asix > news > AsTrend 5.1

11.06.2008

  AsTrend version 5.1

The new version 5.1 of the AsTrend program has been equipped with new advanced functionality that is more intuitive for the user. The new version means new capabilities to display data of various types, to chart averaging values over very long time periods  as well as to chart values of variables retrieved from some external files. The version features also a new user-friendly graphical interface that offers more effective and creative ways of defining and analyzing trends.

What is New in asix 5.01.010:

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New Trend Wizard

Improved Trend Wizard in the 5.1 version of the AsTrend program leads users through successive phases of the procedure to define a trend i.e. to define contents and layout of a window which displays set of charts for declared variables. System of context-sensitive tips introduced in the new wizard speeds the design process and makes it an easy and comfortable experience for the users. The system informs the user on various options available at the given stage of the process. The options include currently available chart types, axis types, legend fields, sampling periods and many more.

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Access Control of AsTrend Users

Version 5.1 of the AsTrend program supports access control based on individual passwords that must be entered during log-in procedure. Each user may be granted an individual set of privileges that specify which charts will be visible and which parameters he/she will be able to modify.

Access control functionality in version 5.1 of the AsTrend program may be accomplished in two ways:

• using the AsAudit module that offers extensive set of functions used to manage users and their privileges (which requires MS SQL Express database engine installed on a single central server to run database of user privileges), or

• using the simplified internal access control mechanisms available in previous versions of the AsTrend program.

If the AsAudit module is used, each logged-in user may (depending on his/her privileges):

• change the AsTrend program settings

• create new files

• modify existing files

• modify existing read-only files

• operate the program in a custom-tailored layout of menus and toolbars

• modify the common set of menus and toolbars

• manage the display optimization mechanism.

Access control mechanism accomplished without the AsAudit module enables each user to log-in as an Administrator or as an Operator only. Two separate menu/toolbar templates are then available. Each user logged-in as an Administrator has the right to modify both the administrator template and the operator template, whereas each user logged-in as Operator may only use the operator template but may not modify it.

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Aggregator – Built-in Module for Calculating and Archiving Statistical Data

Application of Aggregator – asix built-in module for calculating and archiving statistical data - optimizes the procedure of displaying charts that cover long time periods. Whenever possible, the aggregated data retrieved from the asix server are charted instead of a raw data. Such approach significantly improves speed of charting and flexibility of the display. The AsTrend program automatically selects the aggregate period according to the charted time period.

Application administrator or application designer must declare only a few parameters and options of the process of calculating and archiving the statistical data, including required aggregate types. The declarations are entered in the asix system configurator window (under supervision of the Architekt program).

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New Aggregates – New Capabilities to Analyze Statistical Data

To facilitate effective analyses of the trends, users of the AsTrend version 5.1 may access various sets of values aggregated for various time periods. Such aggregates may be calculated on demand. Each set includes minimum, maximum, value range, start value, end value, delta value, total, average value, average0 value and gradient (i.e. value range divided by the time period in seconds).

The aggregates may be calculated and displayed for the chosen time period or calculated from the data of currently displayed period and shown in legend columns.

In the first case the user indicates an aggregate used for reading uniform data he/she is interested in and aggregator period, which is the basis for calculating the successive aggregated values (the uniform data is the data for which the period between consecutive samples is constant). When the Aggregator is used, the uniform data is calculated by asix server, from where the AsTrend retrieves them – that way the statistical data is ready to be quickly and efficiently displayed.

In the second case the aggregate values are locally calculated by the AsTrend program for data displayed on screen within declared time period (regardless of type of the charted data: raw data, uniform data, approximated data, averaged data). The results may be browsed in columns of the legend.

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Two Read Lines

Precise values associated with a charted point (including the time, value and calculated value) may be read-out using a manually controlled read line. The read line position may be set with use of cursor or a separate dialog window.

Using the second read line introduced in the version 5.1, user may freely define period of time taken into account to locally calculate the aggregates shown in the legend fields. If the read lines are off, the legend presents the aggregates calculated for the entire displayed period. Separate fields in the legend show values associated with the point highlighted with the second read line (the time, value, calculated value and length of the time period between both read lines).

Such solution facilitates fast and convenient analyses of the trends in freely chosen time periods.

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New Options of Trend Legend Customization

Extended functionality of trend legend in the new AsTrend program version increases effectiveness:

• due to an option to remember current settings each defined legend may now be used as a default one for newly defined trends

• sequence of series in a legend may now be modified using the drag&drop technique

• set of attributes displayed in a legend has been extended to include aggregates calculated for the currently charted period

• information on attribute type (stored within the trnx file) is now used to automatically align values displayed in the legend (texts are left-aligned, numbers are right-aligned)

• set of standard legend columns has been extended to include the Series colour column, where a line in color of the given series is displayed (if the column is displayed, all legend data are displayed in black, otherwise the data are displayed in colors of respective series)

• since attributes of all variables declared in the legend are now stored within the trend file, legend may be correctly displayed without accessing database of definitions of variables

• display format of legend data is retrieved from variable definition database (should the displayed range of values change, the format will reflect the new range or else may be individually set up by the user).

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Change of Charted Period

The new AsTrend user interface provides for smooth and precise control of the charted period. The available period selection methods include:

• buttons of the navigational toolbar;

• period selection window opened from the toolbar;

• standard (predefined) period selection window with an extended list of predefined periods (in this case selected period is relative to current time, i.e. last minute, …, last 30 minutes, … last 2 days, …);

• mouse wheel support: rotating the wheel one can shift the period to the past/to the future, rotating the wheel while the Ctrl key is pressed one can change the charted period length, rotating the wheel while the Shift key is pressed one can quickly shift the period.

New Data Types

New version of the AsTrend program may chart more data types, this way broadening the range of information that may be analyzed.

Besides process variables, the following elements may now be charted:

• constants (horizontal lines)

• variable calculated on the basis of other variables

• information on moments when some alarm status has changed

• data retrieved from some external sources (*.csv/*.xls files, MS SQL and/or Access databases).

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Changes in Sampling Methods / Handling Various Data Types

Methods of sampling data for charting purposes are related with specific data types. Methods available in the AsTrend version 5.1 include:

• charted data intervals are forced by the archiving program – genuine data;

• periods between consecutive samples are constant – uniform data;

• periods between consecutive samples are set by the AsTrend program depending on the length of the period in which the data are averaged (averaged data) or minima and maxima are calculated (approximated data).

Essential modifications introduced to the supported data types include:

• type of the data is now defined for the entire trend rather than for individual series

• uniform data, averaged data, and approximated data are now calculated by the asix server with use of the Aggregator, therefore the AsTrend program may read ready-to-chart aggregated data instead of calculating them from a raw data

• approximate data are now charted as the HighLow charts (two curves representing maxima and minima, the area in-between flooded with the color of the given series).

X-Y Two-Dimensional Charts

Two-dimensional charts available in version 5.1 of the AsTrend facilitate analysis of possible inter-variable dependencies.

Such chart is a function of two asix variables drawn at the assumption that both variables are evenly spaced in time and are not binary.

Labels of X,Y-chart points may be optionally modified and contain:

• number of series point;

• number of point, time stamp;

• number of point, time stamp, values of samples from two series;

• number of point, time stamp, values of samples from three series.

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New Options of ‘Export data’ Command

The new Export data command allows to easily export the charted data to a *.txt file, *.csv file, or Clipboard.

Modified export format consists of sequence of measured values and time marker values, each separated by a separator character. In case of exporting to the Clipboard, the Tab character is the separator. Data are exported in the following order: time value, variable value. Each variable column is associated with its own time data column except for uniform data when the time data column may be common. Time data are exported in the system format (‘2008-02-20 16:48:22’). In case of alarm series and/or some external data, the time data column additionally contains millisecond values. The exported data may be optionally supplemented with a two-line header, as well as with units of measure next to each variable name.

Additional Time Axis

Various fragments of a chart of one variable (charted for different time periods) or the charts of different variables may be now compared on a screen. In the AsTrend program this possibility is achieved by an additional time axis that may be turned on for one of the to-be-compared charts.

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External Data Sources

Besides data delivered by the asix system, the AsTrend program may chart data from external sources: *.csv files, *.xls files, and/or external databases accessible via the OLE DB mechanism (such as MSSQL and/or Access). Correct import of such external data is facilitated by an easy to use and totally intuitive dialog window, that offers tips on the structure of data necessary for proper read from an external source.

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Setting of Relative Time Period to Be Used at the Moment of Trend File Opening

The OPC format options make possible to precisely define period of time which is to be charted when a trend file is opened. Period start and end times may be expressed using designations like “now”, “beginning of the current day”, “beginning of the current month”, „Today 6 am”. OPC format expressions are automatically built by the OPC format time editor. The editor is equipped with a user-friendly interface with a set of fields that greatly facilitate the task of defining time periods.

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Additional Functions

• Display edge points at the right edge of the chart.

• Display warning and critical limits (when the limits are declared in VarBase as numbers).

• A new option concerning Many Vertical Axes - Stack charts: Vertical axis position. Depending on the Vertical axis position option in the series parameters, vertical axis may be placed at the left or at the right side of the chart. If two adjacent charts of single variables have their vertical axes placed at the same side of the chart, both axes may be put together on one chart to better use screen area (print-out area) and to improve chart legibility, as well as to facilitate comparing trends.

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