The Workstation

 The workstation can be set up as a single operating

unit, or as part of a multi-screens for use by the
process operator, the process engineer, or the plant
manager.
 From the workstation, standard displays provide a
basic operating environment, a collection of
displays around which the entire plant display
structure can be built.
 you can access an operation in one screen while
continuing to work in another screen.
 Alarming is designated in the system by the
specified color for the alarming area.
 An alarm causes the appropriate field to blink and
buzzering until the alarm is acknowledged.
 The workstation s equipped with either touch screen
or pointing tools such as mouse or trackball.
 With a touch screen, touch a selection with your
finger to move the cursor arrow to that point and
remove your finger to confirm the selection.
 If you touch the screen and then decide you do not
want to make a selection, slide your finger to an
unpickable area before removing it.
 With a pointer device, move the device to position
the cursor arrow on your choice.
 If the menu or function is selectable, it is
highlighted or the field is highlighted/framed when
the cursor moves over it.
 Click (press and release quickly) a button on the
pointing device to select the option.
 Workstation Keyboards
 Alphanumeric and/or annunciator keyboards can
be connected the Workstation.
 The alphanumeric keyboard is used for those
workstations where text entry is required to support
software applications used primarily by process
engineers, software engineers, and plant
management personnel.
 The annunciator keyboard or annunciator/numeric
keyboard includes annunciator keys or /and a set of
numeric keys.
 It is used for process operator workstations.
Alphanumeric Keyboard
 Use the alphanumeric keyboard for entering text.

This keyboard may consists of:

 A full set of alphanumeric keys plus punctuation
and special symbol keys laid out in the standard
QWERTY format.
 A numeric data entry pad (with cursor control)

 A set of keys software definable function pad

 A built-in audible horn

 An Acknowledge key (for silencing the horn)

 Annunciator Keyboard
These keyboards contain:
 Some LED/keyswitch pairs some numeric keypad.
 A built-in audible horn supporting multiple pitches
 A horn silence key
 The keyboard is either free-standing or workstation/panel-
mounted.
 The annunciator keys section has a pocket for user-
definable inserts that label the key switch functions and
light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
 Each LED, under control of the workstation processor
software, may be ON, OFF, or FLASHING as determined
by process alarm conditions.
 The LEDs are either red or yellow.
 These LEDs, in combination with the audible
annunciator in the basic unit, call the operator’s
attention to process alarm conditions.
 The numeric keypad section is used for entering
numeric data into the system.
 It contains data entry keys with cursor control, an
Enter key, and a numeric Lock key with an LED
status light.
 Printing Devices
The standard printers associated with the DCS are:
 Dot-Matrix Printer

The Black and White dot-matrix printer is used for black and
white text and graphics applications such as log and alarm
printing.
 Color Printer

The Color printer supports both black/white and color text.

 This printer can be used for printing alarm messages in red.

 You may find two printers attached to the system, For

example, a dot-matrix printer on the serial port for alarms,
and a color printer on the parallel port for print screens and
reports.
 Storage Devices
The storage devices associated with the DCS are as
follows:
 Hard Disk Drive

 Floppy Drive

 Tape Drive

 Compact Disk Drive

 Diskette Handling
Observe the following precautions when handling flexible diskettes:
 When not in use, store diskettes in protective envelopes or
containers.
 Replace envelopes when they become worn, cracked, or
distorted.
 Keep diskettes away from magnetic fields (for example,
CRTs, power supplies).
 Do not write on the plastic jacket with a lead pencil or
ballpoint pen; use a felt-tip pen.
 Do not expose diskettes to temperatures below 10°C (50°F)
or above 46°C (115°F); protect them from sunlight and any
foreign contaminants.
 Do not touch or attempt to clean the exposed magnetic
surface (recording slot) of the diskettes; abrasions may
cause loss of stored data.
 Avoid excessive diskette flexing.
 Handling Streaming Tape
Cartridges
Observe the following precautions when handling
streaming tape cartridges:
 Use tapes in an environment with a temperature range
of 5°C to 45°C and store tapes in a temperature range
of -40°C to 45°C.
 Do not expose the cartridge to direct heat or sunlight.

 Return the cartridge to its storage container whenever

it is removed from the drive.
 Be careful not to drop the cartridge.

 Keep the cartridge away from magnetic fields,

including CRTs.
Process Operations and Displays
The process operator is expected to perform a
variety of functions, to control the process. the
operator task assignment varies from site-to-site,
but as a rule, you are required to:
 Respond to alarms

 Check system and station health

 Perform on-line diagnostic tests

 Collect and interpret data

 Reset setpoints

 Change from Auto to Manual, or Remote to Local

operation, and change output values.
 Access and use displays and their faceplates
displays to monitor, manage, and control the process
 Perform on-line trending
 Produce reports.
 Group displays
 Control block displays and its input & output
blocks.
 Block detail displays
 Process Alarms
 The process alarm is that alarm corresponding to
upset of a process condition.
 A process alarm indicates an alarm condition
generated by a Controller.
 Typically, these alarms are out-of-range conditions,
such as absolute or deviation alarms for analog
blocks, or state alarms for digital blocks.
 Alarms appear on faceplates and on block alarm
summary for Block Detail Displays.
 Alarms also appear at designated printers
 Process Alarm Notification
When a process alarm is received, the following
actions occur as defined below:
 The Process button on designated workstations
changes to blinking red text.
 The Current Alarm Display is updated.

 With annunciator panels, the LED blinks.

 an annunciator horn is sounded.

 The alarm status is updated on the faceplate of the

Block Detail Display and Group Displays.
 Designated printers receive the alarm message.
 Annunciator Lights
The significance of the light states is as follows:
 Process Alarm Priorities
 Process alarms have levels of priority, as indicted by
color coding of the alarm type or the background
box enclosing the alarm type.
 The following list indicates typical example of the
alarm priorities and their associated colors for
typical system.
 Alarm Field
The Alarm field (on the screen of the process
graphics) indicates the following process alarm
states:

 Green : Normal state; no alarms.

 Blinking Green : No alarms; however, previous
alarms still unacknowledged.
 Blinking Red : Unacknowledged process alarm
condition.
 Red : Acknowledged process alarm
condition
 Responding to Process Alarms
 To silence the horn, press the red ACK button on
the keyboard or the Horn Silence key.
 Press the blinking annunciator key light.
 Determine the severity of the alarm condition from
the display.
 Select the ACK command key on the Block Detail
display to acknowledge the block in alarm.
 Resolve the alarm condition in accordance with
procedures indicated.
 Using Trends
 Trend areas are a collection of pre-built display fields
that show lines (trends) representing changing data
values from the real-time and historical databases.
 Real-time trend areas are continuously updating trend
graphs, displaying the most recent trend variable data.
 Optionally, historical data can be displayed on the trend.
 The real-time trend data scrolls to the left as new trend
data is displayed on the right.
 For historical trending, scrolling buttons are provided to
scroll the trend to the left or right.
 A button labeled R or H provides toggling between
trends representing real-time (R) and historical (H)
data.
 Trend Operations
A pickable area at the left of the trend area
provides for toggling between displaying real-time
data and historical data for the trends:
 SELECT R to display real-time trend mode.

 SELECT H to display historical trend mode.

The start time/date for a historical trend graph is

changed by forward or backward scrolling:
 SELECT The forward scroll arrow (at the right of the
trend graph) to cause the selected readout time/date
to become the end time/date of the new trend display.
 SELECT The backward scroll key (at the left of the
trend graph) to cause the selected readout time/date
to become the start time/date of the new trend
display.
 With historical trends, the date/time area, which
displays the resolution and duration, can be selected
to toggle to the date and time of the latest historical
data point on the trend graph.
 SELECT The date/time area (above the trend graph)
to display the date and time of the latest historical
data (right side of graph).
 Trending can be paused to stop trending of the
graph and thus provide easier viewing:
 SELECT The pause key (located to the upper-right
of the trend graph). A P is displayed for a paused
condition, and a U for unpaused.
 Group Displays
 A group display is an arrangement of process displays as a
unique grouping.
 You build a group display to meet your operational needs.

Each group display includes:

 Buttons that allow you to toggle a selected parameter on a
faceplate or call up a Block Detail display
 Faceplates and/or real-time trend connections to different
blocks.
 A faceplate, displays the block description, a measurement,
and outputs.
 You can use a faceplate to manipulate the block state and
provide direct access to a Block Detail display.
 Block Detail Displays
Block Detail displays provide an interface for process
control actions. From a Block Detail display you can
View:
 Parameters

 Alarm levels or indicators

 Alarm text and alarm states

 Trend data

 Station loading (station displays).

Perform process control actions manually, such as

 Ramping values up or down

 Tuning loops

 Taking corrective action

 Faceplates
 It is a graphical objects used as interfaces for
monitoring and controlling the process.
Faceplate Structure
Each faceplate consists of:
 An upper area (header) that is common to most
types of blocks.
 A lower area (body) that presents data, relating to
the operation of the specific block.
 The faceplate’s body displays the data for the block.
The data may be presented as analog values,
indicator bars, or text fields, depending upon the
parameter and type of block.
 Operator Action Journal
 The Operator Action Journal is a record of specific
operator actions taken during process control
operations.
 Operator actions recorded in the Operator Action
Journal may be configured for printing on a system
printer as they occur, or they may be stored in the
Historian database for retrieval at a later date, or
both.