MicroSCADA Pro

SYS 600 *9.1

OPC Data Access Client

User’s Guide
1MRS752246-MEN MicroSCADA Pro SYS 600 *9.1
Issued: 26.03.2003 OPC Data Access Client
Version: E/21.02.2005
User’s Guide

1. About this manual .....................................................................5

1.1. Copyrights .....................................................................................5
1.2. Trademarks ...................................................................................5
1.3. General .........................................................................................5
1.4. Use of symbols ..............................................................................6
1.5. Document conventions ..................................................................6
1.6. Related documents .......................................................................7
1.7. Document revisions .......................................................................7
2. Safety information .....................................................................9
2.1. Backup copies ...............................................................................9
2.2. Fatal errors ....................................................................................9
3. Instructions ..............................................................................11
3.1. Configuration ...............................................................................11
3.1.1. Base system configuration ...............................................11
3.1.2. OPC client configuration ..................................................12
3.1.2.1. Changing OPC Client settings ...........................21
3.1.2.2. Manual mapping of process objects or custom
station attributes .................................................24
3.1.2.3. Importing process objects from external file
prepared with OPC PO List Tool ........................35
3.1.2.4. Automated OPC Data Access Client
configuration .......................................................41
3.1.3. Importing and Exporting OPC Items configuration ...........43
3.1.4. OPC Process Object List tool ..........................................43
3.1.4.1. Introduction ........................................................43
3.1.4.2. Start-up ..............................................................44
3.1.4.3. Browsing process objects ..................................44
3.1.4.4. Setting filters ......................................................45
3.1.4.5. Setting new station number for process objects 46
3.1.4.6. Including / excluding the process objects ...........47
3.1.4.7. Changing application ..........................................47
3.1.4.8. Saving Process Objects list ................................48
3.1.4.9. Formats for the output file ..................................49
3.1.4.10.Viewing OPC signals .........................................50
3.2. Starting DA Client ........................................................................51
3.2.1. Starting from the command line .......................................51
3.2.2. Starting from a SCIL program ..........................................52
3.2.3. Starting from the OPC DA Client Control Panel ...............52
3.3. Supervising DA Client .................................................................53
4. Technical description .............................................................55

©Copyright 2005 ABB Oy, Substation Automation Products, Vaasa, FINLAND 3

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4.1. System requirements .................................................................. 55

4.2. OPC DA Client software components ......................................... 55
4.3. Visual SCIL tools ........................................................................ 55
5. Index ........................................................................................ 57

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1. About this manual

1.1. Copyrights
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not
be construed as a commitment by ABB Oy. ABB Oy assumes no responsibility for
any errors that may appear in this document.
In no event shall ABB Oy be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental or
consequential damages of any nature or kind arising from the use of this document,
nor shall ABB Oy be liable for incidental or consequential damages arising from
use of any software or hardware described in this document.
This document and parts thereof must not be reproduced or copied without written
permission from ABB Oy, and the contents thereof must not be imparted to a third
party nor used for any unauthorized purpose.
The software or hardware described in this document is furnished under a license
and may be used, copied, or disclosed only in accordance with the terms of such
license.
Copyright © 2005 ABB Oy
All rights reserved.

1.2. Trademarks
ABB is a registered trademark of ABB Group. All other brand or product names
mentioned in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders.

1.3. General
This manual provides thorough information on the OLE Process Control (OPC)
Data Access (DA) client in MicroSCADA. It describes how to configure the base
system and the communication system to establish communication with slave
devices managed by the OPC server. It also describes how to configure and use the
OPC DA client software in the MicroSCADA application.
In addition to this configuration, the MicroSCADA application needs to be
configured for process communication. For more information on this subject, refer
to other manuals, e.g. Application Objects and System Objects.
The following features defined in the OPC specification are not supported by OPC
DA Client in MicroSCADA:
• Public groups
• Blobs in item definitions
• Item Access Paths
These features are optional according to the OPC documents. OPC DA Client is able
to communicate with several OPC servers from different vendors, but several copies
of the OPC DA Client have to be started for it.
The following features are not supported by the OPC DA Client Configuration tool:

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• The list of available OPC Items will not be shown, if the OPC server does not
support IOPCBrowseAddressSpace interface.
• OPC Item properties will not be shown, if the OPC server does not support
IOPCItemProperties interface.

1.4. Use of symbols

This publication includes warning, caution, and information icons that point out
safety related conditions or other important information. It also includes tip icons to
point out useful information to the reader. The corresponding icons should be
interpreted as follows:

The caution icon indicates important information or warning related

to the concept discussed in the text. It might indicate the presence of
a hazard which could result in corruption of software or damage to
equipment or property.

The information icon alerts the reader to relevant facts and

conditions.

Although warning hazards are related to personal injury, and caution hazards are
associated with equipment or property damage, it should be understood that
operation of damaged equipment could, under certain operational conditions, result
in degraded process performance leading to personal injury or death. Therefore,
comply fully with all warning and caution notices.

1.5. Document conventions

The following conventions are used for the presentation of material:
• The words in names of screen elements (for example, the title in the title bar of a
dialog, the label for a field of a dialog box) are initially capitalized.
• Capital letters are used for the name of a keyboard key if it is labeled on the
keyboard. For example, press the CTRL key. Enter key is an exception, e.g. press
Enter.
• Lowercase letters are used for the name of a keyboard key that is not labeled on
the keyboard. For example, the space bar, comma key and so on.
• Press CTRL+C indicates that you must hold down the CTRL key while pressing
the C key (to copy a selected object in this case).
• Press ESC E C indicates that you press and release each key in sequence (to copy
a selected object in this case).
• The names of push and toggle buttons are boldfaced. For example, click OK.
• The names of menus and menu items are boldfaced. For example, the File menu.
• The following convention is used for menu operations: Menu Name > Menu
Item > Cascaded Menu Item. For example: select File > Open > New
Project.
• The Start menu name always refers to the Start menu on the Windows Task
Bar.

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• System prompts/messages and user responses/input are shown in the Courier

font. For example, if you enter a value out of range, the following message is
displayed:
Entered value is not valid. The value must be 0 to
30.
You may be told to enter the string MIF349 in a field. The string is shown as follows
in the procedure:
MIF349
• Variables are shown using lowercase letters:
sequence name

1.6. Related documents

The following OPC DA Client manuals should be available for reference during the
use of this manual:

Name of the manual MRS number

System Configuration manual 1MRS751846-MEN
System Objects manual 1MRS751847-MEN
Application Objects manual 1MRS751848-MEN
Status Codes 1MRS751850-MEN

The OPC DA Client implementation is based on the following documents by the

IEC Technical Committee 57:

Name of the document Version

OPC Overview Version 1.0. October 27, 1998
OPC Common Definitions and Interfaces Version 1.0. October 21, 1998
OPC Data Access Custom Interface Standard Version 2.04. September 5, 2000
OPC DA Client in MicroSCADA Version 1.2
CPI for MicroSCADA (1MRS751365-MEN) Issue date: 31.01.00, Program revision
2.0.Documentation version: A

1.7. Document revisions

Version Revision number Date History

A 30.10.2000 Document created
B 8.4.4 26.03.2003 Changes in Sections: 3.1.2.1., 3.1.3., 3.1.4.
Changes in Chapter 4
C 8.4.5 15.01.2004 Several pictures changed and added
A new Section 3.1.4.10. added
Windows NT changed to Windows
D 9.0 30.06.2004 Document updated
E 9.1 21.02.2005 -Automated OPC DA Client configuration
added
-Improved tracing features added

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2. Safety information
This chapter gives information about the prevention of hazards.

2.1. Backup copies

We suggest that you take backup copies before making any changes, especially the
ones that might have side effects. Software and data need to be copied to another
place, usually to a CD or backup tape. A writable CD and DAT tape are commonly
used.
Backup copying makes it easier to restore application software in case of a disk crash
or any other serious failure when stored data is lost. It is therefore recommended that
backup copies are taken regularly.
There should be at least two system backup copies and two application copies. A
new backup is copied over the oldest backup. This way the latest version is always
available, even if the backup procedure fails.
Detailed information on how to take backup copies should be delivered to the
customer with the application.
System backup
Usually a system backup is taken after the application is made. A backup should be
taken again when changes are made to the MicroSCADA system. For example, if
the driver configuration or the network set-up is changed.
Application backup
An application backup is also taken at the same time with system backup, after the
application is made. A backup should be taken again when changes are made to the
application, for example if pictures or databases are edited or new pictures are
added.

2.2. Fatal errors

A fatal error is an error that causes a break-down or a locked situation in the
MicroSCADA program execution.
Handling
In case of a fatal error:
1. Write down the possible MicroSCADA error messages.
2. Shut down the MicroSCADA main program. If this cannot be done in the
MicroSCADA Control Panel, try to end the task in Windows Task Manager.

Shutting down the base system computers by switching off the

power might damage the files.

3. In Windows, the data kept in the main memory at the moment of a fatal error is
placed in the drwtsn32.log file. It is placed in a system folder, for example
Winnt. Analyze and copy the data in this file.
4. Restart the system.

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Report the program break-down together with the possible MicroSCADA error
messages and the information from the drwtsn32.log file to the MicroSCADA
supplier.
Status codes
Error messages in SCIL are called status codes. A list of status codes and short
explanations can be found in the Status Codes manual.

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3. Instructions
This chapter describes how to configure and start OPC DA Client in MicroSCADA.

3.1. Configuration

3.1.1. Base system configuration

The base system objects are defined with SCIL commands in the
SYS_BASCON.COM file, which is executed every time the base system is started.
With a few limitations, you can also define and modify the base system objects any
time when MicroSCADA is running. During the operation, the base system objects
are in the primary memory of the base system computer.
To configure SYS_BASCON.COM:
1. Define a base system object (SYS:B).
2. Define a link. The link type is TCP/IP.
3. Define a node.

Each OPC client instance is represented as a separate node. If

several OPC client instances are used simultaneously, the same
number of NOD objects must be defined in the
SYS_BASCON.COM file.
4. Define the SPA stations.
The definitions are made in the example below. For more information on the system
objects, see the System Objects manual.
Example
The following is an example of the part of the SYS_BASCON.COM file for
communication via OPC client.
;----------------------------------------------------
;Base System Object

@l_Standard_Paths = do(read_text("/STool/Def/Path_Def.txt"))

#CREATE SYS:B = List(-

SA = 209,- ;Station address of base system
ND = 9,- ;Node number of base system
DN = 1,- ;Default NET node number
DS = "STA",- ;Default STA type: E.G. STA,RTU,SPA,REX
DE = 0,- ;DDE server 0=disabled, 1=enabled
PC = 6000,- ;Picture Cache (kB)
RC = 1000,- ;Report Cache (kB)
-
- ;MS-STOOL Settings
PH = %l_Standard_Paths,-
SV = (0,- ;System Variables
list(t_System_Configuration_File = "sys_/SysConf.ini",-
b_Conf_Mech_In_Use = TRUE,-n
b_SSS_Mech_In_Use = TRUE,-
t_Version = "8.4.5")),-
- ;Operating System events
OE = 0,-
OT = (Bit_Mask(0,1,2,3,4),-

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Bit_Mask(0,1,2,3,4),-
Bit_Mask(0,1,2,3,4)),-
FS = "NEVER")

;***************************************************************************
;
; COMMUNICATION LINK

CREATE LIN:V = LIST(-

LT = "LAN"- ; TCP/IP connection
)
#CREATE LIN2:B = %LIN

;***************************************************************************
;
; COMMUNICATION NODE

#CREATE NOD:V = LIST(-

LI = 2,-
SA = 203)
#CREATE NOD2:B = %NOD

;***************************************************************************
;
; STATIONS

#CREATE STA:V = LIST(-

TT = "EXTERNAL",-
ST = "SPA",-
ND = 2,-
TN = 2)
#CREATE STA2:B = %STA

;***************************************************************************

3.1.2. OPC client configuration

This section describes OPC DA Client configuration in accordance with the system,
link, node and station numbers defined in SYS_BASCON.COM.
OPC DA Client Configuration Tool (DAOCT) is used to create and modify the
parameter file, which is used by OPC DA Client (DAOPCCL). The parameter file
name and path should be given as a command line parameter for OPC DA Client
program.
To configure the parameter file, the following actions should be executed via the
Configuration Tool:
1. Locate OPC Servers installed in the system and allow the user to select the
desired server, which provides access to OPC-enabled devices. The Server
Properties dialog is used for this purpose (main menu item File > New).
2. Define the parameters for communication OPC DA Client with MicroSCADA
base system via CPI interface. These parameters are defined in the CPI Node
Properties dialog (main menu item File > New > Next) and should be filled as
follows:

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Own Node Number Should be the same as the value of the LI attribute of
COMMUNICATION NODE object (NOD:V). See
SYS_BASCON.COM.

Own Station Number Should be the same as the value of the SA attribute of
COMMUNICATION NODE object (NOD:V). See
SYS_BASCON.COM.

Base Node Number Should be the same as the value of the ND attribute of BASE
SYSTEM OBJECT (SYS:B). See SYS_BASCON.COM.

Base Station Number Should be the same as the value of the SA attribute of BASE
SYSTEM OBJECT (SYS:B). See SYS_BASCON.COM.

Base Application Application Number in MicroSCADA, where the connection

Number is created.

Base IP Address MicroSCADA TCP/IP address.

3. Define parameters for communication between OPC DA Client and another
MicroSCADA base system (secondary), if the connection with the primary base
system has been lost. These parameters are optional. The OPC DA Client has to
be reconnected to the primary MicroSCADA base system, if the list of the
secondary system parameters is not defined. These parameters are defined in the
CPI Node Properties dialog of the configuration tool and should be used as
follows:

Back Node Number Should be the same as the value of the ND attribute of BASE
SYSTEM OBJECT (SYS:B). See SYS_BASCON.COM of
the secondary MicroSCADA base system.

Back Station Number Should be the same as the value of the SA attribute of BASE
SYSTEM OBJECT (SYS:B). See SYS_BASCON.COM of
the secondary MicroSCADA base system.

Back Application Application Number in secondary MicroSCADA, where

Number connection is created.

Back IP Address Secondary MicroSCADA TCP/IP address.

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MS Max The number of reconnection’s attempts to the primary

Reconnections MicroSCADA. After these attempts are expired, the OPC
DA Client is connected to the secondary MicroSCADA base
system.
4. Define SPA stations, which are supported via OPC DA Client. The SPA station
is defined in the Add STA dialog (main menu item Edit > Add STA) and the
appropriate fields should be filled as follows:

Unit Number Should be the same as the value of the TN attribute of SPA
STATION OBJECT (STA:V).
Example
The following is an example of OPC DA Client configuration for MicroSCADA.
Before starting this example the MicroSCADA base system should be configured
according to the example in Section 3.1.1. The Matrikon.OPC. Simulation server
should be installed on the computer. The OPC server can be obtained from http://
www.matrikon.com/opc.
When the Matrikon Server has been installed the following actions should be
executed:
1. Start the configuration tool by using Windows Explorer, command line or a
desktop short cut to the executable file. The file name of the program is
DAOCT.EXE.
2. To open the Server Properties dialog, select File > New from the menu.

ServProps

Fig. 3.1.2.-1 Server Properties dialog

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3. To open the Available Servers dialog, click the Browse button.

AvailServs

Fig. 3.1.2.-2 Available Servers dialog

As default, MicroSCADA monitor connections cannot be opened

from the workstations to SYS 600 running on Win XP Professional.

This happens because Windows XP forces all of the incoming network connections
(except when they are joined to a domain) to a "guest" level of access by default.
This default ensures that an incoming connection has only guest-level access, even
if user name and password are specified.
To avoid this, change the default to enable the local administrator and the members
of the TelnetClients group to connect to the network with their proper identities, not
as guests:
• Select Settings > Control Panel and double-click Administrative Tools.
• Click on Local Security Policy.
• Locate the policy in the Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options
> Network Access: Sharing and security model for local accounts folder.
• Right-click the policy, and then click Properties. In the box, click Classic - local
users authenticate as themselves.
• Click OK.
4. Double-click on Matrikon.OPC.Simulation.1.

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You can see the following information in the Server properties dialog.

ServProps1

Fig. 3.1.2.-3 Server properties dialog

As the Prog ID & CLSID fields are filled in, the OPC server has been configured.
5. Click Next to open the CPI Node Properties dialog.

CPINodeProperties

Fig. 3.1.2.-4 CPI Node Properties dialog

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6. Fill in the dialog fields as shown in Fig. 3.1.2.-5.

If the operating system is Windows 2000 and the OPC DA Client

and the OPC server are running on the same computer, the Base IP
address of the CPI node should be 127.0.0.1. Otherwise, the
communication between MicroSCADA and the OPC server may not
work properly.

CPINodePropFill

Fig. 3.1.2.-5 CPI Node Properties dialog

Now, the MicroSCADA communication has been configured.
7. Click Finish to open the main window.

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OPCConfigurationTool

Fig. 3.1.2.-6 OPC Configuration Tool main window

Expand the Simulated Items branch in the tree on the right side of the main window.
When you do this, the other branches and properties are shown in the tree. Then,
expand the branch named Random, and any OPC Item that is shown under the
branch. The main window should look like this:

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OPCConfTool_1

Fig. 3.1.2.-7 OPC Configuration Tool main window after expanding the
branches
Random.Int4 is an OPC Item in the window above. The OPC Items are represented
on the Available Items page by various icons. A green downward arrow means that
the OPC Item has read access right, whereas write access right is denoted by a red
upward arrow. The tree leaves under Random.Int4 are OPC Item properties. To see
the values of the item properties available at the moment, click the right mouse
button on the Random.Int4 item and select Properties in the pop-up menu to open
the Item Properties dialog.

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ItemProperties

Fig. 3.1.2.-8 Item Properties dialog

Click OK to close the dialog.
8. Select Edit > Add STA menu item in the menu bar to open the Add STA dialog.

AddSTA

Fig. 3.1.2.-9 Add STA dialog

9. Change the Unit number value to 2 and click the In Use check box.
10. Click OK to open the main window.

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matrikon_cfg_ini

Fig. 3.1.2.-10 OPC Configuration Tool window after adding STA

Now you have configured the OPC DA Client for communication with Matricon
OPC Server and with the MicroSCADA base system.

Save the current configuration in the file matricon_cfg.ini (Menu

File > Save). It is used in a later example for OPC Items
configuration.

3.1.2.1. Changing OPC Client settings

When the OPC server and the CPI node properties have been configured, you can
change these properties in the same session, or in the future sessions of the OPC DA
Client Configuration Tool. To open the pop-up menu for changing the Server and
the CPI properties, click the right mouse button on CPI Node (root of the tree) on
the left side of the main window.

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ChangingServCPI

Fig. 3.1.2.1.-1 Changing the Server and CPI properties

You can add a new STA object and change the Server or CPI node properties by
selecting the corresponding item in the pop-up menu.
The item Enable Auto Refresh in this menu can be used to enable or disable
automatic refreshing of the OPC groups and items on this OPC server. When this
setting is active, the OPC client sends a “refresh” request to all groups and items to
the OPC server. It may be necessary to read the rarely updated items from some
servers that always return invalid status for items, which have not been updated and
are in an inactive state. The refresh request from the OPC client sets groups and
items to an active state. The automatic refresh increases the memory and CPU usage,
and therefore it should be turned off for most of the OPC servers.
OPC Items configuration
OPC DA Client is able to represent OPC Items with the following MicroSCADA
object types depending on the OPC Item access rights:
1. Input process objects

Table 3.1.2.1-1 Input process objects for the OPC Items with read-only or
read-write access rights
Station Object type
SPA Single Indication
SPA Double Indication
SPA Digital Value
SPA Analog Value
SPA Pulse Counter
SPA Bit Stream
IEC 61850 Single Indication
IEC 61850 Double Indication
IEC 61850 Digital Value
IEC 61850 Analog Value
IEC 61850 Pulse Counter
IEC 61850 Bit Stream

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2. Output process objects

Table 3.1.2.1-2 Output process objects for the OPC Items with write-only or
read-write access rights
Station Object type
SPA Object Command
SPA Digital Setpoint
SPA Analog Setpoint
IEC 61850 Object Command
IEC 61850 Digital Setpoint
IEC 61850 Analog Setpoint

3. Custom STA object attributes (STA:S) can represent the OPC Items with read-
write access rights.
The OPC data items with read-write access rights can be represented by two
MicroSCADA objects: input process object for reading data and output process
object for writing data. Whereas, the read only and write only OPC Items can just be
mapped in one input or output MicroSCADA object. The configuration tool checks
for the rules when creating or updating the configuration (parameter file).
In addition, OPC data items can be used to represent alarm flags of MicroSCADA
process objects of Digital Input and Analog Input types, which have already been
connected to OPC Items. These alarm flags indicate that one of the alarm limits is
exceeded. There are four alarm limit types in MicroSCADA: Low Alarm, Low
Warning, High Warning and High Alarm. Separate alarm flags are used for each of
them. There is one-to-one correspondence between OPC Items and alarm flags. It is
not allowed to assign OPC Items to just some alarm flags of certain MicroSCADA
input process object and not to assign them to others. Only a complete set of the four
alarm flags can be used.
This section describes the mechanism of mapping OPC Items to STA:S attributes
and process objects. In the configuration tool, there are two methods of mapping:
• Manual mapping of process objects or custom attributes (STA:S) on OPC Items.
For this purpose the OPC Item Editor dialog should be used (main menu item
Edit > Add Item).
• Importing process objects from the list file provided by the OPC PO List tool. For
this purpose the Import Process Objects dialog should be used (main menu item
File > Import Proc List).
Before mapping MicroSCADA process objects or custom attributes, the appropriate
OPC Groups should be created. An OPC group is a logical unit, which provides a
way for the users to organize data. An OPC Item must be included into an OPC
group, before it can be accessed by the OPC clients. All access to OPC Items occurs
via groups. The Add Group dialog is used to create the OPC group (main menu item
Edit > Add group). The following fields of this dialog should be filled in:
Update Rate The minimum period of time (in ms), in which the OPC server
sends the updated OPC Item values to the client for the items
included in the group. In addition, it is the maximum period of
time, in which the OPC server updates its internal cache of the

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item values from the process devices. In MicroSCADA, the

process objects mapped to the items in the group, cannot be
updated faster than this parameter defines.
Time bias The initial time bias (in minutes) for the group. The purpose of
this parameter is to indicate the time zone, in which the data
(process object changes) was collected. The time bias is the
difference between Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and
local time. The timestamp parameter for MicroSCADA is set
according to the time zone specified in this parameter, i.e.
timestamp = UTC + Time Bias.
Percent deadband Another parameter defined for each OPC group. It should be in
range from 0 to 100. This parameter defines how sensitive the
updating items process on the OPC server is to small fluctuations
of the item value. The value 0 tells the OPC server to update its
catch and to send notifications to the client when any small
modification of the item value occurs. Higher values of this
parameter allow to avoid unnecessary data sending after small
fluctuations of item values. Not all OPC servers support this
feature.
If an OPC server supports this feature, deadband applies only to
those items in the group that have dwEUType attribute equal to
1-"Analog". For other items, and if the OPC server does not
support this feature, percent deadband parameter is ignored. See
"OPC DA 2.0x Specification” document on the OPC foundation
Web site: http://www.opcfoundation.org.

3.1.2.2. Manual mapping of process objects or custom station attributes

The Item Editor dialog of the configuration tool, which is used for mapping the
MicroSCADA objects to the OPC data items, see Fig. 3.1.2.2.-1. When the
appropriate OPC groups are created, you can start mapping the MicroSCADA
process objects or custom attributes to the OPC Items. Select an appropriate group
on the left side of the configuration tool’s main window and select Edit > Add Item
in the main menu to open the Item Editor dialog.

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ItemEditor

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-1 Item Editor dialog

You can map an OPC Item or item property to MicroSCADA Process Objects or to
an STA object attribute.

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The following fields of this dialog should be filled in before the mapping can be
done:

Item The name of the OPC Item. This field may be typed in manually,
or selected from the OPC server address space by Browse button.
The Browse feature will be accessed, if appropriate OPC server
supports IOPCBrowseServerAddreessSpace interface.

Property The name of the OPC Items property. This field may be typed in
manually, or it is filled in automatically when an OPC Item
property is selected in the Browse dialog. It is empty when an OPC
Item, not an OPC Item property, is being mapped.

Req.Type The requested type of appropriate MicroSCADA object value. The

value of the requested type will be sent to MicroSCADA. This field
may be changed only for STA:S attributes, that is, if radio button
“Connect to MicroSCADA Custom STA Attribute” is selected.
For process objects Req. type is predefined by the dependence of
the process object type (attribute PT of the process object).
When Connect to MicroSCADA Process Object is selected:

Enable Input This option should be checked in order to map the OPC Item to the
Process Object MicroSCADA input process object. This check box is dimmed for
OPC Items without read-access right.

Obj. type Is the type of MicroSCADA input process object.

Block Should be the same as the value of an OA attribute of the

MicroSCADA input process object.

Bit Should be the same as the value of an OB attribute of the

MicroSCADA input process object. This field has a meaning only
for SPA/ Single Indication and SPA/ Double Indication types.

Enable Output This option should be checked in order to map OPC Item to the
Process Object MicroSCADA output process object. This check box is dimmed
for OPC Items without write-access right.

Block Should be the same as the value of an OA attribute of the

MicroSCADA output process object.

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When Connect to MicroSCADA Custom STA Attribute is selected:

Name The name of the STA:S attribute. For example, if Name = AA, you
can address this attribute from SCIL as STA2:SAA.
Index The STA:S attribute index. For example, if Name = AA and
Index = 1, you can address this attribute from SCIL as
STA2:SAA1.
MicroSCADA process objects can be imported from an external file produced by
OPC PO List Tool by clicking the Import button. If the process objects have never
been imported before, the File Chooser dialog opens for you to select the necessary
file and to click Open. Otherwise the process objects are read from the previously
used file.

ImportPO2

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-2 Import Process Objects dialog

When an object to be imported is selected and OK is clicked, the appropriate fields
of the Item Editor dialog are filled in automatically. For more information on
importing MicroSCADA process objects, see Section 3.1.2.3.
When an OPC Item is connected to a MicroSCADA input process object of Analog
Input or Digital Input type, the Alarm Items button is enabled. Now, you can map
the alarm flags of this object to the other OPC Items.
Click the Alarm Items button to open the OPC Alarm Items Editor dialog, see
Fig. 3.1.2.2.-3.

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AlarmItems

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-3 OPC Alarm Items Editor dialog

To enable the mapping of alarm flags, the “Enable limit value alarms mapping”
check box should be checked. The meaning of the dialog fields is identical to the
Item and Property fields of the OPC Item Editor dialog, and they can be selected
from the OPC server address space by clicking one of the Browse buttons. It is not
possible to define less than four alarm flags. After all the Alarm Items are filled in,
click OK.

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When all the fields of the Item Editor dialog have been filled in, the mapping is
completed and you can click OK. The newly created and mapped item is shown
under the appropriate STA object, under the appropriate OPC Group.

Some of the OPC Item properties cannot be validated in the OPC

server. If an item property has been selected in the Item field, after
clicking OK, a warning dialog "The OPC Item or property is NOT
valid. Continue?" may be shown. If this occurs, the item property
can still be mapped to a custom STA attribute. Mapping it to a
process object causes an error on this item property in the OPC client
instance, which was started by this configuration.
Example
The following is an example of mapping MicroSCADA process object (SPA/ Pulse
Counter) and custom attribute (STA2:SSM) to OPC Items of Matricon OPC server.
Before starting this example, the following requirements should be fulfilled:
• Matrikon.OPC.Simulation server should be installed, see the example in Section
3.1.2.
• The configuration file (matricon_cfg.ini) should be prepared. See the example in
Section 3.1.2.
• The MicroSCADA base system should be configured as in the example in
Section 3.1.1.
• In the MicroSCADA Object Navigator, create the SPA/ Pulse Counter process
object with the following attributes: PT=SPA/Pulse Counter, OA=800.
When these actions are done, you can start the following:
1. Start the configuration tool (DAOPCT.EXE).
2. Open the configuration file (matricon_cfg.ini) from the main menu File >
Open.
3. To open the Add Group dialog, select the STA_(2) object and Add Group item
from the main menu on the left side of the main window.

AddGroup

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-4 Add Group dialog

4. Set the group name to ProcObjs and click OK.
Now the ProcObjs object is added under the STA (2) as shown in Fig. 3.1.2.2.-5.

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MainWindow

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-5 The main window after adding ProcObjs

5. To open the Item Editor dialog, activate ProcObjs object on the left side of the
main window and select Edit > Add from the main menu, see Fig. 3.1.2.2.-6.

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ItemEditor1

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-6 Item Editor dialog

6. Click Browse. Select Random.Int4 in the Available Items dialog and click OK.

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AvailItems

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-7 Available Items dialog

7. After clicking OK, Random.Int4 is shown on the Item field in the Item Editor
dialog, see Fig. 3.1.2.2.-8.
8. Select the Connect to MicroSCADA Process Object radio button.
9. Check the Enable Input Process Object check box.
10. Select Analog Input in Obj. type drop-down list.
11. Fill in the other fields related to MicroSCADA input process object.

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ItemEditor2

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-8 Filling in the Item Editor dialog fields

12. Click the Alarm Items button to open the Alarm Items Editor dialog, see
Fig. 3.1.2.2.-9.
13. Fill in the fields of the Alarm Item Editor dialog by selecting the appropriate
items in the Browse dialog as shown below.

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AlarmItems1

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-9 Filling in the Alarm Item Editor dialog fields

14.Click OK in the OPC Alarm Items Editor dialog and then click OK again in the
Item Editor dialog.
15.Select the ProcObjs object on the left side of the main window again and select
Edit > Add from the main menu to open the Item Editor dialog.
16.Click Browse. Select Random.String in the Available Items dialog and click
OK.
17.After clicking OK, Random.String is shown on the Item field in the Item Editor
dialog.
18.Select the Connect to MicroSCADA Custom STA Attribute radio button. Set
SM text to Name and 0 to Index. Click OK to update the main window.

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MainWindowAdd

Fig. 3.1.2.2.-10 Main window after adding items

On the left side of the main window, under ProcObjs object, you can see two mapped
items:
• Random.Int4 - OPC Item mapped to MicroSCADA process object with
PT=SPA/Analog Input, OA=800, STA_TN = 2
• Random.String - OPC Item mapped to MicroSCADA STA:S attribute with
Name=SM, Index=0, STA_TN=2

3.1.2.3. Importing process objects from external file prepared with OPC
PO List Tool
Before using this feature, you should prepare the process objects list file, which
contains information about the process objects to be imported. This is a plain text
file in which process object’s attributes are stored in a comma-separated format.
There are 8 columns for different attributes:

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Table 3.1.2.3-1 PO list file format

“STA_UN“ UN attribute
“STA_TN” meaning of STA’UN’:BTN
“LN“ object name
“IX“ object index
“OX“ Signal text
“PT“ object type
“OA“ block address
“OB“ bit address
“OI” Object Identifier
“CX” Comment text
“RX” Filter text
“IN” OPC item name
“ATTR_NAME:VAL” User defined attribute name and its value (optional)

OPC PO List tool can be used to create such a file, see Section 3.1.4. for details.
The Import Process Objects dialog of the OPC Client Configuration tool is used for
mapping MicroSCADA objects to OPC data items.
When the OPC groups have been created, you can start mapping the MicroSCADA
process objects or custom attributes to OPC Items. Select the appropriate group on
the left side of the configuration tool main window and select File > Import Proc
List from the main menu to open the Import dialog. In this dialog, you should select
the file, which has been prepared previously to see the list of available process
objects, see Fig. 3.1.2.3.-1.

ImportPO3

Fig. 3.1.2.3.-1 List of available process objects

If this dialog is started for the first time, you should select the file, which has been
prepared previously. Otherwise process objects are read from the last used file. You
can always open another file by clicking the Select file button. When the process
objects are loaded, you should select the process object(s) from the list to be mapped
to the OPC Items. There is a multiple selection available.

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When you have selected certain objects and clicked OK, the following
Fig. 3.1.2.3.-2 opens.

ImportPO4

Fig. 3.1.2.3.-2 Import Process Objects dialog

The selected process objects are shown in the Process Object group. The address
space of the OPC server is shown on the right side of the dialog (tree view). It is
possible to filter the OPC items displayed in this tree view by using RX attribute if
it is not empty.
There are two filtering modes that are allowed. The LIB 5xx mode is filtering by
using the first 30 positions from the RX attribute and the IEC 61850 mode is filtering
by using 31-63 positions of the RX attribute. When the filtering is enabled, the left
tree contains only those items that satisfy the selected condition. The RX string can
consist of characters and wildcards ‘*’. For mapping the appropriate process object
to an OPC Item or item property, you should double-click the item on the right side
of the dialog. After that, the Name field is filled and the Add button activated.
If the imported MicroSCADA process object is of Analog Input or Digital Input
type, you can assign OPC Items to the the alarm flags of this object. This can be done
by clicking the Alarm Items button in the same manner as in the Item Editor dialog.
Then you can add the mapped object by clicking the Next button, or return to the
previously mapped object by clicking the Back button, or skip the current object by
clicking the Skip button. When the process objects are mapped or skipped, the next
selected process object is shown in this dialog. Then you can continue the mapping
procedure.

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The whole mapping operation can be stopped by clicking the Cancel button. If some
objects have already been mapped, the following dialog is shown, see
Fig. 3.1.2.3.-3.

SaveWarning

Fig. 3.1.2.3.-3 Save or discard the mapping results dialog

By clicking the Yes or No button, it is possible to save or discard the mapping
results. To continue the mapping of the process objects, click the Cancel button on
this dialog.
Example
The following is an example of importing MicroSCADA process objects and map
them to OPC Items of Matricon OPC server.
Before starting this example, the following requirements should be fulfilled:
• Matrikon.OPC.Simulation server should be installed, see the example in Section
3.1.2.
• The configuration file (matricon_cfg.ini) should be prepared. See the example in
Section 3.1.2.
• The MicroSCADA base system should be configured as in the example of
Section 3.1.1.
When using the MicroSCADA Object Navigator, there are two process objects that
should be created:
• SPA/Analog Input process object with following attributes: PT=SPA/Analog
Input, OA=801.
• SPA/Single Indication process objects with the following attributes: PT=SPA/
Single Indicat., OA=802, OB=2.
• Export the created process objects from MicroSCADA to the PO list file
(ObjPOList.pl) by using the OPC PO List tool. See the description of PO List tool
in Section 3.1.4.
When these procedures are done, you can start the following actions:
1. Start the configuration tool (DAOPCT.EXE).
2. Open the configuration file (matricon_cfg.ini) from the main menu File >
Open, see Fig. 3.1.2.3.-4.
3. Select the STA_(2) object on the left side of the main window. Then select Add
Group from the main menu to open the Add Group dialog.
4. Set the group name to ProcObjs in the dialog and click OK.

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MainWindow

Fig. 3.1.2.3.-4 Main window with one empty group

5. Activate ProcObjs object on the left side of the main window and select File >
Import Proc List from the main menu. Select the file ObjPOList.pl in the
Import dialog to open a dialog containing a list of the available MicroSCADA
objects, see Fig. 3.1.2.3.-1. This dialog contains the two process objects (SPA/
Analog Input and SPA/Single Indication) that have been created by using the
Object Navigator.
6. Select the two objects from the list and click OK.

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The Import Process Objects dialog for the first object is opened, see Fig. 3.1.2.3.-5.

ImportPO5

Fig. 3.1.2.3.-5 Import Process Objects dialog

7. Expand the Simulation Items and Random tree node and double-click the OPC
Item Random.Int2 on the right side of the dialog to fill in the Name field on the
dialog and to activate the Add button.
8. Click Next. The first object (SPA/Analog Input) is mapped to the OPC Item
Random.Int2. After that, the dialog is refreshed automatically and the new
imported process object (SPA/Single Indication) is shown in the Process Object
section. At the same time, Random.Int2 is marked as not allowed (already used)
on the right side of the window.
9. Double-click the OPC Item Random.UInt2 on the right side of the dialog to
show the Random.UInt2 item in the Name field and to activate the Next button.
Click Next.
10.When the SPA/Single Indication object has been mapped to the OPC Item
Random.UInt2, the importing has been completed. On the left side of the main
window, under ProcObjs group, you can see two mapped objects for the
ProcObjs group: Random.Int2 and Random.UInt2.
For more information on using the OPC DA Client Configuration tool, see the
MicroSCADA OPC DA Client Configuration Tool manual.

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3.1.2.4. Automated OPC Data Access Client configuration

This function is useful only in IEC 61850 based MicroSCADA systems. Similarly
to importing process objects, see Section 3.1.2.3., you should first prepare a process
objects list file by using the OPC PO List tool. The auto configure function can be
applied to process objects that contain a reference to an OPC item name in their IN
attribute. This attribute is fulfilled by the SA-LIB objects when the IEC 61850 type
process objects are created or imported to the MicroSCADA process database by
using SCL Importer tool.
When the connection to the IEC 61850 server is established, you can start the
automated configuration by selecting File > Auto Configure from the main menu
to open the Auto Configure dialog, see Fig. 3.1.2.4.-1.

AutoConfigure1

Fig. 3.1.2.4.-1 Auto Configure dialog

All the fields in this dialog are filled in with the default values, but it is possible to
redefine them manually as well.

Node Name The computer identifier in the network (name or TCP/

IP address).

OPC Server Prog ID By default, it is the name of the OPC Server instance.

Process Object List File The name of the file containing a list of exported
process objects. By default, it is the last used file
name.

OPC Item Name Delimiter The character used as a path delimiter in the IN
(IN) attribute of process objects.

Default OPC Group Name The name of OPC Group which contains the
configured items. Such a group is created for all the
Unit Numbers found in the Process Objects List file.

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OPC Item Path Delimiter The character used by an OPC Server as a path
delimiter.

Create Transparent SPA The flag notifying whether the Transparent SPA item
Item per Unit Number should be created for each Unit Number or not.

During the auto configuration process, the tool reads process objects from the PO
List file and maps an OPC Item to each of them. The OPC Item name consists of
Node Name, OPC Server Prog ID and the IN attribute of the imported process
object. The newly configured OPC Items are placed in the Default OPC Group
Name, which is located under the STA number corresponding to the Unit Number
of process object. When the Create Transparent SPA Item per Unit Number flag is
set, the tool automatically maps the Transparent SPA attribute to the SM attribute of
the corresponding STA for each logical device found from the PO List file.
When all the fields of the Auto Configure dialog are completed and verified, click
the Continue button to start the automatic configuration process. The status of the
configuration process and its progress information is shown in the opening dialog.
A warning dialog may be displayed during the auto configuration process, see
Fig. 3.1.2.4.-2

AutoConfigureWarning

Fig. 3.1.2.4.-2 Auto Configure Confirmation dialog

Such a dialog with an appropriate message can be displayed in the following cases:
• The OPC item name cannot be verified because the OPC Server configuration
does not contain such an item or there is no connection to the OPC Server.
• The OPC item has already been mapped to some other process object.
• The process object or SM STA attribute has already been mapped to some other
OPC item.
You can confirm the operation by clicking Yes, cancel by clicking No or cancel the
auto configuration process by clicking Cancel. To apply your choice to all the
similar situations, check the Do not show this message again check box.
After the auto configuration process is finished, all the configured items are shown
in the tree structure on the left side of the main window.

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3.1.3. Importing and Exporting OPC Items configuration

OPC DA Client Configuration Tool can be used to import the whole item
configuration from a comma-separated (CSV) file (main menu File > Import CSV
file). The file can be prepared in any text editor or Excel, or created in the same or
previous session of the configuration tool.
The file has the following format:
Each record contains 7 or 8 fields, separated by commas. The fields should not
contain quotation marks. A record for an item mapped to a custom STA attribute has
8 fields:
1. Fully qualified OPC Item name.
2. 'I' or 'P' character indicating whether the record describes Item or Item property
3. Required data type (for example VT_BSTR).
4. Object type as it is seen in the item editor dialog (Single Indication, Analog
Input, Custom STA attribute and so on).
5. “STA” word and STA number concatenated by an underscore (“_”), as it is seen
on the left side of the tool main window (for exmple STA_(2)).
6. Custom STA attribute in the form “STA:Sxx”, where xx is the attribute name.
7. Address of the process object or STA attribute index (0 if the attribute is not
indexed).
8. Name of the group to which the OPC Item belongs.
A record describing an item mapped to a process object has the same format as
above, excluding field 6, which is absent. Therefore, the record has only 7 fields.
The address field can be in the form BLOCK:BIT for Single or Double indication
objects or BLOCK for other Process Objects. Below is an example of the CSV file
rows:
Bucket Brigade.UInt2,I,VT_UI2,Custom STA attribute,STA_(2),STA:SIM,0,Group_1
Bucket Brigade.Int4, I,VT_UI2, Single indication, STA_(2), 1700:0, Group_2

The file can be prepared by using the configuration tool from the opened
configuration (main menu File > Export CSV file). In both operations (Export or
Import), you can select the CSV file in the standard Windows file chooser dialog.
Both operations are enabled only if an existing configuration is opened or a new one
is created in the tool session.

3.1.4. OPC Process Object List tool

The OPC Process Object List tool (OPC PO List tool) can be used to make it easier
to create mapping between the OPC Items and MicroSCADA addresses (process
objects). The tool produces a file (OpcPoList.pl) in which available process objects
are listed in a comma-separated (CSV) format. This file is then used by the OPC
Configuration tool to select a process object and map it to an OPC Item.

3.1.4.1. Introduction
The MicroSCADA OPC DA Client uses its own parameter file. Among other data
this file contains mapping information on OPC Items and points in MicroSCADA.
These points are block and bit addresses of the SPA type process objects in one of
the MicroSCADA applications. The OPC Client Configuration tool allows manual
customizing of these values for an OPC Item. Another possibility is to import the list

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of available addresses from an external file, then select a row in the imported table
and assign an OPC Item to the block and bit addresses selected. The OPC PO List
tool makes it easy to create such an external file. The format of the file is described
in Section 3.1.4.9.
You can do the following actions in the OPC PO List tool:
• Display the process objects with filtering by the OX and RX attributes or by
using the custom filter
• Browse process objects
• Set a new station number for the listed process objects
• Set filters
• Include and exclude an object into/from the output file
• Change the application from which the process objects are taken
• Save the Process Objects List
• Generate and assign new block and bit addresses for process objects that are
included in an export file

3.1.4.2. Start-up
OPC PO List tool is a Visual SCIL tool of SYS type in MicroSCADA. It can be
started from the Tool Manager by double-clicking its icon:

POListStart

Fig. 3.1.4.2.-1 Starting the OPC PO List tool from the Tool Manager

3.1.4.3. Browsing process objects

The main dialog of the OPC PO List tool is a process objects navigator with a main
table, a toolbar and a menu, see Fig. 3.1.4.3.-1. At start-up, the tool reads the current
application and shows the available process objects of SPA type.

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There are five standard columns that are always shown: Process object (in
’LN’:P’IX’ format, Object Identifier of the process objects, signal text (OX), Block/
Bit address and station (value of STA’UN’:BTN). There is also one user-defined
column (IX), where another process object attribute can be listed.

A050121

Fig. 3.1.4.3.-1 The main dialog of the PO List tool

The main table has limited row count. If the number of possible process objects is
more than this value, then the full objects list is shown page by page. You can
navigate the full list by using the toolbar buttons – First, Previous, Next, Last. The
maximum row count is specified by the Table_PageSize parameter of the [PO_List]
section in the OpcPOlist.INI file in the user parameters directory. The default page
size is 100. The left part of the status bar at the bottom of the table shows information
about the number of the objects found and the currently displayed object numbers.
The application from which the process objects are taken is shown in the right part
of the status bar.
It is possible to refresh the object list by reading objects from the current application
or another application by means of the File > Open menu command.

3.1.4.4. Setting filters

The process objects listed in the main table can be filtered by using the RX and OX
attributes. The Filter dialog is accessible from the toolbar button or menu Edit >
Filter, the Fig. 3.1.4.4.-1 is shown when the option is selected.

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A050091

Fig. 3.1.4.4.-1 Setting filters in the Custom filters dialog

The conditions for the OX and (or) RX attributes can be specified in this dialog. It
is possible to select objects, which satisfy any or both of the specified conditions.
By default, all the objects shown in the main dialog are included into the output file.
If the file OpcPoList.pl exists already in the tool home directory, only those objects
which are present in the file, are marked as "included". The not included objects are
dimmed.
By checking the Custom Filter check box you can add a custom filter string to set
various conditions for the filtering process objects. This string uses the common
syntax for a logical expression, for example UN>1 AND LN == “TEST”.
By selecting the option Do not show objects with empty IN attribute, the tool hides
those objects that do not contain the value in IN (OPC Item Name) attribute. This
setting is useful in the IEC 61850 based systems, because it hides the unnecassary
objects during the signal engineering.
All the filters are saved in the OpcPOlist.INI file in the user parameter directory.

3.1.4.5. Setting new station number for process objects

The station number of the process objects listed in the Station column in the tool
window can be modified. Select Edit > Set station number menu option from the
main menu, or right-click with the mouse button and select Set Station Number…
from the pop-up menu to open a dialog shown in Fig. 3.1.4.5.-1, in which you can
select a station number from the existing ones.

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SetStation

Fig. 3.1.4.5.-1 Set Station Number dialog

The selected station number is assigned only for those objects, which are marked to
be included in the export file.

3.1.4.6. Including / excluding the process objects

You can include or exclude one or more process objects simultaneously from the
output file. To include process objects, select the table row(s) with object(s) you
want to include. Choose Edit > Include Selected Objects in the menu or click the
toolbar button. You can also right-click with the mouse and select Exclude Selected
Objects in the pop-up menu.
To exclude process objects, select the row(s) with object(s) that you want to exclude.
Then select Edit > Exclude Selected Objects menu option or click the toolbar
button, or select the corresponding item in the pop-up menu. All the excluded
process objects are dimmed.
It is also possible to include or exclude all process objects simultaneously by
selecting Edit > Include All and Edit > Exclude All in the menu or in the
corresponding pop-up menu.
If some of the process objects included do not have a valid station number, then the
Set Station Number dialog opens, see Fig. 3.1.4.6.-1.

SetStation2

Fig. 3.1.4.6.-1 Set Station Number dialog

3.1.4.7. Changing application

When the tool is started, it lists the objects for the current application. Later, you
can get the process object list from another application by using the menu item File
> Open or the toolbar button to open the Open Objects List dialog, see
Fig. 3.1.4.7.-1:

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OpenObj

Fig. 3.1.4.7.-1 Open Objects List dialog

The drop-down list displays the currently selected application. You can select
another application from the list.

3.1.4.8. Saving Process Objects list

You can save the Process Objects list to the output file by selecting File > Save or
by using the toolbar button. It is also possible to select File > Save As to open the
Save Objects List As dialog, see Fig. 3.1.4.8.-1.

Save Objects List As

Fig. 3.1.4.8.-1 Save Process Objects list as dialog

The name and location of the output file can be defined in this dialog.
When the output file has been defined and you have clicked OK or selected File >
Save to save the Process Objects list, the Fig. 3.1.4.8.-2 opens.

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Fig. 3.1.4.8.-2 Save objects list dialog

You can check the following options in the dialog:
• Save all objects, ignore the custom filtering
• Save only objects shown by using the current filters and marked as “included”
It is also possible to assign new block addresses and bit numbers for the process
objects to be saved by checking the “Assign new block address and bit number”
check box in the Save dialog. The tool generates them automatically. If this option
is not selected, the tool validates the block and bit numbers of the process objects
and the Fig. 3.1.4.8.-3 is shown for each object with invalid address:

InvalidAddr

Fig. 3.1.4.8.-3 Invalid address dialog

It is possible to exclude objects with invalid addresses from the export file by
clicking the Skip button, or automatically generate the new address by clicking OK.
During the save operation the tool produces an output file named OpcPoList.pl to
the folder sc\STOOL\sysConf. The format of the output file is described in Section
3.1.4.9.

3.1.4.9. Formats for the output file

The OpcPoList.pl file is a plain text file, in which process object attributes are stored
in a comma separated format. There are 10 columns for different attributes:

"STA_UN" UN attribute
"STA_TN" Meaning of STA’UN’:BTN
"LN" Object name
"IX" Object index
"OX" Signal text

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"PT" Object type a

"OA" Block address
"OB" Bit address
"OI" Object Identifier
“CX” Comment text
“RX” Filter text
“IN” OPC item name
"ATTR_NAME:VAL" User Defined attribute name and its value (optional)
*
a. This attribute does not depend on the SPA or other protocols. The SPA-type objects are
filtered using the DX attribute.

Below is an example of the file contents.

Examples:
2,2,"RIVH03_R1Z",135,"Output TS2",3,23,1,"Rivers
Winchester","","SPCJ4D61 FRFMFUIOUT","",AT:"04-12-28 17:48:02"
2,2,"RIVH03_R1Z",137,"Output TS3",3,23,2,"Rivers
Winchester","","SPCJ4D61 FRFMFUIOUT","",AT:"04-12-28 17:48:02"
2,2,"RIVH03_R2A",2,"Tripping of stage Io>",3,23,3,"Rivers
Winchester","","REJ511SB-AREJ511_1 FRFMFUITRP","",AT:"04-12-28
17:48:02"
2,2,"RIVH03_R2A",4,"Tripping of stage Io>>",3,23,4,"Rivers
Winchester","","REJ511SB-AREJ511_1 FRFMFUITRP","",AT:"04-12-28
17:48:02"
2,2,"TEST111",11,"Breaker open select command",5,0,16,"Rivers IEC
Q9",""," FPQB01COBC CSWI1.Pos.ctlSelOff","",AT:"04-
12-28 17:48:02"
2,2,"TEST111",12,"Breaker close select command",5,1,16,"Rivers IEC
Q9",""," FPQB01COBC CSWI1.Pos.ctlSelOn","",AT:"04-
12-28 17:48:02"
2,2,"TEST111",13,"Breaker open execute command",5,2,16,"Rivers IEC
Q9",""," FPQB01COBC CSWI1.Pos.ctlOperOff","",AT:"04-
12-28 17:48:02"
2,2,"TEST111",14,"Breaker close execute command",5,5,16,"Rivers IEC
Q9",""," FPQB01COBC CSWI1.Pos.ctlOperOn","",AT:"04-
12-28 17:48:02"

3.1.4.10. Viewing OPC signals

If one or more OPC client instances are running, it is possible to see the process
object states for the objects involved in running OPC client configurations. To do
this select Tools > Signal Diagnostics from the menu bar to open the Select Station
Number and filter dialog, see Fig. 3.1.4.10.-1.

SlectSta

Fig. 3.1.4.10.-1 Select Station Number and filter dialog

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In this dialog, select an STA number of the process objects to be seen and set a
custom filter to narrow the list of the process objects, which have this station
number, and click OK. The Signal Diagnostics system tool is started and the process
objects loaded into this tool. The objects are loaded from the same application as the
one that has been opened in the PO List tool. The main window of the Signal
Diagnostics tool is shown below.

SignalDiagsTool

Fig. 3.1.4.10.-1 Signal Diagnostics tool dialog

The process object values, states and time stamps are updated as soon as new events
are received from the OPC server.

3.2. Starting DA Client

There are three methods of starting the OPC DA Client: starting from system
command line, starting from a SCIL program and starting from the OPC DA Client
Control Panel.

3.2.1. Starting from the command line

The following commands can be used in the OPC DA Client type:
DAOPCCL -show | -id "id_name" { -start "conf_file_name" [-trace [level]]
| -stop | -trace [on|off|high] }
-show : show information about all active instances
-id "id_name" : unique identifier of client instance
(according to NT file name conventions)
-start "conf_file_name" : start instance with given config file
(according to NT file name conventions)

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-stop [timeout] : stop instance. For forcing stop

timeout may be specified (in sec.).If timeout
is 0,
indefinite waiting
-trace [level] : enable tracing, level is 0(default) or higher
or 'normal' or 'high'
-trace [normal|off|high]: switch tracing between LOW LEVEL(default), OFF
and HIGH LEVEL

3.2.2. Starting from a SCIL program

The same commands can be executed by means of the OPS_CALL function in
SCIL, for instance:
@a = OPS_CALL(“daopccl -id <id_name> -start <file_name>”, 0)

or
@a = OPS_CALL(“start daopccl -id <id_name> -start <file_name>”)

This line can be included into a Visual SCIL tool method or command procedure.
For example, include this command into the application initialization procedure
(APL_INIT_... or LIB_INIT_...) to start the OPC DA Client automatically at the
MicroSCADA start-up.

3.2.3. Starting from the OPC DA Client Control Panel

Run the DAOPCCP.EXE program to open the OPC DA Control Panel, see
Fig. 3.2.-1.

Control Panel

Fig. 3.2.-1 OPC DA Client Control Panel

This dialog contains a list of the existing client instances. You can start a new
instance by clicking the New Instance button to open the dialog to fill in the
following parameters:

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Instance ID The name of the created instance.

Config File The name of configuration file, which can be selected by clicking the
Browse button.

Tracing The level of tracing. A trace file with the same name as the Instance
ID is written, if Normal or High level is selected. The high level of
tracing provides detailed information about data transfer during the
run-time.
When you select a corresponding name (ID) from the list of OPC DA Client
instances, the following actions are available for the existing instances:
• To change the tracing level, click the Trace button and select a new level from
the pop-up menu.
• To open the notification window, click the Start Notify button.
• To stop the client instance, click the Stop Instance button.

3.3. Supervising DA Client

The supervision of OPC DA Client is done by reading the related Object Status
(STAn:SOS) attribute. You can also create a related process object to receive the
same information as the system message. Originally, the received value is returned
from the OPC server. The following codes can be received from the OPC server:

OPC_STATUS_RUNNING The server is running normally.

OPC_STATUS_FAILED A vendor specific fatal error has occurred within

the server.

OPC_STATUS_NOCONFIG The server is running, but it has no configuration

information loaded and therefore cannot function
normally.

OPC_STATUS_SUSPENDED The server has been temporarily suspended via

some vendor specific method and is not receiving
or sending data.

OPC_STATUS_TEST The server is in Test Mode. The outputs are

disconnected from the real hardware, but the server
will behave normally otherwise.

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The codes are converted to the appropriate MicroSCADA status codes. The
correspondence of the codes is the following:

OPC MicroSCADA
Status Status code name Status code
OPC_STATUS_RUNNING OK_STATUS 0
OPC_STATUS_FAILED SPAP_DEVICE_SUSPENDED 13251
OPC_STATUS_NOCONFIG SPAP_DEVICE_SUSPENDED 13251
OPC_STATUS_SUSPENDED SPAP_DEVICE_SUSPENDED 13251
OPC_STATUS_TEST SPAP_DEVICE_SUSPENDED 13251

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4. Technical description

4.1. System requirements

• Pentium-based computer
• Windows 2000 with Service Pack 6 or Windows XP with service pack 2
• No less than 1 Mb free hard disk space
• No less than 100 Mb disk space for swapping

4.2. OPC DA Client software components

OPC DA Client package includes three program modules:
1. DAOPCCL.EXE
This is a MicroSCADA OPC DA Client, which provides access to various OPC-
enabled devices from MicroSCADA applications. Another purpose is to give access
to communication links for MicroSCADA based tools, when the connectivity for
example to LON and SPA devices, is granted by an OPC server, instead of the
MicroSCADA communication services (like PC-NET). This is a console application
with full integrity of the command line interface.
2. DAOPCCP.EXE
This application provides a GUI interface for the MicroSCADA OPC DA Client. It
allows to start and stop the OPC DA Client instances and starting as well as stopping
trace monitoring on the fly.
3. DAOCT.EXE
This is the MicroSCADA OPC DA Client Configuration Tool. This tool allows
creating and modifying parameter files that are used by the MicroSCADA OPC DA
Client program. The tool allows loading OPC servers and browsing the server
address space. Alternatively, it is possible to enter item names manually. This tool
helps to create and modify OPC groups, add OPC items to the groups and connect
those items to MicroSCADA objects (process objects or custom STA:S attributes).

4.3. Visual SCIL tools

Visual SCIL part of the OPC Client implementation includes one tool:
• OPC Process Object List Tool
The VSO file is OPCPOLIST.VSO, initialization file is OPCPOLIST.INI. These
two files can be placed in any path accessible for MicroSCADA, for example in the
SC\OPC\ directory.
OPC PO List tool is a “SYS” type tool. It can be started from the Tool Manager. To
do this, its shortcut should be added to one of the pages of the Tool Manager main
dialog. To make the last action easier, the tool should be registered in the
\SC\STool\Misc\TOOLS.INI file:
[OPC_POLIST]
Tool_Dir_ = \SC\OPC

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The \SC\OPC path is shown here only as an example. It should be the actual path to
the VSO and INI files of the tool. If the tool is registered in the TOOLS.INI file, it
will be added to the available tools list in the Add tool dialog of the Tool Manager.
See the System Configuration manual of SYS 600 for details of working with the
Tool Manager.

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5. Index
A
Add STA ................................................................................................... 20
Alarm flags ............................................................................................... 23
alarm flags ................................................................................................ 37
Alarm Items .................................................................................. 27, 33, 37
Alarm Items Editor ................................................................................... 33
Alarm limit types ...................................................................................... 23
Analog Input ................................................................................. 23, 32, 37
Auto Configure ......................................................................................... 41
Auto Confuguration process ..................................................................... 42
Automatic refresh ..................................................................................... 22
Available Items ......................................................................................... 32
Available Servers ...................................................................................... 15
B
Back Application Number ........................................................................ 13
Back IP Address ....................................................................................... 13
Back Node Number .................................................................................. 13
Back Station Number ............................................................................... 13
Base Application Number ........................................................................ 13
Base IP Address ........................................................................................ 13
Base Node Number ................................................................................... 13
Base Station Number ................................................................................ 13
Bit ....................................................................................................... 26, 27
Bit address .......................................................................................... 36, 50
Block ......................................................................................................... 26
Block address ...................................................................................... 36, 50
Browsing process objects ......................................................................... 44
C
Change application ................................................................................... 47
Comment text ..................................................................................... 36, 50
Configuration tool .................................................................................... 38
confirmation dialog .................................................................................. 42
Connect to MicroSCADA Custom STA Attribute ................................... 27
Connect to MicroSCADA Process Object ......................................... 26, 32
CPI interface ............................................................................................. 12
CPI Node Properties ................................................................................. 16
Create Transparent SPA Item per Unit Number ....................................... 42
Custom STA Attribute .............................................................................. 34
Custom STA object attributes .................................................................. 23
CX ....................................................................................................... 36, 50
D
DAOPCT.EXE ......................................................................................... 38

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Default OPC Group Name ....................................................................... 41

Digital Input ....................................................................................... 23, 37
E
Enable Input Process Object .............................................................. 26, 32
Enable limit value alarms mapping .......................................................... 28
Enable Output Process Object .................................................................. 26
Exclude process objects ........................................................................... 47
F
Fatal error ................................................................................................... 9
Filter text ............................................................................................ 36, 50
Formats ..................................................................................................... 49
G
Group ........................................................................................................ 23
I
Import ....................................................................................................... 27
Import Process Objects ............................................................................. 40
Importing process ..................................................................................... 35
Importing process objects ......................................................................... 23
IN ........................................................................................................ 36, 50
Include process objects ............................................................................. 47
Index ......................................................................................................... 27
Input process objects ................................................................................ 22
Invalid address .......................................................................................... 49
Item .......................................................................................................... 26
Item Editor ............................................................................................... 25
IX ........................................................................................................ 36, 49
L
LN ...................................................................................................... 36, 49
M
Main window ..................................................................................... 30, 35
Mapping ................................................................................................... 24
Mapping of process objects ...................................................................... 23
Matricon OPC server ................................................................................ 38
Matrikon Server ........................................................................................ 14
MS Max Reconnections ........................................................................... 14
N
Name ........................................................................................................ 27
Node Name ............................................................................................... 41
O
OA ...................................................................................................... 36, 50
OB ...................................................................................................... 36, 50
Obj. type ................................................................................................... 32

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Object index ........................................................................................ 36, 49

Object name ........................................................................................ 36, 49
Object type .......................................................................................... 36, 50
ObjPOList.pl ............................................................................................. 38
OI .............................................................................................................. 36
OPC DA Client Configuration Tool ......................................................... 12
OPC DA Client Control Panel. ................................................................. 51
OPC DA Client package ........................................................................... 55
OPC DA Control Panel ............................................................................ 52
OPC data items with read-write access rights .......................................... 23
OPC- enabled devices ............................................................................... 55
OPC group ................................................................................................ 23
OPC Groups .............................................................................................. 23
OPC Item access rights ............................................................................. 22
OPC Item icons ......................................................................................... 19
OPC item name ................................................................................... 36, 50
OPC Item Name Delimiter (IN) ............................................................... 41
OPC Item Path Delimiter .......................................................................... 42
OPC items ................................................................................................. 22
OPC Process Object list tool .................................................................... 43
OPC Server Prog ID ................................................................................. 41
OPC Servers ............................................................................................. 12
OpcPoList.pl ....................................................................................... 43, 49
OPS_CALL function ................................................................................ 52
Output process objects .............................................................................. 23
Own Node Number ................................................................................... 13
Own Station Number ................................................................................ 13
OX ................................................................................................ 36, 45, 49
P
Parameter file ............................................................................................ 12
Percent deadband ...................................................................................... 24
PO ....................................................................................................... 36, 38
Primary MicroSCADA base system ......................................................... 13
Process Object List File ............................................................................ 41
Process objects list file ............................................................................. 35
ProcObjs ................................................................................................... 34
Property .................................................................................................... 26
PT ....................................................................................................... 36, 50
R
Random.Int4 ............................................................................................. 35
Random.String .......................................................................................... 35
Req. Type ................................................................................................. 26
RX ................................................................................................. 36, 45, 50
S
save process objects .................................................................................. 48

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Save Process Objects list .......................................................................... 48

Saving ....................................................................................................... 48
Secondary MicroSCADA base system .................................................... 14
Server properties ...................................................................................... 16
Server Properties dialog ........................................................................... 14
Set filters .................................................................................................. 45
Set station number .................................................................................... 46
Signal text ........................................................................................... 36, 49
Simulation server ..................................................................................... 14
SPA stations ....................................................................................... 11, 14
SPA type ................................................................................................... 44
STA_TN ............................................................................................. 36, 49
STA_UN ............................................................................................ 36, 49
Starting OPC DA Client ........................................................................... 51
Status codes .............................................................................................. 10
SYS_BASCON.COM .............................................................................. 11
T
Time bias .................................................................................................. 24
Transparent SPA ...................................................................................... 42
U
UN attribute ........................................................................................ 36, 49
Update Rate .............................................................................................. 23

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ABB Oy
Substation Automation Products
P.O. Box 699
FI-65101 Vaasa
FINLAND
Tel. +358 10 22 11
Fax. +358 10 224 1094
www.abb.com/substationautomation