Operator Station terminology Page 1 of 5

Operator Station terminology

The following table contains a list of terms used in conjunction with the Operator Station.

Table 1. Terms used with the Operator Station

Term Definition

Application Menu Button in upper left corner of an application window that can be used to access
Button functions for that application.

Apply Used to verify the data, enter information, and start a desired operation. The
window is not dismissed.

Cancel Cancels changes and dismisses the window.

Characteristics Provides a method for sorting the database based on plant area, signal type,
equipment, or other concepts you might want to use. There are eight
alphanumeric characters available per point.

You can define each Operator Station to receive alarms from specific plant
areas or destinations. This is done by assigning a unique destination to each
point. The first character in this field defines the destination. This character
must be either a letter (A-Z), a dash (-) (matches all characters on a given
sort), or a blank space that does not match any character. Points with alarms
cannot have a blank destination.

Dockable tabs Movable tabs located in the bottom half of an application window. These tabs
provide detailed information about points, alarms, and current application
sessions. Use the Guide Diamond[to-use-the-guide-diamond-tool.html] to move
and anchor dockable tabs.

Double-click Action that requires you to rapidly click the left mouse button twice.

Drag and Drop Window manager function that allows you to “drag” data from one window and
“drop” it into another window.

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Term Definition

Frequency Represents the broadcast frequency of the point. The choices are:

• Slow 1.0 second

• Fast 0.1 second
• Aperiodic as requested

Aperiodic points are broadcast in special aperiodic DDBs that are

broadcast on the network by subscription. When a point’s dynamic data
is accessed from another drop, that drop sends a request to the
originator to start broadcasting (once a second) the DDB that contains
the point. These subscriptions are renewed with the subsequent
accesses. Once the subscription runs out, the point (DDB) no longer
broadcasts

Grayed out Color of a button or entry field that indicates that a function or menu item is not
available to you under the present conditions.

Guide Diamond[to- A type of mouse that can arrange and anchor multiple dockable tabs in a
use-the-guide- window. The Guide is shaped like a cross where each section of the "cross" is
diamond-tool.html] used to help position a dockable tab in a window.

Icon Graphical representation of a window or function.

LAI Last Active Instance. This icon appears in the window of the graphic that is
currently active. The request executes in the window where LAI appears.

Latched Quality When the quality of a point is set to a requested value. Test Mode must be On
in order to use the Latched Quality option. Choices are Good, Fair, Poor, or
Bad.

Left-click Action that requires you to click the left mouse button once. The left mouse
button is used to select a window or an item inside a window.
(“Select”)

Maximize Opens the window to the full size of the screen.

Minimize Removes the window from the screen, but does not terminate the application.
A button on the task bar provides access to the application.

OK Applies changes and dismisses the window.

Open Double-click an icon to open the application.

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Term Definition

Quality The system can be configured to display an additional quality reason clarifier
after the point quality description. If you want the reasons to display, the
Reasons system should be configured to set the order of precedence for the quality
reasons, in addition to the text that displays for each reason. The Value/Status
tab on the Point Information window displays all applicable quality reasons.

Possible Quality reasons are:

• Latched Quality
• Tagged Out
• Hardware Error
• Oscillating Point
• Sensor Calibrate
• Scan Removed
• Data Link Failure
• Substituted Entered Value
• Algorithm Application
• Test Mode
• User Definable
• Engineering Limit
• Reasonability Limit

Quality Good = none

Displays Description = Can be the result of following factors:

• The data is usable as it stands.

• Test mode.
• The result of a quality checking algorithm in the application (algorithm
propagation).

Fair = F

Description = Can be the result of following factors:

• An Operator entered value.

• Test mode.
• The result of a quality checking algorithm in the application (algorithm
propagation).

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Term Definition

Poor = P

Description = Can be the result of following factors:

• Generated from certain algorithms if some inputs were bad and some
were good.
• Input at over range (either positive or negative).
• If out of Engineering Range.
• Test mode.
• The result of a quality checking algorithm in the application (algorithm
propagation).

Bad = B

Description = Can be the result of following factors:

• Faulty input hardware.

• Input out of specified sensor range (analog).
• The removal of a point from scan.
• If out of Reasonability Range.
• Test mode.
• The result of a quality checking algorithm in the application (algorithm
propagation).

Timed Out = T

Description = The point is not being updated. The drop that broadcasts the
point is probably off the network.

The formal definition of “quality” does not include the status “Timed Out.”
However, window displays that contain process point status usually include
Timed Out information in the same screen location as the four Quality items.

Quick Access Group of icons located next to the Application Menu button. These icons can
Toolbar access the most frequently used functions for that application.

Refresh Refreshes screen.

Ribbon An interface where a set of icons are placed on a ribbon panel in a ribbon tab
instead of using menus and toolbars. The icon options are context sensitive,
which means that the available icon options change depending on which part
of the interface you are using at that time.

Ribbon Bar Contains the function names of the groups of icons that perform a specific task.

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Term Definition

Ribbon Group Name of the type of function that is displayed in the application window. For
example, "List Operations" for the different alarm lists that display in the Alarm
window.

Ribbon Panel Collection of related tasks illustrated by icons that change as the ribbon tabs
change.

Ribbon Tabs Tabs located under the Quick Access Toolbar. These tabs are used to set the
configuration for the application.

Right-click By clicking the right button on the mouse, a pop-up menu may display
containing actions appropriate to the cursor position and application.
(“Menu”)

Status Bar An area at the bottom of many program windows that contains a short text
message about the current condition of the program and specific application
data.

Task Bar A small area on the screen which contains buttons for all the running
applications. The task bar is usually along the bottom, but may be positioned
along any edge.

Title Bar Top margin of a diagram. Contains minimize, maximize, and close icons in
upper right corner.

Toolbar The toolbar is usually located under the Menu bar. It is a row of on-screen
graphical buttons or icons relating to application functions.

W# A box appears around this W# icon to show which window is active.

Workspace Graphical environment where menus, icons, and diagrams are located.

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