Managing Reference Cycles
(Original Document)
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At a Glance
Reference cycles enable you to store periods that characterize how an installation works. These periods are stored in Trending Tool and can be used in all subsequent recordings containing the module.
Viewing a Reference Dialog Box
This dialog box determines the active and inactive variables at the beginning of a reference cycle. These parameters are used to place a reference cycle in a recording.
Dialog Box Options
Description
Variables of the Module
Click on the variables in the list that you want to add to or remove from the selection. The variables selected from the list are the variables that will be tested at the beginning of a reference cycle.
OK
Close the dialog box and apply the changes made.
Cancel
Close the dialog box without applying any changes.
Help
Open a window featuring an online help related to the dialog box properties.
Viewing Reference Cycle Options
The Properties dialog box displays the characteristics of a Trending Tool reference cycle.
The Description tab in the Properties of a reference cycle dialog box displays the general characteristics of a Trending Tool cycle.
Dialog box options
Description
Settings
This area of the dialog box determines the internal characteristics of a reference cycle.
Name
Type the name of the reference cycle in this area.
Tolerance(s)
Type the difference analysis triggering threshold in this area. The value must be in seconds and between 0.1 and 60 seconds.
Display
This area details the display options for the reference cycle.
Color
Select a display color from the drop-down list.
Activity time display
Check this box to display the duration of each development of the reference in the trend diagram.
Position
This area details the position of the reference cycle in the recording.
Beginning
Date and time of the beginning of the reference cycle.
End
Date and time of the end of the reference cycle.
Duration
Duration of the reference cycle.
OK
Close the dialog box and apply the changes made.
Cancel
Close the dialog box without applying any changes.
Apply
Apply the changes made without closing the dialog box.
Help
Open a window featuring an online help related to the dialog box properties.
The Confirmation tab in the Properties of a reference cycle dialog box displays the equation associated with the start of a reference cycle.
This tab enables you to view and change the criteria of the beginning of the cycle.
Dialog box options
Description
Starting event
The starting event is the rising or falling edge selected in the trend diagram as the starting signal for the reference cycle.
Active Variables at Beginning of Cycle
This area contains the list of the variables that must be active at the beginning of the cycle.
Change...
This button opens a dialog box for selecting the variables that must be active/inactive at the beginning of the cycle.
Inactive Variables at Beginning of Cycle
This area contains a list of the variables that must be inactive at the beginning of the cycle.
OK
Close the dialog box and apply the changes made.
Cancel
Close the dialog box without applying any changes.
Apply
Apply the changes made without closing the dialog box.
Help
Open a window featuring an online help related to the dialog box properties.
Creating a Reference Cycle
To create a reference cycle, proceed as follows:
Step
Action
1
Display the module concerned in the trend diagram mode and use the Define a reference cycle... command from the Insert menu. This command automatically places a reference cycle in the module. By default, the beginning and end of cycle time stamps are placed at 20% and 80% of the displayed zone respectively.
2
Move the beginning and end of cycle time stamps until you reach the required positions. Reference cycle time stamps are moved just like Trending Tool standard time stamps.
3
Adjust the properties of the cycle with the Reference cycle properties... command from the context-sensitive menu (right-click) of the trend diagram area. This command opens the reference cycle properties dialog box.
NOTE: If the module already contains a reference cycle, Trending Tool opens a dialog box asking the following question: “This module already contains a reference cycle. Do you want to add a second one to this module?”. Select Yes to add a second cycle, No to replace the previous reference cycle with a new one, or Cancel to cancel the creation of a new reference cycle.
Creating a Triggering Condition
In Trending Tool, the start of a reference cycle can be governed by a particular condition comprising:
Step
Action
1
The rising edge or falling edge of a variable.
2
The list of the module's variables that must be active at the start of the reference cycle.
3
The list of the module's variables that must be inactive at the start of the reference cycle.
In Trending Tool, you must specify a triggering condition on a reference cycle to carry out automatic divergence searches. To add triggering conditions to a reference cycle:
Step
Action
1
Display the reference cycle on which you want to work.
2
Move the mouse pointer onto the beginning of cycle time stamp and hold your finger down on the left mouse button to move this time stamp.
3
Move the mouse until you reach the edge of the variable that will be used as the beginning of cycle condition. Release the left button to hook the beginning of cycle time stamp to this event. The selected edge is surrounded by a square in Trending Tool.
4
Use the Reference cycle properties... command from the trend diagram's context-sensitive menu. To open this context-sensitive menu, move the mouse pointer onto the trend diagram's window and right-click. This command opens a dialog box detailing the reference cycle properties.
5
When the reference cycle is synchronized with a variable edge by the user, Trending Tool introduces the following default condition: the module's boolean variables must have a status identical to the one it had before the user selected the edge. You can click on the Validation tab in the dialog box to change this configuration.
6
Click on the Change... button in the Active variables at beginning of cycle area to add or remove variables that must be active at the start of the cycle. This causes a dialog box to open, showing a list of the module's variables. Click on the items in the list to select or deselect them. Confirm the changes made by clicking on the OK button in the dialog box.
7
Proceed in the same manner to draw up the list of variables that must be inactive at the start of the reference cycle.
Showing a Reference Cycle
To show a reference cycle:
Step
Action
1
Select the trend diagram mode.
2
Use the Reference cycle command from the View menu. This command displays the module's first reference cycle.
3
If the module contains several reference cycles, select the required cycle from the drop-down list on the Reference cycle tool bar.
4
If the reference cycle does not appear, use the Show reference cycle command from the Recording menu.
You can also use the Show reference button on the standard Trending Tool tool bar or press Alt+F2 to display the reference cycle. This button is held down as long as a reference cycle is displayed.
The Show reference command can be accessed via the Show reference button on the Trending Tool reference cycle tool bar.
Hiding the Reference Cycle
To hide the reference cycle:
Step
Action
1
Use the Reference cycle command from the View menu or the Show reference button on the standard tool bar or press Alt+F2.
Changing a Reference Cycle
Trending Tool associates several properties which are all detailed in a dialog box with each reference cycle.
To open this dialog box and change the properties of a reference cycle:
Step
Action
1
Display the required reference cycle on the trend diagram.
2
Use the Reference cycle properties... command from the trend diagram's context-sensitive menu. To open this context-sensitive menu, move the mouse pointer onto the trend diagram's window and right-click. This command opens a dialog box detailing the properties of the reference cycle.
3
Change the properties as required in the dialog box and apply the changes made by clicking on OK.
Accessing a Reference Cycle Property
Reference cycles are linked to modules. You can also access the reference cycle properties from the properties of the modules. Proceed as follows:
Step
Action
1
Select the module containing the reference cycle on the module tree in the recording window.
2
Use the Properties... command from the Edit menu. This command opens a dialog box detailing the properties of the selected module.
3
Click on the Reference cycle tab. This tab contains a list of the reference cycles defined for this module.
4
Select the required reference cycle from the list and click on the Properties... button to open the dialog box detailing the properties of the reference cycle.
5
Change the properties as required in the dialog box and apply the changes performed by clicking on OK.
Deleting a Reference Cycle
To delete a reference cycle:
Step
Action
1
Select the module containing the reference cycle on the module tree in the recording window.
2
Use the Properties... command from the Edit menu. This command opens a dialog box detailing the properties of the selected module.
3
Click on the Reference cycle tab. This tab contains a list of the reference cycles defined for this module.
4
Select the required reference cycle from the list and click on the Delete button to delete the reference cycle.