Entering General Alarm Type Attributes

The General tab is the default view that enables you to create the expression for processing alarms. It is used with the Conditions tab to determine the logic behind the alarm states. See the Alarm Types Overview topic for additional information.

To enter General alarm attributes:

  1. (Optional) Description: Type a brief description of the alarm type.
  2. Define the Scan Rate (1000 ms is the default). This is the data point scan rate for all alarms connected to the alarm type and it applies to all alarm inputs for the Dynamic/Constant input type.
  3. Select the Enable Latch checkbox to activate the Closedlatching alarm.

    The alarm remains in the alarm state after the condition returns to normal and requires an operator to reset it before the alarm returns to normal.

    The ISA 18.2 without latch is the default setting.

  4. (Optional) Select the Disable 'RTN Unack' state when Acknowledgment is not requested checkbox to keep an unacknowledged alarm state from returning to normal (auto-resetting) before an operator acknowledges the alarm condition.

  5. (Optional) Select the Enable Multi Acknowledgment checkbox and the Comment Behavior from the drop-down list. Acknowlegement comments appear in GraphWorX™64 Alarm Viewer where additional comments can be added within the viewer.
    • Append (Custom) append acknowledgment comments by a custom separator, such as a single pipe (|) or double pipe (||).
    • Append (New Line) adds a new line similar to wrapping text in a table.
    • Append (Tab)adds a tab space between the acknowledgment comments.
    • Overwrite will overwrite existing acknowledgment comments.

    The Enable Multi Acknowledgement allows the operator to acknowledge and comment on an earlier acknowledged alarm. The comment behavior defines how multiple alarm acknowledgment comments appear in the AckComment field in the GraphWorX™ Alarm Viewer table.

  6. Select the ActiveTime alarm reset checkbox:
    • Reset on ‘Normal’ state is the default option. Resets the active time when an alarm moves to the Normal (state A). The alarm must be acknowledged to reset the alarm active time.
    • Reset on ‘RTN Unack’ state resets the active time when an alarm moves from any of alarm inactive state back to the alarm state (state B).

      Reference the ISA 18.2-2009 Alarm State Transition Diagram for alarm state identifiers.

  7. Select the Server overrides timestamp of data with its actual UTC time checkbox to override the alarm time stamp with UTC times from input data sources or local server time—a time indicated by alarm server process.

    When the checkbox is selected, the local server time gets used. If the checkbox is not selected or cleared, Hyper Alarm Server uses the timestamp from the data input that triggered the alarm.

    In a AlarmWorX64 Server Configuration, there is a Runtime Setting section that includes is a setting called Use Data Source Timestamp—it is not selected by default. When the checkbox is selected, the alarm server generates timestamps internally using the system clock.

  8. When finished, click Apply. The next step is Defining Input Values.