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Technical Note #27: Task Switch Disable in Intouch Applications

This document provides instructions for disabling task switching in Intouch applications to prevent unauthorized users from playing games or switching tasks on plant monitoring computers. It describes downloading and installing a keyboard filtering driver add-on from the Wonderware support CD. This add-on provides KeyTrap functions that can disable CTRL-ESC, ALT-TAB and CTRL-ALT-DELETE shortcuts. The document gives examples of scripting the KeyTrap functions to disable task switching when a user's access level is below a threshold or when running on a specific monitored computer.

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85 views

Technical Note #27: Task Switch Disable in Intouch Applications

This document provides instructions for disabling task switching in Intouch applications to prevent unauthorized users from playing games or switching tasks on plant monitoring computers. It describes downloading and installing a keyboard filtering driver add-on from the Wonderware support CD. This add-on provides KeyTrap functions that can disable CTRL-ESC, ALT-TAB and CTRL-ALT-DELETE shortcuts. The document gives examples of scripting the KeyTrap functions to disable task switching when a user's access level is below a threshold or when running on a specific monitored computer.

Uploaded by

brunotaves
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GE PMCS Tech note# 27 http://genet.edc.ge.com/systems/Technote/note27.

htm

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Technical Note #27


GE Power
Management Control
System Task Switch Disable in Intouch Applications
Description
Subject: Application notes for trapping task switching keys in Intouch Applications.
Software
Hardware
Operation Applies To: PMCS 5.0
Product Support
PMCS Host PC must be dedicated to the PMCS System to ensure proper operation
Operator Interfaces
for time critical events/alarms. There have been problems with unauthorized users
F A Q’s playing games on Host PCs. Therefore, it is good practice to disable the task
App Notes switching/reboot capabilities of the PC in the Intouch Application (Intouch
Download Area Application is generally the application left running on unattended machines) if PC is
Manuals in an unsecure area such as a Control Room.
Useful
The capability to disable task switching does not come with the installed version
Information Intouch 5.0b, but Wonderware provides an NT add-on which can be found on the
Glossary of Terms Comprehensive Support CD.
Useful Links
Search Tech support Intouch Add-On/Driver for Keyboard Filtering
We want to hear
from you! Search the Comprehensive CD for "Free Utilities, Applications, and Add-Ons".
Service and Support From here search for "Drivers" and find the "Keyboard Filter Driver". The
locations around the world . Wonderware Intouch Comprehensive CD provide the files and instructions for
..
installation. If unable to locate call Wonderware Tech Support for details.

NOTE: Follow the instructions from the Comprehensive CD!!!!

Install the Keyboard filter driver into NT System and Registry


Install the Intouch Add-on Script Functions

Once the driver and Intouch add-ons are installed, two new Intouch functions are
available:

KeyTrapSet - Disables certain keystroke patterns such as CTRL-ESC,


ALT-TAB, CTRL-ALT-Delete.
KeyTrapStatus - This function returns the current setting of the the specified
option.

Application Examples

I. Disable Task Switching and Reboot

Intouch provides a security mechanism which requires users to Login to system.


$AccessLevel is a system variable that keeps track of current access. The following

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GE PMCS Tech note# 27 http://genet.edc.ge.com/systems/Technote/note27.htm

example disables task switching and reboot when Access Level is below 6000 (i.e.
<6000 read-only/unattended machine level). This will vary from application to
application:

a) Application Script "On Startup"

IF $AccessLevel < 5999 THEN


KeyTrapSet( "TRAP", 1);
KeyTrapSet( "TASKSWITCH", 0);
KeyTrapSet("REBOOT", 0);
ELSE
KeyTrapSet( "TRAP", 0);
KeyTrapSet( "TASKSWITCH",1);
KeyTrapSet("REBOOT", 1);
ENDIF;

b) Data Change Script

Tagname $AccessLevel

IF $AccessLevel < 5999 THEN


KeyTrapSet( "TRAP", 1);
KeyTrapSet( "TASKSWITCH", 0);
KeyTrapSet("REBOOT", 0);
ELSE
KeyTrapSet( "TRAP", 0);
KeyTrapSet( "TASKSWITCH",1);
KeyTrapSet("REBOOT", 1);
ENDIF;

II. Advanced Example - Disable Task Switching and Reboot on a Specific Computer
only

It may be required to disable task switching on one computer. For example the Host
Computer often runs in an uncontrolled environment such as a Control Room.
However the View Nodes usually reside in a more controlled environment such as an
Office.

To detect whether or not the application is running on the "Specific Computer", you
must add a tag to the Intouch application (i.e. CurrentNodeName). CurentNodeName
will be a Memory Message - you may keep the default length of 131.

a) Application Script "On Startup"

GetNodeName(CurrentNodeName, 100)

IF $AccessLevel < 5999 AND CurrentNodeName == "<Computer


Name>"
KeyTrapSet( "TRAP", 1);
KeyTrapSet( "TASKSWITCH", 0);
KeyTrapSet("REBOOT", 0);
ELSE
KeyTrapSet( "TRAP", 0);
KeyTrapSet( "TASKSWITCH",1);
KeyTrapSet("REBOOT", 1);
ENDIF

b) Data Change Script

Tagname $AccessLevel

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GE PMCS Tech note# 27 http://genet.edc.ge.com/systems/Technote/note27.htm

IF $AccessLevel < 5999 AND CurrentNodeName == "<Computer


Name>" THEN
KeyTrapSet( "TRAP", 1);
KeyTrapSet( "TASKSWITCH", 0);
KeyTrapSet("REBOOT", 0);
ELSE
KeyTrapSet( "TRAP", 0);
KeyTrapSet( "TASKSWITCH",1);
KeyTrapSet("REBOOT", 1);
ENDIF;

Keywords

Intouch, Task Switching, Reboot, KEYTRAP

Related Notes

none

Last Revised 2/7/97

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