Defining a user method to bring up default file open dialog box

[rlao]

Hi all,

I have a use case for GS2023 Aug 2024 where I am trying to make the methods of the x70 outstation configuration object accessible via the object menu of the corresponding x70 outstation object. This is so that engineering users do not have to hunt for the configuration object to do actions like importing in logic or generating rtz configs for an outstation.

Defining a custom user method gets me most of the way there, but I can't seem to leave the method arguments blank so that the default dialog box comes up asking for missing user input. Defining the method call as a user method pick action within a mimic gets me exactly what I want which is the below dialog box:

However, I am unable to replicate this exact behaviour as a user method on the actual x70 outstation object itself. The closest I can get is to define a prompt (e.g. ImportRTZ(['Filename',''],4)) but it just asks for generic string input and I do not get access to browse the file system for an rtz file. Hence, the built-in dialog box above is much more preferable for me.

Just wondering if there is a way to achieve what I need, thanks!

[AndrewScott]

User method prompts don't have any support for file arguments, so you can't do this with a user method.

Locating the SCADAPack x70 Device associated with a SCADAPack x70 DNP3 Outstation shouldn't require any hunting. Just open the outstation's properties, click on the "Go To" button and then click "Locate in Database Explorer" menu option (in document tab's menu). This will navigate the Database Explorer to the device.

[rlao]

Hi @AndrewScott,

Thanks for your quick response and very much appreciated.

To respond to your latter point and explain my point of view: our field techs are used to the E-Series interface where the config and outstation were a single object with a consolidated menu, rather than split. So their expectation was they can drive everything from the one convenient menu, from refreshing outstation to generating config files.

The x70 interface may be a struggle for them to adapt. I want to keep in mind that they are out in the field and they may not always be generating config files every day. So I want to streamline this as much as possible for their benefit, to minimize the number of 'clicks' that they have to remember while they are probably not in the most comfortable of environments.

The workflow is simple for us engineers but for field techs, they would have to remember to:

• Open Properties from the x70 Outstation object menu.
• Click 'Go To' on the x70 Device field to bring up the linked config object properties.
• Right click on the tab of the config properties and click Locate in Database Explorer.
• Right click the config object in the database bar and hit Export to RemoteConnect, then navigate to a file location to save the exported rtz file.

The E-Series method may not be a one-click process itself either. However, the workflow importantly was localized to within a single popup box hence no need to open additional forms and select additional database objects:

• Open Configuration Setup from the E-Series Outstation object menu
• Click Generate on the Configuration Setup popup window, then click OK immediately after.
• Click Export and navigate to a file location to save the exported rtu file.

Hence, why I was trying to see if I could invoke the config object ExportRTZ method directly as a pick action on the outstation object. This would reduce the x70 workflow from four steps to practically just one.

However, more importantly you indicated that what I am trying to achieve is not possible so I think my next best bet is simply a custom menu that brings up both outstation and config object menus.

[sbeadle]

Can VBscript create a windows scripting host to list the files in a folder? Then script could populate a drop-down with the filenames.

[sbeadle · Accepted solution]

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