Proficy iFIX

Data Entry and Control

Objectives
y Describe DataLink Data Entry methods.
y Explore the Data Entry Expert.
y Use the Open, Close and Toggle Digital Point Experts.
y Change Values with Key Macros.
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Overview
A critical capability of any SCADA/HMI is the ability to change control set points and interact
with data in the plant floor control devices. iFIX has a number of standard tools that can be
quickly and easily configured to provide operators with these control interfaces. For a
higher level of customization, VBA scripting can be used.
Most control interfaces are designed for use with a keyboard and mouse. As such, most
control actions are driven by mouse clicks or key sequences. The vital factors are to make
the data entry methods easy and intuitive to use, but also secure and accurate. Always use
F_CV fields when specifying data sources for control as A_CV fields can cause errors.
Some examples of data entry interfaces are:
y DataLink In-Place data entry. y Dynamos.
y Push buttons. y Command experts for digital points.
y Sliders and ramp buttons. y Key macros.
y Alphanumeric keypads.

Slider control
pop-up dialog.

Figure 13-1. Example of a slider control interface.

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DataLink
The DataLink has a built in data entry mode. It can be configured in the basic configuration
dialog.

In-Place data entry

When In-Place data entry is enabled, a cursor will appear in the DataLink when the user
clicks on it. The keyboard can then be used to change the value. The Enter key is used to
send the command.
Configuration is very simple. Open the DataLink configuration dialog and switch the Data
Entry Type to In-Place. An optional Confirm dialog can be specified to give the operator
feedback about the control action and allow for a last minute cancellation in case of a
mistake.

Figure 13-2. In-Place Data Entry for DataLinks.

Advantages: Minimal configuration is required and since the data entry occurs within the
displayed text, the amount of extra space required for changing set points is minimized.
Disadvantages: The In-Place interface is difficult to find and clumsy to use. It provides no
clues about valid set points and it only allows control of the value that is being displayed (as
opposed to a separate but related tag).

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Data Entry Expert

The Data Entry Expert has four distinct control interfaces that can be used for analog and
digital set points. These interfaces are opened via mouse clicks and can be applied to any
target object, not just DataLinks or Push buttons.

Pushbutton
The Pushbutton interface is best for controlling digital tags. The developer will supply the
data source of the target control tag, and button labels for the Open (0) and Close (1) states.

Figure 13-3. Data Entry Expert – Push Button Configuration.

Clicking on the target object accesses the Pushbutton

dialog at run-time. It provides clear, intuitive
instructions. It can control a tag other than the one
being displayed in a DataLink or other animation.
Advantages: It is easy to configure and as with all the
options in the Data Entry Expert, it helps create a
simple standardized look and feel for control actions.
It is easier to use than a DataLink and is economical in
its use of space. Figure 13-4. Data Entry Expert –
Pushbutton at run-time.
Disadvantages: It still requires multiple clicks to
assign values to two-state equipment. While easy to use, there is no information about
what tag is being controlled, or what its current state may be.

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Numeric/Alphanumeric
This method works well with both analog and digital tags. The developer will supply the data
source of the target tag, as well as guidelines about the validity of inputs.

Figure 13-5. Data Entry Expert – Numeric/Alphanumeric configuration.

The developer will specify whether the input is purely numeric, or alphanumeric. Limits can
be set manually to restrict what the operator can set, or they can be fetched from the tag
(using the high and low engineering limits). If the engineering units
change, the interface will automatically update from the native tag
fields.
Advantages: This is still small, but much less clumsy to use than a
DataLink. It can also be used with any target object or target tag.
Disadvantages: While easy to use, there is no information about Figure 13-6. Numeric
what tag is being controlled, or what its current state may be. Data Entry.

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Slider
Controlling analog tag values is the primary use for the slider. It interacts with both the
mouse and the keyboard. The mouse can drag the slider bar, and the keyboard can be used
to enter an exact value or to “jog” the value up or down using the arrow keys.

Figure 13-7. Data Entry Expert – Slider configuration.

As with the Numeric/AlphaNumeric data entry, the slider can fetch the tag limits at run-time.
It can also be set to write continuously, so with each movement of the slider, a value is sent
rather than when OK is pressed.
Advantages: This control is intuitive and easy to use, and
provides both mouse and keyboard control. It also
provides the user with an upper and lower range to use as
a guideline for set points.
Disadvantages: The slider only writes integer values to
analog tags. As with the other methods, it does not provide
information about the tag being set. Figure 13-8. Slider at run-time .

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Ramp
This data entry interface allows an operator to repeatedly increment and decrement an
analog value using buttons that change the value by a pre-set percentage.

Figure 13-9. Data Entry Expert – Ramp configuration.

The designer can set the limits manually or fetch them. In addition,
there are two Ramp Percentages that may be set. (The single arrow
is Ramp Percentage 1, the dual arrows are Ramp Percentage 2).
Advantages: This is an effective way to quickly step a set point up or
down without typing.
Disadvantages: It does not provide information about the tag being
set, or what its current value may be.

Figure 13-10. Ramp at

run-time .

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Digital Point Experts

With two-state equipment, it may be desirable to simplify the interface beyond the
pushbutton model, especially if quick and easy changes are required. The Digital Point
experts have no interface, and respond to a single click on the target object. Depending on
the command type that is deployed, the click will automatically send an “Open” command
(0), a “Close” command (1) or a “Toggle”. The Digital Point Experts are located in the Experts
Toolbar, accessed from Workspace menu Æ Toolbars under the Picture owner.
Digital Point
Experts.

Figure 13-11. Experts Toolbar - Digtal Point Experts.

Clicking a target object and then using the appropriate toolbar button will apply the Digital
Point experts. The target data source is set in a simple dialog box.

Open Digital Point

Clicking on the target object will send a zero (0) to the specified digital tag. Usually this
feature is incorporated into a custom pop-up picture to ensure that the control command is
not set by accident from a main process screen.

Figure 13-12. Open Digital Point Expert.

Close Digital Point

Clicking on the target object will send a one (1) to the specified digital tag.

Figure 13-13. Close Digital Point Expert.

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Toggle Digital Point

The Toggle Digital Point Expert is very useful, but it best for it to be accompanied by some
form of indication so that the operator has immediate feedback of the changes required or
performed. The Toggle will change a 0 state to 1, or 1 to 0 depending on what the current
value is.

Figure 13-14. Toggle Digital Point Expert.

Advantages: Very quick and easy setting of points. No space required for control pop-ups.
Disadvantages: Accidental setting of points is easily possible. Also, there is no obvious way
of signalling where the command is or what it does.

Key Macro Editor

The Key Macro Editor allows a designer to apply a set of keystrokes to a picture, group or
object in order to automatically set control tags.

Figure 13-15. Key Macro Editor – object selection.

If applied to an object, that object must be selected before the keystrokes will trigger a write.
If applied to a picture, the keystrokes will work whenever the picture is open.

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There are two steps to setting a key macro:

1. Select a keystroke sequence.
2. Configure an Action.
Highlighting a cell in the Key Combination column will prompt a button to appear. This
button will launch a keyboard-mapping interface. Any key sequence can be created to
trigger an action. (Be careful not to overwrite any existing commands).

Figure 13-16. Key Macro keystroke assignment.

The Actions column provides a drop-down box with a wide range of commands, including
some to control tag values:
y Close Digital Point.
y Open Digital Point.
y ToggleDigitalPoint.
y Data Entry Expert.
y Ramp a Value.
y Write to a Database Point.
These choices provide simple interfaces for a developer to assign control actions to target
tags.
Once a Key macro has been set on a picture, group or object,
its System Tree icon will change to reflect the fact that there
is a key macro command associated with it. This can be very
helpful to people learning or maintaining the system. Figure 13-17. Key Macro
indication in System Tree.
Advantages: Key Macros provide quick and simple control of
tag values, and they are more secure than mouse clicks.
Disadvantages: This is not a clear and intuitive interface for new users. It is like having to
know the “secret knock” to open a door.

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Summary of Data Entry Methods

DataLink In-Place Data Entry – a good method for space-saving and quick configuration.
Both the mouse and keyboard are required.

Data Entry Expert – a good alternative to DataLinks, providing standardized intuitive

interfaces accessible with the mouse.
y PushButton – mouse only.
y Numeric/Alphanumeric – mouse and keyboard.
y Slider – mouse or keyboard.
y Ramp – mouse only.

Digital Point Experts – a quick and efficient interface that is well suited to knowledgeable
operators. Single mouse clicks are all that are required.
y OpenDigitalPoint.
y CloseDigitalPoint.
y ToggleDigitalPoint.

Key Macro Editor – can use most of the other interfaces but is driven via the keyboard
instead of by a mouse.
y Close Digital Point.
y Open Digital Point.
y ToggleDigitalPoint.
y Data Entry Expert.
y Ramp a Value.
y Write to a Database Point.

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 Data Entry and Control

Lab Exercises
Lab Objectives: At the end of these exercises, the student will be able to:
y Add DataLink data entry to the Rapid Mixer display.
y Use the Data Entry Expert for certain tags in the Rapid Mixer display.
y Use Digital Point Experts for equipment in the Rapid Mixer and Sedimentation Tank
displays.
y Use Key Macros to change the tags in the Sedimentation Tank display.
When you are finished with these exercises, answer the Summary Questions at the end of
the module.

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Lab Exercise 1: Add Control Capabilities to DataLinks

Introduction
Our Rapid Mixer display already has the ability to show us important process information in
DataLinks. Now we will modify one of these DataLinks to provide us with read and write
capabilities. Then we will be able to change the process conditions and ensure safe and
efficient operation.
1. Open the Rapid Mixer display. Though there are many DataLinks on the screen, only
some of them are connected to read-write tags. DataLink In-Place Data Entry will only
work with these tags. Select the Mixer Status DataLink. Double-click the DataLink to re-
open its configuration.

Set the Data Entry type to In-Place and enable the Confirm checkbox.
2. Save your display and switch to Run mode. Using the mouse, select the Mixer Status
DataLink. The DataLink should now be in edit mode. Delete all characters and type
“Mixing”. Note that for Digital tags you can also supply the corresponding numeric state
(0 or 1). Click Enter and confirm your data entry. The DataLink should update with your
new control value.

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Lab Exercise 2: Add Control Capabilities to Text with the

Data Entry Expert
Introduction
We need to add other options for control to our display. One of the beneficial features of the
Data Entry Expert is that any object can be used to control any tag in up to four different
ways. We will now add the ability to control the Mixer pH and the Mixer Status by clicking
on their text labels.

1. Switch back to Configure mode if you are in Run mode. Highlight the Mixer Status text
label and click the Data Entry Expert button in the Toolbox (or the Experts toolbar).
The Data Entry Expert configuration window will appear. Fill it in to use the following:
a. Data Source: FIX32.SCADA##.Rapid_Mixer.F_CV
b. Pushbutton Entry enabled.
c. Open Button Title: Stop Mixer.
d. Close Button Title: Start Mixer.

2. Click OK when finished.

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3. Next, select the text label for Mixer Tank pH and apply the Data Entry Expert. Use the
following:
a. Data Source: FIX32.SCADA##.Mixer_pH.F_CV
b. Numeric/AlphaNumeric Entry enabled.
c. Low Limit: 5.
d. High Limit: 9.

4. Save the display and switch to Run mode. Click the text label to launch the control pop-
up for the Mixer Tank pH. When prompted for a value, enter 7.125 and click OK. Watch
as the pH slowly climbs (you just dumped some magic pH adjuster in the water!).

5. Click the Mixer Status text label to launch the pushbutton control pop-up. Click the “Stop
Mixer” button. Note how the state changes immediately, even though you have not
closed the pop-up. Restart the Mixer. Switch back to Configure mode.

6. Add a text label beneath the Mixer Status DataLink (see page 18). Make its caption Mixer
Speed. Add a DataLink and configure it to use the following settings:
a. Data source: FIX32.SCADA##.Mixer_Speed.F_CV.
b. Justify: Center.
c. Whole Digits: 4.
d. Decimal: 0.

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7. We are going to give users two ways to change the Mixer Speed. We will let them
launch the Slider from the text label, and the Ramp from the DataLink itself.
a. Slider Entry on the text label:

b. Ramp Entry on the DataLink:

8. Save the display and switch to Run Mode.

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9. Your Rapid Mixer display should look something like this:

Test each of the new control interfaces by clicking on the objects to which they are
attached. Discover which ones are more friendly or difficult to use.

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Lab Exercise 3: Add Digital Point Experts

Introduction
Our Rapid Mixer display already has a variety of control interfaces for some of the mixer
equipment. Now we will add some “quick click” control for the valves of the chemical
additives, the water inlet and the tank outlet. In each case, we will apply a Toggle Digital
Point Expert to the text labels near the valve polygons.

1. Switch back to Configure mode.

2. We will add a ToggleDigitalPoint

Expert to the “Alum” Text label. Open
the Experts Toolbar if it is not already
available – from the Workspace menu
select Toolbars. Choose the Picture
owner and fill in the Experts check
box. Click Close.

Toggle.

3. Highlight the Alum text label and apply the ToggleDigitalPoint Expert. Set the
ToggleDigitalPoint Expert as follows:

This tag controls the Alum valve.

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4. Set the remaining valve text labels as follows:

Valve Label Tag Expert
Lime FIX32.SCADA##.Lime_Control.F_CV Toggle
Polymer FIX32.SCADA##.Polymer_Control.F_CV Toggle
Water In FIX32.SCADA##.Mixer_In_Control.F_CV Toggle
Water Out FIX32.SCADA##.Mixer_Out_Control.F_CV Toggle

5. Save the display and switch to Run mode. Test your new additions. The Mixer Tank level
should be raised and lowered depending on which valves are open or closed.
Notice there is no pop-up interface for control as the mouse click automatically changes
the value. This is why it is best to create custom pop-up pictures to control equipment.
The first click will open the pop-up where the ToggleDigitalPoint expert resides. The user
can then choose to change the tag value, or close the pop-up without changes and
there would be less chance of an accidental control change.
The main benefit of these experts is that experienced users can quickly change the set
points of multiple tags in a quick and efficient manner.

6. When finished your inspection, switch to configure mode.

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Lab Exercise 4: Add Control to the Sedimentation Tank

Introduction
We will start work on the Sedimentation Tank display. Part of this display is already
configured, so we can work on things like DataLinks and control interfaces.

1. Open the SedimentationTank picture using the File menu or the System Tree.

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2. First, we need to add DataLinks and Text to help us understand what is happening
around the Flocculation and Sedimentation Tanks. Use the snapshot below as a
guideline for where everything goes.
Data Source Justify Whole Digits Decimal or Text Label(s)
or # of Lines Chars/Line
Floc_Motor_Control.A_CV Center 1 8
Floc_Motor_Speed.F_CV Center 4 0 Motor Speed
Floc_Level.F_CV Right 2 2 meters
Sed_Level.F_CV Right 2 2 meters

Also create a Total Alarms: label and a corresponding DataLink using the Alarm
Counters server, the FlocculationTank and SedimentationTank areas and the
F_AREA_TOT field.
Fix32.SCADA##.FLOCCULATIONTANK.F_AREA_TOT + Fix32.SCADA##.SEDIMENTATIONTANK.F_AREA_TOT

The display should resemble the one depicted below.

Floc_Level.F_CV
Sed_Level.F_CV

Floc_Motor_Control.A_CV

Floc_Motor_Speed.F_CV

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3. Select the Mixer Motor text label and apply the ToggleDigitalPoint expert. We wish to
use the control tag for the Mixer Motor: FIX32.SCADA##.FLOC_MOTOR_CONTROL.F_CV.

4. Our final control interface will use a set of keystrokes to ramp a value up and down.
Select the Motor Speed text label. You can add a Key Macro to this text using the Key
Macro Editor button or by using the right-click menu (KeyMacros Æ Add, near the
bottom).

5. Click the button in the Key Combination column to assign a keystroke.

6. We are going to use the right cursor key (right arrow) to increase the Motor Speed. Click
the key, and the text field at the top should read RightArrow. Click OK to return to the
editor.

7. Click on the adjacent cell in the Action column. A drop-down box should appear to
provide you with command options. We want to ramp the motor speed, so scroll down
the list to RampAValue and select it.

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8. Fill in the necessary control details:

a. Fix Database Tag: Fix32.SCADA##.FLOC_MOTOR_SPEED.F_CV.
b. Ramp By Value: Enabled.
c. Ramp Value: 25.

9. We now have a Key Macro to increase the current set point by ramping it by 25 units at
a time. We also need one to reduce the current value. Repeat the process to create a
key macro with the following properties:
a. Key Combination: LeftArrow.
b. Action: RampAValue.
c. FIX Database Tag: Fix32.SCADA##.FLOC_MOTOR_SPEED.F_CV.
d. Ramp By Value: Enabled.
e. Ramp Value: -25. (To decrease the set point).

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When complete, the Key Macro Editor should look like this:

10. Close the Key Macro Editor. Save the Display. Note that the System Tree icon for the
text link labelling the motor speed has changed to reflect that there is a key macro for it.

11. Switch to Run mode and test the control interfaces.

Start by clicking the From Rapid Mixer valve. The valve will indicate that there is flow by
switching from red to green. The Flocculation Tank level will respond by rising. Your
new DataLink should also reflect this. These visual cues are provided by pre-built
animations (we will learn more about them later in the course). Eventually, the
Flocculation Tank will fill and overflow the weir, filling the Sedimentation Tank. The other
valves are waste outlets and are shut under normal operating conditions.
Click on the Motor label – the DataLink should respond by updating the motor status.
Finally, highlight the Motor Speed label. To ramp the speed up (increase), use the right
cursor key (arrow). To ramp the value back down, use the left cursor key. Remove the
focus from the text label by clicking anywhere else in the picture. Now try the cursor
keys... They will not work because the key macro is only available when the text label is
in focus.

12. When finished with your inspection, switch back to Configure mode and close the
SedimentationTank display. Save changes if prompted…

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Challenge Lab Exercise (optional).

Introduction
Make these edits to the Rapid Mixer, Pump Station and Sedimentation Tank pages…

1. Change the foreground color on all text labels so that they are distinct from real-time
values supplied by DataLinks.
2. For all objects that offer control interfaces, change the Background Style to opaque, and
the Background color to white. This will help users to distinguish controllable objects
from normal objects.
3. Add Time and Date links to the Sedimentation Tank picture.
4. Add a text label and a corresponding DataLink to monitor the total Alarms in the
PumpStation area.

-- End of Lab Exercises --

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Review Questions
1. What are the key factors to remember when implementing various data entry methods?

2. Which of the data entry methods can employ a confirmation dialog box for the
operator?

3. What does Fetch Limits do?

4. What is the danger of using Digital Point experts in a main process screen?

5. Can key macros be assigned to pictures?

Electronic Books Research

6. What can you set in the Key Macro Editor User Preferences?

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Review
Now that you have completed this module, you should be able to:
y Describe DataLink Data Entry methods.
y Explore the Data Entry Expert.
y Use the Open, Close and Toggle Digital Point Experts.
y Configure keystroke actions with the Key Macro Editor.

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