GEI-100271

System Database (SDB) Browser

These instructions do not purport to cover all details or variations in equipment, nor to provide every possible contingency to be
met during installation, operation, and maintenance. If further information is desired or if particular problems arise that are not
covered sufficiently for the purchasers purpose, the matter should be referred to GE Motors & Industrial Systems.
This document contains proprietary information of General Electric Company, USA and is furnished to its customer solely to assist
that customer in the installation, testing, operation, and/or maintenance of the equipment described. This document shall not be
reproduced in whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Motors &
Industrial Systems.

Safety Symbol Legend

CAUTION
Indicates a procedure, practice,
condition, or statement that, if not
strictly observed, could result in
damage to or destruction of
equipment.

Note Indicates an essential or

important procedure, practice,
condition, or statement.

Table of Contents
Safety Symbol Legend .............................................................................................1
Functional Description ............................................................................................1
Starting the SDB Browser.......................................................................................2
From SDB Server Control .......................................................................................2
From Control System Toolbox and GEMIS Tools for CIMPLICITY .....................3
SDB Browser Tabs ..................................................................................................4
Signal Tab................................................................................................................4
Topology Tab ..........................................................................................................8
Where Used Tab ......................................................................................................9
Alarms Tab ............................................................................................................10
Scales Tab .............................................................................................................10
NetGroups Tab ......................................................................................................11
Resources Tab .......................................................................................................11
Signal Fields ...........................................................................................................12
Data Types Used by Toolbox ..................................................................................17
Message Classes for DLAN+ ..................................................................................18

Functional Description
For assistance, contact:
Industrial Control Systems
General Electric Company
Product Service Engineering
1501 Roanoke Blvd.
Salem, VA 24153-6492 USA
Phone 001-540-387-7595
Fax 001-540-387-8606

SDB Browser is used to view the contents of an SDB database, display the topology
of a system, perform a filtered signal search on the SDB, list system scales, and more.
The SDB Browser is implemented as a Dynamic Link Library (DLL), so it must be
started from another application such as, the GE Control System Toolbox, the SDB
Server Control, and GEMIS Tools for CIMPLICITY (SDB Utilities, and the
Diagnose application). The Browser can be accessed from the Control System
Toolbox with or without having a device open.
Note The SDB must be chosen in the toolbox database before the menu item, View
SDB Browser is enabled (choose the Options menu, Settings, and the tab Database).

CIMPLICITY is a trademark of GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc.

Ethernet is a trademark of Xerox Corporation.
Genius is a trademark of GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc.
Series 90 is a trademark of GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc.

Starting the SDB Browser

.

The SDB Browser is started from an applications menu or toolbar button as

described in the following sections.

From SDB Server Control

Refer to the application
manual, GEI-100189 or the
online help.

To start the SDB Browser from the SDB Server Control

1.

From the SDB Server Control dialog box, click on the

2.

Then click

3.

Make sure the name of the database is in the Selected DB name text box.

4.

Click on the Browse SDB button. The SDB Browser window displays.

2 System Database (SDB) Browser

button.

button. The SDB Maintenance dialog box displays.

GEI-100271

The SDB Browser displays the following buttons on the toolbar:

Click

To
The pushpin determines whether or not the Browser Window is held
open or closed. If this pushpin is displayed, the Window closes when the
area outside the Browser Window is clicked. Click on the pushpin to
keep the Browser displayed on top of other windows, even when clicked
outside the Browser Window.
This pushpin displays when the pushpin above is clicked on. The
Browser Window remains open and on top of the screen when the
pushpin is in this position (even when working in another window).
Hide all tabs and make the Browser window display only the Output
View.
Load signal query settings from a file (only available in the Signal tab).
Save the current signal query settings to a binary file with the extension
.sqs (only available in the Signal tab).
Save results of the signal query to a text file that can be viewed in
Notepad (only available in the Signal tab).
Print the signal query results in the Output View to produce a hard copy
(only available in the Signal tab).
Delete a device and all signals owned by the device from the SDB
database (only available in the Topology tab).
Help button will display this help file.

From the Control System Toolbox or GEMIS Tools

for CIMPLICITY (SDB Utilities)
Refer to the toolbox manual,
GEH-6333.

To start the SDB Browser from the GE Control System Toolbox or

GEMIS Tools for CIMPLICITY (SDB Utilities)

Or the GEMIS tools manual,

GEH-6372.

From the main Menu, choose View and then SDB Browser. The SDB
Browser window displays.

Refer to the online help found

in both applications.

Tip Refer to the previous section for a description of the browser window and
toolbar buttons.

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System Database (SDB) Browser 3

SDB Browser Tabs

Signal Tab
To perform a signal query
1.

From the SDB Browser, choose the tab Signal.

To define the
signal query,
click on the
Query... button
(Refer to the
Query Design
dialog box in
step 2.)
The finished
query displays
in the Output
View

4 System Database (SDB) Browser

GEI-100271

2.
The order shown in the
following screen is the default
order.

From the tab Signal, click on Query. The Query Design dialog box displays.
In the Query Design dialog box each attribute of a signal is represented by a
Field. The order of the field columns in the dialog box determines the order of
the data when the results of the query are displayed in the Output View. This
order can be changed by clicking on a column to highlight it, then drag-anddrop to a new location.
Signal fields can be rearranged using
drag-and-drop

Sort arranges the

order of multicolumns
Show or Hide
determines the
visibility of a field in
the Output View.

Critera or Or
establishes the
guidlines of the find
(such as using
Wildcards).

3.

Click on the column/cell to highlight it. Choose the Sort and Visibility for each
field. Edit the order of the columns, if desired.
Sort is a drop-down list to arrange the order of the data by choosing None,
Ascending, or Descending. Sort order is from left to right and the default is
None.
Visibility is a drop down list to Show or Hide a field (column) to minimize the
number of columns of the Output View results. Show is the default.

4.

Enter the item(s) to query in the row(s) Criteria: and Or:

Criteria: and Or: are used to establish the filter of the query. Enter the item to
match in the desired field (column). Wildcards, such as the asterix symbol *
(match any number of any character) and question mark ? (match one of any
character) are allowed.

5.

GEI-100271

Click OK and view the results in the Output View.

System Database (SDB) Browser 5

Criteria Examples
The following are examples of entering multiple criteria in the Query Design dialog
box. Match signals where:
REG1NAME begins with R and REG2NAME equals FEED.

REG1NAME equals MILL1 or REG1NAME equals MILL2.

REG1NAME begins with R and REG2NAME equals FEED or NET_NAME equals

RDL01.

Criteria is evaluated by the

row. Therefore, match signals
where REG1NAME begins
with R and REG2NAME
equals FEED is evaluated
first. Then, the next row,
NET_NAME equals RDL01 is
evaluated.

REG1NAME begins with R and NET_NAME equals RDL01 or REG1NAME

begins with R and NET_NAME equals RDL02

6 System Database (SDB) Browser

GEI-100271

Signal Query Example

To change the order of
columns, click on the column
and then drag-and drop to the
new location.

The following Query Design changes the default order of the columns. The first five
columns have Show for the visibility attribute, so the resulting list will only show the
owning device plus the full signal name. The criteria (or filter) reads:
Match all signals where REG1NAME begins with the letters FM or where
REG2NAME equals SHAW or REG2NAME = test (The filter is not case
sensitive).

The following screen displays the results of the signal query in the Output View.

Click
to restore a
previously saved query
design.

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A query design can be saved. The saved file will include the criteria of each column,
the sort order, visibility, and the order of the columns.
Click

to save the query design to a binary file with the extension .sqs.

Click

to save the results as a text file that can be viewed in Notepad.

System Database (SDB) Browser 7

Topology Tab
To display topology information
The
button gets
recent data from the SDB
database.

1.

From the SDB Browser, choose the tab Topology.

2.

Click on Update button. The Topology Output View displays as shown

below.

View Options

Output Views

Expand the tree hierarchy by

clicking on the symbol .

The left Output View displays devices, networks, and pages in a tree hierarchy. Click
on an item in the tree to highlight it. The right Output View displays detailed
information about the item highlighted. Control how this information is organized by
choosing one of the following options:
View by device displays all devices in the SDB as shown below. When expanded,
each device lists all the networks that the device is connected to and each network lists
the pages that the device owns on that network.

8 System Database (SDB) Browser

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The drop number of the

device is in parenthesis next
to the device name.

View by Network displays all networks in the SDB as shown below. When
expanded, each network lists all the devices connected to that network and each
device name lists all pages that the device owns on that network.

Delete a device and all

signals owned by the device
from the SDB by highlighting
the device and click on the
delete button

Note If a device is accidentally deleted, it can only be recovered by re-posting the

device through the appropriate tool (such as the toolbox for drives or controllers).

Where Used Tab

To display signal usage information
The
button starts
the search process.

1.

From the SDB Browser, choose the tab Where Used.

2.

Type in a signal name

3.

Click on Update button. The Where Used Output View displays the location
where the signal is used as shown below.

The display window displays all the devices that use the signal UC1\fdlo1\sig2. In
order for a device to display in this list, it must have referenced the above signal in its
code, and performed a successful bind against the SDB for that signal.

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System Database (SDB) Browser 9

Alarms Tab
To display alarm information
Click
to
display information.

1.

From the SDB Browser, choose the tab Alarms.

2.

Click on Update button. The Alarms Output View displays as shown below.

Alarms originate in the System Device of the GE Control System Toolbox as

Broadcast alarms.

Scale Tab
To display scale information
Click
to
display information.

1.

From the SDB Browser, choose the tab Scale.

2.

Click on Update button. The Scale Output View displays as shown below.

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NetGroup Tab
To display network group information
Click
to
display information.

1.

From the SDB Browser, choose the tab NetGroup.

2.

Click on Update button. The NetGroup Output View displays as shown

below.

Resources Tab
To display resources information
Click
to
display information.

1.

From the SDB Browser, choose the tab Resources.

2.

Click on Update button. The Resources Output View displays as shown

below.

Signals can be assigned to a specific resource (see res_ID field in the signal attribute
list). The resource is used to filter which signals get imported into the CIMPLICITY
HMI system using SDB Utility.

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System Database (SDB) Browser 11

Signal Fields
The following tables describes the SDB signal fields (see the section Signal Tab).

Table 1. SDB Signal Fields

Field Name

Name
Description

Type

Description

REG1NAME

Region 1 name
(part of the fully
qualified signal)

String, six
characters
maximum

The first part of a fully qualified signal name. See SIG_NAME

for details on signal naming conventions. The REG1NAME is
a required part for a signal.

REG2NAME

Region 2 name
(part of the fully
qualified signal)

String, six
characters
maximum

The second part of a fully qualified signal name (optional).

See SIG_NAME for details on signal naming conventions.

REG3NAME

Region 3 name
(part of the fully
qualified signal)

String, six
characters
maximum

The third part of a fully qualified signal name (optional) . See

SIG_NAME for details on signal naming conventions.

SIG_NAME

Signal Name (last

part of fully
qualified signal)

String, 12
characters
maximum

The fourth part of a fully qualified signal name. The

SIG_NAME is a required part for a signal. The fully qualified
signal name can be described as,
Reg1name\Reg2name\Reg3name\Sig_name
Reg2name and reg3name are optional, so a fully qualified
signal could be named at a minimum as,
Reg1name\Sig_name
The backslashes are part of the fully qualified signal name.
Including the backslashes and the maximum sizes of the
different parts, a fully qualified signal name can be 33
characters long. However, the CIMPLICITY HMI system uses
the fully qualified signal name as the PointID when signals
are imported into the HMI point database. The limitation for
PointID is 32 characters. For this reason, the total size of a
signal is limited to 32 characters when signals are posted to
the SDB.
The fully qualified signal name must be unique on a given
network. This means that it is possible for two networks to
have identical fully qualified signal names. The SDB Server
enforces uniqueness for the following fields: Net_name +
reg1name + reg2name + reg3name + sig_name.
The signal name can be the same on two different networks
in order to support routing of a signal from one network to
another.

DEV_NAME

Device Name
which owns this
signal

String, seven
character
maximum (limit
of five for the
toolbox name).

12 System Database (SDB) Browser

This is the device that owns the signal. The device name field
should never be blank. The device name can have up to
seven characters. However, the toolbox enforces a five
character limit to the device name in order to maintain
backwards compatibility with the LynxOs based USDB.

GEI-100271

SDB Signal Fields continued

Field Name

Name
Description

Type

Description

NET_NAME

Net Name where String, five

character
this signal is
maximum
available

Name of the network where the signal is made available by the

owning device. The device in DEV_NAME is connected to this
network when viewing the topology of the SDB.
To support diagnostics on operator stations or an HMI system,
signals that are internal only (to a device) are also stored in the
signal table of the SDB. In this case, net name is meaningless.
In order to differentiate between network available signals and
internal signals, the net name field is forced to be the same as
the device name, and page name (PAGE_NAME) is assigned
the value NULLP (for Null page).

PAGE_NAME

String, five
Page Name
where this signal character
maximum
originates

This is the name of the page where this signal is mapped. A

signals address (SIGADDR) is relative to the page which is
named in this field. (See NET_NAME about internal signals.)
For DLAN+, the page has physical meaning ( Status_S page
word/bit) within this networks protocol. However, for Ethernet
SRTP and other networks, the page is an artificial construct
used only to group signals.

SCALE_NAME

Scale name used String, 12

by this signal
character
maximum

For analog type signals, this is the name of the scale associated
with the signal. For details on the scale, click on the Scale tab
in the SDB Browser. A scale definition includes conversion
factors, alarm limits, entry limits, clamp limits, units, precision,
and more.

SDESC

Signal
description

String, 50
character
maximum

This is the user entered signal description. In the toolbox, the

description is the first 50 characters of the note associated with
the signal definition.

IODESC

I/O description

String, 50
character
maximum

If the signal points to a physical I/O point, this field is the user
entered I/O description. In the toolbox, the I/O description is the
first 50 characters of the note associated with the I/O point.

MEMODESC

Memo
description

String, no limit

This field is used for UC2000 diagnostics. If this signal is a

UC2000 internal signal that is the Status Pin on a block that
sends diagnostic messages (PENG, BENG_D, etc), then the
MEMODESC is the note associated with the block. This text
displays in the diagnostic system as the second level explain
when a diagnostic message is generated.

ALRMENABLE

Alarm enabled

Boolean, one
character

If the value of this field is False, DO NOT use this signal as an

alarm. If the value of this field is True, use this signal to generate
alarms. If it is an analog signal with a scale, then alarm
generation should be based on the appropriate scale fields. If
Boolean signal, a change in state of this signal may or may not
generate an alarm. This field is primarily used when SDB
Signals are imported into the CIMPLICITY Point database. If this
Boolean is true, then an alarm definition is created for this point
in the CIMPLICITY system.

GEI-100271

System Database (SDB) Browser 13

SDB Signal Fields continued

Field Name

Name
Description

Type

Description

HOP_COUNT

Hop count
(number of
devices away from
true owner)

Numeric, one
significant
digit

When a signal is routed from one network to another, this field

stores the number of devices that are between this signal and
the actual source of the signal. If a signal is routed through
device R1 from net 1 to net 2, and then by device R2 from net
2 to net 3, then the record for the signal on net 3 will have a
hop count of 2.

SDEV_NO

Source Device
Number where
signal originates

Numeric, five
significant
digits

This field is used for routed signals. This is the device number
for the device that originated the routed signal. This data is
required in the UC2000 for signals that are routed through the
DLAN+. The Source Device Number is included in the actual
command message that is sent by a device.

SNET_NO

Source Net
Number where
signal originates

Numeric, five
significant
digits

This field is used for routed signals. This is the network

number where the signal originated from. This data is required
in the UC2000 for signals that are routed through the DLAN+.
The Source Net Number is included in the actual command
message that is sent by a device.

SSIGADDR

Source Signal
Address

String, 10
characters
maximum

For routed signals, this is the address of the signal for the
device that sources the signal. This is used for command bits
that are routed for DLAN+.

SRPAGE_NO

Source Relative
Page Number

Numeric, two
significant
digits

For routed signals, this is the relative page number (Port ID)
where the signal is located for the device that sources the
signal. This is used for command bits that are routed.

RES_ID

CIMPLICITY
Resource name

String, 12
characters
maximum

This field is used to filter signals imported from the SDB into
the CIMPLICITY Point database. Importing methods include
specifying the network and the device from which you wish to
import signals (if desired). There can be thousands of signals
on a given network, but the HMI system may be interested in
only a small percentage of these. For example, assign
Resource names to specific signals; Import all signals on
network FDL01 that have a resource name of ENTRY,
PROCESS, and EXIT.
Resources are defined in the toolbox by the System Device,
under the Resource Type Def. When the System device is
posted, the Resources are stored in the SDB. Now, when a
UC2000 binds against the SDB, the Resource list is made
available, so that I/O points can be assigned a resource. The
Resource is assigned to the points in the toolbox where the
network I/O point is defined. (See the Resources tab in the
SDB Browser for defined resources.)

14 System Database (SDB) Browser

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SDB Signal Fields continued

Field Name

Name
Description

Type

Description

DATA_TYPE

Data type for this

signal

String, 8
characters
maximum

There is no restriction by the SDB on what is put into the data

type field. There has to be contract between applications that
post signals and those that bind signals (the separate
applications must agree on exactly what is meant by a DINT
data type).

SIG_DIR

Signal direction
(read, write, both)

Character,
R, W, B

This field is used to indicate whether a device that binds this

signal can write to the signal, or just read the signal, or both.
For DLAN+, feedback signals are typically read only. Command
bits or setpoints are usually both.

SIG_CODE

Signal code
(event, refresh,
none)

Character,
E, R, N

The signal code is normally only used for Boolean signals. An

event bit is usually a command bit and when it is set by another
device, the owner of the signal will then reset the bit after
detection of the event (the bit goes high). A refresh bit is also
usually a command bit. The device that sets the bit to a one is
required to send set commands at a periodic rate in order to
keep the bit set to a one. If the sender does not keep
refreshing the bit, then the owner of the signal forces it to a
zero.

Refer To Table 2
for a list of the
data types used
by the toolbox.

The usual example is the JogFwd Command. If an OC2000

sends a command to jog forward, but then it is disconnected
from the network, there is no way for it to reset the jog forward
command. This problem is solved by the fact that it can no
longer refresh its jogfwd command, so the drive stops the jog.
If the signal is neither an event bit or a refresh bit, then this field
will be set to N for none.

SIGADDR

Signal Address

String, 10
characters
maximum

This is the address of the signal. For Status_S, it is the word

and bit number in the form of word_no.bit_no ( 23.5) or just
word no (34). For a Ethernet SRTP, the address is in the form
%Xnumber (%R543). For Ethernet Global Data protocol (EGD)
it is byte_no.bit_no (45.4) or byte_no (34).
For EGD or DLAN+, the word number, or byte number is
relative to the page. For Ethernet SRTP, the number is relative
to the whole network.

HSIGADDR

GEI-100271

Signal Health
Address

String, 10
characters
maximum

The form is the same as SIGADDR. The address always points

to a Boolean. True means the signal is healthy and False (0)
indicates that the value for the signal may not be valid. This
field is used only for DLAN+ or EGD. If no health signal is
defined, then the value in this field is either blank, or
65535.6553.

System Database (SDB) Browser 15

SDB Signal Fields continued

Field Name

Name
Description

Type

Description

DEV_TAG

Device Tag ID

String, 20
characters
maximum

This field is the customer or the mill builders item number for
the device that this I/O signal is associated with. The value is
user defined.

WIRENO

Signal Wire
Number

String, eight
characters
maximum

Enter the wire number on electrical drawings for the I/O related
to this signal

SIG_XREF

Signal Cross
Reference

String, 15
characters
maximum

This is a general-purpose field for storing signal crossreference information.

DEVLOC

Signals Device
Location

String, six
characters
maximum

This field indicates the plant location for the device that
originates this I/O point for example, OPPOR1 (Operator Side
of the Payoff Reel 1). The value is user defined.

PNLLOC

Panel Location
where signal is
brought in

String, 30
characters
maximum

This field is for the panel location of the I/O card or terminal
strip that sources the signal.

PNLCOLID

Panel Column ID

String, four
characters
maximum

This field is for the column ID where the panel is located.

PNL_NAME

Panel Name

String, 25
characters
maximum

Enter the panel name.

GEDWGREF

General Electric
Drawing
Reference

String, five
characters
maximum

Enter the GE Drawing reference. It is the actual sheet number

where this I/O point shows up on the GE elementary.

SDEVTYPE

Source Device
Type

String, eight
characters
maximum

Enter the type of I/O card that sources the signal. This
information is useful for diagnostics.

SDEV_NAME

Source Device
Name

String, eight
characters
maximum

Enter the name of the I/O card that sources the signal. This
information is useful for diagnostics.

SNET_NAME

Source Net
Name

String, five
characters
maximum

This field is for the name of network that sources the signal.
This would normally be the I/O network (such as Genius).
This information is useful for diagnostics.

16 System Database (SDB) Browser

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SDB Signal Fields continued

Field Name

Name
Description

Type

Description

SDROP_NO

Source Drop
Number

Numeric, three
significant digits

Enter drop number of the I/O card that sources the signal. This
information is useful for diagnostics.

SMOD_NO

Source Module
Number

Numeric, three
significant digits

Enter the module number of the I/O card that sources the
signal. This information is useful for diagnostics.

SPOINT_NO

Source Point
Number

Numeric, three
significant digits

Enter the point number of the I/O card that sources the signal.
This information is useful for diagnostics.

Msg_Class

Message Class
(for DLAN+).

Numeric, three
significant digits

Status_S message class of the signal used only for (DLAN+)

Status_S signals. The message class is part of the Status_S
broadcast or group command messages and is used by
recipients to filter out commands that are not meant for them.

Refer To Table 3
for a list of the
supported
message classes
for DLAN+.

Data Types
Table 2. Data Types Used By Toolbox

GEI-100271

BOOL

Boolean

BIT

Boolean

INT

Integer

DINT

Double integer

LINT

Long integer

UINT

Unsigned integer

UDINT

Unsigned double integer

ULINT

Unsigned long integer

FLOAT

Real

BYTE

Bit string

WORD

Bit string

DWORD

Bit string

LWORD

Bit string

CHRxxxxx

Character (byte) array of length xxxx

TIME

Time (hh.mm.ss) (24 hour day)

DATE

Date (yyyy.mm.dd)

DATETIME

Date and time (yyyy.mm.dd.hh.mm.ss)

System Database (SDB) Browser 17

Message Classes for DLAN+

Table 3. Supported Message Classes for DLAN+
Message
Class
0

Type

Description

variables
(MM2000)

Setpoint page

4
5

bit
var

Drive alone page

6
7

bit
var

IOS alone page

8
9

bit
var

Any with shared page

10
11

bit
var

IOS part of with shared page

12
13

bit
var

Excitor part of with shared page

14
15

bit
var

Stand Control JMP_CTL alone

16
17

bit
var

Stand Control AGC alone page

20
21

bit
var

Stand Control SC2000 alone page

22
23

bit
var

Stand Control COORD alone page

24
25

bit
var

PID in SC2000 PC

30
31

bits
variables

Series 90-70

32
33

bit
var

MMI2000 or DM2000 alone page

80
81

bits
variables

MARKV

96
97

bits
variables

UC2000

GEI-100271
Issue Date: October 1997
1997 General Electric
Company, USA

18 System Database (SDB) Browser

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