How to create a new display view for a data recorder in ION Setup

[Robert_Lee]

Here is the procedure:

1. While viewing a device in ION Setup, exit the setup assistant or any data display and go to the Network Viewer.  Right click on the device you wish add views and bring up the Device Properties.  Click on the Display tab and make note of the Template Type and the highlighted Template Options.

2. Now using Windows Explorer, go to the ION Setup folder when it was installed (usually C:\Program Files\Schneider Electric\ION Setup) and then into the TABLES sub-folder.  You will now see a large list of folders, one of which should match the Template Type that was listed for your device (PML8650 in my example above) and then inside that folder you'll see other folders (which will match the list of Template Options) and then go into the highlighted Template option folder.

3. Since you are attempting to add more data recorder viewers, you'll need to go into the Data Recorders sub-folder at which point you'll see the default data recorder views.

4. Make a copy of one of the existing files (by highlighting one of the files) and pressing Ctrl + C and then Ctrl + V.  Rename the file to whatever you wish the new file to appear in ION Setup.

5. Next, in ION Setup, you'll need to determine the data recorder # which is storing the data you wish to view.  You can accomplish this by viewing the Advanced Module view which can be displayed, by selecting the Tools tab of the Device Properties and selecting Show Advanced ION Setup for the Device Setup option (shown below):

6. Click on the OK button and now instead of the ION Setup Assistant icon, you see a number of folders appear, each one representing a collection of ION module types.  Select the Data Rec Modules folder.  This will now list all of the present data recorders in the meter.  Highlight the data recorder module you wish to add and slowly move the cursor away from the highlight and then back again.  When the cursor is over the highlight, a tooltip should appear and indicate which data recorder # it is (see below).  Make note of the number.

7. Now using Notepad, go open the file you created in step #4 which should display something similar to the following:

[FORMAT]
PAGES=1
TABLETYPE=2

[PAGE1]
LABEL=Energy/Demand
LOG=10
ROWS=10080
COLUMNS=17
C1WIDTH=150
R1C1=Date/Time
R1C2=Parameter 1
R1C3=Parameter 2
R1C4=Parameter 3
R1C5=Parameter 4
R1C6=Parameter 5
R1C7=Parameter 6
R1C8=Parameter 7
R1C9=Parameter 8
R1C10=Parameter 9
R1C11=Parameter 10
R1C12=Parameter 11
R1C13=Parameter 12
R1C14=Parameter 13
R1C15=Parameter 14
R1C16=Parameter 15
R1C17=Parameter 16

POPUPNUM=1
MENUITEM1=0,0,Filter Records

8. Change the LABEL= line to read whatever you want for the tab when the viewer comes up and then modify the LOG= line to match the data recorder # you noted in step 6.  Modify the ROWS- line to match the programmed log depth of the new data recorder. Here is what I'd do for the flicker example:

[FORMAT]
PAGES=1
TABLETYPE=2

[PAGE1]
LABEL=Flicker
LOG=18
ROWS=10080
COLUMNS=17
C1WIDTH=150
R1C1=Date/Time
R1C2=Parameter 1
R1C3=Parameter 2
R1C4=Parameter 3
R1C5=Parameter 4
R1C6=Parameter 5
R1C7=Parameter 6
R1C8=Parameter 7
R1C9=Parameter 8
R1C10=Parameter 9
R1C11=Parameter 10
R1C12=Parameter 11
R1C13=Parameter 12
R1C14=Parameter 13
R1C15=Parameter 14
R1C16=Parameter 15
R1C17=Parameter 16

POPUPNUM=1
MENUITEM1=0,0,Filter Records

9,. Save the file and then go back into ION Setup.  You should now see the new viewer listed and it should provide a means to view that stored data recorder.

10. Repeat steps 4 through 9 for all data recorders viewers you wish to add.

11. Set the default Device Setup option back to Show Basic ION Setup and click on OK.

[Sepehr_Zarrabi]

Thank you for this article . The Seattle Energy Code requires us to record and display a number of specific parameters and "report" on them. We were quite concerned as we thought we would have to give away PME but this seems like will resolve our issue.

One question... The Setup Wizard in ION Setup has a nice UI that allows the user to select a date range for downloading meter data and it has a "Save As" button. The Data View does not have a date range selector and in order to save the data, the user needs to manually copy and paste it into Notepad. Is it possible to customize the Setup Wizard so it reads a custom Data Recorder?

Thanks!

[Robert_Lee]

The easiest solution would be to modify your table viewer to include the following instead:

LOGQUERY=1

POPUPNUM=2

MENUITEM1=0,0,Filter Records

MENUITEM2=2,1,Export CSV

The LogQuery entry will activate the date range dialog (I would only suggest you do this for interval driven data recorders and not event driven ones as it will not operate correctly otherwise).

Once the log is finished uploading, you can now right click anywhere in the log viewer and a popup menu will appear at the cursor with a single menu option allowing you to export to a CSV file (will save either only highlighted records if more than a single record is highlighted, otherwise it will save all entries).

[FORMAT]
PAGES=1
TABLETYPE=2

[PAGE1]
LABEL=Flicker
LOG=18
ROWS=10080
COLUMNS=17

LOGQUERY=1
C1WIDTH=150
R1C1=Date/Time
R1C2=Parameter 1
R1C3=Parameter 2
R1C4=Parameter 3
R1C5=Parameter 4
R1C6=Parameter 5
R1C7=Parameter 6
R1C8=Parameter 7
R1C9=Parameter 8
R1C10=Parameter 9
R1C11=Parameter 10
R1C12=Parameter 11
R1C13=Parameter 12
R1C14=Parameter 13
R1C15=Parameter 14
R1C16=Parameter 15
R1C17=Parameter 16

POPUPNUM=2
MENUITEM1=0,0,Filter Records

MENUITEM2=2,1,Export CSV

You could also create custom setup assistants to do the exact same thing but that is a more complicated procedure that requires some care/forethought as keeping custom setup assistants up to date with future updates becomes a more labour intensive undertaking (but if you really want to learn how to do this, shoot me an e-mail but be prepared for a big learning curve).

[Ezequiel-PROLUX]

Hi Robert Lee,

I'm trying to create specific views for ION setup to collect data from ION8500 and ION8650A and C models, like power quality measurements (plt, pst, flicker, etc).

I suppose that I can achieve this by editing the QUICKION.cfg file, but my problem is that I can't find a document that gives me those registers and the hexadecimal value to their data, like below.

Tab1=Save to PC

Tab1Type=2  ( What types are possible? )

Tab1Registers=7 ( How can I know how many registers are needed? )

Tab1Reg1=3,1,0x1300 ( Whats the meaning of each column? And where can I have those values)

Tab1Reg2=3,1,0x1302 ...

I already searched in ION Reference but didn't find any appointments, the only information about this I found on links below:

Using ION Setup to collect ION logged data for SPM/ION EEM

How to change PM8xx data log file mode ​

There's a way to know more deep about ION Setup customization?

Sorry for the bad english and thanks!!

[Robert_Lee]

Depending on what you are trying to accomplish, there might be ways to customize the Setup Assistant to do what you want.

1.  Data on most ION devices come in a few types.  Real-time (instantaneous) data which updates typically once per second or even faster, and recorded data (done by the actual device) that is triggered and stored on the device itself.

If you are attempting to have the software record some instantaneous data, I would suggest using PME instead (and the VIP) so that you can store them at set periodic intervals similar to the on-board recorded data.

2.  ION Setup is primarily used as a commissioning tool and *sometimes* as an off-line data collection software package (in instances where direct communication is not readily available to the PME software).  Information like Plt, Pst, Flicker, are already designed to be recorded by most PQ devices, the ION Setup software is not designed by default to have most of them viewable.

3.  The Setup Assistant is a fairly complex programming pseudo language I developed in order to make it as customizable as possible.  Documentation is not yet been written as resources are very limited for a no-charge configuration tool.

With that said, if all you are wanting is for the ability to view/save other data recorders that may be on the device in the Reports section of the Setup Assistant, here is what you should do:

In the Reports section, increment the # of registers by how ever many logs you wish to add.

Before:

Tab1Registers=6

After:

Tab1Registers=7     ; Adding a single additional data recorder

Next, you will need to add an entry which look similar to the first register entry (since its just another data recorder):

Tab1Reg7=10,1,0x0F91,Flicker

Tab1Reg7Text=This shows the Flicker data log

The only difference is to change the address register to match the data recorder Log Output register (in the default factory template, DR18 is used to store the Flicker information whose Log Output register is 0x0F91).

I would suggest using ION Setup Advanced ION module viewing mode to view the Data Recorder modules and then hold down the <Ctrl> key when you click on the Output tab.  This will show you the ION Addresses for each output register (the Log Output is the first one for the Data Recorder class).  Most of the other changes above is just text which is either shown when the user highlights this new option.

As for the last question, the likely best way to learn about ION Setup customization would be to come to the factory and spend a few days going over things with me.

[Ezequiel-PROLUX]

Hi Robert, thanks for your reply!

My intention is to collect data recorded on the meters, both power quality standards - already developed by Schneider - and loggers customized by the Designer to meet some standards of my country.

Your explanation was very clear. However, when testing for Flicker using

Tab1Reg7 = 18,1,0x0F91,Flicker

The Display button show the Phasor Viewer basis without any data.

in QuickION.cfg, the PhasorViewer is pointed by default to

Tab2Reg1=18,1,Phasor Viewer

Tab2Reg1Manager=0xB8

Tab2Reg1Setup=0x743C ....

I tried to substitute 18 for DR18 but a "Wrong data type" error appears like below

I noticed that the title was fixed, and the second column seems to enable some buttons of the tab.

Am I missing something?

Thanks again!

[Robert_Lee]

My changes were referencing a specific location to add the Flicker option (see below) in the Report section of the default setup assistant:

You'll notice that there are 6 default options and with the change I specified above, a 7th would appear at the bottom of this list which would be labeled "Flicker".  Clicking on the Display would then bring up a standard Data Recorder viewer (similar to the one when you run the Load Profile highlighted above) but would be showing the information collected by the Flicker Data Recorder (which is DR18 in the default template).  You could repeat the changes for different data recorders and extended the list to as many as you like.

Without know where specifically you want to add a new viewer (new options, new tab, viewing real-time, etc.) there are almost limitless ways to view all sort of data from the meter but there are just a few ways to actually save it to some type of file.

Here is what the new [Report] section should look like:

[Reports]
TabCount=2
Tab1=Meter Info
Tab1Type=2
Tab1Text=Allows you to view/store meter information.
Tab1Buttons=1
Tab1Button1Label=Display
Tab1Button1=0,8

Tab1Registers=7

Tab1Reg1=10,1,0x0F80,Load Profile
Tab1Reg1Text=This shows the meter load profile information.
Tab1Reg2=10,1,0x1000,Event Log
Tab1Reg2Text=This shows the meter event information.
Tab1Reg3=10,1,0x3,Meter Configuration
Tab1Reg3Text=This reports the meter configuration information.
Tab1Reg4=10,1,0x4,Configuration Comparison
Tab1Reg4Text=This reports the differences between a stored meter configuration file and the present meter configuration.
Tab1Reg5=10,1,0x2,Template Comparison
Tab1Reg5Text=This reports the differences between a stored template and the meter template.
Tab1Reg6=10,1,0x5,MV-90 Report
Tab1Reg6Text=This reports information useful for MV-90 and allows saving info to a MV-90 Master file for importing.

Tab1Reg7=10,1,0x0F91,Flicker
Tab1Reg7Text=This shows the Flicker data recorder.

Tab2=Data Collection

[Ezequiel-PROLUX]

Hi!

Thank you, I did exactly as you said and it worked fine, so I did it for the harmonics mean log. Both cases ION Setup asks for date range in the ION8500.

But when I duplicate it for the harmonics log in the ION7500, it shows up only one row, dont even ask for time range.

I checked the .pml file and quickion.cfg file of both devices but the code is the same.

There's a limitation on ION7500 for that?

[Robert_Lee]

It sounds like the Harmonics Log in the ION7500 might only have a depth of 1 record (in which case it is pointless to ask for a time range).  The entire purpose of the Log Query dialog is to speed up downloading of the log data (i.e. it is NOT desirable to upload all logs which could take hours and just show the ones the user cares about).  Unfortunately its not possible to just ask the device to upload logs from Time X to Time Y.  ION Setup gathers the last two records and calculates the interval between the two to figure out a proper interval to estimate a starting position to begin uploading from (therefore if there is only a single record, might as well just show that 1 record).

View the Harmonics Log using the Advanced ION Module setup view and see if the Depth setup register is set to 1.  If so, that is the reason you are only seeing a single log entry.  You could increase the # if you have more available memory if you want the device to record more entries (you will lose existing data however, so make sure PME has already gotten that information).

[Ezequiel-PROLUX]

Hi Robert, you were right!

The depth was of 1 record only.

I figured out how to store and show the variables I want from the ION device. Have to build the dataRec in Designer then point the corresponding register in ION Setup.

Your help was fundamental.

Thanks!!