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3 creating custom loops and displays: an overview – Micromod MOD: 30ML Display Script Guide User Manual

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MOD 30ML Display Guide

Display Basics

2 -7

2.3

Creating Custom Loops and Displays: An Overview

There are five types of blocks that interact to display process information on the
controller’s front panel: Display Blocks, Tune List Blocks, Process Alarm Display
Blocks, the State Table Block and the Display Interface Block. The following sections
describe the purpose and use of each block, followed by exercises demonstrating how to
use them in display building.

The Display Blocks, State Table Block and Display Interface Block reference information
created in an editor (Display Scripts, State Tables, and Display List). There are two
means of entering this information: using the internal editor, or an external text editor or
word processor.

The advantage of using the internal editor to construct the files is that when the file is
saved, Visual Application Designer saves the information inside the block. The
information is always automatically associated with the block. However, it is not
available to be referenced by other blocks although it can be copied and pasted.

Using an external text editor or word processor provides more flexibility. After creating
the file externally, specify the file name in the field provided (check the “Use External
File” box and enter the filename). However, the user must always ensure that the external
file resides in the same directory as the saved and compiled configuration strategy. Using
this method allow multiple blocks to reference the same information.

2.3.1 Display

Block

A Display (DISP) Block is required for each display to be shown on the front face of the
controller, except for Process Alarm Displays. Multiple display blocks may be used in
one configuration; therefore, ViZapp does not automatically insert them into the strategy.

The Display block is used to define which variables will be shown on the display and in
what format they appear. It is also used to define key actions (macros) associated with that
particular display. In its simplest form, the display block accepts process variable data
for presentation as values on lines or bars. These values can be formatted, and identified
with engineering units or other labels. More advanced functions are accomplished using
the display script language (see Display Scripts). When creating displays, menus and
scripts refer to Line Numbers of the display. The next figure shows the line numbers,
which are numbered the same in any display.