Tech Notes

Tech Note: 099

Getting Started with the Wonderware Remote Response Objects

The Wonderware Remote Response Object is an email and text message notification solution for Wonderware Application Server 3.0 or higher. The Remote Response Object is a set of fully functional ArchestrA Objects that integrate with a System Platform Environment, and can be customized by the user to deliver alarm notification via e-mail or text message to cell phones via SMS (Simple Messaging System). Remote users can view alarm information, acknowledge alarms, and enter comments all from a remote device.

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Tech Note: 097

How to create a connection between Wonderware Data Access Server (DA Server) and Matrikon OPC Explorer

AVEVA Communication Drivers

The Wonderware Data Access Servers (in short: DA Servers) all have the ability to serve clients using three built in protocols: DDE, SuiteLink, and OPC. The Matrikon OPC Explorer is a free product from Matrikon (provider of many IO OPC Servers) and can be useful in verifying connectivity and displaying values when troubleshooting communications to a Wonderware DA

Server using OPC protocol. The way to connect to the different Wonderware DA Servers is the same, only the name of the server and the tags you are looking for may change. This document lists the steps necessary to connect to the...

Tech Note: 095

How to Get Started with the ArchestrA Alarm Client Control using Wonderware InTouch

With the release of Wonderware Application Server 3.1 and Wonderware InTouch 10.1 you now have access to two new graphical elements. One of those elements is the "ArchestrA Alarm Client Control". The purpose of this document is to help users get started with the implementation of the referenced element.

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Tech Note: 092

Configuring passive PLC heartbeat tag in Wonderware InTouch to monitor communication throughput

AVEVA Communication Drivers, AVEVA InTouch HMI

At times it is helpful to notify operators that communication has been lost between the HMI and a PLC. This tech note shows one method that relies on continual updates from the PLC to reset a counter tag. If the counter tag increases past a configured alarm set point, then it will produce an alarm.

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Tech Note: 090

Examples of how to derive SQL Server dates in AVEVA Historian reports

AVEVA Historian, AVEVA Historian Client

This Tech Note provides examples of how to derive different SQL Server date value such as the first day of the month, the first day of the week etc. These examples may become useful while developing Wonderware Historian reports (for instance: "average flow month to date", "total yield this quarter" etc.).

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Tech Note: 089

How to Implement Time Considerations with AVEVA Historian and IDAS Systems

AVEVA Historian

When working with Wonderware Historian and IDAS, it is important to take time into serious consideration. With IDAS historical data storage there is a term called the "Real-Time Window", which is a period of time behind and ahead of the Wonderware Historian system time, where values coming into the system are considered "valid" and will be stored properly. With Wonderware Historian the real-time window can be any value coming into the system between -30 seconds and +999 milliseconds. Time offset and discarded data can be a result of improper time synchronization. The purpose of this document is to help identify...

Tech Note: 088

How to Modify Default Actions for ArchestrA Graphics

AVEVA InTouch HMI, AVEVA System Platform & OMI

It may become useful to use an ArchestrA graphic for a purpose other than the original design. For example, say you like the look of the ArchestrA graphic titled "ButtonGlossyDotMomentaryOrange", but you want to use it for both a direct type action and then use the same graphic for a toggle type action. This document will relay a general procedure to accomplish this by using the preceding example.

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Tech Note: 087

How to use the ArchestrA Bulk Import utility to import Wonderware InTouch Tags

AVEVA InTouch HMI, AVEVA System Platform & OMI

With the release of the ArchestrA Bulk Import Utility, it is possible to directly convert Wonderware InTouch tagnames into the ArchestrA IDE (Integrated Development Environment) as application objects. This tech note details the basic procedure required to perform this task with a select set of Wonderware InTouch tags under a single alarm group. Specifically, this example involves importing discrete and analog tags used to represent pumps and PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) control loops.

Please note that the procedure for larger applications or 3rd party HMIs may be more involved. For further details on using the ArchestrA Bulk Import utility please...

Tech Note: 082

Resolving slow WindowMaker load times for Wonderware InTouch managed applications

AVEVA InTouch HMI

Default Wonderware InTouch application settings can result in long waits opening ArchestrA IDE managed applications containing a large number of windows with embedded ArchestrA Graphics. Each window is programmatically opened to complete the initial load of all ArchestrA graphics in the development environment. Adding a setting to the application's INTOUCH.INI file can vastly improve the initial load times in Wonderware InTouch WindowMaker for instances when this delay adversely affects the speed of development. This document lists the steps necessary to locate and add the LoadAllActiveXOnStartup flag set to zero in the managed application's INTOUCH.INI file.

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Tech Note: 80

How to use the $PingNode Object Template in Wonderware Application Server

AVEVA System Platform & OMI

This tech note describes how to use a custom $PingNode object template created for Wonderware Application Server. Object based on that template provides ping status for a given machine (node).

The $PingNode object template includes the Ping script that can be customized to provide additional features. By default the enabled object will ping the configured node every 10 seconds and report general status and reply time. It also can be configured to alarm if a ping timeout is incurred.

This type of information should be useful for monitoring system health of network hardware and other machines that are not part...