, and Delete buttons to configure I/O Groups and Items.
For more information about device servers, see Chapter 8, Servers.
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Figure 3-5. Tag Connection Dialog Box
If a device server does not appear in the server name list, you must run the
configuration or registration utility for your server before BridgeVIEW can
access the server.
Table 3-2 provides descriptions of the connection attributes, and indicates
the data types to which each attribute applies. For tag attribute information
about the other configuration categories, see Tables 3-1, 3-4, 3-5, or 3-7.
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Table 3-2. Connection Configuration Attributes
Applies to
Data Types
Attribute
Description
Data Type
all
Determines the data type of the tag you are configuring.
BridgeVIEW tags can be analog, discrete, bit array, or string.
Tag Access
all
Determines the access rights for a tag. Tags can have access
rights of Memory, Input only, Output only, or Input/Output.
Memory tags are not directly connected to real-world I/O points.
You can use memory tags to monitor and control calculated
values and enable historical trending and alarming on these
values. Input only, Output only, and Input/Output tags are
connected to real-world I/O points according to the Server,
Device, and Item fields.
Server
all
all
Determines the device server that manages the communication of
the tag value. If the tag is a memory tag, this attribute is not used.
I/O Group
Determines the I/O Group to use for this tag. Select the I/O Group
this tag uses. The I/O Group is associated with the server. At least
one I/O Group must be created for the server in order to configure
a tag to use a server item. If the tag is a memory tag, this attribute
is not used.
Item Name
Filter
all
all
Determines the string to filter the list of configured items. If the
tag is a memory tag, this attribute is not used.
Item
Determines the register, channel, or item on the device for this
tag. This might be a PLC register, a data acquisition channel, an
OPC item ID, or a DDE item, depending on the server used for
this tag. If the tag is a memory tag, this field is not used.
Access Path
all
Determines the access path for the selected server. If the tag is a
memory tag or if the server does not have access paths, this
attribute is not used.
I/O Group Configuration
I/O Groups are used to configure item rate and deadband for items of a
server and to select a specific device, if the server uses devices. For servers
that support resource configuration, you also can use I/O groups to
configure devices and communication resources. For OPC servers, an I/O
group conforms to the concept of an OPC group, which is user-defined and
controls timing. An I/O Group is associated with only one server and, if that
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server uses devices, with only one device. A server can have multiple I/O
Groups associated with it.
I/O Group Configuration Options
The Create… button invokes the I/O Group Configuration dialog box,
which you can use to specify group name and timing parameters. For
servers that support resource configuration, you also can use this dialog box
to select and configure devices and to configure communication resources.
The Edit… button invokes the I/O Group Configuration dialog box for
the I/O Group selected in the I/O Group list. Use this dialog box to change
the group name and timing parameters. For servers that support resource
configuration, you also can use this dialog box to select and configure
devices and to configure communication resources.
The Delete button invokes a confirmation dialog box. If confirmed,
the I/O Group is deleted from the server configuration. Deleting an
I/O Group does not delete the device and communication resource
from the server configuration.
Figure 3-6. I/O Group Configuration Dialog Box
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Table 3-3 provides descriptions of the operations that can be performed on
an I/O Group. For information about other opeations that can be performed
on an I/O Group, see Table 3-2.
Table 3-3. I/O Group Configuration Attributes
Attribute
Description
I/O Group Name
Determines the name of the I/O Group you are configuring. I/O Group
names are not case sensitive and can include any combination of
printable characters (including spaces) with the exception of “/”
and “\”.
I/O Group Description
Provides a description for the I/O Group.
I/O Group
Update Rate (secs)
Determines the rate for the server to update the item value in the
engine for all tags using the I/O Group. The server can have other
configuration options that determine the actual update rate. This is
the rate at which BridgeVIEW requests all tags configured with this
update rate be updated.
I/O Group Deadband
(% of range)
Determines the deadband for the server to update the item value in the
engine for all tags configured with the I/O Group. Use 0% if you do
not want the server to apply deadbands to the item.
Note Not all servers support deadbands, and some
might ignore this value.
Server Name
Indicates the Server Name associated with the I/O Group you are
configuring.
Communication Resource Provides a means to configure (create, edit, or delete) a
communication resource. This field is valid only for IAK servers.
Device
Determines a specific device used by the I/O Group and Server for this
tag. If the associated server is an OPC Server, this attribute is not used.
Device Comm Resource
Indicates the communication resource associated with the selected
device. This field is valid only for IAK servers.
Server Configuration Options
Use this group of fields to configure and select server resources. Some
or all fields in this group might not be used depending on the server
type. An IAK server has both Device and Communication Resource
configuration capabilities.
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Communication Resource Configuration Options
For IAK servers, use the Create… button to invoke a new, untitled
IAK Create Communication Resource Configuration dialog box.
This configuration option is not used for other classes of servers.
For IAK servers, use the Edit… button to invoke the IAK Edit
Communication Resource dialog box for the currently selected
communication resource. This configuration option is not used
for other classes of servers.
For IAK servers, use the Delete button to remove the selected
communication resource from the server configuration. This
Device Configuration Options—Configuring Device Names
This option is available for servers that allow users to configure device
names. OPC Servers do not use device names. For DDE Servers, the
device name is used to specify the DDE application and topic. See the How
Do You Connect a Tag to a DDE Server? section in this chapter for more
information.
The Add… button invokes the Device Entry dialog box, which you can
use to add a new device name for a selected server. If the server does not
support device configuration, or if the selected device name is not valid,
this button is disabled.
The Edit… button invokes the Device Entry dialog box, which you can use
to edit an existing device name for a selected server. If the server does not
support device configuration, or if the selected device name is not valid, this
button is disabled.
The Delete button invokes a confirmation dialog box. If confirmed,
the selected device name is removed from the device list. If the server does
not support device configuration, or if the selected device name is not valid,
this button is disabled.
Device Configuration Options—Configuring Device Resources
This option is supported by servers that allow users to configure
device resources.
Use the Create… button to invoke a new, untitled Create Device
Configuration dialog box. The options in this dialog box vary depending
on the type of server. If the server does not support device configuration,
this button is disabled.
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Use the Edit… button to invoke the Edit Device Configuration dialog box
for the device currently selected in the device list. The options in this dialog
box vary depending on the type of server. If the server does not support
device configuration, this button is disabled.
Use the Delete button to remove the selected device from the server
configuration. If the server does not support device configuration,
this button is disabled.
Item Configuration
Use the Item Connection fields in the Connection tab (see Figure 3-5)
to select and configure the item and access path (for certain OPC Servers
only) for a tag.
Item Configuration Options—Configuring Item Names
This option is available for servers that allow users to configure
item names.
The Add… button invokes the Item Entry dialog box, which you can use to
add a new item for a selected server. If the server has access paths, you also
can use this dialog box to add an access path. If the server does not support
item configuration, this button is disabled.
The Edit… button invokes the Item Entry dialog box, which you can use
to edit an existing item name for a selected server. If the server has access
paths, you also can edit an access path. If the server does not support item
configuration, or if the selected item is not valid, this button is disabled.
The Delete button invokes a confirmation dialog box. If confirmed, the
selected item is removed from the item list. If the server has access paths,
the selected access path is removed from the access path list. If the server
does not support item configuration, or if the selected item is not valid,
this button is disabled.
Item Configuration Options—Configuring Item Resources
This option is supported by servers that allow users to configure
item resources.
The Create… button invokes a server-dependent configuration dialog box,
which you can use to configure a new item for a selected server. If the server
does not support item configuration, this button is disabled.
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The Edit… button invokes a server-dependent configuration dialog box,
which you can use to edit the configuration of the selected item. If the
server does not support item configuration, or if the selected item is not
valid, this button is disabled.
The Delete button invokes a confirmation dialog box. If confirmed,
the selected item is removed from the server configuration.
The Browse… button, which only applies to OPC Servers that support
to browse the list of available items and select an item and associated
access path.
What Is a Memory Tag?
Memory tags are tags not connected directly to I/O points. They exist only
in the BridgeVIEW RTDB. To configure a memory tag, set the Access
Rights of a tag to Memory.
When Should You Use a Memory Tag?
Use memory tags when you want to perform alarm calculations,
or log historical data and event information on data that is either a
software-generated value or a combination of values from different
I/O tag readings. Below are some examples illustrating when to use
memory tags.
Example 1—When Not to Use a Memory Tag
You do not need to use a memory tag for program variables unless you
want to use the historical and event logging or alarm management
capabilities of the BridgeVIEW Engine.
An HMI displays the trend of a temperature tag and the difference between
the current reading and a previous reading to allow operators to see the
current rate of change in the temperature value. Although the individual
values are logged for historical trends, the current difference is not.
You can configure the BridgeVIEW Engine to include the tag that reads
temperature. The block diagram of the HMI reads the tag value and passes
it to a real-time trend indicator. The difference between the current reading
and the previous value is calculated in the diagram and passed to a front
panel numeric indicator. The diagram retains the current temperature value
and uses it after taking the next reading. Because the system does not need
to perform any alarm management or historical logging based on the
difference, no memory tag is used.
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Example 2—When to Use a Memory Tag
A simple device server returns several items of data that, through a linear
combination of values, represent a meaningful measurement in engineering
units. The design of the device and its server software makes it difficult to
combine these values within the server to make a single tag. The value of
interest is not the individual points but the linear combination of these
I/O points. The operators need historical trends and alarm management
based on this single value.
In this situation, you can define a separate tag for each server item and a
memory tag with engineering range and units of the final measurement.
In the block diagram of the HMI VI, read individual tag values and
calculate the linear combination of values in the diagram. Write the
calculated value to the memory tag in the Real-Time Database and the
BridgeVIEW Engine performs historical logging and alarm calculations
according to the memory tag configuration.
Note
To learn more about how to build HMI VIs, refer to Chapter 4, Human Machine
Interface.
How Do You Automatically Generate
Tags from Server Information?
Use the Configuration Wizard to create tags from the server information.
The Configuration Wizard is useful if you want the BridgeVIEW Engine
to monitor a large number of the I/O points in your system. To invoke
the Configuration Wizard, press the Configuration Wizard button on the
main screen of the Tag Configuration Editor or select Edit»Configuration
Wizard…. For more information on servers, see Chapter 8, Servers.
When you run the server configuration utilities for the servers on your
system, you can define devices and items for the I/O points the servers
monitor and control. You can automatically create tags from these items
with the Configuration Wizard. When the tags are created, the tag name,
data type, I/O group, I/O connection, and scaling parameters are
determined by the server information for each server item. The remaining
tag parameters are determined by the default tag parameter settings. You
can edit the default parameters by selecting opening the Tag Configuration
Editor and selecting Configure»Default Parameters….
For IAK and VI-based servers, server information is read from the
Common Configuration Database (CCDB). For OPC servers that support
it, server information is read by browsing the server address space. When
you generate tags, you can either add them to the existing configuration by
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selecting Append Tags to SCF? (default mode) or you can create a new
configuration file.
How Do You Connect a Tag to an OPC Server?
You connect to an OPC server just like you connect to the National
Instruments device servers from the Connection tab of the Tag
Configuration dialog box. Any OPC servers installed on your machine
are listed in the server name list. Select the OPC server you want to use.
Create an I/O Group for the server, specifying the group deadband and
update rate. Select or enter the Item name, which is the same as the OPC
Server Item ID. You also can select or enter an access path for OPC servers
if the server supports that.
How Do You Connect a Tag to a DDE Server?
Although no BridgeVIEW servers are based on Dynamic Data
Exchange (DDE), you can connect a tag to any existing DDE Server.
Select DDE Server as your server in the Connection tab of the Tag
Configuration Editor to communicate with DDE servers. DDE Servers
have an Application Name, Topic, and Item. In BridgeVIEW, the device
in the I/O Group Configuration dialog box is set to appname|topic
(| = the “pipe” symbol) and the item in the Connection tab of the
Tag Configuration dialog box is set to item. For example, to connect
a tag to cell R1C1(item) of spreadsheet sheet1(topic) in Excel
(application), set the tag fields to the following:
Server: DDE Server
Device: Excel|sheet1(in I/O Group Configuration dialog box)
Item: R1C1
To specify a particular sheet (sheet1) within an open Excel file
(book1.xls), set the device field to the following:
Device: Excel|[book1.xls]sheet1(in I/O Group Configuration
dialog box)
How Do You Define a Group of Tags for Alarming?
While editing a tag, pull down the Tag Group Ring in the General tab of
the Tag Configuration dialog box. You can select an existing tag group or
tag group definitions, select Tag Groups… from the Configure menu
from the main Tag Configuration Editor panel.
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You can use tag groups to help define a subset of tags in the system.
Tag groups are helpful when you want to examine the alarm states for a
subset of tags in the system. See Chapter 5, Alarms and Events, for more
information on alarm groups.
Operations
The operations attributes include when to update the tag value in the
RTDB, whether to log data to a historical file, whether to log events
associated with the tag, and information about the initial value of the tag at
Engine startup. Figure 3-7 shows the Operations Tab of the Analog Tag
Configuration dialog box. With this section of the dialog box, you can
inform the BridgeVIEW Engine of what to do with the data in the RTDB.
Figure 3-7. Tag Operations Dialog Box
Table 3-4 provides descriptions of the operations attributes, and indicates
the data types to which each attribute applies. For tag attribute information
about the other configuration categories, see Tables 3-1, 3-2, 3-5, and 3-7.
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Table 3-4. Operations Configuration Attributes
Applies to
Data Types
Attribute
Update
Description
all
Determines when the Real-Time Database (RTDB) updates the
value for this tag. It is used to improve system performance and
prevent unnecessary processing of tag values in the RTDB. The
field is expressed differently for analog, discrete, string, and bit
array tags. For analog tags, Update Deadband is a percent of full
scale. The database updates analog tags only when a new tag
value is different than the currently stored value by at least the
Update Deadband. Use 0% if you want each new value for the tag
to be saved in the RTDB. For discrete, string, and bit array tags,
Update Deadband is expressed as either Always or On Change.
Deadband
Log Data
analog,
Determines whether a tag value is logged to historical files.
discrete,
bit array
Log Data
Deadband
analog,
discrete,
bit array
Determines when tag values are logged to disk. It is used to
improve system performance and prevent unnecessary logging
of data to disk. Like Update Deadband, the field is expressed
differently for analog, discrete, and bit array tags. For analog
tags, Update Deadband is a percent of full scale. The
BridgeVIEW Engine writes new analog tag values to historical
files only when a new tag value is different than the last logged
value by at least the Log Data Deadband. Use 0% if you want
each new value for the tag to be logged. For discrete and bit
array tags, Update Deadband is expressed as either Always
or On Change.
Log
Resolution
analog
Determines the resolution in engineering units for logging a tag
value in the Citadel Historical Database. Tag values are written to
the database in a compressed format with the resolution specified
by Log Resolution. Use 0.0if you want the exact value written
to the Citadel Historical Database. Notice that logging the exact
value requires more time and disk space. The default value
is 0.1.
Log/Print
Events
all
Determines whether events associated with the tag (for example,
changes in alarm state) are logged to event log files or printed to
a line printer.
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Table 3-4. Operations Configuration Attributes (Continued)
Applies to
Data Types
Attribute
Description
Set Initial
Value
all
Determines whether an initial value is used for this tag. If Set
Initial Value is OFF for this tag, the tag value is marked as
uninitialized until its value is updated.
Initial Value
all
The initial value used for this tag when Set Initial Value is ON.
If the tag is an Output only or Input/Output tag, the BridgeVIEW
If the tag is an Input only or Memory tag, the Initial Value is
stored in the RTDB at startup.
What Is Deadband?
In process instrumentation, deadband is the range through which an input
signal can vary without initiating an observable change in output signal.
Deadband usually is expressed in percent of full scale. Although the term
deadband generally applies only to analog tags, other tag types have a
limited type of deadband. A checkbox allows you to determine if updates
to the RTDB and historical data files should occur with any new data from
the device server or if the value has changed.
Note
The BridgeVIEW Engine performs historical logging and alarm management
operations based on new values in the RTDB. If you set the Update Deadband too
high, the RTDB might not be updated. This might result in inadequate historical
logging or alarm management.
How Do You Use Deadband to
Increase Engine Throughput?
The BridgeVIEW Engine uses Update Deadband and Log Deadband
values to eliminate unnecessary processing on minor data value changes.
Deadband allows you to define a significant change. The Engine ignores an
operation if the change in data is not considered significant. Deadband is
expressed as percent of full scale. For example, if the tag engineering range
is 0 to 200 liters, a deadband of 5% is 10 liters. In addition, through I/O
group configuration, you can configure a server to apply a deadband to any
items associated with that I/O group. Not all servers implement deadbands.
OPC servers support deadbands.
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
How Do You Configure a Tag
to Log Its Data or Events?
While editing a tag, click on the Log Data or Log/Print Events checkbox.
If you want to log historical data or events, the BridgeVIEW Engine must
have these processes enabled. To turn them on, open the Engine Manager
and turn on the processes with the panel buttons, or configure the Engine
to turn on these processes automatically at startup by selecting Configure»
Historical… or Configure»Events… from the Tag Configuration Editor.
You also can enable these parameters programmatically with System VIs
that enable event or historical data logging.
How Do You Set Initial Tag Value at Startup?
While editing a tag, select the Set Initial Value checkbox. Then enter the
initial value in the adjacent Initial Value field.
Scaling
These attributes include what type of scaling to perform on a tag when
and units for the tag.
Table 3-5, provides descriptions of the scaling configuration attributes,
and indicates the data types to which each attribute applies. For tag
attribute information about the other configuration categories, see
Tables 3-1, 3-2, 3-4, and 3-7.
Table 3-5. Scaling Configuration Attributes
Applies to
Attribute
Data Types
Description
Raw Full
Scale
analog
Determines the full scale (maximum) value used by the server
for a tag.
Raw Zero
Scale
analog
analog
Determines the zero scale (minimum) value used by the server
for a tag.
Eng Full
Scale
Determines the full scale (maximum) value used by the
BridgeVIEW Engine and the user application for a tag.
Engineering Full Scale must be greater than Engineering
Zero Scale.
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Table 3-5. Scaling Configuration Attributes (Continued)
Applies to
Data Types
Attribute
Description
Eng Zero
Scale
analog
Determines the zero scale (minimum) value used by the
BridgeVIEW Engine and the user application for a tag.
Engineering Zero Scale must be less than Engineering Full Scale.
Units
analog
Determines the engineering units for a tag. Examples include
degrees Celsius, liters, and kilograms.
Scaling
analog,
discrete,
bit array
Determines the type of scaling algorithm to be used for a tag.
The scaling methods differ according to tag data type. You can
configure analog tags for linear or square root scaling, discrete
tags for invert scaling, or bit array tags for mask scaling. All tags
can be configured for no scaling.
Coerce
analog
Determines whether to coerce data so that it is valid for the target.
If scaling to output, the value must be within the raw (device
server) range. If scaling to input, the value must be within the
engineering (HMI) range.
Scaling Invert bit array
Mask
Determines which bits are inverted for a bit array tag. Bits in
the mask that are 1are inverted; bits that are 0are not inverted.
The default mask is 0, indicating none of the bits are inverted.
In bit-wise logic terminology, the Engine performs an XOR
with the Invert Mask to produce the scaled value.
ScalingSelect bit array
Mask
Determines which bits are used for the bit array tag. Bits in
the mask that are 1have their values passed through to the
RTDB; bits that are 0are set to zero, regardless of the value
received from the server. In bit-wise logic terminology,
the Engine performs an AND with the Select Mask to
produce the scaled value.
The next sections explain how to scale data. Often your application needs
BridgeVIEW to manipulate the raw data used in the device server to put it
in a form, called engineering units, suitable for the operators. The following
sections describe the options for individual data types.
Note
There is no scaling for string tags.
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
Analog Tags
You can define the raw range and engineering range for a tag to perform
simple conversions between the two ranges. The raw range, defined by
device server. Engineering range, defined by Engineering Full Scale
and Engineering Zero Scale, refers to the values used by the BridgeVIEW
Engine and HMI. Pull down the Scaling ring and select Linear to enable
a linear (mx + b) conversion between raw and engineering ranges. Select
Square Root to enable a square root conversion between the raw and
engineering ranges. Figure 3-8 shows the Scaling tab of the Analog Tag
Configuration dialog box.
Figure 3-8. Analog Tag Scaling Dialog Box
The following examples describe linear and square root scaling.
Example—Linear Scaling
A device server returns a simple voltage from 0 to 5 V. The voltage is
related to a position sensor, and the real-world position is measured in
centimeters, with 0 volts mapped to 50 cm and 5 V mapped to 100 cm.
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Tag Configuration
Configure the tag for raw range from zero (Raw Zero Scale) to five
(Raw Full Scale). Select Linear, and set the engineering range from
50 (Eng Zero Scale) to 100 (Eng Full Scale).
Example—Square Root Scaling
A flow meter measures the flow rate of a liquid using a differential pressure
reading. The device server provides 4–20 mA readings. The actual flow is
measured in gallons per minutes (GPM). 4 mA corresponds to 0 GPM;
20 mA corresponds to 100 GPM.
Configure the tag for raw range from 4 (Raw Zero Scale) to 20 (Raw Full
Scale). Select Square Root Scaling and set the engineering range from
0 (Eng Zero Scale) to 100 (Eng Full Scale).
How Do You Assign Units to an Analog Tag?
Use the Engineering Unit ring to assign units to a tag. If the desired unit
previous example, you select units of GPM.
Discrete Tags
The only scaling available for discrete tags is invert scaling. Click the
Invert Data checkbox, shown in Figure 3-9 to advise the BridgeVIEW
Engine to invert the discrete value when it communicates with the
device server.
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Figure 3-9. Scaling for Discrete Tag Configuration
Bit Array Tags
Bit array tags can have invert and/or select mask scaling. You can use the
invert mask to determine which bits are inverted between the device server
and the BridgeVIEW Engine. You can use the select mask to determine the
bits you do not need. Figure 3-10 shows the Scaling tab of the Bit Array
Tag Configuration dialog box, and Table 3-6 provides examples of tags
configured for bit array scaling.
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
Figure 3-10. Scaling for Bit Array Tag Configuration
Table 3-6. Bit Array Scaling Examples
Tag Name
Tag 1
Length
Raw Value
0x0F
Invert Mask
0x00
Select Mask
0xFF
Scaled Value
0x0F
8
8
Tag 2
Tag 3
Tag 4
Tag 5
Tag 6
0x0F
0x33
0xFF
0x3C
8
0x0F
0x33
0x0F
0x0C
8
0x0F
0x00
0x33
0x30
8
0x0F
0x33
0x33
0x30
16
0x0FF0
0x000F
0x00FF
0x00FF
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
Alarms
These attributes include whether to enable alarms, under what
circumstances a tag is in alarm, the priority level of an alarm, and how
alarms are acknowledged. Each alarm limit has a priority, ranging between
1 and 15. In BridgeVIEW, 15 is the highest priority and 1 is the lowest.
There are two main types of alarms:
•
•
Alarms based on status
Alarms based on tag values
Therefore, many alarm attributes apply to only a subset of the BridgeVIEW
tag data types. For more information about how to access alarm
information, build alarm summary displays, and retrieve historical
events files, see Chapter 5, Alarms and Events.
Table 3-7 provides descriptions of the alarm attributes, and indicates the
data types to which each attribute applies. For tag attribute information
about the other configuration categories, see Tables 3-1, 3-2, 3-4, or 3-5.
Table 3-7. Alarms Configuration Attributes
Applies to
Data Types
Attribute
Description
Alarms
all
Determines whether alarms are enabled for a tag.
Enabled
Alarm
Deadband
analog
all
Determines the amount an analog tag value must diverge from an
alarm limit before the alarm condition returns to normal. Alarm
Deadband is expressed in percent of full scale.
Auto Ack
Determines how alarms can be acknowledged. If set to Auto Ack,
the alarm is acknowledged automatically when the tag value
returns to the Normal state. If set to User Must Ack, the alarm
remains unacknowledged until the user acknowledges it,
regardless of the alarm state.
Bad Status
Enabled
all
Determines whether to enable Bad Status alarms for the tag.
Bad Status
Priority
all
Determines the value (between 1 and 15) for the alarm priority
for the Bad Status alarm, where 15 represents the highest priority.
HI_HI
analog
Determines whether to enable HI_HI alarms for a tag.
Enabled
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Table 3-7. Alarms Configuration Attributes (Continued)
Applies to
Data Types
Attribute
Description
HI_HI Limit
analog
Determines the value, in engineering units, that invokes a
HI_HI alarm condition. The tag alarm state remains HI_HI
until the tag value goes below the HI_HI alarm limit minus
the alarm deadband.
HI_HI
Priority
analog
Determines the value (between 1 and 15) for the alarm priority
for the HI_HI alarm, where 15 represents the highest priority.
HI Enabled
HI Limit
analog
analog
Determines whether to enable HI alarms for a tag.
Determines the value, in engineering units, that invokes a HI
alarm condition. The tag alarm state remains HI until the tag
value goes below the HI alarm limit minus the alarm deadband.
HI Priority
analog
Determines the value (between 1 and 15) for the alarm priority
for the HI alarm, where 15 represents the highest priority.
LO Enabled
LO Limit
analog
analog
Determines whether to enable LO alarms for the tag.
Determines the value, in engineering units, that invokes a LO
alarm condition. The tag alarm state remains LO until the tag
value goes above the LO alarm limit plus the alarm deadband.
LO Priority
analog
analog
Determines the value (between 1 and 15) for the alarm priority
for the LO alarm, where 15 represents the highest priority.
LO_LO
Enabled
Determines whether to enable LO_LO alarms for a tag.
LO_LO Limit analog
Determines the value, in engineering units, that invokes
a LO_LO alarm condition. The tag alarm state remains
LO_LO until the tag value goes above the LO_LO alarm
plus the alarm deadband.
LO_LO
Priority
analog
Determines the value (between 1 and 15) for the alarm priority
for the LO alarm, where 15 represents the highest priority.
Discrete
Enabled
discrete,
bit array
Determines whether to enable tag value alarms for discrete and
bit array tags.
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Table 3-7. Alarms Configuration Attributes (Continued)
Applies to
Attribute
Data Types
Description
Alarm on
discrete,
bit array
Determines whether a discrete tag should be alarm on ON (high)
or OFF (low). Determines whether a bit array goes into alarm if
all of its bits are in alarm or if any of its bits are in alarm. This
field is used only if both Alarms Enabled and Discrete Enabled
fields are set to TRUE.
Discrete
Priority
discrete,
bit array
Determines the value (between 1 and 15) for the alarm priority
for the tag value alarm, where 15 represents the highest priority.
Alarm Invert
Mask
bit array
Determines which bits are inverted before calculating the
alarm state. Bits in the mask that are 1are inverted; thus cause
an alarm when low (0). Bits that are 0are not inverted; thus,
cause an alarm when high (1). The default mask is 0, indicating
none of the bits are inverted. In bit-wise logic terminology, the
Engine performs an XOR with the Invert Mask to produce the
alarm state. The Alarm Invert Mask is applied to the scaled value
after any relevant scaling masks are applied.
Alarm Select
Mask
bit array
Determines which bits are used for the bit array alarm
calculation. Bits in the mask that are 1are used in the alarm
calculation; bits that are 0do not cause an alarm, regardless of
their value. In bit-wise logic terminology, the Engine performs an
AND with the Select Mask to produce the alarm state. The Alarm
Select Mask is applied to the scaled value after any relevant
scaling masks are applied.
Alarm
Message
discrete,
bit array
Determines the string used to provide additional information
about the meaning of an alarm condition.
Tag Last
Modified
all
Indicates when the last edit to a tag occurred.
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
How Do You Configure Alarms for a Tag?
While editing a tag, click the Enable Alarms checkbox. Alarms are
generated depending on the value or state of a tag. The alarms based on
value vary with the tag data type. But for any tag, if the status is bad, a
Bad Status alarm is generated. By default, Bad Status Alarm is enabled
and has the highest priority (15). You can change this selection from the
Alarms tab of the Tag Configuration Editor, shown in Figure 3-11.
Analog Tags
Analog tags have four alarm levels: HI_HI, HI, LO, and LO_LO. By
providing separate alarm levels, you can provide more information about
the nature of the alarm condition.
Figure 3-11. Alarms for Analog Tag Configuration
Alarms are calculated after scaling is performed. Alarm levels are
expressed in engineering units.
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Tag Configuration
Discrete Tags
Discrete tags have one alarm state—either the tag is in alarm or it is not.
You can determine whether a tag is in alarm when it is ON (High) or
OFF (Low). Figure 3-12 shows the Alarms tab of the Discrete Tag
Configuration dialog box.
Figure 3-12. Alarms for Discrete Tag Configuration
Bit Array Tags
You can enable one of two types of alarms for bit array tags. Alarm on
Any indicates the overall tag is in alarm if any of the bits are in alarm state.
alarm state. You can use the Invert Mask to determine the bits that should
use alarm on low (OFF) rather than the default alarm on high (ON).
You can use the Select (AND) Mask to determine the bits that should
be considered for the alarm. If you have bits in the Select Mask that are
zero (OFF), these bits are not used in calculation of the tag alarm state.
Figure 3-13 shows the Alarms tab of the Bit Array Tag Configuration
dialog box.
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Figure 3-13. Alarms for Bit Array Tag Configuration
String Tags
String tags have no alarm states based on tag value. They only support
Bad Status alarms.
What Is Alarm Deadband on Analog Tags?
Alarm Deadband is a method commonly used to avoid repetitive alarm
messages because of a tag value that hovers near the alarm limit. Alarm
Deadband defines how much a tag value must change from the alarm
limit before it is considered normal. For example, if a tag that represents a
temperature value hovers near an alarm limit of 40 degrees Celsius, the tag
might go in and out of alarm many times in a relatively short period of time.
Table 3-8 shows examples of events with Alarm Deadband set to 0.0%.
Table 3-8. Events with Alarm Deadband = 0.0%
Time
Value
40.1
Event
Yes
Alarm Type
HI
9:15:10
39.9
Yes
Normal
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Table 3-8. Events with Alarm Deadband = 0.0% (Continued)
Time
Value
40.1
Event
Yes
Alarm Type
HI
9:15:15
9:15:20
38.5
Yes
Normal
This type of situation clogs event files with redundant information and
can cause operators some frustration in having to acknowledge alarms
constantly when the tag has not changed significantly. You can use the
Alarm Deadband to alleviate this problem.
For the tag to go into alarm, it must go above the exact Alarm Value (in the
above example, 40). However, to be considered normal again, it must leave
the Alarm Value by an amount greater than the Alarm Deadband. For
example, if the range is 0 to 100 degrees Celsius, an Alarm Deadband of
1.0% (one degree Celsius) eliminates unnecessary events. Table 3-9 shows
examples of events with Alarm Deadband set to 1.0%.
Table 3-9. Events with Alarm Deadband = 1.0%
Time
Value
40.1
39.9
40.1
38.5
Event
Yes
No
Alarm Type
9:15:05
9:15:10
9:15:15
9:15:20
HI
HI
No
HI
Yes
Normal
How Do You Keep an Alarm Unacknowledged
after the Alarm Returns to Normal?
While editing a tag, select the Alarm Acknowledgement Mode ring and
choose either Auto Ack on Normal or User Must Ack.
Auto Ack on Normal
With this option enabled, when a tag returns to normal state, the alarm
is automatically acknowledged. A message is logged to the event file if
event logging is turned on for the tag. By default, Auto Ack On Normal
is enabled.
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
User Must Ack
With this option enabled, an alarm remains unacknowledged until the
operator acknowledges the alarm.
Activity 3-1. Configure a Tag, and View the
Tag Configuration Parameters
and Tag Values
The objective of this activity is to use the Tag Configuration Editor to
configure tags for an HMI application and to become familiar with the
Tag Browser and Tag Monitor utilities.
As with all servers, you must register the Tanks Server VI before you can
use it. Most of the activities in this manual require the Tanks Server VI, so
you must run the Register Tanks Server VI, as indicated in the steps below.
For more information about registering servers, see Chapter 8, Servers.
1. Open the Register Tanks Server VI, which is located in the
BridgeVIEW\_servers\Tanks Serverdirectory.
2. Run the VI.
3. Close the VI.
4. Launch the Tag Configuration Editor by selecting Project»Tag»
Configuration…. This launches the Tag Configuration Editor.
5. Select the configuration file by selecting File»Open and choosing
mytanks.scffrom the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory. This
loads mytanks.scfinto the Tag Configuration Editor, as shown in the
following illustration.
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
Note
This configuration file uses data simulated by the Tanks Server. You must ensure
that the Tanks Serveris registered with the BridgeVIEW Engine by selecting
Project»Server Tools»Server Browser. If you do not see Tanks Serverin the
Registered Servers list, run the Register Tanks Server.vifrom the
BridgeVIEW\_servers\Tanks Serverdirectory.
If any of the tags in the Tag Configuration Editor List have a prohibited
symbol, shown at left, next to them, you have not registered the Tanks
For information about how to register this server, see steps 1
through 3 in this activity.
6. Create a tag called Productby selecting the Create Analog Tag(s)…
button.
7. Table 3-10 contains the settings you should choose when configuring
your new analog tag. Enter the values listed in the Setting column for
each attribute in the Tag Configuration dialog box to configure the
tag connection, operations, scaling, and alarms. For example, in
the General tab of the Tag Configuration dialog box, you should
type in Productas the tag name. After entering all of the values,
press the OK button to set the tag configuration.
Note
You also can specify a tag name by selecting the proper I/O connections
After doing so, the item name appears in the Tag Name field.
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
Table 3-10. Configuration Settings for Activity 3-1
Category
General
Attribute
Tag Name
Setting
Product
group1
Tag Group
Volume of finished
product in liters
Tag Description
Input Only
Tanks Server
ALL
Connection
Operations
Tag Access
Server Name
I/O Group
Item
tank2
1.00
Update Deadband
(% of range)
Set Initial Value
Log/Print Events
Log Data
Enabled, 0.00
Enabled
Enabled
5.00
Log Deadband
(% of range)
0.10
Log Resolution
(engineering units)
Liters
<none>
1000.00
0.00
Scaling
Engineering Unit
Scaling
Raw Full Scale
Raw Zero Scale
Coerce to Range
Disabled
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Table 3-10. Configuration Settings for Activity 3-1 (Continued)
Category
Alarms
Attribute
Setting
Enable Alarms
Enabled
Auto Ack on Normal
Alarm Acknowledge
Mode
1.00
Alarm Deadband
(% of range)
Enabled, Limit =
HI_HI
950.00, Priority = 1
Enabled, Limit =
HI
800.00, Priority = 1
LO
Disabled
LO_LO
Disabled
Enabled, Priority = 1
Bad Status Alarm
8. Modify the Mixer, Liquid, and Powdertags, as specified in
Table 3-11, to configure them for Historical Logging and Alarm
Acknowledgement. To edit a tag configuration, double-click the tag in
the Tag Configuration Editor listbox or press the Edit Tag… button.
You can select multiple tags by holding the <Shift> key while
dragging or clicking the mouse. When you edit multiple tags, the Tag
Configuration dialog box shows three buttons: Edit Next Tag, OK,
and Cancel. Select the Edit Next Tag to record any edits from the
Tag Configuration dialog box and then display the next tag selected.
Select OK to record any edits from the Tag Configuration dialog
and return to the Tag Configuration Editor. Select Cancel to discard
changes to the current tag and return to the Tag Configuration Editor.
Table 3-11. Configuration Modifications for Activity 3-1
Category
Attribute
Log Data
Setting
Operations
Enabled
0.00
Log Deadband
(% of range)
0.10
Log Resolution
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Table 3-11. Configuration Modifications for Activity 3-1 (Continued)
Category
Alarms
Attribute
Setting
Enable Alarms
Enabled
User must Ack
Alarm Acknowledge
Mode
9. Save the configuration by selecting File»Save. The modified .scf
file is provided for you in the BridgeVIEW\Activity\Solutions
directory.
10. View the tag configuration using the Tag Browser. From a VI front
panel, choose Project»Tag»Browser… and select different tag names
to see the configuration parameters. The Tag Browser is shown in the
following illustration.
11. Close the Tag Browser.
12. View the tag value and status of the Product tag with the Tag Monitor.
Add>> button. Then select OK. The Select Tags to Monitor dialog
box is shown in the following illustration.
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Tag Configuration
The Tag Monitor is a quick way to look at tag values and alarm states
without building an HMI. It is also a great debugging tool. When you
launch the Tag Monitor, it automatically launches the Engine. The
Engine loads the last .scffile saved. In this case, it uses
mytanks.scf. The Tag Monitor is shown in the following illustration.
13. Close the Tag Monitor.
End of Activity 3-1.
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
How Do You Configure Other Engine Parameters?
There are other Engine parameters you can configure within
the Tag Configuration Editor. You can define your Historical
Logging Configuration and Event Configuration by selecting
Configure»Historical… or Events… through the BridgeVIEW
Tag Configuration Editor dialog box, shown in Figure 3-1.
How Do You Turn on Historical and Event Logging at Startup?
To turn on historical and event logging at startup, select
Configure»Historical… or Events… from the Tag Configuration Editor.
Checkboxes in each dialog box turn on historical and event logging at
system startup. For more information, see Chapter 5, Alarms and Events,
and Chapter 6, Historical Data Logging and Extraction.
How Do You Set the File Paths for Historical and Events Files?
From the main panel of the Tag Configuration Editor, select
Configure»Historical… or Events…. The dialog box allows you to
set the path to the directories containing historical or events files.
How Do You Configure Shifts?
Shifts are valuable in configuring event logging. Shift start and stop times
determine how event files are segmented, and end of shift reports can use
these configuration files to determine process and line statistics. From the
main panel of the Tag Configuration Editor, select Configure»Events….
The panel has a shift display with which you can edit the configuration.
How Do You Configure Engine Parameters?
The BridgeVIEW Engine has several default settings for Engine
parameters. However, you can override these defaults within the Buffer
Configuration dialog box by selecting Configure»Engine… from the Tag
Configuration Editor.
The BridgeVIEW Engine allocates certain amounts of memory for various
queues. You can configure some of the parameters used by the Engine and
Tags VIs to allocate memory for the Engine buffers yourself, but it is
recommended you use the default values. The parameters you can
configure are listed in Table 3-12. For more information about these
parameters or the VIs that contain them, refer to Appendix A, HMI
Function Reference.
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Chapter 3
Tag Configuration
Table 3-12. Configurable Memory Allocation Parameters
Parameter
Description
Default Value
System Events
display (lines
Determines the maximum number of lines of text to be
displayed in the System Errors and Events display of the
Engine Manager.
20
Error Message
repeat rate
(seconds)
Determines the time, in seconds, that recurring error
messages should be repeated to the user. For example,
an undefined tag message error repeats only after this
value is exceeded.
600 secs
(10 minutes)
Event History
Buffer size
(elements)
Determines the length, in elements of the queue that
handles event information sent from the Engine to
.evtfiles.
2000
2000
Historical Log
Queue (elements)
Determines the length, in elements, of the queue that
handles data sent from the engine to the Citadel
historical database.
Server Input Queue Determines the length, in elements, of the queue that
size (elements) handles data sent from the device servers to the Engine.
2000
2000
Server Input Queue Determines the length, in bytes, of the queue that
binary size (bytes)
handles binary data (string tags) sent from the device
servers to the Engine.
Server Output
Queue size
(elements)
Determines the length, in elements, of the queue that
handles data sent from the Engine to the device servers.
2000
2000
30
Server Output
Queue binary size
(bytes)
Determines the length, in bytes, of the queue that
handles binary data (string tags) sent from the Engine to
the device servers.
Server Shutdown
timeout (seconds)
Determines the time, in seconds, the Engine waits for all
active device servers to shutdown before asking the user
if the servers are to be forcefully terminated.
Note
Although you can configure these parameters, it is highly recommended you
maintain the default values.
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Tag Configuration
How Do You Launch Server Configuration
Utilities from the Tag Configuration Editor?
When you register a server in your system, BridgeVIEW registers
the location of its configuration utility, if it exists. You can access
the server configuration utilities from the Servers menu of the Tag
Configuration Editor.
Note
When you update the server registry while the Tag Configuration Editor is
running, select Servers»Refresh to prompt the Tag Configuration Editor to
read the updated information.
How Do You Access or Change Tag
Configuration Information in Your Application?
BridgeVIEW allows you read/write access of tag configuration
information to use in your application. This is often helpful when
displaying engineering units, scales, and other information about the tag
or changing a tag from Offscanto Onscan. The Tag Attributes VIs obtain
and determine this information. The Tag Attributes VIs are listed below.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Get Tag Attribute
Set Tag Attributes
Set Multiple Tag Attributes
Get Tag Description Group
Get Tag I/O Connection Info
Get Tag Logging Info
Get Tag Range and Units
Get Tag Alarm Enabled
Get Analog Tag Alarm Limit
Get Discrete Tag Alarm Setting
Get Tag Bad Status Alarm
More information and an activity that use the Tag Attributes VIs can be
found in the Tag Attributes VIs section of Chapter 7, Advanced Application
Topics. For complete information about these, and other VIs, see
Appendix A, HMI Function Reference.
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4
Human Machine Interface
This chapter explains what a Human Machine Interface (HMI) is and how
you can monitor and control tags from your HMI. This chapter also
describes several general principles of HMI programming in G, and
provides activities that illustrate how to accomplish the following:
•
•
Build your HMI using the HMI G Wizard
Customize front panel objects with imported graphics
Note
To understand the concepts, and to complete most tasks associated with building
an HMI, you should be familiar with the basic functionality of G programming.
If you have not completed the G Tutorial section of this manual, you should do
so now.
The example diagrams shown in this chapter are taken from several HMI
examples you can find in the BridgeVIEW\Examples\HMI Examples
folder.
What Is an HMI?
An HMI is the interface through which an operator interacts with the
BridgeVIEW system and with the outside environment that BridgeVIEW
monitors and controls. The operator is the end user of the system.
To monitor the changes in configured tags in real time, you can build one
or more Human Machine Interface (HMI) applications.
BridgeVIEW includes a set of VIs with which you can control your HMI,
access the Real-Time Database and Citadel, perform calculations and logic,
and switch between different displays. The BridgeVIEW VI library
includes Alarms and Events VIs, Historical Data VIs, System VIs, Tags
VIs, and Tag Attributes VIs. For more information about these VIs, see
Appendix A, HMI Function Reference. For more information about the
G VI Library, see the Online Reference.
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There are several general G programming principles with which you should
be familiar before you build an HMI. These principles are listed below:
•
•
•
•
•
Building basic G front panels and diagrams
Using controls and indicators
Using the tag data type
Using the basic principles of dataflow programming
Using basic programming constructs such as the Sequence structure
and While Loop
•
Using the Time and Dialog VI library
G Programming Reference Manual.
For more advanced HMI programming, you also should know how to use
the G control and indicator attribute nodes and the VI Server functions.
For more information about this topic, see Chapter 13, Front Panel Object
You might want to divide your HMI into several panels so the operator can
navigate through them using buttons on the screen. The Panel G Wizard
helps you generate the navigation system by automatically generating code
and attaching it to front panel buttons. For more information about the
Panel G Wizard, see Chapter 7, Advanced Application Topics.
How Do You Build an HMI?
To build an HMI, use the graphical controls and indicators to lay out the
user interface objects on the front panel, and a special set of VI libraries
on the block diagram to do the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Read and write tag values
View and acknowledge alarm states and events
Display historical and real-time data
Read tag configuration and security information
Control the BridgeVIEW system programmatically
Access and change tag attributes
Control output tags
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Front Panel Objects
A front panel is the user interface of a virtual instrument (VI). You build
the front panel of a VI with a combination of controls and indicators
representing the values of the tags. Controls are the means of supplying
data to your VI, and indicators display data that your VI generates. There
are many types of controls and indicators available from the Controls
palette, shown in the following illustration. You can choose objects to place
on your front panel such as real-time trend displays, alarms and events
displays, and numeric indicators. You also can choose automation symbols,
such as vessels, pumps, and valves.
Booleans
(Acknowledge
Tag Controls
and Indicators
Alarm Button)
Graphs
(Real-Time Trend,
Historical Trend)
Vessels
Pipes, Pumps,
and Valves
Automation
Decorations
Alarms and Events
To develop an HMI application, configure your tags, create the front panel
interface and then use the HMI G Wizard to build your block diagram.
For more information about how to use the HMI G Wizard, refer to the
HMI G Wizard section in this chapter. If you prefer to build the block
diagram on your own, without the assistance of the HMI G Wizard, you
may do so, or you can get started by building a basic block diagram with
the HMI G Wizard and then building upon that to create a more advanced
HMI on your own.
HMI G Wizard
The HMI G Wizard provides an easy interface for you to generate
repetitive pieces of diagram code. If you are new to G programming,
the HMI G Wizard can be an immense help in building simple tag
monitoring and control loops.
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The HMI G Wizard associates a front panel control or indicator with a tag,
and generates the necessary Wizard subdiagram for a configuration that
you specify. Table 4-1 provides a list of front panel objects, and explains
how the HMI G Wizard operates on each of them.
Table 4-1. HMI G Wizard Operations
HMI Function
Front Panel Object
Description
Control analog tags
Numeric Control
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a numeric control
to associate an analog output tag value with that
control. You can set the colors and blink options
under alarm conditions, and specify the updates
to happen only when the control value changes.
Display analog
values
Numeric Indicator
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a numeric indicator to
associate an analog input tag value with that
indicator. You can set the color and blink options
under alarm conditions.
Control discrete tags Boolean Control
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a Boolean control to
associate a discrete output tag value or an alarm
acknowledgement state (Alarm Acknowledgement)
with that control. When you invoke the Wizard for
the first time on a Boolean control, the
Acknowledge
alarms
Configuration dialog box is set for Tag Value. To
change the control association from tag value to
alarm acknowledgement mode, change the Attach
Control to: ring to Alarm Acknowledgement.
Select a set of tags that requires acknowledgement
when the Control value is set to TRUE. You can set
blink and color options under Alarm Conditions.
A preformatted Acknowledge Alarm button is
contained in the Boolean Controls palette.
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Table 4-1. HMI G Wizard Operations (Continued)
HMI Function
Front Panel Object
Description
Display discrete
values
Boolean Indicator
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a Boolean indicator
to associate a discrete input tag value or an alarm
state with that indicator. When you invoke the
Wizard for the first time on a Boolean indicator,
the Configuration dialog box is set for Tag Value.
You can set blink and color options under Alarm
Conditions. To change the control association
from tag value to alarm state, change the Attach
Indicator to: ring to Tag Alarm State. Select
the tag for which the indicator will display the
alarm state.
Indicate
an alarm state
Control string tags
String Control
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a string control to
associate a string output tag value with that control.
You can set the colors and blink options under alarm
conditions, and specify the updates to happen only
when the control value changes.
Display string
values
String Indicator
Alarm Summary
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a string indicator to
associate a string input tag value with that indicator.
You can set the color and blink options under alarm
conditions.
Display alarm
summary
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a table indicator
Display or any Table to obtain a summary of current alarms (Alarm
Indicator
Summary). You can set the HMI G Wizard to
Alarm Summary mode by setting the value of the
Use this Indicator for: ring to Alarm Summary.
You can select a set of tags whose alarms
require monitoring. You also can set colors of
acknowledged and unacknowledged alarms and
column format of the summary. Preformatted
alarm summary indicators are contained in the
Alarms and Events palette.
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Table 4-1. HMI G Wizard Operations (Continued)
HMI Function
Front Panel Object
Description
Display event
Event History
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a table indicator to
history information
Display or any Table obtain a history of past events and alarms (Event
Indicator
History). For an event history display, you can set
the HMI G Wizard to Event History mode by
setting the value of the Use this Indicator for:
ring to Event History. You can select a set of tags
whose history needs to be displayed. You also can
set colors of acknowledged and unacknowledged
alarms, normal and event entries, and column
format of the summary. Preformatted event history
indicators are contained in the Alarms and Events
palette.
Display a real-time
trend
Real-Time Trend or
Waveform Chart
Indicator
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a real-time trend or
waveform chart indicator to select a set of tags for
which the values need to be displayed in a chart
(real-time trend).
Display a historical
trend
Historical Trend or
Invoke the HMI G Wizard on a historical trend or
XY Graph Indicator XY graph indicator to select a set of tags for which
the values need to be displayed in an XY graph
(historical trend).
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To invoke the Wizard, pop up on a front panel object, and select
HMI G Wizard…. For example, the HMI G Wizard dialog box for an
analog input tag appears in Figure 4-1 by popping up on a numeric
indicator.
Figure 4-1. HMI G Wizard Dialog Box
When you invoke the HMI G Wizard on one of the front panel objects listed
in Table 4-1, a dialog box appears for that object. You can associate the
front panel object with a tag, and set the various parameters. When you
select OK in the dialog box, the Wizard generates diagram code according
to the dialog entries and pastes the code on the block diagram.
From the HMI G Wizard, you can also right-click on the tag selection list
and select Copy Tag…, Edit Tag…, or Create Tag…, to edit or copy the
selected tag, or create a new one using the Tag Configuration Editor. When
you select OK, the newly created or edited tag is automatically saved to the
current .scffile, and you are returned to the HMI G Wizard. For more
information about the Tag Configuration Editor, see Chapter 3, Tag
Configuration.
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Generate the Block Diagram
Once you associate a front panel object with a tag and set the various
parameters, the HMI G Wizard generates the appropriate code and places
it on the block diagram. For example, using the HMI G Wizard for Analog
Indicator, shown in Figure 4-1, the following Wizard subdiagram appears
on the block diagram.
Front Panel Object and Wizard
Subdiagram Association
When the HMI G Wizard has created a block diagram, there is an
association between the front panel object and the generated Wizard
subdiagram. The association is protected by a Wizard lock which prevents
you from editing the Wizard subdiagram. The lock glyph on the loop,
shown at left, indicates that the Wizard has locked the subdiagram. While
the subdiagram is locked, you can pop up on the front panel object, select
HMI G Wizard…, and change your selections in the dialog box. To edit
the Wizard subdiagram, pop up on the Wizard subdiagram and select
Release Wizard Lock, as shown below.
Note
Once you have released the Wizard lock, the association is broken. The Wizard no
longer identifies the Wizard subdiagram as being created by it.
Your objective is to create a simple HMI using the HMI G Wizard.
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you edited in Activity 3-1 and is located in the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
Note
Before you can begin this activity, you must have completed Activity 3-1,
Configure a Tag, and View the Tag Configuration Parameters and Tag Values,
in Chapter 3.
1. Place a real-time trend from the Controls»Graph subpalette on your
front panel. Pop up on the object and select Show»Label. Type
Real-Time Trendin the label.
2. Pop up on the trend and select HMI G Wizard….
3. Now you can select a list of tags to monitor. Select Mixer, and click on
Add, as shown in the following illustration.
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If you do not see a list of available tags or the tag name Mixer is not in
the list when you click on the Tag menu ring, pop up on the menu ring
and select Tag Browser… to select the correct .scffile. Press the
Browse… button on the Tag Browser to bring up a dialog box and
select mytanks.scf. This dialog box automatically appears if no
.scffile is currently selected.
If the Engine is running already, the Browse… button is dimmed and
you cannot change the .scffile until you stop the Engine. The Tag
Browser shows you a summary of the configuration parameters of the
tags in the file.
When you have selected the proper .scffile from the Tag Browser,
click OK to return to the HMI G Wizard.
4. Click OK. Notice that the HMI G Wizard has created the block
diagram for you, as shown in the following illustration.
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5. Return to the front panel and run the VI. It launches the Engine if it is
not running already. The Engine reads mytanks.scfand launches the
Tanks Server.
6. Now, you can see the Mixer tag values being monitored in the real-time
trend. Select Operate»Stop to stop the VI.
Diagrams generated by the HMI G Wizard have a lock on the top right
corner of the outermost structure. You cannot edit the code inside the
structure until you release the lock. However, you can pop up on the
front panel object, select HMI G Wizard, and change your selections
in the dialog box. When you press OK, the changes are incorporated
into the previously generated diagram.
The locked code is very tightly coupled with the front panel object. If
you delete the front panel object, the block diagram associated with it
is deleted automatically.
7. Save the VI as My Tank HMI.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
End of Activity 4-1.
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How Do You Customize Front Panel Objects?
You can customize BridgeVIEW controls and indicators to change their
default appearance on the front panel with the Control Editor. You also can
save these controls for use in other VIs. Programmatically, they function
the same as standard BridgeVIEW controls.
Control Editor
You launch the Control Editor by selecting a control on the front panel with
the Positioning tool and choosing Edit»Edit Control…. The Control
Editor appears with the selected front panel object in its window. The
Control Editor has two modes: the Edit mode and the Customize mode.
The Edit mode allows you to pop up on a control and manipulate its
setting(s). The Control dialog box is shown below.
Figure 4-2. Control Dialog Box
While in the Customize mode, you can move the individual components of
a control around with respect to each other. For a listing of what you can
manipulate in customize mode, select Windows»Show Parts Window.
Not only can you customize the appearance, but you can use the control in
other VIs. Save it as a custom control by selecting Save. You can save it
with different definitions such as control, type definition, or strict type
definition which controls how much of the control can be modified in other
VIs. After you save the control, you can place it on other front panels using
the Controls»Select a Control… option. For more information, refer to
Chapter 24, Custom Controls and Type Definitions, in the G Programming
Reference Manual.
When you edit a control, a new window opens with a copy of the control.
elements to clusters, and so on. These changes do not affect the original VI
until you select File»Apply Changes, or you close the window and select
Yes to the prompt concerning replacing the original control.
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If you want to use the control in other VIs, you can save it as a custom
control by selecting File»Save. After you save the control, you can place it
on other front panels using the Controls»Select a Control….
Importing Graphics
You can import graphics from other programs for use as background
pictures, as items in ring controls, or parts of other front panel controls.
Before you use a picture in BridgeVIEW, you must load it into the
BridgeVIEW clipboard. To load an example of this type of control,
right-click the front panel and select Controls»Select a Control…, and
open Example\G Examples\General\controls\custom.llb box.
If you copy an image directly from a paint program to the Windows
clipboard and then switch to BridgeVIEW, BridgeVIEW automatically
imports the picture to the BridgeVIEW clipboard. Or you can select
Edit»Import Picture from File… to import a graphics file into the
BridgeVIEW clipboard. Once a picture is in the BridgeVIEW clipboard,
you can paste it as a static picture on your front panel, or you can use the
Import Picture option of a popup menu, or the Import Picture options in
the Control Editor. Picture files supported include EMF, BMP, and WMFfiles.
Activity 4-2. Import a Graphic Image into
BridgeVIEW
Your objective is to use a graphic image created in an external drawing
package in a BridgeVIEW front panel control.
1. In BridgeVIEW, select File»New to create a new VI. With the front
panel open, select a Horizontal Pointer Slide from
Controls»Numeric. Pop up on the slide (click on it with the right
mouse button) and select Change to Indicator.
2. With the Positioning tool, grab the upper-right corner of the slide and
stretch it to the right, to make the slide longer. If you hold down the
<Shift> key when you click and drag the mouse, you will restrict the
stretch to one direction. Move the Digital Display of the slide to a
central location below the slide.
3. Select the slide with the Positioning tool and select
in the following illustration.
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4. Click on the Edit Mode button in the Control Editor toolbar. The
wrench changes to a pair of tweezers to illustrate that you are in
Customize mode. In Customize mode, the control is broken into
several parts. You cannot operate the control while the Control Editor
is in Customize mode.
5. Select Edit»Import Picture from File… from the Control Editor
menu bar. A file dialog box prompts you to select a picture file to open.
Open boat1.wmffrom the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
6. Pop up on the pointer of the slide and select Import Picture. The boat
image is imported onto the triangular pointer of the slide, as shown in
the following illustration.
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7. Click on the pair of tweezers to return to Edit mode. You can finish
editing the control in Edit mode.
8. Pop up on the housing of the slide and select Scale»Style»None. The
scale for the slide disappears.
9. Change tools to the Color tool. To do this, you either can select the tool
from the palette, if visible, or you can use the <Tab> key to rotate
through the tools until the Color tool is selected. Pop up on the housing
for the slide with the Color tool, and select the transparent color. The
housing disappears, as shown in the following illustration.
With the Operator tool, you can operate the “slide.” Notice that the
digital display continues to update as you move the boat on the screen.
If you want to hide the digital display, pop up on the boat and deselect
Show»Digital Display.
10. Save this control as Boat1.ctlin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
End of Activity 4-2.
How Do You Configure Front Panel Objects
BridgeVIEW has objects called attribute nodes which are special block
diagram nodes you can use to control the appearance and functional
characteristics of controls and indicators from your diagram. You can set
attributes such as display colors, visibility, position, blinking, trend scales,
and many more. See Chapter 13, Front Panel Object Attributes, or
Chapter 7, Advanced Application Topics, for more information.
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How Do You Monitor and Control Tags?
The Tags VI library and Alarms and Events VI library contain VIs for your
HMI application to interact with the BridgeVIEW Real-Time Database.
These are the primary VIs you use to build your HMI. You can use these
VIs to accomplish the following:
•
•
•
•
Read tag values
Write tag values
Monitor tag and tag group alarm and event states
Acknowledge alarms by tag and tag group
There are other VI libraries that contain VIs with which you can add
additional functionality and sophistication to your HMI. These VIs do not
interact directly with the BridgeVIEW RTDB. Instead, you can query as
well as control other features of the BridgeVIEW system. These VI
libraries are as follows:
•
•
•
Tag Attributes
Historical Data
System, which includes Security VIs
You can reach these VIs through the Functions palette, shown below.
Tags
(Read, Write and Trend
Tags and Constants)
Alarms and Events
Tag Attributes
Historical Data
System and Security
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Tag Data Type
BridgeVIEW has a special data type called the tag data type that is aware
of the available tag names and tag group names contained in the current
.scffile. All BridgeVIEW functions that can operate on tags or tag groups
use the tag data type. The tag data type is marked with a valve glyph.
Constants and wires in the block diagram carrying this tag information
are displayed in purple.
The tag control and indicator can be found in the Controls»Strings palette.
The tag constant can be found in the Functions»Tags palette. The
Functions»Tags palette also contains functions that convert between a tag
data type and a string data type, and a special “not a tag” constant. The
following illustration shows the tag control, indicator and constant as they
appear on the front panel and block diagram.
Front Panel View of Tag Controls and Indicators
Block Diagram View of a Tag Control and Incidator, and Tag Constant
Tag controls, indicators and constants also can be contained in arrays.
Many BridgeVIEW VIs operate on arrays of tags.
When you drop a tag control, indicator, or constant on a front panel, you
can click on the right menu ring button of the tag control to display a list of
the available tags and tag groups and select one.
Tag groups are distinguished from individual tags in the list by a folder
glyph. A special group <ALL>also appears in the list. This is a default
group that contains all the tags in your .scffile. The following illustration
shows a list of tags and tag groups.
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You also can enter the name of the tag you want to use. The tag control
performs a Type Look Ahead as you type, and displays the closest tag or
group name to what you enter. By default, the tag control does not allow
you to enter a name that is not contained in the current .scffile.
You can configure each tag control, indicator, or constant to permit entry of
names not contained in the current .scffile by right-clicking on the tag
object and selecting Allow undefined tags, as shown in the illustration
below. If a tag name is not in your .scffile, you cannot select it.
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The tag data type imports tag and tag group names from a tag configuration
file (.scf). When you launch BridgeVIEW, the tag data type list of
available tag names and tag group names is automatically updated from
your default .scffile. The default .scffile is the last file you edited in the
Tag Configuration Editor. If the list of names is empty, you have no default
.scffile.
To change the currently selected .scffile, right-click on the tag control,
indicator, or constant, and select Tag Browser…. Press the Browse…
button to bring up a dialog box from which you can select the .scffile you
want to use. This is possible as long as the BridgeVIEW Engine is not
running. When the Engine is launched, the Tag Browser runs the currently
selected .scffile. You cannot change the current .scffile until you stop
the Engine.
You can create, edit or copy a tag by right-clicking on the tag control,
indicator, or constant, and selecting Create Tag…, Edit Tag…, or Copy
Tag…. Selecting any of these options invokes the Tag Configuration
Editor. Any new or changed tags are automatically saved to the .scffile,
and the list of available tags is then updated. For more information about
the Tag Configuration Editor, see Chapter 3, Tag Configuration.
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Tag constants in your diagram (and tag controls and indicators if they are
saved with default values) retain the tag name or tag group name selected
when your VI is saved. The name contained in the tag control, indicator
selected .scffile. This might be because the tag name has been deleted
from the .scffile, or the VI was created using a different .scffile. If you
try to run the VI at this point, you will get a system error for each tag that
is undefined in the current .scffile. You can control which .scffile the
BridgeVIEW Engine runs programmatically. This capability is covered in
Chapter 7, Advanced Application Topics.
Tags VIs and Alarms and Events VIs
The Tags VIs and Alarms and Events VIs have several properties in
common. With these VIs, you operate on tags by wiring the tag name or tag
group name into the tag name or group/tag name input of the VI when
you place them in your diagram. These are required inputs. Some VIs
accept arrays of tag names or tag and tag group names.
The Tags VIs and Alarms and Events VIs return several flags that indicate
the state of the BridgeVIEW Engine. They return a Boolean error flag to
indicate whether the operation was successful. If the error flag is TRUE,
the tag specific information returned by the VI might not be valid. Some
VIs also return a more detailed value status variable.
All the VIs return a shutdown indication. If TRUE, this output indicates
that the BridgeVIEW Engine is in the shutdown state, and your application
must finish execution so that shutdown can finish. If the BridgeVIEW
Engine goes into the shutdown state while these VIs are waiting on an
event, the VI terminates the wait and returns immediately to the calling
diagram. You can use this output to tell your diagram to complete
execution.
All VIs that read information from the BridgeVIEW database can return
information immediately or wait for the database to be updated with new
information before returning. The timeout input controls this behavior.
This input tells the VI how long to wait, in seconds, for the tag information
to be updated in the Real-Time Database.
If timeout is 0 seconds, the VI immediately reads the database and returns
the current tag information. If timeout is less than 0, the VI continues to
than 0, the VI waits until the tag is updated in the database, or the timeout
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period is exceeded, whichever occurs first, then reads the database and
returns the current tag information. By default, timeout is 0 seconds.
If you wire nothing into the timeout input of your diagram, the VI reads the
database and returns immediately. How you use the timeout input depends
on whether you want to implement event-driven or polled programming
techniques in your HMI.
All VIs that read information form the BridgeVIEW database have a
changed? output that is TRUE if the returned information is new or
updated. If the VI returns and changed? is FALSE, the VI might have timed
out, or the information in the database did not change since the last time you
read it. You can use this output to make your program more efficient by
using a case statement to update the user interface only if the information
has changed.
Some of the more advanced Tags VIs and Alarms and Events VIs also
return an initialize headers or config changed output that tells your
program whether your HMI object needs to be initialized with new
information. In most cases, this corresponds to the first time the VI is
called, and you only need to update that part of your user interface once.
For more information about the Tags VI Library, refer to Appendix A,
HMI Function Reference.
Activity 4-3. Read a Tag
Your objective is to monitor a single tag value using the Read Tag VI.
In this activity, the Read Tag VI returns when a new value for the tag is
acquired from the Tanks Server, and updated in the RTDB, or a timeout
of 1 second is exceeded, whichever occurs first. This loop continues
executing until the Engine shuts down. You will use mytanks.scfin
the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory, which you edited in Activity 3-1,
Configure a Tag, and View the Tag Configuration Parameters and Tag
Values.
Front Panel
1. Open a new VI (File»New) and place a tank on the front panel
from 0 to 1000.
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Block Diagram
2. To create the block diagram, pop up on the tank and select
HMI G Wizard…. Select Product for the Tag and click OK, as
shown in the following illustration.
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3. The HMI G Wizard generates a diagram for you that calls the Read Tag
VI, as shown in the following illustration.
4. Pop up on the lock in the top right corner of the While Loop and select
Release Wizard Lock.
5. Using the Labeling tool, edit the timeout input to the Read Tag VI
from its default –1.00(indefinite) to 1.00.
6. Using the Positioning tool, select the bottom right corner of the While
Loop and expand it.
7. Using the Wiring tool, pop up on the value timestamp output of the
Read Tag VI and select Create Indicator. Pop up on the in alarm
output of the Read Tag VI and select Create Indicator. The block
diagram should appear as shown in the following illustration.
8. From the front panel, change the format of value timestamp to display
Format & Precision, and set Format to Time & Date. Your front
panel should appear as shown in the following illustration.
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9. Save the VI as Monitor Product.viin the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory.
10. Run the VI. The Engine launches, unless it is running already. The tank
level changes to reflect the changing values of the Product tag. When
the value goes over 800, the in alarmBoolean changes from OFF to
ON, indicating an alarm condition.
End of Activity 4-3.
How Do the Tags, and Alarms and Events VIs
Affect Startup/Shutdown?
When a user-defined VI runs and executes one of the Tags VIs or Alarms
and Events VIs, that VI checks the status of the BridgeVIEW Engine. If it
is not running, executing the VI automatically starts execution of the
BridgeVIEW Engine. The BridgeVIEW Engine loads and executes all
required device servers. When the VI returns, the Engine is running.
The BridgeVIEW Engine continues to run until you shut it down either
programmatically or through the Engine Manager. As the Engine shuts
down, first it checks to see if any application is running that requires its
services. If so, it waits until that application halts before shutting down.
Once it shuts down, it sends a shutdown message to the device servers.
You can monitor the status of the BridgeVIEW Engine with the shutdown
output of any of the Tags VIs, Alarms and Events VIs, or the Get Engine
Status VI.
Note
If you write applications that do not use the BridgeVIEW VIs that access the
Real-Time Database such as the VIs that retrieve historical data, those
applications can run without the BridgeVIEW Engine running. They do not
launch the BridgeVIEW Engine.
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General Principles of G HMI Programming
You can choose how to monitor and control tag values as well as operator
interface controls and indicators in your HMI. Normally, you use one or
more While Loops in a VI diagram with a single wait operation inside of
each loop. Each While Loop executes once after its wait operation
completes. The wait operation might be one of the Time and Dialog
functions such as the Wait Until Next ms Multiple function. This is a polled
technique in which your diagram controls loop execution.
Alternatively, the wait operation might be implemented using one of the
Tags VIs or Alarms and Events VIs with timeout wired to a non-zero value.
These are the types of diagrams created by the HMI G Wizard. This is an
event-driven technique, in which a tag or alarm event controls loop
execution. Either technique is appropriate, depending on your HMI needs.
You can wait on multiple events for which timing is not related to each
other in parallel on the same diagram, as long as you wait for each event in
a separate While Loop. This section covers the following topics:
•
•
•
•
•
Event-driven programming
Polled programming
Multiple loop applications
Real-time trends
Programmatic HMI indicator configuration
How Do You Implement Event-Driven Programming in G?
more events to happen and, as each event occurs, the part of your program
waiting on that event is executed. In G, you can develop applications that
wait on different events and do operations in parallel by using multiple
While Loops in your diagram.
Figure 4-3 shows an example using event-driven programming to monitor
tag value and tag alarm state. One loop monitors the value of the Mixertag
and another loop monitors alarm information for the Mixertag. These two
loops run independently of each other. When the Mixertag value changes,
or when 1.00second has elapsed, the Read Tag VI returns and updates the
Mixer in Alarm, Mixer, value timestamp, and bad value
indicators. When the alarm stateof the Mixertag changes, or 5.00
seconds have elapsed, the Read Tag Alarm VI returns and updates the
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alarm stateindicator, and controls the blinking of the Mixer in Alarm
indicator. Both loops run in parallel until shutdown is TRUE.
Figure 4-3. Monitor Tag Value and Alarm VI
The Mixer in Alarm Blinkingattribute and the alarm state
indicator are updated only when the changed? output of the Read Tag
Alarm VI is TRUE. This example demonstrates how you might use the
changed? output. In this example, it is not important to use the Case
structure because BridgeVIEW indicators update only when the displayed
information actually changes.
If you use a large number of indicators or attribute nodes or more complex
indicators such as tables and graphs, updating the indicator when changed
by using a Case structure in your diagram can improve the display
performance of your VI.
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How Do You Implement Polled Programming in G?
You do not have to use a separate loop for each Tags or Alarms and Events
VI. This can be cumbersome to program for a large number of tag reads,
although using the HMI G Wizard makes it easy to build separate loops
timed intervals. You usually need one While Loop in your diagram to poll
your front panel controls, so you can monitor what the operator is doing.
Using polling, you can combine monitoring of HMI controls with the
reading in of tag values and alarm states.
Figure 4-4 shows an example implementing a more complex user interface
that polls all the input tags as well as the front panel Start Batch button at
100 m/s intervals. When you leave the timeout input unwired, all Read
Tag VIs read the BridgeVIEW database immediately by default.
Note
In this case, you must explicitly program the loop wait time by using the Wait Until
Next ms Multiple VI. If you do not, the loop operates as often as possible, and
requires most of the CPU time.
This example also illustrates use of the Write Tag VIs. In this case, the
Write Tag (discrete) VI is called only when the front panel button is
pressed. In other cases, you might want to write the tag value at each
iteration. You also can use the Write Tag on Change VI to update the RTDB
only when the value of the front panel control changes. This can improve
your over all application performance.
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Figure 4-4. Process View Display VI
How Do You Initialize and Shut Down Multiple-Loop Applications?
When you have a multiple-loop application, you can add initialization code
before executing the loops, and some cleanup or shutdown code after all the
Put the initialization code in the first frame of the Sequence structure, put
all your loops in the second frame of the Sequence structure, and put the
shutdown code in your final sequence. This guarantees that none of your
loops start execution until your initialization code is complete and that all
loops complete execution before you execute the shutdown code.
Figures 4-7 and 4-8 demonstrate this technique.
You also can use dataflow programming to enforce sequential operation. In
some cases, your diagram might be easier to read using this technique. It is
possible that you might have some data flow between the initialization code
and the loops anyway. There is no difference in performance using either
technique. It is purely a diagram documentation issue. Figure 4-6 illustrates
using this technique.
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How Do You Display Real-Time Trends?
You can build a real-time trend by dropping a real-time trend indicator on
your front panel and popping up on it to select the HMI G Wizard.
Alternatively, you can assemble the diagram manually using a While Loop
and the Trend Tags VI. Wire the output of the Trend Tags VI to the terminal
for a real-time trend indicator. The Trend Tags VI accepts an array of tag
names, and returns information for a real-time trend you can wire directly
to the real-time trend or Waveform Chart indicator. You can control how
often the trend updates by the time interval control, which, if left unwired,
is once per second by default. The scale to % control controls the scale on
the trend. If scale to % is TRUE, the trends return as a percent (%) of full
scale for each tag. If scale to % is FALSE, the trends return in engineering
units. If scale to % is left unwired, trend values return in engineering units,
by default.
The Trend Tags VI always waits the specified time interval. For this reason,
a Trend Tags VI usually is placed in its own While Loop because it controls
the loop execution rate. If you want to execute other VIs at the same rate
that the real-time trend updates, place them in the same loop.
Figure 4-5 shows an HMI with two real-time trend displays. The Trend
Tank Temperaturedisplays the trend in percent of full scale, and is
updated every 1.0 second. The Trend Tank Levelis displayed in
engineering units, and is updated every 2.0 seconds. The tag names passed
into the Trend Tags VI are tag array constants containing the tag names of
interest. Notice that the Trend Tags VI only accepts tag names and not tag
group names.
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Figure 4-5. Two Trend Display VI
The real-time trend indicator updates with a value for each tag every time
the indicator is written to. If a VI using this indicator is executed several
times, it still has previous data displayed. For this reason, you might want
to initialize the real-time trend indicator before the loop begins execution.
You also can control attributes of the real-time trend indicator such as time
scale. Figure 4-6 shows a single real-time trend display VI that initializes
the time scale of the Trend indicator to the current time (read from Get Date
Time in Seconds) and the interval corresponding to the Trend Tags time
interval input. It also clears the trend display by writing an empty array to
the Trends History Data attribute.
Figure 4-6. Initializing the Waveform Chart Indicator for a Real-Time Trend Display
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This example illustrates the use of dataflow programming to enforce the
wiring the time interval (secs) constant through the Sequence structure and
into the While Loop, the While Loop does not begin execution until the
code in the Sequence structure has completed execution. Another way to
enforce this order of execution is to put the While Loop inside the second
frame of the Sequence structure. Both techniques are correct. The
advantage of the technique used in Figure 4-6 is that it is easy to see the
entire diagram at a glance.
How Can You Use Tag Attributes to Configure
HMI Indicator Attributes Programmatically?
Use the Tag Attributes VI library to read or change specific configuration
details of a tag. Anything you have configured in the Tag Configuration
Editor can be queried programmatically using the Tag Attributes VIs. Use
these VIs when you want to control attributes programmatically for your
front panel controls or indicators, or to display configuration information
on your HMI. Setting attributes programmatically for front panel controls
and indicators is an alternative to changing attribute values for the control
or indicator through the various front panel pop-up menus or by typing into
various control and indicator fields.
Handling attributes programmatically is most useful when you use the
configuration, see Chapter 3, Tag Configuration. For more information
about the Tag Attributes VIs, see the section Tag Attributes VIs in
Appendix A, HMI Function Reference, and Chapter 7, Advanced
Application Topics.
Figure 4-7 shows a simple case where the scale range for all the front panel
level and temperature indicators are set to the engineering scale that is
configured for the tag. A unit string display for each L1and Tempindicator
is initialized to the engineering unit for the respective tag. The Get Tag
Range and Units VI returns the engineering scale range information in a
form that can be wired directly to a control or indicator scale range attribute
node. The VI also returns the engineering units configured for the tag.
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Figure 4-7. Using the Tag Attributes VIs to Initialize Front Panel Indicators, Frame 0
Figure 4-8 illustrates the subsequent frame of the Sequence structure. The
HMI runs in a loop, monitoring the various tags and front panel controls
until the BridgeVIEW Engine shuts down.
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5
Alarms and Events
This chapter introduces the basic concepts of alarms and events, and
explains how to view, acknowledge, and configure them within the
BridgeVIEW system. This chapter also provides activities that explain
how to build an alarm summary display and acknowledge alarms from
your HMI.
What are Alarms and Events?
An alarm is an abnormal process condition pertaining to a tag.
In BridgeVIEW, alarms are generated based on changes in a tag value
or status.
An event is something that happens within the BridgeVIEW system.
Events can be divided into two groups: those that pertain to individual tags
and those that pertain to the overall BridgeVIEW system. An example of a
tag event is a change of alarm state for a tag. Examples of system events
include a user logging on, the Engine starting up, or historical logging
being turned on. For more information about system events, see Chapter 2,
BridgeVIEW Environment.
Alarm States
For analog tags, an alarm state can be of type HI_HI, HI, LO, or LO_LO.
For all data types (analog, discrete, bit array, and string), if the server
returns a bad status, and you have enabled alarming on bad status, the tag
goes into Bad Status alarm. All data types except string also support alarms
based on tag value. If an analog tag exceeds a preconfigured alarm limit,
one of these alarms can occur. Discrete and bit array tags are either not in
alarm or in alarm.
Alarm Limit
An alarm limit is the numeric value an analog tag must exceed to go into
an alarm state.
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Alarm Priority
An alarm priority indicates the severity of an alarm. Priorities range from
1 (lowest) to 15 (highest). You can filter the alarms displayed in your HMI
by alarm priority.
Alarm Summary
An alarm summary is a collection of all the alarms that currently exist in
the system. In addition, if a tag previously in alarm returns to normal but is
unacknowledged, a notification is posted in the alarm summary. You can
report alarms to your HMI by using the Alarm Summary Display, which is
available in the Controls»Alarms and Events palette of the front panel,
and the Read Alarm Summary VI, which is available in the
Functions»Alarms and Events palette from the block diagram.
The alarms displayed in your Alarm Summary Display can be filtered by
group or tag names, priority, and acknowledgment status.
Event History
An event history is a collection of all the alarms and events pertaining to tag
values that have occurred in the BridgeVIEW system since the Engine was
started. You can report recent events to your HMI by using the Event
History Display, available in the Alarms and Events palette from the front
panel, and by using the Read Event History VI in the Alarms and Events
palette from the block diagram. The alarms displayed in your Event History
Display also can be filtered by group or tag names, priority, and
acknowledgment status.
How Do You Display Alarm Summary Information?
To read the alarms currently in the BridgeVIEW system, drop an Alarm
Summary Display from the Controls»Alarms and Events palette on your
front panel. You can invoke the HMI G Wizard to create the block diagram
for an alarm summary, or you can build your own diagram. For more
information about the HMI G Wizard, see Chapter 4, Human Machine
Interface.
If you are building your own block diagram, use the Read Alarm Summary
VI in your block diagram. If you want to change the default fields (time,
date, tag name, alarm limit) that are visible in the Alarm Summary Display,
you can use the Alarm Summary Format control from the Controls»
Alarms and Events palette and change the checkbox selections. You also
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can change the default colors of alarms, acknowledged alarms and
unacknowledged tags that have returned to normal with the Color Codes for
Alarm Summary control, which also is available in the Alarms and Events
palette.
Activity 5-1. Build an Alarm Summary Display
Your objective is to use the HMI G Wizard to display alarm summary
information.
1. Place an Alarm Summary Display from the Controls»Alarms and
Events subpalette on a new front panel, as shown below.
2. Pop up on the Alarm Summary Display, and select HMI G Wizard….
The following dialog box appears.
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3. Now, you can select the tags to monitor. In the tag list, select <ALL>to
view alarms on all the tags that have alarms configured. Click on the
Add button to add all tags to the list. If you do not see a list of available
tags when you click on the Tag menu ring, pop up with your right
mouse button on the menu ring and select Tag Browser…. A dialog
box appears and prompts you to select the desired .scffile containing
the configuration of your tags. Select mytanks.scf. Click on the OK
button.
The HMI G Wizard creates the diagram shown in the following
illustration.
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The diagram above uses event-driven programming to wait for an
alarm summary event before updating the Alarm Summary Display.
The Read Alarm Summary VI returns when an alarm event occurs on
any of the tags in the tag constant array. The column headers for the
Alarm Summary Display are initialized when the Read Alarm
Summary VI returns for the first time, and the initialize output is set.
The Alarm Summary Display is updated when the Read Alarm
Summary VI returns with changed? set.
4. Save the VI as My Alarm Summary.viin the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory.
5. Run the VI. Now you can display the alarms on tags that have been
configured for alarms. By default, the Alarm Summary Display shows
alarms as red when they are in an unacknowledged alarm state, yellow
when they are acknowledged and in alarm, and green when they are not
in alarm but unacknowledged.
Note
If there are no alarms being displayed, launch the Tag Configuration Editor
(Project»Tag»Configuration) and open mytanks.scf. Edit it as indicated in
Activity 3-1, save it, and relaunch the Engine.
End of Activity 5-1.
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How Do You Display Event History Information?
To read all the alarms and events in the BridgeVIEW system that have
occurred since the Engine was started (unless limited by buffer size) drop
the Event History Display from the Alarms and Events palette on your
front panel. Then, you can invoke the HMI G Wizard to create the diagram
code for an event history. You also can build your own diagram and use the
Read Event History VI in your block diagram. If you want to change the
default fields (time, date, tag name, alarm limit) that are visible in the Event
History Display, you can use the Event History Format control from the
Controls»Alarms and Events palette and change the checkbox selections.
You also can change the default colors of alarms, events, normal and
acknowledged alarms with the Color Codes for Event History control,
which also is available in the Alarms and Events palette.
You also can report the status of alarms currently in the system using the
output of either Read Alarm Summary VI or Read Event History VI, or by
using the Get Alarm Summary Status VI. This gives information on the
number of active alarms and unacknowledged alarms in the system. You
can use the Alarm Summary Status control available in the Alarms and
Events Controls palette to display this information on your HMI.
How Do You Acknowledge Alarms?
You can view the acknowledgment status of alarms in the Alarm Summary
or Event History Display. To acknowledge alarms currently in the system,
use the ACK button from the Controls»Boolean palette on the front panel
and the Acknowledge Alarms VI in the Functions»Alarms and Events
palette in the block diagram. Activity 5-2, Acknowledge Alarms in the
Alarm Summary Display, takes you through this process.
When you acknowledge these alarms, the acknowledgment status in the
Alarm Summary Display changes from UNACKto ACK, and the color of the
text changes from red to yellow. These are the default colors, and you can
change them.
There are two modes for handling tags that were previously in alarm but
have returned to normal: Auto Acknowledge and User Must Acknowledge.
These modes are configured in the Tag Configuration Editor for each tag.
If a tag is configured for Auto Acknowledge, when the tag returns to
normal, the acknowledgment status automatically changes from UNACKto
ACK. However, if it is configured for User Must Acknowledge, the status
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remains at UNACKuntil the user presses the ACK button on the HMI and
acknowledges the alarm.
You can select the tags for which you want to acknowledge alarms. It is a
good idea for this tag list to be identical to the list of tags you display alarms
for in the Alarm Summary or Event History Display. For example, if you
select group <ALL>, alarms for all tags that were configured for alarms are
reported as they occur. In the tag selection, you also can select a
combination of tag names and groups.
Activity 5-2. Acknowledge Alarms in the
Alarm Summary Display
Your objective is to acknowledge alarms from the HMI you built in
Activity 5-1, Build an Alarm Summary Display.
1. Place an ACK button from the Boolean subpalette on the front panel
of the My Alarm Summary VI you created in Activity 5-1, Build an
Alarm Summary Display. If your VI is running, you must stop the VI
by pressing the Stop button or selecting Operate»Stop before you can
do this. Your front panel should appear as shown in the following
illustration.
2. Pop up on the ACK button and select HMI G Wizard. The following
dialog box appears.
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3. Select Alarm Acknowledgement for the Attach Control to: option.
4. Select the tags to monitor. In the tag list, select <ALL>to view alarms
on all the tags that have alarms configured. Click the Add button to add
all tags to the list. Click OK.
The HMI G Wizard creates the diagram shown below.
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The Acknowledge Alarm VI is called when the front panel ACK
button is pressed. This button is polled in a separate While Loop and
the Read Alarm Summary VI waits for events in its own While Loop.
5. Save the VI as My Alarm Summary with Ackin the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory.
6. Run the VI. When alarms appear in the Alarm Summary, click on the
ACK button. You can see the color of the Alarms change from red to
yellow. Acknowledged alarms that are normal disappear from the
display.
End of Activity 5-2.
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How Do You Configure Logging
and Printing of Alarms and Events?
You can configure logging and printing options for Alarms and Events
through the Event Configuration dialog box, shown in Figure 5-1. This
configures the format of alarms and events written to .evtfiles or printed.
You can reach this dialog box by choosing Project»Tag»Configuration,
and then Configure»Events from the Tag Configuration Editor.
Figure 5-1. Event Configuration Dialog Box
Table 5-1 provides a description of the general event configuration
selections.
Table 5-1. Tag Configuration Editor Event Configuration Selections
Selection
Description
Event Directory
Determines the path to the directory where the event files are stored on disk.
Determines whether the absolute path is stored.
Store absolute
path
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Table 5-1. Tag Configuration Editor Event Configuration Selections (Continued)
Selection
Start event
Description
Determines whether the BridgeVIEW Engine automatically begins logging
events when the Engine launches.
logging on
system start-up
Days to keep
event files
Determines how many days worth of event files are kept on disk. Anything
older than the number of days specified here is deleted automatically.
Log Delimiter
Determines the separator between parameters on a line. By default, it is the tab
character. This makes event files easy to import into a spreadsheet program.
Spreadsheet programs can handle other delimiters as well.
Shift Display
An array of numerics ranging between 00:00and 23:59hours to determine
(00:00– 23:59) the length of the shift that events are logged in a file. At the end of the shift,
a new event file is generated and written to.
Start printing on
system start-up
Determines whether the BridgeVIEW Engine automatically begins printing
events when the Engine launches.
Printer
Determines the port to which your printer is connected.
Print Delimiter
Determines the separator between different parameters on a line. By default,
it is a comma.
Min Priority
Max Priority
Determines the minimum priority an event must have before it is logged.
Events with priorities below this configured number are not logged. The
minimum value is 1.
Determines the maximum priority an event can have to be logged. Events
with priorities above this configured number are not logged. The maximum
value is 15.
There are various format options for logging and printing. The print
selections are a set of several parameters that determine the format of
the data to be printed. Similarly, the log selections are a set of several
parameters that determine the format of the data to be logged in an event
file. These parameters are described in the following table.
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Table 5-2. Event Configuration, Log, and Print Format Selections
Selection
Description
Date
Determines whether the date is logged or printed.
Date Format
A menu ring that allows you to pick a format for the date to be printed. This
selection is valid only if Date is selected. The menu items are: MM/DD/YYYY
and DD/MM/YYYY.
Time
Determines whether the time is logged or printed.
Time Format
Determines the format for the time logged or printed. This selection is valid
only if Time is selected. The menu items are: AM/PMand 24 HOUR.
Tag Name
Determines whether the tag name is logged or printed.
Tag Name Field
Length
Determines the maximum number of characters for the tag name.
This selection is valid only if Tag Name is checked.
Event Type
Determines whether the event name is logged or printed.
Determines whether the group name is logged or printed.
Group Name
Group Name Field Determines the maximum number of characters for the group name.
Length
This selection is valid only if Group Name is checked.
Alarm Value
Alarm State
Alarm Ack State
Alarm Priority
Alarm Limit
Operator Name
Determines whether the alarm value is logged or printed.
Determines whether the alarm state is logged or printed.
Determines whether the alarm acknowledge state is logged or printed.
Determines whether the alarm priority is logged or printed.
Determines whether the alarm limit is logged or printed.
Determines whether the name of the current operator is logged or printed.
Operator Name
Field Length
Determines the maximum number of characters for the operator name.
This selection is valid only if Operator Name is checked.
Alarm Message
Determines whether the alarm message is logged or printed.
Alarm Message
Field Length
Determines the maximum number of characters for the alarm message.
This selection is valid only if Alarm Message is checked.
How Do You Log Alarms and Events?
Events are logged in ASCII files named in the format YYMMDDHHMM.evt
using the timestamp of the first point to be logged. YYis the year, MMis the
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month, DDis the day, HHis the hour, MMis the minute and .evtis the
extension for all event log files.
There are three steps you must complete to log alarms and events:
1. Configure your tags to have Log/Print Events enabled. You configure
it on a per tag basis. To select event logging for a single tag, go to the
panel for configuring the tag.
2. Configure a path to a directory for the event (.evt) files. To choose the
path, select Configure»Events… in the Tag Configuration Editor.
3. Turn on event logging for the BridgeVIEW Engine, according to one
of the techniques outlined below.
There are three techniques for turning event data logging on or off:
•
•
You can configure event logging in the Tag Configuration Editor.
To turn on event logging, select Configure»Events…. Configure the
path and set Start logging on system start-up to be TRUE.
For programmatic control, you can call the Enable Event Logging VI
in the System palette. With this VI, you can turn event logging on or
Engine is running.
•
The Engine Manager also has a button to turn event logging on or off.
If you have Supervise or higher-level privileges, you can access this
button.
Table 5-2 provides a description of the event logging configuration
selections.
How Do You Print Alarms and Events?
In BridgeVIEW, events are printed to a standard line printer through a
parallel port. There are three steps you must complete to print alarms and
events:
1. Configure your tags to have Log/Print Events enabled. You configure
it on a per tag basis. To select event printing for a single tag, go to the
panel for configuring the tag.
2. Configure a printer for event printing. To choose the printer, select
Configure»Events… in the Tag Configuration Editor.
3. Turn on event printing for the BridgeVIEW Engine, according to one
of the techniques outlined below.
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There are three techniques for turning event printing on or off:
•
You can configure event printing in the Tag Configuration Editor. To
turn on printing, select Configure»Events…. Configure the printer
and set Start printing on system start-up to be TRUE.
•
For programmatic control, you can call the Enable Printing VI in the
System palette. With this VI, you can turn event printing on or off
dynamically for all the tags in the system, while the BridgeVIEW
Engine is running.
•
The Engine Manager also has a button to turn event printing on or off.
Those with Supervisor or higher-level privileges can access this
button.
Table 5-2 provides a description of the printing configuration selections.
How Do You View Alarms and Events?
Event files are ASCII files, and can be read with any text editor. The default
delimiter between the various parameters is a tab character, which makes
viewing the file in a spreadsheet program, such as Excel, convenient.
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6
Historical Data Logging
and Extraction
This chapter explains the concept of a trend, how to log and extract
historical data, and how to use the Historical Trend Viewer (HTV), a utility
that displays historical data that has been logged to disk with BridgeVIEW.
What Is a Trend?
A trend is a display of tag values against time. BridgeVIEW displays tag
values with two types of trends: real-time trends and historical trends. You
can find these trends in the Controls palette.
Real-Time Trend
Historical Trend
A real-time trend is a display of tag values as they are collected in real time
over a relatively short period of time. You can display a real-time trend in
your HMI by using the Trend Tags VI in the Tags palette in the block
diagram. You also can use the HMI G Wizard to create a real-time trend.
For more information about the HMI G Wizard, see Chapter 4, Human
Machine Interface.
A historical trend is a display of tag values that have been logged to disk.
This is usually over a relatively long period of time. You can display a
historical trend in your HMI by using the Get Historical Tag List VI and
Read Historical Trend VI from the Historical Data palette from the block
diagram. You also can view historical data by launching the HTV utility.
You can use the HMI G Wizard to create a historical trend display.
What Is Citadel?
Citadel is a high performance historical database. With Citadel,
BridgeVIEW can log tags while continually servicing data queries.
BridgeVIEW also includes the Citadel ODBC driver that has special
commands to perform data transforms, making it easy for you to retrieve,
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manipulate, and analyze historical data automatically from outside the
BridgeVIEW environment. For more information, see Appendix B, Citadel
and Open Database Connectivity.
How Do You Log Historical Data?
There are three steps you must complete to log historical data:
1. Configure your tags to have historical logging enabled. You configure
it on a per tag basis. To select historical logging for a single tag, go to
the panel for configuring the tag.
2. Configure a path for the historical database. To choose the path, select
Configure»Historical… in the Tag Configuration Editor.
3. Turn on historical logging for the BridgeVIEW Engine, according to
one of the three techniques outlined below.
There are three techniques for turning historical data logging on or off:
•
•
•
You can configure historical logging in the Tag Configuration Editor.
To turn on logging, use the pull-down menu for
Configure»Historical…. Configure the path and set Start logging on
system start-up to be TRUE.
For programmatic control, you can call the Enable Historical Data
Logging VI in the System palette. With this VI, you can turn historical
data logging on or off dynamically for all the tags in the system, while
the BridgeVIEW Engine is running.
The Engine Manager also has a button to turn historical data logging
on or off. If you have Supervise or higher-level privileges, you can
access this button.
When you log historical data for your application, there is a coupling
between your configuration (.scf) file and the Citadel Historical
Database. When you decide to archive these, take the .scffile along with
your historical files to the new location. Although you can retrieve
historical data without the .scffile, you will not have the tag configuration
information, such as engineering range and unit, unless you archive the
.scffile as well.
Preferably, maintain the relative path between the .scffile and the
historical files in this new location. For example, if your .scffile is in C:\
a new .scffile and have not specified a historical data directory, you are
prompted to specify the path and the directory is created for you.
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How Do You Configure Historical Logging?
You can reach the Historical Logging Configuration dialog box by
selecting Configure»Historical… from the Tag Configuration Editor.
Figure 6-1 shows the Historical Logging Configuration dialog box and
Table 6-1 lists parameters you can configure for historical logging.
Figure 6-1. Historical Logging Configuration Dialog Box
Table 6-1. Parameters You Can Configure for Historical Logging
Description
Selection
Citadel Data Directory
Path that determines the directory where historical data files are stored
on disk.
Store absolute path
Determines whether the absolute path is stored.
Start logging on system Determines whether the BridgeVIEW Engine automatically begins
start-up
logging historical data when the Engine launches.
Days to keep historical
files
Determines how many days worth of historical log files to keep on disk.
Anything older than the number of days configured here is deleted
automatically.
Maximum time
between log records
Time, in seconds, that determines the logging rate for tags that vary
slowly.
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How Do You Extract and View Data
from Historical Log Files?
There are two methods for viewing historical data that has been logged to
disk. One method is to use the Historical Data VIs and the other is to use
the Historical Trend Viewer (HTV).
Historical Data VIs
There are several VIs you can use in your HMI to manipulate data logged
in Citadel files. These VIs access disk files and do not require the
extract the information in a format that can be displayed in a Historical
Trend indicator, or export the data to a spreadsheet file format. There are
several examples in the Examples\HMI Examples\Historical Data
folder to illustrate this. The main VIs for getting historical data and
manipulating it are listed below. For complete information about these or
any other VIs, refer to Appendix A, HMI Function Reference.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Decimate Historical Trend
Decimate Historical Trends
Get Historical Tag List
Get Historical Trend Info
Historical Trend Statistics
Historical Trends to Spreadsheet
Historical Trends to Spreadsheet File
Read Historical Trend
Read Historical Trends
The following illustration shows a VI for viewing historical data files
anywhere in the system.
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If the Citadel Path is empty, the File Dialog function is executed. This
brings up a File dialog box that lets the operator select the directory
containing the historical data files.
The example then uses the tag listreturned by the Get Historical Tag
List VI to set up a list of names in the front panel Tag List listbox, found by
selecting List & Ring»Single Selection Listbox from the controls palette.
It uses the first timestampoutput to initialize the Start Timestamp
control on the front panel. By default, the example displays the first
60 seconds worth of data on the historical data display. Historical data is
displayed using the XY Graph indicator named Historical Trend Display.
The Read Historical Trends VI returns historical data from Start
Timestampto Stop Timestampfor the tags that are selected in the Tag
List listbox and returns data in a form that can be wired directly to an
XY Graph.
The shift register in the while loop is used to detect user input changes on
Stop Timestamp, and the selected tag list. If any of these controls are
changed, historical data is retrieved for the new settings and the XY Graph
indicator is updated.
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Activity 6-1. Use the Historical Data VIs
The objective of this exercise is to create a VI that programmatically
In this activity, you will read previously logged data, which is included in
the BridgeVIEW\Activity\Datadirectory. You will use mytanks.scf
in the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory, as edited in Activity 3-1,
Configure a Tag, and View the Tag Configuration Parameters and Tag
Values.
1. Open a new VI and place a Historical Trend on the panel window from
the Controls»Graph palette. Change the maximum of the Y scale
to 1000.
2. Pop up on the Historical Trend and select HMI G Wizard…. If a
dialog box prompts you to locate a Citadel Data directory, open
BridgeVIEW\Activity\Dataand select the current directory.
Complete the dialog box, as shown in the following illustration.
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You will display previously logged data, which is included in the
BridgeVIEW\Activity\Datadirectory. It contains a 25-minute run
of data. You can change the time axis to display the first minute of this
data.
3. Run the VI. The trend displays one minute of data. You can use the
panning tool to grab the plot and scroll to the left or right to show more
data. Hold down the <Shift> key while you pan to constrain the
movement to the horizontal direction.
4. Stop the VI.
5. Modify the Block Diagram to incorporate statistics.
a. In the block diagram, pop up on the wizard lock and select
Release Wizard Lock. Now, you can edit the diagram to
incorporate statistics into your data retrieval application.
b. Using a For Loop and the Historical Trend Statistics.vi
(Functions»Historical Data), build the diagram as shown below.
If you click and drag the Positioning tool inside the case structure
while holding down the <Ctrl> key, the diagram will expand to
give you some room to add the new diagram code.
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6. On the front panel, create an array of numeric indicators. Stretch the
array indicator so that four fields are showing. Then pop up on the
array indicator and select Show»Index Display to deselect the index
display, as shown below.
Initially, the historical trend displays the first minute of data in the set,
along with the averages for the four tags. The averages are calculated
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on the data that is displayed. You can use the panning tool to display a
different section of data. The averages are updated automatically.
8. Save the VI as Historical Data.viin the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory.
End of Activity 6-1.
Historical Trend Viewer (HTV)
The HTV is a stand-alone utility that enables you to look at historical data
in your system. The HTV limits you to viewing no more than eight tags at
a time. If you want to look at more tags in a single historical trend, you
should build your own utility using the Historical Data VIs.
To start the HTV, select Project»Historical Trend Viewer…. The HTV is
shown in the following illustration.
Figure 6-2. Historical Trend Viewer
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How Do You Select the Tags to Display?
Select File»Select Tags…, and the Select Tags dialog box appears, as
shown in Figure 6-3. With this dialog box, you can select either a .scffile
or a directory of Citadel files. The default is to choose a .scffile. The
.scffile you choose must point to a valid directory of Citadel files. If the
BridgeVIEW Engine is running, the .scffile being used by the
BridgeVIEW Engine is displayed.
Figure 6-3. Select Tags Dialog Box
Note
You can look at data from only one Citadel database at a time.
Select the tags from the Available Tags list that you want to display.
The HTV displays the tags in the order that they are listed in the Tags to
Display list.
Note
You can view configuration information about a tag by selecting it in the Available
Tags list, and clicking on the Tag Information button.
How Do You Change the Time Axis?
You can change the time axis for a trend within the HTV manually, or by
using Panning buttons.
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Panning Buttons
The Panning buttons allow you to move backward and forward through the
historical data in the trend. The buttons do not affect the timespan of the
trend. For example, if the trend displays data from 9:45 to 9:55 on the same
day, the timespan is ten minutes. Table 6-2 describes the Panning button
functions.
Table 6-2. Panning Button Functions
Button
|<
Name
Description
Retrieve oldest data
Back to closest point
Displays the first available page of data.
<<
Centers the display around the closest point to the left
of the timespan. If there is no data in the previous time span,
skips to the previous end of data.
<
>
Back one-half page
Moves the display back by half of the current timespan.
Moves the display forward by half of the current timespan.
Forward one-half page
>>
Forward to closest point Centers the display around the closest point to the right
of the timespan. If there is no data in the next time span, it
skips to the next start of data.
>|
Most recent data
Displays the most recent available page of data.
Manual Changes
You can also select the text at either end of the time axis and change the
data. You must enter the date in the correct format. If you make an error,
the input is ignored.
You can select and enter the time and date on the time (X) axis of the
historical trend on the HTV directly. However, the HTV responds
immediately to any changes you make. If you want to make manual edits to
both the start and stop time on the time axis, you can select the
Viewer»Time & Date option. When you select this option, a dialog box
appears, shown below, and you can enter the start and stop time of the data
displayed in the trend.
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How Do You Change the Timespan
of Data Displayed?
The timespan indicator displays the amount of relative time between the
start and end points of the time axis. To change the amount of time between
these points, you either can manually reenter data in the start or end point
on the time axis, or pull down the ring for the timespan indicator.
By default, the timespan ring contains the values 1:00, 5:00, 10:00, and
a different amount of data to display.
How Do You View the Value of a Tag
at a Specific Point in Time?
The Data Display table on the HTV, shown in Figure 6-2, shows the tags
displayed in the trend, the tag description, and, for analog tags, the
engineering units associated with the tag. The two rightmost columns show
the values of the tags at the two cursor locations in the trend. For discrete
tags, the values in these columns are either Onor Off. To move the cursors,
grab their pointers at the bottom of the trend display.
How Do You Change the Y Axis?
The HTV displays two Y axes at any time. Each Y axis displays the color
of the tag associated with it. All discrete tags show their ranges as going
from Onto Off. Click on the Y axis to make it rotate through the tags
displayed in the trend.
To change the range in the Y axis for analog and bit array tags, select the
text at the top or bottom of the scale and type in the desired value. When
you enter the value, that trend scale changes and the trend display updates.
Discrete tags are displayed without Y axis scales, and ranges are shown as
Onor Off.
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How Do You Change the Plot Colors
and Style in the Trend?
Click on the Trend Legend. The pop-up window contains several options
with which you can change the plot colors and styles used in the trend.
How Do You Zoom In on the Trend?
The HTV Trend palette contains a Zoom tool that allows you to zoom in
on points of interest. The Zoom tool has five modes with which you can
zoom in on the trend:
•
•
•
•
•
Zoom by rectangle
Zoom time scale
Zoom Y scale
Zoom in about one point
Zoom out about one point
Undo Zoom resets the graph to its previous setting.
How Do You Export Data to a Spreadsheet?
From the HTV, select File»Export…. The HTV exports the information
currently displayed in the trend to a tab-delimited file. A dialog box
prompts you for the name and location of the file to create.
The HTV resamples data in periodic intervals so that all tags have the same
number of data points. The frequency defaults to a value according to the
frequency of data in the historical files. If you want to override this value,
enter the frequency you want in the dialog box.
How Do You Get Online Help for the HTV?
From the HTV, pull down the Help menu and select Show Help. A floating
window is displayed that shows help information for all of the objects on
the HTV panel.
How Do You Set Tag, Time, and Color Preferences?
Set the preference for the HTV to remember settings for display time and
color on exit by selecting Viewer»Preferences…. When you exit the HTV,
the state of the viewer is recorded.
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Select the Remember settings on exit checkbox if you want to update your
settings each time you exit the HTV.
How Do You View New Data Automatically After It
Has Been Logged to Citadel?
You can use Live Mode to watch incoming data after it has been logged.
When the Engine is turned on with historical logging enabled, the Live
button appears to the right of the panning buttons. When you click the
Live button, the trend automatically updates periodically. Select
Viewer»Preferences… in the HTV Preferences dialog box to set how
often the trend will display the new data. The default is 10 seconds. If
Always scroll with new data is checked, the display updates whenever
new data is logged.
While Live Mode is turned on, the values for each tag are extrapolated to
the last time the trend was updated. These extrapolated values are marked
with an asterisk in the Data Display. When a cursor or slider is placed
before the extrapolation begins for a tag, the asterisk will not be present.
Turning off Live Mode also turns off extrapolation.
How Do You Incorporate the HTV
The HTV is available by selecting Project»Historical Trend Viewer….
However, in many HMI applications you might elect not to give the
operator access to the standard menu bar. You can use the Call HTV VI,
located in the Historical Data subpalette of the Functions palette, to call
the HTV dynamically from your HMI application. See the section
Historical Data VIs in Appendix A, HMI Function Reference, for
details on how to use this or any other VI.
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The objective of this activity is to view logged data with the Historical
Trend Viewer.
You will use mytanks.scfin the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory, as
edited in Activity 3-1, Configure a Tag, and View the Tag Configuration
Parameters and Tag Values. You will view previously logged data
spanning over 25 minutes, which is included in the BridgeVIEW\
Activity\Datadirectory.
1. Launch the HTV by selecting Project»Historical Trend Viewer….
2. The Select Tags for HTV dialog box appears. Select the Powder,
Mixer, Liquid, and Product tags from the list of Available Tags and add
them to the Tags to Display list. Click OK.
When you close the Select Tags for HTV dialog box, the Historical
Trend Viewer appears, as shown in the following illustration.
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The HTV displays the trends for the Powder, Mixer, Liquid and
Product tags. The Available Data display shows the start and stop
timestamps of the logged data. The status of the HTV is displayed on
top of the Historical Trend. You can see it change from Accessing Disk
to Running. The legend to the right of the Historical Trend shows the
tag names and the plot colors, as they appear on the trend and in the
scales.
3. View the first five minutes in the data set by clicking on the first scroll
button in the set below the Historical Trend. The beginning of the data
is centered in the display.
4. Scroll through the data set using the other buttons below the
Historical Trend.
5. The scales to the left of the Historical Trend show the minimum and
maximum of the Mixer and Powder tags. To view the scales for the
other tags, click on one of the scales. You can see the color and tag
name in the display above the scale change. As you click, it rotates
6. To zoom in on the data, select the magnifying glass from the palette,
and click and drag over a section of the trend.
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7. To see the value of a particular data point, use the two vertical cursors
on the trend. You can see the value of the data point on each trend at
the given cursor location in the Data Display.
8. Select File»Exit to terminate the HTV.
End of Activity 6-2.
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7
Advanced Application Topics
This chapter explains advanced topics you need to understand to make
optimum use of BridgeVIEW for developing applications. The advanced
topics covered in this chapter are listed below:
•
•
•
•
Using the Panel G Wizard
BridgeVIEW System Control
Tag Attributes VIs
BridgeVIEW Security
How Do You Build an HMI with Multiple Panels?
Consider dividing your HMI into several panels so the operator can
navigate through them using onscreen buttons. The Panel G Wizard helps
you generate the navigation system by automatically generating code and
attaching it to front panel buttons.
Front Panel Buttons
Buttons are the most common mechanism for navigating through different
panels. Operators can use buttons to close windows, invoke login prompts,
or display different panels. BridgeVIEW contains a variety of different
buttons that you can use and customize. Buttons are located in the
Controls»Boolean subpalette.
Panel G Wizard
The Panel G Wizard provides an easy interface for you to generate a panel
navigation system for your operators. With the Panel G Wizard, you can
attach code to buttons that, when pressed by the operator, will open your
VIs. If your are new to G programming, the Panel G Wizard can be an
immense help in producing applications with multiple windows and panels.
The Panel G Wizard provides the basic mechanism to attach panel
management code to buttons. For more advanced capabilities, see the
VI Server Functions section in this chapter.
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How Do You Use the Panel G Wizard?
The Panel G Wizard only operates on Boolean controls. To invoke the
Wizard, pop up on a front panel Boolean control and select Panel G
Wizard…. Popping up on a button control brings up the Panel G Wizard
shown in Figure 7-1.
Note
Because the code created by the Panel G Wizard contains file path information,
some features do not generate correct code until the calling panel is saved to disk.
For this reason, save your VI to disk before invoking the Panel G Wizard.
Figure 7-1. Panel G Wizard
The Panel G Wizard provides a mechanism to open or close a panel when
the button is pressed. You determine this action by operating the With this
Control ring near the top of the Panel G Wizard dialog box.
The Panel G Wizard can create code that will open three types of panels:
•
•
VIs that you have created and saved to disk
a Login prompt
the Historical Trend Viewer
When opening VIs that you have created, you specify the path to the VI by
typing it in the Path to VI control or by selecting the Browse… button.
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You can configure the Panel G Wizard to store the file path as a relative
path or as an absolute path. If the VI that you connect to the button is
generally kept in a path that is relative to the top-level VI, you should
select the Relative path setting.
How Do You Configure Security
with the Panel G Wizard?
The Panel G Wizard can create code that disables or hides the button if the
operator does not have sufficient security access. You determine the access
level required in the Panel G Wizard dialog box. Security is covered later
in this chapter.
How Do You Configure When a Button
Will Be Polled?
Like all user interface controls in BridgeVIEW, front panel buttons are
monitored using a polling loop mechanism. Polling will occur either until
the BridgeVIEW Engine shuts down, or, if the Always option is selected,
until the VI stops.
Activity 7-1. Use the Panel G Wizard
Your objective is to use the Panel G Wizard to attach buttons to VIs that
you have created, to the HTV, and to a Login prompt. You will use VIs that
you created in Chapters 4, 5, and 6 in this exercise. You will use
mytanks.scfin the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
1. Place a front panel button on a new front panel, as shown below. Click
on the button text with the labeling tool and name the button Alarms.
Pop up on the button and make sure the Mechanical Action… is set to
Latch when Released.
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2. Save the VI as My Menu Bar.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
3. Pop up on the Alarms button and select Panel G Wizard….
Configure the button to open the My Alarm Summary with Ack.vi
that you created in Activity 5-2, Acknowledge Alarms in the Alarm
Summary Display, as shown below.
4. Examine the block diagram created by the Panel G Wizard. The
diagram code is locked as indicated by the lock icon in the upper right
corner of the window. The locking mechanism works the same way as
it does for the HMI G Wizard.
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5. Make a copy of the Alarms button. Click on the button text with the
labeling tool and name the button Monitor.
6. Pop up on the Monitor button and select Panel G Wizard…. Use the
same settings as before, but connect this button to the Monitor
Product.viyou created in Activity 4-3, Read a Tag.
7. Make a copy of the Monitor button. Rename the button Trend. Using
the Panel G Wizard, connect this button to the My Tank HMI.viyou
created in Activity 4-1, Use the HMI G Wizard.
8. Your front panel should now look like this.
9. Before you run the VI, make sure that the correct mytanks.scffile
is being used. If the engine is currently running, you can check
the Engine Manager display. If an incorrect .scffile is in use, stop
the engine and open the Tag Browser. Select Tag Browser… to
configure BridgeVIEW to open the mytanks.scffile in the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory. Launch the engine either from the
Engine Manager display or by selecting Project»Launch Engine….
10. Save My Menu Bar.vi. Run the VI. When you press on one of the
buttons, the appropriate panel should open and run.
11. Experiment with other buttons to open the Historical Trend Viewer,
invoke a Login prompt, and so on. You can also configure security
access checks on the buttons.
End of Activity 7-1.
VI Server Functions
The VI Server provides you with several functions to control your VIs,
such as panel location, size, and visibility. These functions are useful when
your application requires a large number of different operator screens.
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For example, you might find it unnecessary to load certain panels into your
application until they are needed. By using these functions, you can control
when your panels are loaded into memory. You can reach the VI Server
functions through the Functions»Application Control palette, shown
below.
For more information about the VI Server, see Chapter 15, Application
Control, or the Online Reference available by selecting Help»Online
Reference.
How Do You Control Panel Size?
To query or set the size of an operator interface panel, use the property node
function set to the Virtual InstrumentVI Server Class, and read or
write the Front Panel Window»Window Bounds or Front Panel
Window»Panel Bounds property. The Front Panel Window»Panel
Bounds property does not include the window title bar, scrollbars, menu
property includes all of these components. Both bounds are given in pixels.
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How Do You Control Panel Visibility?
There are several ways to control the visibility of an operator interface
panel from your application. These options are listed below:
•
•
Enable the Show Front Panel when Called and Close Afterwards if
Originally Closed options in the VI Setup Execution options. This
option applies only to subVIs.
Enable the Show Front Panel when Called and Close Afterwards if
Originally Closed options in the SubVI Node Setup options. This
option applies when you call the VI as a subVI.
Control. Right-click on the property node and select Select VI Server
Class»Virtual Instrument, and then left-click the property node and
select Front Panel Window»Open.
For more information about VI Server functions, see Chapter 15,
Application Control.
BridgeVIEW System Control
As you develop more sophisticated user interfaces, you might find that you
need to exercise control over portions of the BridgeVIEW environment
from your own applications. The System VIs palette provides mechanisms
to programmatically control the BridgeVIEW Engine.
System VIs
The System VIs provide you with several functions that control actions
such as launching and shutting down the Engine, enabling and disabling
logging, invoking the Login dialog box, and so on. You can reach the
System VIs through the Functions»System VIs palette, shown below.
For more information about the System VIs, refer to Appendix A,
HMI Function Reference.
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How Do You Start or Stop the BridgeVIEW
Engine from Your Application?
Use the Engine Launch VI to launch the BridgeVIEW Engine
programmatically with a specified configuration file. Use the Engine
Shutdown VI to stop the BridgeVIEW Engine and the servers currently
executing. For more detailed information about these or any other VIs,
refer to Appendix A, HMI Function Reference.
How Do You Start or Stop Historical Logging
from Your Application?
Use the Enable Historical Data Logging VI to start historical logging.
If the input value is TRUE, historical logging is turned on if it is currently
off. If the input value is FALSE, historical logging is turned off if it is
currently on.
How Do You Start or Stop Event Logging
from Your Application?
Use the Enable Event Logging VI to start event logging. If the input value
is TRUE, event logging is turned on if it is currently off. If the input value
is FALSE, event logging is turned off if it is currently on.
How Do You Start or Stop Event Printing
from Your Application?
Use the Enable Printing VI to start event printing. If the input value is
TRUE, event printing is turned on if it is currently off. If the input value is
FALSE, event printing is turned off if it is currently on.
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Tag Attributes VIs
There is a set of VIs in the Tag Attributes palette with which you can read
or change configuration information about tags programmatically. Most
of these tag attributes are parameters you can configure for a tag with the
Tag Configuration Editor. They fall into five categories:
•
•
•
•
•
General Tag Information
I/O Connection
Operations
Scaling
Alarms
Note
Not all parameters configured in the Tag Configuration Editor can be changed
programmatically. However, if you want to make persistent changes for several
dynamic attributes in the Tag Configuration Editor, such changes can be applied
to a running Engine.
You can programmatically take a tag on or off scan. If a tag is off scan,
it is not processed or updated in the Real-Time Database, alarms are not
calculated, and data is not logged. You can start these activities by putting
that tag back on scan.
There are specific VIs you can use to obtain certain tag information,
such as the Get Tag Logging Info VI or the Get Tag Alarm Enabled VI.
For the Set Tag Attribute or Set Multiple Tag Attributes VIs, an error is
returned if the Engine is not running. In addition, tag attribute changes
only affect the current Engine process until they are subsequently
changed or the Engine stops.
If the Engine is running, you can change tag attributes programmatically
with the Set Tag Attribute VI, Set Multiple Tag Attributes VI, or the Tag
Configuration Editor. These VIs return an error if the Engine is not running.
Tag attribute changes stay in effect in the current run only. If you stop the
Engine and start it again, the changes are lost. Use these VIs in your
application when you want to change attributes of a tag dynamically, as
with logging, alarm, or scaling information, or taking a tag on or off scan.
For a complete description of the Tag Attributes VIs, refer to Appendix A,
HMI Function Reference.
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When you change programmatic attributes with the Tag Configuration
Editor, you can update Engine processes without shutting down and
restarting the Engine, provided no changes require the Engine to
reconfigure. You can change all operations, alarms, and most scaling, and
raw or engineering range information dynamically.
There are certain attributes you cannot change dynamically. These
attributes require you to edit the .scffile with the Tag Configuration
Editor, and they include tag information like tag name, tag description,
tag group name, and access rights (input only, output only, Input/Output,
memory); and tag connection information like server, IO Group, and item.
For more information about tag attributes, refer to any one of the five
configuration attributes tables in the section How Do You Configure Tags?
in Chapter 3, Tag Configuration.
You will use mytanks.scfin the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory, as
edited in Activity 3-1, Configure a Tag, and View the Tag Configuration
Parameters and Tag Values.
1. Open Monitor Product.vifrom the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory. You created this VI in Activity 4-3, Read a Tag. If you did
not complete this activity, you can open the VI from the
BridgeVIEW\Activity\Solutionsdirectory.
2. Open the block diagram, select the While loop, and delete it. Because
you released the Wizard Lock in Activity 4-3, the HMI G Wizard will
no longer replace the old code, but will generate additional code
instead.
3. Pop up on the tank on the front panel and select HMI G Wizard.
Change the Normal color to Blue, and select the alarms to show for the
HI alarm state only, as shown in the following illustration.
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4. Run the VI. Because the Product tag is configured to go into HI alarm
when it exceeds a value of 800, you can see that the tank color is blue
while the tag value is below 800. It changes from blue to red when the
value goes above 800. Leave this VI running.
5. To change the HI alarm limit of Product dynamically, open a new VI.
Drop the Set Tag Attribute VI from the Functions»Tag Attributes
palette.
6. Using the wiring tool, create constants for the group/tag names, tag
attribute, and value inputs.
7. Select Product for the group/tag names input, change tag attribute
from the default <none>to HI Limit, and wire in 500.00for the
value as shown in the following illustration.
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8. Save the VI as Change Alarm Limit.viin the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
9. Run this VI. This dynamically changes the HI limit for the Product tag
from 800 to 500.
10. Look at Monitor Product.vi. It still should be running. However,
now you should see the color change from blue to red when the value
exceeds 500, instead of 800.
11. Stop and close the VIs.
End of Activity 7-2.
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BridgeVIEW Security
BridgeVIEW security is broken into two general categories:
•
•
Environment Security (User Privileges)
Operator Interface Security
Security does not take effect until you configure it. Configuration consists
of adding users and assigning them access levels, privileges, and
passwords.
Environment Security
Access to most BridgeVIEW utilities and the BridgeVIEW Engine can be
configured on a per-user basis. For example, not all users should be able to
configure the tags in the system or create and edit user accounts. The
privileges that can be assigned to a user are defined in Table 7-1.
Table 7-1. Assignable BridgeVIEW Privileges
Type
Privilege
Description
Environment
Privileges
Use Historical Trend Viewer
User can launch, configure, and use the
Historical Trend Viewer utility.
Use Tag Monitor
User can launch, configure, and use the Tag
Monitor utility.
Use Tag Browser
Use Server Browser
Disable <Alt> Key
User can use the Tag Browser utility.
User can use the Server Browser utility.
If enabled, the <Alt> key on the keyboard is
disabled in BridgeVIEW.
Configure Startup VIs
User can assign VIs to launch when
BridgeVIEW is started.
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Table 7-1. Assignable BridgeVIEW Privileges (Continued)
Type
Privilege
Description
Project
Privileges
Configure Log File Locations
User can use the Tag Configuration Editor to
edit the historical and event logging
configuration of a tag configuration, but can
not create, delete, or edit tags.
Create/Edit Tags
User can create, delete, and edit tags in the
Tag Configuration Editor.
Use Interactive
Server Tester
User can launch the Interactive Server
Tester; this privilege can be configured only
if the VI Server Developer Toolkit is
installed.
Engine
Privileges
Start/Stop Engine
User can start and stop the Engine via the
Engine Manager.
Start/Stop Historical Logging
Start/Stop Event Logging
Start/Stop Printing
User can start and stop Historical Logging
via the Engine Manager.
User can start and stop Event Logging via
the Engine Manager.
User can start and stop Event Printing via the
Engine Manager.
Security
Change Password
User can change his or her own password.
Privileges
Create/Edit Access Levels
Using the Access Levels dialog box, the user
can add, remove, and edit access levels lower
than his or her own access level.
Create/Edit User Accounts
Configure User Privileges
User can create and edit user accounts which
have an access level lower than his or her
own access level.
User can change the privileges assigned to
other users who have an access level lower
than his or her own. This privilege requires
that the user also have the Create/Edit User
Accounts privilege, described above.
A user’s BridgeVIEW Environment privileges are completely independent
of the user’s access level, and do not directly affect access to objects in the
operator interfaces that you develop for your application. See the Operator
Interface Security section in this chapter for more information.
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How Do You Log In and Out?
To log in, choose Project»Security»Login. Type in your account name
and password. If you do not know your login name, or have forgotten your
password, contact your BridgeVIEW administrator.
To log out, choose Project»Security»Logout.
How Do You Find Your Access Level?
After you have logged in, you can find your access level by choosing
Project»Security»Access Levels…. When you make this selection, the
Access Levels dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-2.
Figure 7-2. Access Levels Dialog Box
You also can view your privileges by clicking the Privileges… button. For
more information about privileges, refer to Table 7-1 and to the section,
How Do You Find Your Environment Privileges? in this chapter.
How Do You Find Your Environment Privileges?
After you have logged in, you can find your environment privileges by
choosing Project»Security»Privileges…. When you make this selection,
the Privileges dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-3.
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Figure 7-3. Privileges Dialog Box
For more information about BridgeVIEW user privileges, refer to
Table 7-1.
How Do You Change Your Password?
You must be logged in to change your password. Choose
Project»Security»Change Password.
Type in your old password, then your new password. Type in your new
password again to verify it.
How Do You Check a User’s Privileges?
Use the Check Operator Privileges VI in the System»Security palette. This
VI checks the current user’s privileges to see if the user has a particular
privilege. An example is shown below.
How Do You Prompt the Operator to Log In
to Your Application?
launches the Login dialog box and returns the user name and access level.
You can have your application control login as part of its HMI. For more
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information about this or any other VI, refer to Appendix A, HMI Function
Reference.
How Do You Programmatically Log
an Operator In to Your Application?
Use the Programmatic Login VI in the System»Security palette. To use
this VI, you must enter a user name and password. If successful, the user is
logged in to the system, and no Login dialog box appears.
How Do You Programmatically Log
an Operator Out of Your Application?
Use the Programmatic Logout VI in the System»Security palette. This VI
logs the current user out of the BridgeVIEW system.
How Do You Identify the Current Operator?
Use the Get Operator Name VI in the System»Security palette. This VI
returns the name and current BridgeVIEW operator name and access level.
For more information about this or any other VI, refer to Appendix A,
HMI Function Reference.
How Do You Restrict Access
to the BridgeVIEW Environment?
When you install BridgeVIEW, no user accounts exist, so all users have full
access to the system. You must create user accounts for the normal security
features to take effect. When you create user accounts, you assign an access
level to each account.
When a user logs in, BridgeVIEW obtains the user’s privileges and access
level. Your HMI VIs also can enforce security by determining whether the
current user can operate, or even see, a particular control or indicator.
See the section Operator Interface Security in this chapter for more
information about using security in your HMI.
How Do You Create and Modify User Accounts?
To create and modify user accounts, you must have the Create/Edit User
Accounts privilege. To change a user’s privileges, you also must have the
Configure User Privileges privilege. To edit the list of user accounts,
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choose Project»Security»Edit User Accounts…, and the Edit User
Accounts dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 7-4.
Figure 7-4. Edit User Accounts Dialog Box
Click the Add New Users>> button to create a new user account. Type in
a name, select an access level, and provide a password for the account. To
modify the privileges for the account, click the Privileges… button. Click
the Add button to complete the addition of the new user account.
Figure 7-5. Add a User Account
After you have defined user accounts, you also can use this utility to create,
remove, or modify accounts. To modify several user accounts at once (for
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example, change the access level of several accounts to be the same value),
hold down the <Shift> key when selecting users from the list.
Note
Note
Once you have defined user accounts, you must have at least one “super user”
account (Access Level 255, privileges to Create/Edit user Accounts and Configure
User Privileges), unless you remove all user accounts.
You only can add, remove, or modify accounts if you have the Create/Edit User
Accounts privilege. Also, unless you are a “super user,” you can only create,
remove, or edit user accounts that have an access level lower than your own. If you
are not authorized to configure user privileges, default privileges are assigned to
new user accounts.
How Do You Modify the List
of Available User Access Levels?
To edit the list of access levels, select Project»Security»Access Levels.
You must have Administration privileges to edit the list of Access Levels.
Click the Edit… button next to the list of access levels. The Edit Access
Levels dialog box appears, in which you can add, remove, and modify
access levels. You also can edit access levels within the Edit User
Accounts dialog box by pressing the Edit Access Levels button, or
choosing New… from the Access Level ring when creating or modifying
a user account. In addition to the two permanent access levels 0 and 255,
you can assign up to 254 access levels for use in your operator interface
panels. If you remove an access level, users who have been assigned that
access level are demoted to the next lower access level.
Note
You can rename, but not remove, access levels 0 and 255.
How Do You Export a List of Users to a File?
You can export a list of users to binary or text files. Text files contain only
the user name, access level, and privileges. To export all user account
information, including passwords, you must export to a binary file.
To export the user list to a text file, click the Export User List… button
or select File»Export»Text File…. You can export to tab-delimited or
comma-delimited text files. For a description of how privileges are
exported, see the How Do You Import a List of Users from a File?
section later in this chapter.
To export a list of users to a binary file, choose File»Export»Binary
File…. Exporting a list of users to a binary file is useful for distributing
your list of users to other computers. The advantage of using a binary
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file is that all user account information, including passwords, is included
in the file.
How Do You Export Users to
Another Computer on the Network?
You can put BridgeVIEW user accounts on other computers either by
exporting the user list to a text or binary file on one machine and importing
on another, or by choosing File»Export»Network BridgeVIEW.
If you choose the File»Export»Network BridgeVIEW option, a dialog
box appears in which you can type in the name of the computer to export
the accounts to, or you can browse the network. BridgeVIEW must be
installed on the other computer for the export to function correctly.
Note
(Windows 95) To access the user account list on another computer over the network,
you must have access to the Windows Registry on the remote machine. Remote
Registry access does not function unless the Remote Administration service is
installed and running on the Windows 95 machine attempting to access another
computer’s BridgeVIEW account list, or whose account list is to be accessed by
another computer. Consult your Windows 95 documentation to determine if
Remote Administration is enabled, and how to install it if it is not. This service is
automatically available in Windows NT.
How Do You Import a List of Users from a File?
You can import users into your BridgeVIEW system from a tab-delimited
or comma-delimited text file, or from a binary file created by BridgeVIEW.
To import a list of users from a text file, click the Import User List…
button, or select File»Import»Text File….
When importing from a text file, the first column should contain the user
name, the second column the access level, and the third column a list of
privileges enabled for the user. The privileges enabled for a user are
separated by semicolons. Here is a list of privileges, and the abbreviation
that must be used to enable the privilege for a user.
Table 7-2. Abbreviations Used to Enable Privileges for a User
Privilege
Start/Stop Historical Logging
Start/Stop Event Logging
Start/Stop Printing
Abbreviation
HistLog
EvtLog
Print
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Table 7-2. Abbreviations Used to Enable Privileges for a User (Continued)
Privilege
Use Historical Trend Viewer
Use Tag Monitor
Abbreviation
HTV
TM
TB
Use Tag Browser
Use Server Browser
Disable <Alt> Key
SB
Alt
Configure Startup VIs
Configure Log File Locations
Create / Edit Tags
ConfigStartup
LogFileLoc
EditTags
IST
Use Interactive Server Tester
(if installed)
Create / Edit User Accounts
Create / Edit Access Levels
EditUsers
EditAccessLevels
For example, a user named user, having access level 100 and privileges to
use the Tag Monitor, Tag Browser, and launch the engine would have the
following privileges string (in tab-delimited format):
user
100
Engine; TM; TB;
The default password for each user imported from a text file is the user
account name. To change this, click the Use Default Password check box
imported accounts.
To import a list of users from a binary file, choose File»Import»Binary
File… and select a file from the list that appears in the dialog box. For more
information about creating and exporting to a binary file, see the How Do
You Export a List of Users to a File? section earlier in this chapter.
How Do You Import Users from
Another Computer on the Network?
You can import BridgeVIEW user accounts from other computers from a
text or binary file or by choosing File»Import»Network BridgeVIEW.
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If you choose File»Import»Network BridgeVIEW, a dialog box appears
in which you can type in the name of the computer to import the accounts
from, or you can browse the network.
Note
(Windows 95) To access the user account list on another computer over the network
requires access to the Windows Registry of the remote machine. Remote Registry
access does not function unless the Remote Administration service is installed and
running on any Windows 95 machine that attempts to access another computer’s
BridgeVIEW account list, or whose account list is to be accessed by another
computer. Consult your Windows 95 documentation to determine if Remote
Administration is enabled, and how to install it if it is not. This service is
automatically available in Windows NT.
How Do You Modify a User’s BridgeVIEW
Environment Privileges?
Use the Edit User Accounts dialog box to assign user privileges. To
change user privileges, select Project»Security»Edit User Accounts.
From the account list, select the account you want to modify and press the
Modify>> button. Press the Privileges… button to open the Privileges
dialog box.
To keep any changes, click the OK button in the Privileges dialog box and
click the Apply button in the Edit User Accounts dialog box.
Operator Interface Security refers to limiting user access to elements on
your HMI screens. You can assign an access level to each HMI object to
control which users can see or operate it.
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How Do You Limit User Access to HMI Objects?
You can use security information to control visibility attributes on HMI
objects. There is a set of security VIs you can use to implement security in
your HMI, found in the System»Security palette. For more information
about these or any other VIs, refer to Appendix A, HMI Function
Reference.
As you develop your operator interface panels, you might want to restrict
access to certain controls (inputs) or indicators (outputs). To do this, you
must add a security loop to your Operator Interface VI. Figure 7-6 shows
how to use the Security Monitor VI to control the visible and disabled
attributes of a front panel control and indicator. You can apply two types of
security to a control: operability and visibility. By default, controls always
operate and are visible. A security level of zero applies to the control,
meaning that any user with access level zero or higher (all users) can
operate the control.
Figure 7-6. Using the Security Monitor VI to Control Visibility
To limit user access in your HMI, pop up on the control terminal in the
diagram for which you want to apply security and select Create»Attribute
Node. Resize the attribute node so both the “Visible” and “Disabled”
attributes are available. Then wire the “Visible” attribute setting output to
the “Visible” terminal and the “Disabled” attribute setting output to the
“Disabled” terminal.
Also connect the shutdown output of the Security Monitor VI to a NOT
function, and the output of the NOT function to the continuation node of
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the security loop. This ensures that the security loop terminates when the
Engine shuts down.
By placing the Security Monitor in a loop, as in Figure 7-6, this HMI can
handle the operator access level changing dynamically and still behave
appropriately.
Summary Display
Your objective is to assign access privileges to the Alarm Summary
application created in Activity 5-2, Acknowledge Alarms in the Alarm
Summary Display. You also will associate specific access levels to an
Acknowledge Boolean on your front panel.
1. Configure the BridgeVIEW environment security by selecting
Project»Security»Edit User Accounts.
2. Select Add New Users>> and create the following new accounts:
a. User Name: Administrator; Level: 255;
Password: Administration
Press Add to create this new account.
b. User Name: Anyone; Level: 25; Password: Viewer
Press Add to create this new account.
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3. After creating the two accounts, select << Done Adding Users. Click
the OK button.
4. Unless you were previously logged in, a Login dialog box appears.
Log in as Administrator, with Password Administration.
5. Open the My Alarm Summary With Ack.viyou created in
Activity 5-2, Acknowledge Alarms in the Alarm Summary Display.
6. Edit the block diagram of Alarm Summary with Ack.vito limit
operability of the Ack button depending on the user logged in.
a. Pop up on the Ack button and select Create»Attribute Node. The
attribute node is created in the block diagram.
b. From the block diagram, pop up on the Attribute Node. Choose
Select Item»Disabled.
c. Create a new While Loop and move the Attribute Node inside it.
d. Pop up in the While Loop and drop the Security Monitor VI from
the Functions»System»Security palette.
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e. Wire the “Disabled” attribute value output of the VI to the
Attribute Node.
f. Invert the shutdown output of the VI and wire it to the
continuation terminal of the While Loop.
g. With the Wiring tool, pop up on the operability access level (0)
input of the Security Monitor VI and select Create Constant.
Enter 50into the constant.
h. Save the VI as Alarm Summary with Security.viin the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
The completed block diagram, including the new While Loop with the
Security Monitor VI, is shown in the following illustration.
7. Run the VI. Because you are logged in as Administrator, you have
privileges to acknowledge alarms.
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8. Log in as Anyonewith Password Viewerby selecting
Project»Security»Login.
9. The Acknowledge button is now disabled. This is because operability
access is given to users with Level 50 or above in BridgeVIEW. User
Anyonehas an access level of 25.
10. Close the VI and log in as Administratoragain.
End of Activity 7-3.
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8
Servers
This chapter explains how to use servers with BridgeVIEW. BridgeVIEW
supports several types of servers including OPC Servers, DDE Servers,
and National Instruments Standard IA Device Servers.
OPC Servers are written to the OPC Foundation OPC Data Access
specification and are provided by many companies. A DDE Server is
any server that supports the DDE Server interface. IA Device Servers
are a type of server developed by National Instruments. There are two
implementations of IA Device Servers: VI-based and DLL-based.
The DLL-based servers are also known as IAK Device Servers.
This chapter also describes how to install and configure the IA Device
Servers available from National Instruments and how to view the server
configuration within BridgeVIEW.
BridgeVIEW includes the NI-DAQ Server, an IA Device Server that
supports National Instruments data acquisition boards and SCXI, on
the BridgeVIEW Development System CD. Additional device servers
for other devices such as PLCs also are available for BridgeVIEW
on the BridgeVIEW Device Servers CD. For more information about
BridgeVIEW device servers, inquire about the Device Servers CD,
available from National Instruments.
What Are BridgeVIEW Device Servers?
A BridgeVIEW device server is an application that communicates with
and manages I/O devices such as PLCs, remote I/O (Input/Output) devices,
remote BridgeVIEW Engines, and data acquisition plug-in cards. Device
servers pass real-world tag values to the BridgeVIEW Engine in real time.
hardware-specific details, thereby establishing a device-independent I/O
layer for BridgeVIEW.
For more information about how to connect a tag to a server and item,
see Chapter 3, Tag Configuration.
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The device servers also handle and report communications and device
errors to BridgeVIEW. There are different servers available for different
device families and communication networks.
Each device server is a stand-alone component that might include a
configuration utility as well as the run-time application that communicates
with the BridgeVIEW Engine. IA Device Servers are not built into the
BridgeVIEW Engine itself. These servers are written to a National
Instruments standard client/server Applications Programming Interface
(API) for communicating with the BridgeVIEW Engine and the Common
Configuration Database.
When BridgeVIEW runs an application, it determines from the tag
configuration (.scf) file which servers are needed, and which items are
needed from those servers. BridgeVIEW launches each server it needs,
and notifies each one to monitor the specific items of interest. Typically,
servers monitor each input tag on a regular basis, passing the values to
the BridgeVIEW Engine when they change, and updating each output tag
when the BridgeVIEW HMI application writes that tag value. The update
rates and deadband servers use for monitoring items can be configured as
part of tag configuration. You define how a server monitors the items, how
often it polls the devices, and other server-specific and device-specific
parameters through each device server configuration utility.
How Do You Install and Configure a Device Server?
BridgeVIEW works with several device servers including the NI-DAQ
OPC Server, the device servers available on the BridgeVIEW Device
Servers CD, and the simulation servers installed with BridgeVIEW.
In addition, you can use other servers available from companies other than
National Instruments.
To use a device server with BridgeVIEW, first you must install the device
server and register it or run its configuration utility. More specific
information on installing and registering National Instruments servers
follows later in this section. This information is written to the Common
Configuration Database, where BridgeVIEW obtains the server
information. For some servers, you configure devices and items with the
server-specific Configuration Utility. Then, the Tag Configuration Editor
imports server, device, and item information so you can create tags. IAK
device servers allow you to directly create and configure communication
resources, devices, and items from the Tag Configuration Editor.
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When you register a device server, its name appears in the list of servers
shown in the various Edit Tag screens of the Tag Configuration Editor.
Once you configure your server, you can create a BridgeVIEW
Configuration using that server. Depending on the server, different
information is written to the Common Configuration Database (CCDB)
when the server is registered.
The most simple servers register no more than their names and launch
paths. You can select items by adding in the item strings in the Edit Tag
dialog box for each tag using that server. To select a device, you must create
an I/O Group and select or enter the device name in the I/O Group dialog
box. Refer to your server documentation for the correct formats for these
device and item strings.
The IAK Servers allow you to create and configure communication
resources, devices, and items directly in the Tag Configuration Editor.
Communication resources and devices are configured in the I/O Group
dialog box. Items are configured in the Connection tab of the Tag
Configuration dialog box.
Other servers register the devices to which they are connected and available
items for those devices by name. These servers also can register the data
type, directions, and engineering range and units of the various items, if
applicable. When you select these servers in the Edit Tag screens of the
BridgeVIEW Tag Configuration Editor, you must first create an I/O group
and select a device. Then you see a list of available devices, and a list of
items connected to that device in the Edit Tags screen. For a selected device
and item, the BridgeVIEW Tag Configuration Editor imports any available
item engineering range and unit information and also checks that the
directions or access rights for an item are compatible with the access rights
you have selected for the tag. Check your server documentation to find out
if it registers device and item names and item parameters with
BridgeVIEW.
Installing and Configuring the NI-DAQ OPC Server
The NI-DAQ OPC Server is available as part of NI-DAQ 6.x, and is
included on the BridgeVIEW CD. You can choose to install the NI-DAQ
OPC Server at the same time you install NI-DAQ, or you can install the
NI-DAQ OPC Server at a later time. Select the NI-DAQ OPC Server when
you are prompted to install servers.
After you install the NI-DAQ OPC Server, you must run the NI-DAQ
Configuration Utility and the Channel Wizard to configure your DAQ
system before you can use the NI-DAQ OPC Server with BridgeVIEW.
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All Channels created with the NI-DAQ Channel Wizard appear as items
when the DAQ OPC Server is selected in BridgeVIEW.
Installing and Configuring Device Servers
from the BridgeVIEW Device Servers CD
The BridgeVIEW Device Servers CD contains servers for several PLCs
and remote I/O devices. These device servers are DLL-based servers using
the Device Server Toolkit interface to BridgeVIEW.
To install the BridgeVIEW Device Servers from the BridgeVIEW Device
Servers CD, follow these steps.
1. Insert the CD in your CD-ROM drive.
If you are running BridgeVIEW on Windows 95 or NT 4.0,
select Run… from the Start menu.
2. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
The Installer prompts you to select one or more servers to install. It also
installs the Server Explorer, which all the device servers contained on the
CD use for server configuration. After you run the installer, you must run
the Server Explorer to configure the device-specific parameters of your
industrial network before using the server with BridgeVIEW. The Server
Explorer also registers your server so you can use it with BridgeVIEW.
Each server on-line help file documents configuration instructions specific
to each server on the CD. See the on-line help files for your server for
more information.
Registering Simulation Servers
BridgeVIEW automatically installs three servers used by several of the
BridgeVIEW examples—the Tanks Server, the SIM Server, and the
Cookie Server. You can use these servers to experiment with Tag
Configuration and building your HMI. You also can look at the diagrams
of these servers to see how a VI-based server works.
These servers must be registered for BridgeVIEW to recognize they exist.
The three servers are contained in folders named Tanks Server, SIM
Server, and Cookie Serverin the BridgeVIEW\_serversfolder.
Within each folder, each server has a VI named Register Tanks
Server.virespectively. To register each server, open its register VI,
run it, and close the VI. The server then appears in the BridgeVIEW list
of servers whenever you configure a tag or look at servers in the Server
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Browser utility. You can remove these servers from the server list by
selecting the Unregister Server option in the Server Browser utility.
How Do You Use OPC Servers with BridgeVIEW?
BridgeVIEW can communicate with any server implementing the OPC
Foundation OPC Server interface, a Microsoft COM-based standard.
BridgeVIEW automatically finds all OPC Servers installed in your system
and searches the network for OPC servers on other machines. Unlike
Device Servers, OPC Servers do not store information in the Common
Configuration Database, rather BridgeVIEW reads any available
information about server capabilities and items from the server directly.
OPC Servers are listed in the Server Name List when you configure
a BridgeVIEW tag using the Tag Configuration Editor. To connect a
BridgeVIEW tag to an OPC Server item, you select the server and enter
or choose the item name along with other parameters you might need to
specify, such as the access path. You also create I/O Groups for the items,
specifying update rate and deadband information for each group. Each
BridgeVIEW I/O Group created in the Tag Configuration Editor is
automatically mapped to an OPC Group in the OPC Server with the
same attributes.
OPC Servers have an optional interface called the Server Browse Address
Space Interface. If a server supports this interface, BridgeVIEW can query
it to find which items are available from the server and display them in the
item list when the server is selected in the Tag Configuration dialog box.
In this case, the Browse button in the Tag Configuration dialog box is
enabled, and you can press this button to view the hierarchical
organization of the server Item IDs.
You can also view the OPC Server Items and their attributes using
the Server Browser utility. Launch the Server Browser by selecting
Projects»Server Tools»Server Browser… or pressing the Server
Browser… button on the Engine Manager display.
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Figure 8-1. Server Browser
When an OPC server is selected in the Servers list, you can press the View
Server Information… button to bring up the View Server Information for
OPC Servers dialog box, as shown in Figure 8-2.
Figure 8-2. View Server Information Dialog Box
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This dialog box displays general information about the OPC Server as read
from your local system registry. If the OPC server supports the Server
Browse Address Space interface, the View Server Information dialog box
also displays the items available from the server and their attributes. If the
OPC Server does not support this interface, the No Items Found checkbox
and the item table appear dimmed.
Using Remote OPC Servers
You can use the Server Browser to configure BridgeVIEW to access OPC
Servers on other machine on your network. Use this utility to select remote
OPC Servers and add them to the BridgeVIEW server list.
To view the OPC servers available on other machines on your network,
press the Browse Network OPC Servers button on the Server Browser.
This brings up the Browse OPC Servers on Network dialog box shown
below.
Figure 8-3. Browse OPC Servers on Network Dialog Box
Use this dialog to view the OPC servers registered on other machines on
your network. The Registered Remote OPC Servers list shows which
remote servers have been added to the BridgeVIEW servers list. If you wish
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to use the server on another machine from your machine, use the network
tree control to open the machine, and select one of the OPC servers shown
on that machine and press the Add Server>> button. The information for
the remote OPC server is now stored in your local machine registry, and the
server will appear in your BridgeVIEW servers list with the server name
format of (machine name)programID. BridgeVIEW runs the server on
the remote machine when you configure a tag to use that server.
To remove one or more remote OPC server from the BridgeVIEW server
list, select the servers and press the Remove Server(s) button. The servers
will no longer appear in your BridgeVIEW server list.
You can also use the Windows utility dcomcnfg.exeto configure an OPC
server to run on a remote machine rather than your local machine. In order
to use dcomcnfg.exeto configure an OPC server on a remote machine,
you must also have the server registered on your local machine.
To register an OPC server on your local machine, either install the server
locally or run the server registration utility on your local machine. Then,
launch dcomcnfg.exeand complete the following steps.
1. Select the OPC server in the Applications list, under the Applications
tab, and press the Properties button.
2. Click the Location tab in the Properties dialog box. De-select
the Run application on this machine checkbox and check the
Run application on the following computer: checkbox. Enter the
name of the machine or use the Browse button to select the remote
machine. Press OK to close the Properties dialog box.
3. Select the Default Properties tab and make sure that the Enable
Distributed COM on this computer checkbox is checked. Also,
set the Default Authentication Level to Connect, and set the
Default Impersonation Level to Identify.
4. Select the Default Security tab, and press the Edit Default… button.
Make sure that the machine on which you plan to launch the OPC
server is allowed to access your machine. This is necessary for the
machine to call back the BridgeVIEW on your machine when
supplying OPC values.
Note
If you use dcomcnfg.exeto select a remote server, you can only run one version
of that server, either locally or on one remote machine. You cannot use the same
server on more than one machine.
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How Do You Use DDE Servers with BridgeVIEW?
Data Exchange (DDE) as its interface. A DDE Server is treated as a simple
server in which you type in a device and item string to select a specific
point. For DDE Servers, you select DDE Server from the Server List in
the Tag Configuration Editor, and type in APPLICATION|TOPICfor
device in the I/O Group Configuration Dialog Box, and ITEM for item. See
the How Do You Connect a Tag to a DDE Server? section in Chapter 3, Tag
Configuration for more complete information on how to do this. If you are
using Network DDE to use a DDE Server running on another machine, use
the Network DDE name for the APPLICATIONpart of the name. Refer to
your DDE Server documentation for the correct name for APPLICATION,
the list of available TOPICSand ITEMSfor each topic.
Note
Unlike the servers written to the BridgeVIEW IA Device Server specification,
off-the-shelf DDE Servers do not register themselves with BridgeVIEW.
Therefore, BridgeVIEW cannot launch the DDE Server automatically when it
runs your HMI application. To use a DDE Server, launch or run the DDE Server
before you run your BridgeVIEW application. BridgeVIEW will post system error
messages if it cannot connect to the DDE Server when it launches the
BridgeVIEW Engine. Thereafter, it attempts to reconnect to the DDE Server
periodically.
How Do You View BridgeVIEW Server Configuration?
The Tag Configuration Editor shows the list of available servers, and any
registered devices and items for the server in the various Edit Tag screens.
You also can use the Server Browser to view information about the device
servers registered with BridgeVIEW as well as the OPC Servers present in
your system and on the network. Launch the Server Browser by selecting
Projects»Server Tools»Server Browser… or by pressing the Server
Browser… button on the Engine Manager display. Use this utility to view
the properties of the devices and items registered by each server. For
VI-based IA Device Servers, you can use this utility to display the server
front panel while your application is running if you launch it from the
Engine Manager. Typically, servers run with their front panel hidden. You
can use the Server Browser to launch the server-specific configuration
utility from within BridgeVIEW, if one is available.
The Server Browser utility shows the server information stored in the active
Common Configuration Database (.ccdb) file. You can control which
CCDB is active from the Server Explorer utility.
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Use the Server Browser to unregister a device server that you no longer
want to use (BridgeVIEW device servers only). This keeps the server and
related information from appearing in the Edit Tag screens. Notice that this
invalidates any tags that use that server. Once you have unregistered a
server, you can no longer connect to it from BridgeVIEW, and you must run
its configuration utility again to register it with BridgeVIEW.
Figure 8-4. Server Browser
The main screen of the Server Browser displays a list of servers available
to BridgeVIEW in the Registered Servers list box if launched from the
Engine Manager. The symbol to the left of the server name indicates
whether it is loaded and running. A black diamond indicates that the server
is loaded and running. A white diamond indicates that the server is loaded
but not running. No symbol indicates that the server is not being used in the
current BridgeVIEW Tag Configuration. The Server Browser also displays
the path to the active CCDB in its title bar.
To view information registered for a specific server, double-click on the
server name in the Registered Servers list box, or press the View Server
Devices… button. This invokes the View Server Device Information dialog
box shown in Figure 8-5, View Server Information Dialog Box.
To unregister a server that you no longer want to connect to your tags, press
the Unregister Server button with the server of interest selected in the
Registered Servers list box. This invokes a dialog box asking you to
confirm the operation.
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Note
Unregistering a server means that BridgeVIEW can no longer access that server,
and any tag configured to use that server no longer has a valid configuration. Do
this only if no tags are configured to use that server and you no longer want to
access it from the Tag Configuration Editor. This does not apply to OPC or DDE
Servers.
Registered Server Device and Item Parameters
Use the View Server Information dialog box to see a list of devices
registered by a specific server, and for the selected device, view a table of
the registered items and item properties. The View Server Information
dialog box for BridgeVIEW device servers is shown below.
Figure 8-5. View Server Information Dialog Box
You can sort this table by item name, data type, or direction, by selecting
which parameter you want to sort on in the Sort By: list.
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How Do You Develop an IA Device Server?
You can write an IA Device Server as a BridgeVIEW VI. Several of the
example simulation servers installed with BridgeVIEW are VI-based
servers. Writing a VI-based IA server is a simple way to emulate hardware
or connect BridgeVIEW to a simple device. You can use the same
BridgeVIEW development environment to create the server as you used to
develop your application. The toolkit for creating a VI-based device server
is included on the BridgeVIEW CD.
You also can implement an IA Device Server as a 32-bit Windows Dynamic
Link Library (DLL). Most of the PLC servers for BridgeVIEW are
implemented as DLLs. Writing a DLL-based IA Device Server requires
more work than writing a VI-based server, but can support clients other
than BridgeVIEW.
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Part II
G Tutorial
This section contains information about the functionality of G that you
need to get started with most BridgeVIEW applications.
•
Chapter 9, Creating VIs, introduces the basic concepts of virtual
and connector, how to use a VI as a subVI, how to use the VI Setup…
•
•
•
Chapter 10, Customizing VIs, introduces the basic concepts used for
customizing VIs.
Chapter 11, Loops and Charts, introduces structures and explains
the basic concepts of charts, the While Loop, and the For Loop.
Chapter 12, Case and Sequence Structures and the Formula Node,
introduces the basic concepts of Case and Sequence structures, and
provides activities that explain how to use the Case structure, how
how to use them.
•
•
•
Chapter 13, Front Panel Object Attributes, describes objects called
appearance and functional characteristics of controls and indicators.
Chapter 14, Arrays, Clusters, and Graphs, introduces the basic
concepts of polymorphism, arrays, clusters, and graphs and provides
Chapter 15, Application Control, introduces the VI Server and
provides an activity that explains how to use it within BridgeVIEW.
The VI Server allows you to control when a VI is loaded into memory,
run, and unloaded from memory.
•
Chapter 16, Program Design, suggests some techniques to use when
creating programs and offers programming style recommendations.
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9
Creating VIs
This chapter introduces the basic concepts of virtual instruments and
provides activities that explain the following:
•
•
How to create the icon and connector
How to use a VI as a subVI
What is a Virtual Instrument?
A virtual instrument (VI) is a program in the graphical programming
language G. Virtual instrument front panels often have a user interface
similar to physical instruments. G also has built-in functions that are similar
to VIs, but do not have front panels or block diagrams as VIs do. Function
icons always have a yellow background.
How Do You Build a VI?
One of the keys to creating BridgeVIEW applications is understanding and
using the hierarchical nature of the VI. After you create a VI, you can use
it as a subVI in the block diagram of a higher-level VI.
VI Hierarchy
When you create an application, you start at the top-level VI and define the
inputs and outputs for the application. Then, you construct subVIs to
perform the necessary operations on the data as it flows through the block
diagram. If a block diagram has a large number of icons, group them into a
lower-level VI to maintain the simplicity of the block diagram. This
modular approach makes applications easy to debug, understand, and
maintain.
As with other applications, you can save your VI to a file in a regular
directory. With G, you also can save multiple VIs in a single file called a
VI library.
Saving VIs as individual files is more effective than using VI libraries
because you can copy, rename, and delete files more easily than if you are
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Chapter 9
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using a VI library. For a list of the advantages and disadvantages of using
VI libraries and individual files, see the section Saving VIs in Chapter 2,
Editing VIs, of the G Programming Reference Manual.
VI libraries have the same load, save, and open capabilities as other
directories. VI libraries, however, are not hierarchical. That is, you cannot
create a VI library inside of another VI library. You cannot create a new
directory inside a VI library, either. There is no way to list the VIs in a
VI library outside the BridgeVIEW environment.
After you create a VI library, it appears in the BridgeVIEW file dialog box
as a folder with VI on the folder icon. Regular directories appear as a folder
without the VI label.
Even though you might not save your own VIs in VI libraries, you should
be familiar with how they work. In the various activities in this manual, you
will save your VIs in the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory. Solutions to
these activities are provided in the BridgeVIEW\Activity\Solution
directory.
Controls, Constants, and Indicators
A control is an object you place on your HMI for entering data into a VI
interactively or into a subVI programmatically. An indicator is an object
you place on your HMI for displaying output. Controls and indicators in G
are similar to input and output parameters, respectively, in traditional
programming languages. An alternative to placing controls and indicators
on the front panel and then wiring them to functions or VIs on the block
diagram, is to create controls or indicators directly from the block diagram.
To do this, pop up on the input terminal of a function or VI on the block
diagram and select Create Control. This creates a control of the correct
data type and wires it to the terminal.
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You can create an indicator and wire it to an output terminal by popping up
on the terminal and selecting Create Indicator. As an alternative to placing
constants on the block diagram and wiring them to functions and VIs, you
can pop up on a function or VI terminal and select Create Constant. You
cannot delete a control or indicator from the block diagram. As with all
front panel objects, you must go to the front panel, select the Positioning
tool, and then delete the object.
Each time you create a new control or indicator on the front panel,
BridgeVIEW creates the corresponding terminal in the block diagram.
The terminal symbols suggest the data type of the control or indicator.
For example, a DBL terminal represents a double-precision, floating-point
number; a TF terminal is a Boolean; an I16 terminal represents a regular,
16-bit integer; and an ABC terminal represents a string. For more
information about data types in G, and their graphical representations,
see the G Programming Quick Reference Card.
Terminals
Terminals are regions on a VI or function through which data passes.
Terminals are analogous to parameters in text-based programming
languages. It is important that you wire the correct terminals of a function
or VI. You can view the icon connector to make correct wiring easier.
To do this, pop up on the function or VI and choose Show»Terminals.
To return to the icon, pop up on the function or VI and select
Show»Terminals again.
Wires
A wire is a data path between nodes. Wires are colored according to the
kind of data each wire carries. Blue wires carry integers, orange wires carry
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floating-point numbers, green wires carry Booleans, and pink wires carry
strings. For more information about wire styles and colors, see the
G Programming Quick Reference Card.
To wire from one terminal to another, click the Wiring tool on the first
terminal, move the tool to the second terminal, and click on the second
terminal. It does not matter at which terminal you start. The hot spot of the
Wiring tool is the tip of the unwound wiring segment.
Hot Spot
In the wiring illustrations in this section, the arrow at the end of this mouse
symbol shows where to click and the number printed on the arrow indicates
how many times to click the mouse button.
1
When the Wiring tool is over a terminal, the terminal area blinks, to indicate
that clicking connects the wire to that terminal. Do not hold down the
mouse button while moving the Wiring tool from one terminal to another.
You can bend a wire once by moving the mouse perpendicular to the current
direction. To create more bends in the wire, click the mouse button.
To change the direction of the wire, press the spacebar. Click with the
mouse button, to tack the wire down and move the mouse perpendicularly.
1
1
Tip Strips
When you move the Wiring tool over the terminal of a node, a tip strip for
that terminal pops up. Tip strips consist of small, yellow text banners that
display the name of each terminal. These tip strips should help you to wire
the terminals. The following illustration displays the tip strip that appears
when you place the Wiring tool over an output of the Simple Error
Handler VI.
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VI
Wiring Tool
Tip Strip
Note
When you place the Wiring tool over a node, G displays wire stubs that indicate
each input and output. The wire stub has a dot at its end if it is an input to the node.
Wire Stretching
You can move wired objects individually or in groups by dragging the
selected objects to a new location with the Positioning tool.
Selecting and Deleting Wires
You might wire nodes incorrectly. If you do, select the wire you want to
delete and then press <Delete>. A wire segment is a single horizontal or
vertical piece of wire. The point where three or four wire segments join is
called a junction. A wire branch contains all the wire segments from one
junction to another, from a terminal to the next junction, or from one
terminal to another if there are no junctions in between. You select a wire
segment by clicking on it with the Positioning tool. Double-clicking selects
a branch, and triple-clicking selects the entire wire.
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Segment
Junction
Segment
1
2
3
Bend
Selects a Segment
Selects a Branch
Selects an Entire Wire
Bad Wires
A dashed wire represents a bad wire. You can get a bad wire for a number
of reasons, such as connecting two controls, or connecting a source
terminal to a destination terminal when the data types do not match (for
instance, connecting a numeric to a Boolean). You can remove a bad wire
by clicking on it with the Positioning tool and pressing <Delete>. Choosing
Edit»Remove Bad Wires or <Ctrl-B> deletes all bad wires in the block
diagram. This is a useful quick fix to try if your VI refuses to run or returns
the Signal has Loose Endserror message.
Note
Do not confuse a black, dashed wire with a dotted wire. A dotted wire represents a
Boolean data type, as the following illustration shows.
Dashed Wire (bad)
Dotted Wire (good)
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Chapter 9
Creating VIs
Activity 9-1. Create a VI
Your objective is to build a VI.
Imagine that you have sensors that read temperature and volume readings
as voltage. You will use a VI in the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory to
simulate the temperature and volume measurements in volts. You will write
a VI to scale these measurements to degrees fahrenheit and liters,
respectively.
1. Open a new front panel by selecting File»New. If you have closed all
VIs, select New VI from the BridgeVIEW dialog box.
Note
If the Controls palette is not visible, select Windows»Show Controls Palette to
display the palette. You also can access the Controls palette by popping up in an
open area of the front panel. To pop up, right-click on your mouse.
2. Select Tank from Controls»Vessels, and place it on the front panel.
3. Type Volumein the label text box and click anywhere on the front
panel.
Note
If you click outside the text box without entering text, the label disappears.
To show the label again, pop up on the control and select Show»Label.
4. Rescale the tank indicator to display the tank volume between 0.0
and 1000.0.
a. Using the Labeling tool, double-click on 10.0on the tank scale to
highlight it.
b. Type 1000in the scale and click the mouse button anywhere on
the front panel. The intermediary increments are scaled
automatically.
5. Place a thermometer from Controls»Numeric on the front panel.
Label it Tempand rescale it to be between 0 and 100.
6. Your front panel should look like the following illustration.
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7. Open the block diagram by choosing Windows»Show Diagram.
Select the objects listed below from the Functions palette and place
them on the block diagram.
Note
If the Functions palette is not visible, select Windows»Show Functions Palette to
display the palette. You also can access the Functions palette by popping up in an
open area of the block diagram.
8. Place each of the following objects on the block diagram.
Process Monitor (Functions»Select a VI from the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory)—Simulates reading a temperature voltage and
volume value from a sensor or transducer.
Random Number Generator (Functions»Numeric)—Generates a
number between 0 and 1.
Multiply function (Functions»Numeric)—Multiplies two numbers
and returns their product. In this activity, you need two of these. Drop
one from the palette and copy and paste to create the other.
Numeric Constant (Functions»Numeric)—You need two of these.
Drop one from the palette. Using the labeling tool, change its value to
10.00. Copy and paste it.
Note
Another way to create a constant is to pop up on the terminal of a function or VI
using the Wiring tool. Select Create Constant from the floating menu. A constant
of the appropriate data type appears.
9. To view the inputs and outputs of a function or a VI, select Show Help
from the Help menu and then drag the cursor over each function and
VI. The Help window for the Process Monitor VI is shown below.
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10. Using the Wiring tool, wire the objects as shown.
Note
To move objects around on the block diagram, click on the Positioning tool in the
Tools palette.
11. Select File»Save and save the VI as Temp & Vol.viin the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
12. From the front panel, run the VI by clicking on the Run button. Notice
values for Volume and Temperature are displayed on the front panel.
13. Close the VI by selecting File»Close.
End of Activity 9-1.
VI Documentation
You can document a VI by choosing Windows»Show VI Info…. Type the
description of the VI in the VI Information dialog box. Then, you can recall
the description by selecting Windows»Show VI Info… again.
You can edit the descriptions of objects on the front panel (or their
respective terminals on the block diagram) by popping up on the object and
choosing Data Operations»Description….
Note
is running.
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The following illustration is an example pop-up menu that appears while
you are running a VI. You cannot add to or change the description while
running the VI, but you can view any previously entered information.
You also can view the description of a front panel object by showing the
Help window (Help»Show Help) and moving the cursor over the object.
Activity 9-2. Document a VI
Your objective is to document a VI that you have created.
1. Open the Temp & Vol.vicreated in Activity 9-1 from the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
2. Select Windows»Show VI Info…. Type the description for the VI, as
shown in the following illustration, and click on OK.
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3. Pop up on the tank and choose Data Operations»Description….
Type the description for the indicator, as shown in the following
illustration, and click OK.
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4. Pop up on the thermometer and choose Data Operations»
Description…. Type in the description: Displays simulated
temperature (deg F) measurement. Click on OK.
5. Select Show Help from the Help menu. Place the cursor on Volume
and then on Temp. You can see the descriptions you typed in appear
in the help window.
6. Save and close the VI.
End of Activity 9-2.
What is a SubVI?
A subVI is much like a subroutine in text-based programming languages.
It is a VI that is used in the block diagram of another VI.
You can use any VI that has an icon and a connector as a subVI in
another VI. In the block diagram, you select VIs to use as subVIs from
Functions»Select a VI…. Choosing this option produces a file dialog box,
from which you can select any VI in the system. If you open a VI that does
not have an icon and a connector, a blank, square box appears in the calling
VI’s block diagram. You cannot wire to this node.
A subVI is analogous to a subroutine. A subVI node is analogous to a
subroutine call. The subVI node is not the subVI itself, just as a subroutine
call statement in a program is not the subroutine itself. A block diagram that
contains several identical subVI nodes calls the same subVI several times.
Hierarchy Window
The Hierarchy window displays a graphical representation of the calling
hierarchy for all VIs in memory, including type definitions and global
variables. You use the Hierarchy window (Project»Show VI Hierarchy)
to display the dependencies of VIs by providing information on VI callers
and subVIs. This window contains a toolbar that you can use to configure
several types of settings for displayed items. The following illustration
shows an example of the VI hierarchy toolbar.
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You can use buttons on the Hierarchy window toolbar or the View menu,
or pop up on an empty space in the window to access the following
options. For more information about the Hierarchy window see the
Using the Hierarchy Window section in Chapter 3, Using SubVIs, of the
G Programming Reference Manual.
Redraw—Rearranges nodes after successive operations on hierarchy nodes
if you need to minimize line crossings and maximize symmetric aesthetics.
If a focus node exists, you then scroll through the window so that the first
root that shows subVIs is visible.
Switch to vertical layout—Arranges the nodes from top-to-bottom, placing
roots at the top.
Switch to horizontal layout—Arranges the nodes from left-to-right, placing
roots on the left side.
Include/Exclude VIs—Toggles the hierarchy graph to include VI libraries,
or exclude VIs in VI libraries.
Include/Exclude global—Toggles the hierarchy graph to include or exclude
global variables. Global variables store data used by several VIs.
Include/Exclude typedefs—Toggles the hierarchy graph to include or
exclude typedefs. A typedef is a master copy of a custom control, which can
be used by several VIs.
In addition, the View menu and pop-up menus include Show all VIs and
Full VI Path in Label options that you cannot access on the toolbar.
As you move the Operating tool over objects in the Hierarchy window,
BridgeVIEW displays the name of the VI below the VI icon.
Use the <Tab> key to toggle between the Positioning and Scroll window
tools. This feature is useful for moving nodes from the Hierarchy window
to the block diagram.
You can drag a VI or subVI node to the block diagram or copy it to the
clipboard by clicking on the node. <Shift>-click on a VI or subVIs node to
select multiple objects for copying to other block diagrams or front panels.
Double-clicking on a VI or subVI node opens the front panel of that node.
Any VIs that contain subVIs have an arrow button next to the VI that you
can use to show or hide subVIs. Clicking on the red arrow button or
double-clicking on the VI itself displays the subVIs in that VI. A black
arrow button on a VI node means that all subVIs are displayed. You also
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can pop up on a VI or subVI node to access a menu with options, such as
showing or hiding subVIs, opening the VI or subVI front panel, editing the
VI icon, and so on.
Search Hierarchy
You also can search currently visible nodes in the Hierarchy window by
name. You initiate the search by typing in the name of the node, anywhere
on the window. As you type in the text, a search string appears, which
displays the text as you type it in and concurrently searches through the
hierarchy. The following illustration shows the search hierarchy.
After finding the correct node, you can press <Enter> to search for the next
node that matches the search string, or you can press <Shift-Enter> to find
the previous node that matches the search string.
Icon and Connector
Every VI has a default icon displayed in the upper-right corner of the Front
Panel and Diagram windows. For VIs, the default is the BridgeVIEW VI
icon and a number indicating how many new VIs you have opened since
launching BridgeVIEW. You use the Icon Editor to customize the icon by
turning individual pixels on and off. To activate the Icon Editor, pop up on
the default icon in the top right corner of the Panel window and select
Edit Icon.
The following illustration shows the Icon Editor Window. You use the tools
at left to create the icon design in the pixel editing area. An image of the
actual icon size appears in one of the boxes to the right of the editing area.
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The tools to the left of the editing area perform the following functions:
Pencil tool—Draws and erases pixel by pixel.
Line tool—Draws straight lines. Press <Shift> and then drag this tool to
draw horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines.
Color Copy tool—Copies the foreground color from an element in the icon.
Fill bucket tool—Fills an outlined area with the foreground color.
Rectangle tool—Draws a rectangular border in the foreground color.
Double-click on this tool to frame the icon in the foreground color.
Filled rectangle tool—Draws a rectangle bordered with the foreground
color and filled with the background color. Double-click to frame the icon
in the foreground color and fill it with the background color.
Select tool—Selects an area of the icon for moving, cloning, or other
changes.
Text tool—Enters text into the icon design.
Foreground/Background—Displays the current foreground and
background colors. Click on each to get a color palette from which you can
choose new colors.
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The buttons at the right of the editing screen perform the following
functions:
•
•
•
Undo—Cancels the last operation you performed.
OK—Saves your drawing as the VI icon and returns to the front panel.
Cancel—Returns to the front panel without saving any changes.
Depending on the type of monitor you are using, you can design a separate
icon for monochrome, 16-color, and 256-color mode. You design and save
each icon version separately. The editor defaults to Black & White, but you
can click on one of the other color options to switch modes.
Note
If you design a color icon only, the icon does not show up in a subpalette of the
Functions palette if you place the VI in the *.libdirectory, nor will the icon be
printed or displayed on a black and white monitor.
The connector is the programmatic interface to a VI. If you use the panel
controls or indicators to pass data to and from subVIs, these controls or
indicators need terminals on the connector pane. You define connections by
choosing the number of terminals you want for the VI and assigning a front
panel control or indicator to each of those terminals.
To define a connector, select Show Connector from the icon pane pop-up
menu on the Panel window.
The connector icon replaces the icon in the upper-right corner of the Panel
window. BridgeVIEW selects a terminal pattern appropriate for your VI
with terminals for controls on the left side of the connector pane, and
terminals for indicators on the right. The number of terminals selected
depends on the number of controls and indicators on your front panel.
Each rectangle on the connector represents a terminal area, and you can use
the rectangles either for input or output from the VI. If necessary, you can
select a different terminal pattern for your VI. To do this, pop up on the
icon, select Show Connector, pop up again, and select Patterns.
Activity 9-3. Create an Icon and Connector
Your objective is to make an icon and connector for a VI.
To use a VI as a subVI, you must create an icon to represent it on the block
diagram of another VI, and a connector pane to which you can connect
inputs and outputs. BridgeVIEW provides several tools with which you can
create or edit an icon for your VIs.
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The icon of a VI represents it as a subVI in the block diagram of other VIs.
It can be a pictorial representation of the purpose of the VI, or a textual
description of the VI.
1. Open Temp & Vol.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
2. From the front panel, pop up on the icon in the top right corner and
select Edit Icon…. You also can double click on the icon to invoke the
icon editor.
Note
You only can access the icon/connector for a VI from the front panel.
3. Erase the default icon. With the Select tool, which appears as a dotted
rectangle, click and drag over the section you want to delete, and press
the <Delete> key. You also can double click on the shaded rectangle in
the tool box to erase the icon.
4. Draw a thermometer with the Pencil tool.
5. Create the text with the Text tool. To change the font, double-click on
the Text tool. Your icon should look similar to the following
illustration.
6. Close the Icon Editor by clicking on OK. The new icon appears in the
icon pane.
7. Define the connector terminal pattern by popping up in the icon pane
on the front panel and choosing Show Connector. By default,
BridgeVIEW selects a terminal pattern based on the number of
controls and indicators on the front panel. Because there are two
objects on the front panel, the connector has two terminals, as shown
at left.
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8. Pop up on the connector pane and select Rotate 90 Degrees.
Notice how the connector pane changes, as shown at left.
9. Assign the terminals to Temp and Volume.
a. Click on the top terminal in the connector. The cursor
automatically changes to the Wiring tool, and the terminal
turns black.
b. Click on the Temp indicator. A moving dashed line frames the
indicator, as shown in the following illustration. The selected
terminal changes to a color consistent with the datatype of the
control/indicator selected.
If you click in an open area on the front panel, the dashed line
disappears and the selected terminal appears dimmed, indicating
that you have assigned the indicator to that terminal. If the
terminal is white, you have not made the connection correctly.
c. Repeat steps a and b to associate the bottom terminal with the
Volume indicator.
d. Pop up on the connector and select Show Icon….
10. Save the VI by choosing File»Save.
Now, this VI is complete and ready for use as a subVI in other VIs. The
icon represents the VI in the block diagram of the calling VI. The
connector (with two terminals) outputs the temperature and volume.
Note
The connector specifies the inputs and outputs of a VI when you use it as a subVI.
Remember that front panel controls can be used as inputs only; front panel
indicators can be used as outputs only.
11. Close the VI by choosing File»Close.
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Opening, Operating, and Changing SubVIs
You can open a VI used as a subVI from the block diagram of the calling
VI by double-clicking on the subVI icon or by selecting Project»This VI’s
SubVIs. You will see a palette containing all the subVIs of the calling VI.
Select the subVI you want to open.
Any changes you make to a subVI alter only the version in memory until
you save the subVI. The changes affect all instances of the subVI and not
just the node you used to edit the VI.
Activity 9-4. Call a SubVI
Your objective is to build a VI that uses the Temp & Vol.vias a subVI.
The Temp & Vol VI you built in Activity 9-1 returns a temperature and
volume. You will take a volume reading and convert the value to gallons
when a switch is pressed.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel by selecting File»New.
2. Select a Horizontal Switch from the Controls»Boolean palette and
label it volume. Place free labels on the front panel to indicate Liters
and Gallonsby using the Labeling tool.
3. Select a meter from Controls»Numeric and place it on the front panel.
Label it Tank Volume.
4. Change the range of the meter to accommodate values ranging
between 0.0 and 1000.0. With the Operating tool, double-click on the
high limit and change it from 10.0 to 1000.0. Switch to the positioning
tool and resize the meter by dragging out one of the corners and
expanding the control.
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Block Diagram
5. Go to the block diagram by selecting Windows»Show Diagram.
6. Pop up in a free area of the block diagram and choose
Functions»Select a VI…. A dialog box appears. Select
Temp & Vol.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory. Click on
Open in the dialog box. BridgeVIEW places the Temp & Vol VI on the
block diagram.
7. Add the other objects to the block diagram as shown in the following
illustration.
Numeric Constant (Functions»Numeric)—Add a numeric constant
to the block diagram. Assign the value 3.785to the constant by using
the Labeling tool. This is the conversion factor for switching from
liters to gallons.
Select Function (Function»Comparison)—Returns the value wired
to the TRUE or FALSE input, depending on the Boolean input.
Divide function (Functions»Numeric)—Divides the value in liters by
3.785 to convert it to gallons.
8. Wire the diagram objects as shown.
9. Return to the front panel and click on the Run button in the toolbar.
The meter shows the value in liters.
10. Click on the switch to select Gallonsand click on the Run button.
The meter shows the value in gallons.
11. Save the VI as Using Temp & Vol.viin the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory.
End of Activity 9-4.
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How Do You Debug a VI?
A VI cannot compile or run if it is broken. Normally, the VI is broken while
you are creating or editing it, until you wire all the icons in the diagram. If it
still is broken when you finish, try selecting Remove Bad Wires from the
Edit menu. Often, this fixes a broken VI.
When your VI is not executable, a broken arrow appears instead of the Run
button. To list the errors, click on the broken Run button. Click on one of
the errors listed and then click on Find to highlight the object or terminal
that reported the error.
You can animate the VI block diagram execution by clicking on the
Highlight Execution button. Execution highlighting is commonly used
with single-step mode to trace the data flow in a block diagram.
For debugging purposes, you might want to execute a block diagram node
by node. This is known as single-stepping. To enable the single-step mode,
click on the Step Into button or Step Over button. This action then causes
the first node to blink, denoting that it is ready to execute. Then you can
click on either the Step Into or Step Over button again to execute the node
and proceed to the next node. If the node is a structure or VI, you can select
the Step Over button to execute the node but not single-step through the
node. For example, if the node is a subVI and you click on the Step Over
button, you execute the subVI and proceed to the next node but cannot see
how the subVI nodes execute. To single step through a structure or subVI,
select the Step Into button.
and/or complete single stepping. For more information about debugging,
see Chapter 4, Executing and Debugging VIs and SubVIs, in the
G Programming Reference Manual.
For more information about block diagrams, and the options available from
the block diagram window, see the section Block Diagram in Chapter 2,
BridgeVIEW Environment.
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Activity 9-5. Debug a VI in BridgeVIEW
Your objective is to use the probe tool and the probe window and to
examine data flow in the block diagram using the execution highlighting
feature.
1. Open Using Temp & Vol.vifrom the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
2. Select Windows»Show Diagram.
3. If the Tools palette is not open, select Windows»Show Tools Palette.
4. Select the Probe tool from the Tools palette. Click with the Probe tool
on the wire coming out of the Divide function. A Probe window pops
up with the title Probe 1and a yellow glyph with the number of the
probe, as shown in the following illustration. The Probe window
remains open, even if you switch to the front panel.
5. Return to the front panel. Move the Probe window so you can
view both the probe and volume values as shown in the following
illustration. Run the VI. The volume in gallons appears in the
Probe window while Tank Volumedisplays the value in liters.
Note
The volume values that appear on your screen may be different than what is
shown in this illustration. Refer to the Numeric Conversion section in Chapter 11,
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6. Close the Probe window by clicking in the close box at the top of the
Probe window title bar.
Another useful debugging technique is to examine the flow of data in
the block diagram using the execution highlighting feature.
7. Return to the block diagram of the VI.
8. Begin execution highlighting by clicking on the Highlight Execution
button, in the toolbar. The Highlight Execution button changes to an
illuminated light bulb.
9. Click on the Run button to run the VI, and notice that execution
highlighting animates the VI block diagram execution. Moving
bubbles represent the flow of data through the VI. Also notice that data
values appear on the wires and display the values contained in the
wires at that time, as shown in the following block diagram, just as if
you had probed the wire.
You also can use the single stepping buttons if you want to walk
through the graphical code, one step at a time.
10. Begin single-stepping by clicking on the Step Over button, in the
toolbar.
11. Step into the Temp & Vol subVI by clicking on the Step Into button,
in the toolbar. Clicking on this button opens the front panel and block
diagram of your Temp & Vol subVI. Click on the Step Over button
until the VI finishes executing.
12. Finish executing the block diagram by clicking on the Step Out button,
in the toolbar. Clicking on this button completes all remaining
sequences in the block diagram.
End of Activity 9-5.
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10
Customizing VIs
This chapter introduces the basic concepts used for customizing VIs.
There are several ways to configure how your VIs execute. You access these
options by popping up on the icon pane in the upper-right corner of the
front panel and choosing VI Setup….
A VI Setup dialog box appears showing setup options for execution of the
VI, appearance of the panel, and documentation. You can learn how to use
these options in Activity 10-1, in this chapter. For more detailed
information, see Chapter 6, Setting up VIs and SubVIs, in the
G Programming Reference Manual.
Set Window Options
The Window Options control the appearance of the VI when running. To
switch from Execution Options to Window Options, click on the downward
pointing arrow in the menu bar.
SubVI Node Setup
You also can configure how a subVI executes. The configuration options
are available by popping up on the subVI icon (in the block diagram of the
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Chapter 10
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calling VI), and choosing SubVI Node Setup…. The following illustration
shows the SubVI Node Setup dialog box.
Note
If you select an option from the VI Setup… dialog box of a VI, the option applies
to every instance of that VI. If you select an option from the SubVI Node Setup
dialog box, the option applies only to that particular node.
Activity 10-1.Use Setup Options for a SubVI
Your objective is to build a VI that prompts the operator to enter
information.
You will create a VI that launches a dialog box to obtain information from
the user upon execution. Once the user enters the information and presses
a button, the dialog box disappears.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel and place some string controls and a button, as
shown in the following illustration.
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Block Diagram
2. Build the block diagram shown in the following illustration.
3. Create the icon for the VI as shown at left. To access the Icon Editor,
pop up on the icon pane of the front panel and select Edit Icon.
4. Switch to the connector pane by popping up on the icon pane and
selecting Show Connector.
5. Build the connector. Notice that the default connector pane is not what
you see illustrated to the left. To get the correct connector pane, choose
Patterns from the pop-up menu on the connector. Choose the pattern
you can connect the Dateand Timecontrols to the two connectors on
the left side of the icon, and the Name Answer, Date Answer, and
Time Answerindicators to the three connectors on the right side of
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the icon, as shown in the following illustration. After creating the
connector, return to the icon display.
6. Save the VI as Get Operator Info.viin the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory.
7. Now you can customize the VI with the VI setup options to make it
look like a dialog box.
a. Pop up on the icon and select VI Setup. Configure the Execution
Options as shown in the following illustration.
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b. Select Window Options and make the selections shown in the
following illustration.
8. After you finish with the VI Setup options, resize the front panel as
shown in the following illustration so you do not see the three string
indicators.
9. Save and close the VI.
Now you will use this VI as a subVI.
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Front Panel
10. Open a new front panel.
11. Place a Waveform Chart (Controls»Graph) on the front panel and
label it Temperature Data.
12. Modify the scale of the chart, so that its upper limit is set to 90.0 and
its lower limit is set to 70.0. Pop up on the chart and choose
Show»Legend to hide the legend. Pop up on the chart again and
choose Show»Palette to hide the palette.
13. Build the rest of the front panel as shown in the following illustration.
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Block Diagram
14. Create a Sequence structure and add the following to frame 0, as shown
in the following illustration.
Get Date/Time String function (Functions»Time &
Dialog)—Outputs the current date and time.
Get Operator Info VI (Functions»Select a VI… from the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory)—Pops open its front panel and
prompts the user to enter a name, the date, and the time.
Boolean constant (Functions»Boolean)—Controls whether the input
date and time string are TRUE. To set this option to TRUE, click on the
constant with the Operating tool.
15. Pop up on the Sequence structure and select Add Frame After from
the pop-up menu.
16. Place a While Loop inside frame 1 of the Sequence structure.
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17. Add the objects shown in the following illustration.
Temp & Vol VI (Functions»Select a VI… from the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory)—Returns one temperature measurement from a
simulated temperature sensor.
Wait Until Next ms Multiple function (Functions»Time &
Dialog)—Causes the For Loop to execute in ms.
Numeric constant (Functions»Numeric)—You can also pop up on the
Wait Until Next Tick Multiple function and select Create Constant to
create automatically and wire the numeric constant. The numeric
constant delays execution of the loop for 500 ms (0.5 seconds).
Not function (Functions»Boolean)—Inverts the value of the STOP
button so that the While Loop executes repeatedly until you click
on STOP.
18. Save the VI as Pop-up Panel Demo.viin the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory.
19. Run the VI. The front panel of the Get Operator Info VI opens and
prompts you to enter your name, the date, and the time. Click on the
Continue button to return to the calling VI. Then temperature data is
acquired until you click on the STOP button.
Note
The front panel of the Get Operator Info VI opens because of the options you
selected from the VI Setup dialog box. Do not try to open the front panel of the
subVI from the block diagram of the My Pop-Up Panel Demo VI.
20. Close all windows.
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11
Loops and Charts
This chapter introduces structures and explains the basic concepts of charts,
the While Loop, and the For Loop. This chapter also provides activities that
illustrate how to accomplish the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Learn about different chart modes
Use a While Loop and a chart
Change the mechanical action of a Boolean switch
Control loop timing
Use a shift register
Create a multiplot chart and customize your trend
Use a For Loop
What is a Structure?
data in a VI. G has five structures: the While Loop, the For Loop, the Case
structure, the Sequence structure, and the Formula Node. This chapter
introduces the While Loop and For Loop structures along with the chart and
the shift register. The Case structure, Sequence structure, and Formula
Node are explained in Chapter 12, Case and Sequence Structures and the
Formula Node.
While and For Loops are basic structures for programming with G, so you
can find them in most of the G examples as well as the activities in this
manual. You also can find more information on loops in Chapter 19,
Structures, in the G Programming Reference Manual.
For examples of structures, see G Examples\General\structs.llb.
For examples of charts, see G Examples\General\Graphs\
charts.llb.
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Charts
A chart is a numeric plotting indicator which is updated with new data
periodically. You can find two types of charts in the Controls»Graph
palette: waveform chart (or real-time trend) and intensity chart. You can
customize charts to match your data display requirements or to display
more information. Features available for charts include: a scrollbar, a
legend, a palette, a digital display, and representation of scales with respect
to time. For more information about charts, see Chapter 15, Graph and
Chart Controls and Indicators, in your G Programming Reference
Manual.
Chart Modes
The following illustration shows the three chart display options available
from the Data Operations»Update Mode submenu—Strip chart,
Scope chart, and Sweep chart. The default mode is strip chart.
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Faster Chart Updates
You can pass an array of multiple values to the chart. The chart treats these
inputs as new data for a single plot. Refer to the charts.viexample
located in G Examples\General\Graphs\charts.llb.
Overlaid Versus Stacked Plots
You can display multiple plots on a chart using a single vertical scale,
called overlaid plots, or using multiple vertical scales, called stacked plots.
Refer to the charts.viexample located in G Examples\General\
Graphs\charts.llb.
Activity 11-1. Experiment with Chart Modes
Your objective is to view a chart as your VI runs in strip chart mode, scope
chart mode, and sweep chart mode.
1. Open Charts.vi, located in the following directory: BridgeVIEW\
Examples\G Examples\General\Graphs\charts.11b.
2. Run the VI.
The strip chart mode has a scaling display similar to a paper tape strip
chart recorder. As each new value is received, it is plotted at the right
margin and old values shift to the left.
The scope chart mode has a retracing display similar to an
oscilloscope. As the VI receives each new value, it plots the value to
the right of the last value. When the plot reaches the right border of the
plotting area, the VI erases the plot and begins plotting again from the
left border. The scope chart is significantly faster than the strip chart
because it is free of the processing overhead involved in scrolling.
The sweep chart mode acts much like the scope chart, but it does not
go blank when the data hits the right border. Instead, a moving vertical
line marks the beginning of new data and moves across the display as
the VI adds new data.
3. With the VI still running, pop up on any chart, and select Update
Mode, and change the current mode to that of another chart. Notice the
difference between the various charts and modes.
4. Stop and close the VI.
End of Activity 11-1.
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While Loops
A While Loop is a structure that repeats a section of code until a condition
is met. It is comparable to a Do Loop or a Repeat-Until Loop in traditional
programming language.
The While Loop, shown in the following illustration, is a resizable box you
use to execute the diagram inside it until the Boolean value passed to the
conditional terminal (an input terminal) is FALSE. The VI checks the
conditional terminal at the end of each iteration; therefore, the While Loop
always executes at least once. The iteration terminal is an output numeric
terminal that outputs the number of times the loop has executed. However,
the iteration count always starts at zero, so if the loop runs once, the
iteration terminal outputs 0.
Conditional
Terminal
Iteration
Terminal
The While Loop is equivalent to the following pseudocode:
Do
Execute Diagram Inside the Loop (which sets the
condition)
While Condition is TRUE
Activity 11-2. Use a While Loop and a Chart
Your objective is to use a While Loop and a chart for acquiring and
displaying data in real time.
You will build a VI that generates random data and displays it on a chart.
A knob control on the front panel adjusts the loop rate between 0 and 2
of the switch so you do not have to turn on the switch each time you run
the VI. Use the front panel in the following illustration to get started.
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Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel by selecting File»New.
2. Place a Vertical Switch (Controls»Boolean) on the front panel.
Label the switch Enable.
3. Use the Labeling tool to create free labels for ONand OFF. Select the
Labeling tool, and type in the label text. With the Color tool, shown at
left, make the border of the free label transparent by selecting the T
in the bottom left corner of the Color palette.
4. Place a waveform chart (Controls»Graph) on the front panel.
Label the chart Random Signal. The chart displays random data
in real time.
Note
Make sure that you select a waveform chart and not a waveform graph. In the
Graph palette, the waveform chart appears closest to the left side.
5. Pop up on the chart and choose Show»Palette, and Show»Legend to
hide the palette and legend. The digital display shows the latest value.
Then pop up on the chart and choose Show»Digital Display and
Show»Scroll Bar.
6. Rescale the chart from 0.0to 1.0. Use the Labeling tool to replace the
HI limit of 10.0with 1.0.
Loop Delay (sec). This knob controls the timing of the While
Loop. Pop up on the knob and deselect Show»Digital Display to hide
the digital display.
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8. Rescale the knob. Using the Labeling tool, double-click on 10.0in the
scale around the knob, and replace it with 2.0.
Block Diagram
9. Open the block diagram and create the diagram in the following
illustration.
a. Place the While Loop in the block diagram by selecting it from
Functions»Structures. The While Loop is a resizable box that is
not dropped on the diagram immediately. Instead, you have the
chance to position and resize it. To do so, click in an area above
and to the left of all the terminals. Continue holding down the
mouse button and drag out a rectangle that encompasses the
terminals.
b. Select the Random Number (0–1) function from Functions»
Numeric.
c. Wire the diagram as shown in the Block Diagram, connecting the
Random Number (0–1) function to the Random Signal chart
terminal, and the Enable switch to the conditional terminal of the
While Loop. Leave the Loop Delay terminal unwired for now.
10. Return to the front panel and turn on the vertical switch by clicking on
it with the Operating tool.
11. Save the VI as Random Signal.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
12. Run the VI.
The While Loop is an indefinite looping structure. The diagram within it
executes as long as the specified condition is TRUE. In this example, as
long as the switch is on (TRUE), the diagram continues to generate random
numbers and display them on the chart.
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13. Stop the VI by clicking on the vertical switch. Turning the switch
off sends the value FALSE to the loop conditional terminal and stops
the loop.
14. Scroll through the chart. Click and hold down the mouse button on
either arrow in the scrollbar.
15. Clear the display buffer and reset the chart by popping up on the chart
and choosing Data Operations»Clear Chart.
Note
The display buffer default size is 1,024 points. You can increase or decrease this
buffer size by popping up on the chart and choosing Chart History Length….
You only can use this feature when the VI is not running.
End of Activity 11-2.
Mechanical Action of Boolean Switches
You might notice that each time you run the VI, you must turn on the
vertical switch and then click the Run button in the toolbar. With G, you
can modify the mechanical action of Boolean controls.
There are six possible choices for the mechanical action of a Boolean
control:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Switch When Pressed
Switch When Released
Switch Until Released
Latch When Pressed
Latch When Released
Latch Until Released
Below are figures depicting each of these boolean switches, as well as a
description of each of these mechanical actions.
Switch When Pressed action—Changes the control value each time you
click on the control with the Operating tool. The action is similar to that of
a ceiling light switch, and is not affected by how often the VI reads the
control.
Switch When Released action—Changes the control value only after you
release the mouse button, during a mouse click, within the graphical
boundary of the control. The action is not affected by how often the VI
reads the control. This action is similar to what happens when you click on
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a check mark in a dialog box; it becomes highlighted but does not change
until you release the mouse button.
Switch Until Released action —Changes the control value when you click
on the control. It retains the new value until you release the mouse button,
at which time the control reverts to its original value. The action is similar
to that of a doorbell, and is not affected by how often the VI reads the
control.
Latch When Pressed action—Changes the control value when you click on
the control. It retains the new value until the VI reads it once, at which point
the control reverts to its default value. (This action happens regardless of
whether you continue to press the mouse button.) This action is similar to
that of a circuit breaker and is useful for stopping While Loops or having
the VI do something only once each time you set the control.
Latch When Released action—Changes the control value only after you
release the mouse button. When your VI reads the value once, the control
reverts to the old value. This action guarantees at least one new value. As
with Switch When Released, this action is similar to the behavior of buttons
in a dialog box; clicking on this action highlights the button, and releasing
the mouse button latches a reading.
Latch Until Released action —Changes the control value when you click on
the control. It retains the value until your VI reads the value once or until
you release the mouse button, depending on which one occurs last.
of a Boolean Switch
Your objective is to experiment with the different mechanical actions of
Boolean switches.
1. Open the Random Signal.vi, as saved in Activity 11-2, from the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory. The default value of the Enable
switch is FALSE.
2. Modify the vertical switch so it is used only to stop the VI. Change the
switch so that you do not need to turn on the switch each time you run
the VI.
a. Turn on the vertical switch with the Operating tool.
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b. Pop up on the switch and choose Data Operations»Make
Current Value Default. This makes the ON position the default
value.
c. Pop up on the switch and choose Mechanical Action»Latch
When Pressed.
3. Run the VI. Click on the Enableswitch to stop the acquisition.
The switch moves to the OFF position momentarily and is reset back
to the ON position.
4. Save the VI.
Note
For your reference, BridgeVIEW contains an example that demonstrates these
behaviors, called Mechanical Action of Booleans.vi. It is located in
Examples\G Examples\General\Controls\booleans.llb.
End of Activity 11-3.
Timing
When you ran the VI in the previous activity, the While Loop executed as
quickly as possible. However, you can slow it down to iterate at certain
intervals with the functions in the Functions»Time & Dialog palette.
The timing functions express time in milliseconds (ms), however, your
operating system might not maintain this level of timing accuracy.
On Windows 95/NT, the timer has a resolution of 1 ms. This is
hardware-dependent, so on slower systems, such as an 80386, you might
have lower resolution timing.
Activity 11-4. Control Loop Timing
Your objective is to control loop timing and ensure that no iteration is
shorter than the specified number of milliseconds.
1. Open Random Signal.vi, as modified and saved in Activity 11-3,
from the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
2. Modify the VI to generate a new random number at a time interval
specified by the knob, as shown in the following illustration.
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Wait Until Next ms Multiple function (Functions»Time & Dialog)—
Multiply the knob terminal by 1,000 to convert the knob value in
seconds to milliseconds. Use this value as the input to the Wait Until
Next ms Multiple function.
Multiply function (Functions»Numeric)—The multiply function
multiplies the knob value by 1000 to convert seconds to milliseconds.
Numeric constant (Functions»Numeric)—The numeric constant
holds the constant by which you must multiply the knob value to get a
quantity in milliseconds. Thus, if the knob has a value of 1.0, the loop
executes once every 1000 milliseconds (once per second).
3. Run the VI. Rotate the knob to get different values for the loop delay.
Notice the effects of the loop delay on the update of the Random
Signaldisplay.
4. Save the VI as Random Signal with Delay.viin the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory. Close the VI.
End of Activity 11-4.
Preventing Code Execution in the First Iteration
loop test for continuation after the diagram executes. You can construct
a While Loop that pretests its conditional terminal by including a Case
structure inside the loop. Wire a Boolean input to the Case structure
selector terminal so the subdiagram for the FALSE condition executes if
the code in the While Loop should not execute. See Chapter 12, Case and
Sequence Structures and the Formula Node for more information about
using Case structures.
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The subdiagram for the TRUE condition contains the work of the While
Loop. The test for continuation occurs outside the Case structure, and the
results are wired to the conditional terminal of the While Loop and the
selector terminal of the Case structure. In the following illustration, labels
represent the pretest condition.
This example has the same result as the following pseudocode:
While (pretest condition)
Loop
Shift Registers
Shift registers (available for While Loops and For Loops) transfer
values from one loop iteration to the next. You can create a shift register
by popping up on the left or right border of a loop and selecting
Add Shift Register.
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The shift register contains a pair of terminals directly opposite each other
on the vertical sides of the loop border. The right terminal stores the data
upon the completion of an iteration. That data shifts at the end of the
iteration and appears in the left terminal at the beginning of the next
iteration, as shown in the following illustration. A shift register can hold
any data type—numeric, Boolean, string, array, and so on. The shift
register automatically adapts to the data type of the first object you wire
to the shift register.
Before Loop Begins
First Iteration
Inital
Inital
New
Value
Value
Value
Subsequent Iterations
Last Iteration
Previous
Value
New
Value
Previous
Value
New
Value
New
Value
previous iterations. This feature is useful for averaging data points.
You create additional terminals to access values from previous iterations
by popping up on the left or right terminal and choosing Add Element.
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For example, if a shift register contains three elements in the left terminal,
you can access values from the last three iterations, as shown in the
following illustration.
Previous values
are available at
the left terminal.
Contains i–1
Contains i–2
Contains i–3
Latest value
passes to the
right terminal.
Pop up on left
terminal to add
new elements or
use Positioning
tool to resize the
left terminal to
expose more
elements.
Pop up on border
for new shift register.
Activity 11-5. Use a Shift Register
Your objective is to build a VI that displays a running average on a chart.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel and create the objects as shown in the
following illustration.
2. Change the scale of the Waveform chart to range from 0.0to 2.0.
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3. After adding the vertical switch, pop up on it and select Mechanical
Action»Latch When Pressed and set the ON state to be the default by
choosing Operate»Make Current Values Default.
Block Diagram
4. Build the block diagram shown in the following illustration.
5. Add the While Loop (Functions»Structures) in the block diagram
and create the shift register.
a. Pop up on the left or right border of the While Loop and choose
Add Shift Register.
b. Add an extra element by popping up on the left terminal of the
shift register and choosing Add Element. Add a third element in
the same manner as the second.
Random Number (0–1) function (Functions»Numeric)—This
function generates random data ranging between 0 and 1.
Compound Arithmetic function (Functions»Numeric)—In this
activity, the compound arithmetic function returns the sum of random
numbers from two iterations. To add more inputs, pop up on an input
and choose Add Input from the pop-up menu.
Divide function (Functions»Numeric)—In this activity, the divide
function returns the average of the last four random numbers.
Numeric Constant (Functions»Numeric)—During each iteration of
the While Loop, the Random Number (0–1) function generates one
random value. The VI adds this value to the last three values stored in
the left terminals of the shift register. The Random Number (0–1)
function divides the result by four to find the average of the values (the
current value plus the previous three). Then the average is displayed on
the waveform chart.
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Wait Until Next ms Multiple function (Functions»Time & Dialog)
—This function ensures that each iteration of the loop occurs no faster
than the millisecond input. The input is 500 milliseconds for this
activity. If you pop up on the icon and choose Show»Label, the label
Wait Until Next ms Multiple appears.
6. Pop up on the input of the Wait Until Next ms Multiple function and
select Create Constant. A numeric constant appears and is
automatically wired to the function.
7. Type 500in the label. The numeric constant wired to the Wait Until
Next ms Multiple function specifies a wait of 500 milliseconds
(one half-second). Thus, the loop executes once every half-second.
Notice that the VI initializes the shift registers with a random number.
If you do not initialize the shift register terminal, it contains the default
value or the last value from the previous run and the first few averages
are meaningless.
8. Run the VI and observe the operation.
9. Save this VI as Random Average.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
Note
Remember to initialize shift registers to avoid incorporating old or default data
into your current data measurements
End of Activity 11-5.
Using Uninitialized Shift Registers
You initialize a shift register by wiring a value from outside a While Loop
or For Loop to the left terminal of the shift register. Sometimes, however,
you want to execute a VI repeatedly with a loop and a shift register, so that
each time the VI executes, the initial output of the shift register is the last
value from the previous execution. To do that, you must leave the left shift
register terminal unwired from outside the loop. Leaving the input to the
left shift register terminal unwired preserves state information between
subsequent executions of a VI.
The following illustration shows an example of a subVI that calculates the
running average of four data points. The VI uses an uninitialized shift
register (with three additional elements) to store previous data points.
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Each time the VI is called, running averageis computed from the new
input and the previous three values. Then the new value is saved into the
shift register, and the previous two values are moved up in the shift register.
There is no input value wired to the input side of the left shift registers, so
all three values are preserved for the next execution of the VI.
Because this subVI has nothing wired to the condition terminal, it executes
exactly once when called. The While Loop in this subVI is not used to loop
several times, but to store values in the loop shift registers between calls.
When the Running Average VI is loaded into memory, the uninitialized
shift registers are set to zero automatically. If the shift registers are wired to
Boolean values, the initial value is FALSE.
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Activity 11-6. Create a Multiplot Chart and
Customize Your Trends
Your objective is to create a chart that can accommodate more than
one plot.
Front Panel
1. Open the Random Average.viyou created in Activity 11-5.
2. Modify the Front Panel as shown in the following illustration.
a. Using the Positioning tool, stretch the legend to include two plots.
b. Show the digital display by popping up on the chart, and choosing
Show»Digital Display. Move the legend if necessary.
c. Rename Plot 0 to Current Valueby double-clicking on the
label with the Labeling tool and typing in the new text. You can
resize the label area by dragging either of the left corners with
the Positioning tool. Rename Plot 1 to Running Avgin the
same way.
d. For the Current Valueplot, change the interpolation to
unconnected, the point style to square, and the color to green. You
can change the plot style and color by popping up on the legend.
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Block Diagram
3. Modify the block diagram, as shown in the following illustration,
to display both the average and the current random number on the
same chart.
Bundle function (Functions»Cluster)—In this activity, the Bundle
function bundles the average and current value for plotting on the
chart. The bundle node appears as shown at left when you place it in
the block diagram. You can add additional elements by using the
Resizing cursor (accessed by placing the Positioning tool at the corner
of the function) to enlarge the node.
Note
The order of the inputs to the Bundle function determines the order of the plots on
the chart. For example, if you wire the raw data to the top input of the Bundle
function and the average to the bottom, the first plot corresponds to the raw data
and the second plot corresponds to the average.
4. From the front panel, run the VI. The VI displays two plots on the
chart. The plots are overlaid. That is, they share the same vertical scale.
5. From the block diagram, run the VI with execution highlighting turned
on to see the data in the shift registers.
6. Turn execution highlighting off. From the front panel, run the VI.
While the VI is running, use the buttons from the palette to modify the
chart. You can reset the chart, scale the X or Y axis, and change the
display format at any time. You also can scroll to view other areas or
zoom into areas of a graph or chart.
You can use the X and Y buttons to rescale the X and Y axes,
respectively. If you want the graph to autoscale either of the scales
continuously, click on the lock switch to the left of each button to lock
on autoscaling.
You can use the other buttons to modify the axis text precision or to
control the operation mode for the chart. Experiment with these
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buttons to explore their operation, scroll the area displayed, or zoom in
on areas of the chart.
7. Format the scales of the waveform chart to represent either absolute or
relative time. To select the x scale time format, pop up on the x-scale
and select Formatting….
a. Choose absolute time by selecting the Time & Date option from
the Format and Precision menu ring. This changes the dialog
box to the one shown below. For the waveform chart to start at a
certain time and increment at certain intervals, you can edit the
Xo and dX values respectively.
b. Format the chart to display the data starting from noon,
Oct. 24, 1996, and increment every 10 minutes, as shown above.
Note
Modifying the axis text format often requires more physical space than was
originally set aside for the axis. If you change the axis, the text may become larger
than the maximum size that the waveform can correctly present. To correct this,
use the Resizing cursor to make the display area of the chart smaller.
8. To select the relative time format, select Numeric from the Format
and Precision menu ring. Then you can select the Relative Time
(seconds) option in the dialog box and represent the time in seconds.
Modify the dialog box, as shown in the following illustration, and
select OK.
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9. Run the VI.
10. Save the VI as Multiple Random Plot.viin the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory.
End of Activity 11-6.
For Loops
A For Loop executes a section of code a defined number of times. It is
resizable, and, like the While Loop, is not dropped on the block diagram
immediately. Instead, a small icon representing the For Loop appears in the
block diagram, and you have the opportunity to size and position it. To do
so, first click in an area above and to the left of all the terminals. While
holding down the mouse button, drag out a rectangle that encompasses the
terminals you want to place inside the For Loop. When you release the
mouse button, G creates a For Loop of the size and position you selected.
You place the For Loop on the block diagram by selecting it from
Functions»Structures.
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Loop Count
Numerical Input
Numerical
Output
The For Loop executes the diagram inside its border a predetermined
number of times. The For Loop has two terminals, explained below.
Count terminal (an input terminal)—The count terminal specifies the
number of times to execute the loop.
Iteration terminal (an output terminal)—The iteration terminal contains the
number of times the loop has executed.
The For Loop is equivalent to the following pseudocode:
For i = 0 to N-1
Execute Diagram Inside The Loop
The following illustration shows a For Loop that generates 100 random
numbers and displays the points on a chart.
Numeric Conversion
Until now, all the numeric controls and indicators you have used have been
double-precision, floating-point numbers represented with 32 bits. G,
however, can represent numerics as integers (byte, word, or long) or
floating-point numbers (single-, double-, or extended-precision). The
default representation for a numeric is a double-precision, floating-point.
If you wire two terminals together that are of different data types,
G converts one of the terminals to the same representation as the other
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terminal. As a reminder, G places a gray dot, called a coercion dot, on the
terminal where the conversion takes place.
For example, consider the For Loop count terminal. The terminal
representation is a long integer. If you wire a double-precision,
floating-point number to the count terminal, G converts the number to a
long integer. Notice the gray dot in the count terminal of the first For Loop.
Gray Dot
Note
When the VI converts floating-point numbers to integers, it rounds to the nearest
integer. If a number is exactly halfway between two integers, it is rounded to the
nearest even integer. For example, the VI rounds 6.5 to 6, but rounds 7.5 to 8. This
is an IEEE standard method for rounding numbers. See the IEEE Standard 754
for details.
Activity 11-7. Use a For Loop
Your objective is to use a For Loop and shift registers to calculate the
maximum value in a series of random numbers.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel and add the objects shown in the following
illustration.
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a. Place a digital indicator on the front panel and label it Maximum
Value.
b. Place a waveform chart on the front panel and label it Random
Data. Change the scale of the chart to range from 0.0to 1.0.
c. Pop up on the chart and choose Show»Scrollbar and
Show»Digital Display. Pop up and hide the palette and legend.
d. Resize the scrollbar with the positioning tool.
Block Diagram
2. Open the block diagram and modify it as shown in the following
illustration.
3. Place a For Loop (Functions»Structures) on the block diagram.
4. Add the shift register by popping up or right-clicking on the right or
left border of the For Loop and choosing Add Shift Register.
5. Add the following objects to the block diagram.
Random Number (0–1) function (Functions»Numeric)—This
function generates the random data.
Numeric Constant (Functions»Numeric)—The For Loop needs to
know how many iterations to make. In this case, you execute the For
Loop 100 times.
Numeric Constant (Functions»Numeric)—You set the initial value of
the shift register to zero for this exercise because you know that the
output of the random number generator is from 0.0 to 1.0.
You must know something about the data you are collecting to
initialize a shift register. For example, if you initialize the shift register
to 1.0, then that value is already greater than all the expected data
values, and is always the maximum value. If you did not initialize the
shift register, then it would contain the maximum value of a previous
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Loops and Charts
run of the VI. Therefore, you could get a maximum output value that
is not related to the current set of collected data.
Max & Min function (Functions»Comparison)—Takes two numeric
inputs and outputs the maximum value of the two in the top right
corner and the minimum of the two in the bottom right corner. Because
you only are interested in the maximum value for this exercise, wire
only the maximum output and ignore the minimum output.
6. Wire the terminals as shown. If the Maximum Value terminal were
inside the For Loop, you would see it continuously updated, but
because it is outside the loop, it contains only the last calculated
maximum.
Note
Updating indicators each time a loop iterates is time-consuming and you should
try to avoid it when possible to increase execution speed.
7. Run the VI.
8. Save the VI as Calculate Max.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
End of Activity 11-7.
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12
Case and Sequence Structures
and the Formula Node
This chapter introduces the basic concepts of Case and Sequence structures
and the Formula Node, and provides activities that explain the following:
•
•
•
•
How to use the Case structure
How to use the Sequence structure
What sequence locals are and how to use them
What a Formula Node is and how to use it
Both Case and Sequence structures can have multiple subdiagrams,
configured like a deck of cards, of which only one is visible at a time.
At the top of each structure border is the subdiagram display window,
which contains a diagram identifier in the center and decrement and
increment buttons at each side. The diagram identifier indicates which
subdiagram currently is displayed. For Case structures, a diagram identifier
is a list of values which select the subdiagram. For Sequence structures, a
diagram identifier is the number of the frame in the sequence (0 to n – 1).
The following illustration shows a Case structure and a Sequence structure.
Increment/Decrement
Buttons
Diagram
Identifier
Case Structure
Sequence Structure
Clicking on the decrement (left) or increment (right) button displays the
previous or next subdiagram, respectively. Incrementing from the last
subdiagram displays the first subdiagram, and decrementing from the first
subdiagram displays the last. For more information about Case and
Sequence structures, refer to Chapter 19, Structures, in the G Programming
Reference Manual.
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Case Structure
The Case structure has two or more subdiagrams, or cases, exactly one of
which executes when the structure executes. This depends on the value
of an integer, Boolean, string, or enum value you wire to the external side
of the selection terminal or selector. A Case structure is shown in the
following illustration.
Note
Case statements in other programming languages generally do not execute any
case if a case is out of range. In G, you must either include a default case that
handles out-of-range values or explicitly list every possible input value.
Activity 12-1. Use the Case Structure
Your objective is to build a VI that checks a number to see if it is positive.
If the number is positive, the VI calculates the square root of the number;
otherwise, the VI returns an error.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel and create the objects as shown in the
following illustration.
The Numbercontrol supplies the number. The Square Root Value
indicator displays the square root of the number. The free label acts as
a note to the user.
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Block Diagram
2. Build the diagram as shown in the following illustration.
Selection
Terminal
3. Place a Case structure in the block diagram by selecting it from
Functions»Structures. The Case structure is a resizable box that is
not dropped on the diagram immediately. Instead, you have the chance
to position it and resize it. To do so, click in an area above and to the
left of all the terminals you want to be inside the Case structure.
Continue holding down the mouse button and drag out a rectangle that
encompasses the terminals.
Greater Or Equal To 0? function (Functions»Comparison)—Returns
a TRUE if the number input is greater than or equal to 0.
Square Root function (Functions»Numeric)—Returns the square
root of the input number.
Numeric Constant (Functions»Numeric)—In this activity, the
constant indicates the numeric value of the error.
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One Button Dialog function (Functions»Time & Dialog)—In this
activity, the function displays a dialog box that contains the message
Error...Negative Number.
String Constant (Functions»String)—Enter text inside the box with
the Labeling tool.
The VI executes either the TRUE case or the FALSE case. If the
number is greater than or equal to zero, the VI executes the TRUE case
and returns the square root of the number. The FALSE case outputs
–99999.00 and displays a dialog box with the message
Error...Negative Number.
Note
You must define the output tunnel for each case. When you create an output
tunnel in one case, tunnels appear at the same position in all the other cases.
Unwired tunnels appear as white squares.
4. Return to the front panel and run the VI. Try a number greater than zero
and a number less than zero by changing the value in the digital control
you labeled Number. Notice that when you change the digital control
to a negative number, BridgeVIEW displays the error message you set
up in the FALSE case of the Case structure.
5. Save the VI as Square Root.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
VI Logic
The block diagram in this activity has the same effect as the following
pseudocode in a text-based language.
if (Number >= 0) then
Square Root Value = SQRT(Number)
else
Square Root Value = -99999.00
Display Message "Error...Negative Number"
end if
End of Activity 12-1.
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Chapter 12
Case and Sequence Structures and the Formula Node
Sequence Structures
The Sequence structure, which looks like frames of film, executes block
diagrams sequentially. In conventional programming languages, the
program statements execute in the order in which they appear. In data flow
programming, a node executes when data is available at all of the node
inputs, although sometimes it is necessary to execute one node before
another. G uses the Sequence structure as a method to control the order in
which nodes execute. G executes the diagram inside the border of Frame 0
first, it executes the diagram inside the border of Frame 1 second, and so
on. As with the Case structure, only one frame is visible at a time.
A Sequence structure is shown in the following illustration.
Activity 12-2. Use a Sequence Structure
Your objective is to build a VI that computes the time it takes to generate
a random number that matches a given number.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel and build the front panel shown in the
following illustration. Be sure to modify the controls and indicators
as described in the text following the illustration.
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The Number to Matchcontrol contains the number you want to match.
The Current Numberindicator displays the current random number.
The # of iterationsindicator displays the number of iterations before
a match. Time to Matchindicates how many seconds it took to find the
matching number.
Modifying the Numeric Format
By default, BridgeVIEW displays values in numeric controls in decimal
notation with two decimal places (for example, 3.14). You can use the
Format & Precision… option of a control or indicator pop-up menu to
change the precision or to display the numeric controls and indicators in
scientific or engineering notation. You can also use the
Format & Precision… option to denote time and date formats for
numerics.
2. Pop up on the Time to Match digital indicator and choose
Format & Precision…. The front panel must be the active window to
access the menu.
3. Enter 3for Digits of Precision and click OK.
4. Pop up on the Number to Match digital control and choose
Representation»I32.
indicators.
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Setting the Data Range
With the Data Range… option, you can prevent a user from setting a
control or indicator value outside a preset range or increment. Your options
are to ignore the value, coerce it to within range, or suspend execution. The
range error symbol appears in place of the run button in the toolbar when a
range error suspends execution. Also, a solid, dark border frames the
control that is out of range.
6. Pop up on the Number to Match indicator and choose Data Range….
7. Fill in the dialog box as shown in the following illustration and
click OK.
Block Diagram
8. Open the block diagram.
9. Place the Sequence structure (Functions»Structures) in the block
diagram.
10. Enlarge the structure by dragging one corner with the Resizing cursor.
11. Create a new frame by popping up on the frame border and choose
Add Frame After. Repeat this step to create frame 2.
12. Build the block diagram shown in the following illustrations.
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Frame 0 in the previous illustration contains a small box with an arrow
in it. That box is a sequence local variable which passes data between
frames of a Sequence structure. You can create sequence locals on the
border of a frame. Then, the data wired to a frame sequence local is
available in subsequent frames. However, you cannot access the data
in frames preceding the frame in which you created the sequence local.
13. Create the sequence local by popping up on the bottom border of
The sequence local appears as an empty square. The arrow inside
the square appears automatically when you wire a function to the
sequence local.
14. Finish the block diagram as shown in the opening illustration of the
Block Diagram section in this activity.
Tick Count (ms) function (Functions»Time & Dialog)—Returns the
number of milliseconds that have elapsed since power on. For this
activity, you need two Tick Count functions.
Random Number (0–1) function (Functions»Numeric)—Returns a
random number between 0 and 1.
Multiply function (Functions»Numeric)—In this activity, the
function multiplies the random number by 100.
Numeric Constant function (Functions»Numeric)—In this activity,
the numeric constant represents the maximum number that can be
multiplied.
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Round to Nearest function (Functions»Numeric)—In this activity,
the function rounds the random number between 0 and 100 to the
nearest whole number.
Not Equal? function (Functions»Comparison)—In this activity,
the function compares the random number to the number specified
in the front panel and returns a TRUE if the numbers are not equal.
Otherwise, this function returns FALSE.
Increment function (Functions»Numeric)—In this activity, the
function increments the While Loop count by 1.
Subtract function (Functions»Numeric)—In this activity, the
function returns the time (in milliseconds) elapsed between frame 2
and frame 0.
Divide function (Functions»Numeric)—In this activity, the function
divides the number of milliseconds elapsed by 1,000 to convert the
number to seconds.
Numeric constant (Functions»Numeric)—In this activity, the
function converts the number from milliseconds to seconds.
In Frame 0, the Tick Count (ms) function returns the current time in
milliseconds. This value is wired to the sequence local, where the value
is available in subsequent frames. In Frame 1, the VI executes the
While Loop as long as the number specified does not match the
number that the Random Number (0–1) function returns. In Frame 2,
the Tick Count (ms) function returns a new time in milliseconds. The
VI subtracts the old time (passed from Frame 0 through the sequence
local) from the new time to compute the time elapsed.
15. Return to the front panel and enter a number inside the Number to
Matchcontrol and run the VI.
16. Save the VI as Time to Match.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
End of Activity 12-2.
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Formula Node
The Formula Node is a resizable box that you can use to enter formulas
directly into a block diagram. You place the Formula Node on the block
diagram by selecting it from Functions»Structures. This feature is
useful when an equation has many variables or is otherwise complicated.
For example, consider the equation below:
y = x2 + x + 1
If you implement this equation using regular G arithmetic functions, the
block diagram looks like the one in the following illustration.
You can implement the same equation using a Formula Node, as shown in
the following illustration
With the Formula Node, you can directly enter a complicated formula, or
formulas, in lieu of creating block diagram subsections. You enter formulas
with the Labeling tool. You create the input and output terminals of the
Formula Node by popping up on the border of the node and choosing Add
Input (Add Output). Type the variable name in the box. Variables are case
sensitive. You enter the formula or formulas inside the box. Each formula
statement must end with a semicolon (;).
The operators and functions available inside the Formula Node are listed in
the Help window for the Formula Node, as shown in the following
illustration. A semicolon terminates each formula statement.
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The following example shows how you can perform a conditional
assignment inside a Formula Node.
Consider a code fragment that computes the square root of xif xis positive,
and assigns the result to y. If xis negative, the code assigns –99 to y.
if (x >= 0) then
y = sqrt(x)
else
y = -99
end if
You can implement the code fragment using a Formula Node, as shown in
the following illustration.
Conditional
False
Operator Condition
Condition
True
Condition
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Activity 12-3. Use the Formula Node
Your objective is to build a VI that uses the Formula Node to calculate the
following equations.
y1 = x3 – x2 + 5
where xranges from 0 to 10.
You will use only one Formula Node for both equations, and you will
graph the results on the same graph. For more information on graphs,
see Chapter 14, Arrays, Clusters, and Graphs.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel and build the front panel shown in following
illustration. The waveform graph indicator displays the plots of the
equation. The VI uses the two digital controls to input the values for
mand b.
2. Create the graph legend shown in the following illustration by
selecting Show»Legend. Use the Resizing cursor to drag the legend
downward so it displays two plots. Use the Labeling tool to rename the
plots. You can define the line style for each plot using the legend
pop-up menu. You also can color each plot by using the Color tool on
the plots legend.
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Block Diagram
3. Build the block diagram shown in the following illustration.
Formula Node (Functions»Structures). With this node, you can enter
formulas directly. Create the three input terminals by popping up on
the border and choosing Add Input. You create the output terminal by
choosing Add Output from the pop-up menu.
When you create an input or output terminal, you must give it a
variable name. The variable name must match the one you use in the
formula exactly. The names are case sensitive. That is, if you use a
lowercase ain naming the terminal, you must use a lowercase ain the
formula. You can enter the variable names and formula with the
Labeling tool.
Note
Although variable names are not limited in length, be aware that long names take
up considerable diagram space. A semicolon (;) terminates the formula statement.
Numeric Constant (Functions»Numeric). You also can pop up on the
count terminal and select Create Constant to create and wire the
numeric constant automatically. The numeric constant specifies the
number of For Loop iterations. If xrange is 0 to 10 including 10, you
must wire 11 to the count terminal.
Because the iteration terminal counts from 0 to 10, you use it to control
the xvalue in the Formula Node.
Build Array (Functions»Array) puts two array inputs into the form of
a multiplot graph. Create the two input terminals by using the Resizing
cursor to drag one of the corners. For more information on arrays, see
Chapter 14, Arrays, Clusters, and Graphs.
4. Return to the front panel and run the VI with different values for m
and b.
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5. Save the VI as Equations.viin the BridgeVIEW/Activity
directory.
End of Activity 12-3.
Artificial Data Dependency
Nodes not connected by a wire can execute in any order. Nodes do not
necessarily execute in left-to-right, top-to-bottom order. A Sequence
structure is one way to control execution order when natural data
dependency does not exist.
Another way to control execution order is to create and artificial data
dependency, a condition in which the arrival of data rather than its value
triggers execution of an object. The receiver may not actually use the data
internally. The advantage of artificial dependency is that all of the nodes
are visible at one level, although, in some cases, the confusion created by
the artificial links between the nodes can be a disadvantage.
You can open the Timing Template (data dep).vifrom
G Examples\General\structs.llbto see how the Timing
Templatehas been altered to use artificial data dependency rather
than a sequence structure.
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13
Front Panel Object Attributes
This chapter describes objects called attribute nodes, which are special
block diagram nodes that control the appearance and functional
characteristics of controls and indicators.
With attribute nodes, you can set attributes such as display colors, visibility,
position, blinking, trend scales, and many more. To create an attribute node,
select Create»Attribute Node from the pop-up menu of the front panel
object or from the terminal in the block diagram, as shown in the following
illustration.
Initially, the attribute node displays a single characteristic. You can expand
the node to display multiple characteristics. To expand the node, select the
attribute node with the Positioning tool. Place your cursor over the node
near the bottom-right corner, and when your cursor changes to a frame drag
it to create the desired number of characteristics. Then you can change
attributes by clicking the node with the Operating tool and choosing the
new attribute from the pop-up menu, as shown in the following illustration.
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can use the Help window to display the descriptions, data types, and
acceptable values of attributes. Access the Help window by selecting
Help»Show Help.
For more information about accessing help in BridgeVIEW, see the section
How Do You Access Online Help? in Chapter 2, BridgeVIEW Environment,
of this manual.
With attribute nodes, you can assign characteristics or read the current
state of an attribute by popping up on the attribute and selecting
Change to Read.
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Front Panel Object Attributes
Activity 13-1. Use an Attribute Node
Your objective is to create a VI that indicates a high limit condition
using attribute nodes. You will use the Fill Color attribute of a
Tank indicatorto indicate whether a randomly generated tank
level has gone above the user-defined limit.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel and create it as shown in the following
illustration.
2. Rescale the tank from 0.0to 100.0.
3. Set the default Limit Setting to 50.00.
Block Diagram
4. Create the block diagram as shown below.
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Not function (Functions»Boolean)—In this exercise, the Not function
inverts the value of the STOP button so that the While Loop executes
repeatedly until you click the STOP button. (The default state of the
button is FALSE.)
Random Number Generator (Functions»Numeric)—Generates raw
data between 0 and 1 to fill the tank on your front panel. You multiply
this value by 100 to create a value between 0 and 100.
Greater or Equal? (Functions»Comparison)—Compares the raw
data to the Limit Setting input. If the value is greater than or equal to
the limit input, a TRUE value is passed to the Case Structure.
Attribute Node (Pop up on the Tank terminal)—Select Create»
Attribute Node from the Tank terminal. Pop up on the attribute and
choose Select»Fill Color.
Color Box Constant (Functions»Numeric»Additional Numeric
Constants)—Wire this constant to define a red color to Fill Color in
the TRUE case and a blue color in the FALSE Case. Click on the
constant with the Operating tool to select the color.
Wait Until Next ms Multiple (Functions»Time & Dialog)—Wire a
numeric constant of 1000 to execute the loop every second.
5. Run the VI. The level of the tank is compared to the Limit Setting
control. If the tank value is greater than or equal to the Limit Setting
value, the tank turns red. If the data falls below the limit, the tank
turns blue.
6. Save the VI as Tank Limit.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
End of Activity 13-1.
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14
Arrays, Clusters, and Graphs
This chapter introduces the basic concepts of polymorphism, arrays,
clusters, and graphs and provides activities that explain auto-indexing and
the Graph and Analysis VIs.
Arrays
An array is a collection of data elements that are all the same type. An array
has one or more dimensions and up to 231 – 1 elements per dimension,
memory permitting. You access each array element through its index. The
index is in the range 0 to n – 1, where n is the number of elements in the
array. The following 1D array of numeric values illustrates this structure.
Notice that the first element has index 0, the second element has index 1,
and so on.
index
10-element array 1.2 3.2 8.2 8.0 4.8 5.1 6.0 1.0 2.5 1.7
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
How Do You Create and Initialize Arrays?
If you need an array as a source of data in your block diagram, you can
choose Functions»Array and then select and place the array shell on your
block diagram. Using the Operating tool, you can choose a numeric
constant, Boolean constant, or string constant to place inside the empty
array. The following illustration shows an example array shell with a
numeric constant inserted into the array shell.
To create an array on the front panel, select Array & Cluster from the
an object (numeric, for example) and place that inside the array shell. This
creates an array of numerics.
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Note
You also can create an array and its corresponding control on the front panel and
then copy or drag the array control to the block diagram to create a corresponding
constant.
For more information on how to create array controls and indicators on the
front panel, see Chapter 14, Array and Cluster Controls and Indicators, in
the G Programming Reference Manual.
There are several ways to create and initialize arrays on the block diagram.
Some block diagram functions also produce arrays, as the following
illustration shows.
Sine Pattern
String to Byte Array
x[i]=ASCII code
of ith character
Array Controls, Constants, and Indicators
You create array controls, constants, and indicators on the front panel or
block diagram by combining an array shell with a numeric, Boolean, string,
or cluster. An array element cannot be another array, chart, or graph.
For examples of arrays, see G Examples\Examples\General\
arrays.llb.
Auto-Indexing
For Loop and While Loop structures can index and accumulate arrays at
their boundaries automatically. These capabilities collectively are called
auto-indexing. When you enable auto-indexing and wire an array of any
dimension from an external node to an input tunnel on the loop border,
components of that array enter the loop, one at a time, starting with the first
component. The loop indexes scalar elements from 1D arrays, 1D arrays
from 2D arrays, and so on. The opposite action occurs at output tunnels—
elements accumulate sequentially into 1D arrays, 1D arrays accumulate
into 2D arrays, and so on.
Note
Auto-indexing is the default for every array wired to a For Loop. You can disable
auto-indexing by popping up on the tunnel (entry point of the input array) and
selecting Disable Indexing.
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tunnel
By default, auto-indexing is disabled for every array wired to a While Loop.
Pop up on the array tunnel of a While Loop to enable auto-indexing.
Activity 14-1. Create an Array
with Auto-Indexing
Your objective is to create an array using the auto-indexing feature of a
For Loop and plot the array in a waveform graph.
You will build a VI that generates an array using the Generate Waveform
VI and plots the array in a waveform graph. You also will modify the VI to
graph multiple plots.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel.
2. Place an array shell from Controls»Array & Cluster in the front
panel. Label the array shell Waveform Array.
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3. Place a digital indicator from Controls»Numeric inside the
element display of the array shell, as the following illustration shows.
This indicator displays the array contents.
4. Place a waveform graph from Controls»Graph in the front panel.
Label the graph Waveform Graph.
5. Enlarge the graph by dragging a corner with the Resizing cursor.
6. Hide the legend and palette.
7. Disable autoscaling by popping up on the graph and deselecting
Y Scale»Autoscale Y.
8. Use the Text tool to rescale the Y axis to range from –0.5to 1.5.
Block Diagram
9. Build the block diagram shown in the following illustration.
1D Array
Generate Waveform VI (Functions»Select a VI… from the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory)—Returns one point of a
waveform. The VI requires a scalar index input, so wire the loop
iteration terminal to this input.
Notice that the wire from the Generate Waveform VI becomes thicker
as it changes to an array at the loop border.
The For Loop automatically accumulates the arrays at its boundary.
This is called auto-indexing. In this case, the numeric constant wired
to the loop count numeric input has the For Loop create a 100-element
array (indexed 0 to 99).
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Arrays, Clusters, and Graphs
Bundle function (Functions»Cluster)—Assembles the plot
components into a cluster. You need to resize the Bundle function icon
before you can wire it properly. Place the Positioning tool on the
lower-left corner of the icon. The tool transforms into the Resizing
cursor shown at left. When the tool changes, click and drag down until
a third input terminal appears. Now, you can continue wiring your
block diagram as shown in the previous illustration.
Numeric Constant (Functions»Numeric)—Three numeric constants
set the number of For Loop iterations, the initial X value, and the delta
X value. Notice that you can pop up on the For Loop count terminal,
shown at left, and select Create Constant to add and wire a numeric
constant for that terminal automatically.
10. From the front panel, run the VI. The VI plots the auto-indexed
waveform array on the waveform graph. The initial X value is 0 and the
delta X value is 1.
11. Change the delta X value to 0.5 and the initial X value to 20. Run the
VI again.
Notice that the graph now displays the same 100 points of data with a
starting value of 20 and a delta X of 0.5 for each point (see the X axis).
In a timed test, this graph might correspond to 50 seconds worth of
data starting at 20 seconds.
12. You can view any element in the waveform array by entering the index
of that element in the index display. If you enter a number greater than
the array size, the display dims, indicating that you do not have a
defined element for that index.
If you want to view more than one element at a time, you can resize the
array indicator. Place the Positioning tool on the lower right corner of
the array. The tool transforms into the array Resizing cursor shown at
left. When the tool changes, drag to the right or straight down. The
array now displays several elements in ascending index order,
beginning with the element corresponding to the specified index, as the
following illustration shows.
6
index
index
7
8
6
7
8
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In the previous block diagram, you specified an initial X and a delta
X value for the waveform. The default initial X value is zero and the
delta X value is 1. So, you can wire the waveform array directly to the
waveform graph terminal without the initial X and delta X specified, as
the following illustration shows.
1D Array
13. Return to the block diagram. Delete the Bundle function and the
numeric constants wired to it. To delete the function and constants,
select the function and constants with the Positioning tool then press
<Delete>. Select Edit»Remove Bad Wires. Finish wiring the block
diagram as shown in the previous illustration.
14. Run the VI. Notice that the VI plots the waveform with an initial
X value of 0 and a delta X value of 1.
Multiplot Graphs
You can create multiplot waveform graphs by building an array of the data
type normally passed to a single-plot graph.
2D Array
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15. Continue building your block diagram as shown in the preceding block
diagram.
Sine function (Functions»Numeric»Trigonometric)—In this
activity, you use the function in a For Loop to build an array of points
that represents one cycle of a sine wave.
Build Array function (Functions»Array)—In this exercise, you use
this function to create the proper data structure to plot two arrays on a
waveform graph, which in this case is a 2D array. Enlarge the Build
Array function to create two inputs by dragging a corner with the
Positioning tool.
Pi constant (Functions»Numeric»Additional Numeric
Constants)—Remember that you can find the Multiply and Divide
functions in Functions»Numeric.
16. Switch to the front panel. Run the VI.
Notice that the two waveforms plot on the same waveform graph.
The initial X value defaults to 0 and the delta X value defaults to 1 for
both data sets.
Note
You can change the appearance of a plot on the graph by popping up in the legend
for a particular plot. For example, you can change from a line graph to a bar
graph by choosing Common Plots»Bar Graph.
17. Save the VI as Graph Waveform Arrays.viin the BridgeVIEW\
Activity directory.
End of Activity 14-1.
In the previous example, the For Loop executed 100 times because a
constant of 100was wired to the count terminal. The following activity
illustrates another means of determining how many times a loop will
execute.
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Activity 14-2. Use Auto-Indexing
on Input Arrays
Your objective is to open and operate a VI that uses auto-indexing in a
For Loop to process an array.
1. Open the Separate Array Values VI by selecting File»Open…. The VI
is located in Examples\G Examples\General\arrays.llb.
2. Open the block diagram. The following illustration shows the block
diagram with both TRUE and FALSE cases visible.
Notice that the wire from Input Arraychanges from a thick wire
outside the For Loop, indicating it is an array, to a thin wire inside the
loop, indicating it is a single element. The ith element of the array is
indexed automatically from the array during each iteration.
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Using Auto-Indexing to Set the For Loop Count
Notice that the count terminal is left unwired. When you use auto-indexing
on an array entering a For Loop, the loop executes according to the size of
the array, eliminating the need to wire a value to the count terminal. If you
use auto-indexing for more than one array, or if you set the count in
addition to auto-indexing an array, the actual number of iterations is the
smallest number possible.
3. Run the VI. Of the eight input values, you will see four in the Positive
Array and four in the Negative Array.
4. From the block diagram, wire a constant of 5 to the count terminal of
the For Loop. Run the VI. You will see three values in the Positive
Array and two in the Negative Array, even though the input array still
has eight elements. This demonstrates that if N is set and you are
auto-indexing, the smaller number is used for the actual number of
iterations of the loop.
5. Close the VI and do not save changes.
End of Activity 14-2.
Using Array Functions
G has many functions to manipulate arrays located in Functions»Array.
These functions include Replace Array Element, Search 1D Array,
Sort 1D Array, Reverse 1D Array, and Multiply Array Elements.
For more information about arrays and the array functions available,
refer to Chapter 14, Array and Cluster Controls and Indicators, in the
G Programming Reference Manual or Online Reference»Function and
VI Reference.
Build Array
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Build Array function (Functions»Array)—You can use it to create an
array from scalar values or from other arrays. Initially, the Build Array
function appears with one scalar input.
You can add as many inputs as you need to the Build Array function, and
each input can be either a scalar or an array. To add more inputs, pop up on
the left side of the function and select Add Element Input or Add Array
Input. You also can enlarge the Build Array node with the Resizing cursor
(place the Positioning tool at the corner of an object to transform it into the
Resizing cursor). You can remove inputs by shrinking the node with the
Resizing cursor, or by selecting Remove Input.
The following illustration shows two ways to create and initialize arrays
with values from block diagram constants. On the left, five string constants
are built into a 1D array of strings. On the right, three groups of numeric
constants are built into three, 1D numeric arrays. Then, the three arrays are
combined into a 2D numeric array. The result is a 3 x 3 array with the rows
3, 4, 7; –1, 6, 2; and 5, –2, 8.
Array of
Strings
2D Array
of Numbers
You also can create an array by combining other arrays along with scalar
elements. For example, suppose you have two arrays and three scalar
elements that you want to combine into a new array with the order array 1,
scalar 1, scalar 2, array 2, and scalar 3.
Initialize Array
Use this function to create an array whose elements all have the same value.
In the following illustration, this function creates a 1D array.
The element input determines the data type and the value of each element.
The dimension size input determines the length of the array. For example,
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if elementis a long integer with the value of five and dimension size
has a value of 100, the result is a 1D array of 100 long integers all set to
five. You can wire the inputs from front panel control terminals, as shown
in the preceding illustration, from block diagram constants, or from
calculations on other parts of your diagram.
To create and initialize an array that has more than one dimension, pop up
on the lower-left side of the function and select Add Dimension. You also
can use the Resizing cursor to enlarge the Initialize Array node and add
more dimension size inputs, one for each additional dimension. You can
remove dimensions by shrinking the node by selecting Remove Dimension
from the function pop-up menu or with the Resizing cursor.
The following block diagram shows how to initialize a 3D array.
If all the dimension size inputs are zero, the function creates an empty array
of the specified type and dimension.
Array Size
Array Size returns the number of elements in the input array.
7
3
2
5
4
Array
Size = 4 Elements
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3
1
2
4
5
2
2
3
2 Rows
3 Columns
Size =
2D Array
Array Subset
You can use this function to extract a portion of an array or matrix.
Array Subset returns a portion of an array starting at index and
containing length elements. The following illustrations show examples
of Array Subsets. Notice that the array index begins with 0.
1
2
7
3
2
5
8
2
4
1D Array
7
3
2
5
Index
New 1D Array
Length
2D Array
7
2
1
3
5
4
2
7
2
5
1
7
3
5
2
7
5
1
Row Index
0
2
1
3
Row Length
New 2D Array
Column Index
Column Length
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Index Array
The Index Array function accesses an element of an array.
The following illustration shows an example of an Index Array function
accessing the third element of an array. Notice that the index of the third
element is 2 because the first element has index 0.
3
2
5
7
1
4
2
2
1D Array
5
Element
Index
You also can use this function to slice off one or more dimensions of a
multi-dimensional array to create a subarray of the original. To do this,
stretch the Index Array function to include two index inputs, and select
the Disable Indexing command on the pop-up menu of the second index
terminal as shown in the following illustration. Now you have disabled the
access to a specific array column. By giving it a row index, the result is an
array whose elements are the elements of the specified row of the 2D array.
You also can disable indexing on the row terminal.
Array
Disabled Input
(Empty Box)
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Notice that the index terminal symbol changes from a solid to an empty
box when you disable indexing. To restore a disabled index, use the
Enable Indexing command from the same menu.
You can extract subarrays along any combination of dimensions.
The following illustration shows how to extract a 1D row or column arrays
from a 2D array.
Extract Column
Extract Row
From a 3D array, you can extract a 2D array by disabling two index
terminals, or a 1D array by disabling a single index terminal. The following
figure shows several ways to slice a 3D array.
The following rules govern the use of the Index Array function to slice
arrays:
•
The dimension of the output object must equal the number of disabled
index terminals. For example:
–
–
–
Zero disabled = scalar element
One disabled = 1D component
Two disabled = 2D component
The values wired to enabled terminals must identify the output
elements.
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Thus, you can interpret the lower left preceding example as a command to
generate a 1D array of all elements at column 0 and row 3. You can interpret
the upper right example as a command to generate a 2D array of page 1.
The new, 0th element is the one closest to the original, as shown in the
preceding illustration.
Activity 14-3. Use the Build Array Function
Your objective is to use the Build Array function to combine elements and
arrays into one bigger array.
Front Panel
1. Create a new front panel, as shown in the following illustration.
2. Place a digital control from the Controls»Numeric palette and label it
scalar 1. Change its representation to I32.
3. Copy and paste it to create two other digital controls and label them
scalar 2and scalar 3.
4. Create an array of digital controls and label it array 1. Copy and
paste it and label it array 2.
5. Expand the arrays and enter the values 1 through 9 in array 1,
scalar 1, scalar 2, array 2, and scalar 3, as shown in the
illustration above.
1D array. Expand it to show nine values.
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Block Diagram
7. Place a Build Array function (Functions»Array) on the block
diagram. Expand it with the Positioning tool to have five inputs.
8. Pop up on the first input in the Build Array node and select Change to
Array. Do the same for the fourth input.
9. Wire the arrays and scalars to the node. The output array is a 1D array
composed of the elements of array 1followed by scalar 1,
scalar 2, and the elements of array 2and scalar 3, as the
following illustration shows.
10. Run the VI. You can see the values in scalar 1, scalar 2,
scalar 3, array 1, and array 2appear in a single 1D array.
11. Save the VI as Build Array.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory.
End of Activity 14-3.
Efficient Memory Usage: Minimizing Data Copies
To save memory, you can use single-precision arrays instead of
double-precision arrays. For information about how memory is allocated,
see the section Monitoring Memory Usage in Chapter 28, Performance
Issues, in the G Programming Reference Manual.
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What is Polymorphism?
Polymorphism is the ability of a function to adjust to input data of different
types, dimensions, or representations. Most G functions are polymorphic.
For example, the following illustrations show some of the polymorphic
combinations of the Add function.
Combination
Result
Scalar + Scalar
Scalar
Scalar + Array
Array + Array
Array
Array
In the first combination, the two scalars are added together, and the result
is a scalar. In the second combination, the scalar is added to each element
of the array, and the result is an array. An array is a collection of data. In the
third combination, each element of one array is added to the corresponding
element of the other array. You also can use other combinations, such as
clusters of numerics or arrays of clusters.
You can apply these principles to other G functions and data types.
G functions are polymorphic to different degrees. Some functions might
accept numeric and Boolean inputs, others might accept a combination of
any other data types. For more information about polymorphism, see
Online Reference»Function and VI Reference.
Clusters
A cluster is a data type that can contain data elements of different types.
The cluster in the block diagram that you will build in Activity 14-4 groups
related data elements from multiple places on the block diagram, reducing
wire clutter. When you use clusters, your subVIs require fewer connection
terminals. A cluster is analogous to a record in Pascal or a struct in C. You
can think of a cluster as a bundle of wires, much like a telephone cable.
Each wire in the cable would represent a different element of the cluster.
The components include the initial X value (0), the delta X value (1), and
the Y array (waveform data, provided by the numeric constants on the
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block diagram). In G, use the Bundle function to assemble a cluster. For
more information about Clusters refer to Chapter 14, Array and Cluster
Controls and Indicators, in the G Programming Reference Manual.
Graphs
A graph is a two-dimensional display of one or more data arrays called
plots. There are three types of graphs in the Controls»Graph palette:
•
•
•
XY graph
Waveform graph
Intensity graph
This palette also contains the Historical Trend, which is an XY Graph
specifically configured for displaying logged data in BridgeVIEW. The
difference between a graph and a chart (discussed in Chapter 10, Loops and
Charts, in this manual) is that a graph plots data as a block, whereas a chart
plots data point by point, or array by array.
For examples of graph VIs, see Examples\G Examples\General\
Graphs.
Customizing Graphs
Both waveform and XY graphs have a number of optional parts that you
can show or hide using the Show submenu of the pop-up menu for the
graph. The options include a legend, through which you can define the
color and style for a given plot, a palette from which you can change scaling
and format options while the VI is running, and a cursor display. The
following illustration of a graph shows all of the optional components
except for the cursor display.
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Major Grids
Minor Grids
Y Scale
Legend
X Scale
Palette
Graph Cursors
You can place cursors and a cursor display on all the graphs in G, and you
can label the cursor on the plot. You can set a cursor to lock onto a plot, and
you can move multiple cursors at the same time. There is no limit to the
number of cursors a graph can have. The following illustration shows a
waveform graph with the cursor display.
Cursor
Cursor
Movement
Control
Y Position
X Position
Style
Control
Cursor
Name
Lock
to Plot
Active
Control
Cursor Button
for Cursor
Movement
For more detailed information on customizing graphs, see Chapter 15,
Graph and Chart Controls and Indicators, in the G Programming
Reference Manual.
Refer to the ZoomGraph VI in Examples\G Examples\General\
Graphs\zoom.llbfor an example that reads cursor values and
programmatically zooms in and out of a graph using the cursors.
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Graph Axes
You can format the scales of a graph to represent either absolute or relative
time. Use absolute time format to display the time, date, or both for your
scale. If you do not want G to assume a date, use relative time format.
To select absolute or relative time format, pop up on the chart and select
the scale you want to modify. Select Formatting…. This enables the
Formatting dialog box, which you can use to specify different attributes
of the chart.
Data Acquisition Arrays
Data returned from a plug-in data acquisition board using the Data
Acquisition VIs can be in the form of a single value, a 1D array,
or a 2D array. You can find a number of graph examples located in
Examples\G Examples\General\Graphs, which contains VIs to
perform varied functions with arrays and graphs.
Activity 14-4. Use the Graph and Analysis VIs
Your objective is to build a VI that measures temperature and displays the
values in real time. It also displays the average, maximum, and minimum
temperatures.
Front Panel
1. Create a new front panel as shown in the following illustration.
You can modify the point styles of the waveform chart and waveform
graph by popping up on their legends. Scale the charts as shown.
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The Temperature waveform chart displays the temperature as it is
acquired. After acquisition, the VI plots the data in Temp Graph. The
Mean, Max, and Mindigital indicators display the average, maximum,
and minimum temperatures.
Block Diagram
2. Build the block diagram as shown in the following illustration:
Digital Thermometer VI (Functions»Select a VI from the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory)—Returns one temperature
measurement.
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Wait Until Next ms Multiple function (Functions»Time & Dialog)—
In this exercise, this function ensures the For Loop executes every
0.25 seconds (250 ms).
Numeric constant (Functions»Numeric)—You also can pop up on the
Wait Until Next ms Multiple function and select Create Constant to
automatically create and wire the numeric constant.
Array Max & Min function (Functions»Array)—In this activity, this
function returns the maximum and minimum temperature measured
during the acquisition.
Mean VI (Functions»Analysis»Probability and Statistics or
Functions»Base Analysis for LabVIEW Base Package
users)—Returns the average of the temperature measurements.
Bundle function (Functions»Cluster)—Assembles the plot
components into a cluster. The components include the initial X value
(0), the delta X value (0.25), and the Y array (temperature data). Use
the Positioning tool to resize the function by dragging one of the
corners.
The For Loop executes 40 times. The Wait Until Next ms Multiple
function causes each iteration to take place every 250 ms. The VI
stores the temperature measurements in an array created at the For
Loop border (auto-indexing). After the For Loop completes execution,
the array is passed on to the subVIs and Temp Graph.
The Array Max&Min function returns the maximum and minimum
temperature. The Mean VI returns the average of the temperature
measurements.
Your completed VI bundles the data array with an initial X value of 0
and a delta X value of 0.25. The VI requires a delta X value of 0.25 so
that the VI plots the temperature array points every 0.25 seconds on the
waveform graph.
3. Return to the front panel and run the VI.
4. Save the VI as Temperature Analysis.viin the BridgeVIEW\
Activitydirectory.
End of Activity 14-4.
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Intensity Plots
BridgeVIEW has two methods for displaying 3D data: the intensity chart
and the intensity graph. Both intensity plots accept 2D arrays of numbers,
where each number is mapped to a color. You can define the color mapping
interactively, using an optional color ramp scale, or programmatically,
using an attribute node for the chart. For examples using the intensity chart
and graph, refer to intgraph.llbin the Examples\General\Graphs
directory.
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15
Application Control
This chapter introduces the VI Server and provides an activity that explains
how to use it within BridgeVIEW. The VI Server allows you to control
when a VI is loaded into memory, run, and unloaded from memory. The VI
Server also allows you to accomplish the following dynamically:
•
•
•
Control many VI properties
Monitor the status of VI execution (running or idle)
Monitor the status of a VI front panel (closed, open, or active)
You can reach the VI Server functions through the Functions Palette from
the Block Diagram window. The Application Control subpalette is shown
below.
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What is the VI Server?
The VI Server is a G programming mechanism that lets you
programmatically control properties and the execution of VIs.
You can use the VI Server to open, call, and close other VIs dynamically,
and to manipulate VI properties. The VI Server is used from the Open VI
Reference, Invoked Node, and Close Application or VI Reference
functions in the Application Control menu. You can use the VI Server
Property Node, found in Functions»Application Control palette, to
control the opening and closing of the front panel of the called VI. You also
can pass parameters to and receive data from the VIs you call dynamically.
All the VI Server functions use error cluster inputs and outputs to make
error handling easier. For detailed information about the Server functions,
refer to the BridgeVIEW Online Reference by selecting Help»Online
Reference, or by right-clicking on the VI Server function and select Online
Help.
As you develop larger BridgeVIEW applications, you might find it
inconvenient to have all of the subVIs in memory at once. For example,
assume you have written a number of VIs that act as user interfaces (HMIs)
for several subsystems within your process. One solution might be to have
a top-level VI that has each of these subVIs in its diagram. The top-level VI
serves as a menu from which you choose the subVI to run, as shown in the
front panel portion of the illustration below.
This VI contains a set of Booleans such that when the user presses a button
on the front panel, the proper subVI is executed. The diagram builds an
array of Booleans and checks the array for any TRUE values. The index of
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the TRUE value is passed into a Case structure and each case contains the
appropriate subVI, as shown in the previous illustration.
The disadvantage of the above approach is that all subVIs are in memory at
all times, regardless of which ones are needed. If each subVI is large, your
main menu VI might require a large amount of memory.
To avoid using so much memory, you can use the VI Server to load and
execute VIs dynamically. To do this, you must know the name of the VI you
want to access and its location on the computer or network. The illustration
below demonstrates the same scenario described above, this time using the
VI Server.
In both of the previous examples, the top-level VI stops executing until the
subVI completes, which means the top-level VI stops responding to the
user interface. To keep both the top-level VI and other VIs responding to
the user interface at all times, you can load and run VIs dynamically as
shown in Activity 15-1.
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Activity 15-1. Use the VI Server
Your objective is to build a top-level VI that uses the VI Server to open,
run, display, and close two other VIs. The top-level VI will load both
subVIs dynamically. Then, the top-level VI will open and run the subVI
chosen by the user.
Front Panel
1. Open a new front panel. Place a waveform chart and label it
Trend #1. Place a rectangular stop button and label it Close. Save
the VI as HMI#1.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
2. Open a new front panel. Place a cluster with two rectangular buttons
labeled HMI#1and HMI#2. Create a button and label it Shutdown. At
the end of this exercise, you will have three front panels, which will
appear as shown below.
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3. Save this VI as VI Control2.viin the BridgeVIEW\Activity
directory. This VI will call the HMI#1 and HMI#2 VIs.
Block Diagram
4. Build the block diagram of VI Control2.vi, as shown in the
following illustrations.
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The elements of the VI are described below.
Open VI Reference (Functions»Application Control)—Opens the
two VIs dynamically and loads them into memory.
Path Control (Right-click on the Path input of the Open VI Reference
and choose Create Control)—Provides the path to the subVIs to be
called.
Array String constant (Functions»Array)—Provide the name of the
subVIs to be called, HMI#1.vi and HMI#2.vi.
Cluster to Array (Functions»Cluster)—Converts the cluster of
booleans to a boolean array.
Search 1D Array (Function»Array)—Returns the index of the first
TRUE value it finds in the Boolean array. If you did not click on a
button, Search 1D array returns an index value of –1 and does nothing.
If a Boolean value is pressed, it returns the index value of the
respective Boolean and then runs and opens the selected subVI.
Invoke Node, Run VI method (Functions»Application Control)—
Executes the subVI reference that is specified by the output of the
Search 1D array.
Property Node, Front Panel Open Property (Functions»Application
Control)—Displays the selected HMI subVIs front panel.
Property Node, Front Panel Open Property set to False
(Functions»Application Control)—Uses the selected HMI subVIs
front panel.
Close Application or VI Reference (Functions»Application
Control)—Unloads the VI from memory.
Greater Than or Equal to 0 Function (Functions»Comparison)—
Returns TRUE if the input value is greater than or equal to 0.
Otherwise the function returns FALSE.
Boolean Constant (Functions»Numeric)—Supplies a constant TRUE
or FALSE value to the Not Function, in this activity. Set this value by
clicking on the T or F portion of the constant with the Operating tool.
The value cannot be changed while the VI is executing.
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Not Function (Functions»Comparison)—The node inverts the
Boolean state of the While Loop.
5. Save the VI.
6. Build the block diagram of HMI#1, as shown in the following
illustration.
7. Save HMI#1.viSave a copy of this VI as HMI#2.viin the
BridgeVIEW\Activitydirectory.
8. Close HMI#1.viand HMI#2.vi.
9. Run VI Control2.vi. Make sure that you have entered the correct
path in the VI path to HMI#1.vi & HMI#2.visection. Click on
the HMI#1 button. The front panel of HMI#1.viappears. Now click
on the HMI#2 button. The front panel of HMI#2.viappears.
10. Press the Shutdown button to close the front panels of HMI#1 and
HMI#2 and stop VI Control2.vi.
End of Activity 15-1.
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16
Program Design
Now that you are familiar with many aspects of G programming, you need
to apply that knowledge to develop your own applications. This chapter
suggests some techniques to use when creating programs and offers
programming-style recommendations.
Use Top-Down Design
When you have a large project to manage, incorporate top-down design.
G has an advantage over other programming languages with respect to
top-down design because you can start with the final user interface then
animate it.
Make a List of User Requirements
Create a list of the panels with which the user can interact, the number and
type of controls and indicators for these panels, the need for real-time
analysis, data presentation, and so on. Next, create mock-up front panels
you can show to the prospective users (or manipulate yourself, if you are
the user). Think about and discuss functions and features. Use this
interactive process to redesign the user interface as necessary. You might
need to do some low-level research at this early stage to be certain you can
meet specifications.
Design the VI Hierarchy
The power of G lies in the hierarchical nature of VIs. After you create a VI,
you can use it as a subVI in the block diagram of a higher level VI. You can
have an essentially unlimited number of layers in the hierarchy.
Divide the task to be accomplished into manageable, logical pieces. As the
following flowchart illustrates, you can expect several major blocks in one
form or another for every data acquisition system.
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Operator
Panel
Manage
State
Initialize
Terminate
Read
Data
Process
Data
Write
Data
In some cases you might not need all these blocks or you might need
different blocks. For example, some applications might include monitoring
only, thus, you would not need to write data to the Real-Time Database.
Alternatively, you might need additional blocks, such as blocks
representing user prompts. Your main objective is to divide your
programming task into high-level blocks that you can manage easily.
After you determine the high-level blocks you need, try to create a block
diagram that uses those high-level blocks. For each block, create a new
stub VI (a nonfunctional prototype representing a future subVI). For this
stub VI, create an icon as well as a front panel that contains the necessary
inputs and outputs. You do not have to create a block diagram for this VI
yet. Instead, see if this stub VI is a necessary part of your top-level block
diagram.
After you assemble a group of stub VIs, try to understand, in general terms,
the function of each block and how each block provides the desired results.
Ask yourself whether any given block generates information that a
subsequent VI needs. If so, make certain that the sketch for your top-level
block diagram contains wires to pass the data between VIs.
Try to avoid using unnecessary global variables because they hide the data
dependency between VIs. Use memory tags only when you need this
information in the Engine for historical logging or alarms. As your system
gets larger, it becomes difficult to debug if you depend on global variables
and memory tags as your method for transferring information between VIs.
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Create the Program
Now you are ready to create the program in G:
•
Use a modular approach by building subVIs where you find a logical
division of labor or the potential for code reuse.
•
•
Solve your general problems along with your specific ones.
Test your subVIs as you create them. You might need to construct
higher-level test routines, but you can catch the bugs in one small
module more easily than in a hierarchy of several VIs.
As you consider the details of your subVIs, you might find that your initial
design is incomplete. For example, you might realize you need to transfer
more information from one subVI to another. You might have to reevaluate
your top-level design at this point. Using modular subVIs to accomplish
specific tasks makes it easier to manage your program reorganizations.
Plan Ahead with Connector Panes
If you think that you might need to add additional inputs or outputs later on,
select a connector-pane pattern with extra terminals. You can leave these
extra terminals unconnected. With these extra terminals, you do not have
to change the connector pane for your VI if you find you need another input
or output later. This flexibility enables you to make these changes with
minimal effect on your hierarchy.
When linking controls and indicators to the connector, place inputs on the
left and outputs on the right. This prevents complicated, unclear wiring
patterns in your VIs.
BAD Input
Location
BAD Output
Location
GOOD Input
Location
GOOD Output
Location
OK Input
Location
OK Output
Location
If you create a group of subVIs that are used together often, try to give the
subVIs a consistent connector pane, with common inputs in the same
location. You then can remember where to locate each input more easily
without using the Help window. If you create a subVI that produces an
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output that is used as the input to another subVI, try to align the input and
output connections. This technique simplifies your wiring patterns.
SubVIs with Required Inputs
On the front panel, you can edit required inputs for subVIs by clicking
the icon pane on the upper-right side of the window and choosing
Show Connector»This Connection Is. From the submenu, choose
between the Required, Recommended, or Optional options.
The following illustration displays the submenu options.
If you want to return to the icon pane in the front panel, pop up on the
connector pane and select Show Icon.
Good Diagram Style
In general, avoid creating a block diagram that uses more than one or two
screens of space. If a diagram becomes very large, decide whether you can
reuse some components of your diagram in other VIs, or whether a section
of your diagram fits together as a logical component. If so, consider
dividing your diagram into subVIs.
With forethought and careful planning, it is easier to design diagrams that
use subVIs to perform specific tasks. Using subVIs helps you manage
changes and debug your diagrams quickly. You can determine the function
of a well-structured program after only a brief examination.
Watch for Common Operations
As you design your programs, you might find that you perform a certain
operation frequently. Depending on the situation, consider using subVIs or
loops to perform an action repetitively.
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For example, examine the following diagram in which three similar
operations run independently.
An alternative to this design is a loop, which performs the operation
three times. You can build an array of the different arguments and use
auto-indexing to set the correct value for each iteration of the loop.
If the array elements are constant, you can use an array constant instead of
building the array on the block diagram.
Use Left-to-Right Layouts
G is designed to use a left-to-right (and sometimes top-to-bottom) layout.
Organize all elements of your program in this layout when possible.
Check for Errors
When you perform any kind of I/O, consider the possibility of errors
occurring. Almost all I/O functions return error information. If you use
direct I/O, make sure that your program checks for errors and you handle
them appropriately.
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The BridgeVIEW Engine handles system events and errors reported by
device servers. However, your VIs must handle any error conditions within
their diagrams. For example, if a VI is unable to open a file properly, you
might want the VI to halt or inform the user of the error through a dialog
box. You also might want the VI to use an alternative path before alerting
the user of the error. You can make these error-handling decisions in the
block diagram of your VI.
The following list describes situations in which errors frequently occur:
•
•
•
Incorrect initialization of communication or data that has been written
to an external device improperly
Loss of power in an external device, or a broken or improperly working
external device
Change in functionality of an application or library when upgrading
operating system software
When an error occurs, you might not want certain subsequent operations to
occur. For instance, if an analog output operation fails because you specify
the wrong device, you might not want a subsequent analog input operation
to take place.
One method for managing such a problem is to test for errors after every
function and place subsequent functions inside case structures. However,
this method can complicate your diagrams and ultimately hide the purpose
of your application.
An alternative approach, which has been used successfully in a number of
applications and many of the VI libraries, is to incorporate error handling
in the subVIs that perform I/O. Each VI can have an error input and an error
output. You can design the VI to check the error input to see if an error has
occurred previously. If an error exists, you can configure the VI to do
nothing and pass the error input to the error output. If no error exists, the VI
can execute the operation and pass the result to the error output.
Note
In some cases, such as a Close operation, you might want the VI to perform the
operation regardless of the error that is passed into it.
Using the preceding technique, you can wire several VIs together,
connecting error inputs and outputs to propagate errors from one VI to the
next. At the end of the series of VIs, you can use the Simple Error Handler
VI to display a dialog box if an error occurs. The Simple Error Handler VI
is located in Functions»Time & Dialog. In addition to encapsulating error
handling, you can use this technique to determine the order of several
I/O operations.
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One of the main advantages in using the error input and output clusters is
that you can use them to control the execution order of dissimilar
operations.
The error information generally is represented using a cluster containing a
numeric error code, a string containing the name of the function that
generated the error, and an error Boolean for quick testing. The following
illustration shows how you can use this technique in your own applications.
Notice that the While Loop stops if it detects an error.
Watch Out for Missing Dependencies
Make sure that you have explicitly defined the sequence of events when
necessary. Do not assume left-to-right or top-to-bottom execution when no
data dependency exists.
In the following example, no dependency exists between the Read File VI
and the Close File VI. This program might not work as expected.
The following version of the block diagram establishes a dependency by
wiring an output of the Read File VI to the Close File VI. The operation
cannot end until the Close File VI receives the output of the Read File VI.
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Notice that the preceding example still does not check for errors. For
instance, if the file does not exist, the program does not display a warning.
The following version of the block diagram illustrates one technique for
handling this problem. In this example, the block diagram uses the error
I/O inputs and outputs of these functions to propagate any errors to the
Simple Error Handler VI.
Avoid Overuse of Sequence Structures
Because VIs can operate with a great deal of inherent parallelism, avoid
using Sequence structures. Using a Sequence structure guarantees the order
of execution but prohibits parallel operations. For instance, asynchronous
tasks that use I/O devices (GPIB, serial ports, and data acquisition boards)
can run concurrently with other operations if Sequence structures do not
prevent them from doing so.
Sequence structures tend to hide parts of the program and interrupt the
natural left-to-right flow of data. You do not sacrifice performance by using
Sequence structures. However, when you need to sequence operations, you
might consider using data flow instead. For instance, in I/O operations you
might use the error I/O technique described previously to ensure that one
I/O operation occurs before another.
Study the Examples
For further information about program design, you can examine the many
example block diagrams included in BridgeVIEW. These sample programs
provide you with insights into G programming style and technique.
To view these block diagrams, open any of the VIs in the Examples
directory.
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A
HMI Function Reference
This appendix describes error handling for BridgeVIEW VIs and contains
an explanation of the VIs in the BridgeVIEW VI library. In this appendix,
the VIs are arranged alphabetically, first by VI Library name (Alarms
and Events, Historical Data, System, Tags, and Tag Attributes), then by
VI name.
Error Handling in the BridgeVIEW VI Library
Errors that occur in the VIs in the BridgeVIEW VI Library can be handled in one of two ways:
by the BridgeVIEW Engine or by each VI. The BridgeVIEW Engine handles errors for the
Tags VIs and the Alarms and Events VIs. The other VIs include standard error in and error
out parameters for error handling.
These two methods of error handling are described in detail below. For information about
how you can handle errors in your own VIs, see the section Check for Errors in Chapter 16,
Program Design.
Errors Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine
BridgeVIEW reports error handling information for Tags VIs, Tag Attributes VIs, and
Alarms and Events VIs to the system. If you try to access a tag that does not exist in the Tags
VIs or the Alarms and Events VIs, the BridgeVIEW Engine reports an error. The error shows
up in the BridgeVIEW Engine Manager display. For more information about the Engine
Manager, see Chapter 2, BridgeVIEW Environment.
Errors Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine
If a BridgeVIEW VI does not report to the BridgeVIEW Engine, it uses a standard control
and indicator (error in and error out) to notify you that an error has occurred. The error in
and error out parameters are described here.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. If error in indicates that an error occurred before this VI was
called, this VI might choose not to execute its function, but just pass the
error through to its error out cluster. If no error has occurred, this VI
executes normally and sets its own error status in error out. Use the error
handler VIs to look up the error code and to display the corresponding error
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message. Using error in and error out clusters is a convenient way to
check errors and to specify execution order by wiring the error output from
one subVI to the error input of the next.
status is TRUE if an error occurred before this VI was called, or
FALSE if not. If status is TRUE, code is a nonzero error code. If
status is FALSE, code can be 0 or a warning code.
code is the number identifying an error or warning. If status is
TRUE, code is a nonzero error code. If status is FALSE, code can
be 0 or a warning code. Use the error handler VIs to look up the
meaning of this code and to display the corresponding error
message.
source is a string that indicates the origin of the error, if any.
Usually, source is the name of the VI in which the error occurred.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
If an error occurred before this VI was called, error out is the same as
error in. Otherwise, error out shows the error, if any, that occurred in this
VI. Use the error handler VIs to look up the error code and to display the
corresponding error message. Using error in and error out clusters is a
convenient way to check errors and to specify execution order by wiring the
error output from one subVI to the error input of the next.
status is TRUE if an error occurred, or FALSE if not. If status is
TRUE, code is a nonzero error code. If status is FALSE, code can
be 0 or a warning code.
code is the number identifying an error or warning. If status is
TRUE, code is a nonzero error code. If status is FALSE, code can
be 0 or a warning code. Use the error handler VIs to look up the
meaning of this code and to display the corresponding error
message.
source is a string that indicates the origin of the error, if any.
Usually, source is the name of the VI in which the error occurred.
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BridgeVIEW VI Library
Many of the VIs in the BridgeVIEW VI Library are specific to
BridgeVIEW, and are not part of the standard G library. These VIs include
Alarms and Events VIs, Historical Data VIs, System VIs, Tags VIs, and Tag
Attributes VIs. This section contains an explanation of the VIs specific to
BridgeVIEW. The VIs are arranged alphabetically, first by VI palette name,
then by VI name.
For more information about standard G VIs, refer to the BridgeVIEW
Online Reference. Select Help»Online Reference and choose the topic
G Language»G Reference»G Function Reference.
To reach the BridgeVIEW VIs, choose Window»Show Functions Palette
from the block diagram window. The Functions palette is shown below.
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Alarms and Events VIs
Use the Alarms and Events VIs to acknowledge alarms, display alarm
summary or event history information, or obtain alarm summary status
information. The Alarms and Events subpalette is shown in the following
illustration.
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Acknowledge Alarm
Use the Acknowledge Alarm VI to acknowledge alarms on a tag or a group. Call this VI when
an Acknowledge button is pressed in your HMI. You can call this VI multiple times from
your HMI.
group/tag names is the list of tags that have alarms to be acknowledged.
ack alarm(T) determines whether alarms on tags in group/tag names is
acknowledged. If FALSE, this VI does nothing except return the shutdown
status. If unwired, this input is TRUE by default. You can wire this input in
your diagram so that acknowledge is called only when a front panel control
is TRUE. This eliminates the need to place a case structure in your calling
diagram.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Acknowledge
Alarm VI. This is probably a result of the tag or group name not being
found.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, the Acknowledge Alarm VI returns immediately with shutdown
TRUE. You can use shutdown to exit any loop that uses the Acknowledge
Alarm VI.
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Get Alarm Summary Status
Use the Get Alarm Summary Status VI to check the status of alarms in the BridgeVIEW
system. You can call this VI multiple times from your HMI.
group/tag names determines the tags for which alarm status is to be read.
Use group <ALL> to get the status of all of the tag alarms in the system.
read parameters is a cluster of parameters for filtering out the alarms for
which status is checked.
min priority is the minimum priority of alarms to read. If left
unwired, alarms corresponding to priority level 1 and above are
reported.
max priority is the maximum priority of alarms to read. If left
unwired, alarms corresponding to priority level 15 and below are
reported.
filter ACK alarms? determines whether acknowledged alarms
are read.
alarm summary status contains information about the alarms currently in
the BridgeVIEW system.
# active alarms is the number of alarms currently in the
BridgeVIEW system.
any alarm? is an indication of any tag in the system that is in
alarm, irrespective of its acknowledgement status.
# unack alarms is the number of unacknowledged alarms in the
system.
any unack alarm? is an indication of any tag in the system that is
in alarm and unacknowledged.
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Read Alarm Summary
Use the Read Alarm Summary VI to display current alarm information for a set of tags or tag
groups within a given alarm priority range. You also can filter out acknowledged alarms. This
VI formats the alarm summary information for display in an Alarm Summary Display in your
HMI. If you specify a timeout value greater than 0, this VI returns when the current alarm
information changes, or the timeout value is exceeded, whichever occurs first. The changed?
output alerts you as to whether the current alarm information has changed.
The format and color codes inputs determine how to format and color code summary
information. The Read Alarm Summary VI returns all the information needed to update the
Alarm Summary Display in your HMI. Part of the table indicator formatting is done through
attribute nodes which only can exist in your diagram. The column headers display the table
column header information and must be wired to your table Column Headers[] attribute if you
are displaying column headers. This is updated when the VI is executed for the first time, or
if you change the format during program operation. The initialize headers output is TRUE
when you need to update the column headers attribute.
You should wire the summary data output directly to your Alarm Summary Display. Wire
the row colors output to the Active Cell and Cell FG Color attributes inside of a While Loop.
Wiring the Alarm Summary Display attributes like this formats the table to show different
line colors for different alarm states. If you use the HMI G Wizard, this code is generated for
you automatically.
The entire Alarm Summary Display, including attributes, is updated only if the current alarm
information changes, and if there was no timeout. Table indicator updates can be slow for
large tables, so it is a good idea to update the table only if changed? is TRUE. Notice that
changed? is always TRUE after the first execution of the VI.
read parameters is a cluster of parameters for filtering out the alarms read.
min priority is the minimum priority of alarms to read. If left
unwired, alarms corresponding to priority level 1 and above are
reported.
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max priority is the maximum priority of alarms to read. If left
unwired, alarms corresponding to priority level 15 and below are
reported.
filter ACK alarms? determines whether acknowledged alarms
are read.
group/tag names determines the tags for which alarm conditions are read.
timeout (secs) (1) specifies how many seconds to wait before reading the
tag alarms. If timeout is 0, the alarms are read immediately. If it is wired,
the VI waits indefinitely until a new alarm occurs or the Real-Time
Database shuts down, whichever occurs first.
format allows you to compose the alarm message you want to display for
the tags.
Date determines whether to display the date.
Date Format determines the format of the date, if it is selected for
displaying.
Time determines whether to display the time.
Time Format determines the format of the time, if it is selected
for displaying.
Tag Name determines whether to display the name of the tag
in alarm.
Group Name determines whether to display the name of the
group that the tag in alarm belongs to.
Alarm Value determines whether to display the value of the tag
that caused the alarm.
Alarm State determines whether to display the type of alarm
(HI_HI, LO, etc.).
Alarm Ack State determines whether to display the status of the
user who acknowledged the alarm.
Alarm Priority determines whether to display the priority of the
alarm state.
Alarm Limit determines whether to display the alarm limit.
Operator Name determines whether to display the operator
name.
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Alarm Message determines whether to display the
user-configured alarm message. This applies to discrete tags only.
color codes is a cluster of parameters that determine the colors for the
messages in the Alarm Summary Display.
event determines the color for events. The Alarm Summary
Display does not include events.
ack alarm determines the color for acknowledged alarms.
unack alarm determines the color for unacknowledged alarms.
normal determines the color for tags that are currently in normal
state, but have an unacknowledged alarm.
buffer size determines the number of entries to be displayed in the alarm
summary display. The default setting is 10.
initialize headers is TRUE when the summary data has been read for the
first time, indicating that column headers should be updated.
column headers represents the information displayed in the alarm
summary. Wire this output to the Column Headers[] attribute of the Alarm
Summary Display in your HMI.
summary data lists the alarms that currently exist is the system and have
been filtered with the user specified priority and filter parameters.
row colors is an array of colors for the alarms displayed. Wire this output
to the Cell FG Color attribute of the Alarm Summary Display in your HMI.
alarm summary status contains information about the alarms currently in
the BridgeVIEW system.
# active alarms is the number of alarms currently in the
BridgeVIEW system.
any alarm? indicates any tag in the system that is in alarm,
irrespective of its acknowledgement status.
# unack alarms is the number of unacknowledged alarms in the
system.
any unack alarm? indicates any tag in the system that is in alarm
and unacknowledged.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Read Alarm
Summary VI. It was probably a problem with the group/tag names.
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shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, the Read Alarm Summary VI returns immediately with shutdown
TRUE. You can use shutdown to exit any While Loop that calls Read
Alarm Summary VI.
changed? is TRUE if a new alarm was read. If changed? is FALSE, the
Read Alarm Summary VI probably timed out before the Alarm Summary
Display was updated.
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Read Event History
Use the Read Event History VI to display all the alarms and events that have occurred for a
set of tags or tag groups within a given alarm priority range. You also can filter out
acknowledged tags. The Read Event History VI formats the event history information for
display in an Event History Display indicator in your HMI. If you specify a timeout value
greater than 0, this VI returns when the event history information changes, or the timeout
value is exceeded, whichever occurs first. The changed? output alerts you as to whether the
event history information has been updated.
The format and color codes inputs tell the Read Event History VI how to format and color
code event history information. The Read Event History VI returns all the information needed
to update the Event History Display indicator. Part of the Event History Display indicator
formatting is done through attribute nodes which only can exist in your diagram. The column
headers display the table column header information and must be wired to your table Column
Headers[] attribute if you are displaying column headers. Normally this is updated only when
the VI is executed for the first time, assuming you do not change the format control during
program operation. The initialize headers output is TRUE when you need to update the
Column Headers attribute.
Wire the history data output directly to your Event History Display. Wire the row colors
output to the Active Cell and Cell FG Color attributes inside a While Loop. Wiring the Event
History Display attributes formats the table to show different line colors for different alarm
states or events. You can generate this code automatically by using the HMI G Wizard.
The entire Event History Display, including attributes, is updated only if the event history
information changes, and there was no timeout. Table indicator updates can be slow for large
tables, so it is usually a good idea to update the table only if the changed? indicator is TRUE.
Notice that the changed? indicator is always TRUE after the first execution of the VI.
read parameters is a cluster of parameters for filtering out the alarms read.
min priority is the minimum priority of alarms read. If left
unwired, alarms corresponding to priority level 1 and above are
reported.
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max priority is the maximum priority of alarms read. If left
unwired, alarms corresponding to priority level 15 and below are
reported.
filter ACK alarms? determines whether acknowledged alarms
are read.
group/tag names determines the tags for which alarm conditions and
events are read.
timeout (secs)(1) specifies how many seconds to wait before reading the
tag alarms and events. If timeout is 0, the alarms and events are read
immediately. If it is wired, the VI waits indefinitely until a new alarm or
event occurs or the Real-Time Database shuts down, whichever occurs
first.
format allows you to compose the alarm message you want to display for
the tags.
Date determines whether to display the date.
Date Format determines the format of the date, if it is selected for
displaying.
Time determines whether to display the time.
Time Format determines the format of the time, if it is selected
for displaying.
Tag Name determines whether to display the name of the tag
in alarm.
Group Name determines whether to display the name of the
group that the tag in alarm belongs to.
Alarm Value determines whether to display the value of the tag
that caused the alarm.
Alarm State determines whether to display the type of alarm
(HI_HI, LO, etc.).
Alarm Ack State determines whether to display the status of the
user who acknowledged the alarm.
Alarm Priority determines whether to display the priority of the
alarm state.
Alarm Limit determines whether to display the alarm limit.
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Operator Name determines whether to display the operator
name.
Alarm Message determines whether to display the
user-configured alarm message. This applies to discrete tags only.
color codes is a cluster of parameters that determine the colors for the
messages in the Alarm Summary Display.
event determines the color for events.
ack alarm determines the color for acknowledged alarms.
unack alarm determines the color for unacknowledged alarms.
normal determines the color for tags not in alarm.
buffer size determines the number of entries to be displayed in the event
history display. The default setting is 10.
initialize headers is TRUE when the history data has been read for the first
time, indicating that column headers should be updated.
column headers represents the information displayed in the event history.
Wire this output to the Column Headers[] attribute of the Alarm Summary
Display in your HMI.
history data is the list of alarms and events that have occurred in the
system and have been filtered with the user specified read parameters.
row colors is an array of colors for the alarms and events to be displayed.
Wire this output to the Cell FG Color attribute of the Event History Display
in your HMI.
alarm summary status contains information about the alarms currently in
the BridgeVIEW system.
# active alarms is the number of alarms currently in the
BridgeVIEW system.
any alarm? indicates any tag in the system that is in alarm,
irrespective of its acknowledgement status.
# unack alarms is the number of unacknowledged alarms in the
system.
any unack alarm? indicates any tag in the system that is in alarm
and unacknowledged.
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error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Read Event
History VI. It was probably a problem with the group/tag name.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, the Read Event History VI returns immediately with shutdown
TRUE. You can use shutdown to exit any While Loop that calls the Read
Event History VI.
changed? is TRUE if a new alarm or event was read. If changed? is
FALSE, Read Event History probably timed out before the Event History
Display was updated.
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Read Tag Alarm
Use the Read Tag Alarm VI to read detailed alarm status for a tag from the Real-Time
Database. You probably want to use the Read Tag Alarm VI in the portion of your program
where you monitor alarm information for specific tags. The Read Tag Alarm VI indicates
whether a tag is in alarm, which alarm state it is in, when the alarm occurred, at which value
it occurred, and whether it has been acknowledged. If you specify a timeout value that is
greater than 0, the Read Tag Alarm VI returns when the tag changes alarm state or the
timeout is exceeded, whichever occurs first. The changed? indicator alerts you to whether
the Read Tag Alarm VI returned a new value.
tag name is the name of the tag.
timeout (secs) (0) specifies how many seconds to wait for the tag alarm
state to be updated in the Real-Time Database before reading the
Real-Time Database for the latest alarm information. If timeout is 0, the
Read Tag Alarm VI reads the Real-Time Database immediately and returns
the tag alarm status without waiting. If timeout is –1, Read Tag Alarm
waits indefinitely until the tag alarm state changes, or the Real-Time
Database shuts down, whichever occurs first. If a timeout occurs before the
value is updated, Read Tag Alarm returns the most current tag alarm state
from the Real-Time Database, and timeout is set to TRUE. The default
value is 0.
in alarm is TRUE if the tag is in alarm.
alarm ack indicates whether the tag alarm has been acknowledged. If
acknowledged, alarm ack is TRUE.
alarm value is the tag value when it changed alarm states. Notice that the
tag alarm value is updated only when the tag changes alarm states, and is
not necessarily the most recent alarm value.
alarm timestamp indicates the time when the tag alarm state last changed.
alarm state indicates the name of the most recent alarm state for the tag.
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error indicates that an error occurred when executing Read Alarm Tag, or
that the value returned by Read Tag Alarm is not valid.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, the Read Tag Alarm VI no longer waits for a change in the tag alarm
state and returns immediately with both timeout and shutdown TRUE.
You can use shutdown to exit any loop that uses the Read Tag Alarm VI.
changed? is TRUE when Read Tag Alarm returns a new alarm state from
the Real-Time Database. If changed? is FALSE, the Read Tag Alarm VI
probably timed out before the tag alarm state was updated.
alarm message is the user defined string message displayed along with the
alarm notification for a discrete tag. Notice that this output is not valid for
any tag type other than discrete.
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Historical Data VIs
Use the Historical Data VIs to obtain or read historical data about a tag,
resample trend data, compute statistical data for a historical trend, or
convert historical trend data to a spreadsheet format. The Historical Data
subpalette is shown below.
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Call HTV
Use the Call HTV VI to include the Historical Trend Viewer (HTV) in your HMI application
programmatically. Wire no inputs to launch the HTV in its default state, or wire one or more
inputs to override the defaults.
If the HTV is running when this VI is called, already running returns TRUE and the HTV
appears at the front of the screen. The inputs are not used in this case.
scf path is the path of the .scffile that contains configuration information
for the tags to be displayed. If the Engine is running, the HTV ignores this
input and uses the active .scffile.
data directory is the path to the directory containing the Citadel historical
database files. If the Engine is running, the HTV ignores this input and uses
the active Citadel data directory. If the Engine is not running and the .scf
path is not empty, the HTV ignores this input and uses the Citadel data
directory found in the .scffile.
launch (T) determines whether to launch the HTV. If TRUE, the Call HTV
VI starts the HTV. If FALSE, the VI does nothing.
tag list is the array of tags to be displayed in the HTV.
plot attributes is a cluster of parameters to set the color, point style, and
line style of the trend display.
colors is an array of colors to be used.
points is an array of points to be used. Use the position in the trend
palette to determine the value for each point style. The default
value is 0(no point).
lines is an array of line styles to be used. Use the position in the
trend palette to determine the value for each line style. The default
value is 0(solid line).
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error in is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI executes.
For more information about this control, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
start time is the time to be displayed at the beginning of the trend.
already running indicates whether the HTV is running when the Call HTV
VI executes. If the HTV is running, this VI returns TRUE.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Decimate Historical Trend
Use the Decimate Historical Trend VI to take XY historical trend data, and decimate
(resample) it from the start timestamp to the stop timestamp. The decimated trend output
is a 1D array of the value at each time interval from the start timestamp to the stop
timestamp.
check start/stop time? determines whether the requested start and stop
times are checked against data available in the historical trends input. If
this value is TRUE, the start and stop timestamps are checked against the
first and last timestamp in the historical trend. A requested start/stop time
out of the range of the trend is not used—the first/last timestamp in the
trend is used.
historical trend is the historical trend to be decimated.
timestamp is the date and time for the value.
value is the value of the tag at the timestamp.
start timestamp is the timestamp at which the decimated trend starts. If
start timestamp is unwired, the decimated trend output starts at the first
timestamp in the historical trend.
stop timestamp is the desired stop time of the decimated trend. If stop
timestamp is unwired, the decimated trend output ends at or before the last
timestamp in the historical trend.
time interval determines the interval at which the trend is decimated or
resampled. If unwired, data is extracted with the default interval of
1 second.
decimated trend is a list of historical trend values starting at first
timestamp. Each trend value is time interval seconds apart.
first timestamp is the actual time associated with the first point in the
decimated trend.
last timestamp is the actual time associated with the last point in the
decimated trend.
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Decimate Historical Trends
Use the Decimate Historical Trends VI to decimate (resample) XY historical trend data over
the time interval specified from start timestamp to stop timestamp. The decimated trend
output is a 2D array of instantaneous values, each time interval seconds apart, starting at
start timestamp. Each column in the 2D array contains one decimated trend.
If start timestamp is left unwired, the decimated trend values start at the first timestamp in
the historical trend. If the stop timestamp is left unwired, the decimated trend ends at the
point nearest the last timestamp in the historical trend.
check start/stop time? determines whether the requested start and stop
times are checked against data available in the historical trends input. If
this value is TRUE, the start and stop timestamps are checked against the
first and last timestamp in the historical trend. A requested start/stop time
out of the range of the trend is not used—the first/last timestamp in the
trend is used.
To override this and use the input values regardless of the data points in the
trend, set this input to FALSE.
historical trends is a set of historical trends to be decimated.
timestamp is the date and time for the value.
value is the value of the tag at the timestamp.
start timestamp is the timestamp at which the decimated trend starts. If
start timestamp is unwired, the decimated trend output starts at the first
timestamp in the historical trend.
stop timestamp is the desired stop time of the decimated trend. If stop
timestamp is unwired, the decimated trend output ends at or before the last
timestamp in the historical trend.
resampled. If unwired, data is extracted with the default interval of
1 second.
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decimated trends is a list of decimated historical trends starting at first
timestamp. Each trend value is time interval seconds apart.
first timestamp is the actual time associated with the first point in the
decimated trend.
last timestamp is the actual time associated with the last point in the
decimated trend.
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Get Historical Tag List
Use the Get Historical Tag List VI to obtain the list of tags that have historical data available
in the historical database.
Citadel path in is the path to the directory containing the Citadel historical
database. If this path is empty, the VI attempts to use the historical data
directory configured in the active .scffile. If this has not been configured,
the VI prompts you to select a data directory.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
history tag list is the list of tag names that have historical data logged.
Citadel path out is the path to the directory containing historical data files.
last timestamp is the date and time associated with the last data point
logged in the given set of historical data files.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Get Historical Trend Info
Use the Get Historical Trend Info VI to obtain the first and last timestamp available in the
historical database for a given tag, and the type of the tag, whether analog or discrete.
Citadel path in is the path to the directory containing the Citadel historical
database. If this path is empty, the VI attempts to use the historical data
directory configured in the active .scffile. If this has not been configured,
tag name is the tag about which you want to obtain historical trend
information.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
data type is the type of tag, whether discrete, analog, or bit array.
Citadel path out is the path to the directory containing historical data files.
last timestamp is the date and time associated with the last value logged in
the database for this tag.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Historical Trend Statistics
Use the Historical Trend Statistics VI to compute statistical data for a historical trend.
Statistics include minimum value, maximum value, average and standard deviations. The
statistics skip invalid input points (where value = NaN). The average and standard deviation
are weighted according to the time duration of each valid input point. The last point in the
historical trend is not included in the average and standard deviation because the time interval
associated with it is unknown.
historical trend is the tag trend data upon which statistics are computed.
timestamp is the date and time for the value.
value is the value of the tag at the timestamp.
time ON (ETM) is the amount of time for which data has known values in
the trend. It is roughly the same as the amount of time historical logging
was turned on for the tag.
Qual is the ratio of time the trend has known values to the total time elapsed
in the trend.
max value is the maximum value in the historical trend. This output
ignores invalid points (value = NaN).
min value is the minimum value in the historical trend. This output ignores
invalid points (value = NaN).
average is the average for the values in the historical trend. This is a
weighted average. Each point is weighted according to its time duration.
average ignores time intervals with invalid points (value = NaN). The last
point in the trend is not included in average, because there is no known
time interval associated with it.
std dev is the standard deviation for values in the historical trend. This is a
weighted standard deviation. Each point is weighted according to its time
duration. Std dev ignores time intervals with invalid points (value = NaN).
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The last point in the trend is not included in the standard deviation, because
there is no known time interval associated with it.
# stops is the number of transitions from logging on to logging off in the
trend.
# starts is the number of transitions from logging off to logging on in the
trend.
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Historical Trends to Spreadsheet
Use the Historical Trends to Spreadsheet VI to converts a set of historical trends into the tab
delimited string format, which spreadsheet programs can read. The columns created are date,
time, tag name 1 value, tag name 2 value, and so on. A header is created labelling the date,
time, and tag names. The output of this VI can be saved in a file, and then imported into a
spreadsheet program.
You can wire in the delimiter you want. The delimiter is a tab by default. You also can
override the date and time formatting by wiring in the date & time format cluster.
check start/stop time? determines whether the requested start and stop
times are checked against data available in the historical trends input. By
default the decimation does not start until data is available in all trends, and
ends as soon as any trend has no more data. To override this behavior, set
this input to FALSE.
date & time format is a cluster that contains settings used to format the
date and time in the spreadsheet string.
date format (0) determines the format for the date (MM/DD/YYYY
or DD/MM/YYYY).
time format determines whether a 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour
format is used.
delimiter (tab) is the separator used in the spreadsheet format. The default
separator is a tab.
historical data is the set of historical data trends to convert to spreadsheet
format.
tag names is the list of tag names corresponding to the historical trends.
These tag names are used as column headers when converted into
spreadsheet format.
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sample interval (1 sec) determines the time interval for each historical
trend. If unwired, the data is sampled at one-second intervals.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Enginein this appendix.
start timestamp is the timestamp for which the spreadsheet rows start. If
start timestamp is unwired, the spreadsheet rows start at the first
timestamp in the historical data.
stop timestamp is the timestamp for which the spreadsheet rows end. If
spreadsheet string contains spreadsheet formatted data that can be written
to a text file. This file can be opened into spreadsheets like Excel.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Historical Trends to Spreadsheet File
This VI stores the data from a set of historical trends into a spreadsheet file format. The
columns created are date, time, tag1data, tag2data, and so on. A header is created labelling
the date, time, and tag names. The default delimiter is the tab character; sending a different
value via the format info input (such as a comma) will change the character used to separate
columns.
You can also override the default date and time format by wiring a different value to the date
& time format input. To customize the file dialog behavior (if the file path input is an empty
path or Not A Path), use the file info input.
file info describes information to customize the file prompt and creation
behavior.
prompt is the messages that appears below the list of files and
directories in the file dialog box.
function function is the operation to perform.
default name is the initial file name that appears in the selection
box of the File dialog box.
pattern is the match pattern specification used to display only
certain types of files or directories.
format info Contains spreadsheet formatting information
delimeter (tab) is the separator to be used inteh spreadsheet
format. The default is a tab.
date header is the cloumn header for the date information.
time header is the column header fr the timestamp information.
date and time in the spreadsheet string.
date format (System default) determines the format for the date.
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time format (System default) determines whether a 12-hour
(AM/PM) or 24-hour format is used.
seconds format (1 sec) determines how many digits of precision
are displayed for timestamps.
file path is the name of the spreadsheet file to store the historical data. If
file path is empty (default value), or is Not A Path, the VI displays a file
dialog box from which you can select a file. Error 43 occurs if the user
cancels the dialog.
historical data is the set of historical data trends to convert to spreadsheet
format.
historical trend describes historical trends for the inpout tag
names, read from the historical database. The data in the trends
start at the date and time specifiied by start timestamp, and end
at the date and time specified by stop timestamp.
These tag names are used as column headers when converted into
spreadsheet format.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
start/stop time info describes the settings used to decimate the data for
export to spreadsheet.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
file path out is the name of the spreadsheet file in which the historical date
is stored.
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Read Historical Trend
Use the Read Historical Trend VI to read the historical data for a given tag from user specified
start and stop dates and times, up to the maximum number of points specified. If start
timestamp and stop timestamp are not wired, all historical data for the tag is returned, up to
the maximum points per trend specified. If max points per trend is left unwired, all points
between the start timestamp and stop timestamp are returned.
You can use this VI to read history information for analog, discrete or bit array tags. All
values are returned as floating point values.
max points in trend is the maximum number of points to read. If the value
is less than zero, all points available between start timestamp and stop
timestamp are returned. Otherwise, the number of points in the trend is the
minimum of the actual number of data points between start timestamp,
stop timestamp, and max points in trend.
Citadel path in is the path to the directory containing the Citadel historical
database. If this path is empty, the VI attempts to use the historical data
directory configured in the active .scffile. If this has not been configured,
the VI prompts you to select a data directory.
tag name is the tag for which you want to read historical data. If the tag is
not logged in the historical database, you will get an empty trend.
be retrieved from the historical database. If this input is unwired, the data
is extracted starting at the first point available for the tag.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
stop timestamp (now) is the date and time associated with the last data
point to be retrieved from the historical database. If this input is unwired,
the data is extracted up to the last point available for the tag.
Citadel path out is the path to directory containing historical data files.
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historical trend is the tag trend data read from the historical database,
starting at the date and time specified by start timestamp, and stopping at
the date and time specified by stop timestamp or up to max points per
trend, whichever is smaller. If these start timestamp and stop timestamp
values are left unwired, all the logged data up to max points per trend for
the tag is returned.
value is the value of the tag at the timestamp.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Read Historical Trends
Use the Read Historical Trends VI to read the historical data for a given set of tags from a
user specified start and stop date and time, up to max points per trend. If the inputs for start
timestamp and stop timestamp are not wired, all historical data for the tags is returned, up
to the max points per trend specified. If max points per trend is left unwired, all points
between start timestamp and stop timestamp are returned.
You can use this VI to read history information for analog, discrete or bit array tags. All
values are returned as floating point values.
max points per trend is the maximum number of points to read. If the
value is less than zero, all points available between start timestamp and
stop timestamp are returned. Otherwise, the number of points in the trend
is the minimum of the actual number of data points between start
timestamp, stop timestamp, and max points in trend.
Citadel path in is the path to directory containing the Citadel historical
database. If this path is empty, the VI prompts the user for the citadel folder
path.
tag names is the list of tags for which you want to read historical data. If
one or more of the tags is not logged in the historical database, you will get
an empty trend for that tag.
point to be retrieved from the historical database. If this input is unwired,
the data is extracted up to the last point available for the tag.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
start timestamp is the date and time associated with the first data point to
be retrieved from the historical database. If this input is unwired, the data
is extracted starting at the first point available for the tag.
Citadel path out is the path to directory containing the historical database.
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historical trends is the tag trend data read from the historical database,
starting at the date and time specified by start timestamp, and stopping at
the date and time specified by stop timestamp or up to max points per
trend, whichever is smaller. If these start and stop timestamp values are
unwired, all the logged data up to max points per trend for the tag is
returned.
value is the value of the tag at the timestamp.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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System VIs
Use the System VIs to obtain information or monitor the access level of the
current operator, to launch or shut down BridgeVIEW, or to enable or
disable event logging, historical data logging or printing. The System
subpalette is shown below.
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Enable Event Logging
Use the Enable Event Logging VI to turn on or off logging of alarms and events for all tags
in the system programmatically.
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Enable Historical Data Logging
Use the Enable Historical Data Logging VI to turn on or off data logging for all tags in the
system programmatically.
Enable hst logging (T) determines whether to turn historical data logging
on or off.
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Enable Printing
Use the Enable Printing VI to turn on or off printing of alarms and events for all tags in the
system programmatically.
Enable printing (T) determines whether to turn printing on or off.
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Engine Launch
Use the Engine Launch VI to launch the BridgeVIEW Engine programmatically. Normally
the BridgeVIEW Engine is launched automatically when you execute any of the VIs that
access the Real-Time Database. Use this VI if you want to control when the Engine is
launched explicitly.
If configuration file to use is unwired, BridgeVIEW automatically uses the last
configuration file you viewed or edited. Use launch engine to control whether the Engine is
launched.
The outputs indicate whether the Engine is running already and which configuration file is
being used. These outputs are valid only if launch engine is TRUE.
configuration file to use specifies exactly which Tag Configuration file
the BridgeVIEW Engine should use. You must provide the complete path
to the configuration file. If unwired, the last configuration you viewed or
edited is used.
launch engine determines whether to launch the BridgeVIEW Engine,
provided that it is not already running. If FALSE, the VI does nothing. If
unwired, this input is TRUE by default. You can wire this input if you do
or do not want to launch the Engine based on logic in your program.
configuration file in use indicates which BridgeVIEW configuration file
is currently in use.
already launched indicates whether the BridgeVIEW Engine was
launched already when this VI was called. If so, the BridgeVIEW Engine
is left undisturbed and this VI returns which configuration file is being
used.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, calling this VI does nothing.
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Engine Shutdown
Use the Engine Shutdown VI to shut down the BridgeVIEW Engine from your HMI. You
must terminate your application immediately after calling this VI. The BridgeVIEW Engine
does not shut down until all VIs that are accessing the Real-Time Database finish. If you do
not terminate your application, after a few seconds a dialog box prompts you to stop your
application so that the BridgeVIEW Engine can complete shutdown.
Shutdown engine determines whether the BridgeVIEW Engine shuts
down. If TRUE, this VI notifies the BridgeVIEW Engine to shut down. If
FALSE, the VI does nothing. This parameter is TRUE by default.
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Get Engine Status
Use this VI to query the BridgeVIEW engine status. The outputs indicate whether the engine
is loaded, running, or shutting down, and which configuration file is being used.
configuration file in use indicates which BridgeVIEW configuration file
currently is in use.
loaded indicates whether the BridgeVIEW engine currently is loaded.
running indicates whether the BridgeVIEW engine currently is running.
shutdown indicates whether the engine has been stopped and is shutting
down.
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Get Tag Status Info
Use the Get Tag Status Info VI to obtain status information associated with tags. Tag status
information can be broken down into two types:
•
Status information from BridgeVIEW—This status can be from the Engine or a Server.
It consists of details about the status and whether it is an error or warning.
•
Status information from a Server—Only the status code is reported. Check your server
documentation for a description of this status.
tag status can be broken down into status information from BridgeVIEW
(Engine or Server), and status information from a server or a user error.
reported by indicates whether the status was reported by the BridgeVIEW
Engine or a server.
description gives the details of the part of the status reported by
BridgeVIEW.
BridgeVIEW status is the numeric representation of the portion of the
status reported by BridgeVIEW.
warning (F): error (T) indicates if the portion of status reported by
BridgeVIEW is an error (if it is negative), or a warning (if it is positive).
server status/user error is either the numeric value of the portion of tag
status posted by the device server (refer to your server documentation for
details on this value) or an indication of user error.
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Post System Error or Event
Use this VI to post an error or event message from your HMI to the System Error/Event
display on the Engine Manager. The message you post is logged to the system log file in the
BridgeVIEW\Syslogdirectory. The format of the message is as follows:
EVENT/ERROR <date> <time> <Message>
The date and time represent the timestamp when the message is posted.
Message is the Error or Event that you want to report. The format of the
message that actually is posted is as follows:
EVENT/ERROR <date> <time> <Message>
Type determines the type of message to be posted. By default, it is an error.
If you are reporting an event, write a TRUE to the switch. Depending on
your selection, the word EVENT or ERROR automatically is incorporated
in the message that is posted.
timestamp is broken down into date and time strings and incorporated in
the message that gets posted. If this input is left unwired, the current
timestamp is taken and posted as a part of the message.
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Tag Status Handler
Use the Tag Status Handler VI to obtain a description of the tag status, by breaking it down
into warning or error conditions coming from BridgeVIEW as well as the device server. It
also identifies where the error or warning occurred. The information for looking up status is
derived from the inputs: tag status, source, server error codes, server error descriptions,
and from an internal error description lookup that describes all the status values returned from
the Engine or a Server in BridgeVIEW.
source is a string you can use to describe the VI that is the source of
warning or error indicated by tag status. This is returned as a part of the
message string if there is an error.
tag status can be broken down into status information from BridgeVIEW
(Engine or Server); and status information from a server or a user error.
type of dialog (OK msg:1) determines what type of dialog box is
displayed, if any. Regardless of its value, the VI returns error information
and a message describing the error. According to the value, the VI does one
of the following:
•
Displays no dialog box. This is useful if you want to have
programmatic control over how an error is handled.
•
Displays a dialog box with a single OK button. After the user
responds, the VI returns control to the main VI. This is the default
setting.
•
Displays a dialog box with buttons allowing the user to continue or
stop. If the user cancels, the VI calls the Stop function to halt
execution.
server error codes is an array of numeric error codes defined for your
device server(s).
server error descriptions is an array of descriptions of server error codes.
If an incoming error matches one in server error codes, the VI uses the
message describes the tag status by breaking it down into the error or
warning returned by BridgeVIEW as well as the error or warning, if any,
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returned by the device server. The part of the message describing the server
error code comes from the input you specify in server error descriptions.
It also contains information about the source of the error.
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Security VIs
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Check Operator Privileges
Use this VI to check the current user’s privileges and produce a Boolean output indicating if
the currently logged in user has the privilege. Additional inputs can be sent to display a dialog
box with a message (OK or OK/Cancel) and/or launch the login prompt if the current user
does not have the requested privilege.
privilege to check inspects the privileges of the current BridgeVIEW user
to see if he or she has been granted this privilege.
prompt for login (F) opens the Login dialog box if the current
BridgeVIEW user does not have the requested privilege, and the input
is TRUE.
dialog type (none) displays a dialog box if the current BridgeVIEW user
does not have the requested privilege, and the message input is not empty.
The type of dialog box is determined by the following input:
•
OK—A dialog box appears displaying a message and an OK button.
If the prompt for login input is TRUE, the login dialog box appears
after the message dialog box is closed.
•
OK/Cancel—A dialog box displaying a message and OK and Cancel
buttons. If the prompt for login input is TRUE, the login dialog box
appears when the OK button in the message dialog box is pressed.
message is the message to display if the dialog type input is not none, and
the current BridgeVIEW user does not have the requested privilege.
user has privilege is TRUEif the current BridgeVIEW user has the
requested privilege.
login cancelled is TRUEif the current BridgeVIEW user does not have the
requested privilege, prompt for login was TRUE, and the login dialog box
was cancelled.
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Get Operator Name
Use the Get Operator Name VI to obtain the current operator name, access level, and access
level name.
operator name is the login name of the current BridgeVIEW user.
access level is the numeric access level assigned to the current
BridgeVIEW user.
access level name is a descriptive name associated with the numeric access
level assigned to the current BridgeVIEW user.
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Invoke Login Dialog
Use the Invoke Login Dialog VI to launch the BridgeVIEW Login dialog box. If the user
selects Cancel in the Login dialog box, the previous user remains active.
operator name is the login name of the current BridgeVIEW user.
access level is the numeric access level assigned to the current
BridgeVIEW user.
access level name is a descriptive name associated with the numeric access
level assigned to the current BridgeVIEW user.
cancelled indicates whether the user pressed Cancel in the Login dialog
box, aborting the login.
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Programmatic Login
Use the Programmatic Login VI to programmatically log in a user.
user name is the name of the user to be logged in to BridgeVIEW.
user password is the password of the user to be logged in to BridgeVIEW.
user name out is the name of the user to be logged in to BridgeVIEW. If
the login fails, this is the name of the user currently logged in to
BridgeVIEW.
access level is the numeric access level assigned to the current
BridgeVIEW user.
access level name is a descriptive name associated with the numeric access
level assigned to the current BridgeVIEW user.
login successful? is TRUEif the user name and user password are correct,
and the user was successfully logged into BridgeVIEW.
error is an error code that describes the result of the programmatic login
and can have one of the following values.
0
1
2
Login successful (No Error)
Invalid Password
Invalid User Name
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Programmatic Logout
Use this VI to log out the current user, so no operator is logged into the system.
logout (T) determines if the current BridgeVIEW user should be logged
out of the system. If TRUE, the current user is logged out of the
BridgeVIEW system. If FALSE, the logout operation does not occur.
logout message describes the result of the logout operation.
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Security Monitor
Use this VI to monitor the access level of the current BridgeVIEW operator. By default, this
VI times out after one second, returning to the current operator access level. When an operator
logs in, this VI returns immediately.
timeout (secs) (1) specifies how long to wait for a user to log in.
visibility access level (0) determines the value of “Visible” attribute
setting. If the current operator access level is greater than or equal to
visibility access level, the “Visible” attribute setting indicator is TRUE.
Otherwise, “Visible” attribute setting is FALSE.
operability access level determines the value for the “Disabled” attribute
value output. If the current operator access level is greater than or equal to
operability access level, “Disabled” attribute value is 0(enabled).
Otherwise, “Disabled” attribute value is 1(disabled) or 2(grayed out),
depending on the setting of the gray out on disable input.
gray out on disable (T) determines if the “Disabled” attribute value is
1(disable) or 2(disable and gray out) if a user access level is not greater
than or equal to operability access level.
“Visible” attribute setting is the value to send to the “Visible” attribute
of the control or indicator to which security is applied.
“Disabled” attribute value is the value to send to the “Disabled” attribute
of the control or indicator to which security is applied.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down.
Note
When you use this VI in your operator interface loops, you do not want the timeout
value to be too long, or your front panel can take a long time to finish execution.
Similarly, setting timeout to 0 seconds degrades the overall performance of your
interface because this VI is called too often, too quickly.
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User Account List
Use this VI to generate a list of BridgeVIEW user accounts.
user accounts is a list of BridgeVIEW user accounts.
Tags VIs
Use the Tags VIs to read the latest value for a tag, write a new value to a
tag, or obtain data for a real-time trend. The Tags subpalette is shown
below.
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Read Tag
Use the Read Tag VI to read the latest value of a tag from the Real-Time Database. For
immediate polling of the tag value, leave timeout (secs) unwired. To wait until the value is
updated before reading it, wire a timeout value in seconds to timeout. The Read Tag VI
returns with the most recent Real-Time Database value when it is updated, the timeout is
exceeded, or the Real-Time Database is shutting down, whichever occurs first. Use the
changed? output to determine whether the value changed since the last read.
Note
Use a separate Read Tag VI for each tag you want to monitor. Do not put the Read
Tag VI in a loop to read a different tag each iteration of the loop. This results in
slower program performance. The Read Tag VI is designed to save information
about the tag internally for efficient operation. This information is updated every
time the tag name changes.
tag name is the name of the tag.
timeout (secs) (0) specifies how many seconds to wait for the tag value to
be updated in the Real-Time Database before reading the Real-Time
Database for the latest value. If timeout is 0, the Read Tag VI reads the
Real-Time Database immediately and returns the tag value without
waiting. If timeout is –1, Read Tag waits indefinitely until the tag value is
updated, or the Engine shuts down, whichever occurs first. If a timeout
occurs before the value is updated, Read Tag returns the most recent value
from the Real-Time Database, and is set to TRUE. The default value is 0.
in alarm is TRUE if the tag is in alarm.
value status returns the status of the value. If value status is greater than
or equal to 0, the value returned by Read Tag is valid and there is a warning
about the tag value. If value status is less than 0, either the device server
has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
value is the latest value of the tag read from the Real-Time Database.
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value timestamp returns the timestamp for when the tag value was
updated.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Read Tag VI, or
that the value output returned by Read Tag is not valid. See value status
for the specific error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, the Read Tag VI no longer waits for tags to be updated and returns
immediately with both timeout and shutdown TRUE. You can use
shutdown to exit any loop that uses the Read Tag VI.
changed? is TRUE when the Read Tag VI returns a new value from the
Real-Time Database. If changed? is FALSE, the Read Tag VI probably
timed out before the tag value was updated.
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Read Tag (bit array)
Use the Read Tag (bit array) VI to read the latest value for a given bit array tag from the
Real-Time Database. For immediate polling of the tag value, leave timeout (secs) unwired.
To wait until the value is updated before reading it, wire a timeout value, in seconds, to the
timeout input. The Read Tag (bit array) VI returns with the most recent Real-Time Database
value when it is updated, the timeout is exceeded, or the Real-Time Database is shutting
down, whichever occurs first. Use the changed? output to determine whether the value
changed since the last read.
Note
Use a separate Read Tag (bit array) VI for each tag you want to monitor. Do not
put the Read Tag (bit array) VI in a loop to read a different tag each iteration of
the loop. This results in slower program performance. The Read Tag (bit array) VI
is designed to save information about the tag internally for efficient operation.
This information is updated every time the tag name changes.
tag name is the name of the bit array tag.
timeout (secs) (0) specifies how many seconds to wait for the tag value to
be updated in the Real-Time Database before reading the Real-Time
Database for the latest value. If timeout is the default value of 0, the Read
Tag (bit array) VI reads the Real-Time Database immediately and returns
the tag value without waiting. If timeout is –1, Read Tag (bit array) waits
indefinitely until the tag value is updated, or the BridgeVIEW Engine shuts
down, whichever occurs first. If a timeout occurs before the value is
updated, Read Tag (bit array) returns the most recent value from the
Real-Time Database, and timeout is set to TRUE.
in alarm is TRUE if the tag is in alarm.
value status returns the status of the value. If value status is greater than
or equal to 0, the value returned by Read Tag is valid and there is a warning
about the tag value. If value status is less than 0, either the device server
has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
the tag.
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value is the latest bit array value of the bit array tag read from the
Real-Time Database.
value timestamp returns the timestamp for when the tag value was last
updated.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Read Tag (bit
array) VI, or that the value output returned by Read Tag (bit array) is not
valid. See value status for the specific error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, Read Tag (bit array) no longer waits for tags to be updated and returns
immediately with both timeout and shutdown TRUE. You can use
shutdown to exit any loop that uses Read Tag (bit array).
changed? is TRUE when Read Tag (bit array) returns a new value from the
Real-Time Database. If changed? is FALSE, Read Tag (bit array) probably
timed out before the tag value was updated.
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Read Tag (discrete)
Use the Read Tag (discrete) VI to read the latest value for a given discrete (or Boolean) tag
from the Real-Time Database. For immediate polling of the tag value, leave timeout (secs)
unwired. To wait until the value is updated before reading it, wire a timeout value in seconds
to timeout. The Read Tag (discrete) VI returns with the most recent Real-Time Database
value when it is updated, the timeout is exceeded, or the Real-Time Database is shutting
down, whichever occurs first. Use the changed? output to determine whether the value
changed since the last read.
Note
Use a separate Read Tag (discrete) VI for each tag you want to monitor. In other
words, for example, do not put the Read Tag (discrete) VI in a loop to read a
different tag for each iteration of the loop. This results in slower program
performance. The Read Tag(discrete) VI is designed to save information about the
tag internally for efficient operation. This information is updated every time the
tag name changes.
tag name is the name of the discrete tag.
timeout (secs) (0) specifies how many seconds to wait for the tag value to
be updated in the Real-Time Database before reading the Real-Time
Database for the latest value. If timeout is 0, the Read Tag (discrete) VI
reads the Real-Time Database immediately and returns the tag value
without waiting. If timeout is –1, Read Tag (discrete) waits indefinitely
until the tag value is updated, or the BridgeVIEW Engine shuts down,
whichever occurs first. If a timeout occurs before the value is updated,
Read Tag (discrete) returns the most recent value from the Real-Time
Database, and timeout is set to TRUE. The default value is 0.
in alarm is TRUE if the tag is in alarm.
value status returns the status of the value. If value status is greater than
or equal to 0, the value returned by Read Tag is valid and there is a warning
about the tag value. If value status is less than 0, either the device server
has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
the tag.
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value is the latest value of the discrete tag read from the Real-Time
Database.
value timestamp returns the timestamp for when the tag value was last
updated.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Read Tag
(discrete) VI, or that the value output returned by Read Tag(discrete) is not
valid. See value status for the specific error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, Read Tag (discrete) no longer waits for tags to be updated and returns
immediately with both timeout and shutdown TRUE. You can use
shutdown to exit any loop that uses Read Tag (discrete).
changed? is TRUE when Read Tag (discrete) returns a new value from the
Real-Time Database. If changed? is FALSE, Read Tag (discrete) probably
timed out before the tag value was updated.
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Read Tag (string)
Use the Read Tag (string) VI to read the latest value for the tag from the Real-Time Database.
If timeout is 0, Read Tag (string) VI returns the current Tag value and update timestamp from
the Real-Time Database, otherwise the Read Tag (string) VI waits up to the specifiedtimeout
for the tag to be updated in the Real-Time Database, and returns the new value.
Note
Use a separate Read Tag (string) VI for each tag you want to monitor. Do not put
the Read Tag (string) VI in a loop to read a different tag each iteration of the loop.
This results in slower program performance. The Read Tag(string) VI is designed
to save information about the tag internally for efficient operation. This
information is updated every time the tag name changes.
tag name is the name of the tag.
timeout (secs) (0) specifies how many seconds to wait for the tag value to
be updated in the Real-Time Database before reading the Real-Time
Database for the latest value. If timeout is the default value of 0, the Read
Tag (string) VI reads the Real-Time Database immediately and returns the
tag value without waiting. If timeout is –1, Read Tag (string) waits
indefinitely until the tag value is updated, or the Real-Time Database shuts
down, whichever occurs first. If a timeout occurs before the value is
updated, Read Tag (string) returns the most recent value from the
Real-Time Database, and timeout is set to TRUE.
in alarm is TRUE if the tag is in alarm.
value status returns the status of the value. If value status is greater than
or equal to 0, the value returned by Read Tag is valid and there is a warning
about the tag value. If value status is less than 0, either the device server
has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
the tag.
value is the latest value of the tag read from the Real-Time Database.
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value timestamp returns the timestamp for when the tag value was last
updated.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Read Tag (string)
VI, or that the value output returned by Read Tag(string) is not valid.
See value status for the specific error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, Read Tag (string) no longer waits for Tags to be updated and returns
immediately with both timeout and shutdown TRUE. You can use
shutdown to exit any loop that uses the Read Tag (string) VI.
changed? is TRUE when the Read Tag (string) VI returns a new value
from the Real-Time Database. If changed? is FALSE, Read Tag (string)
probably timed out before the tag value was updated.
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Trend Tags
Use the Trend Tags VI to set data for a real-time trend chart in your HMI. The Trend Tags VI
supports analog, discrete, and bit array tags. The Trend Tags VI formats data for one or more
tags such that it can be wired directly to a trend (waveform chart). The Trend Tags VI returns
after each time interval with the next set of points for the trend.
Place each Trend Tags VI in its own While Loop, assuming that each loop is running at a
different time interval.
tag names is the name of each tag to be trended.
scale to % determines how the trend data is scaled. If scale to % is FALSE,
trend data is in engineering units. If scale to % is TRUE, trend data is in
% of full scale (0 to 100%). The default setting for scale to % is FALSE.
time interval (secs) (1) is the time interval in seconds for reading the tag
values for the real-time trend. The default time interval is 1 second.
trend data contains the data from each tag, formatted for wiring to a
waveform chart. These values are either in engineering units, or scaled, as
specified by scale mode.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing Trend Tags, or that
one or more tag values could not be accessed.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, Trend Tags returns immediately with shutdown TRUE, and trend
data might no longer be valid. You can use shutdown to exit any loop that
uses the Trend Tags VI.
config change indicates that configuration of the Trend Tags VI has
changed since the last execution. This could be because of a change in the
list of tags in the trend, the time interval input, or the scale to % input.
Optionally use this output to reinitialize your waveform chart because past
history data will be no longer valid.
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Write Tag
Use the Write Tag VI to update the Real-Time Database with a new value for memory, output,
and Input/Output tags. The value also is sent to the server if it is an output or Input/Output
tag. If the tag is an input only tag, the Write Tag VI causes a system error because input tags
only can be updated by servers. If the tag is configured as an Input/Output tag, the tag value
is passed to the server when Write Tag VI is called but not written to the RTDB. The RTDB
is updated with the new value when the server polls it and passes it back to the BridgeVIEW
Engine. This maintains correct time synchronization in the RTDB.
tag name is the name of the output tag.
value is the value to be written to the output tag.
generate event (F) determines whether a user change event is generated
for the write operation on the tag. If the tag is configured with event logging
on, this tag event can be displayed in the Event History Display in your
HMI and logged to a .evtfile. By default, generate event is FALSE.
status returns the current status of the value written in the Real-Time
Database. If status is greater than or equal to 0, the Write operation was
successful. If status is less than 0, either the device server has reported an
error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or BridgeVIEW has
reported an error indicating there is a problem using the tag.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Write Tag VI, or
that the status of the tag is bad. See status for the specific error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, Write Tag no longer waits for tags to be updated and returns
immediately with both timeout and shutdown TRUE. You can use
shutdown to exit any loop that uses the Write Tag VI.
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Write Tag (bit array)
Use the Write Tag (bit array) VI to update the Real-Time Database with a new value for
memory, output, and Input/Output tags. The value also is sent to the server if it is an output
or Input/Output tag. If the tag is an input only tag, the Write Tag (bit array) VI causes a system
error because input tags only can be updated by servers. If the tag is configured as an
Input/Output tag, the tag value is passed to the server when Write Tag (bit array) VI is called
but not written to the RTDB. The RTDB is updated with the new value when the server polls
it and passes it back to the BridgeVIEW Engine. This maintains correct time synchronization
in the RTDB.
tag name is the name of the output tag.
value is the value to be written to the output tag.
generate event (F) determines whether a user change event is generated
for the write operation on the tag. If the tag is configured with event logging
on, this tag event can be displayed in the Event History Display in your
HMI and logged to a .evtfile. By default, generate event is FALSE.
status returns the current status of the value written in the Real-Time
Database. If status is greater than or equal to 0, the Write Tag (bit array)
operation was successful. If status is less than 0, either the device server
has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
the tag.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Write Tag (bit
array) VI, or that the status of the tag is bad. See status for the specific error
condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. You
can use shutdown to exit any loop that uses the Write Tag (bit array) VI.
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HMI Function Reference
Write Tag (discrete)
Use the Write Tag (discrete) VI to update the Real-Time Database with a new value for
memory, output, and Input/Output tags. The value also is sent to the server if it is an output
or Input/Output tag. If the tag is an input only tag, the Write Tag (discrete) VI causes a system
error because input tags only can be updated by servers. If the tag is configured as an
Input/Output tag, the tag value is passed to the server when Write Tag (discrete) VI is called
but not written to the RTDB. The RTDB is updated with the new value when the server polls
it and passes it back to the BridgeVIEW Engine. This maintains correct time synchronization
in the RTDB.
tag name is the name of the output tag.
value is the value written to the output tag.
generate event (F) determines whether a user change event is generated
for the write operation on the tag. If the tag is configured with event logging
on, this tag event can be displayed in the Event History Display in your
HMI and logged to a .evtfile. By default, generate event is FALSE.
status returns the current status of the value written in the Real-Time
Database. If status is greater than or equal to 0, the Write Tag (discrete)
operation was successful. If status is less than 0, either the device server
has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
the tag.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Write Tag
(discrete) VI, or that the status of the tag is bad. See status for the specific
error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. You
can use shutdown to exit any loop that uses the Write Tag (discrete) VI.
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Write Tag (string)
Use the Write Tag (string) VI to update the Real-Time Database with a new value for
memory, output, and Input/Output tags. The value also is sent to the server if it is an output
or Input/Output tag. If the tag is an input only tag, the Write Tag (string) VI causes a system
error because input tags only can be updated by servers. If the tag is configured as an
Input/Output tag, the tag value is passed to the server when Write Tag (string) VI is called but
not written to the RTDB. The RTDB is updated with the new value when the server polls it
and passes it back to the BridgeVIEW Engine. This maintains correct time synchronization
in the RTDB.
tag name is the name of the output tag.
value is the value to be written to the output Tag.
generate event (F) determines whether a user change event is generated
for the write operation on the tag. If the tag is configured with event logging
on, this tag event can be displayed in the Event History Display in your
HMI and logged to a .evtfile. By default, generate event is FALSE.
status returns the current status of the value written in the Real-Time
Database. If status is greater than or equal to 0, the Write Tag (string)
operation was successful. If status is less than 0, either the device server
has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
the tag.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing the Write Tag
(string) VI, or that the status of the tag is bad. See status for the specific
error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. You
can use shutdown to exit any loop that uses the Write Tag (string) VI.
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HMI Function Reference
Write Tag on Change
Use the Write Tag on Change VI to update the Real-Time Database with a new value for
memory, output, and Input/Output tags. The value also is sent to the server if it is an output
or Input/Output tag. The value is updated and sent to the server only if the tag value is
different from the previous time the VI was executed. Use this VI if you do not need to pass
output values to the RTDB and server unless there really is a value change. This saves you
from adding code to your diagram to check value changes.
If the tag is an input only tag, Write Tag on Change VI causes a system error because input
tags can only be updated by servers. If the tag is configured as an Input/Output tag, the tag
value is passed to the server when Write Tag on Change VI is called but not written to the
RTDB. The RTDB is updated with the new value when the server polls it and passes it back
to the BridgeVIEW Engine. This maintains correct time synchronization in the RTDB.
tag name is the name of the output tag.
value is the value to be written to the output tag.
generate event (F) determines whether a user change event is generated
for the write operation on the tag. If the tag is configured with event logging
on, this tag event can be displayed in the Event History Display in your
HMI and logged to a .evtfile. By default, generate event is FALSE.
status returns the current status of the value written in the Real-Time
Database. If status is greater than or equal to 0, the Write Tag on Change
operation was successful. If status is less than 0, either the device server
has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
the tag.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing Write Tag on
Change or that the status of the tag is bad. See the status output for the
specific error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. You
can use shutdown to exit any loop that uses Write Tag on Change.
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Write Tag on Change (bit array)
Use the Write Tag on Change (bit array) VI to update the Real-Time Database with a new
value for memory, output, and Input/Output tags. The value also is sent to the server if it is
an output or Input/Output tag. The value is updated and sent to the server only if the tag value
is different from the previous time the VI was executed. Use this VI if you do not need to
pass output values to the RTDB and server unless there really is a value change. This saves
you from adding code to your diagram to check value changes.
If the tag is an input only tag, Write Tag on Change (bit array)VI causes a system error
because input tags only can be updated by servers. If the tag is configured as an Input/Output
tag, the tag value is passed to the server when Write Tag on Change (bit array)VI is called but
not written to the RTDB. The RTDB is updated with the new value when the server polls it
and passes it back to the BridgeVIEW Engine. This maintains correct time synchronization
in the RTDB.
tag name is the name of the output tag.
value is the value to be written to the output tag.
generate event (F) determines whether a user change event is generated
for the write operation on the tag. If the tag is configured with event logging
on, this tag event can be displayed in the Event History Display in your
HMI and logged to a .evtfile. By default, generate event is FALSE.
status returns the current status of the value written in the Real-Time
Database. If status is greater than or equal to 0, the Write Tag on Change
(bit array) operation was successful. If status is less than 0, either the
device server has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the
tag, or BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem
using the tag.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing Write Tag on
Change (bit array) or that the status of the tag is bad. See the status output
for the specific error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. You
can use shutdown to exit any loop that uses the Write Tag on Change
(bit array).
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Write Tag on Change (discrete)
Use the Write Tag on Change (discrete)VI to update the Real-Time Database with a new
value for memory, output, and Input/Output tags. The value also is sent to the server if it is
an output or Input/Output tag. The value is updated and sent to the server only if the tag value
is different from the previous time the VI was executed. Use this VI if you do not need to
pass output values to the RTDB and server unless there really is a value change. This saves
you from adding code to your diagram to check value changes.
If the tag is an input only tag, Write Tag on Change (discrete)VI causes a system error because
input tags only can be updated by servers. If the tag is configured as an Input/Output tag, the
tag value is passed to the server when Write Tag on Change (discrete)VI is called but not
written to the RTDB. The RTDB is updated with the new value when the server polls it and
passes it back to the BridgeVIEW Engine. This maintains correct time synchronization in
the RTDB.
tag name is the name of the output tag.
value is the value to be written to the output tag.
generate event (F) determines whether a user change event is generated
for the write operation on the tag. If the tag is configured with event logging
on, this tag event can be displayed in the Event History Display in your
HMI and logged to a .evtfile. By default, generate event is FALSE.
status returns the current status of the value written in the Real-Time
Database. If status is greater than or equal to 0, the Write Tag on Change
(discrete) operation was successful. If status is less than 0, either the device
server has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
the tag.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing Write Tag on
Change (discrete) or that the status of the tag is bad. See the status output
for the specific error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, Write Tag on Change (discrete) no longer waits for the tag to be
updated and returns immediately with both timeout and shutdown TRUE.
You can use shutdown to exit any loop that uses Write Tag on Change
(discrete).
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Write Tag on Change (string)
Use the Write Tag on Change (string) VI to update the Real-Time Database with a new value
for memory, output, and Input/Output tags. The value also is sent to the server if it is an output
or Input/Output tag. The value is updated and sent to the server only if the tag value is
different from the previous time the VI was executed. Use this VI if you do not need to pass
output values to the RTDB and server unless there really is a value change. This saves you
from adding code to your diagram to check value changes.
If the tag is an input only tag, Write Tag on Change (string) VI causes a system error because
input tags only can be updated by servers. If the tag is configured as an Input/Output tag, the
tag value is passed to the server when Write Tag on Change (string) VI is called but not
written to the RTDB. The RTDB is updated with the new value when the server polls it and
passes it back to the BridgeVIEW Engine. This maintains correct time synchronization in
the RTDB.
tag name is the name of the output tag.
value is the value to be written to the output tag.
generate event (F) determines whether a user change event is generated
for the write operation on the tag. If the tag is configured with event logging
on, this tag event can be displayed in the Event History Display in your
HMI and logged to a .evtfile. By default, generate event is FALSE.
status returns the current status of the value written in the Real-Time
Database. If status is greater than or equal to 0, the Write Tag on Change
(string) operation was successful. If status is less than 0, either the device
server has reported an error indicating there is a problem with the tag, or
BridgeVIEW has reported an error indicating there is a problem using
the tag.
error indicates that an error occurred when executing Write Tag on
Change (string) or that the status of the tag is bad. See the status output for
the specific error condition.
shutdown indicates that the BridgeVIEW Engine is shutting down. In this
case, Write Tag on Change (string) no longer waits for the tag to be updated
and returns immediately with both timeout and shutdown TRUE. You can
use shutdown to exit any loop that uses Write Tag on Change (string).
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Tag Attributes VIs
Use the Tag Attributes VIs to get and set tag configuration parameters
currently used by the BridgeVIEW Engine for tag processing
programmatically. The Tag Attributes subpalette is shown below.
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Get Analog Tag Alarm Limit
Use the Get Analog Tag Alarm Limit VI to obtain limit information for a single tag value
alarm for an analog tag. Use the Alarm type input (HI_HI, HI, LO, LO_LO) to specify the
desired alarm limit information.
tag name is the name of the tag about whether you want to obtain
alarm type determines the type of alarm for which information is queried.
For analog tags, the various alarm types are HI_HI, HI, LO and LO_LO.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
alarms enabled indicates whether alarms are enabled for a tag. If TRUE,
tag value alarms as well as bad status alarms are enabled for this tag,
depending on the enable setting for the particular alarm types. If FALSE,
all alarms are disabled for this tag, regardless of the enable settings for the
particular alarm types.
tag value alarm enabled indicates whether alarms specified by alarm
type are enabled. If FALSE, they are disabled. If TRUE, alarm type
alarms are enabled.
HI_HI alarm, limit is the value the tag must exceed to go to the HI_HI
alarm state.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
priority is the priority of the analog alarm being queried. The valid range
is between 1 and 15, where 15 is the highest priority and 1 is the lowest.
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Get Bit Array Tag Alarm Setting
Use the Get Bit Array Tag Alarm Setting VI to obtain alarm setting information for bit
array tags.
tag name is the name of the tag about which you want to obtain
information.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
alarms enabled indicates whether alarms are enabled for this tag. If
TRUE, alarms are enabled for this tag. If FALSE, alarms are disabled.
tag value alarm enabled indicates whether alarms generated by changes
in the value of the tag are enabled. If TRUE, alarms are enabled. If FALSE,
they are disabled.
alarm on ALL indicates how many individual bits must be in alarm before
the entire bit array tag is in alarm. If TRUE, an alarm is generated if all the
bits are in alarm. If FALSE, an alarm is generated if any of the bits in the
bit array tag are in alarm.
invert mask indicates the bits in the bit array tag that must be inverted
select mask indicates the bits in the bit array tag to be used for the alarm
calculation.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
priority is the priority of the alarm for a bit array tag. The valid range is
between 1 and 15, where 15 is the highest priority and 1 is the lowest.
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Get Discrete Tag Alarm Setting
Use the Get Discrete Tag Alarm Setting VI to obtain alarm setting information for
discrete tags.
tag name is the name of the tag about which you want to obtain
information.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
alarms enabled indicates whether alarms are enabled for a tag. If TRUE,
tag value alarms as well as bad status alarms are enabled for this tag,
depending on the enable setting for the particular alarm types. If FALSE,
all alarms are disabled for this tag, regardless of the enable settings for the
particular alarm types.
tag value alarm enabled indicates whether alarms generated by changes
in the value of the tag are enabled. If FALSE, they are disabled. If TRUE,
they are enabled.
alarm on low indicates whether an alarm is generated depending on the
discrete tag value. If FALSE, an alarm is generated if the discrete tag value
priority is the priority of the alarm for a discrete tag. The valid range is
between 1 and 15, where 15 is the highest priority and 1 is the lowest.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
alarm message is the user defined string message displayed along with the
alarm notification.
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Get Group List
Use the Get Group List VI to returns a list of all configured groups in the system. By default,
this VI includes the <ALL>group in the list.
include <ALL> (T) determines whether the <ALL>group should be
included in the list. The default is TRUE.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
group list is the list of currently configured groups.
no .scfloaded is TRUE if there is no .scffile currently loaded in the
system.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Get Tag Alarm Enabled
Use the Get Tag Alarm Enabled VI to indicate whether alarms are enabled for the tag. This
VI also indicates whether alarms are acknowledged automatically when a tag previously in
alarm returns to normal.
tag name is the name of the tag about which you want to obtain
information.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
enabled indicates whether alarms are enabled for a tag. If TRUE, tag value
alarms as well as bad status alarms are enabled for this tag, depending on
the enable setting for the particular alarm types. If FALSE, all alarms are
disabled for this tag, regardless of the enable settings for the particular
alarm types.
auto acknowledge indicates whether alarms are acknowledged
acknowledge is TRUE, the alarm is acknowledged automatically when the
tag returns to normal. If it is FALSE, the user must acknowledge the alarm.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Get Tag Attribute
provides a large list for selection. Each attribute is selected by specifying its numeric code.
The value of the attribute selected is returned upon execution. If the attribute returns a
numeric, use the value output. If the attribute returns a Boolean, use the value (discrete)
output. For more information about the tag attributes you can query with this VI, refer to any
of the four configuration attributes tables in the section How Do You Configure Tags? in
Chapter 3, Tag Configuration, in this manual.
If the attribute returns a numeric output, value (discrete) returns a FALSE if the value is zero,
and a TRUE if the value is nonzero. If the attribute returns a discrete output, value returns a
1 or 0, corresponding to TRUE or FALSE in value (discrete).
tag name is the name of the tag about which you want to obtain
tag attribute (0, <none>) is a list of various parameters that you can query
for a tag. Each attribute has a numeric code.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
value is the numeric value of the attribute being queried. If the attribute
attribute returns a numeric, value (discrete) returns FALSE if value is 0,
and TRUE if value is nonzero.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Get Tag Bad Status Alarm Info
Use the Get Tag Bad Status Alarm Info VI to determine whether alarms are enabled for the
tag. This VI also returns whether the bad status alarm is enabled, and its priority.
tag name is the name of the tag about which you want to obtain
information.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
alarms enabled indicates whether alarms are enabled for this tag. If
TRUE, tag value alarms as well as bad status alarms are enabled for this
tag, depending on the enable setting for the particular alarm types. If
FALSE, all alarms are disabled for this tag, regardless of the enable settings
for the particular alarm types.
bad status alarm enabled indicates whether bad status alarms are
priority is the priority of the bad status alarm for a tag. The valid range is
between 1 and 15, where 15 is the highest priority and 1 is the lowest.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Appendix A
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Get Tag Description Group
Use the Get Tag Description Group VI to obtain a tag data type (analog, discrete, bit array, or
string), description, and the group to which the tag belongs.
tag name is the name of the tag about which you want to obtain
information.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
data type is the tag type (analog, discrete, bit array, or string).
description is the user-defined description for the tag.
tag group is the tag group to which the tag belongs.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Get Tag I/O Connection Info
Use the Get Tag I/O Connection Info VI to obtain information on how the tag is connected to
a real-world I/O point. Outputs include data type (analog, discrete, bit array, or string), server,
I/O group, item, access rights (Memory, Input, Output, I/O), and length. For bit array tags,
length is the number of discrete points in the tag. For string tags, length is the number of bytes.
This output is not used for analog and discrete tags.
tag name is the name of the tag about which you want to obtain
information.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
data type is the tag type (analog, discrete, string, or bit array).
server indicates the device server used for this tag. It is not applicable for
memory tags, which have no servers associated with them by definition.
I/O group is the name of the I/O group the item is used with.
item is the channel, register, or item name.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
access rights indicates whether the tag is a Memory, Input, Output, or
Input/Output tag.
length is the maximum length for the tag. This field is applicable to bit
array and string tags only. It is not used for analog or discrete tags.
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Get Tag List
Use the Get Tag List VI to return a list of all tags in a group. By default, group is <ALL>, so
the VI returns all configured tags.
group (<ALL>) determines what tags are in a list. The default is <ALL>,
so that the VI returns all configured tags in tag list.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
no .scfloaded is TRUE if there is no .scffile currently loaded in the
system.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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HMI Function Reference
Get Tag Logging Info
Use the Get Tag Logging Info VI to determine whether a tag is configured for logging
historical data or alarms and events to disk.
tag name is the name of the tag about which you want to obtain
information.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
historical database.
log/print events is TRUE if events are to be logged or printed for this tag.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Get Tag Range and Units
Use the Get Tag Range and Units VI to obtain the engineering range for the tag in a cluster
of Minimum, Maximum, and Increment. You can wire this format to a scale attribute node
for a graph, slide, or vessel. Increment is set to 0, which means that BridgeVIEW calculates
the scale increment automatically. units is the tag engineering units.
tag name is the name of the tag about which you want to obtain
information.
error in (no error) is a cluster that describes the error status before this VI
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
eng range is the range of the tag in engineering units. If you are plotting
data on a chart, waveform graph, XY graph, slide or vessel, you can wire
this output directly to the X Range (All Elements) or Y Range (All
Elements) Attribute Node.
Minimum is the user defined minimum tag value.
Maximum is the user defined maximum tag value.
Increment is the delta in which the value increments. It is not a
user defined value and is always 0. Increment determines how
the chart or graph computes an increment based on the Minimum,
Maximum, and the data set being plotted.
to analog tags only. For discrete, bit array, and string tags, units is an
empty string.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Use the Set Multiple Tag Attributes VI to reconfigure several attributes for a list of tags or
groups of tags programmatically. You must have the Engine running for the changes to take
effect. Otherwise, this VI returns an error. For more information about the tag attributes you
can change with this VI, refer to any of the five configuration attributes tables in the section
How Do You Configure Tags? in Chapter 3, Tag Configuration, in this manual. Also see the
Tag Attributes VIs section in Chapter 7, Advanced Application Topics.
Because the attribute value is a numeric, for discrete attributes, use 1 or 0 to represent TRUE
or FALSE respectively. All the attributes are set for each tag in group/tag name.
group/tag names is the list of tags, or groups of tags, for which you want
to set attributes.
attributes and values is a list of attributes and values to be set. You can
select multiple attributes and their corresponding values, and they will be
applied to all the tags. For more information about the tag attributes you can
change with this VI, refer to any of the four configuration attributes tables
in the section How Do You Configure Tags? in Chapter 3, Tag
Configuration, in this manual.
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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Appendix A
HMI Function Reference
Set Tag Attribute
Use the Set Tag Attribute VI to reconfigure an attribute for a list of tags or groups of tags
programmatically. You must have the Engine running for the change to take effect.
Otherwise, this VI returns an error. For more information about the tag attributes you can
change with this VI, refer to any of the five configuration attributes tables in the section
How Do You Configure Tags? in Chapter 3, Tag Configuration, in this manual. Also see the
Tag Attributes VIs section in Chapter 7, Advanced Application Topics.
The tag attribute input provides a large list for selection.Each attribute is selected by
sepcifying its numeric code. Use value to set the value of the attribute selected. If the attribute
is a Boolean, use a 1 or 0 in value.
tag attribute (0, <none>) is the parameter to be set for each tag in
group/tag names. For more information about the tag attributes you can
change with this VI, refer to any of the four configuration attributes tables
in the section How Do You Configure Tags? in Chapter 3, Tag
value is the numeric value of the attribute being set. If the attribute is a
Boolean, use 1 or 0 for value.
executes. For more information about this control, see the section Errors
Not Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
error out is a cluster that describes the error status after this VI executes.
For more information about this indicator, see the section Errors Not
Reported by the BridgeVIEW Engine in this appendix.
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B
Citadel and Open Database
Connectivity
This appendix describes the Citadel database and the Open
Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver, and includes a table that
lists data transform commands.
The Citadel historical database includes an Open Database Connectivity
(ODBC) driver. This driver enables other applications to directly retrieve
data from Citadel using Structured Query Language (SQL) queries.
To use the SQL ODBC interface to Citadel, you must have installed
the Citadel ODBC driver from the BridgeVIEW CD.
What is ODBC?
ODBC is a standard developed by Microsoft. It defines the mechanisms
for accessing data resident in database management systems (DBMSs).
Virtually all Windows-based applications that can retrieve data from a
database supporting ODBC.
Because Citadel allows simultaneous real-time access by multiple
applications, the ODBC Driver can retrieve data from the Citadel database
even while BridgeVIEW is running. There is no need to interrupt data
collection in order to query the database. In fact, the ODBC Driver allows
multiple ODBC applications to perform SQL queries simultaneously.
Configuring the ODBC Driver
1. Shut down all applications that currently might be using ODBC. Such
applications include spreadsheets, word processors, database
programs, MS Query, etc. You do not need to shut down BridgeVIEW.
2. Click the Start button, point to Settings, then click Control Panel.
Otherwise, in the Main program group, choose the Control Panel icon.
3. In the Control Panel dialog box, choose the 32-bit ODBC.
4. In the Data Sources dialog box, choose Drivers….
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Citadel and Open Database Connectivity
5. Choose the Citadel driver and select Setup….
6. Make changes as appropriate. Select the historical logging directory
that was configured in your Tag Configuration (*.scf) file for each
data source. For example, if you want to query the historical data
created by the Tanks System example, directory, modify the database
path to C:\BridgeVIEW\Examples\User Applications\Tank
System\Data. You also can modify the name of the data source to
reflect the application. An example of a modified ODBC Setup dialog
box is shown below.
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Citadel and Open Database Connectivity
Note
Some applications are not completely ODBC compliant. If you plan to use
Microsoft Query, Microsoft Access or Visual Basic, ensure Maximum Column
Name Length does not exceed 62 characters. These packages cannot handle longer
tag names. Other packages that are truly ODBC compliant should be able to
handle tag names up to 126 characters long. All threads whose tag names exceed
the Maximum Column Name Lengthꢀare excluded from queries.
If you plan to use Microsoft Access or Visual Basic, select Convert special
characters. This forces BridgeVIEW tag names into a format acceptable by these
applications by replacing characters within the tag names as follows:
Original Character
period ( . )
Converted To
backslash ( \ )
ampersand ( & )
exclamation ( ! )
at sign ( @ )
vertical bar ( | )
7. Select OK and CLOSE to exit.
What is SQL?
Structured Query Language (SQL) is an industry-standard language used
for retrieving, updating and managing data. You can use SQL to build
queries that extract data from Citadel. Beyond simple data extraction, the
Citadel ODBC driver also includes many built-in data transforms that
greatly simplify statistical analysis of retrieved data.
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How Do You Access Citadel Data?
The ODBC driver presents Citadel data to other applications as a Threads
table. The table contains a field or column for each data member logged to
the Citadel database.
Threads Table
The Threads table contains three fields you can use to specify query criteria
and to time-stamp retrieved data: Interval, LocalTime, and UTCTime.
Interval allows you to specify the query value sample rate. Interval can
range from 10ms to several years. By default, Interval is 1 (one day).
Remember, Citadel only logs a value when the value changes (it is
event-driven). But using Interval, you can query Citadel for values evenly
spaced over a period of time.
LocalTime and UTCTime indicate the time-stamps of when values are
logged. Citadel actually stores the time in UTCTime format and derives
LocalTime from the stored time. When you do not specify a time, Citadel
assumes midnight of the current day.
The following where clause from a query takes advantage of Intervalꢀand
LocalTime to select data over a specified time at one minute intervals.
Notice that time and date formats are the same as those used in
BridgeVIEW.
SELECT * FROM Threads
WHERE LocalTime > "12/1 10:00"
AND LocalTime < "12/2 13:00"
AND Interval = "1:00"
Data Transforms
Your queries can include special commands that perform data transforms,
making it easy to manipulate and analyze historical data. The following
table lists data transform commands.
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Citadel and Open Database Connectivity
Table B-1. Data Transform Commands
Data Transform Command
Description
Min{tag name}
Max{tag name}
Avg{tag name}
StDev{tag name}
Starts{tag name}
Returns the minimum for tag name
across the interval.
Returns the maximum for tag name
across the interval.
Returns the average for tag name across
the interval.
Returns the standard deviation for tag
name across the interval.
Returns the number of starts (number of
transitions from OFF to ON) for tag
name across the interval.
Stops{Datapoint}
Returns the number of stops (number of
transitions from ON to OFF) for
Datapoint across the interval.
ETM{Datapoint}
Qual{Datapoint}
Returns the amount of time Datapoint
was in the ON state across the interval.
There might be gaps in the historical
data threads in Citadel because of
machine shutdown or BridgeVIEW
shutdown. Qual returns the ratio of time
for which valid data exists for a
datapoint across the interval, to the
length of the interval itself. Thus if
valid data exists for only one-half of the
interval, Qual would return 0.5.
These data transforms allow you to directly calculate and retrieve complex
information from the database such as averages and standard deviations.
This time saving feature eliminates the need of extracting raw data first, and
then massaging it in another application to come up with the needed
information.
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Assume, for example, that you want to find out how many times a
compressor motor started in December. You also want to know its total
runtime for the month. The following query provides the answers:
SELECT "Starts{MotorRun}",
"ETM{MotorRun}"
FROM Threads
WHERE LocalTime >= "12/1/95"
AND LocalTime < "1/1/96"
AND Interval = "31"
SQL Examples
The following examples are typical query statements; however, your
queries may be much more involved, depending on your system
requirements.
•
Retrieves the most recent (current) value of every tag logged to
Citadel.
SELECT *
FROM Threads
•
Retrieves the value of every tag logged today in one second
increments. Note the interval value is specified within
quotation marks.
SELECT *
FROM Threads
WHERE Interval=“0:01”
•
•
Retrieves and time-stamps the value of Powderin one second
increments from 8:50 this morning to now. Tag names are surrounded
by quotes.
SELECT LocalTime, “Powder”
FROM Threads
WHERE LocalTime>“8:50”
AND Interval=“0:01”
Retrieves and time-stamps the value of Liquidinput in one minute
intervals for the month of October. Also indicates the input’s highest
occurring value within each minute.
SELECT LocalTime, “Liquid”, “Max{Liquid}”
FROM Threads
WHERE LocalTime>“10/1/96”
AND LocalTime<“11/1/96”
AND Interval=“1:00”
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Citadel and Open Database Connectivity
•
Retrieves an oven’s temperature set point and value at 3:00 p.m. and
shows the highest, lowest, and average temperatures between 2:00
p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
SELECT LocalTime, "OVEN1_SP", "OVEN1_PV",
"Max{OVEN1_PV}", "Min{OVEN1_PV}", "Avg{OVEN1_PV}"
FROM Threads
WHERE LocalTime >= "14:00"
AND LocalTime < "15:00"
AND Interval = "1:00:00"
Queries Using Specific Applications
The following sections include information on queries using specific
applications.
Using Microsoft Query with Citadel
Note
The exact operation of Microsoft Query might change from version to version.
Look in the online help for Microsoft Query for how to connect to an ODBC Data
Source for the exact instructions for your version of Microsoft Query.
Microsoft Query is a graphical data retrieval tool supplied with Microsoft
Office and Microsoft Excel. It allows you to build your SQL statement
using interactive dialog boxes. Let’s step through a somewhat involved
example to show you a few simple tricks.
To activate MS Query, double-click the MS Query icon, typically found in
the MS Office program group. If you cannot find the icon, look in C:\
Program Files\Common Files\MicroSoft Shared\MSQuery\
Msqry32.exe. MS Query is not part of an MS Office standard installation,
so if you do not find it on your system, install it from your MS Office disks.
Choose File»New Query… to begin and select the data source you have
setup for your Citadel historical directory as shown here. You might need
to press Other… to access a list of data sources to select.ꢀ
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Citadel and Open Database Connectivity
Note
If MS Query is unable to connect to a Citadel data source, you have not yet logged
is incorrect.
Note
If the Citadel data source is not listed in the Select Data Source dialog box, you
might not have accessed it yet. Choose Other… and select Citadel from among the
ODBC data sources. If Citadel is not listed as an ODBC Data Source, you need to
install it. See the Configuring the ODBC Driver section for more information.
In the Add Tables dialog box, double click Threads. Then close the
dialog box.
MS Query presents the full Query Window with the Threads table shown.
Notice the list of tag names in the Threads table. This list is a
comprehensive list of all tags whose values have been logged to Citadel.
To view the value of a field, double click it or drag it to the data pane.
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To view a data transform value, enter the function directly into a blank
column. For example, to view the minimum value of Liquid, you would
enter "min{Liquid}". Take special note of the use of quotation marks
and braces.
The above data set was retrieved using no specifying criteria, so the ODBC
driver used the default criteria. There are several ways to specify criteria.
For this example, we’ll use the criteria pane. Click the View Criteria
button.
To add a field to the criteria pane, drag it from the list of fields to the
Criteria Field.
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When you enter qualifying criteria values, be sure to use the syntax
demonstrated in the where clauses of the SQL Examples found in this
chapter. To specify a starting time of 9:45 today, for example, you would
enter >= "9:45".
As soon as you specify a criteria, Microsoft Query immediately retrieves
the specified data. You can save your query at any stage of its development.
As you build your query, the application builds an SQL statement. When
you click the SQL button, you can view and edit the query statement, as
shown in the following dialog box.
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Using Microsoft Excel with Citadel
Note
The exact operation of Microsoft Excel might change from version to version.
Look in the online help for Microsoft Excel for how to connect to an ODBC Data
Source for the exact instructions for your version of Microsoft Excel.
To extract data from Citadel, activate Excel and chooseꢀData»Get
External Data…. This Excel command directly activates Microsoft Query.
From here you can use an existing query or create a new one. See the Using
Microsoft Query with Citadel section.
When you finish building your query, return the result set by choosing
File»Return Data to Microsoft Excel…ꢁꢀExcel responds by presenting
the Get External Data dialog box, enabling you to change or confirm the
destination cells of the result set. If you want to update the result set later
by requerying Citadel, be sure that Keep Query Definition remains
selected. Choose OK to write the data into the Excel worksheet.
To update your result set, select any cell within the worksheet’s result set,
chooseꢀData»Get External Data…, and click the Refresh button.
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Citadel and Open Database Connectivity
Using Microsoft Access with Citadel
The exact operation of Microsoft Access might change from version to
version. Look in the online help for Microsoft Access for how to connect
to an ODBC Data Source for the exact instructions for your version of
Microsoft Access.
Note
The SQL/92 standard states that a delimited identifier is any string of not more
than 128 characters enclosed in quotation marks. It further states that characters
within a delimited identifier are exempt from SQL syntax checking.
Unfortunately, Microsoft Access performs its own syntax checking for ODBC
queries using a non-standard SQL syntax—even within delimited identifiers. For
this reason, National Instruments provides a Convert Special Characters selection
in the Citadel ODBC Setup dialog box. When selected, the ODBC driver converts
the disallowed characters to something acceptable to Access, as follows:
Disallowed Character
period ( . )
Converted To
backslash ( \ )
ampersand ( & )
exclamation ( ! )
at sign ( @ )
vertical bar ( | )
Therefore, Access recognizes a BridgeVIEW identifier such as Modbus1.40001 as
the delimited identifier Modbus1\40001.
When you query Citadel data using MS Access, You must use Microsoft
Access’s non-standard SQL syntax in your select statement. Be sure to use
the special characters that are converted for Access compatibility and
double quotes around BridgeVIEW thread names. Finally, you must use
square brackets [ ] around identifiers, and #’s around time stamps. For
example, to retrieve LocalTime, Liquid, and Powder where LocalTime is
less than 10/22/95 18:00:00, and where Interval is one second, enter:
SELECT LocalTime, ["Liquid"], ["Powder"]
FROM Threads
WHERE LocalTime < #10/22/96 6:00:00 PM#
AND Interval = '0:01'
To query Citadel from within MS Access, open a database, select File»Get
External Data…ꢀand then click ImportꢁꢀꢀIn the Import dialog box, in the
dialog box, choose your Citadel Data Source, as shown here.
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Citadel and Open Database Connectivity
In the Import Objects dialog box, choose Threads. The new table attaches
to your database.
Now you can build queries in Access that extract data directly from the
Citadel database.
Using Visual Basic with Citadel
The exact operation of Visual Basic might change from version to version.
Data Source for the exact instructions for your version of Visual Basic.
Note
Visual Basic software relies on Microsoft Access DLLs for performing ODBC
queries. Because it uses the non-standard SQL syntax of Access, be sure that
Convert Special Characters is selected in the Citadel ODBC Setup dialog box. See
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Citadel and Open Database Connectivity
Using the Citadel ODBC Driver in Visual Basic is the same as using any
other ODBC driver. To retrieve and view data, create a Data control and at
least one text control.
First place a Data control on an open form. Set its Connect property to
DSN=Citadel(or the name of the Citadel data source) and double click its
Record Source property to identify Threads as its source table.
You can leave the Record Source property set to Threads if you want to
select all of the data for all of the threads in the Citadel database, or you can
narrow your query by entering an SQL select statement in the Record
Source property. For example, to retrieve LocalTime, Liquid, and Powder
where LocalTime is greater than 10/20/95 18:00:00 and less than 18:30:00,
and where Interval is one minute, enter:
SELECT LocalTime, ["Liquid "], ["Powder "]
FROM Threads
WHERE LocalTime > #11/20/95 6:00:00 PM#
AND LocalTime < #11/20/95 6:30:00 PM#
AND Interval = '1:0'
You must use the SQL syntax of Microsoft Access in your select statement.
Also remember to use the special characters that are converted for Access
compatibility and double quotes around BridgeVIEW thread names to
identify them as delimited identifiers. Finally, Access SQL requires square
brackets [ ] around identifiers, and #s around time stamps.
Now place a Text control on the form. Set its Data Source property to the
name of your Data control—for example, Data1. Click the Data Field
property to highlight it and then using the property sheet’s drop-down
combo box, select the desired field name. All logged data members should
be listed including LocalTime, Interval, Liquid, etc. Repeat this step for
each data member you want to display on your form.
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C
Customer Communication
For your convenience, this appendix contains forms to help you gather the information necessary
to help us solve your technical problems and a form you can use to comment on the product
documentation. When you contact us, we need the information on the Technical Support Form and
the configuration form, if your manual contains one, about your system configuration to answer your
questions as quickly as possible.
National Instruments has technical assistance through electronic, fax, and telephone systems to quickly
provide the information you need. Our electronic services include a bulletin board service, an FTP site,
a fax-on-demand system, and e-mail support. If you have a hardware or software problem, first try the
electronic support systems. If the information available on these systems does not answer your
questions, we offer fax and telephone support through our technical support centers, which are staffed
by applications engineers.
Electronic Services
Bulletin Board Support
National Instruments has BBS and FTP sites dedicated for 24-hour support with a collection of files
and documents to answer most common customer questions. From these sites, you can also download
the latest instrument drivers, updates, and example programs. For recorded instructions on how to use
the bulletin board and FTP services and for BBS automated information, call 512 795 6990. You can
access these services at:
United States: 512 794 5422
Up to 14,400 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
United Kingdom: 01635 551422
Up to 9,600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
France: 01 48 65 15 59
Up to 9,600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
FTP Support
To access our FTP site, log on to our Internet host, ftp.natinst.com, as anonymousand use
documents are located in the /supportdirectories.
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Fax-on-Demand Support
Fax-on-Demand is a 24-hour information retrieval system containing a library of documents on a wide
range of technical information. You can access Fax-on-Demand from a touch-tone telephone at
512 418 1111.
E-Mail Support (Currently USA Only)
You can submit technical support questions to the applications engineering team through e-mail at the
Internet address listed below. Remember to include your name, address, and phone number so we can
contact you with solutions and suggestions.
Telephone and Fax Support
National Instruments has branch offices all over the world. Use the list below to find the technical
support number for your country. If there is no National Instruments office in your country, contact
the source from which you purchased your software to obtain support.
Country
Telephone
Fax
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada (Ontario)
Canada (Québec)
Denmark
Finland
03 9879 5166
0662 45 79 90 0
02 757 00 20
011 288 3336
905 785 0085
514 694 8521
45 76 26 00
09 725 725 11
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089 741 31 30
2645 3186
03 6120092
02 413091
03 5472 2970
02 596 7456
5 520 2635
03 9879 6277
0662 45 79 90 19
02 757 03 11
011 288 8528
905 785 0086
514 694 4399
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09 725 725 55
01 48 14 24 14
089 714 60 35
2686 8505
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Israel
Italy
Japan
03 6120095
02 41309215
03 5472 2977
02 596 7455
5 520 3282
Korea
Mexico
Netherlands
Norway
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
0348 433466
32 84 84 00
2265886
91 640 0085
08 730 49 70
056 200 51 51
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01635 523545
512 795 8248
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32 84 86 00
2265887
91 640 0533
08 730 43 70
056 200 51 55
02 737 4644
01635 523154
512 794 5678
United Kingdom
United States
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Technical Support Form
Photocopy this form and update it each time you make changes to your software or hardware, and use
the completed copy of this form as a reference for your current configuration. Completing this form
accurately before contacting National Instruments for technical support helps our applications
engineers answer your questions more efficiently.
If you are using any National Instruments hardware or software products related to this problem,
include the configuration forms from their user manuals. Include additional pages if necessary.
Name __________________________________________________________________________
Company _______________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Fax ( ___ ) ________________Phone ( ___ ) __________________________________________
Computer brand____________ Model ___________________Processor_____________________
Operating system (include version number) ____________________________________________
Clock speed ______MHz RAM _____MB
Display adapter __________________________
Mouse ___yes ___no Other adapters installed_______________________________________
Hard disk capacity _____MB Brand_________________________________________________
Instruments used _________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
National Instruments hardware product model _____________ Revision ____________________
Configuration ___________________________________________________________________
National Instruments software product ___________________ Version _____________________
Configuration ___________________________________________________________________
The problem is: __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
List any error messages: ___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
The following steps reproduce the problem: ___________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
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BridgeVIEW Hardware and Software Configuration Form
Record the settings and revisions of your hardware and software on the line to the right of each item.
Complete a new copy of this form each time you revise your software or hardware configuration, and
use this form as a reference for your current configuration. Completing this form accurately before
contacting National Instruments for technical support helps our applications engineers answer your
questions more efficiently.
National Instruments Products
DAQ hardware __________________________________________________________________
Interrupt level of hardware _________________________________________________________
DMA channels of hardware ________________________________________________________
Base I/O address of hardware _______________________________________________________
Programming choice _____________________________________________________________
BridgeVIEW version______________________________________________________________
Other boards in system ____________________________________________________________
Base I/O address of other boards ____________________________________________________
DMA channels of other boards _____________________________________________________
Interrupt level of other boards ______________________________________________________
Other Products
Application software developer _____________________________________________________
Computer make and model ________________________________________________________
Microprocessor __________________________________________________________________
Clock frequency or speed __________________________________________________________
Type of video board installed _______________________________________________________
Operating system version __________________________________________________________
Operating system mode ___________________________________________________________
Programming language ___________________________________________________________
Programming language version _____________________________________________________
Other boards in system ____________________________________________________________
Base I/O address of other boards ____________________________________________________
DMA channels of other boards _____________________________________________________
Interrupt level of other boards ______________________________________________________
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Documentation Comment Form
National Instruments encourages you to comment on the documentation supplied with our products.
This information helps us provide quality products to meet your needs.
Title:
BridgeVIEW™ User Manual
Edition Date: May 1998
Part Number: 321294C-01
Please comment on the completeness, clarity, and organization of the manual.
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If you find errors in the manual, please record the page numbers and describe the errors.
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Thank you for your help.
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Company _______________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
E-Mail Address __________________________________________________________________
Phone ( ___ ) __________________________ Fax ( ___ ) _______________________________
Mail to: Technical Publications
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Glossary
Prefix
m-
Meanings
milli-
Value
10–
3
10–
6
µ-
micro-
nano-
10–
9
n-
A
access level
Numeric value between 0 and 255 that can be used to control access to
your HMI.
ACK (Acknowledge)
alarm
The sequence action that indicates recognition of a new alarm.
An abnormal process condition. In BridgeVIEW, an alarm occurs if a tag
value goes out of its defined alarm limits or if a tag has bad status.
Alarm Summary
analog tag
A display of tags currently in alarm, or a display of tags previously in an
unacknowledged alarm state that have returned to a normal state.
A continuous value representation of a connection to a real-world I/O point
or memory variable. This type of tag can vary continuously over a range of
values within a signal range.
Application
Programming Interface
A specification of a set of software functions and their input and return
parameters.
application software
The application created using the BridgeVIEW Development System and
executed in the BridgeVIEW Run-Time System environment.
array
An ordered, indexed set of data elements of the same type.
American Standard Code for Information Interchange.
ASCII
attribute node
A special block diagram node you can use to control the appearance and
functionality of controls and indicators.
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Glossary
B
bit array tag
A multibit value representation of a connection to a real-world I/O point or
memory variable. In BridgeVIEW, this type of tag can be comprised of up
to 32 discrete values.
block diagram
A pictorial description or representation of a program or algorithm. In
BridgeVIEW, the block diagram, which consists of executable icons called
nodes and wires that carry data between the nodes, is the source code for
the VI. The block diagram resides in the Diagram window of the VI.
Boolean controls and
indicators
Front panel objects used to manipulate and display or input and output
Boolean (TRUE or FALSE) data. Several styles are available, such as
switches, buttons and LEDs.
breakpoint
Mode that halts execution when a subVI is called. You set a breakpoint by
clicking on the Breakpoint button in the execution palette.
BridgeVIEW
A program development application for real-time process monitoring and
control. BridgeVIEW uses the graphical development environment
called G.
BridgeVIEW Engine
The heart of the BridgeVIEW system. It maintains the Real-Time Database
of all tag values and alarm states. The BV Engine runs as a separate process,
independent of your HMI application.
BridgeVIEW Run-Time An execution environment for applications created using the BridgeVIEW
System
Development System.
broken VI
VI that cannot be compiled or run; signified by a broken arrow in the Run
button.
C
Case structure
Conditional branching control structure, which executes one and only one
of its subdiagrams based on its input. It is the combination of the IF, THEN,
ELSE, and CASE statements in control flow languages.
Citadel
A database for storing historical tag values.
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cluster
A set of ordered, unindexed data elements of any data type including
numeric, Boolean, string, array, or cluster. The elements must be all
controls or all indicators.
coercion dot
connector
A gray dot on a terminal to indicate that one of two terminals wired together
has been converted to match the data type representation of the other.
Part of the VI or function node that contains its input and output terminals,
through which data passes to and from the node.
connector pane
constant
Region in the upper right corner of a front panel window that displays the
VI terminal pattern. It underlies the icon pane.
See universal constant and user-defined constant.
D
data flow
Programming system consisting of executable nodes in which nodes
execute only when they have received all required input data and produce
output automatically when they have executed.
deadband
device
In process instrumentation, the range through which an input signal can
vary, upon reversal of direction, without initiating an observable change in
output signal. Deadband is usually expressed in percent of range.
See log deadband and update deadband.
An instrument or controller that is addressable as a single entity and
controls or monitors real-world I/O points. A device is often connected to
the host computer through some type of communication network, or can be
a plug-in device.
device server
discrete tag
An application that communicates with and manages a peripheral hardware
device such as a Programmable Logic Control (PLC), remote I/O device or
plug-in device. Device servers pass tag values to the BridgeVIEW Engine
in real time.
A two-state (on/off) value representation of a connection to a real-world I/O
point. In BridgeVIEW, this type of tag can be either a one (TRUE) or a zero
(FALSE).
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Glossary
dynamic attributes
Tag attributes that do not require the BridgeVIEW Engine to be restarted
when they are edited or reconfigured. Examples of dynamic attributes
include enabling logging operations, alarm attributes, and some scaling
attributes. See also static attributes.
E
Engine
See BridgeVIEW Engine.
engineering units (EU)
error message
Terms of data measurement, as degrees Celsius, pounds, grams and so on.
An indication of a software or hardware malfunction, or an unacceptable
data entry attempt.
event
Something that happens to a tag in the BridgeVIEW system. Events include
tags going into or out of alarm state and the user setting a tag value.
event driven
programming
A method of programming whereby the program waits on an event
occurring before executing one or more functions.
F
For Loop
Iterative loop structure that executes its subdiagram a set number of times.
Equivalent to conventional code:
For i = 0 to n – 1, do....
formula node
Node that executes formulas that you enter as text. Especially useful for
lengthy formulas that would be cumbersome to build in block diagram
form.
frame
Subdiagram of a Sequence Structure.
free label
Label on the front panel or block diagram that does not belong to any other
object.
front panel
The interactive user interface of a VI. Modeled from the front panel of
physical instruments, it is composed of switches, slides, meters, graphs,
charts, gauges, LEDs, and other controls and indicators.
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Glossary
G
G
The graphical programming language used to develop BridgeVIEW
applications.
group
See tag group or I/O group.
H
Help window
Special window that displays the names and locations of the terminals for
a function or subVI, the description of controls and indicators, the values of
universal constants, and descriptions and data types of control attributes.
The window also accesses the Online Reference.
historical trend
A plot of data (values versus time) showing values that were previously
acquired in the system or logged to disk.
Historical Trend Viewer A utility that accesses historical data from the Citadel historical database.
(HTV)
HMI G Wizard
A utility in BridgeVIEW that automates the process of generating HMI
diagram code.
Human Machine
Interface (HMI)
A graphical user interface for the user to interact with the BridgeVIEW
system.
I
I/O Group
A set of related server items, all of which share the same server update rate
and deadband.
icon
Graphical representation of a node on a block diagram.
icon pane
Region in the upper right corner of the Panel and Diagram windows that
displays the VI icon.
input tag
A tag that accepts Real-Time Database values from a device server.
Input/Output (I/O) tag
A tag that accepts Real-Time Database values from a device server and
sends values to the server.
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Glossary
item
A channel or variable in a real-world device that is monitored or controlled
by a BridgeVIEW device server.
L
LabVIEW
Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench. A program
development application used commonly for test and measurement
purposes.
log deadband
log resolution
M
The range through which a tag value must change before it is logged to
Citadel.
The smallest change in a tag value stored in the historical database.
Man Machine
See Human Machine Interface (HMI).
Interface (MMI)
MB
Megabytes of memory.
memory tag
A tag not connected to a real-world I/O point. Memory tags are used for
user-defined calculations. See also tag and network tag.
N
network tag
A tag remotely connected to any type of tag on another BridgeVIEW
Engine. See also tag and memory tag.
O
object
Generic term for any item on the front panel or block diagram, including
controls, nodes, wires, and imported pictures.
OPC
OLE for Process Control. A COM-based standard defined by the OPC
foundation that specifies how to interact with device servers. COM is a
Microsoft 32-bit Windows technology.
operating tool
Tool used to enter data into controls as well as operate them. Resembles a
pointing finger.
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operator
The person who initiates and monitors the operation of a process.
output tag
A tag that sends values to a device server whenever it is updated in the
Real-Time Database.
P
palette
A display of pictures that represent possible options.
Panel G Wizard
A utility in BridgeVIEW that automates the process of creating front panel
controls.
Panel window
VI window that contains the front panel, the execution palette and the
icon/connector pane.
PID
See Proportional Integral Derivative Control.
PLC
See Programmable Logic Control.
polling
A method of sequentially observing each I/O point or user interface control
to determine if it is ready to receive data or request computer action.
pop up
To call up a special menu by clicking, usually on an object, with the right
mouse button.
pop-up menus
Menus accessed by popping up, usually on an object. Menu options pertain
to that object specifically.
positioning tool
Tool used to move and resize objects. Resembles an arrow.
Programmable Logic
Control (PLC)
A device with multiple inputs and outputs that contains a program you can
alter. BridgeVIEW Device Servers establish communication with PLCs.
Proportional Integral
A combination of proportional, integral, and derivative control actions.
Derivative (PID) Control Refers to a control method in which the controller output is proportional to
the error, its time history, and the rate at which it is changing. The error is
the difference between the observed and desired values of a variable that is
under control action.
pseudocode
Simplified language-independent representation of programming code.
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Glossary
R
range
The region between the limits within which a quantity is measured,
received, or transmitted expressed by stating the lower and upper range
values.
Real-Time Database
(RTDB)
An in-memory snapshot of all tags in the system.
real-time trend
reentrant execution
representation
A plot of data (values versus time) that is updated as each new point is
acquired in the Real-Time Database.
Mode in which calls to multiple instances of a subVI can execute in parallel
with distinct and separate data storage.
Subtype of the numeric data type, of which there are signed and unsigned
byte, word, and long integers, as well as single-, double-, and
extended-precision floating-point numbers, both real and complex.
resizing handles
RTDB
Angled handles on the corner of objects that indicate resizing points.
See Real-Time Database.
S
sampling period
The time interval between observations in a periodic sampling control
system.
SCADA
sensor
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition.
A device that produces a voltage or current output representative of some
physical property being measured, such as speed, temperature, or flow.
sequence local
A terminal that passes data between the frames of a Sequence Structure.
Sequence structure
Program control structure that executes its subdiagrams in numeric order.
Commonly used to force nodes that are not data-dependent to execute in a
desired order.
shift register
Optional mechanism in loop structures used to pass the value of a variable
from one iteration of a loop to a subsequent iteration.
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Glossary
static attributes
Tag attributes that require the BridgeVIEW Engine to be restarted if they
are edited or reconfigured. Examples of static attributes are general
attributes and I/O connection attributes, such as server, device, or item.
See also dynamic attributes.
string tag
structure
An ASCII character representation of a connection to a real-world
I/O point.
Program control element, such as a Sequence, Case, For Loop, or
While Loop.
subVI
A VI called on the diagram of another VI.
supervisory control
Control in which the control loops operate independently subject to
intermittent corrective action.
system developer
System errors
The creator of the application software to be executed in the BridgeVIEW
Run-Time System.
Errors that happen in the BridgeVIEW system, like a server going down.
System errors are displayed in a dialog box, on the Engine User Interface,
and also are logged in a syslog file.
System events
Events that occur in the BridgeVIEW system, like an operator logging on
or a utility starting up. System events are logged in a syslog file.
T
tag
A connection to a real-world I/O point or a memory variable. Tags can be
one of four data types: analog, binary, discrete, or string.
tag attributes
Tag Browser
Parameters pertaining to a tag, like its alarm, limits, or Engineering Units.
Tag attributes are configured in the Tag Configuration Editor but can be
changed dynamically using the Tag Attributes VIs.
A utility to view the configuration parameters of a tag, as configured in the
Tag Configuration Editor.
Tag Configuration Editor A utility to configure various parameters of a tag, such as connection
information, scaling, or logging.
tag group
A set of tags primarily used for reporting and acknowledging alarms. A tag
can be associated with only one tag group. All tags belong to the group
<ALL>by default.
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Glossary
Tag Monitor
tag status
A utility to view the current value of a tag, along with its status and alarm
state.
A variable that determines the validity of a tag value. A negative status
represents an error, a positive status represents a warning, and a status of
zero represents a good tag value.
terminal
Object or region on a node through which data passes.
timestamp
The exact time and date at which a tag value was sampled. Tag values are
stored with their timestamps in the RTDB.
top-level VI
trend
VI at the top of the VI hierarchy. This term distinguishes the VI from its
subVIs.
A view of data over time. Trends can display real-time or historical data.
U
universal constant
Uneditable block diagram object that emits a particular ASCII character or
standard numeric constant, for example, π.
update deadband
The range through which a tag value must change before it is updated in the
Real-Time Database.
user
See operator.
user-defined constant
Block diagram object that emits a value you set.
V
VI
See virtual instrument.
VI library
virtual instrument
Special file that contains a collection of related VIs for a specific use.
A program in the graphical programming language G; so-called because it
models the appearance and function of a physical instrument.
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W
While Loop
Post-iterative test loop structure that repeats a section of code until a
condition is met. Comparable to a Do loop or a Repeat-Until loop in
conventional programming languages
wire
Data path between nodes.
wiring tool
Wizard
Tool used to define data paths between source and sink terminals.
See HMI G Wizard and Panel G Wizard.
Wizard lock
A glyph that appears on a tag loop to indicate BridgeVIEW has protected
the association between a front panel object and the automatically
generated block diagram. If a Wizard lock exists on a tag loop, you cannot
modify that block diagram. Once you have released the Wizard lock, the
association is broken and the Wizard no longer protects that tag loop.
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purpose and use, 1-6, 5-1
tag configuration, 3-31
alarm deadband on analog tags, 3-36
analog tags, 3-34
A
access levels and privileges, 7-1
See also security.
defaults (table), 7-13
Auto Ack on Normal option, 3-37
enabling alarms, 3-34
keeping alarms unacknowledged, 3-37
string tags, 3-36
finding access levels, 7-15
finding environment access privileges, 7-15
modifying
list of available user access levels, 7-19
Access Levels dialog box, 7-15
Acknowledge Alarm VI, A-5
adding network tags, 3-7
alarm attributes, 3-3
types of alarms, 3-31
User Must Ack option, 3-38
viewing, 5-14
Alarms and Events VIs, A-4
Acknowledge Alarm, A-5
effect on startup and shutdown, 4-24
Get Alarm Summary Status, A-6
locating, A-4
purpose and use, 4-16, 4-20
Read Alarm Summary, A-7
Read Event History, A-11
Read Tag Alarm, A-15
Alarms Configuration Attributes (table), 3-31
Alignment ring, 2-3
alarm limit, 5-1
alarm priority, 5-2
alarm states, 5-1
alarm summary
building (activity), 5-3
displaying, 5-2
alarms
acknowledging, 5-6
ACK button, 5-6
activity, 5-7
analog tags
alarm configuration, 3-34
alarm deadband, 3-36
creating, 3-5
purpose and use, 3-10
scaling, 3-27
Auto Ack on Normal option, 5-6
User Must Ack option, 5-6
configuring logging and printing, 5-10
defining group of tags for alarming, 3-21
Event Configuration dialog box
event logging and printing selections
(table), 5-10
illustration, 5-10
log and print format selections, 5-12
logging, 5-12
analog tag scaling dialog box, 3-27
assigning units, 3-28
linear scaling, 3-27
square root scaling, 3-28
Application Control, 15-1
locating, 15-1
printing, 5-13
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Index
array functions
attributes
alarm, 3-3
connection, 3-2
general, 3-2
Index Array, 14-13
operation, 3-2
Initialize Array, 14-10
using Build Array function
(activity), 14-15
scaling, 3-2
static vs. dynamic, 3-3
tag, 3-1
Array Max & Min function, 14-22
array shell, 14-1
axis text, modifying (note), 11-19
Array Size function, 14-11
array string constant, 15-6
Array Subset function, 14-12
arrays, 14-1
bit array tags
creating, 3-5
auto-indexing, 14-2
scaling, 3-29
auto-indexing (activity), 14-3
block diagram, 14-4
Bit Array Tag Configuration dialog
front panel, 14-3
box, 3-30
block diagram
controls, constants, and indicators, 14-2
creating and initializing, 14-1
efficient memory usage: minimizing data
structures, 16-8
checking for errors, 16-5
common operations, 16-4
left-to-right layouts, 16-5
studying examples, 16-8
purpose and use, 2-3
index, 14-1
auto-indexing, 14-9
purpose and use, 1-5
toolbar and buttons, 2-2
Boolean constants
resizing array indicator, 14-5
attribute nodes, 13-1
adding to subVI, 10-7
activity, 13-3
VI Server, 15-6
block diagram, 13-3
Boolean controls and indicators, 2-7
front panel, 13-3
creating, 13-1
Help window, 13-2
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BridgeVIEW environment, 2-1
Engine Manager, 2-12
(activity), 11-8
possible choices for mechanical
action, 11-7
G programming language
online help, 2-23
Project menu items (table), 2-10
system errors and events, 2-15
Tag Browser utility, 2-16
Tag Monitor, 2-18
Latch Until Released, 11-8
Latch When Pressed, 11-8
Latch When Released, 11-8
Switch Until Released, 11-8
Switch When Pressed, 11-7
Switch When Released, 11-7
Breakpoint tool, 2-4
BridgeVIEW
BridgeVIEW server, 3-6
BridgeVIEW System Log file, 2-14
BridgeVIEW VI Library
Alarms and Events VIs, A-4
Acknowledge Alarm, A-5
architecture, 1-8
features, 1-1
getting started, 1-10
installation, 1-2
overview, 1-3
purpose and use, 1-3
required system configuration, 1-2
system control
effect on startup and shutdown, 4-24
Get Alarm Summary Status, A-6
locating, A-4
Read Alarm Summary, A-7
error handling, A-1
System VIs, 7-7
Engine, A-1
VI Server Functions, 7-5
edting, 3-4
BridgeVIEW Engine
Historical Data VIs, A-17
Call HTV, A-18
Decimate Historical Trends, A-21
Historical Trends to
increasing throughput using
deadband, 3-24
overview, 1-3
parameter configuration, 3-44
memory allocation parameters
(table), 3-45
Spreadsheet, A-27
stopping and starting
programmatically, 7-8
Historical Trends to Spreadsheet
File, A-29
locating, A-17
Read Historical Trend, A-31
Read Historical Trends, 6-4, A-33
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Index
Security VIs
Check Operator Privileges, A-47
Read Tag (discrete), A-58
Read Tag (string), A-60
Trend Tags, A-62
Get Operator Name, A-48
Invoke Login Dialog, A-49
Programmatic Login, A-50
Write Tag (bit array), A-64
Write Tag on Change (bit
logging, 7-8, A-37
Write Tag on Change
broken VIs, 9-21
Browse OPC Servers on Network dialog
box, illustration, 8-7
Build Array function
Enable printing, 7-8, A-38
Engine Launch, 7-8, A-39
Engine Shutdown, A-39
Get Engine Status, A-41
Get Tag Status Info, A-42
activity, 14-15
multiplot graph, 14-6
purpose and use, 14-10
Bundle function
Post System Error or Event, A-43
creating multiplot chart, 11-18
Setting, A-74
Get Group List, A-75
Call HTV VI, A-18
case, 12-2
Case structure, 12-2
activity, 12-2
Get Tag Alarm Enabled, A-76
Get Tag Attribute, A-77
Get Tag Bad Status Alarm Info, A-78
Get Tag Description Group, A-79
Get Tag IO Connection Info, A-80
Get Tag List, A-81
diagram identifier, 12-1
illustration, 12-2
incrementing and decrementing
subdiagrams, 12-1
Get Tag Logging Info, A-82
Get Tag Range and Units, A-83
Set Multiple Tag Attributes, A-84
Set Tag Attribute, A-85
out-of-range cases (note), 12-2
purpose and use, 1-4
subdiagram display window, 12-1
locating, A-53
Read Tag, A-54
Read Tag (bit array), A-56
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charts, 11-2
See also graphs.
Control Editor, 4-12
controlling panel visibility, 7-7
controls and indicators, 2-6
adding to VIs, 9-2
activity, 11-3
creating multiplot chart and customizing
trends (activity), 11-17
faster updates, 11-3
array, 14-2
Boolean, 2-7
modes, 11-2
HMI G Wizard operations (table), 4-4
numeric, 2-6
string, 2-7
stacked versus overlaid plots, 11-3
waveform chart
tag, 2-8
(activity), 11-4
Check Operator Privileges VI, A-47
Citadel Historical Database
data transform commands (table), B-5
ODBC driver, B-1
data flow, in G, 2-1
data logging
overview, 6-1
Citadel threaded database
retrieving data, B-6
See historical data logging and extraction.
DDE server
connecting tag to, 3-21
using with BridgeVIEW, 8-9
deadband
client
BridgeVIEW, 3-6
Cluster to Array function, 15-6
clusters
alarm deadband on analog tags, 3-36
debugging VIs, 9-21
purpose and use, 1-5, 14-17
coercion dot, 11-22
activity, 9-21
overview, 9-21
Color Box Constant, 13-4
Color Copy tool, 2-4
Color tool, 2-4
increasing engine throughput, 3-24
logging (table), 3-23
purpose and use, 3-24
Compound Arithmetic function, 11-14
connection
setting update too high (note), 3-24
updating (table), 3-23
tag attributes, 1-6
connection attributes, 3-2
constants
Decimate Historical Trend VI, A-20
Decimate Historical Trends VI, A-21
deleting tags, 3-5
adding to VIs, 9-2
array constants, 14-2
tag, 4-17
device servers. See servers.
digital indicator
adding to array, 14-4
Continuous Run button, 2-2
For Loop (activity), 11-22
Disable Indexing command, 14-13
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Index
discrete tags
Quit Engine, 2-13
Run/Stop Engine, 2-13
Server Browser, 2-13
alarm configuration, 3-35
creating, 3-5
purpose and use, 3-10
Distribution ring, 2-3
Divide function
Show/Hide System Event Display, 2-13
Engine Shutdown VI, A-39
engineering units
adding to subVI, 9-20
Sequence structure, 12-10
shift register, 11-14
conversion by BridgeVIEW Engine, 1-8
error handling in BridgeVIEW VI
documentation
organization of manual, xix
related documentation, xxiii
documenting VIs, 9-9
dynamic attributes, 3-3
Dynamic Data Exchange server
See DDE server.
errors
error checking in programs, 16-5
errors not reported by BridgeVIEW
errors reported by BridgeVIEW
Event Configuration dialog box
event logging and printing selections
dynamic vs. static attributes, 3-3
E
illustration, 5-10
(table), 5-12
Edit User Accounts dialog box, 7-18
editing tags, 3-5
event history
Enable Event Logging VI, 7-8, A-36
Enable Indexing command, 14-14
Enable Launch VI, 7-8
Enable printing VI, 7-8, A-38
Engine
displaying history information, 5-6
purpose and use, 5-2
event-driven
events
configuring logging and printing, 5-10
Event Configuration dialog box
(note), 3-5
Engine Launch VI, A-39
Engine Manager
log and print format selections
(table), 5-12
See also BridgeVIEW Engine.
Enable error, 2-13
Engine Status, 2-13
illustration, 2-12
Log Events, 2-13
logging
procedure, 5-12
setting file paths, 3-44
shift configuration, 3-44
Log Historical Data, 2-13
Print Events, 2-13
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stopping and starting
customizing, 4-12
Control Editor, 4-12
importing graphics, 4-13
overview, 2-2
printing, 5-13
programmatically, 7-8
purpose and use, 1-3, 1-7
types of events, 1-7
Panel G Wizard, 7-1
functions, adding to VIs, 9-8
viewing, 5-14
Execution Options, 10-4
exporting a list of users to a file, 7-19
exporting users to another computer on the
network, 7-20
See also HMI G Wizard; program design.
building Human Machine Interface, 4-25
multiple-loop applications, 4-28
polled programming, 4-27
controls and indicators, 2-6
Boolean, 2-7
F
file
.scf, 3-4
BridgeVIEW Configuration, 3-4
SCADA Configuration, 3-4
Font ring, 2-3
numeric, 2-6
For Loops, 11-20
string, 2-7
See also shift registers.
activity, 11-22
tag, 2-8
Controls palette, 2-5
count terminal, 11-21
iteration terminal, 11-21
numeric conversion, 11-21
purpose and use, 1-4
sizing, 11-20
data flow, 2-1
Functions palette, 2-5
overview, 1-4, 2-1
virtual instruments (VIs), 2-2
Tools palette, 2-4
using auto-indexing to set, 14-9
front panel
VIs, 2-1
block diagram, 2-3
building an HMI with multiple panels, 7-1
building front panel objects, 4-3
buttons, 2-2
configuring objects
programmatically, 4-15
front panel, 2-2
icon/connector, 2-3
opening and running (activity), 2-8
general attributes, 3-2
General Attributes dialog box, 3-11
Generate Waveform VI, 14-3
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Index
Get Alarm Summary Status VI, A-6
Get Analog Tag Alarm Limit VI, A-72
Get Bit Array Tag Alarm Setting VI, A-73
Get Discrete Tag Alarm Setting VI, A-74
Get Engine Status VI, A-41
Get Group List VI, A-75
Get Historical Tag List, A-23
Get Historical Tag List VI
example, 6-4
Hierarchy window, 9-12
buttons for options, 9-13
displaying dependencies, 9-13
illustration, 9-12
searching for visible nodes, 9-14
See also Historical Trend Viewer (HTV).
configuring tags to log data or
events, 3-25
purpose and use, A-23
Get Historical Trend Info VI, A-24
Get Operator Name VI, A-48
Get Tag Alarm Enabled VI, A-76
Get Tag Attribute VI, A-77
Get Tag Bad Status Alarm Info VI, A-78
Get Tag Description Group VI, A-79
Get Tag IO Connection Info VI, A-80
Get Tag List VI, A-81
Historical Data VIs, 6-4
activity, 6-6
example, 6-4
list of VIs, 6-4
VI reference, A-17
Get Tag Logging Info VI, A-82
Get Tag Range and Units VI, A-83
Get Tag Status Info VI, A-42
graphics, importing for front panel
activity, 4-13
logging, 6-2
configuring, 6-3
overview, 1-7
setting file paths, 3-44
stopping and starting
overview, 4-13
graphs, 14-18
See also charts.
axes, 14-20
customizing, 14-18
data acquisition arrays, 14-20
graph and analysis VIs (activity), 14-20
purpose and use, 1-5
programmatically, 7-8
trends, 6-1
turning on at startup, 3-44
Historical Data VIs, 6-4, A-17
activity, 6-6
Call HTV, A-18
Decimate Historical Trend, A-20
Decimate Historical Trends, A-21
example, 6-4
Get Historical Tag List, 6-4, A-23
Get Historical Trend Info, A-24
Historical Trend Statistics, A-25
Historical Trend Statistics VI, 6-7
Historical Trends to Spreadsheet, A-27
waveform graph
creating multiplot waveform
graphs, 14-6
Greater Or Equal To 0? function
Case structure, 12-3
VI Server, 15-6
Greater or Equal? function, 13-4
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Historical Trends to Spreadsheet
File, A-29
HMI G Wizard
alarm acknowledgement (activity), 5-7
list of VIs, 6-4
locating, A-17
copying tags, 4-7
Read Historical Trend, A-31
Read Historical Trends, 6-4, A-33
Historical Logging Configuration dialog box
illustration, 6-3
parameters (table), 6-3
Historical Trend Statistics VI
example, 6-7
dialog box, 4-7
editing tags, 4-7
front panel object and Wizard subdiagram
association, 4-8
invoking, 4-7
Historical Trend Viewer (HTV), 6-9
activity, 6-15
Boolean control, 4-4
exporting data to spreadsheet, 6-13
illustration, 6-9
indicator, 4-6
incorporating into HMI
applications, 6-14
launching, 2-11
live mode, 6-14
table indicator, 4-6
online help, 6-13
Wizard lock, 4-8
plot colors and style in trend
changing, 6-13
Select Tags dialog box, 6-10
selecting tags to display, 6-10
tag, time, and color preferences
setting, 6-13
Human Machine Interface, 4-1
See also BridgeVIEW VI Library.
building, 4-2
front panel objects, 4-3
HMI G Wizard, 4-3
time axis, changing, 6-10
customizing front panel objects, 4-12
configuring programmatically, 4-15
Control Editor, 4-12
G programming principles, 4-25
basic principles, 4-2
viewing tag value at specific point in
time, 6-12
Y axis, changing, 6-12
zooming in on a trend, 6-13
Historical Trends to Spreadsheet File VI, A-29
Historical Trends to Spreadsheet VI, A-27
configuring HMI indicators using tag
attributes, 4-31
displaying real-time trends, 4-29
event-driven programming, 4-25
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Index
initializing and shutting down
importing a list from users to a file, 7-20
See servers.
Initialize Array function, 14-10
Interval query field, B-4
Invoke Login Dialog, A-49
activity, 4-8
operations (table), 4-4
(HTV), 6-14
tag data type, 4-17
VIs, 4-20
item, 8-1
effect on startup and
configuration options, 3-18
shutdown, 4-24
overview, 1-1, 1-8, 4-1
junction, 9-5
I
I/O connection attributes, 3-2
I/O Group configuration, 3-14
attributes (table), 3-16
Labeling tool, 2-4
Live Mode (HTV), 6-14
LocalTime query field, B-4
options, 3-15
configuration, 5-10
historical data
icon and connector, 9-14
considerations, 16-3
See historical data logging and
programmatically, 7-17
prompting operator to log in, 7-16
terminals, 16-3
subVIs with required inputs, 16-4
creating (activity), 9-16
defining connectors, 9-16
purpose and use, 2-3
Icon Editor window, 9-15
buttons, 9-16
initializing and shutting down
multiple-loop applications, 4-28
purpose and use, 1-4
illustration, 9-15
tools, 9-15
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Index
Not function
adding to subVI, 10-8
M
Man Machine Interface. See Human
Machine Interface.
Max & Min function, 11-24
Mean VI, 14-22
VI Server, 15-7
numeric constants
adding to subVI, 9-20
auto-indexing, 14-5
Case structure, 12-3
For Loop, 11-23
memory
parameters (table), 3-45
efficient use with arrays, 14-16
VI Server considerations, 15-2
memory tags, 3-19
graph and analysis VIs (activity), 14-20
Sequence structure, 12-9
shift register, 11-23
numeric controls and indicators, 2-6
when not to use, 3-19
when to use, 3-20
Microsoft Access
retrieving Citadel data, B-12
Microsoft Excel
Object pop-up menu tool, 2-4
ODBC driver, B-1
threads table, B-4
using, B-6
One Button Dialog function, 12-4
online help
retrieving Citadel data, B-11
Microsoft Query
retrieving Citadel data, B-7
multiple-loop applications, initializing and
shutting down, 4-28
multiplot chart, creating (activity), 11-17
multiplot graphs, creating, 14-6
Multiply function, 12-9
accessing, 2-23
Historical Trend Viewer (HTV), 6-13
links to online help files, 2-24
simple/complex help view, 2-23
OPC servers
N
remote, 8-7
network tags, 3-6
using with BridgeVIEW, 8-5
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)
driver, B-1
Open VI Reference, 15-6
operability, 7-23
adding, 3-7
networking BridgeVIEW
exporting users to another computer on
importing users from another computer on
the network, 7-21
Operating tool, 2-4
operation attributes, 3-2
operations
using remote OPC servers, 8-7
NI-DAQ 6.x, 8-3
types of operations, 1-6
operator, 4-1
NI-DAQ OPC server
installing, 8-3
Not Equal? function, 12-10
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Index
operator interface panel
terminals, 16-3
controlling visibility, 7-7
subVIs with required inputs, 16-4
top-down design, 16-1
Operator Interface Security, 7-22
designing VI hierarchy, 16-1
list of user requirements, 16-1
writing the program, 16-3
Programmatic Login VI, A-50
Programmatic Logout VI, A-51
Project menu, 2-10
P
Panel G Wizard, 7-1
how to use, 7-2
Historical Trend Viewer, 2-10
Launch Engine, 2-11
Security»Access Levels, 2-11
Security»Change Password, 2-11
Security»Edit User Accounts, 2-11
Security»Login, 2-11
panel size and visibility, controlling, 7-6
password, changing, 7-16
path control, 15-6
Pause/Continue button, 2-3
pi constant, 14-7
polled programming, implementing, 4-27
polymorphism, 14-17
pop-up menus
Object pop-up menu tool, 2-5
popping up on objects, 2-6
Positioning tool, 2-4
Security»Logout, 2-11
Security»Privileges, 2-11
Server Tools»Server Browser, 2-11
Tag»Browser, 2-12
Tag»Configuration, 2-12
Tag»Monitor, 2-12
Post System Error or Event VI, A-43
printing alarms and events, 5-13
configuration, 5-10
privileges
See access levels and privileges.
Privileges dialog box, 7-16
Probe tool, 2-4, 9-22
Random Number function
Attribute Node, 13-4
For Loop, 11-23
See also G programming language.
avoid overuse of Sequence
checking for errors, 16-5
common operations, 16-4
left-to-right layouts, 16-5
planning ahead with connector
panes, 16-3
shift register, 11-14
Read Alarm Summary VI, A-7
Read Event History VI, A-11
Read Historical Trend VI, A-31
Read Historical Trends VI
example, 6-6
purpose and use, A-33
Read Tag VI, A-54
Read Tag (bit array) VI, A-56
Read Tag (discrete) VI, A-58
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Index
Read Tag (string) VI, A-60
Read Tag Alarm VI, A-15
Real-Time Database, 1-6, 1-9
See also BridgeVIEW Engine; tag
parameters, 8-11
modifying access privileges, 7-22
prompting operator to log in, 7-16
Release Instrument VI, 15-6
Reorder ring, 2-3
users from a file, 7-20
Run button, 2-2
interface panels, 7-23
broken Run button, 9-21
overview, 1-7
Project menu items
S
SCADA Configuration file, 3-4
contents, 3-4
editing, 3-4
running one .scf file at a time (note), 3-4
scaling, 3-25
Security»Access Levels, 2-11
Security»Change Password, 2-11
Security»Edit User Accounts, 2-11
Security»Login, 2-11
Security»Logout, 2-11
purpose and use, 1-6
scaling attributes, 3-2
Security»Privileges, 2-11
Security Monitor VI, A-52
Security VIs
scope chart, 11-2
Scroll tool, 2-4
security
Check Operator Privileges, A-47
Get Operator Name, A-48
Invoke Login Dialog, A-49
Programmatic Login, A-50
Programmatic Logout, A-51
Security Monitor, A-52
assigning to alarm summary application
(activity), 7-24
checking user privileges, 7-16
accounts, 7-17
User Account List, A-53
Select Tags to Monitor dialog box, 2-21
selector, 12-2
sequence local variable, 12-9
Sequence structure, 12-5
activity, 12-5
Edit User Accounts dialog box, 7-18
exporting a list of users to a file, 7-19
finding access level, 7-15
finding environment access
privileges, 7-15
block diagram, 12-7
front panel, 12-5
diagram identifier, 12-1
illustration, 12-5
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Index
incrementing and decrementing
subdiagrams, 12-1
overview, 12-5
Server Browser, 8-5
using OPC servers with BridgeVIEW, 8-5
viewing server configuration
Server Brower utility, 2-14
Server Browser
Server Browser, 8-5
box, illustration, 8-7
dialog box, 8-6
launching, 2-11
Set Multiple Tag Attributes VI, A-84
Set Tag Attribute VI, A-85
setting file paths, 3-44
main screen (illustration), 8-10
using remote OPC servers, 8-7
View Server Information dialog
box, illustration, 8-6
creating, 11-11
creating multiplot chart and customizing
displaying running average on chart
(activity), 11-13
overview, 11-11
viewing BridgeVIEW server
configuration, 8-9
viewing OPC server Items, 8-5
Server Browser button, 8-9
server configuration
uninitialized shift registers, 11-15
Sine function, 14-7
options, 3-16
server/client interaction
illustration, 3-6
single-stepping through VI, 9-21
spreadsheets
servers
exporting configuration fields, 3-8
VI, A-29
See also Server Browser.
BridgeVIEW, 3-6
Historical Trends to Spreadsheet VI, A-27
important points, 3-9
importing data (note), 3-9
saving trend data
communication with Engine (note), 3-5
developing IA device servers, 8-12
installation and configuration, 8-2
Historical Trend Viewer (HTV), 6-13
storing tag configuration data, 3-8
Square Root function, 12-3
static attributes, 3-3
static vs. dynamic attributes, 3-3
Status Details dialog box, 2-20
Step Into button, 2-3
registering simulation servers, 8-4
using BridgeVIEW Device Servers
items, 8-1
overview, 1-9
purpose and use, 8-1
Step Out button, 2-3, 9-21
Step Over button, 2-3, 9-21
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Stop button, 2-3
string constant, 12-4
System Event Display
illustration, 2-14
string controls and indicators, 2-7
string tags
alarm configuration, 3-36
creating, 3-5
strip chart, 11-2
Structured Query Language (SQL)
structures, 11-1
items displayed, 2-14
showing/hiding, 2-13
using, 2-14
System VIs, 7-7, A-35
Enable Event Logging, 7-8, A-36
Enable historical data logging, 7-8, A-37
Enable printing, 7-8, A-38
Engine Launch, 7-8, A-39
Engine Shutdown, A-39
See also Case structure; loops;
Sequence structure.
Subtract function, 12-10
subVI node setup
Get Engine Status, A-41
Get Tag Status Info, A-42
locating, 4-16, A-35
Post System Error or Event, A-43
Tag Status Handler, A-44
activity, 10-2
block diagram for subVI, 10-7
front panel for subVI, 10-6
user information dialog box
block diagram, 10-3
T
tag
Execution Options, 10-4
front panel, 10-2
attributes, 3-11
Tag Attribute VIs, A-71
Windows Options, 10-5
SubVI Node Setup dialog box, 10-2
subVIs
configuring HMI indicators
programmatically, 4-31
calling (activity), 9-19
block diagram, 9-20
Get Analog Tag Alarm Limit, A-72
Get Bit Array Tag Alarm Setting, A-73
Get Discrete Tag Alarm Setting, A-74
Get Group List, A-75
Get Tag Alarm Enabled, A-76
Get Tag Attribute, A-77
Get Tag Bad Status Alarm Info, A-78
Get Tag Description Group, A-79
Get Tag IO Connection Info, A-80
Get Tag List, A-81
opening front panel, 9-19
Hierarchy window, 9-12
icon and connector, 9-14
color icons (note), 9-16
creating (activity), 9-16
defining connectors, 9-16
Icon Editor window, 9-14
opening, operating, and changing, 9-19
purpose and use, 9-12
sweep chart, 11-2
Get Tag Logging Info, A-82
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Index
Get Tag Range and Units, A-83
location of, 4-16
Set Multiple Tag Attributes, A-84
Set Tag Attribute, A-85
tag configuration, 3-10
See also Tag Configuration Editor
activity, 3-38
tag attributes, 3-1, 3-11
activity, 7-10
acknowledgement (table), 3-41
registering Tanks Server, 3-38
saving configuration file, 3-42
viewing tag configuration, 3-42
viewing tag value and status, 3-42
alarms, 3-31, 3-34
alarm, 3-3
connection, 3-2
general, 3-2
operation, 3-2
reading or changing
programmatically, 7-9
scaling, 3-2
static vs. dynamic, 3-3
Tag Attributes palette, 7-9
Tag Browser utility, 2-16
fields
discrete tags, 3-35
unacknowledged, 3-37
string tags, 3-36
Access rights, 2-17
Alarms enabled, 2-17
Auto Ack, 2-17
Browse, 2-17
types of alarms, 3-31
alarms configuration attributes (table)
Alarm Deadband, 3-31
Alarm Invert Mask, 3-33
Alarm Message, 3-33
Alarm On, 3-33
Configuration File, 2-17
Configured Tags, 2-17
Description, 2-17
Engine Status, 2-17
Full Scale, 2-17
Group, 2-17
Alarm Select Mask, 3-33
Alarms Enabled, 3-31
Auto Ack, 3-31
Item, 2-17
Name, 2-17
Server, 2-17
Bad Status Enabled, 3-31
Bad Status Priority, 3-31
Discrete Enabled, 3-32
Discrete Priority, 3-33
HI Enabled, 3-32
Type, 2-17
Units, 2-18
Zero Scale, 2-18
illustration, 2-16
launching, 2-11
purpose and use, 2-18
HI Limit, 3-32
HI Priority, 3-32
HI_HI Enabled, 3-31
HI_HI Limit, 3-32
HI_HI Priority, 3-32
LO Enabled, 3-32
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LO Limit, 3-32
LO Priority, 3-32
operations, 3-22
(table), 3-23
LO_LO Enabled, 3-32
LO_LO Limit, 3-32
Tag Last Modified, 3-33
connection
Initial Value, 3-24
Log Data, 3-23
connecting tag to DDE server, 3-21
alarming, 3-21
Log Data Deadband, 3-23
Log Resolution, 3-23
Log/Print Events, 3-23
Set Initial Value, 3-24
Update Deadband, 3-23
scaling
server configuration
item configuration
data types, 3-10
editing, copying, or creating tags from the
(table), 3-25
general configuration attributes
Coerce, 3-26
Eng Full Scale, 3-25
Eng Zero Scale, 3-26
Raw Full Scale, 3-25
Raw Zero Scale, 3-25
Scaling, 3-26
Tag Group, 3-12
Tag Name, 3-12
I/O Group Configuration Attributes
(table), 3-16
Scaling Invert Mask, 3-26
Scaling Select Mask, 3-26
Units, 3-26
Communication Resource, 3-16
Device Comm Resource, 3-16
I.O Group Update Deadband, 3-16
I/O Group Description, 3-16
I/O Group Device, 3-16
I/O Group Name, 3-16
I/O Group Update Rate (secs), 3-16
Server Name, 3-16
setting initial tag value at startup, 3-25
Tag Configuration Editor, 3-3
See also tag configuration.
adding network tags, 3-7
creating tags, 3-5
deleting tags, 3-5
editing tags, 3-5
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Index
configurable memory allocation
setting file paths for historical and
event files, 3-44
turning on historical and event
illustration, 3-4
Status Details dialog box, 2-20
viewing tag value and status, 3-42
tag operations
types of operations, 1-6
purpose and use, 1-6
Tag Status Handler VI, A-44
tags
creating, 3-5
data types. See tag data types.
deleting, 3-5
launching, 2-12, 3-3
launching server configuration
box, 3-8
setting default values for configuration
fields, 3-7
spreadsheets for storing configuration
data, 3-8
editing, 3-5
tag data type, 4-17
shutdown, 4-24
VIs for, 4-16
tag controls and indicators, 2-8
tag data types, 3-10
analog, 3-10
network, 3-6
purpose and use, 1-3, 3-1
types, 1-5
bit array, 3-10
discrete, 3-10
HMI, 4-17
overview, 1-5
Tags VIs, A-53
effect on startup and shutdown, 4-24
locating, A-53
purpose and use, 4-16
Read Tag, A-54
Read Tag (bit array), A-56
Read Tag (discrete), A-58
Read Tag (string), A-60
Trend Tags, A-62
string, 3-11
Tag Monitor utility, 2-18
fields
Monitor Timeout (secs), 2-20
Select Tags to Monitor, 2-20
Status Details, 2-20
Tag Display Table, 2-20
Trigger Tag, 2-20
Write Tag, A-63
Write Tag (bit array), A-64
Write Tag (discrete), A-65
Write Tag (string), A-66
Write Tag on Change, A-67
Write Tag on Change (bit array), A-68
Write Tag on Change (discrete), A-69
Write Tag on Change (string), A-70
illustration, 2-19
launching, 2-12, 2-18
overview, 2-18
Preferences dialog box, 2-22
Select Tags to Monitor dialog box, 2-21
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Temp&Vol VI, 10-8
terminals, adding to VIs, 9-3
Thermometer VI, 14-21
Threads table, B-4
VI Server
activity, 15-4
front panel, 15-4
locating, 15-1
tip strips, 9-4
Tools palette, 2-4
Trend Tags VI, A-62
trends
purpose and use, 15-2
using to load and execute VIs
dynamically, 15-3
See also Historical Trend Viewer (HTV).
purpose and use, 1-7, 6-1
VI Server functions
activity
Invoke Node, 15-6
Property Node
U
User Account List VI, A-53
user accounts
exporting to another computer, 7-20
importing from another computer, 7-21
user acounts
exporting a list of users to a file, 7-19
importing a list of users from a file, 7-20
user privileges, 7-16
box, 8-11
viewing new data automatically after
logging, 6-14
VIs, 2-1
See also BridgeVIEW VI Library;
creating, 9-1
V
vertical switch
activity, 9-7
Boolean switch (activity), 11-8
placing on front panel, 11-5
VI Control VIs
indicators, 9-2
documenting VIs, 9-9
hierarchy of VIs, 9-1
Hierarchy window, 9-12
saving as individual files, 9-1
saving in VI libraries, 9-1
terminals, 9-3
activity
Release Instrument VI, 15-6
locating, 7-5
panel size and visibility, controlling, 7-6
purpose and use, 1-5, 7-5
VI Control VIs. See Application Control and
VI Server, 15-1
wires, 9-3
debugging, 9-21
activity, 9-21
overview, 9-21
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Index
front panel, 2-2
preventing code execution, 11-10
purpose and use, 1-4, 11-4
timing, 11-9
icon/connector, 2-3
opening and running (activity), 2-8
overview, 1-3
activity, 11-9
purpose and use, 1-4, 9-1
subVI node setup, 10-1
activity, 10-2
overview, 11-9
Windows Options, 10-5
wires, 9-3
System VIs, 7-7
bad wires, 9-6
VI Server Functions, 7-5
VI Setup dialog box, 10-1
visibility, 7-23
Visual Basic
purpose and use, 9-3
selecting and deleting, 9-5
stretching, 9-5
tip strips, 9-4
retrieving Citadel data, B-14
Wiring tool, 2-4, 9-4
Wiring tool hot spot, 9-4
Wizard lock, 4-8
Write Tag VI, A-63
W
Wait Until Next ms Multiple function
adding to subVI, 10-8
attribute node, 13-4
graph and analysis VIs, 14-22
shift register, 11-15
waveform chart
Write Tag (bit array) VI, A-64
Write Tag (discrete) VI, A-65
Write Tag (string) VI, A-66
Write Tag on Change VI, A-67
Write Tag on Change (discrete) VI, A-69
Write Tag on Change (string) VI, A-70
See also charts.
For Loop (activity), 11-22
placing on subVI, 10-6
using with While Loop (activity), 11-4
waveform graph
X and Y axes, rescaling, 11-18
See also graphs.
While Loops, 11-4
See also shift registers.
acquiring and displaying data
(activity), 11-4
block diagram, 11-6
front panel, 11-5
equivalent pseudocode, 11-4
switches, 11-7
changing (activity), 11-8
possible choices, 11-7
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