Alarms - configuration dialog box

Editing of all objects in the process D2000 CNF is being performed in the configuration dialog box, a specific part of which is common for all editable objects and another part depends on the type of edited object.

The configuration dialog box of alarms consists of several tabs, which contain similar parameters.

General properties
Groups
Presentation
Conditions

General properties

Description

A text string describing the alarm. Maximum: 128 characters.
Possibility to use the Dictionary (to open press CTRL+L).

Value type

Selection of an object value type. For an alarm, the value type is Al-Alarm.

Presentation

Acknowledgement-required alarm

If the alarm is defined as an acknowledgement-required alarm, it does not change its status to the status Normal after meeting the condition to finish the alarm (if the condition is not defined, then after finishing the alarm start condition), but it changes its status into the status Unacknowledged. To return to the status Normal, an acknowledgement from an operator is required.

Blocked alarm

Blocking up the alarm - the alarm is in the status Blocked.

Graphic presentation of Alarm

An object might be opened on the desktop of process D2000 HI during the occurrence or acknowledgement of an alarm. In a case, when a defined object will be opened in the process D2000 HI, is defined in one of the options On alarm condition or On acknowledgement. A graphic object, that will be opened on the HI's desktop, is defined by typing its name into the input edit box or selecting from the object list (the button right to the input field).
The parameter Instance defines the instance number of the opened graphic object. When the value is 0, the graphic object will be opened with no instance.

Alarm output

If the option RaiseSIGNAL is checked, a signal on alarm occurrence will be generated - an impulse of the value TRUE will be generated on the system tag Signal_Trigger. The parameter Critical alarm defines, which group the alarm will be assigned to (on the presentation level, D2000 HI, Log database). The parameter Ignore invalid is not implemented.

Condition

Condition to start Alarm

Definition of a condition, which causes starting the alarm, i.e. changes the state of the object of Alarm type into the status Alarm.

An object representing the condition to start the alarm can be defined in several ways:

• by an entry of the object's name into the input edit box
• by selecting from the object list - the list is opened by clicking the button on the right from the input field
• by creating a new object - the button Create new object

Furthermore, it is necessary to define the status, for which the condition is valid. The list below the input edit field for object entry contains possible object value states. The list can be different for individual types of objects. The condition to start the alarm is valid when the status of the alarm changes to the selected status. If the option Inverse function is checked, the condition to start the alarm is valid, when the object is in a state other than the selected status.

Condition to end Alarm

Definition of a condition, which causes finishing the alarm, i.e. changes the status of the object of Alarms type into the status Normal or Unacknowledged. The alarm changes its status into the status Unacknowledged, if it was defined as acknowledgement-required alarm - the check box Acknowledgement-required alarm in the tab Presentation). The condition to raise an alarm does not need to be defined. If it is not defined, the alarm is terminated as soon as the condition to start the alarm is no longer valid.

An object representing the condition to end the alarm can be defined in several ways:

• entry the name of an object into the input edit box
• selecting from the object list - the list is opened by clicking the button right from the input field
• creating a new object - the button Create a new object

Furthermore, it is necessary to define the status, for which the condition is valid. The list below the input edit field for object entry contains possible object value states. The list can differ for individual types of objects. The condition to start the alarm is valid when the alarm status is changed to the selected status. If the option Inverse function is checked, the condition to end alarm is valid, when the object is in a state other than the selected status.

A condition to start/end of a system alarm can be an object group defined in D2000 CNF, logical group or structured variable eventually part of structured variable (row or column). Next to the group/structured variable, there is a configurable value attribute, that is to be evaluated. The condition will be evaluated as a logical operation "OR" of a given attribute through all of the group members or all of the items of the structured variable (or the configured row/column). An incremental method is used during the evaluation of such an alarm. That means that if the value status of any member of the group/item of structured variable is changed so that it matches configured condition status after the alarm acknowledgement, the alarm will be triggered again.

A rule for the setting of the attribute Weak above an object group:

Alarm+Weak occurs when all the objects, which meet the alarm condition, are Weak.

Normal + Weak occurs, when some of the conditions defining the status Normal is Weak.

Forms of use of a structured variable as a condition to start/end alarm:

Name[2]^Col - a specific item defining the alarm condition (it is not a 'group' alarm)

Name - all the items of the structured variable are evaluated as a group alarm

Name[0]^Col - all the items of the column 'Col' of the structured variable are evaluated as a group alarm

Name[3] - all the items of the third row of the structured variable are evaluated as a group alarm

Attention: "Name^Col" is the same as "Meno[1]^Col" - it is a particular item, not a column!

Time filter

The value of the time filter defines, how long the condition to start the alarm must be met to start the alarm (change into the state Alarm). The time filter is defined in the form Hours:Minutes:Seconds.
Note: the time filter is applied only to status alarms - transient alarms occur immediately when the value is passed.