Alarms Configuration for OPC

To configure workstation alarms for a point, the following fields are available in a CSV configuration file:

  • Alarm Class
  • Alarm Type
  • Alarm Value
  • Event Text
  • Normal Text
  • Upper Hysteresis
  • Lower Hysteresis

For a detailed description of these fields, see OPC Items Data.

After you import an OPC configuration file, you can configure workstation alarms for individual OPC points from the Alarm Configuration expander in the Object Configurator tab (see Alarm Configuration).

Supported Alarm Type Operators

Alarm Type Operator

Operand

Meaning

Applicable Alarm Category

EQ

=

equal to

Discrete

NE

!=

not equal to

Discrete

LT

<

less then

Continuous

LE

<=

less than or equal to

Continuous

GT

>

greater than

Continuous

GE

>=

greater than or equal to

Continuous

BET

..

between

Discrete

NBET

!..

not between

Discrete

Note that:

  • EQ is the only supported alarm type value for binary (Boolean) points.
  • Only one alarm can be specified for binary (Boolean) points.
  • Alarm configuration is ignored in the following cases:
    • Discrete and continuous alarms are mixed.
    • The number of alarm values/range is inconsistent in the alarm configuration columns.
  • BET and NBET are not supported for items with state texts.

Examples of Alarm Configuration

After the import of a CSV file:

  • An individual alarm is configured as follows:

Alarm Configuration in the CSV File

Configuration imported into the Alarm Configuration expander

[Alarm Class]; Alarm

Alarm Class: Alarm

[Alarm Type]: EQ

[Alarm Value]: 1

Value Range: = (1)

[Event Text]: Binary Input

Event Text: Boolean Alarm

[Normal Text]: Normal

Normal Text: Normal

 

  • Multiple alarms are configured as follows:

Alarms Configuration in the CSV File

Configuration imported in the Alarm Configuration expander

[Alarm Class]; Alarm$Fault

Alarm Class: Alarm, Fault

[Alarm Type]: EQ$BET

[Alarm Value]: 10$[12$15]

Alarm Value Range: = 10

Fault Value Range: = 12 to 15

[Event Text]: Analog Alarm$Fault Alarm

Alarm Event Text: Analog Alarm

Fault Event Text: Fault Alarm

[Normal Text]: No Alarm$No Fault

Alarm Normal Text: No Alarm

Alarm Normal Text: No Fault