Trend Window

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Navigation: User Guide -> Windows -> Trend Window

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Trend Line View 2.1 Left mouse click 2.2 Shift + Left mouse click 2.3 Right mouse click 2.4 Left mouse double click 3 Trend List View 3.1 Left mouse click 3.2 Right mouse click 3.3 Tag List Columns 3.4 Trend List Reference Tag Status Colour 4 Trend dialog boxes 4.1 General Options - Trend Window 4.2 Trend Options Dialog Box 4.3 Query Dialog Box

Introduction

A Trend Window is used to trend selected variables graphically. By doing so, the user can keep track of the convergence of a solution in a steady state project, or the behaviour of the plant in a dynamic project. The trend window is saved to a file in the project with a file extension trn.

When a user starts a new project, SysCAD will automatically open a trend window. However, a project may have any number of Trend windows and the user can open a new Trend window by either clicking on the 'New' icon (first on the left) or from the menu File - New File and then clicking on 'Trend' in the New Document dialogue window.

The user can navigate to the Trend windows using the Explorer Window.

For a description of menu commands and toolbar buttons for the trend window see Trend Commands. This describes commands for scrolling, zoom in out, various options, etc.

The user may also trend variables from the SysCAD PID controllers using the special Trend Window With Controller option. This is an extension to the normal trend window and is described in Trend Window (with PID Controllers).

A Trend Window is split into two views. The top half displays the Trend Line View. The bottom half contains a list of tags is termed the Trend List View. The sizes of the two views may be adjusted by moving the splitter bar up and down (the horizontal grey bar between the views). The historian does not have to be configured or switched on for trending to work. However if the historian is off trend lines are not remembered and when you scroll or zoom in the Trend Line View, trend lines are lost. An example of a Trend window is shown below:

The mouse click options and Trend List View column headings are explained below. For information about the Trend Window commands, please see section SysCAD Commands - Trend Commands.

Trend Line View

This is the top view above the splitter bar. It is used to graphically display trends configured in the Trend List View. Various mouse click options are explained in the following headings.

Left mouse click

Left Click on a trend line and hold down generates a trend information pop up window above the Trend Line View. It contains information (Tag, time, value) for the trend closest to the cursor. As you move the cursor across the Trend Window, the information displayed in the pop up window would be for the trend line that is closest to the cursor. That is, left click on the Trend Line View can display information for different trend lines.

Shift + Left mouse click

Left click while holding the <shift> key on a trend line and hold down generates a trend information pop up window above the Trend Line View. It contains information (Tag, time, value) for the trend closest to the cursor. As you move the cursor across the Trend Window, the information displayed in the pop up window would be for the same trend line originally chosen. That is, right click on the Trend Line View can display information for a selected trend line.

Right mouse click

Right Click on a trend line and hold down bring up a pop up list for that trend line:

This list gives the user the ability to adjust the trend line scale (min and max values) by indicating the position of trend line.

Left mouse double click

This can be used to zoom in on a selected portion of the trend. You need to double click at two locations. The window will then zoom to the area between the two locations. The duration display on the Trend Window will become the time difference between the two points.

Trend List View

The bottom half of the Trend Window is the Trend List View. This is used to enter user selected Tags for viewing. Values are updated each iteration. If required, these values can be trended in the Trend Line View by turning the trend line option on. The various configuration options are done using mouse clicks.

Left mouse click

This can be used to switch a trend on or off.

A single click on the small square box to the left of the tag turns a trend line on or off. A short coloured line indicates the status of the trend line option. By default, the tag is added to the historian for recording when the trend line is activated; this is indicated by the little yellow dot next to the trend line. To switch of the trend line, simply click on the small square box again. A left mouse click between the trend box and the tag (the area where the little yellow dot is) finds the corresponding model in the graphics window.

Right mouse click

A single right click will do one of three things depending on the position of the mouse.

1. If the right mouse click is on the small square colour line box to the left of the tag name, a dialog box will allow you to change the colour of the trend line.

2. If the right mouse click is anywhere else along the tag entry row, a pop up menu is displayed. The contents of the menu may vary according to row selected; (i.e. the menu will be relative to the tag on the same line). The following menu options may appear:

• Conversions - Allows change of engineering units for the currently selected valid tag. The tag must have association of engineering units.
• Format: - Allows change of the measured value display format for the currently selected valid tag. Tag must be a floating-point number.
• Record in Historian: - This switches the historian on or off for the current tag. Only available if there is a valid tag on the current line.
• Show Trend: - This switches the trend line on or off for the current tag. Only available if there is a valid tag on the current line.
• Colour: - This allows you to change the colour of the trend line for the currently selected valid tag.
• Scale Trend
  • Fit - Fits the trend between its min and max values on the trend line view.
    • Auto On / Auto Off options - These options will toggle the auto scaling on/off.
    • When Auto On is selected, as the measure value changes, the min and max scale will change to best fit the graph.
    • The bitmap display changes as follows: .
  • Scale - Changes the scale of the trend based on percentages.
  • Position - Moves the trend scales up and down.
• Other
  • Scroll to End - This causes the Trend Line View to scroll to the end.
  • Select Tag - Allows you to enter a tag into the trend page via the select tag dialog box. This option is very slow and is not recommended.
  • Reconnect Tag - Forces search on the entered tag information for matching SysCAD data. If a match is found, values will be displayed.
  • Options - Opens the Trend Options Dialog Box.
  • Query - Opens the Query Dialog Box.
  • Global Time Base - See Global.
  • Fit All trends - Fits all trend lines to the trend line view.
• Clear: This allows you to clear the currently selected line(s).
• Delete: This allows you to remove the currently selected line(s). All lines below it are moved up by one line. Only available when SysCAD is not solving (ProBal) or running (dynamic).
• Insert: This allows you to insert blank line(s) at the currently selected line(s). All lines below it are moved down by one line. Only available when SysCAD is not solving (ProBal) or running (dynamic). If information is entered on the very last line in the Trend List View, the Insert option is not available.
• Copy: This copies the selected tags or values. Same as <Ctrl+C>. See Copy and Paste.
• Paste: This pastes the copied information, not always available. Same as <Ctrl+V>. See Copy and Paste.
• Controlled or Referenced Tags: If the tag is controlled or referenced by a control unit, then the control unit tag will be displayed in the menu and the user may navigate to the unit. See Controlled and Referenced Variables.
• Name of the Unit operation
  • Access... - If current tag is valid, it allows you to switch to the Access Window of that particular unit.
  • Find... - If current tag is valid, it allows you to find the graphics of the unit on the Graphics Window.

3. If the right mouse click is anywhere on the column-heading row, the following pop up menu is displayed. All the options available here are global options.

All options above are explained earlier with the exception of Trend Indicator. The Trend Indicator function will allow the user to locate a trended variable easily on the Trend Line View. To do so, the user selects the Trend Indicator option, then rest the mouse cursor on a selected trended tag on the Trend List View, the trend line in the Trend Line View will blink to indicate its location. NOTE: The user may first need to fit all the trends to ensure they are all visible.

Tag List Columns

• Column Width: Dragging the column separation bar with the mouse can change the column width. (Similar to column resize in other Windows operation programs.)

• Trend colour box : The trend line colour, an indicator of whether a trend line is on or off. Right click on this will allow for trend line colour change. Single mouse click on this box will toggle the trend line option. If the trend has the range fitting on Auto, it will be indicated by an extra ] line in the colour box, eg: . To turn the Auto range fitting option On or Off, right click on the tag (in this case, Acid.Qm), then select Scale Trend | Fit | Auto On/Off.

• Yellow dot: An indicator on whether the trend line is being recorded in the historian. Right click on the tag will bring up a pop up menu. The Record in Historian option can be toggled.

• Comport Icon: (eg: ) An indicator of a driver tag. Only available if drivers are used. (For more information, refer to SysCAD Marshal - Trending SysCAD Marshal Driver Tags.)

• Tag: The tag name and engineering unit may be typed in here. The tag name is not case sensitive but the engineering unit is. The best way to enter a trend entry is by Copy and Paste.

For example: Right click on a graphics symbol in the Graphics Window to open the Access Window, select a variable on the Access Window by left clicking on the text string of the variable (not the value), press <Ctrl + C> to copy. (Multiple tags can be copied by click and drag on the Access Window.) Return to the Trend List View, highlight an empty row and press <Ctrl + V> to paste. To paste multiple tags, make sure at least an equivalent number of rows are highlighted on the trend window.

Tags can also be copied from the Trend List using copy and paste as described above. Once a tag has been copied, it can be edited.

If the tag is valid, its current value and default ranges will be shown. If the tag entry is not found, a message will appear in the Message Window.

A text description may be entered instead of a tag by placing a ' at the start of the field.

• Meas: This displays the current value of the tag. The measured value is being constantly updated as changes occur regardless of the historian and trend line status. However, if the entry is in the edit mode, the measured value will not be updated.

Hint: If the value is configurable, normally indicated by a white box field, you are allowed to make changes to the field through the Trend Window. If the value is a calculated variable, normally indicated by a grey box field, they are read only and can not be changed.

• Min: Represents the minimum value on the Trend Line View for that tag. If the value goes below the minimum, the trend line is drawn along the bottom of the Trend Line View.

• Max: Represents the maximum value on the Trend Line View for that tag. If the value goes above the maximum, the trend line is drawn along the top of the Trend Line View.

• Description: The tag description is placed here. This field is normally used for Driver file tags, however, other general description can be entered.

Note: When information is copied from the trend window, the descriptions will not be copied. That is, the description is only available on the Trend List View for displaying purposes and is not associated with the model data.

General Comment:

If the Trend Window values or trend lines are not refreshing for any reason, you could press the refresh button to reconnect and refresh all tags, or the scroll to end button to force the Trend Line Window to request points from the historian and repaint.

When the Trend Window is refreshed, the Trend Window requests information from the historian. A small dialog box on the bottom left of the main window will appear and indicate the progress of the requests to the historian.

Left clicking on the grey area to the right of the colour box, (where the yellow dot is) will act as the Find Graphics Symbol command.

Trend List Reference Tag Status Colour

Please see topic Access Field Reference Tag Status Colour.

Trend dialog boxes

A number of dialog boxes related to trends can be shown.

General Options - Trend Window

This is a Trend page in the General Options tabbed dialog box.

• Historian must record tags when trend lines are turned on check box: If this option is selected, when the trend line is switched on for the first time, the historian (provided it is on) also records the tag.

• Global - Synchronise time base in all Trend Windows check box: If this option is selected, SysCAD will synchronise all Trend Windows' time base. That is, if one Trend Window is scrolled, then all Trend Windows in the project are scrolled by the same amount.

• Flash Trend Indication check box: If this option is selected, the trend indicator option is switched on. The Trend Indicator function allows the user to locate a trended variable easily on the Trend Line View. To do so, rest the mouse cursor on a trended tag on the Trend List View, the trend line in the Trend Line View will blink to indicate its location.

NOTE: The user may first need to fit all the trends to ensure they are all visible.

• Trend Window Options button: This brings up the Trend Options Dialog Box.

• Reconnect All Trend Tags button: This button is seldom, if ever needed. It refreshes or regenerates all Trend List Views in all the Trend Windows.

Trend Options Dialog Box

This allows you to set display options for each trend page.

• Trend Window: Use this to select Trend Window options.

• Prev and Next Buttons: These can be used to move up and down the list of Trend Windows. Only available if there are more than one Trend Windows in the project.

• Show Labels Group: These labels can be switched on and off independently. When switched on, they will be displayed on the Trend Window. The start time, end time and duration are shown at the top left, top right and bottom of a Trend Line View respectively. The text is placed on top of the trend lines resulting in some trend information being hidden. The hundred's of a second option indicates whether time labels must show the full time resolution.

• Grid lines - X divisions: This allows you to divide the x-axis of the Trend Line View into a number of sections. With the correct configuration, one can make estimates of the time span for disturbances shown on the Trend Line View.

Note: section widths will always be rounded to the nearest logical time unit. That is, you may ask for five divisions but only three will be shown because of the current duration.

• Grid lines - Y divisions: This divides the y-axis of the Trend Line View into the required number of sections.

• Redraw option: Indicates the method that SysCAD must use to repaint the trend lines view when it needs to be scrolled (time line goes to the end). The Scroll option is usually faster.

• Apply button: This applies the changes made to the selected Trend Window.

• Apply to All button: This applies the changes to all the Trend Windows.

• Query button: This brings up the Query Dialog Box based on the currently selected Trend Window.

Query Dialog Box

This dialog box is available from a button on the Trend Options Dialog Box and the Trend | Query menu option. This allows you to enter a request to the historian. The results are stored in the specified file. By default a list of all the trended tags (where the trend lines are switched on) for the current Trend Window is shown. The default list would generate a file representing the current Trend Line View.

Only tags that are recorded by the historian will be reported by the query.

Tags may be added and removed at will. A conversion unit may follow each tag.

Note that the query will only accept tags that are currently being recorded by the historian. A number of options may be chosen to configure the report layout. The resulting report is in a comma-delimited file and may be imported into a spreadsheet package to draw graphs.