Figure 22. OPC Items editor
OPC items editor has four parts (fields):
Nodes - tree with all nodes that OPC server offers.
Items - grid with all signals (itema) in selected node. It has three columns:
Tag name - item name as OPC server offers it.
Data type - data type by OPC standard.
Value - actual signal value.
Tool panel
Selected Items - grid with selected items. This grid shows signal names exactly as they will be created. Signal names must be unique. Grid columns are:
Signal Name - signal name (as it will be created)
Item Name - original OPC itema name (read only)
Signal type - signal type (read only)
Item type - original OPC item type (by OPC standard - read only)
Array index - if item is of array type, this column shows array index.
Signal creating:
Choose the node
Using SHIFT+ARROW select rows in ITEMS grid
Click on Add Selected button to flip selected items to grid SELECTED ITEMS.
Edit names.
Click on OK button creates signals in OPC Signal Collection.
NOTES:
Double click on signal name in SELECTED ITEMS grid shows dialog for signal name editing.
Field son tool panel enable easy way to change names of all selected signal in ITEMS grid before their flipping to SELECTED ITEMS grid. First field enables you to cut first N characters from all selected signals name (In ITEMS grid all names has full path of OPC server before item’s name). Second filed enables you to add characters, at the beginning of all selected signals names (after cutting). This option enables easy way to eliminate useless character form signals name and to add characters to group signal by names. Later you can easy filter signals. Use filed for filtering and just type first letters.
If there are numbers at the beginning of item name, they will be automatically cut during transfer to SELECTED ITEMS grid.
Items in SELECTED ITEMS grid can be deleted by press on DEL key or by clicking on DELETE button.
Configure page
Figure 23. OPCSignalsEditor - Configure page
Configure page has controls to call signal property editors:
Link - editor for linking between Signal objects.
Ini editor, - editor for signal and INI component linking.
Alarms editor, - editor for alarm properties setup.
Conversion editor, - editor for conversion properties setup.
Description editor, - editor for quick signal description input.
In this editor, it is possible to change more than one signal property at once. To change more than one signal property do next:
Select properties (signals) using SHIFT + Arrow(UP-DOWN),
Edit last selected,
When you confirm input, change is assigned to all selected signals.
There is one exception: when names are changing, new names will differ in that way that every signal gets suffix number (to keep unique signal names).
Figure 24. Group signal name editing, page Configure
Link editor
Click on LINK button shows link editor:
Figure 25. Link editor (design time editor)
Link editor enables quick inspection of linked object as well as quick object linking. On left side of the screen, all object that have properties that can be linked to signals (show on the right side of the screen). Signals can be linked on two ways:
By drag and drop (signal to property – from right to left)
Double click on selected property combo box with adequate signals will be shown.
If it is possible to link more than one signal to one property, that property is marked by three dots (...). Click on this mark, you get new editor for choosing adequate signals.
Over both lists, there is one edit field for fast signal finding. Typing characters in this field, signals will be filtered by first characters in their names.
Group editing for property SignalName is also allowed.
Figure 26. Signal group selection.
Ini editor
Figure 27. Ini editor (design time editor)
This editor enables linking of signals to ini component (TIniComponent) and setup of ini component behavior.
Button Copy down column copies value of property to all selected (if there are some) or to all signals below selected one.
Button Copy down to all selected copies all selected properties to all selected signals (if there are some) or to all signals below selected one.
It is also possible to select signals, to change last selected. After confirming changes, property will be copied to all selected signals.
Editor has three columns:
IniFile – column with the name of ini file to be used. To link signal, double click to this column and choose ini component from drop down list
IniFileStatus – define behavior of ini reading and writing. Available values are shown in next table
SaveValueToIni – defines either values will be written to ini file or not.
Alarm editor
Figure 28. Alarm Editor (design time editor)
This editor enables setup of alarm properties.
Button Copy down column copies value of property to all selected (if there are some) or to all signals below selected one.
Button Copy down to all selected copies all selected properties to all selected signals (if there are some) or to all signals below selected one.
It is also possible to select signals, to change last selected. After confirming changes, property will be copied to all selected signals.
Edit field in upper left corner (over the list) is used for fast signal finding. Typing characters in this field, signals will be filtered by first characters in their names.
Drop down list box over filter edit filed can be used for filtering of signals by type.
Grid columns show next signal properties:
LoAlarmEnabled – Low alarm active – enabled (true/false).
LoLimit – Low limit value, alarm is active when EU value becomes lower or equal to this value.
LoAlarmMessage – text that will be shown in alarm message window when Low alarm is occurs.
LoAlarmWave – path to wave file that has to be played when Low alarm occurs
HiAlarmEnabled – High alarm active – enabled (true/false)
HiLimit – High limit value, alarm is active when EU value becomes greater or equal to this value.
HiAlarmMessage – Text that will be shown in alarm message window when Low alarm occurs.
HiAlarmWave – Path to wave file that has to be played when High alarm occurs.
Convert editor
Figure 29. Convert Editor (design time editor)
This editor enables setup of conversion properties of signal.
Conversion can be done on signals whose types are:
TFloatSignal
TIntegerSignal
There is an Edit field in upper left corner (over the list) is used for fast signal finding. Typing characters in this field, signals will be filtered by first characters in their names.
Button Copy down column copies value of property to all selected (if there are some) or to all signals below selected one.
Button Copy down to all selected copies all selected properties to all selected signals (if there are some) or to all signals below selected one.
It is also possible to select signals, to change last selected. After confirming changes, property will be copied to all selected signals.
Grid columns of editor show next properties of signal conversion:
ConverStatus – Convert function, explained in chapter about signal types (float and integer).
LowEU – The lowest engineer value of the signal.
HighEU – The Highest engineer value of the signal.
LowRawData – The lowest raw value of the signal.
HighRawData – The Highest raw value of the signal.
EUUnit – EU unit.
Active editor
Figure 30. Active editor (design time editor)
This editor enables easy review and switching of signal active status.
Activation or deactivation of signal can be made just by clicking on the check box of signal.
Signals with checked check box are active.
Description editor
Figure 31. Description Editor (design time editor)
This editor enables easy editing of signals description. Descriptions of signals can be read in run time using hints or by info dialogs..
Button Copy down column copies value of property to all selected (if there are some) or to all signals below selected one.
Button Copy down to all selected copies all selected properties to all selected signals (if there are some) or to all signals below selected one.
It is also possible to select signals, to change last selected. After confirming changes, property will be copied to all selected signals.
There is an Edit field in upper left corner (over the list) is used for fast signal finding. Typing characters in this field, signals will be filtered by first characters in their names.
Figure 32. Signal Info dialog (run time dialog)
Dialog with signal description can be called with right click on object that is linked to signal. Dialog shows text that is written in description editor.
