Chart Viewer
Original instructions
About us
Introduction
To illustrate how variables change over time, the FactoryCast Chart Viewer displays values on a chart at the speed of the plot frequency. Each chart can report values for five variables at once.
Creating Charts
Create a new chart:
Step
Action
1
Before you create a new chart, synchronize the Data Dictionary in these instances:
  • The Ethernet communications module is installed for the first time.
  • There is a change in the Control Expert application.
  • The Ethernet communications module is moved to a rack with a different CPU.
2
Access the Chart Viewer page from the Monitoring tab (Menu → Chart Viewer → Create Chart).
3
In the Chart Name field, enter a name for the chart.
4
In the Plot Frequency field, scroll to the interval for data plotting that applies to the Plot frequency unit.
5
In the Plot frequency unit field, scroll to the unit for data plotting (Milliseconds, Seconds, Minutes, Hours).
6
In the Plot Points field, scroll to the number of points on the chart.
7
Use the Auto-Scale check box to scale the chart:
  • checked: Scale the chart according to the point being plotted.
  • unchecked: Do not scale the chart according to the point being plotted and enter these fixed values:
    • Y Min: Set the lower limit for the y-axis of the selected object.
    • Y Max: Set the upper limit for the y-axis of the selected object.
8
If you wish, you can add variables from the Namespace or the Data Dictionary to a chart:
  • Add variables from the Namespace:
    a. Press the Namespace button. (The Namespace is selected by default.) b. Wait for the Namespace list to load. c. Select any variable in the list to move it into the chart.
  • Add variables from the Data Dictionary:
    a. Press the Data Dictionary button. b. Wait for the Data Dictionary list to load. c. Select any variable in the list to move it into the chart.
NOTE: Refer to Working with Variables below.
9
You can remove a Namespace variable or a Data Dictionary variable from a chart by selecting the variable in the column of chart contents.
10
Click Create Chart.
The new chart appears in the Chart Viewer list on the Monitoring tab.
NOTE: Only charts that have been created in the Monitoring tab can be added to the dashboard. You cannot create a new chart from the dashboard.
Working with Variables
Use these fields when you add variables to a chart:
Field
Description
Filter Variables
When you create a chart (above), you can limit the number of variables that appear in the Symbol or Address columns for the Data Dictionary. Only variable names and types that contain to the string in the Filter Variables field appear in the Symbol or Address columns.
Direct Address
In the Direct Address field, manually enter the address of a variable that corresponds to a memory location in the PAC (unless it is an unlocated variable).
Presentation Modes
There are several presentation modes in the Chart Viewer. These modes present data in a manner that is appropriate to the information associated with the variable(s):
Mode
Description
Bar
Use this mode to see the value of a variable at one moment in time. In this mode, it is easy to compare the relative values of multiple variables.
Line
Use this mode to view the values of variables that change over time. In this mode, it is easy to compare the relative values of multiple variables.
Both
Use this mode to view the bar chart and the line chart on the same page.
Legend
Each chart has a legend that contains the symbol, address, and value associated with each variable. The values in the legend are animated at the speed of the plot frequency.
Editing a Chart
Reconfigure an existing chart:
Step
Action
1
View existing charts by expanding Chart Viewer on the Monitoring tab (Menu → Chart Viewer).
2
Select a chart.
3
Click the gear symbol next to the chart name to return to the configuration parameters.
4
Reconfigure the chart.
5
Press OK.
Deleting a Chart
Delete an existing chart:
Step
Action
1
View existing charts by expanding Chart Viewer on the Monitoring tab (Menu → Chart Viewer).
2
Select a chart.
3
Click the gray X next to the name of the selected chart to see the Confirm chart removal dialog box.
4
Press Remove.