A graph displays variations in object states or values with respect to time and can facilitate gaining a quick overview of the characteristic behavior of selected key process components.
Operators can use a graph to:
IGSS graphs are capable of combining current trends and historical data in the same chart, enabling the operator to see at a glance what happened in the process just before and immediately after an intervention or incident.
A graph chart can contain values or states of up to 16 signals. A signal can be an IGSS object atom. All values and states from Analog, Counter, Digital and Table object types can be displayed in a graph.
The data source can be log data, (*.log), reduced data (*.bcl), HourDayMonth data (HDM) or a combination of the data types. Live object data can also be displayed in the graph.
Graphs in IGSS are considered to be Container objects (auxiliary objects) and can be referenced as objects using descriptors such as buttons, rectangles or the graph object symbol.
The IGSS Object-Level Protection feature can also be applied to a Graph, helping to prevent unauthorized users from opening the graph.
There are different graph types in IGSS:
A predefined graph is created in advance by the system designer in the Definition module, and can be edited, maintained and deleted by anyone with system designer user rights. The operator can access predefined graphs in the Supervise module from the Graph menu or by clicking on a descriptor such as symbols, buttons, images and clickable areas representing the graph in a process diagram.
Graph properties can be edited by the operator during supervision for temporary use, but the changes to the predefined graph will not be saved when the project is closed. However, the operator can use a pre-defined graph as basis for creating an Operator Graph with the same or changed properties and save it on the operator’s own local pc as a user-defined graph. Only people with access to this pc will be able to open, edit and delete it.
There are two types of predefined graphs:
Graphs created and displayed in a separate window (not part of a process diagram), also referred to as Standard Graphs. The Graph menu displays all available predefined Standard Graphs in the active area, provided that system engineer has selected the Name to Menu or Description to menu option.
If the graph is displayed with a check mark in the Graph menu, the graph is open.
Example of a Standard Graph in a separate window.
An Operator
graph is a graph created on-the-fly by the operator during in the Supervise module during supervision. In the Supervise diagrams, the operator selects which IGSS objects to include in the graph and
then selects Graph ® Create
Operator Graph. This function is very useful, if the operator wants
to monitor a specific process component before and after an intervention.
The Operator graph can be saved as a user-defined graph (*.usr) on the local work station. When re-opened,
the graph will be dynamically updated. User-defined Operator Graphs are not displayed in the Graph menu in Supervise.
Kindly refer to the help in the IGSS Supervise module for more information on how to create and use the Operator Graph.
Dashboard graphs are created and displayed in the Dashboard module, which is used to provide the operator with a quick overview of the process by combining different data representations in one view.
Dashboard graphs are simpler with much less design and navigation options than the other graph types. They can be created and maintained by both the System Designer and the Operator in the Dashboard module using the Graph Widget. For more information on how to create and navigate Dashboard Graphs, kindly refer to the IGSS Dashboard module help.
Example of Dashboard Graph, a typical part of a Dashboard quick overview window.
The Graph menu displays all available Standard graphs in the active area provided that the Name to Menu or Description to menu option is selected for each graph. If the graph is displayed with a check mark in the Graph menu, the graph is open.
When you create a graph, you specify a number of properties using the Graph Properties form, which is identical for all types of graphs (with a few exceptions)*:
The properties of pre-defined graphs can be changed at any time by the system designer in IGSS Definition. User-defined Operator Graphs can be changed in IGSS Supervise.
For detailed information on how to create and navigate graphs, define properties, etc., kindly refer to the How to …. guides in the Help section.
*An Embedded Graph Basic, used in older versions of IGSS, is also available, mainly for editing of already existing graphs. This is operated differently and provides much less options. The same is the case for the Dashboard Graph.
See Also
Create a new graph in a separate window
Create and edit an Embedded Graph Basic