Overview
AlarmGroups refer to the alarm feature to group alarms items according to shared characteristics to enhance the organization and alarm monitoring. They streamline alarm management by allowing users to configure settings collectively. These settings include acknowledgment requirements, notification methods, sounds, colors, logging preferences, and minimum active times.
The software platform offers pre-defined AlarmGroups to categorize alarms by severity and purpose. Warning alarms indicate potential issues or deviations from normal conditions. Critical alarms signal urgent situations that require immediate operator intervention to prevent severe consequences. AuditTrail alarms track system events, actions, or modifications, providing a record for analysis, security monitoring, and compliance.
Configuring AlarmGroups
To create a new AlarmGroup, follow the steps below:
- Access Alarms / Groups.
- Click the Plus icon to create a new group.
- Enter a Name and Description for the group.
- Click Ok to save the new group.
- Now, edit the properties, such as Sound or Log Events, by double-clicking the desired one. See the next section on this page for more details on the available properties.
Once finished press Enter on your keyboard to save the edit.
Edit existing group
You can also do this to edit an existing group. Double-click the desired property to edit it, and press Enter on your keyboard to save it.
To delete an AlarmGroup, select it from the list of groups and click the red X icon.
Before Deleting an AlarmGroup, ensure all associated Alarm Items are detached. Go to Alarms / Items to verify if any alarms are still linked to the specific group. Additionally, utilize the Track Changes / Cross Reference tool to see if the alarm group is currently in use.
AlarmGroups Properties
The AlarmGroups properties allow users to define and manage collective behaviors of alarm items bundled into specific groups. Each group can have unique characteristics, such as:
- Whether acknowledgments are required.
- How they present themselves visually and audibly.
- The notification methods employed.
The following is a table describing each available property field for AlarmGroups:
If a property column is not visible on the grid, enable it by right-clicking the grid header and selecting it from the list.
Alarm Groups Configuration Table | |
|---|---|
Property | Description |
Name | Defines the name of the AlarmGroup. |
Ack Required | Defines the acknowledgment necessity status, indicating that if an alarm is triggered, it stays active until acknowledged by the user, even if operating conditions return to normal. |
ActiveTimeDeadband | Specifies the time period during which the system ignores active alarms. |
AckTimeout | Defines the timeout period for acknowledgment.. |
AutoAckTime | Specifies the time period after which the system automatically acknowledges the alarm if the user has not already done so. |
Sound | Defines the sound alert linked to the AlarmGroup. The system plays this sound when an alarm triggers until the user acknowledges the alarm. For more information, please see the Alarm Groups Sounds page. |
Show | Indicates whether the system displays alarms from this group. |
LogEvents | Specifies logging status for group events. |
Colors | Defines the color codes assigned to alarms in this group for visual identification. |
NotificationMethod | Defines the method used to send notifications. Sending notifications involves calling a Class method from the Script module in custom applications. This allows for performing automated processes such as sending emails, SMS, or any programmable action. |
Category | Specifies the category designation for the group. |
LockState | Shows current lock status of the group. |
LockOwner | Identifies the user or system that locked the group. |
DateModified | Shows the date the group was last modified. |
DateCreated | Shows the date when the AlarmGroup was created. |
Description | Provides a detailed explanation of the AlarmGroup and its purpose. |
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