Wizcon for Windows and Internet 8.2 Release Notes

Wizcon for Windows and Internet 8.2 Release Notes

Released Summer 2002

Introduction to the Axeda Supervisor

The Axeda Supervisor is an application generator that holds all required control and monitoring functions. This being the case, when designing and building a project, the application designer needs only to add the project's definitions. Minimal computer or programming skills are required.

Axeda Supervisor enables integration of your application with your Internet/Intranet network, promoting real-time Supervisory and Control using real-time graphics and event-driven information updates from any computing platform. It combines the benefits of SCADA, Java, HTML and Internet.

Wizcon applications can be accessed and used without requiring platform-specific software, client software installation, or plug-ins. The production floor can be safely monitored and controlled through a standard Web browser. You can also view both factory data and corporate information through a common interface, from any desktop or laptop.

Note: If the application is based on a number of network stations and the User Management module's database is shared by all stations, then all stations must be upgraded to the highest application version.

Axeda Supervisor has the following components:Wizcon 8.2 which takes advantage of the powerful multi tasking capabilities of the Windows 2000 and NT operating systems and a built in event driven mechanism to achieve utmost performance and data integrity. It also uses its interface mechanisms to implement clear and efficient visualization of its components.Scheduler 2.1 the new generation Internet based Scheduler enables you to easily create daily or weekly task orientated schedules remotely. Accessed through an Internet browser or by clicking on an icon, the Scheduler is extremely user friendly, efficient and economical.Being both task and time orientated the Scheduler can be used to create unlimited tasks, actions and states. Tasks can be modified, enabled/disabled and have many states such as On/Off attached to them. An unlimited number of actions, which are basic operations, can be attached to each task.WizPLC 2.21 which communicates with control equipment in the field such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), measuring instruments, and other devices. As the equipment is monitored and data is recorded WizPLC responds according to system logic requirements or operator requests.

2 Wizcon for Windows & Internet 8.2 Release Notes

WizReport 2.2 which is a reporting tool that interfaces with the Axeda Supervisor or that can operate independently for connecting with existing plant systems. It simplifies the task of creating accurate, informative reports for production monitoring enabling you to build, schedule and execute reports in a wide variety of formats.

New Features

Listed below are some of the new or improved features in the Axeda Suite:New Features on page 13-3Interface and Icons on page 13-4RePlay on page 13-5Tag Mapper on page 13-7Errors Log File on page 13-9Network Application Update on page 13-10Enterprise Server Connection on page 13-11Axeda Systems Remote on page 13-13Alarms on page 13-14Advanced Alarm Management on page 13-16Image on page 13-18User Management on page 13-20Zone Navigator on page 13-21User Logout on page 13-24Web User Login on page 13-22Macro on page 13-22Station Properties on page 13-23Event Summary on page 13-24Set Default Paths on page 13-25Scheduler on page 13-26

New Features 3

Network Properties on page 13-27VPI block on page 13-27

Interface and Icons

Wizcon 8.2 now has an XP type interface and new icons in both the Quick Access bar and Application Studio.


There have been a few changes in the All Containers pane. You can now access and modify the WizTune parameters file through the Application Studio. This file can be opened by right clicking the project name and selecting the Open Tuning Parameters File option.Two new types of tags (RePlay and Tag Mapper) have been added to the Tags module and can be viewed under Tags in the Containers Tree. The number of tags and alarms defined in the application are displayed in the icons in the Control Panel of the Application Studio have been modified. Functionality of the modules has been improved. New icons in the Studio lead you to the following new modules:

Network Application Update

RePlay

Tag Mapper

Axeda Systems Remote

Enterprise Server Connection

Back to New Features

RePlay

The RePlay module is used to view a graphical display of previous history tag values in images. The application reads and displays the tag values from the application's history.

The RePlay Tags list is held in the Application Studio, All Containers pane under the Tags container. This list contains seven application dummy WIZRPL control tags and the dummy WIZRPL tags that are generated during image RePlay.

WIZRPL_CONTROLWIZRPL_STARTDATEWIZRPL_STARTTIMEWIZRPL_DELAYWIZRPL_STEPWIZRPL_PLAYBACKTIME and WIZRPL_PLAYBACKDATE

RePlay 5

In the RePlay module the list of WIZRPL Tags appears in the RePlay Image field.

Dummy RePlay tags have the same attributes as the original tags used in the original image.

The RePlay module is accessed in the Application Studio Control Panel by clicking the

RePlay icon. An application image cluster controls the RePlay itself.

RePlay ClusterThe RePlay Cluster controls historical data playback actions in RePlay images. The RePlay Cluster can be accessed through the Image module's Cluster menu Open Lib option. There are three types of control boxes to choose from.



Tag Mapper

The Tag Mapper is a data file of tags and tag values that can be used to considerably reduce workload during application creation. Tag values of tags held in a Tag Mapper table are mapped by the Tag Mapper into a list of other tags.

There are two types of Tag Mapper tags:

Source: These are tags whose values are directed to target tags. More than one source tag can be pointed to the same target tag.

Target: This tag type receives the values of the source tag. All target tags must have the WIZTGM_ prefix.

A single image can be used to display different source tags values in the same target tags (depending on the index value entered by the user). To define the source tags that update a specific target tag the user must first create the tables used by the Tag Mapper.Each table has a unique Id (Index) that is later used in the image as the index value. Each image can use one table only at a specific time. The table that is used is defined by the index value. An unlimited number of tags can be mapped. The Tag Mapper is bidirectional. All Tag Mapper dialog boxes are resizeable.

The Tag Mapper module can be accessed by double clicking the Tag Mapper icon in the Application Studio Control Panel. Dialog boxes can be accessed by either clicking the relevant button or by right clicking and selecting an option.

Tag Mapper 7

The Tag Mapper dialog box enables:Creation/modification of single or multiple Tag Mapper Tables.Viewing the Tags Summary where a list of all Tag Mapper tags in the application are held.Import/export of Tag Mapper tables to/from other applications.Display of a list of all clients that are clients of the Tag Mapper in the Online Clients Viewer.

Tag Mapper Tags in the Image ModuleEach image that is used with the Tag Mapper must have the WIZTGM_INDEX tag that is automatically created by the program. The Tag Mapper will only work if a trigger is defined in the image for the WIZTGM_INDEX tag. Only one WIZTGM_INDEX tag can be defined in the image module. Both the WIZTGM_INDEX tag and its target tags of the same image must be defined on the same station.Only values greater than 1 can be used when they have a table that matches this index value. Other tags that can be used are tags with the WIZTGM_ prefix as defined in the Tag Mapper Tables. These tags will display the relevant source tags values.


Changing the WIZTGM_INDEX tag value in an image will cause the image to display the relevant source tags as defined in the Tag Mapper. All tags holding the WIZTGM_ prefix including the WIZTGM_INDEX tag have different values in different images. This means that even if the tag name is the same the values in each image will differ. The tags will appear in the application's tags list, however, they cannot be used as regular application tags. When an image is opened for the first time, the value assigned to the WIZTGM_INDEX for this image is taken from the application. The value 0 is invalid and cannot be used.


Errors Log File

The Errors Log File dialog box can be used to email a copy of the program's error log file to Axeda System's Customer Support or for viewing the Errors.Dat file. This option can be opened in the Application Studio by selecting Tools/View Log File.

Errors Log File 9

Network Application Update

The Network Application Update module enables an application developer to quickly and easily update far station application files remotely. To the station operator this action is invisible. However a record of the update will appear in the station's Errors.dat file.

An unlimited number of network stations using the application can be defined in the Remote Update Settings dialog box. This dialog box, by default, holds all the files within the application. The Remote Update Settings dialog box can be accessed by

clicking the Network Application Update icon.

To update a station's application files, the developer after modifying an application file opens the Remote Application Update module and maps between the updated file and the station. After the Update button is clicked and OK is pressed the new file data is transferred to the selected remote station.



Enterprise Server Connection

The Enterprise Server Connection is a modular embedded application server that provides data acquisition, local decision making and a web user interface for devices and systems.

The Enterprise Server Connection includes all functionality and XML processing required for two way Firewall Friendly communication with the Enterprise Server. Connection data and alarms flow easily to the Server through the Internet without local user or IT administration.

When installed on a platform that supports file changes, the Enterprise Server Connection can receive product and application updates remotely from the server. The Enterprise Server Connection is designed to enable upgrade of product files while the system is running thereby minimizing downtime.

This module is currently available for Microsoft Windows NT, Windows NT Embedded and Windows 2000; Microsoft Windows CE for x86, SH3, SH4, ARM and MIPS processors; Linux; and NetSilicon ThreadX 3.0.

A link between the Enterprise Server Connection and Enterprise Server is made by

clicking the icon in the Application Studio and accessing the Enterprise Server Connection Configurator dialog box.

Enterprise Server Connection 11

Connecting between Tags and the Enterprise Server Connection The Enterprise Server Connection compiles groups of application tags and alarms and sends them to an Enterprise Server as Connection Tags.

Connection Tag groups are defined in the Enterprise Server Connection Configurator dialog box. Connection Tags have no affect on application tags.

The Enterprise Server Connection is launched automatically after setup is complete.

Note: Only alarms that are in Start/Ack/Ended status will be transferred.



Axeda Systems Remote

The Axeda Remote module, an integral part of the system's package, enables shared access between this application's User (operator) computer and a Viewer (System Integrator, Technical Support) computer. A User's computer that has Axeda Remote is hidden behind a firewall and cannot be addressed directly. Since access to the User's computer is by password and shared Session IDs only, and any information sent over the Internet is encrypted, this module provides a safe solution for remote technical support and other control situations.

This module has three levels:User station whose operator sends a request for a shared sessionViewer station whose user (Technical Support) receives the request and then requests a session ID from the Server through an Internet browserServer which creates the shared session

Once the User's station is accessed, the Viewer station shares its desktop and has access to both this application and other programs on the User's computer.

An Axeda Remote session can be activated by double clicking the icon in the Application Studio. Once activated the Axeda Remote icon appears in the interface status bar. Right clicking on the icon enables the following options:

PropertiesShare DesktopStop Sharing


Axeda Systems Remote 13

Alarms

The following changes have been made to the Alarms module:

Alarm User Fields User Fields are customized fields that are defined by the user according to their specific requirements. User fields enable additional alarm filtering. There are five User Fields.

The Alarm User Fields Names dialog box can be accessed from Design/Alarm Parameters/FieldNames.

Inhibition by TagThe Alarms Definition dialog box interface has two new fields:

Inhibition by Tag: Inhibit if a specific tag receives a specific value.Inhibit Immediate: This checkbox when checked means inhibit this alarm immediately.


Deviation AlarmsDeviation (%) process values that change from the optimum value. Deviation alarms require a definition of a target value and range. If the process value exceeds the range a deviation alarm occurs. For example if the optimum value is 100 and the range (deadband) is +/-5 the process can vary from 95 105 without generating an alarm. The deadband is given by a percentage of the value.

Deviation_F (Fixed)Process values that change from the optimum value. Deviation alarms require a definition of a target value and range. If the process exceeds the range a deviation alarm occurs. For example, if the optimum value is 100 and the range (deadband) is +/-5 the process can vary from 95 to 105 without generating an alarm. The deadband is given by a constant value of the value.

Alarm ExpressionAn alarm expression can now hold up to 255 characters.

IMG_CREATEALARM_ONFAMILY=YESWhen the parameter IMG_CREATEALARM_ONFAMILY=YES is added to the wiztune.dat file it enables backward compatibility for alarms where $ASK is defined in the Alarms Family field. This parameter does not appear in the wiztune.dat file by default.

Alarms Import/ExportIn this version after exporting/importing tags/alarms the relationship between tags and tag related alarms is not valid.


Alarms 15

Advanced Alarm Management

A number of modifications have been made in the AAM module:

Message FormattingThe Message Formatting dialog box has been added and is used to define the format of the alarm message that is sent to the user. This option is accessed by clicking the Message Formatting button in the Advanced Alarm Management dialog box.

The format of the alarm can be defined as either Long or Short as per the definition in the User Management module Messenger dialog box.


Long which when checked indicates that the user will receive an alarm message holding all the alarm fields available in the Columns list. The defaults for this field are Start time and Text.Short which when checked indicates that the user will receive an alarm holding limited fields only selected from the Columns list. The default for this field is Text.

Notes:

Check the End Time Message checkbox to enable the user to receive notification that an AAM has ended.

A message will not be sent to a vocal client in the following circumstances:If the alarm is acknowledged by pressing these buttons "*" on a cellular phone.If the program's AutoAck option is selected.

WAV MessagesThe following new WAV messages have been added:

ACKFILE.WAV This is used to inform the user that the alarm message has been acknowledged.

ENDALARM.WAV This is used to inform the user that the alarm has ended.

ENDMSG.WAV This is used to inform the user that the message has ended.

Advanced Alarm Management 17

These messages are held in the Product Bin. To activate the message the following format must be defined in the Frequency Formatting dialog box: PCM48KHz.8bit. (16bit) mono.

Note: File names cannot be modified.


Image

The following changes have been made in the Image module:

New Fast ActionsThree new options have been added to the Fast Actions feature:

STARTALARM.WAV This is used to inform the user that the alarm is starting.

WAITACTFILEACKEND.WAV This is used to inform the user that their message has been received and that they can either press * to confirm it or press # to exit the message.

WAITACTFILEEND.WAV This informs the user that their message was received and that to end the message press #.


OpenScheduler used to jump from the Image to the SchedulerSaveRecipe used to save the recipe tag values to the ImageLoadRecipe used to load a saved recipe

Edit PropertiesThe Object Attributes dialog box can be opened through the Edit Properties dialog box.

The following modifications have been made:Active Layer button defines that the selected layer becomes active. Move to Active button moves the selected object to the active layer.


Image 19

Image Properties View TabA new checkbox has been added to the Image Properties View tab.

When the "Image position remains when adding/removing toolbars and menus" checkbox is checked, Image objects do not change position when the image modules attributes (defined in the Image Window Attributes dialog box) change.

User Management

The application now enables you to create a default user. When a default user is assigned after a user logs out of the application, the application automatically opens using the name and password of the default user.

A default user is created in the User Management module by selecting Users to open the List of Users and then right clicking on a specific user name and selecting the Default

User option. The Users icon will appear next to the selected user name.

Note: Only users that are members of the Administrator group can add users to the application.



Zone Navigator

Two new features have been added to the Zone Navigator module:

The general control tag in the Zone Navigator is now analog. This is enables the number of "bad" zones in the Zone Navigator to be counted. Move Up and Move Down buttons that can be used to organize the Zones List.


Zone Navigator 21

Web User Login

The Web User Login window icon has been modified.

Macro

There are two major changes to the Macro module:The Macro name can hold up to 255 characters and can also include blank spaces.The Programs button has been replaced by the Sequence button which when clicked opens the Sequence dialog box. The functionality of the Sequence dialog box is the same as the Program dialog box.


Station Properties

Two tabs in the Station Properties dialog box have been updated:

The Users tab now enables selection of a logout user. The VFI tab now has the Tags and Alarms fields which have the following sub alarms:

Proprietary format

DBF format

Custom


Station Properties 23

User Logout

User Logout is now defined in the Station Properties User tab dialog box. Both the Default and Logout User can be defined. If defined, after a user logs out, the application will be logged in automatically with the logout user's details.

Event Summary

The background is now white and the event time colors are:Start Time RedAck Time BlackEnd Time Green



Set Default Paths

The following changes have been made to this dialog box:Each module location now has a browser button which can be used to locate the correct path.The default paths of the following modules have moved to the Set Default Paths dialog box: Web application root directory, Event Summary Profiles, Pictures, Trend Profiles, Users, Macros.

This dialog box can be opened from Design/Options/Paths.

Notes:

It is not recommended to change the path of Users, Macros, Classes, Web Applications, Event Summary Profiles, Pictures and Trends.

Set Default Paths 25

The Event Summary Profiles, Pictures and Trends paths are relative to the Web Application's root directory.


Scheduler

The Adding Temporary Date Changes option has been added to the Scheduler. This option enables you to select a task that is performed on a specific date and time and add

new states and actions to it. To add a temporary date change click the icon to open the Temporary Date Changes dialog box.



Network Properties

Two modifications have been made to the Network Properties dialog box:

The Local Station configuration is now incorporated in the Local Station and Network Properties dialog box. The Internet tab has been updated and now has an additional field where an Internet Port number can be defined.

This dialog box can be accessed by either clicking the Network icon in the Application Studio or by selecting Network/Local Station and Network Properties.


VPI block

Up to 1024 building blocks can now be defined in the application.

Network Properties 27

Additional Information

Up to 255 clients can now be added to WizPro.

Known ProblemsBefore installing a final version of the product always uninstall the beta version on your computer.There are a number of online Help subjects that appear in English only. Advanced Alarm Management: Backup User option functions only in the Vocal service. Scheduler: When the Scheduler is not in running mode the application does not automatically lose correctly during shutdown. Image: When a metafile .EMF or .WMF is imported to the Image module text conversion is not supported during the file's conversion.

Internet Application on Windows NTUsing the Alarm Inhibit feature on a web application using the Windows NT option pack 4.0, IIS 4.0 or higher configured with a Personal Web Server (PWS) and if when clicking the Inhibit option in the Events Summary the following message is generated:

"Only InProc server components should be used. If you want to use the LocalServer components you must set the AspAllowOutOfProcComponents metabase setting. Please consult the help file for important considerations."

Before running the above command, make sure that your Iuser_Machine_Name and IWAM_MachineName are members of the Administrators group. If not, open the User Manager (from the Windows NT Administrative Tools), add these users to the Administrators group and restart your computer. Restart your computer after running the command.

When using the Event Summary Profiles on the web and when activating the Alarm Inhibit feature the option is activated through the IIS Service and not directly from the Application Studio.


Fixed Bugs

48 WizPLC 2.2 does not work with CIF50

77 Left Justify option applies correctly to an Image but incorrectly to an HTML file

78 Authorization Menu does not completely block the possibility of saving an Event Summary

80 The Define Blocks window does not accept certain characters when defining DDE blocks

100 Dynamic rotation of a .bmp does not work correctly in a web page.

103 Tuning Parameter ANN_DOUBLE_CLICK does not work when sorting alarms

118 It is impossible to switch between zones without getting a ZN window in HTML

136 The one Navigator does not work correctly when loading zone while image is minimized

137 Loading a zone from another image using the Zone Navigator and then saving the image will cause loss of the first image's data

139 Erasing a Zone Navigator does not create a warning message in an image

145 AAM problem

153 Help file for Tag Filter is not available in version 8.1

173 Converting many WMF files corrupts image

174 API WizUMGetUserGroups is not available for Visual Basic

198 Zone Navigator is lost when changing the image path

202 Impossible to put a negative value in a trigger formula field

203 Digital displays cannot be aligned

Fixed Bugs 29

205 Problem with rounded Value when using Engineering conversion

211 Application error message locks View Port.

212 Impossible to modify the font in the popup

213 Exporting tag causes the application to crash

217 The Report module searches through all history files slowing down performance

233 The application allows creation of two tags with the same name in WizDATA.mdb

245 Default user does not login automatically when a password is three characters long

268 Using WIZSYS_TIME in an image with an AM/PM display option does not work correctly

275 No information in version 8 documentation about Wpack and Wunpack

278 Copy dynamic objects with CTRL-button changes Z-Order

292 After restart, the language settings in Wizplc are not saved

295 Impossible to modify Font in a Group of a Button

294 Line type is not displayed properly

297 Column of acknowledge and end time in popup are not shown when changing display option to all fields

299 Incorrect message box in the demo mode

302 Macro "print chart" prints chart with blank databox

304 Some alarms are not exported with specific wizdata.mdb

307 Problem Printer

313 Trigger of Cluster Object does not work during send to back/bring to front

318 Empty subject field in email when sending an alarm in German Wizcon

320 The Events Summary toolbar is corrupted when used in a layout


331 Add Item dialog box of VPIWNOPC is not initialized during startup (OLD-NL-ECR472)

332 Multiple Tags: If using long tag addresses other columns will be overwritten (OLD-NL-ECR471)

333 Chart: Bit number "-1" should not be selectable in graph definition (OLD-NL-ECR469)

334 The old icon (version 7) is shown in the Multiple Tags: Wrong dialog (in top left corner)

337 Translation Errors (OLD-NL-ECR458)

340 Starting a chart application language makes problems if a filename is longer than 8 characters (OLD NL ECR 448)

342 Translation errors

343 Cannot log default user if password is Password (with P uppercase) (OLD NL ECR 435)

344 Password is not encrypted on wizmacro.dat file (OLD NL ECR 432)

348 Acknowledging Alert on web in French windows

353 Enable security system make trouble to start Application (OLD NL ECR 404)

355 Wizpro crashes after modifying the rate of change from a tag related alarm

356 In specific cases WizPLC 2.1 Runtime works only in Demo Mode (OLD NL ECR 400)

357 Cannot define the extension of the destination file of a history viewer (OLD NL ECR 392)

360 German online help of version 8 has to be reviewed (OLD NL ECR 382)

368 On the web button heights are incorrectly displayed if you edit them using the following resolution: 1280*1024 (OLD NL ECR 288)

385 Problems with System-Security and Win2000 (OLD NL ECR 163)

Fixed Bugs 31

388 Login window is not active (OLD NL ECR 153)

390 Rescaling clusters in images does not work properly (OLD NL ECR 145)

403 Scroll bars are not displayed in the Image Navigate mode (OLD NL ECR 112)

408 Saving Image as bmp (OLD NL ECR 92)

414 Problem with rounded floats (OLD NL ECR 79)

415 Impossible to read and then to write to history even when it is opened with VFI_OPEN_READ | VFI_OPEN_WRITE flag (OLD NL ECR 54)

421 Add and Remove bars from Image result in the Image window changing size

424 Print$B/Print$C/Print$D definition has problematic behavior

425 Export/import of alarms causes loose of alarm level

426 Macro action on alarms does not work in Windows XP

429 Printing Alert on 2 Lines parameters does not work in version 8.1

435 API WIZGETGATESTR does not work with remote tag

437 Batch-File b2z03q1v.bat will be executed by every Win 2000 start

438 Critical error message when editor is active

440 Problem with API WizFingGateDef

445 Problems with saving the EventSummary window

446 Date format in Alarm Report to file is wrong

447 Alarm Report to file --> Name of file cannot have a dot in it

456 Trend applets do not work with Java Plugin 1.4 from Sun

458 Export history files with history viewer only in capitals and without extension

482 Problem when browsing OPC


484 Problem of browsing MODBUS (always the modbus browser after closed def. tag)

485 Problem of alarm limit (the application does not manage the limits alarms)

504 Font color (Text color) in Event Summary does not function.

524 Problem in alarm export when using filter

525 Alarm is duplicated after modification/deleting

531 Macro error is not always on top

553 Generating a report to file leaves an empty output file

577 WIZSYS_DAYS 1980 displays an incorrect number before 12:00pm

588 When importing an ILS file with missing tags

589 Changing field size does not refresh correctly

590 Zone Navigator window opens behind Image window

591 Problems with incorrect field size of a digital display after changing the font type

596 Lengthy loading time problem in Web of Zones with layers

597 Communication error in the Chart is not displayed on the Web

599 Trend looses values in History mode

600 An application does not restart when Enable Modification is not valid during Wpack

606 Reports generated by Wizcon are empty if the application path has more than 41 characters

621 When the alarm history is saved into the file the format of the date is incorrect

634 WizLoginUser() does not work if the user does not have a password

Fixed Bugs 33

640 Unable to write to output higher than word 1 with WizPLC 2.2 and cif50PB

Correct handling of space between objects in align

Support for Java plug-ins 1.4


Documents

Wizcon for Windows and Internet 8.2 Release Notes