Task Selection and Navigation
Tasks are presented in groupings applicable to each protocol. For example, DNP3 protocol has task groupings for:
Initialization
Acquisition of Static Data
Acquisition of Event Data
Counter operations
Time related operations
Control outputs
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File operations
Secure Authentication
Other protocols may have some of the same or similar groups, some groups may be missing entirely, or other groups, not used for DNP3, may exist.
The sample Task Menu is shown below. The actual presentation is for DNP3 protocol, but other protocols show similar information.
The Task menu layout contains information in four sections.
The Device List with the active device highlighted is shown at the top of the view
Task Groups are presented in a horizontal ICON row near the middle of the view. The active group is shown in a highlighted background color
Tasks within the selected group are presented between the device and task group ICON lists. The active task is shown in a highlighted background color
Properties applicable to the active task and their values are shown at the bottom of the view. These values can be changed if necessary
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Because of its compact presentation, task groups are initially identified only by ICON. A Mouse over will shown the group name, for Example
A less compact presentation is available from the
splitter control immediately above the ICON region. Select this splitter and, keeping the mouse button pressed, slide the mouse upwards. Names of all task groups appear.
Task Activation, General
To activate a task, select a task group and, within that group, the desired task. In the example above, the Link Status & Reset Link task is selected from the Initialization group.
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Select to send messages required to accomplish this task once,
or to send task messages repetitively. The repetition rate is set in the tasks’
Frequency property, enterable at the bottom of the Task View.
Task communication messages are shown in the Line Monitoring and Messages views discussed previously.
Task Setup and Activation, Digital Control Tasks
Single Point Control
Control tasks require the user to enter key information before the task is initiated.
Information is entered into properties for the selected task. While properties differ slightly depending on the protocol, the following is typical.
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Control properties are more involved than those for most other exchanges. In this example for DNP3 (and the same for many other protocols) the user must enter:
Control point index. The default, ‘*’, indicates that no index has been entered.
The ASE2000 will reject an attempt to start a control action until a valid address is entered
Value. Choices in this example are trip and close. Names adjust as appropriate to the active protocol and control type.
On Time is part of a DNP3 control. It is also part of many other protocols, but not all. The field does not appear if not applicable to the active protocol. The default is 1 millisecond
Once correct values are entered for the above properties, the control task can be activated.
This will control a single point. If the repetitive task execution ICON is selected, the same point will be controlled multiple times.
Multiple Point Control
To repetitively control a sequence of points, select the [+] target at the left of the Point Index and Value properties. The result is:
Note that Point Index has subfields called Start and Stop. Value has subfields called Start Value and Stop Value. These specify control ranges. For example:
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Configures the ASE2000 to issue both trip and close commands to points 5 through 10.
If the repetitive execution ICON is selected, one command is sent every period of time as specified by the Frequency property. Execution will continue until stopped.
The sequence of commands is:
1. A command is issued to the Point Index (5) and the Value state (Trip).
2. In preparation for the next command, if the Value is not the same as the Stop Value, then it is set to the Stop Value
3. If the Value is the same as the Stop Value, then it is set to the Start Value and the Point Index is incremented.
4. If the Point Index is greater than the Stop Point, then it is set to the Start Point 5. Control continues with step 1
Task Setup and Activation, Analog Control Tasks
As for digital controls, analog control tasks require the user to enter key information before the task is initiated.
Single Point Control
Before activating an analog control, the user must enter:
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Control point index. The default, ‘*’, indicates that no index has been entered.
The ASE2000 will reject an attempt to activate a control action until a valid index is entered
Value. Analog output value. Unless modified, the default value, 0, is used
Once correct values are entered for the above properties, the control task can be activated.
The setup discussed above will result in control of a single point with a single value. If the repetitive task execution ICON is selected, the same control (index and value) will be sent repetitively.
Multiple Point Control
Properties to control multiple points with multiple values are accessible by selecting the [+] targets at the left of the Point Index and Value fields.
The Point Index field has Start Point and Stop Point subfields, the same as described for Digital Controls. The Value field has Start, Stop, and Step Percentage subfields. The subfields define ranges for analog control commands.
For example, the settings shown above configure the ASE2000 to issue commands to:
Analog output indices 1 through 5, with
Values ranging from 0 to 100 in 25% increments
If values are entered into any of the subfields described above prior to activation of the analog output control task, and if activation was initiated with the repetitive transmission ICON, then the task will control multiple indices with multiple values consistent with field and subfield settings. Each transmission will control one index with one value as described in the following steps.
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1. The first command will be issued to the Point Index (1) and Value (0)
2. In preparation for the next command, if the Value is equal to or exceeds the Stop Value, it will be set to the Start Value and the Point Index will be incremented. If the Point Index is then greater than the Stop Point, it will be set to the Start Point 3. Otherwise (Value less than Stop Value), the Value will be increased by the Step
percentage applied to the difference between the Start Value and the Stop Value.
(If the new Value is greater than the Stop Value, it will be set to the Stop Value.
4. The next command will be issued at the task’s frequency with the modified properties
Task Setup and Activation, File Transfer Tasks
Should this be in the DNP3 document and perhaps replicated the IEC when available?
For applicable protocols, the ASE200 can initiate and accept file transfer requests between a master and remote device.
A sample Task Menu for the File Operations group of tasks is shown below.
To initial a transfer, the user must enter a file name for the local machine and a file name for the remote device.
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The local file is entered in the Local File Name property and can be a complete disk and path specification. The local machine can be browsed by clicking in the Local File Name field and selecting the browse target at the right of that field.
The remote file is entered in the Remote File Name property. ?. If a file name is not known, the ASE2000 can browse the remote device using appropriate protocol
commands (assuming directory operations are supported by the protocol and device). A remote browse operation is initiated the same way as a local browse operation: click the Remote File Name field and select the browse target at the right of that field. This initiates appropriate communication which, if successful, results in a menu like that shown below.
This shows all files reported by the remote device. Select a file and OK. The selected file name is placed in the Remote File Name field.
Note that the browse operation only fills in the Remote File Name field. It does not initiate the selected task: Read File, Write File, Delete File, File Information, or other as supported by the selected protocol.
Once the files names applicable to the selected task have been entered, start the file operation as you would start any other task. Messages are interchanged with the remote device until the operation completes (successfully or with errors). The Line Monitor and Messages Views provide additional information. As an example, following is an
expanded Messages View for a successfully completed DNP3 File Information task.
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