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Defining an Alarm Group and Alarms

In the following instructions, the Alarm Group object is configured with an alarm as an example.

The alarm should be triggered when a parts shortage is detected. For this purpose, the alarm is linked to a variable which is observed. To do this, configure the alarm as a Digital observation type and specify an alarm condition. Then assign a latch variable to the alarm.

Requirement: A suitable PartsShortage alarm class and DatabaseFileAlarmStorage alarm storage are already configured in the alarm management of the application.

  1. Iin the device tree select the Alarm Configuration object.

  2. Click the Project → Add Object → Alarm Group command. Assign the name AG_PartsShortage to the alarm group.

    The AG_PartsShortage alarm group and the text list of the same name are listed in the device tree. In the editor, you can configure the alarm group.

  3. Create an alarm. Double-click in the Observation Type column and select the Digital observation type.

    The alarm is created and is displayed in the alarm list.

  4. In the Digital group, configure the observation as follows:

    1. In the Expression field, specify the observation variable directly or use the Input Assistant.

      bPart1Empty

    2. In the input field on the right, specify the value TRUE. Leave the comparison operator = between the two expressions.

    The expression (which acts as an observation condition) (PLC_PRG.bPart1Empty) = (TRUE) is displayed in the Details column.

  5. Configure the alarm as follows:

    1. Class to AC_PartsShortage

    2. Message to Parts shortage at Station 1 – Fill level: <LATCH1>

      Note

      <LATCH1> is a placeholder for Latch Var 1. The value of this variable provides additional information about the alarm. In this example, it is the fill level at the time the alarm becomes active.

      Tip

      It is possible to configure the alarm visualization in such a way that the alarms can be filtered by the value of a latch variable.

    3. On-Delay Time to T#5s

    4. Latch Var 1 to iFillLevel

  6. Check that you have already made the configuration for archiving.

    Note: You need to specify an alarm storage here because you have defined an alarm of a class with archiving.

If the bPart1Empty variable switches to TRUE at runtime, then a message is issued by the alarm management. The value of the iFillLevel variable is output with the message. The acknowledgement behavior and the display are executed according to the AC_PartsShortage alarm class. The alarm is archived.

According to the value of the latch variables defined for the alarm, you can filter the alarms in an alarm visualization. To do this, configure the Alarm Table or Alarm Banner elements accordingly and program an element for specifying the filter value.

Alarm Display in Online Mode

You can set up alarm management and alarm visualization in such a way that the visualization user in online operation still has options to influence the display: Filter alerts, View for a specific period of time, Delete history.

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