Group of tags with a Parameter table to set the tags limits and descriptions.

[Tanquen]

I have a simply group with ten to fifteen tags in it that are all for one analog tag. With digital alarms and analog tags for each HiHi, Hi, Lo, and LoLo limit and some other control tags. I’d like to make it a template but I don’t see a way to set the various limits and descriptions.

So the main Group would be Tank1 and there would be other tags in that group including the tank level called level. Not all analogs have theses tags so I then copy a group into the Tank1 group called “Level SP”.

If I make it a template I’d have to make one for Level, Temp, Flow, Speed but them I’d still have to manually change all the limits. Is the no way to have a Parameter or something in the group that can set the different tag limits and descriptions?

Tank1 (Group)

                Level (Analog tag for the tank level)

                Level SP (Group)

                                Limit Alarm (Calculation Digital with the 4 limit alarms OR-ed together)

                                HiHi Alarm

                                HiHi Rdy

                                HiHi Limit

                                High Alarm

                                High Rdy

                                High Limit

                                Low Alarm

                                Low Rdy

                                Low Limit

                                LoLo Alarm

                                LoLo Rdy

                                LoLo Limit

[BevanWeiss]

Template Parameters

[Tanquen]

Sorry, I forgot about those. Even though I've seen a video on it and messed with them just like maybe a month and a half ago. I just get stuck on wanting to add a Parameter table and link up the fields in the tag directly.

This seems to give me most of what I want although it's a bit of a chore to configure every tag and adding all the properties you want and not getting them mixed up.

There is also a simple bar graph graphic object inside the template. I'm guessing there's no way to get at the parameters inside of a graphic object that's inside the same template. The graphic is listed in the property overrides with some selectable properties but I was hoping the graphics parameters would have been exposed so I could pass it the correct tag that is not part of this template. It looks like I'll have to remember to set all of the property overrides and then remember to go into the graphic after it’s been embedded and set the animation expression to the correct analog tag. I tried adding a Parameter String but the tag is not getting passed. Is there a way to do that? 

Is there a way to auto populate the OutstationID path? After I've created an instance of the template all the tags don't have an outstation path configured. And when you click the ellipses the reference window seems to kind of know what it should be because it already has the main templates folder open and then the template that I'm working on and then the communications folder but not the shared outstation object but it's almost like it could auto populate that. I can add that as a property override as a DB reference so at least you get the ellipses and can browse for it but it stats at the root and you’ve got to drill down through everything each time.

[BevanWeiss]

Template Parameters sit outside of the OPC Property world that animations live in.  But you could have a Template Parameter which sets the String Parameter.String value (or similar for other Parameter types).

OutstationID can also use the Template Parameter.  It's just a Database Object reference. Having it as a Database Object type even lets you browse for it.  But you can't currently use an expression to obtain the Database Object reference (at least I've never had it work), there was a feature request in the system for that, so if you contact your local Tech Support they can probably add a vote to it for you (and give you information on what I asked for).

[Tanquen]

Adding a Template Parameter linked to the String Parameter.String value would be nice as then all the settings would be on the edit instance property page and I can do what I think you are saying but the tag still doesn’t make it into the embedded graphics property expression as the tag. I think it just treats it like a string and does nothing with it.

So this expression works for only the one tag but then I cannot change it.

     “..Level”

But nothing else like a local a Parameter String in the Group Template seems to.

     ".Analog Tag Name" With it value = “..Level” with or without quotes

OR

     ".Analog Tag Name.String" With it value = “..Level” with or without quotes

[Tanquen]

It seems kind of odd as the graphic animation expression included in the group is accessible and can be manual set if I don’t make the group a Template. I can then copy the group to another main group with another analog and if it’s the same like “..Level” I’m good and if it’s Speed or something else I can just change the animation expression of the Alarm Limits graphic but then lose all the nice limit and unit settings the Template Parameter override provide.

I can also make the Alarm Limits graphic a basic library object and then place a copy in to an instance of the template “Alarm Limits 2”. Then I can still access its Animation Expressions and set its tag to “..Level” and then I can embedded it already linked and when I copy the template to a new group (not make a new instance) if it’s the same tag I can just embed the Alarm Limits graphic.

If I make the Alarm Limits graphic object part of the Template then there seems to be no way to populate the tag it uses and I have to embedded it and then set the animation expression and if I copy it to a new Group I’d have to do it again even if it’s the same tag “..Level” used for the bar graph level.