Tutorial On InTouch SCADA
Tutorial On InTouch SCADA
General information
Application Explorer
The Tagname Cross Referencing utility allows you to determine both your
tagname and SuperTag usage and, in which window or QuickScript that a
specific tagname is used. For convenience, the Tagname Cross Reference
utility can remain open in WindowMaker while you perform other tasks. It
also allows you to view any QuickScript or QuickFunction where a tagname
is found.
ActiveX Container
InTouch is an ActiveX container. It allows you to install any third-party
ActiveX control and use it in any application window. For easy access to
your installed ActiveX controls, you can add them to your WindowMaker
Wizards/ActiveX Toolbar. By using ActiveX controls, you can handle control
events, control methods, and control properties all from InTouch
QuickScripts. You can also associate the ActiveX control properties directly
to InTouch tagnames.
3. Tag definition
4. Drawing objects
5. Animation properties
6. Writing scripts
7. Real-time Trends
8. Historical Trends
2. On the File menu, click New, or click the New tool in the toolbar
The Create New Application wizard will appear.
3. Click on Next
Create new application window with default path will appear. By default,
the system will display the path to your InTouch directory followed by
"NewApp."
4. In the input box, type the path to the directory in which you want your
application to be created or click Browse to locate the directory.
Click Next.
5. If the directory you specify does not exist, a message dialog box will
appear asking if you want to create it.
Click OK.
6. Create New Application wizard dialog box will appear. in the Name box,
type a unique name for the new application's icon that appears when the
application is listed in the InTouch Application Manager window. In the
Description box, type a description of the application. the description is
optional. However, if you do type a description, it can be a total of 255
characters.
Click Finish
3. In the Tagname box, type the name you want to use for the new tagname
and click Type.
The Choose tag type dialog box appears. Chose the type
Memory Real : Floating (decimal) point memory tagname. The floating point
value may be between -3.4e38 and 3.4e38. All floating point calculations
are performed with 64-bit resolution, but the result is stored in 32-bit.
If the tagname is to be connected to any external device then select the type
as I/O. There are some Miscellaneous Type Tagnames which can be used in
InTouch. The information for the same is available in the Windowmaker
help.
4. Once you select the type, respective details dialog box for the selected
type will appear.
5. Click Group to assign the tagname to a specific Alarm Group. The Alarm
Groups dialog box will appear. Select the name of the Alarm Group that you
want to assign to the tagname, then click Done.
7. In the Comment box, type any miscellaneous comment you want the
system to store regarding your tagname (up to 50 characters). You can
configure your alarm windows to display the these comments whenever the
tagname is in alarm.
8. Select Log Data if you want the tagname to be logged to the historical log
file during runtime whenever its engineering unit value changes more than
the Log Deadband value you specify or, by default once an hour, regardless
of change.
9. In order for your tagnames to actually be logged, you must enable logging
through the Configure Historical Logging command on the Special menu.
10. Select Log Events if you want to log all data value changes to the
tagname that are initiated by the operator, I/O, a QuickScript or by the
system.
When you select Log Events, the Priority field becomes active. The value you
type for the Priority determines the event priority level for the tagname.
Valid entries in this field are 1 to 999 where, 1 is the highest and 999 is the
lowest priority.
13. Select Retentive Parameters if you want to retain any changes the
operator makes to the value of any alarm limit fields for the tagname. This
value will be used as the initial value for the alarms when WindowViewer is
restarted.
14. Alarms settings can be given by clicking alarms. Four types of alarms
can be configured ie LOLO, LOW, HI, HIHI.
15. If the tag you defined is I/O type then define access name and the item
name for connecting the tag to the hardware. The procedure for access
name is as follows.
16 Give the item name ie address of the I/O. The item names will differ
from server to server.
4. Drawing the objects
The objects can be drawn using the tool box available in InTouch
windowmaker.
Arrange toolbar
The Arrange toolbar is populated with toolbar buttons that execute most of
the object arranging commands located on the Arrange menu.
View toolbar
The View toolbar is populated with toolbar buttons that execute most of the
window commands located on the View menu. These commands are used to
control the state of the WindowMaker window.
For drawing the objects click on the object and drag it on the screen. The
links for showing the values memory/IO can be made by craating a text
"#.##" and assigning display value properties to it. The level indication can
be made by selecting the tanks wizard and assigning the % fill property to it.
Similarly the indication of the pumps can be done using the descreate
colour property.
5. Animation links
Touch Links
You use Touch Links on objects or symbols that you want to be "touch-
sensitive" in runtime. They allow the operator to input data into the system.
For example, the operator may turn a valve on or off, enter a new alarm
setpoint, run a complex logic script or log on using text strings, and so on.
User inputs
Discrete : Used to control the value of a discrete tagname. When this link is
activated, a dialog box will appear prompting the operator to make a
selection.
String : Used to create an object into which a string message may be input.
When the link is activated, an input box will appear for entering the
message value or an optional on screen keyboard.
Sliders
You use slider touch links to create objects or symbols that can be moved
around the window with the mouse or other pointing devices. As the object
or symbol is moved, it alters the value of the tagname linked to it. This
provides the ability to create devices for setting values in the system.
Touch pushbutton
You use Touch Pushbutton Touch Links to create object links that
immediately perform an operation when clicked with the mouse or touched
(when touch screen is being used). These operations can be Discrete Value
Changes, Action Script executions, Show or Hide Window commands. There
are four types of Touch Pushbutton links:
Discrete Value : Used to make any object or symbol into a pushbutton that
controls the state of a discrete tagname. Pushbutton actions can be set,
reset, toggle, momentary on (direct) and momentary off (reverse) types.
Action : Allows any object, symbol or button to have up to three different
action scripts linked to it; On Down, While Down and On Up. Action scripts
can be used to set tagnames to specific values, show and/or hide windows,
start and control other applications, execute functions, and so on.
Show Window : Used to make an object or symbol into a button that opens
one or more windows when it is clicked or touched.
Hide Window : Used to make an object or symbol into a button that closes
one or more windows when it is clicked or touched.
Colour links (Line Color, Fill Color, and Text Color at)
You use color links to animate the Line Color, Fill Color, and Text Color
attributes of an object.
Each of these color attributes may be made dynamic by defining a color link
for the attribute. The color attribute may be linked to the value of a discrete
expression, analog expression, discrete alarm status or analog alarm status.
There are four types of line, fill and text color: Discrete , Analog , Discrete
Alarm , Analog Alarm .
Discrete :Used to control the fill, line and text colors attributes of an object
or symbol that is linked to the value of a discrete expression.
Analog
Analog : The line, fill, and text color of an object or symbol can be linked to
the value of an analog tagname (integer or real) or an analog expression.
Five value ranges are defined by specifying four breakpoints. Five different
colors can be selected which will be displayed as the value range changes.
Discrete Alarm
Discrete alarms : The text, line, and fill color of an object can all be linked
to the alarm state of a tagname, Alarm Group, or Group Variable. This color
link allows a choice of two colors; one for the normal state and one for the
alarm state of the tagname. This link can be used for both analog and
discrete tagnames. If it is used with an analog tagname, it responds to any
alarm condition of the tagname.
Analog Alarm : The text, line, and fill color of an object can all be linked to
the alarm state of an analog tagname, Alarm Group, or Group Variable.
Allows a specific color to be set for the normal state as well as a separate
color for each alarm condition defined for the tagname.
Object Size links
You use Object Size links to vary the height and/or width of an object
according to the value of an analog (integer or real) tagname or analog
expression. Size links provide the ability to control the direction in which
the object enlarges in height and/or width by setting the "anchor" for the
link. Both height and width links can be attached to the same object.
Miscellaneous Links
alue Display Links provide the ability to use a text object to display the
value of a discrete, analog, or string tagname. There are three types:
You use Percent Fill Links to provide the ability to vary the fill level of a filled
shape (or a symbol containing filled shapes) according to the value of an
analog tagname or an expression that computes to an analog value. For
example, this link may be used to show the level of liquids in a vessel. An
object or symbol may have a horizontal fill link, a vertical fill link, or both.
6. Scripts
All InTouch QuickScripts are event driven. The event may be a data change,
condition, mouse click, timer, and so on. The order of processing is
application specific.
The following briefly describes the types of scripts that you can create:
The Application Scripts are linked to the entire application. You can use
application scripts to start other applications, create process simulations,
calculate variables, and so on. There are three types of Application Scripts
that you can apply to an application.
On Startup Executes one time when the application is initially started up.
While Running Executes continuously at the specified frequency while
the application is running.
On Shutdown Executes one time when the application is exited.
Window Scripts
Window Scripts are linked to a specific window. There are three types of
scripts that you can apply to a window:
Note
If you attach a Window Script to the active window and then you create a
new window, the scripts from the active window can be copied to the new
window. A message dialog box will appear asking if you want to copy the
script(s).
Key Scripts
Touch Pushbutton Action Scripts are similar to Key Scripts, except they are
associated with an object that you link to a Touch Link- Action Pushbutton.
(The script editor is accessed through the animation link selection dialog
box.) They are executed when the operator clicks or presses the object or
button assigned to the link. There are three types of Touch Action Scripts
that you can apply to an object:
On Key Down Executes one time when the key is initially pushed down.
While Down Executes continuously at the specified frequency while
the key is held down.
On Key Up Executes one time when the key is released.
Condition Scripts
Most ActiveX controls have events associated with them. For example, click,
double-click, mouse down and key press are typical events used in many
ActiveX controls. InTouch ActiveX Event scripts are provided to support
event actions. You can associate one ActiveX Event script to each event. You
execute ActiveX control events in runtime (WindowViewer).
Creating FOR-NEXT Loop Scripts
...statements...
IF (condition) THEN
[EXIT FOR;]
ENDIF;
...statements...
NEXT;
Where:
[ ] Items enclosed in brackets denote optional parameters.
BOLDCASE Bold items in UPPERCASE denote script language reserved
keywords.
Italics Items in lowercase italics denote variable data.
AnalogTag An InTouch Analog type tagname.
start_expression A valid InTouch expression, to initialize AnalogTag to a
value for execution of the loop.
end_expression A valid InTouch expression, if AnalogTag is greater than
end_expression, execution of the script jumps to the statement immediately
following the NEXT statement. (This holds true if loop is incrementing up,
otherwise, if loop is decrementing, loop termination will occur if IntegerTag
is less than end_expression.)
InTouch provides you with two types of trend display objects: "Real-time"
and "Historical. You can configure both trend objects to display graphical
representations of multiple tagnames over time. Real-time trends allow you
to chart up to four pens (data values), while Historical trends allow you to
chart up to eight pens. Both types of trends are created using special tools
in WindowMaker. InTouch also provides you with complete control over the
configuration of your trends. For example, you can specify the time span,
value range, grid resolution, location of time stamps, location of value
stamps, number of pens, and color attributes.
Real-Time Trends
3. Release the mouse. The real-time trend object will appear in the
window:
The first time you paste a real-time trend object, the system default
configuration settings are used. Once you have configured a real-time trend,
the next one you create will, by default, be configured with the same
settings.
1. Double-click the trend or, with the trend selected, on the Special
menu, click Animation Links. The Real Time Trend Configuration dialog box
appears.
2. In the Time Span box, type length of time you want to display
horizontally (x-axis) on the trend then select time increment option for the
length of time.
For example, it you enter 30 for the Time Span then select Min, the
horizontal time span of the chart will be 30 minutes long.
3. In the Sample Interval box, type the frequency at which the trend
expression will be evaluated and the chart updated, then select the option
for the time increment to which the number will relate.
For example, if you enter 10 for the Interval and select Sec for the time
increment, the expression will be evaluated every 10 seconds.
4. In the Color group, click the Chart Color box to open the InTouch
color palette. Click the color in the palette that you want to use for the
trend's background.
5. In the Color group, click the Border Color box to open the InTouch
color palette. Click the color in the palette that you want to use for the
trend's border.
6. In the Time Divisions group, in the Number of Major Div box, type the
number of major time divisions you want in the trend, and then select the
color you want to use for the division lines.
7. In the Time Divisions group, in the Minor Div/Major Div box, type the
number of minor time divisions that you want to be visible within each
major time division, and then select the color you want to use for the
division lines.
8. In the Time Divisions group, select Top Labels if you want time labels
displayed at the top of the trend.
9. In the Time Divisions group, select Bottom Labels if you want time
labels displayed at the bottom of the trend.
10. If you are using time labels, in the Time Divisions group, in the Major
Div/Time Label box, type the number of time labels per major time division
line that you want for the trend.
11. In the Time Divisions group, select the color you want to use for the
major time division lines.
12. The settings in Value Divisions group are configured the same way as
the settings in the Time Divisions group, except the minor and major value
divisions set the vertical value (y-axis) range for the trend. This range uses
Engineering Units and is the same for all trended tagnames.
13. In the Expression box, type the local tagname or expression that you
want each Pen to trend.
14. Click the color box to select the color that you want each pen to use to
plot each tagname in the trend.
15. In the Width box, type the number of pixels wide you want each pen
to be.
16. Click Select Display Font to access the Font dialog box to select the
font, style and size that you want to use when you print the trend.
17. Select Only update when in memory if you want your trend to update
only when it is displayed in the active window.
For storing the historical data of a tag, its essential to select the log data
option in the definition of the tags.
3. In the Keep Log Files for box, type the number of days' (prior to today)
log files that you want to keep saved to disk.
For example, if you type 10 and today is the 12th day of the month, the log
files for the 2nd through the 12th (10 days plus today) will be save on disk.
The file for the 1st will automatically be deleted. If you type a zero, the log
files are kept indefinitely.
For example, if the files were created on October 31, 1997, they would be
named as follows:
5. In the Name of Logging Node box, type the NetDDE node name (not the
computer name) for the node that will be logging to the history log file.
6. In the Default % of page to print on box, type the percentage ratio for
the page size to trend size.
Example: If you use 50 for the percentage, when you print a historical trend,
it will fill half of the page (vertically and horizontally). A printout this size
would take roughly one quarter of the time to prepare as a full page
printout.
7. There are many factors that affect the performance of printing historical
trends. The primary performance factor is the size of the chart on the
printed page. You can improve performance by reducing the percentage of
the page that is used.
10. Select Always use colors when printing if you are using a color printer
or plotter.
11. Click Select Printer Font, to access the Windows Font dialog box.
12. Click OK to save your settings and close the dialog box.
Placing the historical trends in MIMIC
1. Click on Wizards
Wizard selection box will appear.
2. Select Trends
Hist trends/Trend zoom/Trend Legend/Hist data wizard and event chart
wizard will appear in the wizard selection
3. Double click on the "Historical Trends/scooter and scale" & then click in
the window.
The historical chart will appear.
4. Double click on the chart
Historical trend chart wizard window will appear.
5. The historical trends use 2 internal tags for its operation
Type historical tag as "H1" and pen scale as "P1"
6. click on the pens for configuring the tags which are to be shown in the
historical window. You can not enter the tags if "View" application is
running.
1. Select the "Trend zoom" wizard form trends and place it in the window/
2. Double click on the wizard and give the same tags H1 & P1 in the
definition window. Because if these two tags, the trend zoom will be
linked to historical chart.
Trend Legend
In Historical charts, two scooters are used for selecting the desired time.
The values where a scooter cuts the historical chart are displayed using
Trend legend. For configuring the trend legend
1. Select the "Trend legend" wizard form trends and place it in the window/
2. Double click on the wizard and give the same tags H1 & P1 in the
definition window. Because if these two tags, the trend legend will be
linked to historical chart.
9. Alarm & events
On the Special menu, point at Configure and then, click Alarms. The Alarm
Properties appears with the General properties sheet active.
1. In the Alarm Buffer Size box, the number of "in-memory" alarm events
you want WindowViewer to maintain. (The maximum number of alarms that
the node can store for summary or history queries.)
2. In the Printer Buffer Size box, type the number of bytes of the buffer
that will be used by WindowViewer for parallel printers.
3. In the Update Frequency of Printer/Logger box, type the number of
milliseconds that WindowViewer wait before trying again to print alarm
messages when a printer is offlinee.
4. Select RTN implies Ack if you want alarmed tagnames that return to
the "normal" state (RTN) to automatically be acknowledged (ACK). Do not
select this option if you want the operator to acknowledge an alarm after it
returns to normal.
5. Select Position New Alarms as End of Alarm Window if you want new
alarms to be displayed at the end of the alarm display object. Alarm
windows provide the ability to page back and forth through the alarm
queue. Therefore, enabling this option will cause the alarm display object to
automatically scroll forward to show the new alarm. If this option is not
enabled, the new alarm will be added to the bottom of the list, but the alarm
display object will only scroll forward by one line.
6. Select Events Enabled if you want to turn on event logging of all data
changes that are initiated by the operator, I/O, scripts or, the system. (Only
tagnames with Log Events selected will be effected.)
8. Select Use Tag Comment field for Alarm Comments if you are doing
distributed alarming and you want the distributed alarm system to use the
comments in the Tagname Dictionary for alarm acknowledgment comments.
The tags can not be deleted if they occur in any window or script. For
deleting the tag remove all the occurrence of the tag. Click on update use
count from special menu. Update use count will scan the whole application
to how many tags used in the application. Once the update use count is
over you can delete the tag just by clicking delete unused tags from special
menu. If you click delete unused tags, list of all the tags which are not used
in the application will appear. Select the desired tags to be deleted and click
delete.