ALSPA Control System ALSPA HMI V6 Alarms & Events Viewer Reference Manual

ALSPA Control System
ALSPA HMI V6
Alarms & Events Viewer
Reference Manual
ACCESSIBILITY OPERATING & MAINTENANCE MANUAL
DATE 2014-06-24 STAT. CFE - Published
SH/SH
REFERENCE LG REV ENTITY FORMAT NUM SH
END
GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076 en J Power/PAC A4 1/56 56
© ALSTOM 2014 - All rights reserved. We reserve all rights in this document and in the
information contained therein. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties without express
authority is strictly forbidden.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 Preamble ................................................................................................................. 4

1.1 Purpose of the Document ......................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Important Information ............................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Notice to Reader....................................................................................................................................... 5
1.4 Risks & Protection .................................................................................................................................... 6
1.5 Standards & Codes .................................................................................................................................. 6
1.6 Glossary ................................................................................................................................................... 7
1.7 List of Referenced Documents ................................................................................................................. 9
Section 2 Definitions ............................................................................................................ 10
2.1 Alarms and Events .................................................................................................................................10
2.2 Alarms and Events Viewer .....................................................................................................................10
2.3 Workspace..............................................................................................................................................12
2.4 Explorer ..................................................................................................................................................12
2.5 Operational modes .................................................................................................................................13
2.6 Alarm Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................................13
2.7 Filters ......................................................................................................................................................14
Section 3 Navigation for opening the Alarms and Events Viewer ..................................... 16
3.1 Opening from the Functional Structure ..................................................................................................17
3.2 Opening from the System Structure .......................................................................................................17
3.3 Opening from the Mimics .......................................................................................................................18
3.4 Opening from the Single Variable ..........................................................................................................18
3.5 Opening from the Alarm Bar ...................................................................................................................19
3.6 Opening from another Viewer ................................................................................................................19
3.7 Opening from Home Icon .......................................................................................................................20
3.8 Opening from Shortcuts/Key Shortcuts ..................................................................................................21
Section 4 Description of the Alarms and Events Viewer.................................................... 23
4.1 Active Viewer’s Tab ................................................................................................................................23
4.2 Functions Toolbar ...................................................................................................................................24
4.2.1 Tools Menu ........................................................................................................................................30
4.2.2 Historian Window ..............................................................................................................................31
4.2.3 Advanced Filter Screen .....................................................................................................................33
4.3 Data List .................................................................................................................................................39
4.4 Contextual Menu ....................................................................................................................................45
Section 5 Dynamic principles of the Alarm Point Viewer................................................... 47
5.1 General principles...................................................................................................................................47
5.2 Appearance of a new alarm ...................................................................................................................47
5.2.1 General cases ...................................................................................................................................47
5.2.2 Case of a sensor fault .......................................................................................................................48
5.2.3 Rules on colors displayed .................................................................................................................48
5.2.4 Rules on the dates displayed ............................................................................................................48
5.3 Deletion of alarm rows ............................................................................................................................48
© ALSTOM 2014 - All rights reserved. We reserve all rights in this document and in the information contained therein. Reproduction, use or disclosure to third parties without express authority is strictly forbidden.
ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

Alarms & Events Viewer - Reference Manual 2/56
5.4 Acknowledgement and Selection ...........................................................................................................49
5.5 Saturation of the Alarm Point list ............................................................................................................49
Section 6 "Automatic Sorting" option of the Alarm Point Viewer ..................................... 50
6.1 General Principle ....................................................................................................................................50
6.2 Select before Acknowledge ....................................................................................................................50
6.3 Saturation of the Alarm list and Eclipsed Alarms (AAM Option) ............................................................51
6.4 Configuring the option ............................................................................................................................51
Section 7 Audible Alarm Management ................................................................................ 52
7.1 Principles ................................................................................................................................................52
7.2 Acknowledging the horn .........................................................................................................................53
7.3 Enabling/disabling the sound .................................................................................................................53
7.4 “Stop horn by alarm acknowledgement” option ......................................................................................54
Section 8 Zones Management .............................................................................................. 55
8.1 Alarm Bar ................................................................................................................................................55
8.1.1 Global Section ...................................................................................................................................56
8.1.2 User Section ......................................................................................................................................56

Section 1 Preamble
1.1 Purpose of the Document
The Alarms and Events Viewer reference manual provides the complete description
of the alarms and events of ALSPA HMI, the plant supervision and monitoring
interface of the ALSPA® Control System.
The Alarms and Events Viewer helps the operator to view, analyse and manage the
real-time and Historian alarms and events of the plant. This enables the operator to
take corrective actions whenever required.
This document is intended for the operators and engineers of a power plant.
1.2 Important Information
Alstom Power is committed to high quality products in compliance with

our high standards of quality.
Users and installation staff who operate on the equipment are qualified
and trained.
Before performing any action on the equipment, the user must read and
understand the Operating and Maintenance Manual.
To reduce risks for yourself and your equipment, only an accredited
technician shall service your equipment or work inside it.
Alstom is committed to top customer assistance services.

If you need further information or encounter a serious problem, please
contact:
Alstom Power
Automation & Control - Customer Support
Hardware repair
Annual preventive maintenance
Telephone, e-mail, fax, remote maintenance, Web facilities
On site intervention
Software maintenance
Training session for commissioning engineers and customer users.
Contact: helpdesk.control-systems@power.alstom.com

1.3 Notice to Reader
DANGER
Indicates a situation of imminent danger which, if it is not avoided, will

lead to death or serious injury. This indication is restricted to the most
extreme circumstances.
WARNING
Indicates a potentially dangerous situation, which if not avoided will lead

to death or serious injuries.
CAUTION
Indicates a potentially dangerous situation which, if it is not avoided, may

cause minor or moderate injuries. This indication may also be used to
warn against unsafe practices.
ELECTRICAL WARNING
Indicates a potential electrical danger related to voltages, currents,

temperature, or other conditions that may cause an electric shock or burn.
Turn off and disconnect any electrical power supply before servicing.
Highlights instructions or other important information which must be

strictly respected.
Points out important information.
Refers to a document.
Refers to a Medium.
This document is based on information available at the time of its publication. While efforts have been
made to be accurate, the information contained herein does not purport to cover all details or variations
in hardware or software, nor to provide for every possible contingency in connection with installation,
operation, or maintenance.
Features may be described herein which are not present in all systems. Alstom assumes no obligation
of notice to holders of this document with respect to changes subsequently made.
In this publication, no mention is made of rights with respect to trademarks or trade names that may
attach to certain words or signs. The absence of such mention, however, in no way implies there is no
protection.
Partial reproduction of this document is authorized, but limited to internal use, for information only and
for no commercial purpose. However, such authorization is granted only on the express condition that
any partial copy of the document bears a mention of its property, including the copyright statement.
ALSTOM, the ALSTOM logo and any alternative version thereof are trademarks and service marks of
ALSTOM. The other names mentioned, registered or not, are the property of their respective
companies.

1.4 Risks & Protection
ELECTRICAL WARNING
ELECTRICAL PROTECTION
This equipment presents dangers to the personnel and to the equipment

itself. These dangers are mainly electrical in nature, such as:
electric shock
transient increases and decreases in electrical power
electrostatic discharge
Working inside the equipment can have an impact on the physical integrity
of the person or the equipment itself.
During installation of the equipment, it must be powered down.
 Shut down properly your equipment and power it off before hardware
installation.
CAUTION
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE
Most electronic equipment is affected by radio frequency interference

(RFI). Caution should be taken when using mobile communications
equipment near such equipment. Signs are on display near to the
equipment to warn against the use of mobile communications equipment.
CAUTION
STATIC SENSITIVE DEVICES
ALSPA system equipment contains components sensitive to electrostatic

discharges which can be damaged as a result of incorrect handling.
Working procedures (e.g. extracting a module) are described in the
manufacturer's documentation and must be followed. Equipment is fitted
with labels so that staff can take anti-static precautions during handling.
1.5 Standards & Codes
The ALSPA control system equipment has been developed, manufactured and
tested to comply with the relevant standards.
All these standards are indicated in the following document
[STD&COD] - ALSPA Series 6 - Standards and Codes - refer to the
documents list of the project.
In order to achieve optimum operation of the equipment, the user must always keep
in mind that the standards should be complied with.

The above-mentioned document details the certification and the operating and
electromagnetic environment in which your equipment must be used.
1.6 Glossary
ALSPA Series 6 Distributed Control System (DCS) of Alstom Power.

ALSPA OPTIPLANT Plant Optimization Solutions. OPTIPLANT applications can be
added to the DCS in order to manage the performances, the
maintenance and the scheduling of the plant.
ALSPA HMI Architecture, Equipment and Control Room Workstations. Also
refers to the control room software functions.
ALSPA Engineering and commissioning tool of the ALSPA Control
CONTROCAD System. With this tool, engineers can configure the ALSPA
System for the plant, download the controllers and tune and
maintain the system.
ALSPA Automation Automation level of the ALSPA system. It is constituted of
Cell master controllers, I/O, field controllers and field networks.
C10 Local ALSPA HMI station which manages the Real Time server
function and the HMI functions.
C30 ALSPA HMI provided with several separated stations
comprising multi-screen operator stations, Real Time and
Historian servers.
CE1000 / CE1500 / Inputs/outputs and field controllers of the ALSPA System.
CE2000 / CE3000
CE3500 Safety This kind of controllers ensures the safety functions IEC61508
Controller SIL2 & SIL3 level.
HMI Gateway or ALSPA HMI Gateway type CSS-G offers a panel of
CSS-G communication protocols between the ALSPA HMI and third
party systems. The CSS-G is often seen as data
server/controlled part.
Automation Cell ALSPA Automation Cell Gateway type CSS-F offers a panel of
Gateway or CSS-F communication protocols at the controller level with third party
systems. The CSS-F is often seen as client/controlling part
Ethernet Enterprise ALSPA Enterprise bus. It connects the ALSPA HMI stations
bus together for maintenance purposes or non critical function. It
can connect third party functions.
Ethernet process ALSPA Ethernet network connecting all the cell controllers of a
Bus or S8000 Plant Unit together with the ALSPA HMI. This network is based
on Ethernet technology. It is also named S8000.
Field Bus or E8000 Network which connects the master controllers to the field
controllers based on Ethernet Powerlink technology. It is also
named E8000.
Historian Function for long term history of the events and measurements
of the plant. This function comprises data servers and HMI

viewers.
IMS Information Management System of ALSPA HMI. It provides
statistics computation and reports generation. This function
includes data servers, report generator and report viewers.
I/O Controller These controllers manage the inputs and outputs coming from
Field Controller the sensors and devices of the plant. It can be placed near the
devices and be remote from the main controller.
Master Controller Main controller of the automation cell. It executes application
or Cell Controller software with the data coming from the I/O controllers and
controls the process by sending orders.
MFC3000 / Master controllers of the ALSPA system.
MFC1000
OMM Operating & Maintenance Manual.
OS or CVS Operator stations which supports the operating HMI functions of
ALSPA HMI.
RTDS or CIS Real Time Data Server: this function of the ALSPA HMI
manages in real time the process data coming from the plant.
The RTDS function uses the OPC function to exchange data
with the OS and third party applications.
The RTDS function communicates with the automation cell
through the process bus.
Samples The values of Boolean variables (BSig) or analog variables
(ASig) taken from the process at a regular interval of time.
Viewers The viewers are screen functions that allow displaying in
different forms the process object or variables. For example,
Mimic viewer, sequence monitoring viewers
Zones A geographical or functional part of the plant that can be
monitored independently.
Notation for Signals used in ALSPA Control System.

cASig Controller analog signal
ihASig Internal HMI analog signal
ohASig Operator parameter HMI analog signal
phASig Program HMI analog signal
cBSig Controller boolean signal
ihBSig Internal HMI boolean signal
shBSig System HMI boolean signal
phBSig Program HMI boolean signal
dhBSig Controller default boolean signal
cMSig Controller multi-state signal
ihMSig Internal HMI multi-state signal
phMSig Program HMI multi-state signal

ccCmd Controller Command
ihCmd Internal HMI Command
ccSPt Controller setpoint
ihSPt Internal HMI setpoint
1.7 List of Referenced Documents
[HMI_WORK] Refer to the Operating & Maintenance manuals of the

project for the ALSPA HMI Workspace functions.
[HMI_EXPL] Refer to the Operating & Maintenance manuals of the
project for the ALSPA HMI Explorer functions.
[HMI_PROP] Refer to the Operating & Maintenance manuals of the
project for the ALSPA HMI Variables Properties
functions.

Section 2 Definitions
2.1 Alarms and Events
An alarm is a state change which informs the operator of an operational anomaly or

malfunction more or less urgent that has occurred in the processes of a plant.
Alarms enable the operator to recover the malfunctioning process or the system
elements through corrective actions whenever and wherever necessary.
Alarms are raised based on the following conditions:
State change of a Boolean variable (cBSig, ihBSig, phBsig)
Limit or Threshold violations* of an analog variable (cASig, ihASig, phASig,
ohAsig)
System faults
An event is a state change, threshold violation, fault or operator action (order,
acknowledgement) which was not associated with urgency level contrary to the
alarms.
The incidents include state change of a variable, change in urgency degree, alarm
acknowledgement etc.
An alarm is also a kind of event.
2.2 Alarms and Events Viewer
The Alarms and Events Viewer of the ALSPA HMI displays the alarms and events of
the plant. It enables the operator to analyse and manage the real-time and Historian
alarms and events of the plant.

The Alarms and Events Viewer is displayed in the work area of the ALSPA HMI
workspace as shown below:
The features of the Alarms and Events Viewer are:

A maximum of seven Alarms and Events Viewer can be opened at the same
time. These viewers are presented in the viewers’ tabs bar located in the upper
part of the work area.
For more information on the viewers’ tabs bar, see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7
List of Referenced Documents).
The time taken to display an opened Alarms and Events Viewer is less than 1
second.
The Alarms and Events Viewer in ALSPA HMI provides the real-time and the
Historian data of the alarms and events.
The type of ALSPA HMI variables that can be displayed in the Alarms and Events
Viewer are:
- Analog
- Boolean
The Alarms and Events Viewer is cyclically refreshed (second) or on operator
action to show recent alarms and events data.
The Alarms and Events Viewer provides five operational modes.
Information on operational modes is available later in this document (cf.
2.5,Operational modes).

The Alarms and Events Viewer displays a limited number of alarms and/or events
data to analyse, at a time in each mode, when there are more than 1000 alarms.
The Alarms and Events Viewer provides the alarm acknowledgement.
The Alarms and Events Viewer constitutes a powerful management and analysis
tool offering a wide range of alarm filtering facilities.
The Alarms and Events Viewer can be seen from any operator station.
The ALSPA HMI provides the facility of the audible alarm.
An optional behaviour ’Automatic Sorting’ of Alarms and Events viewer is
described later in the document (cf. Section 6,"Automatic Sorting" option
of the Alarm Point Viewer), while the standard behaviour is described till
section 5.
2.3 Workspace
The workspace is an area dedicated to the ALSPA HMI on ALSPA HMI operator
workstation* screen.
The workspace is composed of the following graphic objects:
Explorer
Work area which the ALSPA HMI viewers* occupy
Alarm bar
Status bar
Workspace configurator
For more information on the workspace, see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7 List of
Referenced Documents).
2.4 Explorer
The Explorer allows navigating and accessing the data and functions of the plant
(Historic data of variables, Trend, Mimics, Sequence monitoring functions…).
The Explorer gives access to the following tabs:
Plant: explores the data and functions of the plant
Groups: explores the HMI functions groups
Favorites: explores all the shortcuts and the key shortcuts lists
The Explorer also includes a small window called Clipboard. The clipboard
temporarily holds the variables and /or the results of the function search.
For more information on the Explorer, see [HMI_EXPL] (cf. 1.7 List of

2.5 Operational modes
The Alarms and Events viewer can be opened in different operational modes.
The table below explains the operational modes of the Alarms and Events Viewer:
Mode Description
Alarm Points Shows only the real-time alarms from ALSPA HMI real-time
database and not from Historian database.
This mode shows only the latest state of an alarm.
Only the Alarm Points mode allows acknowledging the alarms.
More information on alarm acknowledgment is available

in the later section of this document (cf. 5.4,Acknowledgement
and Selection).
Real-time Shows only the real-time alarms from ALSPA HMI real-time
Alarms database and not from Historian database.
This mode helps to view the log of all the real-time alarms
associated to each variable.
Real-time Shows only the events from ALSPA HMI Historian database.
Events
This mode shows the events data with the impression of giving
them in real-time.
Historian Shows the past time alarms and events from ALSPA HMI
Alarms and Historian database.
Events
This mode shows the previous occurrences of alarms
(operational process faults, threshold violations, etc) and
events (operator actions, system events, etc.)
Variables List Shows all the events occurring in the plant from ALSPA HMI
real-time database based on the variables selected.
The variables selected depends on the component from which
the Alarms and Events Viewer is opened.
More information on opening the Alarms and Events

Viewer from various components is available in the later
section of this document (cf. Section 3,Navigation for opening
the Alarms and Events Viewer).
2.6 Alarm Acknowledgement
The alarm acknowledgement of the Alarms and Events Viewer indicates that an
operator is aware of the alarm raised.
The features of alarm acknowledgement are:
The alarm acknowledgement can be performed in any operator station by the
operators with the appropriate rights.
For more information on the operator rights, see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7 List
of Referenced Documents).

The alarm acknowledgement can be performed in only one operator station at a
time.
If any other user tries to take control over the acknowledgement, then the new
user gets the control and the earlier user loses the control.
The alarm acknowledgement functions are available only when the alarm viewer
is opened with the Alarm Point operational mode.
The alarm acknowledgement can be performed in the following two occasions:
- On the appearance of an alarm
- On both appearance and disappearance of an alarm
The configuration of the alarms (in Controcad) to get acknowledgement from the
operator for the appearance and/or for the disappearance is based on the alarm’s
severity (degree of urgency).
The alarm acknowledgement can be performed in the following two ways:
- All alarms at a time
- Selected and visible alarms
Information on acknowledging an alarm in the viewer is available in the
later section of this document (cf. 5.4,Acknowledgement and Selection).
2.7 Filters
The filters of the Alarms and Events Viewer help to display the sub-set of the alarms
and/or events, or variables.
The filters can be classified into the following categories:
Alarm state quick filter
Alarm category quick filter
Alarm level quick filter
Advance filter
Variables properties quick filter
The table below explains the types of filters of the Alarms and Events Viewer:
Filter Categories Description
Alarm state quick Allows filtering the alarms and/or events based on the
filter acknowledgement of their appearance and disappearance.
The different states are:
the alarms which are active and not acknowledged
the alarms, which are active and acknowledged
the alarms which are inactive and their appearance
unacknowledged
the alarms, which are inactive and their disappearance
unacknowledged
Alarm category Allows filtering the alarms and/or events based on the
quick filter following categories:

Process
Sensor
System
Alarm level quick Allows filtering the alarms based on their degrees of
filter urgency.
The degrees of urgency and their color are configurable
during the project configuration in Controcad.
A maximum of 4 degrees can be defined.
By default, 4 degrees of urgency are defined.
Advanced filter Provides a wide range of filtering options to filter the
required alarms and/or the events like Process Alarm
Condition Filters, Sensor Alarm Condition Filters, Signal
type filters or Signal Status Filters.
Variables properties Allows filtering the variables based on their properties.
quick filter
The properties can be Off-monitoring, On-monitoring,
Inhibited, Replaced, Valid, Invalid, Chattering, Operator,
Sensor faults, Forced.
Note : The points to be noticed in each type of filter are:

- When more than one filter is selected, a logical OR is applied on the filter.
- When all filters or none is selected, no filter is applied on the alarms and/or events.
Information on the filters in the Alarms and Events Viewer are available in
the later section of this document (cf. 4.2.3,Advanced Filter Screen).
The features of the filters are:
The filters are available in all the operational modes of the Alarms and Events
Viewer.
The filters applied on a list of alarms and/or events or variables are saved in the
user’s workspace.
The next time when the operator logs into the ALSPA HMI, the viewer
automatically displays the list of alarms and/or events or variables with the same
filters applied.

Section 3 Navigation for opening the Alarms and Events Viewer
In the ALSPA HMI, the Alarms and Events Viewer can be opened from the following
components:
Functional structure
System structure
Mimics
Single variable
Set alarm bar
Another viewer
Home icon
Shortcuts / Key Shortcuts
The opened Alarms and Events Viewer can be displayed (made active) from the
viewers’ tabs with the alarms and events viewer icon of the respective operational
mode (for example, Alarm Points mode ) at the top of the viewer.
More information on the active viewer’s tab is available in the later section
of this document (cf. 4.1,Active Viewer’s Tab).

The ALSPA HMI limits the number of Alarm viewers and variable list
viewers opened at a time to 36 for all the stations (including Web HMI). In
case of limit cross, the following message appears
This number excludes windows such as: Last alarm view, Last 2 alarms
view, Last 3 alarms view, real time and Historian views.
3.1 Opening from the Functional Structure
Alarms and Events Viewer can be opened from the contextual menu of the nodes in
the Functional Structure of the Plant tab of the Explorer.
The opening path is:
Explorer > Plant > Functional Structure > (contextual menu of any node) >
View Alarms / Events Viewer
The figure below shows how to open the Alarms and Events Viewer from the nodes
of the Functional Structure:
3.2 Opening from the System Structure
Alarms and Events Viewer can be opened from the contextual menu of the controller
node of the System Structure in the Plant tab of the Explorer.
Explorer > Plant > System Structure > (contextual menu of any Cell) > View
Cell Alarms

3.3 Opening from the Mimics
Alarms and Events Viewer can be opened from the contextual menu of a mimic in
the Groups tab of the Explorer.
Explorer > Groups > Mimics > (contextual menu of any mimic) > Open ’Alarms
to Mimic’
The figure below shows how to open the Alarms and Events Viewer from a mimic:
3.4 Opening from the Single Variable
The Alarms and Events Viewer can also be opened for a single variable .
The single variable is available in the Explorer (e.g., in the Functional Structure), in
the viewers in the work area (e.g., Y=f(t) Curves Viewer, Variables List Viewer etc.)
The contextual menu of a single variable provides an item to open the Alarms and
Events Viewer.

The figure below shows how to open the Alarms and Events Viewer from a single
variable of a group in the Explorer:
3.5 Opening from the Alarm Bar
The Alarms and Events Viewer can be opened from the sets/zones displayed in the
alarm bar.
A click on a zone in the alarm bar displays the Alarms and Events Viewer in the
work area for that zone.
More information on the alarm bar is available in the later section of this
document (cf. Section 8,Zones Management).
3.6 Opening from another Viewer
The Alarms and Events Viewer can be opened from another viewer as given below:
by an associated view (in the standard viewer toolbar)
For more information on the associated view, see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7
by a direct link available in Procedure/Alarm sheets

3.7 Opening from Home Icon
The Alarms and Events Viewer can be opened from the Home icon ( ) in the
top frame of the ALSPA HMI operator interface.
A click on the Home icon shows a menu with the items to access the ALSPA HMI
viewers and tools.
To open the Alarms and Events Viewer, the opening path is:
Home icon ( ) } Open Alarms / Event Viewer } Select below options

Alarm Points
Real-time Alarms
Real-time Events
Historian Alarms and Events.
Last Historian Alarms and Events.
Last Alarm Transition
Last 3 Alarms Transition
Note : Only the previous seven operational modes of the viewer can be opened from the home
icon.

3.8 Opening from Shortcuts/Key Shortcuts
For an Alarms and Events Viewer once opened, a keyboard shortcut can be created
so that the viewer is added to the Key Shortcuts under the Favorites tab of the
Explorer.
The same viewer can be added to the Shortcuts under the Favorites tab of the
Explorer. This is done by using ”Add to favorites” icon ( ) of the functions toolbar.
Information on the functions toolbar is available in the later section of this
document (cf. 4.2,Functions Toolbar).
Information on adding the viewers to Shortcuts / Key Shortcuts of Explorer

is available in Workspace reference manual (see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7
The features of opening from Shortcuts and Key Shortcuts are:
The operator can record his/her choice of viewers to the Shortcuts / Key
Shortcuts. It provides a fast and personalized access to the required viewer.
The viewers can be opened either by the contextual menu of the items
corresponding to Alarms and Events Viewer under Shortcuts / Key Shortcuts or
by double clicking the item.
The viewer can be opened for all the operational modes from the Shortcuts / Key
Shortcuts.
The opening path:
from the Shortcuts is:
Favorites > Station / Private > Shortcuts > (contextual menu of Alarms and Events Viewer’s
item) > Open View
For more information on the Station and Private, see [HMI_WORK] (cf.
1.7 List of Referenced Documents).

The figure below shows how to open the Alarms and Events Viewer from the
Shortcuts:
from the Key Shortcuts is:

Favorites > Station / Private > Key Shortcuts > (contextual menu of Alarms and
Events Viewer’s item) > Open View
Note : A Shortcut’s item / Key Shortcut’s item of the Alarms and Events Viewer is identified by the
icon corresponding to Alarm Points mode associated with the item name.
The Alarms and Events Viewer can also be opened by just pressing the
corresponding function keys (”F10” in the above example).
The “user favorites” icon ( ), which acts as switch allows to access or

restrict the access of the items in the Shortcuts/Key Shortcuts under the
Private grouo.

Section 4 Description of the Alarms and Events Viewer
When the Alarms and Events Viewer is opened, it occupies the work area of the
ALSPA HMI.
The Alarms and Events Viewer is composed of the following three graphic objects:
Active Viewer’s tab (cf. 4.1,Active Viewer’s Tab)
Functions toolbar (cf. 4.2,Functions Toolbar)
Data list (cf. 4.3,Data List)
The figure below shows the graphic objects of the Alarms and Events Viewer:
4.1 Active Viewer’s Tab
The viewers’ tabs allow the operator to navigate through the opened viewers.
The active viewer’s tab refers to the currently displayed viewer.
The tab of the Alarms and Events Viewer has the alarms and events viewer icon
(which depends on the operational mode of the viewer) along with the details of the
component from which the viewer is opened
Information on the alarms and events viewer icons of different operational
modes is available in the later section of this document (cf. 4.2,Functions
Toolbar).

The following table shows the components and the details shown in the viewer’s tab:
Component Details
Single variable ”Rep_Id: ”id of the variable”
Mimics ”Mimic Id: ”id of the mimic”
Set alarm bar ”Zone: ”name of the zone”
Functional ”Area”: ”Name of the area”
Structure/System
Structure/
Home icon Name of the operational mode
For more information on the viewers’ tabs bar, see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7
4.2 Functions Toolbar
The functions toolbar allows performing different functions such as changing mode,
applying filters, printing and saving the filters etc.
The table below shows the picture of the functions toolbar for each operational
mode of the Alarms and Events Viewer:
Mode Functions Toolbar
Alarm Points
Real-time
Alarms
Real-time
Events
Historian
Alarms and
Events
Variables List
The functions can be grouped as:

Mode Selection
Pause and Tools
Database and Period Selection
Alarm Acknowledgement
Alarm Quantity
Alarm State Quick Filters
Alarm Category Quick Filters
Alarm Level Quick Filters
Advanced Filters
Variables Properties Quick Filters

Standard Viewer Toolbar Functions
The table below explains the icons of the functions toolbar for all the modes:
Mode Selection
Image Description Available Modes
Allows switching the Alarms and Events All modes
Viewer to a different operational mode.
The viewer shows the following different
icons for different operational modes:
Alarm Points mode
Real-time alarms mode
Real-time events mode
Historian alarms and events

mode
Variables list mode

Note: Information on different modes is
available in the earlier section of this
document (cf. 2.5,Operational modes).
Pause and Tools

Provides the tools to configure the All modes
display settings of the data list, to print
the desired data in the data list and save
the data list in the different file formats.
Information on the tools menu is

available in the later section of this
document (cf. 4.2.1,Tools Menu).
Allows pausing/resuming the updates of
or the alarms or events in the data list Real-time
temporarily. Alarms,
During the pause period the pause icon (
Real-time
) is replaced by resume icon ( ). Events;
Variables list.
Allows clearing the alarms currently
displayed in the viewer. Real-Time
Alarms

Database and Period Selection
Opens the Historian window to select the
period for which the alarms and events Historian
data are to be fetched. Alarms and
Events.
Information on the Historian window
is available in the later section of the
document (cf. 4.2.2,Historian Window).
Shows the Historian alarms and events for
the same duration but for the preceding
time slot.
E.g. shows the alarms and events from
1:00 AM to 3:00 AM if the current time slot
is from 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM.
Shows the Historian alarms and events for
the same duration but for the succeeding
time slot.
E.g., Shows the alarms and events from
5:00 AM to 7:00 AM if the current time slot
is from 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM.
Shows the period for which the alarms and
the events are displayed in the viewer. Real-time
Events;
Historian Alarms
and Events.
Alarm Acknowledgement
Allows taking the control to acknowledge
the alarms. Alarm Points
Allows acknowledging all the selected
alarms of the Alarm viewer in a single
click.
Allows acknowledging all the visible
alarms in the Alarm viewer in a single
click.
This button is not accessible for

”Automatic Sorting” option .

Procedure - Acknowledge an alarm:
Select the Alarm Points Mode.
Click on “take acknowledgement” icon ( ).

The next two acknowledgement icons get enabled.
Click on “all alarms” icon ( ) to acknowledge all the visible alarms of the
data list or “selected and visible alarms” icon ( ) to acknowledge only the
selected and visible alarms of the data list.
It is also possible to acknowledge alarms through contextual menu of the
alarm variables in Alarm Points mode (cf. 3.4,Opening from the Single
Variable).
More information on the acknowledgement of an alarm is available in the
earlier section of this document (cf. 5.4,Acknowledgement and Selection).
Alarm Quantity
Shows the number of
unacknowledged alarms and the total Alarm Points
number of alarms and currently
displayed in the data list of the
viewer.
The quantity displayed takes into
consideration, the filters and the
accessible zones.
Shows the total number of alarms All modes except
and/or events displayed in the
viewer. Alarm Points
Displayed when the list saturated All modes except
Real Time
Events
Alarm Category Quick Filters

Allows filtering all the alarms and/or events All modes except
associated to a process in the viewer.
Variables list
Allows filtering all the alarms and/or events
associated to a sensor in the viewer.
Allows filtering all the system alarms and/or
events in the viewer.

Alarm Level Quick Filters
Image Description Available for...
Allows filtering the alarms corresponding to All modes except
urgency degree 1.
Variables
Allows filtering the alarms corresponding to
list
urgency degree 2.
urgency degree 3.
urgency degree 4.
The icons of the alarm level quick filters have two color blocks.
The first color block represents the color of the corresponding urgency degree of the
alarm. The second color block represents the color of the normal state of the alarm.
The colors are configured in Controcad.
More information on the Alarm level quick filters is available in the earlier
section of this document (cf. 2.7,Filters).
Advanced Filters
Shows the advanced filter screen to select the All modes
sophisticated filtering criteria* to be applied on
the alarms and/or events or the variables in
the viewer.
More information on the advanced filter

screen is available in the later section of this
document (cf. 4.2.3,Advanced Filter Screen).
Allows applying the selected filter from the
advanced filter screen on the alarms and/or
the events or the variables displayed in the
viewer.
Allows cancelling all the filters applied on the
alarms and/or the events or the variables
displayed in the viewer.
In this case, the data list return to its initial
state (not filtered).
Procedure - Apply advanced filters on the data list:
1. Click the “advanced filter” icon ( ) in the functions toolbar.

The advanced filter screen opens.
2. Select the required filtering options in the advanced filter screen.
3. Click the “save” icon ( ) in the filter toolbar of the advanced filter screen.

A “Save filters” window opens.
4. Input all the required details in the “Save filters” window and click OK.
5. Click OK in the advanced filter screen and it gets closed.
6. Click on “apply filter” icon ( ) in the functions toolbar.

7. To cancel the advanced filters applied to the data list, click on “reset filter”
icon ( ).
If the operator does not want to save the filters, then the step 3 and 4 can
be skipped.
Variable Properties Quick Filters

Allows filtering only the variables whose status
is On-monitoring. Variables List
is Off-monitoring.
is Inhibited.
is Replaced.
Allows filtering only the valid variables.
Allows filtering only the invalid variables.
Allows filtering only the Off-limit variables.
Allows filtering only the chattering variables.
Allows filtering only the operator variables.
Allows filtering only the sensor fault variables.
Allows filtering only the forced variables.

Standard Viewer Toolbar
Image Description Available
Modes
Allows selecting the display location of the active All modes
viewer among the screens of the workstation.
Allows adding the active viewer to the Shortcuts /
Key Shortcuts of the Favorites tab.
Takes a snapshot of the opened viewer.
For more information on the icons of the standard viewer toolbar, see
[HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7 List of Referenced Documents).
Information on the data list is available in the later section of this

document (cf. 4.3,Data List).
4.2.1 Tools Menu
A click on the tools icon ( ) of the functions toolbar shows the following menu:
Description of the items:

Item Description
Save Provides sub-items to allow saving the alarms and/or events
or variables in different file formats and the settings of the
user.
Save in Excel Allows saving the alarms and/or events or variables in the
Format Excel format file.
Print Provides the sub-items to allow printing the desired or all the
alarms and/or events or variables in the viewer.
Print All rows Allows printing the whole data list.
Print Selected rows Allows printing the selected alarms and/or events or variables
of the data list.
Print Visible rows Allows printing the alarms and/or events or variables in the
visible portion of the data list.
Grid Allows showing/hiding the grid in the data list.

Font Provides sub-items to modify the font in the data list.
Normal Allows modifying the font to the normal size.
Medium (125%) Allows modifying the font to 125 % of the normal font size.
Large (150%) Allows modifying the font to 150 % of the normal font size.
Save User setting Allows saving the modified settings of the user.
Save User Default Allows saving the default settings of the user.
settings
Information on the data list is available in the later section of this

document (cf. 4.3,Data List).
4.2.2 Historian Window
A click on the “Select database” icon ( ) of the functions toolbar opens the
following Historian window:

Description of the fields:
Database Selection Area
Name Description
Name Lists the name of the available databases / archives.
Begin time Displays the date and time from which the alarms and events or
variables data are available in the corresponding database /
archive.
End time Displays the date and time up-to which the alarms and events or
variables are available in the corresponding database / archive.
The check box ( ) in the database selection area allows selecting or deselecting
the database / archive.
Date/Time
Type Name Description
Begin Allows entering the date and time from which the
alarms and events or variables have to be fetched from
the selected database / archive.
End Allows entering the date and time up to which the
alarms and events or variables have to be fetched from
the selected database / archive.
OK Validates the selection and closes the window.
Cancel Withdraws the new selection and closes the window.
The dates can also be selected from the calendar that is displayed by the
drop down arrow.

4.2.3 Advanced Filter Screen
A click on advanced filter icon ( ) in any mode of the Alarms and Events Viewer
opens the following Advanced Filter Form window:
Description of the components:

Filter Explorer
The advanced filter screen allows saving the filters created by the operators. The
filters can be saved in the following filter groups:
Public filters
Private filters
The table below gives the details of the Public and Private filters:
Type of Filter Description
Group
Public Filters Shows the list of public filters saved under it.
Only the operators with appropriate rights can create the public
filters in all the stations.
The public filters are visible to all the operators and in all the
stations.
Information on the operator rights is available in the

Workspace reference manual (see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7 List of
Private Filters Shows the list of private filters saved under it.
The private filters can be created by any operator and they are
visible only to that operator.

Filter Tool Bar
Icon Description
Allows saving the filters in Public Filters or Private Filters.
A click on the “save” icon displays a window to obtain the filter name and
the type of filter from the operator.
Allows clearing all the selections of the filter options in the filter window.
Allows deleting the selected filter from the Public Filters or Private Filters.
Note: Only the operator with appropriate rights can delete the public
filters.
Information on the operator rights is available in the Workspace

reference manual (see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7 List of Referenced
Documents).
Tabs
The tabs available in the advanced filter screen differs according to the operational
modes.
The table below gives the details of the tabs, their description and the modes in
which they are available:
Tab Description Available Modes
Signal Type Allows filtering the data list with All modes
different types of alarms and
variables.
Process Alarm Allows filtering the variables of
Condition different thresholds and state Alarm Points ;
change.
Real-time Alarms;
Historian Alarms
and Events.
Process Signal Allows filtering the events of
Event different thresholds and state Real-time Events;
change.
Process Signal Allows filtering the variables of
State different thresholds and state Variables List
change.
Sensor Alarm Allows filtering the variables
condition responsible for various faults and Alarm Points ;
limits attainment.
Real-time Alarms;
Historian Alarms
and Events.

Signal Status, Allows filtering the variables of
Intervention and different status, intervention and
Comment Alarm Points ;
comments.
Real-time Alarms;
Variables List
Event Type and Allows filtering the variables for
Date Time sequence monitoring, Real-time Events;
Acknowledgement, comment or
operator Historian Alarms
and Events.
Extended Filter Allows adding more filter All modes
conditions to the data list using
logical “AND” and ”OR” operators.
ID filter Allows filtering the variables with All modes
the various ids.
Priority Level Allows filtering the data list with the All modes, except
different types of Priorities
Variables List
Filter Windows
Signal Type
Type Filter Description Available Modes

Controller Allows filtering the cBSig boolean All modes
Boolean variables acquired from controllers.
Controller Allows filtering the cASig analog All modes
Analog variables acquired from controllers.
HMI Analog Allows filtering the phASig and ihASig All modes
analog variables, calculated by the
ALSPA HMI calculation functions.
HMI Boolean Allows filtering phBSig, ihBSig, shBSig All modes
and dhBSig boolean variables
calculated by the ALSPA HMI
calculation functions.
Synthesis Allows filtering the synthesis variables
(phBsig). Real-time
Alarms;
Variables
List.
System Allows filtering the variables
associated to the system alarms. Real-time
Alarms;
Historian

Alarms and
Events.
Sensor Allows filtering the variables
associated to the sensor alarms.
Process Allows filtering the variables
associated to the process alarms.
Setpoints Allows filtering the setpoint variables,
which represent the analog commands Real-time
transmitted to controllers. Events mode;
Historian
Alarms and
Events.
Variables
List
Multistate Allows filtering the multi-state
variables, which represent the state,
value or process operations of the
variable by the numerical values.
Command Allows filtering the command
variables, which represent the logical
commands transmitted to controllers.
Masked Allows filtering the masked variables.
Historian
Alarms and
Events
UnMasked Allows filtering the unmasked
variables.
For more information on the different types of variables, see [HMI_PROP]

(cf. 1.7 List of Referenced Documents).
Process Alarm Condition / Process Signal State / Process Signal Event:
Type Filter Description
High limit Allows filtering the variables crossing their high limit value.
Low limit Allows filtering the variables crossing their low limit value.
HIHI Allows filtering the variables crossing their threshold—
HIHI—value.
HI Allows filtering the variables crossing their threshold—HI—
value.
LO Allows filtering the variables crossing their threshold—LO—
value.
LOLO Allows filtering the variables crossing their threshold—
LOLO—value.

Sensor Alarm Condition:
Validator Fault Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as
validator fault.
Line fault Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as line
fault.
App. Validator Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as
validators application.
Gradient Fault Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as
gradient fault.
H ELEC Limit Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as high
electrical limit fault.
L ELEC Limit Allows filtering the variables, which overshoot the low
electrical limit.
H PHYS Limit Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as high
physical limit fault.
L PHYS Limit Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as high
physical limit fault.
Gemstart Fault Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as
Gemstart fault.
Config fault Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as
Configuration fault.
Hardware fault Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as
Hardware fault.
Sensor fault Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as
sensor fault.
Polarity Loss Allows filtering the alarms which are identified as
polarity loss fault.
Signal Status, Intervention and Comment:

On Monitoring Allows filtering the variables whose status is on-
monitoring.
Off Monitoring Allows filtering the variables whose status is off-
monitoring.
Inhibited Allows filtering the variables whose status is inhibited.
Replaced Allows filtering the variables whose status is replaced.
Valid Allows filtering the variables which are valid.
Invalid Allows filtering the variables which are invalid.
Normal Allows filtering the variables which are normal.
Test Allows filtering the variables which are on test.

Locked Allows filtering the variables which are locked.
With Signal Allows filtering the variables with comments, written in
Comment the Variable Properties Viewer.
Without signal Allows filtering the variables, which do not have
Comment comments in the Variable Properties Viewer.
Alarm Comment Allows filtering the alarms, which have comments in the
Variable Properties Viewer.
Event Type and Date Time:

Sequence Allows filtering the variables of the sequence
Monitoring monitoring.
Alarm Allows filtering the variables for alarm
Acknowledgment acknowledgment.
Variables Allows filtering the variables with comments.
Comment
Other Operator Allows filtering the variables of other operators.
Date time Allows filtering the events from start date to end date.
Start date
End date
Extended Filter:

Or Allows adding a new restrictive filter.
Attribute Allows selecting one of the following operands from
the drop down list:
Variable Id
Variable Label / Description
Function Id
Mimic Id
Cell Id
Operator Allows selecting the operators like ”=”, ”<”, ”>”, ”! =”,
”Like,” ”not Like.”
Value Allows providing the operand like full ID, part of an
ID or numeric values.
ID Filter:

Variable Id Allows filtering the variables with the variable id.
Label / Desc. Allows filtering the variables with the variable label.
contains
Zone Number Allows filtering the variables with the zone number.
Function Id Allows filtering the variables with the function id.

Cell Id Allows filtering the variables with the cell id.
Mimic Id Allows filtering the variables with the mimic id.
Priority Level:

1 Allows filtering the events associated to the priority
level 1.
level 2.
level 3.
level 4.
Common buttons:
All
The All button, if present in the filter window, acts as a switch. It selects and
deselects all the filter options
OK
Confirms the selections and closes the window. Then it displays the Alarms and
Events Viewer listing all the alarms and/or events or variables matching the filter
criteria.
Cancel
Withdraws the selections and closes the window.
4.3 Data List
The data list allows viewing the various properties of the variables in different
operational modes of the Alarms and Events Viewer.
The table below shows the picture of the data list for each operational mode of the
Alarms and Events Viewer:
Mode Data List
Alarm
Points
Real-
time
Alarms

Real-
time
Events
Historian
Alarms
and
Events
Variables
List
The selection of the display columns is done by right clicking on the column titles
band. Find her under the selection menu for each mode.
Alarm Points Real-time Events Variables List
Real-time Alarms Historian Alarms

and Events

Columns description
Header Description Available
Modes
No Shows the serial number of the variables in the
viewer. Variables
List mode
Alarm Acknowledgment column:
Allows acknowledging the alarm appearance Alarm
and disappearance. Points
A click on the acknowledgement icon

acknowledges the alarm
appearance/disappearance.
This icon shows the color of the alarm urgency
degree until the alarm appearance is
acknowledged.
When the alarm appearance is acknowledged,
the color of acknowledgement icon switches to
the normal state color or the alarm entry in the
data list itself gets removed.
The acknowledgement icon in normal state color
requires acknowledgement for alarm
disappearance to get removed from the data list.
The alarm acknowledgement is possible only if
the operator takes control of it using the
acknowledgement icon ( ) in the functions

toolbar. Otherwise, the viewer prompts the
operator to take the control of
acknowledgement.
Information on the functions toolbar is

available in the earlier section of this document
(cf. 4.2,Functions Toolbar).
Alarm Acknowledgment column:
Real-time
Indicates the status of the acknowledgement of Alarms
the alarm. The icon is:
in the color of urgency degree of the alarm,
which has been acknowledged for its
appearance
in the color of normal state for the alarms
which has been acknowledged for its
disappearance
not present when the alarm is not
acknowledged
Variable The first instance of this column shows the color All modes
Color (1)

of the current urgency degree of the alarm
variable.
For real-time alarms mode, the color column in
each row of the data list shows the color of the
urgency degree of the alarm when it is added in
the data list.
Time Shows the date and time of the alarm raised or All modes
the event occurred.
For an alarm, the date and time shows the
appearance or the disappearance (if available),
whichever is the latest.
The Time zone is blank when the date

value is wrong (e.g. an event coming from
equipment not synchronized and with a time
stamping before 01/01/2000)
For more information on the date and time

format, see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7 List of
Invalid Time Shows blank if the time stamping is proper.
Otherwise, shows the symbol ”?” if the time
stamping is doubtful.
Causes of invalid time are :
Source not synchronized.
Detection of changing state by a general
control on a controller (RT Server starting or
controller starting).
ID Shows the id code of the variable responsible for
an alarm or for an event.
This column cannot be hidden.
Label Shows the label or the name of the variable
responsible for an alarm or for an event.
Function ID Shows the function id of the variable responsible
for an alarm or for an event.
Value Shows the value of the analog variables
corresponding to the thresholds. Alarm
The field shows no value for Boolean variables. Points ;
Real-time
Alarms
Variables List
Unit Shows the unit of the analog variables.
The field shows no value for Boolean variables.

Threshold Shows the current threshold value of the
variable. Variables
List
Description Shows the description of the cause of the alarms
and/or events. Real-time
Events;
Historian
Alarms and
Events
State Shows the state corresponding to the thresholds All modes,
and limits (LO LO, HI etc) for the analog except:
variables.
The field shows the state label corresponding to Variables
the value (0 or 1) for the Boolean variables. List
In case of sensor fault, the state label displays
the sensor fault icon.
Status Shows the status of the variable which can be:
Empty field – Indicates On monitoring (for Alarm
analog and Boolean) Points ;
NMON – Indicates Off-monitoring (for analog

Real-time
and Boolean)
Alarms ;
INHI – Indicates Inhibited (for analog and
boolean) Variables
REPL – Indicates Replaced (for analog) List
Replacement by 0 (for boolean)
Replacement by 1 (for boolean)
For more information on the status, see

[HMI_PROP] (cf. 1.7 List of Referenced
Documents).
Int Shows the intervention property of the variable
which can be: Alarm
Normal Points mode ;
Locked ( ) Real-time
Alarms mode ;
On Test ( )
When the intervention is Normal, the field is Variables
empty. List
Doubt Shows the letter ”D” only when the variable is
doubtful.
Otherwise, the field is empty.
Valid
Shows the icon when the variable is invalid.

Otherwise, the field is empty.
Variable The second instance of this column shows the All modes
Color (2) current degree (number) of urgency of the
alarms and/or events or variables and its
corresponding color.
For real-time alarms mode, this Variable Color
column shows only the color of the urgency
degree when the alarm or the event or variable
is added in the data list.
Type Shows the type of variable like controller All modes
boolean or controller analog or multi-state etc.
Limits Shows the values of the maximum and the
minimum limits of the analog variable. Variables
List
The field shows no value for boolean variables.
Category Shows any of the following alarm category: All modes,
except:
( ) - System Alarm
Variables
( ) - Sensor fault List
Process - Process Alarm

Comment on variable column:
Indicates the availability of comments for the Alarm

variable. Points ;
Real-time
Alarms ;
Variables
List
Alarm Comment Rev Req column:
Indicates the availability of comment for the Alarm
alarm acknowledgement. Points;
Real-time
Alarms
Mimic Shows the mimic id, to which the alarms and/or All Modes
events is associated.
Cell Shows the number of the cell, to which the
alarms and/or events belongs. Real-time
Events mode;
Historian
Alarms and
Events
Station Indicates the operator station where comes from
the action.

Masked Indicates the masked alarms for Alarms
Advanced Management option.
The features of the data list are:
Different data lists are displayed for the different operational modes of the Alarms
and Events Viewer.
A contextual menu is available for the data in the data list.
Information on the contextual menu is available in the later section of this
document (cf. 4.4,Contextual Menu).
The columns of the data list can be rearranged, sorted and hidden.
For more information on the ergonomics, see [HMI_WORK] (cf. 1.7 List of
4.4 Contextual Menu
The contextual menu in the data list of the viewer provides various items to view the
alarms, events or variables in different viewers.
The figure below shows the contextual menu:
Description of items:
Item Description
Acknowledge Alarm Allows acknowledging the alarms.
with One Comment
It displays a window to enter a comment on the alarm and
after validation of operator rights, acknowledges the
alarm.
The item is available only in the Alarm Points mode.
Open Shows a sub-menu which gives a list of Viewers with
which the variable can be opened.
- Variables List view Opens the Variables List Viewer in the work area for the
selected variable.
-Y=f(t) Curve view Opens the Y=f(t) Curves Viewer in real-time mode for the
selected variable in the work area.

- Y=f(t) Curve (Historian Opens the Y=f(t) Curves Viewer in historian mode for the
mode) view selected variable in the work area.
- Bar Graph Vertical Opens the Bar Graph Viewer with the dynamic vertical
view bars.
- Bar Graph Horizontal Opens the Bar Graph Viewer with the dynamic horizontal
view bars.
- Trend view Opens the Trend Viewer in the work area.
Add to Lists all the viewers opened in the work area.
The function adds the variable to a selected viewer of the
list.
This option is available only if at least one viewer is
opened in the work area.
View Associated Mimic Opens the Associated mimics.
Open Alarms / Event Opens the Alarms and Events Viewer for the selected
Viewer alarm variable in the work area.
Open Function List Open Function list of variable in the work area.
Viewer
Open Maintenance View Open ALSPA architecture.
View Alarm Sheets Opens the associated Alarm Sheet.
View Diagram Opens the associated Diagram.
Delete Disabled for Alarms and Events Viewer.
Properties Opens the Variable Properties Viewer for the variable.
For more information, see [HMI_PROP] (cf. 1.7 List

of Referenced Documents).
Comment Opens the comments window of the Variable Properties
Viewer for the selected variable.
Copy Variable ID Copies the variable id to the clipboard of the ALSPA HMI
and clipboard of the system.
The variable id’s added to the clipboard of the ALSPA HMI
can be used to add them to any other viewer (like Y=f(x)
Curves Viewer etc).

Section 5 Dynamic principles of the Alarm Point Viewer
5.1 General principles
The Alarm Point viewer is updated following different cases:

Creation of a new alarm point in the Alarm Point viewer, in this case, an alarm
row is added at the end of the Alarm point list.
Update of an existing Alarm point. The existing row is updated at the same
position in following cases:
- State modification
- Status modification
- Date, validity, variable comment, appearance acknowledgement, doubt
Operator action: only operator action modifies the Alarm order:
- Acknowledgment of an appearance of an alarm back to normal state and
which is not configured for disappearance acknowledgement
- Sorting
- Filtering
5.2 Appearance of a new alarm
5.2.1 General cases
The appearance of an alarm is provoked by the switching of the alarm state of a

variable which is:
Valid.
On monitoring or replaced in the controller (forced).
Whose intervention mode is not "locked".
If the alarm point is already present in the list (same threshold or limit for an analog
variable), the row is updated (timetag, acknowledgement button, color block). If not,
a new line is added at the end of the list.
An alarm also appears if the alarm is active when the variable returns ”on
monitoring” after the following situation:
inhibited,
or off monitoring,
or replaced at HMI level,
and/or invalid,
locked.

5.2.2 Case of a sensor fault
The appearance of a sensor fault (caused by a hardware fault or triggered by a

control function program) produces a new row in the alarm list.
The fact that the line represents a sensor fault is shown by the symbol .
Any other process alarm messages linked to this variable are flagged as invalid.
The occurrence of another sensor fault causes a new alarm row to appear.
5.2.3 Rules on colors displayed
On appearance of an alarm, the color block of alarm row corresponds to the urgency
degree. The color block of alarm line reverts to "normal state color" when the
variable quits the alarm state. This color can be configured for each degree.
The acknowledgement button at the start of the row is displayed:
In the color of the degree of urgency when acknowledgement of the appearance
of an alarm is required.
In the "normal state color" when acknowledgement of the disappearance of an
alarm is required.
The color of the urgency degree (for color block or acknowledgement button) can be
configured for each variable and can be a flashing color.
5.2.4 Rules on the dates displayed
The appearance date is visible when:

The alarm is active and appearance is not acknowledged.
The alarm is active and appearance is acknowledged.
The disappearance date is visible when:
The alarm is inactive, and appearance is acknowledged, and disappearance
acknowledgement is required for this degree.
If the alarm is active and inactive several times, only last appearance and
disappearance dates are shown
5.3 Deletion of alarm rows
An alarm point disappears from the Alarm Point viewer when:

The operator acknowledges an inactive alarm with appearance previously
acknowledged. Case of disappearance acknowledgement required for this
degree.
The appearance is previously acknowledged and alarm becomes inactive. Case
of disappearance acknowledgement not required for this degree.
The operator acknowledges an alarm point of a variable in following situation:
- inhibited,
- or off monitoring,
- or replaced at HMI level,

- and/or invalid,
- locked.
When an acknowledged alarm is set in one of the previous states, an
acknowledgement button is redisplayed, so that the operator could delete
the associated alarm row.
5.4 Acknowledgement and Selection
Acknowledge a single alarm without selection:

In the Alarm point viewer, to acknowledge a single alarm, the operator must click
the symbol in the first column of the alarm row.
Select several alarms and acknowledge the group selected:
To acknowledge multiple alarms, select the required alarms using standard
window philosophy of selection (using Ctrl/Shift and mouse selection) and click
the button in the alarm toolbar. This action acknowledges only the selected
and visible alarms.
If more than 50 alarms are selected then only the visible alarms are kept
selected when an operator actions redisplays the list.
Acknowledge all the displayed alarms without selection:
To acknowledge all the visible alarms, click the button in the alarm toolbar.
5.5 Saturation of the Alarm Point list
A saturation of this list is possible and is announced by displaying .

The system continues to update the visible alarm lines of the Alarm Point list, and
maintains in background (in the server) the other alarm points which cannot have
their place in the visible list.
Thus no information is lost during this phase.
While opening a saturated alarms list, the system limits the number of displayed
alarms without any specific sorting. New alarm points are inserted at the end of the
list. Alarm points not displayed at the opening of the viewer will appear only after
application of adequate filters.
Only operator actions on the list can unsaturate the list:
The saturation state of the alarm lists is recalculated on actions like:
- Acknowledgement of alarm points of inactive state.
- Acknowledgement of Off Monitoring, inhibited, replaced, locked, invalid
variable.
These actions remove the alarm points of the visible list.
The list is updated when saturation disappears.
Adequate successive filters allow the user to see appropriate alarm points
in a saturated system.

Section 6 "Automatic Sorting" option of the Alarm Point Viewer
6.1 General Principle
The "Standard" mode of the Alarm Point viewer is designed for a stable display of
the viewer in case of a new alarm appearance or reappearance of existing alarms
(cf. Section 5,Dynamic principles of the Alarm Point Viewer).
The "Automatic sorting" mode of the Alarm Point viewer is designed for a dynamic
display of the viewer as per selected chronology in case of new alarm appearance
or reappearance of the existing alarms.
With the "Automatic Sorting" mode:
A new alarm always appears at the top or bottom of the current alarm list based
on the chronology selected.
If the Alarm Point Viewer is sorted on KKS, the new alarm appears in the
start/middle/end of the list based on the KKS of the alarm variable.
The list automatically sorts after insertion of each new alarm as per the selected
chronology.
The acknowledgement of alarms is always preceded by the selection of the
alarms to acknowledge.
The rules of acknowledgement with automatic sorting are described in
§6.2.
By default, a freshly opened Alarm Point viewer is sorted in anti-chronological
order (the more recent at the top)
The sorting can be changed to chronological or anti-chronological order by
clicking the time column header.
6.2 Select before Acknowledge
Before acknowledging the alarm, the operator must select the alarm or the group of
alarms to be acknowledged (cf. 5.4,Acknowledgement and Selection).
In the "automatic sorting" mode, concerning the selection behaviour, the only
difference with the "Standard" mode is when clicking on the alarm symbol ( ) at
the beginning of the alarm row:
If the row is not selected the selection will be done.
If the row is already selected, the alarms will be acknowledged.
The Acknowledgement by page button is hidden is this mode.

6.3 Saturation of the Alarm list and Eclipsed Alarms (AAM Option)
In the case of the Advanced Alarm Management option, when the alarm list is
saturated , the eclipsed mode cannot be enabled and the refresh of

the list is slower.
If Eclipsing is activated on a filtered list (which is filtered on a saturated
list), it is advised to deactivate Eclipsing before removing the filter to come
back to saturated list.
6.4 Configuring the option
The "Automatic Sorting" option is configured in the HMI configuration file on operator
station.

Section 7 Audible Alarm Management
7.1 Principles
To catch the attention of the operator, an alarm can be associated to a sound called
a “horn”. The configuration of the horn is done in Controcad.
Depending on the configuration, the horn can be triggered:
when an alarm appears,
when an alarm disappears,
when an alarm appears and disappears.
The sound can be produced:

by the operator station: the ALSPA HMI has control over the alarm sound. The
sounds are .wav files.
by the sound equipment: commands (Cmd) are sent to an external device which
produces the sound.
Commands can also be sent to a device which produces light signals.
by the operator station and the sound equipment.
The horn can be configured to produce sound according to:

the degree of urgency: the sound is played for the highest alarm urgency degree
regardless of the zone. Appearing alarm sound always has priority on
disappearing alarm sound. Disappearing alarm sound is audible only when there
is a disappearing alarm and no appearing alarm after the horn acknowledgement.
the zone: the sound is played for the zone which has the highest alarm urgency
degree. If several zones have the same level of alarm urgency degree, then the
sounds are played one after the other.

7.2 Acknowledging the horn
The horn can be acknowledged from the alarm bar with the audible alarm icon:
When a new alarm appears or disappears, the horn keeps playing till it is
acknowledged. The audible alarm icon flashes yellow.
Clicking the audible alarm icon acknowledges the horn that is to say stops the sound
on all the stations until a new alarm appears or disappears.
Clicking the audible alarm icon is the only way to stop the sound.
There is no link between horn acknowledgement and alarm

acknowledgement.
7.3 Enabling/disabling the sound
To disable the sound on the station, click the drop-down arrow of the audible alarm
icon and choose Mute Station Sound:
When the sound is disabled, the audible alarm icon becomes and no sound
is produced thereafter for any alarm.
The sound can be reactivated by clicking the drop-down arrow and choosing Enable
Station Sound:

7.4 “Stop horn by alarm acknowledgement” option
The “stop horn by alarm acknowledgement” option allows combining alarm

acknowledgement with horn acknowledgement.
With this option, the horn stops when all the alarms of the category it sounds for are
acknowledged.
Configuration per degree of urgency:

When you acknowledge all the highest-priority alarms, the corresponding sound
stops. The horn then sounds for the next highest-priority alarms, if any.
Appearing alarm sound always has priority on disappearing alarm sound
To stop the horn, all the alarms of all degrees of urgency must be acknowledged
for all zones.
If the station does not manage all zones, the operator may not be able to stop the
horn.
Configuration per zone:

When you acknowledge all the alarms of all degrees of urgency of a zone, the
corresponding sound stops.
When you acknowledge the horn using the audible alarm icon (cf. 7.2
Acknowledging the horn), the horn stops even if the alarms are not all
acknowledged. When a new alarm appears, the system reassesses the
acknowledgement state of all the alarms and the horn sounds for the
highest priority alarm that is not acknowledged.

Section 8 Zones Management
A Zone is an operational entity of the plant that groups information of the same
scope of geographical or functional authority.
The projects can be classified into the following categories based on the number of
zones defined in Controcad (in Controcad, Zone is defined as Set).
Single zone project – Number of zones is one
Multi zone project – Number of zones is more than one
In the ALSPA HMI, the zones are displayed in the alarm bar of the top frame.
8.1 Alarm Bar
The alarm bar helps to view the zones defined in the project and to manage the
audible alarms.
The zones help to view the alarms present in it.
The figure below shows the alarm bar:

The alarm bar has the following two sections:
Global section: shows all the zones defined in the project
User section: shows the zones that are accessible to the station and the user
Note : The maximum number of zones in the zone alarm bar for a project is 32.
8.1.1 Global Section
The global section provides an overview of all the zones defined in the plant.
The features of the zones in the Global section are:
The color of the zone is the color of an alarm with the highest urgency degree in
that zone.
When a zone has no color it indicates that there are no alarms associated to the
zone.
The tooltip of the zone shows the zone number, the number of unacknowledged
alarms and the total number of alarms in that zone.
8.1.2 User Section
The user section provides only the zones accessible to the operator and the station.
For a zone to be displayed, the station and operator must have the access rights on
the zone.
For more information on the operator right, see [HMI_WORK] (cf1.7 List of
A zone is displayed as a frame containing:
the zone name
the total number of unacknowledged alarms for the zone / the total number of
alarms for this zone
the color of the alarm with the highest urgency degree
The tooltip of the zone which shows the zone number, the number of
unacknowledged alarms and the total number of alarms in that zone.
Example:
- Zone1
No of UnkAlarms: 5
No of Alarms: 12
- Zone17
No of UnkAlarms: 2
No of Alarms: 4
A click on a zone in the user section opens the Alarms and Events Viewer with a
filter on the requested zone.
Information on data displayed in the viewer is given earlier in this
document (cf. Section 4,Description of the Alarms and Events Viewer).


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ALSPA Control System

Alarms & Events Viewer

ACCESSIBILITY OPERATING & MAINTENANCE MANUAL

DATE 2014-06-24 STAT. CFE - Published

GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076 en J Power/PAC A4 1/56 56

Section 1 Preamble ................................................................................................................. 4

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

1.1 Purpose of the Document

1.2 Important Information

Alstom Power is committed to high quality products in compliance with

Alstom is committed to top customer assistance services.

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

Indicates a situation of imminent danger which, if it is not avoided, will

Indicates a potentially dangerous situation, which if not avoided will lead

Indicates a potentially dangerous situation which, if it is not avoided, may

Indicates a potential electrical danger related to voltages, currents,

Highlights instructions or other important information which must be

Points out important information.

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

This equipment presents dangers to the personnel and to the equipment

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE

Most electronic equipment is affected by radio frequency interference

STATIC SENSITIVE DEVICES

ALSPA system equipment contains components sensitive to electrostatic

1.5 Standards & Codes

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

ALSPA Series 6 Distributed Control System (DCS) of Alstom Power.

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

Notation for Signals used in ALSPA Control System.

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

1.7 List of Referenced Documents

[HMI_WORK] Refer to the Operating & Maintenance manuals of the

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

2.1 Alarms and Events

An alarm is a state change which informs the operator of an operational anomaly or

2.2 Alarms and Events Viewer

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

The features of the Alarms and Events Viewer are:

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

More information on alarm acknowledgment is available

More information on opening the Alarms and Events

2.6 Alarm Acknowledgement

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

Note : The points to be noticed in each type of filter are:

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

3.1 Opening from the Functional Structure

3.2 Opening from the System Structure

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

3.4 Opening from the Single Variable

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

3.5 Opening from the Alarm Bar

3.6 Opening from another Viewer

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

Home icon ( ) } Open Alarms / Event Viewer } Select below options

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

Information on adding the viewers to Shortcuts / Key Shortcuts of Explorer

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

from the Key Shortcuts is:

The “user favorites” icon ( ), which acts as switch allows to access or

ALSPA Control System - ALSPA HMI V6 GFR-020C04020-EDC-200076-en Rev.J

ALSPA Control System ALSPA HMI V6 Alarms & Events Viewer Reference Manual

ALSPA Control System ALSPA HMI V6 Alarms & Events Viewer Reference Manual