Access OPC tags in Control Builder (800xa v6.0)

Hi, I want to access my opc object tags in control builder; I am trying to do this according the method in .doc file (attached). But its not changing value of variable1(snapshot in Help.zip attached) in control builder. Its not even taking substitution value. Also I have provided snap of source expression for my opc tags.

So I want to access my opc tags in control builder, which is not happening. Please have look at attached data and suggest solution.

Thanks!

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Waqas_Khan Rank: 128

Asked 5 years ago

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Please disregard from the "Is controllable" property - its only needed when writing to PLC Connect (which is part of the MS Word file attached to your query).

I have just verified in my lab that there should be nothing preventing you from Property Transfer a foreign OPC property into an AC 800M Diagram. My test passed with flying colors.

1. Check for Property Transfer errors in the [Workplace Structure]Web System Workplace:System Event List. E.g. a data type conversion error, etc.

2. Consider erasing ALL Property Transfer Definition aspects and start from scratch with just one. We've had issues in the past when one corrupt transfer definition blocked the others. The Find Tool can easily find them if you search for Aspect Category = Property Transfer Definition. The Find Tool also allows you to mark & export them in case you have many and would like to take a backup before deleting all.

3. Can you test to write from, e.g. a Faceplate aspect?

Create a Faceplate PG2 aspect, the assign a bottom row push button to write a known value to the property.

4. Writes can be traced in the AC 800M OPC server by setting the OPCDADEBUGPRINT system variable to TRUE (remember to reset it to FALSE after finishing the troubleshooting, or else the log file will continue to grow...).

The log can be pulled from View->View logfile...

...

I 2015-07-29 07:47:11.580 AsyncWrite (2.0) started: 1 items in AdvDsOPCAdapterGroup6, TransID = 45
I 2015-07-29 07:47:11.632 AsyncWrite finished for TransID = 45.
I 2015-07-29 07:47:11.632 OnWriteComplete sent to client, TransID = 45, HRESULT = 0

...

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by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/28/2015 11:04:11 PM | Like (0) | Report

It is showing this error message in the system event list.
"Last Write Failed: Property: 'Variable1'. Aspect: 'Diagram2:Property Transfer Definition'. Error: 'OPC_E_UNKNOWNITEMID(0xc0040007) The item is no longer available in the server address space. '." Also I don't see PLC Connect in object type structure. I have yet to try sending from faceplate but I don't know why I am receiving this error

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 7/28/2015 11:08:46 PM | Like (0) | Report

Have you connected the controller in the OPC server panel and gotten a smiley face?

Can you subscribe for live data in the Diagram aspect (in Plant Explorer).

If you have redundant OPC servers, you must connect the controller in each of them.

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/29/2015 12:48:06 AM | Like (0) | Report

Please check the pics on below link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/asj8cl3uofzzrsu/New%20folder.zip?dl=0
Now I have smiley and opc error not showing. But i still have errors. I don't have redundant opc servers. Also Diagram aspect live data shows bad quality (snap attached)

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 7/29/2015 1:15:36 AM | Like (1) | Report

I rather sure "Bad (not connected)" is a status from the OPC server. Verify if the "advdsopcclient.exe" test tool get the same result if you connect it directly to the AC800MOpcServer.3 and browse/subscribe for this item?

If you get the same bad status there, try restarting the soft controller or delete/download to it again.

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/29/2015 2:35:17 AM | Like (0) | Report

Ok this working both reading and writing the tags shown on following link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6mlf8kr3kltgwgf/OPC%20client.png?dl=0
But I am still not able to write from Property Transfer Definition.

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 7/29/2015 3:45:05 AM | Like (0) | Report

If direct connection works, but not via "Subscribe for live data" in Plant Explorer there must be something wrong with how the data source has been setup.

a) Verify that the OPC Data Source Definition aspect (usually on top of control network or control structure) is pointing to the CORRECT service group.

b) Verify that the appointed service group (in previous step) is actually connecting the ABB.AC800MC_OpcDaServer.3 and nothing else.

Try also to delete the OPC DA Connector service group from the service structure and use the "New..." button on the OPC Data Source Definition to create a new group and provider.

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/29/2015 6:34:54 AM | Like (0) | Report

Ok, this too is working now. Subscribe live data is reading value. But property transfer definition is not working.
Event List gives following error:
"The specified property transfer definition in 'Diagram2:Property Transfer Definition' is incorrect. Error: 'The parameter is incorrect.'. ObjectId: Diagram2, AspectId: {B85F4401-5643-45D6-BFF7-58D9FB8BF2B6} "

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 7/29/2015 10:58:51 AM | Like (0) | Report

Delete & recreate the PTD

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/29/2015 1:43:02 PM | Like (0) | Report

Have done it several times over. But its still giving this error?
I have uploaded about 1000 from yokogawa dcs server I just have to show them in HMI. e.g. PnID loop logic is made in Yokogawa, I want to show its simple control (PV,SP,MV,Mode) in ABB. For this purpose is it in necessary to take it to control builder?
Because in this way I will have to write source expression for every tag manually I guess.

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/29/2015 2:08:00 PM | Like (0) | Report

Is there a simple solution? In which we have HMI objects and faceplates and we can enter tags from OPC server for them to function. Also all these tags would put extra load on the control once downloaded.

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/29/2015 3:38:29 PM | Like (0) | Report

Dear Stefan, Thanks for help, there data type and tagname issues. My initial problems is now cleared.
But my question in previous two comments regarding a better way for this is still exist.
Since I have to make HMI from another DCS(working as OPC server for ABB) here. I want to only change in HMI. What could be a better way ? Please suggest.

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/29/2015 3:38:31 PM | Like (0) | Report

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 7/29/2015 11:46:28 PM | Like (0) | Report

Have you resolved the "Property Transfer Definition' is incorrect. Error: 'The parameter is incorrect." problem now?

If your purpose is to show Yokogawa OPC data on 800xA HMI, you do not need to transfer the properties to any other location, e.g. AC 800M before creating graphics.

You can have the graphics to read directly from the Generic OPC network you have uploaded from Yokogawa.

The Uploader has a merge function, if Yokogawa has a object called FIC101 with a property of VALUE that you would like to present in PG2, you could do as follows:

a) Create a generic object type e.g. named YokoTypeAnalog in the Object Type Structure.

b) Add a Control Connection aspect and populate it with a property named VALUE of correct type, etc.

c) Create graphic element on YokoTypeAnalog to present VALUE.

d) Create one instance of YokoTypeAnalog in the Functional Structure, name it FIC101

e) See to that FIC101 does not exist in Control Structure (i.e step d should be made before f)

f) Upload the Yokogawa OPC server

g) When the uploader read FIC101 from Yokogawa, it will check if an object named FIC101 exists once and only once in the 800xA structure, if the answer is yes, the FIC101 object in the Functional Structure will be INSERTED into the Control Structure and the Control Connection will be updated with the real VALUE property and make the display element show the Yokogawa data!

This way, you can upload many objects from a foreign OPC server using Generic OPC, but still get a "typed" solution so that all "YokoTypeAnalog" objects get the same display elements.

Of course, there is a job to know all objects and types before upload.

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/30/2015 4:03:45 AM | Like (0) | Report

Yes I have resolved the property transfer definition errors and now am able to receive tags in control builder. Thanks very much for that.

I will try this method and inform you with results.

Is it possible if make some libraries in which we only have standard hmi's for opc signals like pid, ai,ao, di ,do. and when ever we add them on graphics we have to enter related tags ?

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 7/30/2015 4:09:08 AM | Like (0) | Report

Last question yes.

But wouldn't it be easier if you after an upload of Generic OPC directly can drag & drop display elements into your graphics (which would be enabled by following my previous advise, i.e. to pre-create objects)?

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 7/31/2015 2:41:15 AM | Like (0) | Report

Ok sir, Is it possible to do it in Bulk ?
Like If I have all my opc tags in excel and I import them and multiple display elements are made automatically?

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 7/31/2015 4:32:32 AM | Like (0) | Report

Yes, it should be possible.
1. Create type(s) and display elements matching the types.
2. Perform test upload of Generic OPC network
3. Use BDM to retrieve the object names
4. Find out type of every individual object and update Excel tables accordingly.
5. Delete the previously uploaded objects from xA
6. Use BDM to pre-create objects (using types from step 1) in Functional Structure.
7. Perform Generic OPC upload again.
8. The uploader will detect if pre-created object exist and INSERT it to control structure and update the Control Connection so that subscription is possible.

by Waqas_Khan Rank: 128 on 8/21/2015 8:43:11 AM | Like (0) | Report

Hi, Stefan in this situation how can I generate alarm. In every OPC object I have a property named "ALRM" which is giving me alarm in string e.g. "HH" for High High alarm, "LL" for low low alarm. How can I generate Alarms using this in ABB according to above scenario?? Please Help

by Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1 on 8/21/2015 11:02:45 AM | Like (0) | Report

In lack of an OPC AE server you must fall back on the less desirable/reliable Alarm Expression.

Expression could be made on object type level.
Here is an example for four different conditions, HH,H,L and LL:

$'.:Control Connection:ALRM' == 'HH'
$'.:Control Connection:ALRM' == 'H'
$'.:Control Connection:ALRM' == 'L'
$'.:Control Connection:ALRM' == 'LL'

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Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1

Answered 5 years ago

Answers

Have you enabled the "Is controllable" property in the PLC Connect signal configuration?

If not, you will not be able to write.

In any case, look for Property Transfer errors in the [Workplace Structure]Web System Workplace:System Event List.

Update Rate 0 ms may be too fast. If you see "transaction overrun" warnings the writing takes longer time than the updates, ie a new value is received from source side before last write was completed. Increase update rate until overruns stop.

AC800 OPC server does not permit more than 50 simultaneous writes per group. If you have more than 50 transfer properties sharing group (by having same update rate) writes may fail. Do not let more than 50 properties share same update rate setting. A tiny milliesecond difference is enough to force a new separate group to be created.

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Stefan Stromqvist AKS expert

Rank: 1

Answered 5 years ago

Thank you for this topic. It really helped me today in my work! I needed to get an OPC value and send it to a small operator panel via access variables. It worked great after following your attached documents. Thank you! :-)

Regards Joakim xxxx , Automation Engineer on AFRY Malmö, Sweden

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joakim.kock Rank: 3945

Answered 1 month ago

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Access OPC tags in Control Builder (800xa v6.0)

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