AIMAT™ Suite AIMInform™ User’s Guide

I/A Series System

AIM*AT SuiteAIM*Inform Users GuideB0400DS

Rev CAugust 30, 2012

Invensys, Foxboro, AIM*API, AIM*AT, AIM*Datalink, AIM*Historian, AIM*Inform, I/A Series, and the Invensys logo are trademarks of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries, and affiliates.All other brand names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Copyright 2002-2012 Invensys Systems, Inc.All rights reserved

SOFTWARE LICENSE AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

Before using the Invensys Systems, Inc. supplied software supported by this documentation, you should read and understand the following information concerning copyrighted software.

1. The license provisions in the software license for your system govern your obligations and usage rights to the software described in this documentation. If any portion of those license provisions is violated, Invensys Systems, Inc. will no longer provide you with support services and assumes no further responsibilities for your system or its operation.

2. All software issued by Invensys Systems, Inc. and copies of the software that you are specifically permitted to make, are protected in accordance with Federal copyright laws. It is illegal to make copies of any software media provided to you by Invensys Systems, Inc. for any purpose other than those purposes mentioned in the software license.

Contents

Figures.................................................................................................................................... ix

Tables.................................................................................................................................. xiii

Preface................................................................................................................................... xv

Audience ................................................................................................................................. xv

Revision Information .............................................................................................................. xv

Related Documents ................................................................................................................. xv

Document Plan ....................................................................................................................... xv

Request For Comments ......................................................................................................... xvii

1. Overview ........................................................................................................................... 1

AIM*Inform ............................................................................................................................. 1

Data View Sources .................................................................................................................... 2

AIM*AT Alarm & Message Interface ........................................................................................ 2

Data View Configuration .......................................................................................................... 2Collections ........................................................................................................................... 3Data View Configuration Wizards ....................................................................................... 3

Running Data Views ................................................................................................................. 5

Storage Options ........................................................................................................................ 6

2. Getting Started.................................................................................................................. 7

Starting AIM*Inform ................................................................................................................ 7

Setting Style Preferences ............................................................................................................ 8Picture and Title .................................................................................................................. 9Headings ............................................................................................................................ 10Column Headings .............................................................................................................. 11Data Table ......................................................................................................................... 11Dividers .............................................................................................................................. 12Advanced ........................................................................................................................... 12

Creating a Message Data View ................................................................................................ 13

Managing Data Views ............................................................................................................. 17

Displaying Data Views ............................................................................................................ 19

Saving Data Views .................................................................................................................. 20

Collections .............................................................................................................................. 22

Exiting AIM*Inform ............................................................................................................... 24iii

B0400DS Rev C Contents

3. AIM*Inform Window ..................................................................................................... 25

Toolbar ................................................................................................................................... 27

Checking Server Connections ................................................................................................. 28

Data Center Window .............................................................................................................. 29Data Center Menus ............................................................................................................ 30Data Center Shortcut Menu ............................................................................................... 32

Data View Windows ............................................................................................................... 32Data View Menus .............................................................................................................. 33Shortcut Menu ................................................................................................................... 35

4. Common Wizard Components ....................................................................................... 37

Buttons and Controls .............................................................................................................. 39

5. Post-Retrieval Processing................................................................................................. 41

How Scripts Are Used ............................................................................................................. 41

Preparing a Script .................................................................................................................... 41

Configuring the Data View ..................................................................................................... 42

6. Scheduling a Data View................................................................................................... 45

7. Command Line Interface................................................................................................. 51

Switches .................................................................................................................................. 51Execute ............................................................................................................................... 51Hide ................................................................................................................................... 52Target ................................................................................................................................. 52

Creating a Shortcut ................................................................................................................. 52

8. AIM*Inform Automation ................................................................................................ 55

Application Object .................................................................................................................. 56

Collection Objects .................................................................................................................. 56

Item Object ............................................................................................................................. 56

Automation Samples ............................................................................................................... 57VBScript Sample ................................................................................................................ 57C++ Sample ........................................................................................................................ 60

9. Web Publishing............................................................................................................... 67

Setting up the Web Server ....................................................................................................... 67

Specifying the Server in AIM*Inform ...................................................................................... 67

Configuring Individual Data Views ......................................................................................... 70

Running AIM*Inform from an ASP ........................................................................................ 71iv

Contents B0400DS Rev C

10. Building a Collection..................................................................................................... 73

Accessing the Data Object Wizard .......................................................................................... 73

Using the Data Object Wizard ................................................................................................ 75Main Page .......................................................................................................................... 77AIM*Historian Realtime Filter ........................................................................................... 78Selecting I/A Series Objects ................................................................................................ 80

Filter Page Controls ....................................................................................................... 80Selecting Control Stations .................................................................................................. 82Selecting Compounds and Blocks ....................................................................................... 82Selecting Parameters ........................................................................................................... 85Searching Dialog Box ......................................................................................................... 86Results ................................................................................................................................ 87

Adding Items ................................................................................................................. 88Deleting Items ............................................................................................................... 88Making the Final Selection ............................................................................................ 89

Modifying Collections ............................................................................................................. 89

11. RealTime Wizard .......................................................................................................... 93

Running the RealTime Wizard ............................................................................................... 93

Points ...................................................................................................................................... 93Collections ......................................................................................................................... 94Selecting Points .................................................................................................................. 95Dynamic Updating ............................................................................................................. 96Completing the Page .......................................................................................................... 96

Heading .................................................................................................................................. 97

Fields ...................................................................................................................................... 99

Sorting .................................................................................................................................. 100

Filtering ................................................................................................................................ 101

Styles ..................................................................................................................................... 102Browser Refresh Rate ........................................................................................................ 104

Finish .................................................................................................................................... 105

12. History Wizard............................................................................................................ 107

Running the History Wizard ................................................................................................. 107

Points .................................................................................................................................... 107Collections ....................................................................................................................... 108Selecting Points ................................................................................................................ 109Completing the Page ........................................................................................................ 110

Reduction ............................................................................................................................. 110

Time Span ............................................................................................................................ 112

Heading ................................................................................................................................ 114

Grouping .............................................................................................................................. 116v


Fields .................................................................................................................................... 118

Sorting .................................................................................................................................. 120

Filtering ................................................................................................................................ 122

Styles ..................................................................................................................................... 123Browser Refresh Rate ........................................................................................................ 125

Finish .................................................................................................................................... 126

13. Message Wizard........................................................................................................... 129

Running the Message Wizard ................................................................................................ 129

Messages ............................................................................................................................... 130

Time Span ............................................................................................................................ 132

Heading ................................................................................................................................ 134

Grouping .............................................................................................................................. 135

Fields .................................................................................................................................... 138

Sorting .................................................................................................................................. 139Specifying Sort Conditions for a Message Type ................................................................ 140Specifying Sort Conditions for a Group ........................................................................... 140Reviewing the Sort Configuration .................................................................................... 141

Filtering ................................................................................................................................ 142Specifying Filtering for a Message Type ............................................................................ 143Specifying Filtering for a Message Group ......................................................................... 143Reviewing the Filter Specifications ................................................................................... 144

Styles ..................................................................................................................................... 145

Finish .................................................................................................................................... 148

14. Setting AIM*Inform Options...................................................................................... 151

Setting Program Options ...................................................................................................... 151

Specifying File Locations ....................................................................................................... 152

Specifying Shift Times .......................................................................................................... 153

Data Collection ..................................................................................................................... 154

URL Specification ................................................................................................................. 155

15. Setting Default Style Options...................................................................................... 157

Accessing the Style Options Dialog Box ................................................................................ 158

Adding a Picture and Title .................................................................................................... 159

Adding and Formatting Headings ......................................................................................... 161

Formatting Column Headings .............................................................................................. 162

Formatting Text in the Data View ........................................................................................ 162

Formatting the Data Table .................................................................................................... 164vi

Contents B0400DS Rev C

Adding and Formatting Element Dividers ............................................................................. 166

Advanced Options ................................................................................................................ 167Decimal Precision ............................................................................................................. 167Browser Refresh ................................................................................................................ 167Scripting ........................................................................................................................... 168

Creating Style Sheets ............................................................................................................. 168

Appendix A. AIM*Inform Setup ....................................................................................... 171

Setup Overview ..................................................................................................................... 171

System Requirements ............................................................................................................ 171Supported Platforms ......................................................................................................... 171Required Software ............................................................................................................ 172

AIM*Inform ................................................................................................................ 172Server Software ............................................................................................................ 172

Appendix B. HTML Templates and DataFlds................................................................... 173

Base HTML Template .......................................................................................................... 173

Sample Data View and Template .......................................................................................... 174

AIM*Inform DataFlds .......................................................................................................... 176RealTime and History Binding Names ............................................................................. 176Message Binding Names ................................................................................................... 177

Appendix C. Status Codes and Error Messages.................................................................. 179

Point Status ........................................................................................................................... 179

RTP Value Types .................................................................................................................. 181

AIM*Historian Reduction Status and Quality ....................................................................... 182

AIM*Inform Error Messages ................................................................................................. 183

Index .................................................................................................................................. 193vii


viii

Figures

1-1. Sample AIM*Inform Data View .................................................................................... 11-2. Data Center in the AIM*Inform Window ..................................................................... 31-3. History Wizard: Points Page ......................................................................................... 42-1. AIM*Inform Window ................................................................................................... 82-2. Data View With No Style Preferences Set ..................................................................... 82-3. Data View With Style Preferences Set ........................................................................... 92-4. Style Options Dialog Box: Picture Page ...................................................................... 102-5. Style Options Dialog Box: Headings Page ................................................................... 102-6. Style Options Dialog Box: Column Headings Page ..................................................... 112-7. Style Options Dialog Box: Data Table Page ................................................................ 112-8. Style Options Dialog Box: Dividers Page .................................................................... 122-9. Style Options Dialog Box: Advanced Page .................................................................. 132-10. Data Center: Message Page ......................................................................................... 132-11. Message Wizard: Message Page ................................................................................... 142-12. Data Center with New Configuration Listed ............................................................... 152-13. Data View Window .................................................................................................... 162-14. Renaming a Data View Configuration ........................................................................ 172-15. Message Wizard: Grouping Page ................................................................................. 182-16. Cascaded Data Views .................................................................................................. 192-17. Message Wizard: Finish Page ...................................................................................... 212-18. RealTime Wizard: Points Page .................................................................................... 222-19. Data Object Wizard: Results Page ............................................................................... 232-20. AIM*Inform Exit Prompt ........................................................................................... 243-1. AIM*Inform Window ................................................................................................. 253-2. Server Status Dialog Box ............................................................................................. 283-3. Data Center Window .................................................................................................. 293-4. Sample Data View Window ........................................................................................ 334-1. Common Wizard Page Components ........................................................................... 375-1. Enabling a Post-Retrieval Script .................................................................................. 436-1. Schedule Wizard: Start Page ........................................................................................ 456-2. Schedule Wizard: Schedule Page ................................................................................. 466-3. Advanced Schedule Options Dialog Box ..................................................................... 476-4. Schedule Wizard: Security Page ................................................................................... 476-5. Schedule Wizard: Finish Dialog Box ........................................................................... 486-6. Scheduled Tasks Folder in Windows Explorer ............................................................. 497-1. Simple Batch File and Shortcut Properties .................................................................. 538-1. AIM*Inform Automation Object Hierarchy ............................................................... 559-1. Options Dialog Box: URL Specification ..................................................................... 689-2. Windows Map Network Drive Dialog Box ................................................................. 699-3. RealTime Wizard Finish Page ..................................................................................... 7010-1. RealTime Wizard Points Page ..................................................................................... 7410-2. Data Object Wizard .................................................................................................... 7510-3. Data Object Wizard: Main Page ................................................................................. 7710-4. AIM*Historian Realtime Filter Page ........................................................................... 78ix

B0400DS Rev C Figures

10-5. AIM*AT Server Filter Page ......................................................................................... 8010-6. Selected Compound-Blocks Dialog Box ...................................................................... 8110-7. Compounds and Blocks Sorted by Compound ........................................................... 8310-8. Compounds and Blocks Sorted by Block ..................................................................... 8410-9. Filter Page for Selecting Parameters ............................................................................. 8510-10. Searching Dialog Box .................................................................................................. 8610-11. Data Object Wizard: Results Page ............................................................................... 8710-12. Add Item Dialog Box. ................................................................................................. 8810-13. Main Page with the Current Collection Selected ......................................................... 8910-14. View Options Dialog Box ........................................................................................... 9010-15. Save As Dialog Box for Exporting a Collection ............................................................ 9110-16. AIM*AT Tree Version Converter Dialog Box ............................................................. 9110-17. Open Dialog Box for Importing a Stored Collection ................................................... 9211-1. RealTime Wizard: Points Page .................................................................................... 9411-2. RealTime Wizard: Heading Page ................................................................................ 9711-3. Data View Headings ................................................................................................... 9811-4. RealTime Wizard: Fields Page ..................................................................................... 9911-5. RealTime Wizard: Sorting Page ................................................................................ 10011-6. RealTime Wizard: Filtering Page ............................................................................... 10111-7. RealTime Wizard: Styles Page ................................................................................... 10311-8. Style Options Dialog Box: Column Headings ........................................................... 10411-9. Style Options Dialog Box: Advanced ........................................................................ 10411-10. RealTime Wizard: Finish Page .................................................................................. 10511-11. Data Center: RealTime Page ..................................................................................... 10612-1. History Wizard: Points Page ..................................................................................... 10812-2. History Wizard: Reduction Page ............................................................................... 11012-3. History Wizard: Time Span Page .............................................................................. 11212-4. History Wizard: Heading Page .................................................................................. 11512-5. History Wizard: Grouping Page ................................................................................ 11612-6. No Grouping Option ................................................................................................ 11612-7. Group by Date Option ............................................................................................. 11712-8. Group by Point Option ............................................................................................ 11712-9. History Wizard: Fields Page ...................................................................................... 11812-10. History Wizard: Sorting Page .................................................................................... 12112-11. History Wizard: Filtering Page .................................................................................. 12212-12. History Wizard: Styles Page ...................................................................................... 12412-13. Style Options Dialog Box: Column Headings ........................................................... 12512-14. Style Options Dialog Box: Advanced ........................................................................ 12512-15. History Wizard: Finish Page ..................................................................................... 12613-1. Message Wizard: Messages Page ................................................................................ 13013-2. Message Wizard: Time Span Page ............................................................................. 13213-3. Message Wizard: Heading Page ................................................................................. 13413-4. Message Wizard: Grouping Page ............................................................................... 13513-5. Message Table with No Grouping ............................................................................. 13613-6. Messages Grouped by Date ....................................................................................... 13713-7. Messages Grouped by Message Type ......................................................................... 13713-8. Message Wizard: Fields Page ..................................................................................... 13813-9. Message Wizard: Sorting Page ................................................................................... 139x

Figures B0400DS Rev C

13-10. Dialog Box to Resolve Conflicting Sorting Specifications .......................................... 14013-11. Message Wizard: Sort Summary Dialog Box ............................................................. 14113-12. Message Wizard: Filtering Page ................................................................................. 14213-13. Dialog Box to Resolve Conflicting Filter Specifications ............................................. 14413-14. Message Wizard: Filter Summary Dialog Box ........................................................... 14513-15. Message Wizard: Styles Page ..................................................................................... 14613-16. Style Options Dialog Box: Column Headings ........................................................... 14713-17. Message Wizard: Finish Page .................................................................................... 14813-18. Data Center: Message Page ....................................................................................... 14914-1. Options Dialog Box .................................................................................................. 15114-2. Open Dialog Box for Setting AIM*Inform File Locations ......................................... 15214-3. Options Dialog Box: Shift Times .............................................................................. 15314-4. Options Dialog Box: Data Collection ....................................................................... 15414-5. Options Dialog Box: URL Specification ................................................................... 15515-1. Heading Page Work Area .......................................................................................... 15715-2. Style Options Dialog Box Opened from a Styles Page ............................................... 15715-3. Style Options Dialog Box .......................................................................................... 15815-4. Style Options Dialog Box: Picture Page .................................................................... 15915-5. Data View Picture and Headings ............................................................................... 16015-6. Style Options Dialog Box: Headings Page ................................................................. 16115-7. Style Options Dialog Box: Column Headings Page ................................................... 16215-8. Character Format Dialog Box ................................................................................... 16315-9. Style Options Dialog Box: Data Table Page .............................................................. 16415-10. Collapsed (left) and Un-collapsed (right) Borders ...................................................... 16515-11. Style Options Dialog Box: Dividers Page .................................................................. 16615-12. Style Options Dialog Box: Advanced Page ................................................................ 16715-13. Enabling a Post-Retrieval Script ................................................................................ 16815-14. Editing a CSS File ..................................................................................................... 169A-1. Setup Program Dialog Boxes When Service Pack 2 is Not Found ............................. 172B-1. Sample RealTime Data View .................................................................................... 174B-2. History Data View CSV File ..................................................................................... 176B-3. Message Data View CSV File .................................................................................... 177C-1. Sample AIM*Inform Error Log ................................................................................. 183xi

B0400DS Rev C Figures

xii

Tables

3-1. AIM*Inform Toolbar ................................................................................................. 274-1. Configuration Wizard Custom Buttons ...................................................................... 39B-1. Binding Names for RealTime and History Data View Tables ................................... 177C-1. Status Definition with I/A Series Version 4.2 and Later ............................................ 179C-2. RTP Value Types ...................................................................................................... 181C-3. Status Returned by Reduction Operations ................................................................ 182C-4. Reduction Value Types ............................................................................................. 183C-5. AIM*Inform Error Messages ..................................................................................... 184xiii

B0400DS Rev C Tables

xiv

Preface

AIM*Inform is an AIM*AT client application that retrieves selected real-time data and process history for electronic publication and distribution to decision-makers throughout the plant. The software provides users with convenient, real-time access to process information for planning, analysis, and management using common desktop applications.

AudienceThis document is designed for AIM*Inform users. It describes how to set up an application on a client computer and use AIM*Inform features to configure and publish Data Views.

Revision InformationFor this release of this document (B0400DS, Rev C), the following changes were made:

Chapter 1 Overview

Removed Netscape reference from AIM*Inform on page 1.Appendix A AIM*Inform Setup

Added support for the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 operating systems. Updated AIM*Inform on page 172. Removed Installation.

Related DocumentsRefer to the following Invensys Systems documents for information on related AIM*AT products:

AIM*AT Suite Installation Guide (B0193YM) AIM*AT Suite AIM*Historian Users Guide (B0193YL).

These are available on the I/A Series Electronic Documentation DVD (K0173WT). The latest revisions of each document may also be available through the Global Customer Support Center (Global CSC) webpage http://support.ips.invensys.com.

Document PlanThis document consists of 15 chapters and three appendices:

Chapter 1 Overview

Introduces the product and defines key concepts.xv

B0400DS Rev C Preface

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Describes how to start AIM*Inform, set Data View style preferences, and create a simple Message Data View. This quick start is designed to famil-iarize you with the basics of the AIM*Inform user interface.

Chapter 3 AIM*Inform Window

Describes the AIM*Inform user interface, including the Data Center and Data View windows, and their associated menus.

Chapter 4 Common Wizard Components

Describes the features common to the three Data View configuration wiz-ards, including the navigation bar, on-page help.

Chapter 5 Post-Retrieval Processing

Describes how to configure and enable a VBScript or JScript script to pro-cess retrieved data before it is presented in the Data View tables.

Chapter 6 Scheduling a Data View

Covers the use of the Windows Schedule Wizard to set up unattended production of Data Views.

Chapter 7 Command Line Interface

Explains how to create shortcuts and simple scripts to run specific Data Views without starting the AIM*Inform window.

Chapter 8 AIM*Inform Automation

Describes automation interfaces that provide access to AIM*Inform func-tions from VB and C++ applications.

Chapter 9 Web Publishing

Discusses how to set up AIM*Inform Data Views and a Web location to schedule, generate, and publish Data Views.

Chapter 10 Building a Collection

Provides step-by-step instructions for using the Data Object Wizard to create a list of available data objects. The resulting collection populates the Points pages of the RealTime and History Wizards.

Chapter 11 RealTime Wizard

Provides a page-by-page description of the RealTime Wizard, used for cre-ating Data Views of I/A Series process points in real time.

Chapter 12 History Wizard

Describes the History Wizard for creating Data Views of real-time point (RTP) values collection by AIM*Historian instances.xvi

Preface B0400DS Rev C

Chapter 13 Message Wizard

Documents the Message Wizard, which configures Data Views of process alarms and other messages collected by AIM*Historian instances.

Chapter 14 Setting AIM*Inform Options

Covers AIM*Inform program options, including file locations, shift times, data collection, and URL specification.

Chapter 15 Setting Default Style Options

Details how to set defaults for the Headings and Styles pages, and how to set up additional styles.

Appendix A AIM*Inform Setup

Covers installation and configuration of AIM*Inform software.

Appendix B HTML Templates and DataFlds

Lists the base HTML template for Data Views and the binding names used by AIM*Inform to populate Data View tables with retrieved data.

Appendix C Status Codes and Error Messages

Details the I/A Series and AIM*Historian status codes retrieved by AIM*Inform, and AIM*Inform error messages.

Request For CommentsPlease direct your comments and suggestions concerning the AIM*Inform software and this documentation to:

Global Customer SupportInvensys Systems, Inc.33 Commercial StreetFoxboro, MA 02035-2099Telephone (within the US): 866-746-6477Telephone (outside the US): 508-549-2424Fax: 508-549-4999xvii

B0400DS Rev C Preface

xviii

1. Overview

This chapter introduces AIM*Inform and the AIM*AT Alarm & Message Interface.

AIM*InformAIM*Inform is a desktop information management tool that allows you to retrieve both real-time control system data and process history data, and make that information available throughout the enterprise.

With AIM*Inform, you create HTML documents called Data Views that display retrieved data in a convenient tabular format. You can run the data retrievals on demand or schedule them to run automatically, each time updating Data View HTML documents. The HTML files can be auto-matically stored on a web server so they can be viewed by authorized individuals throughout the plant using a familiar browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer. Figure 1-1 is an example of a Data View created with AIM*Inform.

Figure 1-1. Sample AIM*Inform Data View1

B0400DS Rev C 1. Overview

Data View SourcesAt start-up AIM*Inform establishes communication with one or more AIM*AT servers to source data for three types of Data Views:

RealTime Objects in RealTime Data Views consist of I/A Series block parameters, shared variables on I/A Series workstations, and current values of AIM*Historian real-time points (RTPs). The RTPs can include data col-lected from control systems other than an I/A Series system. RealTime Data Views can be configured to continue scanning at a set interval, and thus continuously update the Data View.

History History Data Views access RTP values collected by AIM*Historian instances. The data can be retrieved as raw sample data or as reduced data.

Message You can access the message databases of connected AIM*Historian instances, which can include I/A Series alarm and event messages.

AIM*AT Alarm & Message InterfaceThe Message Data View capability in AIM*Inform can be separately licensed as the AIM*AT Alarm & Message Interface (AIM*AMI), which provides process operators and other plant per-sonnel timely access to selected process messages. Messages of interest can include standard I/A Series alarms and returns to normal, event messages, operator actions, and sequence of events (SOE) messages, as well as application program event and error messages. AIM*AMI enables the distribution of selected messages to production supervisors, process engineers, maintenance per-sonnel, and others who do not normally work at an I/A Series operator console.

Data View ConfigurationThe Data Center (Figure 1-2) in the AIM*Inform window lists existing Data Views configura-tions and provides access to tools for setting program options and configuring additional Data Views. 2

1. Overview B0400DS Rev C

Figure 1-2. Data Center in the AIM*Inform Window

The Data Center window includes three tabbed pages, each listing existing configurations for a Data View type. The New and Modify buttons to the right of the listing start a configuration wiz-ard for the Data View type. The wizards include seven to ten pages of controls that prompt you through the selection of data and the formatting of HTML documents. The first page of each wizard allows you to browse the data sources for available points or messages, and select items of interest for retrieval. The other pages in the wizard provide tools for configuring the display of the data.

CollectionsThe points presented in the RealTime and History wizards are based on lists of data objects called collections, which are created with the Data Object Wizard. This wizard can be started from either the RealTime Wizard or History Wizard.

Data View Configuration WizardsFigure 1-3 is the first page of the History Wizard, on which you select RTPs from a tree view of available points collected by the connected historians.

Data View Data Center3


Figure 1-3. History Wizard: Points Page

You select points with a simple drag-and-drop operation. Once you have selected points, you can immediately run the configured retrieval and produce the Data View using default style selec-tions. Or, you can select other pages in the wizard to arrange the data table, select style options, and specify how and where the Data View is to be accessed by others.

The wizards include the following configuration options:

Continuous updating of RealTime data. Data reduction for AIM*Historian RTPs. Specifying a retrieval time span for History and Message Data Views.

The start and end of the span can be set as absolute times, or with variable times such a Last Shift or the Previous Week.

Selecting specific data fields for inclusion in the Data View. Sorting of the data by selected fields.

You can specify up to four different sort criteria.

Grouping of historian data into separate tables by time or point name. Grouping of message data into separate tables by time or message type. Filtering of the retrieved data to include only objects that match specific criteria.

You can configure up to four filter conditions.4

1. Overview B0400DS Rev C

Adding elements to the HTML page including titles and pictures, table grid lines, and backgrounds.

Application of defined styles for the document background and data table. Formatting the appearance of the document by specifying type style, size, and color. Configuring a JScript or VBScript to process the retrieved data before it is presented

in the Data View.

This capability can be used to highlight specific conditions such as out-of-range values or convert units of measure and compute costs.

Naming the Data View configuration and specifying how the document is to be stored.

Running Data ViewsOnce a Data View has been configured, you can run the data retrieval and create an HTML doc-ument by selecting the configuration and clicking the Run button. The Data View is displayed as configured in a separate window in the AIM*Inform window. You can open multiple Data View windows, tile or cascade the displays, and page through the active windows using navigation but-tons in the toolbar.

Each time data is retrieved, AIM*Inform creates a new Data View based on the specifications in the configuration file. If a storage location is specified for the Data View, the new document over-writes the previous file with each retrieval. Thus, if a continuously updated RealTime Data View is published to a web server, the document on the server is continually refreshed by AIM*Inform.

In addition to running Data Views from the AIM*Inform window, AIM*Inform provides the fol-lowing ways to access the Data Center functions without opening the AIM*Inform window:

Run the Data View as a scheduled task. The Windows Schedule Wizard can be invoked from a Data Center menu to schedule execution of the Data View. The Data View is run and stored as configured.

Execute the Data View configuration using a command line interface. With this option, you can set up scripts to run one or more Data Views, and store them to the configured files or to alternate locations.

Access the Data Center from another application. The AIM*Inform automation component exposes a creatable application object for use in programs developed with C++, VB, and similar tools. The applications can list the Data View configurations available in the Data Center, change the retrieval time span, specify an alternate storage location, and execute the Data View. Use of the automation component does not alter the original Data View configuration.

Provide web access to AIM*Inform. You can install AIM*Inform on a web server that uses Microsoft Internet Information Server, and run AIM*Inform from an Active Server Page (ASP) application. The ASP application uses the AIM*Inform automation component to list Data View con-figurations, change time spans and file locations, and execute the Data Views.5


Storage OptionsYou can store an active Data View to an HTML file on the AIM*Inform host computer. You can also apply any of the following automatic output options in the configuration wizard:

Output to a printer. The Data View document is printed with each retrieval.

Output to a CSV file. This option stores a comma-separated ASCII file in the designated location so that the data can be used in spreadsheets and other applications.

Output to an HTML file.AIM*Inform automatically saves the HTML document to two different locations: a folder on the host computer file system and to a URL. This second location enables you to automatically publish Data View as web pages.6

2. Getting Started

This chapter provides a quick start to the AIM*Inform application.

The primary function of AIM*Inform is to create and publish Data Views of real-time and histor-ical process data. The AIM*Inform user interface enables you to set up these Data Views by per-forming the following tasks:

Specifying the type of data and retrieval criteria Formatting the resulting displays including labels and the arrangement of the data

table

Specifying the Data View name and storage location including the site for Web publishing

Scheduling executions of the Data Views configurations.This chapter is designed to familiarize you with the user interface and describes how to perform the following tasks:

Open the AIM*Inform window Set default style options Create and run a Message Data View Copy and modify Data View configurations Display and save multiple Data Views Access the Data Object Wizard Exit the application.

As a quick start, the instructions in this chapter are necessarily brief and frequently refer you to other chapters for more detailed explanations of AIM*Inform features and functions.

Starting AIM*InformTo start the AIM*Inform program:

Choose Start > Programs > AimAT > Inform.The AIM*Inform window (Figure 2-1) is the basis for all user interface operations. The window contains one or more subsidiary windows which can be opened concurrently. These windows can be tiled, cascaded, minimized, or maximized within the main window.

The AIM*Inform window always includes the Data Center, which is used for configuring and running Data Views, and can also include one or more Data View windows.7

B0400DS Rev C 2. Getting Started

Figure 2-1. AIM*Inform Window

Setting Style PreferencesBefore you use the Data Center to set up individual Data Views, set default style selections so that you can apply a consistent style across all the Data Views without repeating selections with each new configuration.

Figure 2-2 is an example of a simple RealTime Data View for which no style selections have been made, while the Data View in Figure 2-3 includes a picture and title, horizontal lines between the major elements in the display, and formatting of the data table. You specify these elements when you configure an individual Data View, or define them ahead of time. These default style settings can be modified at any time for subsequent Data Views, and are useful in creating a common pre-sentation for series of Data Views relating to a project or area of interest.

Figure 2-2. Data View With No Style Preferences Set8

2. Getting Started B0400DS Rev C

Figure 2-3. Data View With Style Preferences Set

To set default style options:

1. Choose Tools > Default Style.

AIM*Inform displays the Style Options dialog box (Figure 2-4).

The dialog box includes six tabbed pages, each of which determines the appearance of one part of the Data View, as shown in Figure 2-3.

2. Select each page in the dialog box by clicking its tab, and set your preferences.

3. When you have finished the settings, click OK to close the dialog box and return to the Data Center.

The following sections contain a brief explanation of each tabbed page in the dialog box. See Chapter 15 Setting Default Style Options for a full descriptions of the dialog box and other style options.

Picture and TitleUse the Picture page (Figure 2-4) to include a picture (world.gif was selected for the Data View in Figure 2-3) and a Title. The A button next to the Title text box opens a Character Format dialog box that you use to set the size, style, and color of the Title. This same dialog box is available from other Style Options pages for setting the character format for text used in headings, column heads, and the body of the data table.

Style Options:Picture

Style Options:Headings

Style Options:Dividers

Style Options:Column Headings

Style Options:Data Table9


Figure 2-4. Style Options Dialog Box: Picture Page

HeadingsThe Headings page (Figure 2-5) determines four elements in the Data View:

Text and character format for the Heading (H1 Transfer Control in Figure 2-3) Text and character format for a Subheading (Calc Block Outputs in Figure 2-3) Time span of the retrieval for History and Message Data Views, or time of the last

update for RealTime Data Views

Display of the Data View configuration name (~if17tmp in Figure 2-3).

Figure 2-5. Style Options Dialog Box: Headings Page10


Column HeadingsUse the Column Headings page (Figure 2-6) to specify the character format and background color for the column heads in the data table. In Figure 2-3, the column heads use a blue background and white type.

Figure 2-6. Style Options Dialog Box: Column Headings Page

Data TableUse the Data Table page (Figure 2-7) to place borders around the data table and insert dividing lines between the rows and columns. The data table in Figure 2-3 has borders on all sides and grid lines, as specified in Figure 2-7.

Figure 2-7. Style Options Dialog Box: Data Table Page11


DividersDividers are horizontal lines inserted between major elements in the Data View. The Dividers page (Figure 2-8) allows you to insert four different lines, and specify their thickness in pixels. The Shading option gives a 3-D effect to the line by placing a shadow below the divider.

Figure 2-8. Style Options Dialog Box: Dividers Page

AdvancedThe Advanced page (Figure 2-9) is used to set display resolution for numeric values, specify a browser refresh rate, and configure AIM*Inform to run a script that processes the retrieved data before constructing the Data View.

In Display Values group, you can fix the number of decimal places in numeric displays or select the Auto setting which floats the decimal. In Figure 2-3, the decimal floats.

Setting a Browser Refresh rate inserts a command into the HTML file that causes the browser to retrieve the HTML file at a regular interval (every 5 minutes in Figure 2-9). Use this feature for Web publishing applications involving dynamically updated RealTime Data Views and other frequently updated Data Views to ensure that individuals monitoring the data have current information.

The Scripting options are fully explained in Chapter 5 Post-Retrieval Processing, and are proba-bly best configured individually.12


Figure 2-9. Style Options Dialog Box: Advanced Page

Creating a Message Data ViewThis section describes how to configure and run a Message Data View in a minimum number of steps. The resulting Data View uses default settings for the retrieval time spans, sorting, and other options. Chapter 13 Message Wizard presents detailed instructions on using the Message Wizard to configure Data Views.

To configure and run a Message Data View.

1. Click the Message tab in the Data Center to change to the Message page (Figure 2-10).

Figure 2-10. Data Center: Message Page13


The page (empty in Figure 2-10) lists existing Message Data View configurations, and enables you to create, modify, and run Message Data Views.

2. Click the New button.

AIM*Inform starts the Message Wizard and displays the Messages page (Figure 2-11). The tree view in the work area can be expanded to display a five-level hierarchy of available message data:

Connected servers AIM*Historian instances on the servers Message groups configured in each AIM*Historian instance Message types within each group Fields configured in each message type.

Figure 2-11. Message Wizard: Message Page

Server

HistorianMessage GroupMessage Type

Field14


3. Expand the tree to view available message types and fields.

4. Select the messages you want to retrieve by doing one of the following:

Check individual fields within the message type. Click the check box of a message type to include all fields configured for that type. Check the box for message group to include types in the group. Click an instance name to select all messages collected by the historian.In Figure 2-11 the first four fields in the ALACKMESG message type have been selected. The check mark on a gray background next to an item indicates that some of the components of the item have been selected. The ALACKMESG type is part of the IAALARM group configured in the alarm1 instance on server P7AW05.

At this point, you can switch to any of the wizard pages listed in the Navigation bar on the left to configure other retrieval and display parameters, or you can close the wizard to complete the configuration.

5. Click the Finish button at the bottom of the page.

The wizard closes and the new Data View configuration is listed in the Data Center with a temporary name (~if134.tmp in Figure 2-12).

Figure 2-12. Data Center with New Configuration Listed

6. Click the Run button to the right of the listing.

AIM*Inform executes the configuration, retrieving the messages of the selected type that were collected by the historian during the last hour (the default time span) and constructing a Data View with the messages listed in chronological order (Figure 2-13).15


Figure 2-13. Data View Window

NOTEWhen you create a Data View with multiple message types in a single table, the col-umn headers (except for the first column showing the server and AIM*Historian instance) are blank because each message is configured differently.

The resulting Data View includes all messages of the selected types. The Message Wizard allows you to configure a more selective retrieval by specifying a different time span and by filtering messages to include only those that match certain criteria. There are also a variety of options for arranging the data: setting up separate tables for each message type or time stamp, sorting the data on various fields, and running a script to process the retrieved data before constructing the Data View. These and other options are explained in Chapter 13 Message Wizard.16


Managing Data ViewsThis section demonstrates some additional features of the Data Center such as copying and mod-ifying configurations.

To explore additional Data Center features:

1. Click Data Center in the AIM*Inform toolbar to switch to the Data Center window while leaving the Data View window open.

2. Select the Message Data View configuration, and choose Edit > Copy from the menu bar.

AIM*Inform inserts a copy of the configuration in the list of Message Data View configurations.

3. Right-click on the copy to access the Data Center shortcut menu, and choose Rename.

AIM*Inform makes the name field active, so you can enter a new name (Figure 2-14).

Figure 2-14. Renaming a Data View Configuration

4. Select the renamed configuration and click Modify to open the Message Wizard.

The wizard opens to the Messages page and the name of the configuration is displayed in the title bar. You can now change any aspect of the Data View, including the default style settings applied when the original Data View was configured. The Navigation bar on the left side of the page allows you to go directly to any page in the wizard.

5. Click Grouping in the navigation bar to display the Grouping page (Figure 2-15).17


Figure 2-15. Message Wizard: Grouping Page

There are three selections at the top of the page:

No Grouping specifies that all the messages are to be displayed in a single table. Group by Date creates a series of tables arranged in chronological order.

For each time, AIM*Inform builds a separate table of each message type collected.

Group by Message creates a separate table for each message type in the retrieved data, and arranges the tables by message type.

NOTEData Views with the Group by Date option selected take longer to process and use significantly more system resources than Data Views using the other options.

The pane below the option buttons previews the selected arrangement. The grouping options are available for Message and History Data Views but not for RealTime Data Views.

6. Click Group by Date.

At this point, you can change any other configuration parameters including the selected messages, or click the Finish button to exit the wizard.

7. Click the Finish button at the bottom of the page to return to the Data Center.18


Displaying Data ViewsWith the Data Center window active, you can create and run additional Data Views. Figure 2-16 shows an AIM*Inform window with the Data Center and three Data View windows arranged in a cascade. The active Data View shows the Grouping by Date option that was selected in the previous section.

Figure 2-16. Cascaded Data Views

When a Data View is the active window, the AIM*Inform window becomes a browser that pro-vides a variety of tools for displaying and modifying Data Views (and other HTML files). For example, you can do the following when a Data View is the active window:

Choose Window > Tile or Window > Cascade to arrange the Data Center and Data Views windows.

Right-click in the Data View to access a browser shortcut menu and view the HTML source.

Click the Font button in the toolbar to change the relative size of the type in the Data View.

Click the Back or Forward button to page to other Data Views.These buttons are active only when two or more Data Views are open.19


Click Update to refresh the selected Data View display by running the Data View configuration.

Clicking Update for the Data View created in the example in this chapter (~if134.tmp in Figure 2-13) can result in new information because it uses the default time span of Last Hour. The Update button is not active for Data Views that have been opened from a file.

Save the Data View to an HTML file as described in the next section.Chapter 3 AIM*Inform Window describes all the options available from the menu bar, the tool-bar, and the Data View shortcut menu.

Saving Data ViewsTo save a Data View as an HTML file:

1. Make the Data View the active window.

2. Choose File > Save from the menu bar.

If this document has not yet been saved, AIM*Inform opens a Save dialog box so you can specify the file name and location. After that, the Data View is stored to its exist-ing name and location.

To save a Data View to a different file:

Choose File > Save As from the menu bar.Save As opens a standard Save As dialog box so you can specify a different name and location.

You can also configure the Data View to be automatically saved to specific locations when the Data View configuration is run. This feature is one of the tools used in Web publishing.

To configure automatic storage of a Data View:

1. Click Data Center in the toolbar to make the Data Center the active window.

2. Select the Data View configuration and click Modify to open the configuration wizard.

3. Choose Finish in the navigation bar on the left side.

The Finish page displays the configurable storage options (Figure 2-17).20


Figure 2-17. Message Wizard: Finish Page

4. Check the Output to File option in the middle of the work area.

The controls in the Output File group become active.

5. Use the Name field browse button to specify a storage location and enter a file name.

6. Click either HTML or CSV (comma-separated values) to specify the file format.

This selection is only applied to the file specified in the Name field.

You can also configure the file to be saved to a web server location. See Chapter 9 Web Publish-ing for additional information on setting up AIM*Inform and the web server to accomplish web publishing of Data Views.21


CollectionsThe Data View configuration steps described in the Message examples in this chapter apply also to creating RealTime and History Data Views. However, there is a major difference in the way these wizards present the data available for retrieval:

When you start the Message Wizard, it automatically discovers the messages config-ured in connected historians and constructs the tree view of message groups, types, and fields displayed on the Messages page.

When you start the RealTime or History Wizard, the wizard accesses one or more configured lists of data objects called collections. You select one of these collections from a pull-down list in the upper left corner of the work area.

If a collection has not been configured or if the existing collections do not contain the objects you want to include in the Data Views, you can start the Data Object Wizard from the first page of the wizard. In Figure 2-18, the Points page has no collection selected, so the list of available points on the left side of the work area is empty.

Figure 2-18. RealTime Wizard: Points Page22


To create a collection:

Click the New button to the right of the Collection pull-down list to start the Data Object Wizard.

The Data Object Wizard enables you to browse connected servers for I/A Series objects, and AIM*Historian RTPs. The wizard provides a filtered search of the data sources to create a list of objects. You can set up multiple collections, each named and stored, and select points from a col-lection when you configure a Data View.

Figure 2-19 shows selected objects on the Results page in the wizard. In this case, the objects include both I/A Series block parameters and AIM*Historian RTPs.

Chapter 10 Building a Collection provides step-by-step instructions for using the Data Object Wizard for AIM*Inform Data Views.

Figure 2-19. Data Object Wizard: Results Page

You may want to build several collections of points before you begin configuring RealTime and History Data Views. Collections can be copied and modified to fit new Data Views, and you can import collections developed with other AIM*Inform installations, as well as from other AIM*AT client applications.23


Exiting AIM*InformTo exit AIM*Inform:

1. Choose File > Exit.

If there are any Data View configurations that you have not saved, AIM*Inform prompts you to remove these temporary files (Figure 2-20).

You save a configuration when you name it using either the wizard Finish page or tools in the Data Center window. Until you name a configuration, AIM*Inform uses a temporary name such as ~if134.tmp.

Figure 2-20. AIM*Inform Exit Prompt

2. Click Yes to discard the configurations, or click No to save the configurations using the default names.

If you choose to save the configurations, AIM*Inform removes the lead ~ character to create the name. Thus, ~if134.tmp is saved as if134.tmp.

NOTEYou must respond either Yes or No to this dialog box. You cannot cancel this operation.24

3. AIM*Inform Window

This chapter describes the AIM*Inform user interface including the AIM*Inform window, the Data Center, and Data View windows.

The AIM*Inform window is the basis for all user interface operations. The window contains one or more subsidiary windows that can be opened concurrently. The subsidiary windows can be tiled, cascaded, minimized, or maximized within the main window.

AIM*Inform window (Figure 3-1) always includes the Data Center, which is used for configur-ing, modifying, and running Data Views, and can also include one or more Data View windows.

Figure 3-1. AIM*Inform Window

Data Center

Toolbar

Menu Bar

Status Bar Data ViewWindow Window

Title Bar

WorkArea25

B0400DS Rev C 3. AIM*Inform Window

The AIM*Inform window consists of the following components:

Title Bar Lists the AIM*Inform program name followed by the name of the active window. The title bar also includes these standard window controls:

System menu accessible by right-clicking in the title bar or clicking the AIM*Inform icon on the left end of the bar.

Minimize, Maximize/Restore, and Exit buttons displayed on the right side of the bar.

Menu Bar Provides access to AIM*Inform program functions. The menu bar is con-text sensitive, showing separate menus for the Data Center (as described in Data Center Menus on page 30) and for the Data View windows (as described in Data View Menus on page 33).

Toolbar Provides quick access to the primary AIM*Inform functions. The active items in the toolbar vary according to the active window type (Data Cen-ter or Data View) and the number of Data View windows open.

Work Area Screen area where the Data Center and Data View windows are displayed, and user input is accepted.

Status Bar Context-sensitive messages are displayed along the left and status indica-tors for the following three keyboard functions are displayed along the right: Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock.26

3. AIM*Inform Window B0400DS Rev C

ToolbarSeveral AIM*Inform functions can be invoked via the toolbar, as listed in Table 3-1.

Choose View > Toolbar to toggle the toolbar display on or off.

Table 3-1. AIM*Inform Toolbar

Icon Description

Displays the previous Data View. Active when two or more Data View windows are open.

Displays the next Data View. Active when two or more Data View windows are open.

Updates the selected Data View by running the configuration. This function is equivalent to selecting the configuration in the Data Cen-ter and clicking Run. This button is not active when the selected Data View was opened from a file, or when there are no active Data View windows.

Opens a previously saved Data View. The Data View cannot be updated.

Saves a Data View to an HTML file.

Prints the contents of the active Data View. The Print dialog box allows you to select a printer and printer properties. When Data Views are configured to automatically output to a printer, they are sent to the default of the computer running the AIM*Inform applica-tion.

Copies the selected Data View information to the clipboard.

Specifies the relative size of the fonts used to display the selected text in the active Data View window. The arrow to the right of the icon pulls down a list of five font sizes available for the Data View. The five sizes are determined by the text characteristics set in the data View configuration and by the defaults set for Internet Explorer.Each time you click Font, the type is increased to the next larger size. When the largest font is already selected, clicking Font sets the type to the smallest of the five sizes.

Makes the Data Center the active window.

Reports the status of available servers and displays the client privileges configured on each server for the AIM*Inform application, as described on the next page.27


Checking Server ConnectionsWhen you start AIM*Inform, the application establishes communications with available AIM*AT servers on the network. Depending on how the AIM*Inform is configured, it either broadcasts a message on the network and connects to servers that respond, or connects to servers specified in a local configuration file. The Server Status dialog box enables you to view available servers and check the status of communications with each.

To check the servers used by the AIM*Inform application:

1. Click Server Status in the toolbar.

AIM*Inform displays a dialog box with a tabbed page for each available server (Figure 3-2).

Figure 3-2. Server Status Dialog Box

Each tabbed page identifies the server and the name of the AIM*Inform user, displays messages concerning the communications with the server, and lists the access privi-leges configured for the user name on the server. The privileges cannot be changed using AIM*Inform. They are set with the API*Admin utility, as described in AIM*AT Installation Guide (B0193YM).28


2. Click Reconnect to renew communication with the server.

The Reconnect button is active on a server page when authorized access to the server was not authenticated during AIM*Inform startup. The application can fail this authentication if the appropriate license information has not been entered into the server configuration file, or there were no user slots available for another concurrent user. See Appendix A AIM*Inform Setup for information about authorizing server access.

3. Click Refresh to initiate communications with new servers.

AIM*Inform repeats its startup procedure of either broadcasting to servers on the network or connecting with those servers named in its local configuration file. Refer to AIM*AT Installation Guide (B0193YM) for additional information on setting up server connection options.

Data Center WindowThe Data Center window (Figure 3-3) is the starting point for most AIM*Inform operations. It is used for initiating retrieval with a configured Data View and for creating new Data Views. The Data Center cannot be closed, although it can be minimized within the AIM*Inform window.

Figure 3-3. Data Center Window29


The Data Center window includes three tabbed pages: RealTime, History, and Messages, each with lists of Data View configurations for the data category. Each configuration is described using the following fields:

NameThe configuration name must be unique within this category. When you create a new Data View, AIM*Inform assigns a temporary name to the configuration, which you can change on the Finish page of the wizard, or in the Data Center after the Data View has been created.

DescriptionOptional text describing the configuration. The description is entered on the Finish page of the configuration wizard.

CreatedDate and time the Data View configuration was created.

ModifiedDate and time the Data View configuration was last modified.

You can sort the configuration list on any of these fields by clicking the label at the top of a col-umn. Clicking the column label a second time changes the sort order from ascending to descend-ing and vice versa.

The buttons on the right side of the Data Center window are used to run or modify the selected configuration, and create a new configuration. New and Modify open the Data View configura-tion wizard for the Data View type. Run executes the selected configuration and displays the Data View in a separate window.

Data Center MenusThe menu bar includes the following menus when the Data Center is the active window:

File

The File menu components are:

Open Opens a previously run Data View that has been stored as an HTML file.

[Recent Files] Once files are stored, lists the four most recently saved or opened files.

Exit Exits AIM*Inform. If there are unsaved Data Views configurations, a dia-log box prompts you to save or discard the temporary files. 30


Edit

The Edit menu components are:

Delete Deletes the selected Data View configuration.

Rename Makes the Name field of the selected configuration editable, so you can rename the configuration.

Copy Copies the selected configuration. This function creates a new configura-tion with all the properties of the selected configuration, and lists the new configuration as Copy of . You can rename the new configuration by right-clicking the listing and choosing Rename from the shortcut menu.

Modify Invokes a wizard to modify the selected configuration item.

Schedule Runs the Schedule Wizard to schedule the selected configuration, as described in Chapter 6 Scheduling a Data View.

Import Displays a Windows Open dialog box so you can specify an external con-figuration file for inclusion in the Data Center item list. The dialog box displays files with the extension .stg.

Export Opens a Windows Save As dialog box so you can save the selected configuration as a storage (.stg) file.

View

The View menu includes:

Toolbar Toggles display of the toolbar on and off.

Status Bar Toggles display of the status bar on and off.

Scheduled Items Opens the Scheduled Tasks folder in Windows Explorer to list the Data View configurations scheduled to run.

Wizards

The Wizards menu lists the three Data View configuration wizards: RealTime, Message, and History. Selecting a wizard from the menu is equivalent to selecting the related tabbed page in the Data Center and clicking the New button.

Tools

The Tools menu provides access to these AIM*Inform tools:

Options Configures AIM*Inform program options, including storage locations, shift times, collection rate, and specification of the URL to be used in web publishing. Setting these options is described in Chapter 14 Setting AIM*Inform Options.

Default Style Opens the Style Options dialog box so you can set defaults for various style options. See Chapter 15 Setting Default Style Options.31


Server Status Displays the status of configured AIM*AT servers and client privileges, as described in Checking Server Connections on page 28.

Window

The Window menu includes standard items for arranging sub-windows: Cascade, Tile, Arrange Icons, and Close All. The menu also lists the currently opened windows in the order they were opened. The Close All item closes all Data View windows; the Data Center remains open.

Help

The Help menu has two components:

Contents and Index

Displays the contents of the AIM*Inform on-line Help file.

About AIM*Inform

Shows the installed version and copyright information about AIM*Inform.

Data Center Shortcut MenuYou can right-click anywhere in the Data Center window to open a shortcut menu providing the following items:

Run Runs the selected Data View configuration.

Modify Runs a configuration wizard to modify the selected configuration item.

New Runs a configuration wizard to create a Data View configuration. This item is active when no configuration is selected.

Delete Deletes the selected configuration.

Rename Allows you to edit the name field of the selected configuration item.

Copy Copies the selected configuration to a new item.

Schedule Runs the Schedule Wizard to schedule the selected configuration.

Data View WindowsAfter you run a Data View configuration, AIM*Inform displays the retrieved data in HTML for-mat in a Data View window (Figure 3-4).

A Data View window can be closed, minimized, or maximized within the AIM*Inform window. Multiple Data View windows may be open concurrently within the main window.

You define how retrieved data is to be displayed within a Data View when you create or modify a Data View configuration using one of the configuration wizards. You can apply a predefined style to the retrieved data or you can create a custom style by modifying such features as headings and including graphics such as a corporate logo. Customizing the display of retrieved data is described in Chapter 15 Setting Default Style Options.

The caption No Data in a table cell indicates that AIM*Inform was unable to retrieve the data, probably because of a break in communication with the server. 32


An asterisk in a Value field in a RealTime Data View indicates that the Bad bit in the object status was set by the I/A Series system (see Appendix C Status Codes and Error Messages for informa-tion on object status).

Figure 3-4. Sample Data View Window

Data View MenusThe menu bar includes the following menus when a Data View is the active window.

File

The File menu components are:

Open Opens a Data View that has been saved to a file.

Close Closes the active Data View window.

Save Stores the file using the existing file name and location. If the Data View has not been previously saved, AIM*Inform opens a Save dialog box so you can specify a file name and location.

Save As Opens a Save As dialog box so you can save the selected Data View using a new name and/or location.33


Print Prints the active Data View. Opens a Print dialog box so you can select the printer and printer properties.

[Recent Files] Once files are stored, lists the four most recently saved or opened files.

Exit Exits AIM*Inform.

Edit

The Edit menu components are:

Copy Copies the selected portion of the active Data View to the clipboard. The Copy function uses the format selected with the Preferences menu.

Select All Selects all items in the active Data View window.

View

The View menu is used to alter the appearance of the AIM*Inform window:

Toolbar Toggles display of the toolbar on and off.

Status Bar Toggles display of the status bar on and off.

Fonts Displays a menu of the relative font sizes used to display the selected text in the active Data View.

Update Updates the selected Data View by running the configuration. This func-tion is equivalent to selecting the configuration in the Data Center and clicking Run. This menu option is not active when the selected Data View was opened from a file, or when there are no active Data View windows.

Window

The Window menu includes standard items for arranging sub-windows: Cascade, Tile, Arrange Icons, and Close All. The menu also lists the currently opened windows in the order they were opened. The Close All item closes all Data View windows; the Data Center remains open.

Help

The Help menu has two components:

Contents and Index

Displays the contents of the AIM*Inform on-line Help file.

About AIM*Inform

Shows the current version and copyright information about AIM*Inform.

Preferences

The Preference menu lists three data formats for data copied to the clipboard. The selected format is identified by a check mark.34


ASCII Copy Copies the selected content as ASCII text. For example:09/19/01 12:59:13 PM AW5109 HT1:CALC1.RO01 No Data FFF4

The resulting file can be pasted into a spreadsheet or similar application for analysis of the data.

Excel Copy Creates links to the configured ob

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AIM*AT™ Suite AIM*Inform™ User’s Guide

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