Course T300, Engineering an 800xA System

Chapter 13 Process Displays

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 13 Process Displays .................................................................................................................................................... 13-1
13.1 General Information...................................................................................................................................................... 13-3
13.1.1 Description............................................................................................................................................................. 13-3
13.1.2 Objectives .............................................................................................................................................................. 13-3
13.1.3 Reference Documentation...................................................................................................................................... 13-3
13.2 Graphics........................................................................................................................................................................ 13-4
13.2.1 Graphics Builder VB 6 ....................................................................................................................................... 13-4
13.2.2 Create Graphic Display Aspect.............................................................................................................................. 13-5
13.2.3 Start Graphics Builder ........................................................................................................................................... 13-6
13.2.4 Graphics Builder Configuration of Static Parts ..................................................................................................... 13-7
13.2.5 Graphics Builder Configuration of Dynamic Parts................................................................................................ 13-8
13.2.6 Graphic Builder Sub elements ............................................................................................................................... 13-9
13.2.7 ActiveX Symbol Library ..................................................................................................................................... 13-11
13.3 Graphic Elements ....................................................................................................................................................... 13-13
13.3.1 Graphic Elements Navigation .............................................................................................................................. 13-13
13.3.2 Create Graphic Element Aspect........................................................................................................................... 13-14
13.4 Special Elements......................................................................................................................................................... 13-15
13.4.1 PgEventTunnel .................................................................................................................................................... 13-15
13.4.2 Without PgEventTunnel ...................................................................................................................................... 13-17
13.4.3 Aspect Link.......................................................................................................................................................... 13-17
13.4.4 AspectViewCt...................................................................................................................................................... 13-18
13.5 The Display Tool ........................................................................................................................................................ 13-19

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13.1 General Information

13.1.1 Description
Process Displays are displays based on a Graphic Display. They are created as a
graphical view onto the plant. The main person who deals with the Process Displays is
the operator. The entry point into the system for the operator is the Startup Display,
located at the Operator Workplace object. The Startup Display for itself is a Process
Display. From here the operator is able to navigate through all the single Process
Displays of the plant.

13.1.2 Objectives
After completion of this chapter you will be able to

Create and deal with Process Graphics

Describe navigations through Process Graphics

13.1.3 Reference Documentation

OperateIT Process Portal A Graphics Users Guide

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Chapter 13 Process Displays

13.2 Graphics
When the Functional Structure has been built up it is time to create the process
graphics.
The inserted process objects have graphic aspects already possible to use but not
organized in any graphic system suitable for the operator.
Since the operator works with the plant in a functional way it is natural to create the
operator displays in this structure.
The next natural step is to create graphic displays and use as much as possible graphic
elements of existing process objects ( e.g. Bargraph of a measuring object ). These
graphic elements are already connected to their dedicated Control Connection aspect
and OPC properties. But on the other hand it is also possible to use components from
graphic libraries like a button, indicator, etc. But this components have to be
connected individually to the OPC properties.
OPC

Controller
Valve

Process Portal A
Applications

CM instance

Control Structure

Graphic Elements
Control Connection
Faceplate

Insert
object

Functional Structure

Graphic display

Reuse

13.2.1 Graphics Builder VB 6

Key features

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Configuration of displays, graphic elements and faceplates

Includes common drawing features: align, copy, paste, etc.

Engineering an 800xA System

Use expressions on any property

Graphics librariesUse of logical colors

If LT1.Value > 100 then

Color=Red else Color=Blue

E.g. BackgroundColor1, AlarmColor2 etc.

Extended Visual Basic 6.0

Extended Visual Basic 6.0

Tools

Property Window

- Element browser
- Expression Builder
Toolboxes

Graphics Builder is based on Visual Basic 6.0 but provides features for to make
display design easy and fast.
The toolboxes are extended with a large number of components suitable for process
automation.
The menus are also different from standard VB to make the usage easy and adapted
for the aspect object model.

13.2.2 Create Graphic Display Aspect

Graphic aspects are located in the Process Graphics branch.

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Chapter 13 Process Displays

Define a name

13.2.3 Start Graphics Builder

The first time the graphic display is previewed it will give you the possibility to edit
the display. When the display has been edited the first time and deployed it will show
the display layout and the edit functionality can then be reached in the context menu.
Deployed means compiled and registered in the system as an ActiveX component in
an OCX-file. There are no needs for knowledge about ActiveX or COM to create
process graphics. The Graphics Builder tool hides all the tricky parts, but will still
support you with the full power of Visual Basic.

Starts
Graphics Builder

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13.2.4 Graphics Builder Configuration of Static Parts

13.2.4.1 Toolbox Components
Basic usage of VB is the same. If you need to use a component in the toolbox you
select the component and draw the area in the display where it should be located.
The component can then be resized or moved.

Resize the figure

Select the object

Draw it in the display

Reshape the figure

13.2.4.2 Add Graphic Libraries

Select Tools | Graphic Libraries to add the graphic libraries you need

Add
graphic libraries

If you need all the graphic libraries: Check all the boxes

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Chapter 13 Process Displays

13.2.4.3 Component Properties

All components placed in the display exposes properties.
These properties can be modified in the property window and in this way it is possible
to change the look of a control.
Properties can also be connected to dynamic values to indicate status of a process
object.
If you create a simple process graphic display this is the only knowledge needed to
create the static parts.

Change fill style

13.2.5 Graphics Builder Configuration of Dynamic Parts

13.2.5.1 Adding Graphic Elements by Using Element Browser
When the dynamic information should be added to the display it is easy if to reuse the
graphics from the Control structure objects.
Use the Element Browser tool to find the objects in the structures.
When an object has been selected. The Element Browser will list all reusable graphics
in a list, where it is possible to select and add the graphic in the display. There isnt
any need of further configuration. The process connection will work as soon you have
deployed the display. Only in special cases there is a need for other tools.

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Reused graphic aspect

Working dynamic behavior

13.2.5.2 Adding Graphic Elements by Using Drag And Drop

Select the object in question in the control structure

Drag and drop the aspect (graphic element) into the drawing area

Resize the graphic element

Place the graphic element in a suitable position

Drag and drop

Resize the graphic element

13.2.6 Graphic Builder Sub elements

If you intend to show something dynamic in the display that isnt available on the
process objects this can be done in some different ways.

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Process objects has an aspect Control Module type, in the picture named Control
Connection that exposes properties (often referred as OPC-properties).
The graphic elements on a process object always know how to find these properties
since both aspects exist on the same object.
Therefore reusing graphics is so easy with the Element browser tool.
Functional Structure
Graphic display
Reuse

Valve1

OPC Properties:

Control Connection

Value

Graphic Elements

Blocked

Property browsing dialog

Alarm
Etc
In the toolbox Sub elements you can find a number of components that are easy to use
for the purpose of showing dynamic process values.
All these components have a property branch ObjectPropertyList.
These properties have a built in property browsing dialog where you easily can find
the property you want to connect.
By selecting the correct property and deploy the display you can get a dynamic value
in the display.

13.2.6.1 Save and Deploy

Save

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Deploy the graphic display by selecting File | Deploy or clicking on the

Deploy button

Save the display by selecting File | Save or clicking on the Save button
Deploy

Engineering an 800xA System

13.2.7 ActiveX Symbol Library

The 800xA system provides a large library with ActiveX symbols.
1. Open the Graphics Builder.
2. Enable the library Symbol Factory Controls (Tools Libraries).

3. Create a new SFStandard symbol on the User Control area.

4. To open the property pages please open the Context Menu for the SFStandard
graphic and select Properties.

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5. Please select a graphic from the category Buildings and click OK then.

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13.3 Graphic Elements

Graphic Elements are normally created on object types to be reused in graphic
displays from the instances in the Control Structure.

Process Portal A
Control Structure

Object Type Structure

OPC
Graphic Elements

Graphic Elements

Control Connection

Control Connection

Valvetype_1

Instancing

Functional Structure
Graphic display
Insert
Reuse

13.3.1 Graphic Elements Navigation

Graphic elements

Used for reusable graphic in object types

Used for navigation

The Graphic element will act as a push button in the display depending on the
property Input Enabled. If this property is set to true a click on the element will
result in a display change. The normal is that the faceplate is shown for process
objects. The reason why the faceplate is the selected aspect is that it has been tagged to
be the default aspect.
Graphic Display
Graphic Elements
Control Connection
Faceplate
Name

Aspect Key Default Aspect

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Chapter 13 Process Displays

13.3.2 Create Graphic Element Aspect

To add a graphic element is done in the same way as any other aspect.

Define a name

13.3.2.1 Edit Graphic Elements

To edit a graphic element is done in the same way as any other graphics and the tool
Graphics Builder is the same.

Starts
Graphics Builder

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13.4 Special Elements

There are some special elements existing in the Special library of the Graphics
Builder. These elements provide some special functionality we need for the navigation
in graphics later on.

13.4.1 PgEventTunnel
Note: The PgEventTunnel element has some disadvantage like no ToolTip and
less performance. Do not use it unless you really need it.
There are situations when you click within a graphic element or display when you may
not see the context menu (right-click), or may not be able to bring up the default
aspect (left-click), or see any object marking around a graphic element. The reason is
that it is not possible to click through some of the controls used in the graphic
element.
To solve the problem you can place Event Tunnel controls, to cover, and in turn
enable mouse-clicks to tunnel through to the standard input handling. The point is to
be able to tunnel the click through the labels.
The presences of an EventTunnel control marks the whole graphic aspect to capture
and response on all Mouse Events to the container object - the graphic element or
display.
We want create a new Graphic Element named Process Display View. This Process
Display View is based on the Simple Bar graphic of our Function Block Type
GenGenerator. We want to edit the Process Display View so that a click onto the bar
will provide a dialog with the faceplate view. For doing this we have to create a
PgEventTunnel.
Create a PgEventTunnel:
1. Open the Object Type Structure and select the a object. Create a new aspect of
type Graphic Element and name it Process Display View.
2. Open the Graphics Builder for Process Display View.
3. Open the Tool Box in the Graphics Builder and add the element IBar.

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4. Select the Special library from the Toolbox.

5. Select the element PgEventTunnel and draw it exactly over the Simple Bar
element.

6. Deploy the Process Display View graphic.

Remember: If you have an empty Graphic Element and in the preview area (or Main
View) you click onto this element, a new dialog pops up where the default aspect of
your object is shown (the Main View of it).
Before we created the PgEventTunnel a click onto the Process Display View in the
preview area enabled an entry field for the value of the bar. This is managed by the
Simple Bar element.

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After we placed the PgEventTunnel above the Simple Bar element the event tunnel
transfers the click event through the Simple. Now the click event triggers the Process
Display View and so the default aspect of the object is visible.

13.4.2 Without PgEventTunnel

This is the normal way to proceed without PgEventTunnel elmenent.
1. Open the Object Type Structure and select an object type. Create a new
aspect of type Graphic Element and name it Process Display View.
2. Open the Graphics Builder for Process Display View and insert the Special
library.
3. Select the Special library and create a new element of type IBar.
4. Move and size the Process Display View as shown in the picture below.

5. Open the Properties Window for the IBar and select the EnableInput property
to FALSE.
6. Click the Deploy button for deploying the new element.

13.4.3 Aspect Link

The Aspect Link can be placed in a graphic display and is used to open another aspect.
Note that it will always open an overlap from the preview area in the plant explorer,
since the plant explorer does not allow replace.
You need an Aspect Link if you want to open an aspect from a parent object or an
aspect from an object which is located in another structure, e.g. Location Structure.

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13.4.4 AspectViewCt
The AspectViewCt element is intended to be used as a host to any aspect you might
want to display in a graphical view. This could for an example be a trend curve or an
alarm list.
An aspect hosted in an AspectViewCt is fully functional and its graphical interface can
be accessed as usual.

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13.5 The Display Tool

The display is dependant on the graphic element and if the element is changed,
the graphic display must also be updated.
Graphic display
Any
Object

Any
Object
Graphic element
The Display tool finds dependencies and can re-deploy the necessary aspects.

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