Designing Scada Hmi Wp

1. ObjectiveIntellution continues its industry leadership role with the most flexible, productive and innovativesolutions now added to the next generation of its SCADA product, iFIX 3.0. The iFIX 3.0 releaserepresents advancements in many tools with the emphasis on two major objectives, data securityand development efficiency. iFIX 3.0 builds upon the core functions of the iFIX SCADA system toprovide data security and integrity. These enhancements can help both regulated and non-regu-lated industries take advantage of powerful electronic information collection and exchange,while maintaining the highest degree of confidence in the data’s accuracy and validity. Additionalfeatures, wizards and tools have been added to the iFIX SCADA package to make it easier to cre-ate full-featured SCADA packages, which harness the powerful features available in iFIX. In thispaper, the iFIX 3.0 features shall be reviewed and discussed. In addition, the use of these new fea-tures to build the most effective SCADA applications will be presented.

2. Focus on ProductivityAs Intellution’s new release of the flagship SCADA system, iFIX 3.0 features a variety of newtools with an emphasis on productivity. Additionally, new security features will make implemen-tations in a regulated environment possible.

2.1. Data Integrity / Security

The new automated factory that had been envisioned for the 21st century is quicklybecoming a reality. High-speed data collection and retention, tighter integration ofplant floor application and business systems, and powerful analysis tools are alreadyavailable. iHistorian™ from Intellution offers a world-class solution for the collection ofprocess information. The new infoAgent™ web-based interface provides a portal for

Designing SCADA/HMI Applicationswith Intellution®’s iFIX® 3.0

2 Designing SCADA/HMI Applications with Intellution®’s iFIX® 3.0

analysis of data from multiple sources on the plant floor. With an organization’sincreased reliance on and desire to use electronic information, the security and integri-ty of this information has become a critical issue. Regulated industries have closely fol-lowed the FDA’s 21 CFR Part 11 regulation as a guideline for implementing computer-based automation systems in this new environment. Intellution has added electronicsignature capabilities to the iFIX SCADA system to provide additional data security. To track user changes, operational events and alarms, the iFIX ODBC alarm logger hasbeen enhanced to become the complete system audit trail for the SCADA system. Theintegration of iFIX security to Windows has been made easier to manage with the useof a new tool called the Windows Security Synchronizer.

2.2. Faster Development, Easier Management

The Intellution iFIX SCADA has the most powerful features and options of any comparableproduct on the market. Enabling users to take advantage of this power faster and moreconfidently was a chief objective of the new iFIX 3.0 release. Several new ease-of-useimprovements have been added to iFIX, including:

• Create Picture Wizard• Cross Reference Report Tool• Multiple Object Creation• Datalink Stamper• Basic Animation Dialog• InfoAgent Dynamo• Virtual Keyboard• Build Dynamo Wizard• Chart Group Wizard• New Software Support

3. Achieving a High Degree of Data Integrity / Security A major advancement in iFIX 3.0 includes tools and enhancements to provide security arounddata entry and collection. These new features were born out of Intellution’s desire to providethe best technology to implement SCADA solutions in regulated industries. However, thesenew features can benefit any corporation that wants to achieve a high degree of data integritythrough advanced security functionality.

3.1. Tools to Achieve Compliance

iFIX 3.0 builds upon its core to provide the software automation tools needed to buildcompliant solutions faster and easier. The iFIX product includes a new electronic signa-ture feature, which can be implemented on new iFIX solutions and even added to exist-ing iFIX systems. Complimenting the electronic signature option are enhancements tothe storage of alarms, events and electronic signatures in a compliant Audit Trail, usingthe iFIX ODBC alarm logger. The integration of iFIX security to Windows NT/2K securityhas also become easier with a new tool to synchronize user account information inWindows to iFIX.


3.1.1. Implementing Electronic Signatures

The iFIX electronic signatures are provided as a purchasable option, integratedinto the iFIX process database. One of the keys to Intellution’s approach toincorporating electronic signatures is the inclusion of this feature at the data-base tag level. Rather than drilling down through graphics or adding complexscripting to objects on each screen, the electronic signature is configured onthe point requiring this verification and is then available whenever the point isdisplayed and used. This tag level integration of electronic signatures has sev-eral powerful implications, including:

• Integrating electronic signatures into your graphics designs, withthe many options and styles of implementation, which vary fromdeveloper to developer, can be very difficult. The iFIX approach,which integrates the electronic signatures to tags in the processdatabase, is far more disciplined and thus an easier place to managethe addition of electronic signatures.

• The electronic signature feature is activated any time a change isattempted on the tag value, from any graphic where the tag is used.iFIX will always exhibit the same behavior when the electronic signa-ture tag is used.

• User accounts can be assigned the performed by and/or verified byprivileges for executing signatures. Additionally, users can beassigned the right to execute an electronic signature against a datapoint by using iFIX security areas. The user must belong to the samesecurity group that the data point is assigned to, in order to executethe electronic signature.

• The tag based approach allows for quicker and more accurate reme-diation of existing iFIX projects, where the existing process databasecan be exported, modified and then imported to add the electronicsignature option.

The electronic signature in iFIX is a combination of username and password.The username and password are defined in iFIX security. Note that iFIX securitymay be tied to Windows NT/2K/XP security, but this is not a requirement touse electronic signatures. User accounts or security groups containing useraccounts are assigned one of two new privileges, “Electronic Signature -Performed By” and “Electronic Signature - Verified By”. Additionally, useraccounts should be assigned to one or more security areas, to define whichtags the user can execute signatures and actions against.


Figure 1: Assigning the new Electronic Signature Privilege

You can configure an iFIX tag to prompt for a single username/password (performed by) and also for a second username/password (verified by). Pointsshould be placed into security areas. The security areas function the same as in previous iFIX releases, restricting access to data changes to users who areassigned to the same security area as the tag to be changed. With electronicsignatures, any user who wishes to make a change to a tag executes a successful“performed by” signature, and if that user is assigned to the same security areaas the tag, the data change is permitted.

3.1.2. Electronic Signatures in Action

When a user chooses to change a data point, through any data entry dialog (in line entry, sliders, etc.), the electronic signature dialog appears. The dialogpresents the user with important information such as the current value of thedata point, a brief description of the intended action and also an area to enterin a comment. The user may pick from a list of pre-configured comments ortype in free form text.

Only users who have been assigned the performed by security privilege canexecute performed by signatures. To execute the signature, the user enters inhis username and password. Note that the user can navigate the dialog usingonly the keyboard and the “enter” or “tab” key, enabling the possible use of abar code gun. When two signatures are required , both the performed by andverified by signatures are presented “side by side” so that the user verifying the action can “see” what he/she is signing for. Users can be assigned both the performed by and verified by privileges; however, iFIX will require that the performed by and verified by signatures be different for a single action.


Figure 2: Performed By Signature Figure 3: Performed By and Verified By Signature

After the first electronic signature is provided, subsequent signings onlyrequire the password of the user who made the first signing. This behavior willcontinue until another iFIX tool, the iFIX screen saver, logs off the node andends the continuous signing session. The iFIX screen saver, like any screensaver, is activated by the operating system when a configurable period of inactivity has progressed.

To demonstrate the flexibility of this tag-based approach, consider a scenariowhere electronic signatures are required on some occasions, but not others. In this instance, use the iFIX process database to create two tags, pointing tothe same address. One tag should be configured with electronic signatures and configured with an operator accessible security area. The second tag, notrequiring electronic signatures, should be configured without the electronicsignature option.

3.1.3. Collecting Alarms and Events

The iFIX ODBC alarm logger has been proposed in previous Intellution papersas the place to collect the events and information that would form the AuditTrail. The iFIX ODBC alarm logger can collect events such as changes to tags,security access or violations, and system events such as starting up or stoppingthe iFIX application. This would seem to be all the information required to com-plete the Audit Trail; however, there are a number of important pieces missing.The new enhancements to the iFIX 3.0 ODBC alarm logger add these pieces,making this tool a complete Audit Trail of all events that occur within the iFIXSCADA application.

The iFIX ODBC alarm logger is configured using the SCU utility. During configu-ration, you choose to configure and build a database table to contain the AuditTrail data. The configuration screen provides a list of fields you can select tostore in your database table. You can check a field to add it to your table. Thereare also check boxes to add all fields or remove all fields. The checkbox “CreateTable on Startup” allows the Alarm ODBC service to create the table in yourdatabase if it does not exist. Note that the Alarm ODBC service will have tologin with a user account that has the privilege to create a table for this featureto work.

The iFIX ODBC alarm logger adds new fields to store additional information.

New Column Definition

Tag Description The database tag’s description text

Operator Login Full Name Full name of the user who is logged in at the node where thechange was made

Performed By User Name User name of the person performing an action that requires anelectronic signature

Performed By Full Name Full name of the person performing an action that requires anelectronic signature

Performed By Comment Comment entered by the person performing an action thatrequires an electronic signature

Verified By User Name User name of the person verifying an action that requires anelectronic signature

Verified By Full Name Full name of the person verifying an action that requires anelectronic signature

Verified By Comment Comment entered by the person verifying an action thatrequires an electronic signature

Message ID A message identifier (in binary form) that uniquely identifiesthe record.

Table 1: New Alarm ODBC Columns

A new message type has been added call the ESIGNATURE, that will be usedby the ODBC alarm logger to identify electronic signature records capturedby the program.

The backup file used for store and forward function is now encrypted and willcache alarm and event records when the alarm logger ODBC service is paused orcannot establish a connection to the relational database. A process database tagmay be optionally specified as a means of alerting the user through an alarm orgraphic animation that the alarm logger is not connected to the database.

The event description field, which in the past stored a text description of theevent, has also been enhanced to include the user’s full name of the user


logged in to make the data change and also the current and previous values ofthe database tags.

The final addition to the database is the addition of a unique message ID field.This field is useful to include in other custom database tables as a means toassociating the event to the context of other information, such as a batch ID ofthe current batch running.

3.1.4. Synchronization to Windows Security

Why integrate iFIX security to your Windows NT, 2000 or XP security configura-tion? One reason is that Windows security offers several features that canenhance iFIX security, such as the enforcement of password length and unique-ness and password lockout features. Another reason is ease of administration.Passwords for user accounts can be changed in the Windows security databaseand reflected on all iFIX nodes where the security is tied to that Windows useraccount. The new Windows Security Synchronizer adds powerful features thissynchronization process.

The Windows Security Synchronizer configures users’ iFIX application featuresand security areas in the Windows security database as local groups. Useraccounts defined in Windows are then included as members in these new localsecurity groups. The synchronization of this information in the Windows securitydatabase is then pushed one way, from Windows to iFIX. The Windows SecuritySynchronizer does not update automatically, but rather must be run as a utilityto apply changes from the Windows definition to iFIX and assure that securityprofiles are accurate.

3.2. Quick Implementation

The new tools included in iFIX 3.0 are enhancements that are built around the existingiFIX architecture. These enhancements build on the strength of the iFIX product byusing its flexible process database, ODBC Alarm and Event logger and integration toWindows security - all features which have existed since the first release of iFIX.

3.2.1. Upgrading the Process Database

As mentioned before, the electronic signature feature is integrated into theprocess database and configured on a tag-by-tag basis. When upgrading youriFIX from previous releases, these fields are added automatically to yourprocess database tags, while a backup of your process database is also created.While the fields are added automatically, electronic signatures are not. To addelectronic signatures to existing or new applications you must first identifywhat tags and I/O changes require electronic signatures. Then you can add theelectronic signatures to the tags directly in the Database Manager.

While sorting through thousands of tags is indeed a daunting task, we will discuss a new cross reference tool later in this paper that can help make theprocess more efficient. The cross reference tool, which is new in iFIX 3.0, canhelp you to identify which tags are accessible on various application screens to apply electronic signatures to the right tags in the process database.


Figure 4: Configuring Electronic Signatures

3.3. Strategies for Implementation

Implementing an automation project for a regulated environment is not a small under-taking, as many companies and engineering teams are discovering. The iFIX SCADAstands alone in the completeness of tools and options to provide the key features forcompliance, secure audit trail, security configuration linked to the powerful Windowssecurity engine, and electronic signature features. Before embarking on a project, it pays to use good engineering and lifecycle design practices and understand therequirements of your automation project before jumping into an implementation oreven a remediation.

3.3.1. Identify Security Groups, Users, Security Areas

Many of the demands of compliance can be satisfied with a well-designed security system. The security system should be easy to understand, havingclearly defined levels and boundaries. The users of the system must be identified.The system features and functions must be identified and contrasted againstthese user groups. Identify what system functions and features require secureaccess. Ease the configuration of the user accounts by assigning them to one or more security groups. Assign system privileges to these security groups andthe privileges become available to all users in the group. Finally, determinewhat areas of the system require restricted access and contrast those areas tothe security groups. From there, you can create the system security areas tosegregate system areas and access.


3.3.2. Identify Parameters that Require Electronic Signatures

Identifying the items that require signatures requires an analysis of your currentprocess SOPs, GxP expectations and the use of the data the system generates.Batch control and operations may be items that require electronic signatures.Examples are the release of raw materials for production, verification of tankand equipment preparation, and batch start, stop, hold and abort actions.Additionally, some system setpoints and alarm ranges can be protected withelectronic signatures.

3.3.3. Implement the ODBC Alarm Logger

The iFIX SCADA system can capture system alarms and system events. Systemevents include user login and logout from the node, access to system features,system startup and shutdown and security violations. The Alarm ODBC Loggercan be used to generate a system audit trail.

3.3.4. Access to the Audit Trail

Intellution provides the tools necessary to generate secure access to the systemaudit trail. Intellution offers the VisiconX tools for quick access to system dataon iFIX screens. The VisiconX tools can be configured without scripting, linkingto table data in the audit trail. The controls can also be integrated to other con-trols, like Microsoft®’s Calendar Control to filter data by date. VisiconX offers aread only view of data in a table format that is easy to read and navigate. iFIXalso offers the Crystal Reports runtime. Crystal Decision’s Crystal Reports is atool that can be used to build professional reports and charts. The runtimeallows you to display, print and email reports within iFIX. Events that triggerCrystal Reports automatic printing are integrated into the iFIX system. Finally,iFIX also offers integration to Adobe’s Acrobat to generate an audit trail reportin a persistable, read-only file format, the PDF. The PDF file can be distributedand archived easily.

Figure 5: Viewing the Audit Trail Events with VisiconX


4. Rapid DevelopmentWhat tools would make developing SCADA applications faster, leaving engineers more time toconcentrate on solving system design issues? This is the question the iFIX development team askedof themselves as they embarked on this latest release of the iFIX SCADA product, iFIX 3.0. As itturns out, there are several enhancements in iFIX 3.0 that can accelerate the implementation ofyour solution. These tools place the iFIX SCADA in a new class for productivity and user friendliness.

4.1. Graphics

Because of the extensive level of detail required, building graphics is by far the mosttime consuming effort in SCADA development. iFIX 3.0 has an unprecedented number oftools that enable the quick and easy development of your graphics – including animatedlinks, dynamos and even support for ActiveX controls. New to iFIX 3.0 are additionalwizards and tools to make it possible to use all the power of the iFIX product, in a fractionof time.

4.1.1. Create Picture Wizard

The Create Picture wizard is a tool that helps you choose the layout of one ormore pictures in your project. The wizard will allow you to quickly build anapplication with headers, footers, main displays and popups and allow you tomanage the size and position of these windows faster than ever before. In iFIX3.0, when you choose to create a new picture, the Create Picture wizard willappear. On the screen you are presented with different options for the type ofpicture to create.

• Create Picture(s) from a Predefined Configuration• Create a Custom Picture• Create a Default ‘Untitled’ Picture

Figure 6: Create Picture Wizard


4.1.1.1. Predefined Configuration

You may choose from one or more predefined picture configurations.When you display the Create Picture Wizard, you are presented with adialog that depicts the workspace layout of your pictures with repre-sentative window sizes and color-coding. This view gives you theopportunity to view the windows together before you actually have tomake all of these windows. Most SCADA projects require one or morecommon windows displayed at any time during the application’s run.Often, a common header and footer are displayed and it is the mainbody of the screen, between the header and footer, which variesgraphically. The Create Picture Wizard provides the user with severalconfigurations of windows that the user can browse through. There areseveral configurations of header, main and footer and additional sam-ples that show a split screen with a left hand side “toolbar” type graph-ic. If the predefined window arrangements do not suit you, choose awindow configuration that comes close to what your needs are andclick the Modify Configuration button to customize the predefinedconfiguration. The Modify Configuration dialog box will appear whereyou can change window dimensions. Make the modifications andreturn to the Choose Configuration page. Once you have established thepicture(s) and their layout, click Next and the Select Filenames page willappear. Select which of the pictures in the configuration you want to cre-ate and specify filenames for those pictures. To disable a picture, clearthe check box next to the generic name. Disabled pictures will not becreated. For enabled pictures, enter a filename in the field next.

4.1.1.2. Custom Picture

The custom picture selection allows you to specify the properties of anew picture to be created. There are two options presented for you toselect, “Use Specified Dimensions,” where you may specify the size ofthe window to be created or “Use Dimensions of Existing Picture,”where you can choose to dimension your new window by selectingfrom a list of existing pictures. Once dimensions are chosen, click Nextand define any custom attributes you would like the window to have.Finally, click next and provide a new filename for your picture.

4.1.1.3. Create Default ‘Untitled’

When you select this option and then the Finish button, the wizardexits and creates the typical “Untitled” picture in the current size ofyour WorkSpace. This is the traditional behavior that iFIX used in previ-ous releases, which essentially bypasses the wizard.


4.1.2. Creating the Graphics

Once the wizard has helped create the picture, there are several new featuresavailable in iFIX to make adding new objects easier than ever before.

4.1.2.1. Multiple Object Creation

A new feature added to the iFIX development environment will allowyou to choose an object and create multiple copies of it without havingto reselect the object from the toolbar each time. To take advantage ofthis new option, double-click on the icon for the object in the toolbox.The button remains depressed, indicating that the multiple object cre-ation feature is now enabled.

Once you begin drawing an object, you can reposition and draw itagain any number of times. When you are done with your drawings,press the ESC key or click on the depressed icon in the Toolbox to endthe drawing session. This tool removes many unnecessary clicks anddrags to make the creation of a complex graphic faster.

Multiple creation mode is available for the following objects:

• Rectangles and rounded rectangles• Straight lines and polygons• Ovals• Arcs• Polygons• Text• Charts• Bitmaps• Current date and current time links

4.1.2.2. Data Link Stamper

The data link stamper is not new to iFIX. What is new, however, is thatyou can now specify the source of data and format before specifyingthe position of the data link. When you click on a data link icon in theToolbar, the dialog appears to choose the data link tag or tag groupsource. After you have completed your choices, the data link stampericon appears and allows you to position the data link with the mouse.When you click on the graphic, the data link is displayed at the point ofyour click. The size of the data link is based on both your source selec-tion and the user preference font.

4.1.2.3. Basic Animation Dialog

After the Multiple Object Creation feature has been used to create four ovals to represent our process areas, we need to animate theseobjects. In the past we would need to hunt through many layers oftabbed dialogs to find the settings we needed, for each object, but in


iFIX 3.0, the lauded “Animation Dialog” has been brought over fromFIX32 and updated. For users of FIX32, this dialog will appear as italways has. For new users, it will dramatically simplify your understand-ing of the options available to you when you add animations to anobject. The dialog is organized into different key animation features,each with a set of command buttons and check boxes to enable theseanimation features.

• Color – choose the source for foreground, edge or back-ground color of the selected object

• Movement – choose the source for position, scaling andobject rotation

• Fill – choose a source for determining object fill• Visibility – choose a source for object visibility

Figure 7: Basic Animation Dialog

Choose the command wizard button to add scripting to the “click”event of the object. You can choose from several canned global functions that are presented by the wizard in a selectable list.

• Acknowledge Alarm• Acknowledge All Alarms• Alarm Horn• Close Digital Tag• Close Picture• Disable Alarm


• Enable Alarm• Locate Alarm• Open Digital Tag• Open Picture• Print Crystal Report• Ramp Tag Value• Replace Picture• Set Tag Auto• Set Tag Manual• Toggle Digital Tag• Toggle Tag Auto/Manual• Toggle Tag Scan State• Turn Tag Off Scan• Turn Tag On Scan• Write Value to Tag

Double-click one of the choices in the list to choose the function to be the default behavior on the click event.

Advanced users of iFIX can be assured that all of the powerful animation features and object events that were available in previousiFIX releases are still available in iFIX 3.0. On the Basic AnimationDialog, click the “configure” button under the advanced animationsselection. The iFIX animation dialog displays as the more traditionaliFIX tabbed dialog known to most iFIX users. This dialog provides the user with every option in every detail to allow the developer tofinely tune the animation.

4.1.2.4. Build Dynamo Wizard

Once objects have been created and animations have been applied, it is time to save the graphic. Intellution iFIX 3.0 now allows users tosave their objects as dynamos using the new Build Dynamo Wizard.This wizard will allow you to save one or more graphics as dynamos in a dynamo set.

Sets of dynamos from previous releases of iFIX are still available. Now,however, you have the power to transfer your favorite graphics using adynamo for this function. Dynamo sets exist in files that you create andsave. These files can be copied, just like pictures and tag groups, anddistributed to multiple systems.

4.1.3. Using the Chart Group Wizard

The iFIX SCADA is supplied with a Trend Chart Control that allows a user topresent a trend display in an iFIX picture. The trend display can show either realtime data from the iFIX process database or from the iFIX historian. The trenddisplay has several property pages, available both during screen design and runtime, to choose the pens to display, along with their scaling, color and otherfeatures. New to iFIX 3.0 is the Chart Group Wizard, which allows you to savemultiple pen configurations to files and reapply those configurations.


This new feature allows you to create very flexible trend displays using a singletrend object. You can allow the users of your application to choose from a pre-built set of chart group files or allow them to create, modify and save their owntrend displays. When you consider that for every process and for every user adifferent set of data or different view of that data becomes important, this newtool dramatically increases the power and flexibility of the trend display in iFIX.

4.2. Data Entry Options

Space and environment on the plant floor are seldom supportive of the traditional key-board and mouse, and as a result, they are often unavailable there. The iFIX 3.0 SCADAapplication adds a new configurable popup keyboard display that provides a flexibledata entry option alternative to the hardware equivalent.

4.2.1. On Screen Keyboard Popup

The new On Screen Keyboard is a separate application, MYTSOFT.EXE. The keyboard application can be started without iFIX, and the keyboard displayshows the standard 101 key keyboard with additional features.

The keyboard display is configurable. The user can choose to display an 88 keydisplay by hiding the number keypad. Keys can be moved using the edit feature.The keyboard size can be changed (increased or decreased). The many powerfulconfiguration options allow you to control the appearance and real estate usedby the keyboard and display the keyboard you need for your application. Theability to size the keyboard allows you to create the keyboard keys at the rightsize to be used in any touch-screen environment.

The large “minimize” button on the keyboard allows you to hide the keyboard.Whenever the keyboard is minimized, you will notice a “keyboard icon” willappear in the upper right hand corner of your application window. You can clickthis icon to display the virtual keyboard again. The keyboard icon will appear onany active window for any application.

Unlike previous data entry options, the new On Screen Keyboard is not just limited to iFIX SCADA applications. Once activated, the On Screen Keyboard isavailable to every application on the machine. This allows you to use iFIX withany applications on the machine and offer your operators a consistent dataentry tool for all applications.

Figure 8: Virtual Keyboard


4.3. Web Integration

The iFIX application was built to support Microsoft’s ActiveX component technology.With this support, users have always been able to embed Microsoft’s Internet Explorerapplication in an iFIX picture to display pages from the Internet or corporate Intranet.Still, the inclusion of this ActiveX is not trivial and to build in navigation buttons and program the correct URL address can be difficult. With our increasing use of Web technology in the new infoAgent tool, Intellution is now making the integration of webcontent into an iFIX application as simple as drag and drop with the infoAgent Dynamo.

4.3.1. infoAgent Dynamo

The new dynamo allows you to include web content on any iFIX screen. Thatweb content can include browsable infoAgent screens, HTML reports fromIntellution’s iDowntime software, or any other web page. Simply drag and dropthe infoAgent dynamo from its dynamo folder. You will be prompted to enteryour URL address, which can be either derived from a local file path or from anHTTP web server. Finally, position the dynamo the way you want on the screen.With the increasing importance in integrating web-based information, this newdynamo will see plenty of use in SCADA systems, now and in the future.

Figure 9: infoAgent Dynamo


4.4. Managing the Application

During development of any medium or large size SCADA system, the task of recordingwhat links are used on what screens, scripts and schedules can be daunting. Good documentation and management in the early stages of your project can mitigate someof this effort. However, how can you evaluate what level of completion you and yourengineering team have achieved midway through your project’s schedule? Moreover,developing good testing documentation is still necessary and when you actually sitdown to test the system and record the test results, how long is this testing going to take?When must every link be verified? Fortunately, a new tool is included with the iFIX 3.0SCADA, the Cross Reference Report Tool.

4.4.1. Cross Reference Report Tool

The Cross Reference Report Tool provides several powerful options. It will allowyou to locate every data source in the selected picture, or every object in theselected picture, or the occurrence of a data point in one or more pictures. TheCross Reference Tool can be used to document a system, provide verification ofsystem screen and scripts during testing and to quickly troubleshoot a system.

You can activate the Cross Reference Report Tool by double clicking the toolname off the root of the system tree display. When you select the CrossReference Report Tool, the new Cross Reference Report window is displayedand the Quick Find dialog is displayed. While the Quick Find dialog is displayedyou may select one or more pictures displayed on the main window in theobject display tree. The Quick Find dialog provides check boxes for the threemain options:

• Picture Cross Reference – Finds all tags contained in the selected picture, schedule, User Global, or object.

• Tag Cross Reference – Finds a specific tag, tag substitution, or symbolin the selected picture, schedule, User Global, or object and all TagGroup Definition files. Enter the string in the Tag Cross Referencefield or click the Browse (...) button to open the Expression Editor.

• Objects Cross Reference - Finds all objects within the selectedobject. To search for specific objects, enter any filter string thatwould be found in the Object, Property, Resolved, or Tag Group Filecolumns in the Find What field. To find all objects, leave the FindWhat field empty or enter <ALL>.


Figure 10: Quick Find, Cross Reference Report

With each choice, you can apply several report options:

• Resolve with Tag Group File – If the selected picture or object containsTag Group symbols, this option resolves those symbols by attemptingto match symbols with the Tag Group Definition file and find all substi-tutions. This option is available for all Report types.

• Include VBA Scripts – Allows the Cross Reference Tool to searchthrough scripts within the selected picture for the tag(s). Both thePicture and Tag reports return the tag, if found, but the ObjectReport returns all lines of script.

• Add Summary Report – Adds a summary to the end of the reportdetailing the number of objects, number of tags, and the VBA project reference information.

After you have completed making your choices, click the “Find” button. The dialog disappears and a status bar appears, displaying the percentage to completion as the wizard analyzes your application.

In addition to the Quick Find dialog, the Report Wizard display allows you tosetup your report with more flexibility. Like the Quick Find Dialog, the ReportWizard allows you to choose the three report types, but an additional taballows you to select multiple files to search through when the report generates.You can change the order of the search hierarchy by selecting the appropriatefile and clicking the up and down arrow buttons on the dialog.


By default, the results of the analysis are displayed in the Cross Reference Toolscreen. Additionally, options are available to allow you to Save Report to File orPrint Report, automatically upon generation. Of course, you can save the reportor print it from the screen as well.

Figure 11: Cross Reference Results

5. Integration Support for the Latest ToolsThe iFIX 3.0 release includes support for the latest versions of software.

5.1. Support for Windows XP, 2000 and NT

iFIX 3.0 supports Windows XP (Professional Edition), Windows 2000 (Professional,Server and Advanced Server) and Windows NT (Workstation and Server). For Windows2000 Terminal Server, the terminal service features are also supported by iFIX, allowingyou to deploy thin clients that can access an iFIX application running on the server.

5.2. SQL Option for SQL Server 2000

The SQL option that can enable the database blocks for logging iFIX data, based onevents or time will now support Microsoft’s SQL Server 2000 release. The SQT/SQDblocks are receiving renewed popularity as a tool to log process data and event data to a relational database for creation of electronic batch records.


5.3. Crystal Reports

Intellution continues its support and integration of the most popular tool for Windowsreporting, Crystal Decision’s Crystal Reports. The latest release of Crystal Reports, version 8.5, includes new features for report development and web support. iFIX willnow support reports created with Crystal Reports 8.5 and continues to include the custom VBA events that can be used to print reports automatically.

6. ConclusionIntellution’s iFIX 3.0 provides key advancements in data security, integrity and development efficiency.

• The iFIX SCADA incorporates support for capturing electronic signatures to validatedata point changes. The electronic signatures provide the features necessary to helpcreate 21 CFR Part 11 compliant applications using the iFIX SCADA package. Electronicsignatures are built upon the sound security features already included in iFIX (applicationprivileges for performed by or verified by signings, security area assignments, andoptional integration to Windows security). Electronic signatures are applied to theprocess database tags, not the graphics, making any implementation manageable.

• The Alarm ODBC Logger has been enhanced to provide store and forward featuresand several additional fields to create a complete and reliable audit trail.

• The management and synchronization of iFIX security linked to Windows has becomeeasier with the Windows security Synchronizer.

• The Cross Reference Report Tool provides a powerful way to troubleshoot and document graphics and scripts.

• Graphic development enhancements have been added, including the Multiple ObjectCreation Mode, Datalink Stamper, Basic Animation Dialog, Build Dynamo Wizard,Chart Group Wizard, Create Picture Wizard. These enhancements extend the powerof the iFIX SCADA features, making it easier to implement SCADA solutions.

• Virtual Keyboard integration allows you to build SCADA solutions for touch screenenvironments.

• The infoAgent Dynamo allows you to integrate infoAgent displays into the iFIX system.infoAgent is Intellution’s web-based trending and analysis solution, providing remoteaccess to multiple sources of information.

This release of iFIX represents a major transition of the SCADA product, from visualization andcontrol of plant automation, to information aggregation. The iFIX SCADA product, which can be used to develop an environment that is compliant with important regulatory requirements, is now the tool that will allow the plant floor to be leveraged as a competitive advantage in the 21st century.

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Designing Scada Hmi Wp

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