iFIX 6.

1
Glossary

GE Digital Proficy Historian and Operations Hub: Data Analysis in Context 1

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Table of Contents

iFIX Glossary 2

Numerics 3

A 3

B 4

C 4

D 5

E 5

F 6

G 6

H 6

I 6

J 6

K 7

L 7

M 7

N 7

O 8

P 8

Q 9

R 9

S 9

T 10

U 11

V 11

W 11

X 11

Y-Z 11

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. i

 Numerics 12

21 CFR Part 11 12

A 13

ABS Function 13

Account Privileges 13

ACOS Function 13

Active Network Path 13

Active Picture 13

Alarm Area Database 13

Alarm Areas 13

Alarm Conditions 14

Alarm Destination 14

Alarm Limits 14

Alarm ODBC 14

Alarm Priority 14

Alarm Queue 14

Alarm Status 14

Alarm Summary Object 14

Alarming 14

Alarms 15

Alarms Path 15

Alphanumeric Pattern 15

Animation Objects 15

Application Feature 15

Application Message 15

Application Path 15

Application User 15

Application Validator 16

ASIN Function 16

Asterisk Wildcard Character 16

ATAN Function 16

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 Audit Trail 16

Automatic Login File 16

Automatic Mode 16

Available Network Path 17

B 18

Background Area 18

Background Schedule 18

Base Path 18

Bitmap 18

Block 18

Block Field 18

Block Type 18

BMP 18

C 19

Chain 19

Click and Stick 19

Clipboard 19

Collection Group 19

Color Box 19

Color Palette 19

Color Threshold 19

Common Alarm Area 20

Completion Status Indicator 20

Compression Mode 20

Connection Failover 20

20

Constant Pattern 20

Contact Pattern 20

Contact Pattern Character 21

Continuous Use 21

Control Recipe 21

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 Control Recipe Path 21

Controllable 21

COS Function 21

Cross-Hair Cursor 22

D 23

Data Collection Rate 23

Data Link 23

Data Source 23

Database Builder Command Line Parameters 23

Database Path 23

Deadband Limit 23

Disable Tag 23

Download 24

Drilling Down 24

Driver Image Table 24

Dynamic Connections 24

Dynamo Object 24

Dynamo Set 24

E 25

Easy Database Access 25

EGU Range 25

Electronic Record 25

Electronic Signature 25

Emergency Tag 25

Enhanced Coordinate System 25

Environment Protection 25

Event-Based Entries 26

Event Message 26

Event Object 26

Exception 26

Exception-Based Processing 26

iv © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Executable 27

EXP Function 27

Expanded Decimal Notation 27

Expert 27

Expression 27

F 29

Fast Path 29

Filter Condition 29

Flip 29

Font 29

Format File 29

Formula 29

Function 29

G 31

Grid 31

Group Account 31

Group Membership 31

Grouped Objects 31

H 32

Handles 32

Handshaking 32

High Level Handshake 32

Historical Data Path 32

Historical Path 32

I 33

I-Beam Cursor 33

Identifier Column 33

iFIX Security Group 33

iFIX Security Privileges 33

Index Function 33

Insertion Cursor 33

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 INT Function 33

Intelligent Defaults 34

J 35

Justify 35

K 36

Keyword 36

Keyword Variable 36

L 37

Language Path 37

Latched Alarm 37

Legacy Network Computing 37

Line Style Marker 37

Links 37

Literal Pattern 37

Local Node 37

Local Path 37

LOG Function 38

LOG10 Function 38

Logical Coordinate System 38

Lookup Function 38

M 39

Manual Mode 39

Masking 39

Master Recipe 39

Master Recipe Path 39

Messages 39

Modeless 39

Modifiable 39

Multi-Pen Trend Chart 39

N 41

Network Path 41

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 Network Status Display (NSD) 41

Node 41

Nudging 41

Numeric Pattern 41

O 42

Off Scan Status 42

On Scan Status 42

One-Shot Processing 42

Operator Message 42

Operators 42

Order of Solve 43

Overphase 43

Override Limit 43

Override Value 43

P 44

Part 11 44

Pattern 44

PDB 44

Pen 44

Phase 44

Phase Value 44

Phasing 45

Picture Coordinate Systems 45

Picture Path 45

Pitch 45

Pixel 45

Point 46

Polygon 46

Polyline 46

Primary and Secondary Contacts 46

Primary Block 46

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 Primary Node 46

Primary SCADA 46

Process Database 46

Program Block 46

Project 47

Project Path 47

Q 48

Qualifier Block 48

Query 48

R 49

Recipe 49

Recipe Development Window 49

Recipe Item 49

Recipe Message 49

Recipe Note File 49

Recipe Operations Window 49

Recipe Package Command Line Parameters 49

Recipe Report 50

Recipe Variable 50

Rectangle Selector 50

Reentrance Functionality 50

Refresh 51

Register:Bit 51

Examples 51

Relational Database 51

Remote Access Service (RAS) 51

Remote Node 51

Replacement String 51

Reshape 52

Resolve 52

S 53

viii © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 SCADA Failover 53

53

SCADA Node 53

Scan Time 53

Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) 53

Scientific Notation 53

Screen Saver 54

SCU File 54

Search String 54

Secondary Block 54

Security Area 54

Shared Threshold 54

Simulation (SIM) Driver 54

SIN Function 54

Site-Specific Authentication 55

Slider 55

Snap to Grid 55

Sort Order 55

Special Purpose Link 55

Spin 55

SQL Data 55

SQL Library Table 56

SQL Login Account 56

SQRT Function 56

Stacking 56

Standard Integer Format 56

Startup Profile Manager 57

Subsecond Scan Time 57

Symbol 57

System Alert Message 57

System Configuration Utility 57

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. ix

 System Extension Toolkit (STK) 58

System Menu 58

T 59

Tag 59

Tagname 59

TAN Function 59

Task Wizard 59

Threshold 59

Time 59

Time-Based Processing 59

Time Stamp 60

Time Unit 60

Tolerance 60

Tool Box 60

ToolTips 60

Trend Area 61

Trend Line 61

Trusted Computing 61

U 62

Unit 62

UOM 62

Update Window Location 62

Upload 62

User Account 62

User Profile 62

V 64

Variable 64

Viewport 64

W 65

Wizard 65

X 66

x © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 X Axis 66

Y-Z 67

Y Axis 67

Y Axis Label 67

Index 69

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© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 1
iFIX Glossary

2 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Numerics
21 CFR Part 11

A
ABS Function
Account Privileges
ACOS Function
Active Network Path
Active Picture
Alarm Area Database
Alarm Areas
Alarm Conditions
Alarm Destination
Alarm Limits
Alarm ODBC
Alarm Priority
Alarm Queue
Alarm Status
Alarm Summary Object
Alarming
Alarms Path
Alphanumeric Pattern
Animation Objects
Application Feature
Application Message
Application Path
Application User
Application Validator
ASIN Function
Asterisk Wildcard Character
ATAN Function
Audit Trail
Automatic Login File

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Automatic Mode
Available Network Path

B
Background Area
Background Schedule
Base Path
Bitmap
Block
Block Field
Block Type
BMP

C
Chain
Click and Stick
Clipboard
Collection Group
Color Box
Color Palette
Color Threshold
Common Alarm Area
Completion Status Indicator
Connection Failover
Compression Mode
Constant Pattern
Contact Pattern
Contact Pattern Character
Continuous Use
Control Recipe
Control Recipe Path
Controllable
COS Function
Cross-Hair Cursor

4 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 D
Data Collection Rate
Data Link
Data Source
Database Builder Command Line Parameters
Database Path
Deadband Limit
Disable Tag
Download
Drilling Down
Driver Image Table
Dynamic Connections
Dynamo
Dynamo Set

E
Easy Database Access
EGU Range
Electronic Record
Electronic Signature
Emergency Tag
Enhanced Coordinate System
Environment Protection
Event-Based Entries
Event Message
Event Object
Exception
Exception-Based Processing
Executable
EXP Function
Expanded Decimal Notation
Expert
Expression

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F
Fast Path
Filter Condition
Flip
Font
Format File
Formula
Function

G
Grid
Group Account
Group Membership
Grouped Objects

H
Handles
Handshaking
High Level Handshake
Historical Data Path
Historical Path

I
I-Beam Cursor
Identifier Column
iFIX Security Group
iFIX Security Privileges
INDEX Function
Insertion Cursor
INT Function
Intelligent Defaults

J
Justify

6 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 K
Keyword
Keyword Variable

L
Language Path
Latched Alarm
Legacy Network Computing
Line Style Marker
Links
Literal Pattern
Local Node
Local Path
LOG Function
LOG10 Function
Logical Coordinate System
LOOKUP Function

M
Manual Mode
Masking
Master Recipe
Master Recipe Path
Messages
Modeless
Modifiable
Multi-Pen Trend Chart

N
Network Path
Network Status Display (NSD
Node
Nudging
Numeric Pattern

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 7

O
Off Scan Status
On Scan Status
One-Shot Processing
Operator Message
Operators
Order of Solve
Overphase
Override Limit
Override Value

P
Part 11
Pattern
PDB
Pen
Phase
Phase Value
Phasing
Picture Coordinate System
Picture Path
Pitch
Pixel
Point
Polygon
Polyline
Primary and Secondary Contacts
Primary Block
Primary Node
Primary SCADA
Process Database
Program Block
Project
Project Path

8 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Q
Qualifier Block
Query

R
Recipe
Recipe Development Window
Recipe Item
Recipe Message
Recipe Note File
Recipe Operations Window
Recipe Package Command Line Parameters
Recipe Report
Recipe Variable
Rectangle Selector
Reentrance Functionality
Refresh
Register:Bit
Relational Database
Remote Access Service (RAS)
Remote Node
Replacement String
Reshape
Resolve

S
SCADA Failover
SCADA Node
Scan Time
Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC)
Scientific Notation
Screen Saver
SCU File
Search String
Secondary Block

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 9

Security Area
Shared Threshold
Simulation (SIM) Driver
SIN Function
Site-Specific Authentication
Slider
Snap to Grid
Sort Order
Special Purpose Link
Spin
SQL Data
SQL Library Table
SQL Login Account
SQRT Function
Stacking
Standard Integer Format
Startup Profile Manager
Subsecond Scan Time
Symbol
System Alert Message
System Configuration Utility
System Extension Toolkit (STK)
System Menu

T
Tag
Tagname
TAN Function
Task Wizard
Threshold
Time
Time-Based Processing
Time Unit
Tolerance
Tool Box

10 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 ToolTips
Trend Area
Trend Line
Trusted Computing

U
Unit
UOM
Update Window Location
Upload
User Account
User Profile

V
Variable
Viewport

W
Wizard

X
X Axis

Y-Z
Y Axis
Y Axis Label

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 11

 Numerics

21 CFR Part 11

Government regulation that provides criteria for acceptance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
of electronic signatures and electronic records.

12 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 A

ABS Function

Calculates the absolute value of the specified number.

Syntax

ABS (number)

Account Privileges

The rights to access applications features and security areas. You can use account privileges to restrict
unauthorized users from accessing parts of iFIX.

You assign account privileges to user and group accounts using the Security Configuration program.

ACOS Function

Calculates the arccosine of the specified number. The number must be specified in radians.

Syntax

ACOS (number)

Active Network Path

The path (LAN connection) the View node is currently using to communicate with the SCADA server.

Active Picture

The picture with which the WorkSpace is interacting. You can distinguish the active picture by the
appearance of the title bar, which will be a different color or shade from the title bars of inactive pictures.
The picture border is highlighted on active pictures without a title bar.

Alarm Area Database

A list of the defined alarm areas.

Alarm Areas

Physical or functional divisions of a plant that act as routing labels for alarms and messages.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 13

Alarm Conditions

A digital block setting that indicates when to generate an alarm.

Alarm Destination

An enabled service on a node where alarms are routed. Alarm destinations include Alarm Printers, the
Alarm File Service, the Alarm Summary Service, and the Alarm Network Service.

Alarm Limits

Pre-defined values used by an analog block to generate alarms.

Alarm ODBC

The iFIX Alarm ODBC Service. This service writes iFIX alarms and messages to an ODBC-compliant
relational database.

Alarm Priority

The relative severity of an alarm. You can assign a priority of INFO, LOLO, LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH,
HIHI, or CRITICAL to alarms.

Alarm Queue

Reserved memory that holds incoming alarm messages until an alarm service can process them. The
size of the queue determines how many alarms can be stored. If the queue overflows, the oldest unpro-
cessed alarms are discarded.

Alarm Status

The state of an alarm, such as OK, High, High High, Low, Low Low, Rate of Change, Deviation, or
Change of State.

Alarm Summary Object

A real-time display of alarms. The object also provides tools for filtering, sorting, coloring, acknow-
ledging, deleting, and pausing alarms.

Alarming

14 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 The process by which blocks receive process data, compare the data against pre-defined alarm limits,
and react to those process values that exceed these limits.

Alarms

A potentially harmful process condition requiring a response. Typically, this happens when a process
value has exceeded its pre-defined limit.

Alarms Path

Stores alarm data files and security log files. By default, the alarms path is set to C:\Program Files
(x86)\GE\iFIX\ALM.

Alphanumeric Pattern

A pattern that generates alphanumeric strings for a block field. The syntax is
<"string1","string2","stringX">, where string1 is the first string, string2 is the second, and stringX rep-
resents the last string in the series. Note that each string must be enclosed in quotes.

For example, you can enter <"Pump1", "Pump2","Pump3"> as the pattern for descriptor fields when gen-
erating a number of new blocks that control these devices.

Animation Objects

Objects that can be animated through connections to data sources. Animation objects come in three
forms: linear, lookup, and format.

Application Feature

An account privilege that allows an operator access to specific application functions. For example, the
WorkSpace Run-time application feature enables an operator to access the WorkSpace run-time envir-
onment.

Application Message

Message generated by operator actions or iFIX applications that include operator messages and recipe
messages.

Application Path

Stores data and configuration files for iFIX applications. By default, the application path is set to C:\Pro-
gram Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\APP.

Application User
© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 15
 An operator you want automatically logged into iFIX. Once logged in, operators have access to the priv-
ileges assigned to the specified user account.

Application Validator

A utility you use to verify the versions of an application's files, and to ensure that the files associated
with the application have not changed. You can run the Application Validator with or without iFIX run-
ning.

ASIN Function

Calculates the arcsine of the specified number. The number must be specified in radians.

Syntax

ASIN (number)

Asterisk Wildcard Character

The asterisk (*) wildcard character can be used to represent one or more characters in a string. To rep-
resent a single character use the question mark (?) wildcard character.

ATAN Function

Calculates the arctangent of the specified number. The number must be specified in radians.

Syntax

ATAN (number)

Audit Trail

A text file that lists all recipe activity on a node. The Recipe Builder provides two types of audit trails: a
summary audit trail and a detailed audit trail. The summary audit trail tracks recipe activity for an entire
recipe. The detailed audit trail tracks recipe activity on individual recipe items.

Automatic Login File

Identifies the operator to automatically log in when the specified node starts up.

Automatic Mode

16 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 A database tag mode in which the tag is scanned by the Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program. In
this mode, the tag accepts data only from the poll table or other tags.

Available Network Path

When iFIX is configured for TCP/IP networking, any local IP address is considered available.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 17

 B

Background Area

The area of the chart that surrounds the trend area.

Background Schedule

A schedule that runs on a separate thread from the iFIX WorkSpace scripts.

Base Path

Stores all iFIX executable files. By default, this path is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIXX.

Bitmap

A graphic created by painting with pixels.

Block

An individual unit of instructions capable of receiving, checking, manipulating, and outputting process
values. A block can also compare a process value against an alarm limit and perform calculations based
on a specific process value.

Block Field

A location in a block that holds process data. Blocks have many fields such as their current value,
name, scan time, EGU range, alarm limits, alarm areas, and security areas.

Block Type

Blocks are organized into types based upon similar functions. Blocks capable of performing batch func-
tions are of the batch type; blocks capable of performing statistical calculations are of the statistical
type, and so forth.

The types of blocks available to your system are dependent upon the options you purchased with iFIX.

BMP

A Windows file format for bitmaps.

18 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 C

Chain

Two or more blocks connected to each other. Your goal in creating a database is to chain blocks in a
sequence such that each block performs a specific task and then passes its information on to one or
more appropriate blocks.

Click and Stick

A picture property that allows you to view which objects can be selected, highlighted, or modified at run-
time. When enabled, as the mouse moves around the screen, a single highlighted box 'clicks' around the
object if it is selectable. If the object is highlighted, you can select or 'stick' the object. In addition, if
sound support is enabled, 'click' and 'stick' sounds play. Click and Stick is configured on the Picture
Preferences tab of the User Preferences dialog box, and is enabled by default.

Clipboard

An invisible data area used for temporarily holding data. iFIX makes use of its own clipboard and, for
some commands, the Window Manager Clipboard.

Collection Group

A set of tagnames for a selected node that identifies the database blocks that contain process data
required for trending. You can define up to 255 collection groups with 80 different tags in each collection
group.

The Historical Assign program stores collection groups in the historical data path in the following format:
HTRGRP##.DAT, where ## represents the number of the group (01- 255).

Color Box

The dialog box used to change the foreground, background, and edge colors of objects. It is also used to
access and create custom color palettes.

Color Palette

The set of colors from which you can color objects. It is also used to create custom colors.

Color Threshold

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 19

 Either a color and value combination (Color by Value) or a color and alarm state combination (Color by
Alarm or Color by Latched Alarm).

For a value threshold, you specify the upper limit of the range of values that correspond to a color. When
the value of the target database field is less than or equal to the threshold, but greater than all lower
thresholds, the foreground, edge, or background color of the object changes to the defined color.

For an alarm threshold, you specify the color that corresponds to an alarm state. When the target data-
base tag is in an alarm state, the object changes to the defined color.

Common Alarm Area

An alarm area you want to share among the enabled alarm destinations on the local computer.

Completion Status Indicator

Any analog database block used to monitor the progress of a recipe as it is downloaded or uploaded.
Once you define the block that acts as a completion status indicator, you can display its value through a
link or use it to post messages to an operator display using a command language script. The block must
be in manual mode.

Compression Mode

Trend charts automatically enter compression mode when a large time duration causes the total number
of trended points to exceed 1,000 points. In compression mode, charts filter out a proportion of data
points. There is a loss of precision when compression is enabled. If you want all the points trended to be
plotted on the chart, use a shorter time duration.

Connection Failover

Connection Failover occurs when the iClient switches its connection from one SCADA node to its part-
ner.

Constant Pattern

A pattern that generates a string of text for a block field. The literal pattern can contain up to 255 char-
acters. When the constant pattern contains a punctuation mark or non-alphanumeric symbol, it must be
enclosed in quotation marks (" ").

For example, you can enter "Current Value > 100", "I/O Addr. < 500", or "PLC:N7:"<766:780:1>"/15" as
constant patterns.

Contact Pattern

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 An eight or sixteen character text string that represents the state of the digital points controlled and mon-
itored by the Device Control block. Each contact pattern character corresponds to an output or input
address defined in the block's dialog box.

A contact pattern can be used to:

l Monitor the digital points specified in the Input box.

l Control the digital points specified in the Output box.
l Specify the Initial Value of the digital points specified in the Output box when the Scan, Alarm,
and Control (SAC) program is first started.

Contact Pattern Character

The characters that make up a contact pattern are as follows:

Character Represents
O An open digital point. Enter the letter O, not the number zero (0).
C A closed digital point.
X The current state of a digital point. Use this character if an output address is not
defined or if a particular digital point's state is immaterial.

Continuous Use

Mode used in electronic signature. When a continuous use period is in effect, the user name field in the
Performed By section of the Electronic Signature dialog box contains the user name associated with the
last valid signature, requiring the operator to enter only his password. The continuous use period ends
when the screen saver activates.

Control Recipe

A production version of a recipe intended to be used by operators.

Control Recipe Path

Stores control recipe, control recipe error, and control recipe report files. By default, this path is set to
C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\RCC.

Controllable

When an operator can highlight an object at run-time and control its properties, the object is said to be
controllable.

COS Function
© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 21
 Calculates the cosine of the specified number. The number must be specified in radians.

Syntax

COS (number)

Cross-Hair Cursor

The cursor used to create rectangles, ovals, lines, polygons, and polylines.

22 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 D

Data Collection Rate

Defines how often the Historical Collect program accumulates values for the tagnames selected in a col-
lection group.

Data Link

An object that allows you to display text and values from databases on a network.

Data Source

A reference to a source of information, such as iFIX tagnames and historical files, or other OPC-com-
pliant data servers. Additionally, a data source may consist of iFIX objects (such as shapes, charts, and
variables) or 3rd party OLE controls.

Database Builder Command Line Parameters

Program Parameter Name Syntax

DBBSAVE Physical Node Name -Nnodename
Database -Ddatabase
DBBLOAD Physical Node Name -Nnodename
Database -Ddatabase

Database Path

Stores process database files, Database Builder configuration files, and I/O driver configuration files. By
default, this path is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\PDB.

Deadband Limit

A convenient and powerful way to compress data. It determines by how much the current collection
value must deviate from the last recorded value for the system to record the value in the historical data
file. For example, if the deadband limit is set to 0.5 (the default) and the first recorded value is 50, the
next value recorded by Historical Collect must be greater than or equal to 50.5 or less than or equal to
49.5.

During times when process values are changing by insignificant amounts, a deadband limit can improve
system performance and decrease the amount of disk space used by historical data files.

Disable Tag

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 23

 A database tag that prevents the Auto Alarm Manager from sending alarms.

Download

The transfer of data from a recipe to a process database on any SCADA node.

Drilling Down

A method of changing a group's member objects by entering into the group without breaking the group.

Driver Image Table

The Driver Image Table is an area in memory in which the I/O driver stores process data. The Scan,
Alarm, and Control (SAC) retrieves this information and updates the database with it.

The Driver Image Table is built by the Driver Image Definition file, which is created when you configure
an iFIX I/O driver.

Dynamic Connections

A network option within the SCU that allows iFIX to automatically make a network connection when it
needs to resolve a link. The Dynamic Connections option is disabled by default, and when enabled will
affect all connections from the node.
NOTE: When you first connect to a remote node using a dynamic connection, you will receive a message stat-
ing that no session is established with that node. This is normal -- the dynamic connection will be established
to the remote node at this time.

Dynamo Object

A reusable graphic, stored in a Dynamo set, that contains object properties. When you paste a Dynamo
from a picture into a Dynamo Set, the Dynamo object in the Dynamo Set becomes a Master Dynamo.
To create an instance of this Dynamo in a picture, drag and drop the Dynamo object from the set into the
picture. You are prompted to enter the appropriate animation values for the current picture. You can con-
vert custom-built objects, links, and application scripts, such as pumps, valves, and charts into Dynamo
objects.

Dynamo Set

A collection of custom or pre-built Dynamos. iFIX contains an extensive library of Dynamo sets that you
can use, or you can create your own.

24 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 E

Easy Database Access

A library of subroutines that provides easy access to iFIX data. EDA handles the details of memory man-
agement, error detection and recovery, networking, and so forth.

EGU Range

The maximum and minimum process values the process hardware can measure.

Electronic Record

Set of information containing the result of an action that required either one or two electronic signatures.
This set includes the name of the person that performed the action, and the details of the action. If the
action required two signatures, the set also contains the name of the person who verified the action. An
electronic record can also include optional comments entered at the time of the action by both the per-
former and verifier.

Electronic Signature

Computer data compilation of any symbol or series of symbols executed, adopted, or authorized by an
individual to be the legally binding equivalent of the individual's handwritten signature.

Emergency Tag

A database tag that indicates the Auto Alarm Manager could not or did not send its alarms.

Enhanced Coordinate System

The system that defines an iFIX picture in postscript points. The Enhanced Coordinate System is
provided with iFIX version 5.8 or greater.

Environment Protection

Used to create a secure run-time environment that prevents the operator from performing unauthorized
actions, including:

l Starting other applications.

l Opening unauthorized pictures.
l Switching to other applications.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 25

 l Closing the current picture.
l Exiting the iFIX WorkSpace.
l Restarting the node using <Ctrl> <Alt> <Del>.
l Switching to the WorkSpace configuration environment.
l Using the WorkSpace menu.

Event-Based Entries

Entries in a schedule that can use any data source available to the system to trigger an action based on
any of five events (OnDataChange, OnTrue, OnFalse, WhileTrue, WhileFalse).

Event Message

A broadcast of database information that indicates when a Digital Input block has entered an alarm
state, or an output block (Digital Output, Analog Output, Digital Register or Analog Register) has sent a
value to the PLC.

An event message is similar to an alarm except that it does not require an acknowledgment.

l For output blocks (AO, DO, AR, DR) and the Text block, an event message is sent to the block's
enabled alarm areas every time the output block writes a value or the Text block changes its
value.
l For input blocks (DI), the block does not go into alarm, send any data to the Alarm Summary link,
or require acknowledgment. It will, however, send an event message to all enabled alarm areas
for that block. Links that displays the block's current alarms (A_CUALM) and latched alarms (A_
LAALM) will still show the block's alarm state (as OK, COS, or CFN).

Event Object

The name of the event type that will trigger the script.

Exception

The following situations constitute exceptions:

l A change in a process value greater than the defined exception dead band.
l An unsolicited message from your process hardware.

Exception-Based Processing

26 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Instructions that tell the Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program to process blocks by exception rather
than a scheduled time interval. The Analog Input, Analog Alarm, Digital Input, and Digital Alarm blocks
can use this processing method.

Executable

The name of the file that runs an iFIX or a third party application. For example, RECIPE.EXE or
EXCEL.EXE. The executable file name must include path information. A string variable can replace this
parameter.

EXP Function

Calculates the Anti-log of the specified number.

Syntax

EXP (number)

Expanded Decimal Notation

A format that displays measurements according to the following ranges:

Low Limit High Limit Numeric Type

-9999999 9999999
Signed integer

Using this format, you can specify up to six places after the decimal point. Make sure you enter the
same number of decimal places in fields that require both high and low (EGU) limits. Note that this range
would be -1E7 to +1E7 in scientific notation.

Expert

A simplified user interface consisting of a dialog box that, when completed, executes a script to perform
a task.

Expression

Constants, data sources, or a combination of constants and data sources connected with one or more
operators. Using the Expression Builder, you can create specific expressions that access data from
unique sources. This gives you more flexibility when assigning dynamic object properties.

Examples:
FIX32.FERMENT1.AI1.F_CV
Picture1.Rect1.HorizontalPosition + 10
FIX32.FERMENT1.AI1.F_CV + Picture1.Rect1.HorizontalPosition

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 27

28 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.
 F

Fast Path

Reserved for future use. By default, the fast path is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\FAST.

Filter Condition

The criteria used by the Alarm Summary object to determine which alarms it displays.

Flip

The process of swinging an object over the vertical or horizontal axis, as if the object were hinged to it.

Font

A text design. The characters in a text object all have a common design.

Format File

A binary file that defines how the spreadsheet appears on the screen. The Recipe Builder appends the
extension .RFT to its format file and stores it in the directory pointed to by the local path.

Formula

A process value represented by a numeric or string constant, a mathematical expression, a function, a

variable, or a keyword. The Recipe Builder calculates the value of the formula and assigns it to the
recipe item or variable specified in the Identifier column of the spreadsheet.

Function

A mathematical operation common to most spreadsheets. The Recipe Builder provides the following
functions:

l ABS
l ACOS
l ASIN
l ATAN
l COS

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 29

 l EXP
l INDEX
l INT
l LOG
l LOG10
l LOOKUP
l SIN
l SQRT
l TAN

30 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 G

Grid

A tool for helping you lay out and align objects in a picture.

Group Account

A group account defines the application features and security areas for multiple users. By creating group
accounts, you define the account privileges most commonly needed for two or more people.

Group Membership

Group membership defines the group account(s) that a user is assigned to in a user account. Once
assigned to a group account, a user may have access to all the application features and security areas
defined for the group.

Grouped Objects

A set of objects that has been joined together with the Group command. Once you group objects into a
single object, you can manipulate the group like any other object.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 31

 H

Handles

The small squares that surround an object when you select it. Handles are used for resizing, rotating, or
reshaping objects. An object with solid handles has animations. An object with hollow handles does not
have dynamic properties.

Handshaking

The method by which iFIX nodes synchronize themselves for sending and receiving alarms over the net-
work.

High Level Handshake

Coordinates the activity between the database, the PLC, and the SQL System Task.

Historical Data Path

Stores historical data files from which the Historical Collect application creates a unique subdirectory in
this directory for each node data is being collected, and names the subdirectory according to the name of
the node. By default, the historical data path is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\HTRDATA.

Historical Path

Stores the configuration files of Historical Assign and Historical Collect. By default, the historical path is
set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\HTR.

32 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 I

I-Beam Cursor

Marks the start of a new text object or places the insertion cursor within an existing text object.

Identifier Column

A column in the Recipe Builder spreadsheet that enables you to enter the tagname of a database value
for which you want to apply a formula.

iFIX Security Group

User-configured collection of iFIX Security Areas and Application Features that can be assigned to iFIX
users of the same security class, such as Operators or Supervisors.

iFIX Security Privileges

Three categories of security permissions that can be assigned to an iFIX user: Security Group per-
missions, Security Area permissions, and Application Feature permissions.

Index Function

Locates the position of a string or number within a list. The position of each item in the list is zero-based,
so the first item is in position zero, the second item is in position one, and so on. You can substitute a
variable name or keyword anywhere you can use a number or string value. All string values must be
enclosed in quotation marks (" ").

Syntax

INDEX (number; numeric list) or INDEX (string; string list)

Insertion Cursor

Lets you create or edit text in your pictures.

INT Function

Calculates the integer value of the specified number.

Syntax

INT (number)

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 33

Intelligent Defaults

The operation iFIX uses to automatically fetch a data source based on an incomplete operator entry.

34 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 J

Justify

To line up text or numbers using the right side, left side, or center as a guide.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 35

 K

Keyword

A reserved name for a recipe variable. The Recipe Builder maintains a keyword for fields in the recipe
header and several other options. When you complete a header field or configure an option, the Recipe
Builder assigns the specified data to the keyword.

Keyword Variable

Keywords can be used as parameter variables in SQL calls. Keyword parameter variables are handled
differently. You can time/date stamp records that are inserted or updated. All records are sent with the
time and date on which they were triggered as well as the node name and SQT block tag name.

To stamp the time/date on a record, the SQL command is written containing the TMDT keyword para-
meter variable. When the iFIX ODBC Interface task detects this, instead of replacing the parameter vari-
ables with iFIX tag values, the time and date are used. This also applies to the NODENAME (SQT block
node name) and SQTBLK (SQT block name).

36 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 L

Language Path

Stores the language files used to create dialog boxes and help files. If you choose to implement a native
language other than English, the new language and help files replace the files found in this directory. By
default, this path is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\NLS.

Latched Alarm

A database block's most severe unacknowledged alarm.

Legacy Network Computing

Legacy network computing allows you to continue to use legacy (iFIX 3.5 and earlier) security with iFIX
4.0. Legacy security works on non-secure IP addresses.

Line Style Marker

A line style marker, defined in the Line Style dialog box, displays on the trend line and is used to dis-
tinguish between overlapping trend lines or when printing in black and white. Historical data pens must
either use a line style marker or show a trend line, or both.

Links

Real-time connections to data points in the process database that are used to display or process inform-
ation.

Literal Pattern

A pattern that generates a literal string of text for a block field. Literal patterns can contain up to 255 char-
acters and do not require quotation marks.

For example, you can enter alarms, elapsed time, and analog input from tank A as literal patterns.

Local Node

The node at which you are physically located.

Local Path

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 37

 Stores configuration files associated with the local computer, including the SCU and Security applic-
ation files. By default, this path is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\LOCAL.

LOG Function

Calculates the natural log of the specified number.

Syntax

LOG (number)

LOG10 Function

Calculates the Base 10 log of the specified number.

Syntax

LOG10 (number)

Logical Coordinate System

The system that defines an iFIX picture in logical units. The Logical Coordinate System is a legacy sys-
tem used primarily in iFIX version 5.5 or earlier.

Lookup Function

Locates nth value in a list, where n is a zero-based integer. You can substitute a variable name or
keyword anywhere you can use a number or string value. All string values must be enclosed in quotation
marks (" ").

Syntax

LOOKUP (n; numeric list)

-or-

LOOKUP (n; string list)

38 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 M

Manual Mode

A database tag mode in the value of a tag can be manually changed by the operator or through a soft-
ware application.

Masking

A technique for creating complex objects. This technique is a way of appearing to remove unwanted
parts from a shape. By creating objects that match your background color and have no edge, you can
make parts of a shape disappear.

Master Recipe

A generic version of a recipe; a recipe template. Master recipes are created and modified by process
engineers and have a modifiable batch size and destination.

Master Recipe Path

Stores master recipe, master recipe error, and master recipe report files for the Recipe application. By
default, this path is set to C:\Program Files (x86)\GE\iFIX\RCM.

Messages

Informational text that does not require an operator response. This text could describe a system-level,
application, or database event.

Modeless

The ability of a dialog box to remain on the operator's screen even when the cursor is not in that dialog
box. Typically, this applies to dialog boxes that require re-entry, such as the Color Box and some
Experts.

Modifiable

When an operator can modify an object at run-time, it is said to be modifiable.

Multi-Pen Trend Chart

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 39

A chart that plots up to eight floating point or Trend tag values as continuous lines. This chart monitors
the change in key database tag values over a prescribed duration.

40 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 N

Network Path

A network path is made up of a protocol and LAN card or modem. For example: TCP/IP over a LAN
card, or TCP/IP over RAS.

Network Status Display (NSD)

The Network Status Display tag contains network status information.

Node

Any computer running iFIX software.

Nudging

The act of moving an object by the smallest possible increment. In an iFIX picture, you can nudge
objects using the arrow keys.

Numeric Pattern

A pattern that generates numeric data for a block field. The syntax is <start:end:increment>, where start
is the initial value of the pattern, end is the ending value, and increment is the number to add to the cur-
rent pattern value.

For example, if you enter <1:10:1> as a pattern, the system generates a range of numbers from 1 to 10.
An entry of <1:20:3> generates the numbers 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, and 19.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 41

 O

Off Scan Status

A tag with an off scan status is not processed by the Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program. When a
tag is off scan, its associated database chain is also off scan.

On Scan Status

A tag with an on scan status is being processed by the Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program every
scan cycle. When a tag is on scan, its associated database chain is also on scan.

One-Shot Processing

One-shot processing instructs the Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program to process a block once.
This processing method is similar to exception-based processing, except that the block will not trigger
again unless SAC is restarted, the database is reloaded, or the block is turned off scan and then turned
back on scan. Any block with a scan time can be configured for one-shot processing.

Operator Message

A broadcast of information generated whenever an operator uses a mouse, keyboard, or touch screen to
input to a iFIX application.

Operators

The Recipe Builder provides the following set of operators common to many spreadsheet programs:

Operator Syntax

( ) (parentheses) (expression)

- (unary minus) -number

^ (exponentiation) number^number

* (multiplication) number * number

/ (division) number / number

+ (addition) number + number

42 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 - (subtraction) number - number

< (less than) number < number

<= (less than or equal to) number <= number

> (greater than) number >number

>= (greater than or equal to) number >=number

!= (not equal to) number !=number

= = (equal to) number = = number

Order of Solve

The order in which SAC scans database blocks.

Overphase

A phase that is longer than its scan time.

Override Limit

The highest or lowest possible override value an operator can enter into a recipe. Each recipe has two
override limits, the high override limit and the low override limit. The Recipe Builder verifies the override
value is within the high and low limit range before it accepts the override value.

Override Value

An alphanumeric value you enter in place of a recipe item's or variable's calculated value. Any formula
that references an overridden variable is recalculated using the override value. When a recipe is down-
loaded, the override value is sent to the database in place of the calculated value.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 43

 P

Part 11

Shorthand term referring to the 21 CFR Part 11 regulation.

Pattern

A pattern acts as a programming statement for generating a range of numeric or constant values. The
specific values generated by the pattern replace block field entries. For example, you can generate a
range of block addresses for multiple blocks by entering a pattern for the I/O Address field. Each pattern
can be up to 255 alphanumeric characters, including the angle brackets.

You can use a pattern to generate numeric data, alphanumeric data, literal strings, or constant strings in
block fields.

PDB

A process database, such as the iFIX tag database.

Pen

A pen represents a floating-point value or tag that is displayed in a chart link.

Phase

A phase is a unit of time that offsets the processing of a block from its defined scan time. Specify a
phase that is the same unit of time and/or one unit of time lower than the unit of the scan time. The order
of units is in hours, minutes, seconds, and subseconds.

Valid phase entries are as follows:

If the scan time is... The phase time can be...

Hours Hours:Minutes
Minutes Minutes:Seconds
Seconds Seconds
Subseconds Subseconds

Phase Value

Offsets the collection process for a collection group by waiting for a specified amount of time to elapse
once before allowing the Historical Collect program to begin data collection. Thereafter, data is collected
according to the rate defined for the group.

44 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Using phase values helps to prevent overruns when you are collecting data from more than one node. An
overrun occurs when the Historical Collect program cannot collect all the data at the rate specified.

Phasing

Phasing staggers the times at which SAC scans your primary blocks. You can use phasing with time-
based processing to make more efficient use of CPU time and ensure that certain blocks are scanned
before others.

Phasing offsets the processing of a block from its defined scan time. For example, if you have three
blocks with a scan time of five seconds, SAC attempts to process all three blocks simultaneously.
However, if you add a phase time based on one second increments, SAC evenly distributes block pro-
cessing according to the phase time. For example (based on a 09:00 startup time):

Scan Time SAC Processing Phased scan time SAC Processing

Block1: 5S 09:00, 09:05, 09:10, etc Block 1: 5S scan time, 09:00, 09:05, 09:10,
no phase etc
Block 2: 5S 09:00, 09:05, 09:10, etc Block 2: 5S scan time, 09:01, 09:06, 09:11,
1S phase etc
Block 3: 5S 09:00, 09:05, 09:10, etc Block 3: 5S scan time, 09:02, 09:07, 09:12,
2S phase etc

Picture Coordinate Systems

The system that defines an iFIX picture in either logical units or postscript points. The supported coordin-
ate systems include:

l The Logical Coordinate System - a legacy system (primarily iFIX 5.5 or earlier) that measures
screen resolution in logical units.
l The Enhanced Coordinate System - a newer coordinate system that provides independence from
restricted screen resolutions and is provided with iFIX 5.8 and greater. The Enhanced Coordinate
System measures screen resolution in postscript points.

Picture Path

Stores picture files, Dynamo files, tag group files, macro files, block status display files, and
WorkSpace configuration files. By default, the picture path is set to C:\Program Files
(x86)\GE\iFIX\PIC.

Pitch

The width of a character.

Pixel

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 45

 Short for picture element. A pixel is one of the tiny dots that make up a monitor screen.

Point

A measure of size. One point is equal to 1/72 of an inch.

Polygon

A closed graphic object consisting of three or more sides.

Polyline

Two or more connected line segments.

Primary and Secondary Contacts

Remote Access Service (RAS) phone book entries that the Auto Alarm Manager dials when it reports
alarms. Each phone book entry defines a phone number for a receiving node.

Primary Block

A block that receives data from an I/O driver or OPC server. Primary blocks are usually associated with
one or more pieces of I/O hardware and are always the first block in a chain.

Primary Node

The SCADA node you want the local View node to communicate with initially.

Primary SCADA

The SCADA node from which the View node will initially try to read and write data.

Process Database

A data file that holds all the data from your process hardware. It is the primary source of data for most
iFIX applications.

Program Block

46 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 A powerful means of running short programs to increase the degree of automation in your process or to
assist in batch control.

Project

A grouping of application files, such as pictures, databases, and tag groups, saved in a specific folder
identified by the project name.

You define the project name and path from the Path Configuration dialog box in the System Con-
figuration Utility (SCU).

Project Path

Stores specific application files, such as pictures, databases, and tag groups. By using project paths
you can manage application files on a project-by-project basis.

The default value for the Project Path is the base path.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 47

 Q

Qualifier Block

An optional database block, usually a Digital Input or Digital Output block, used to determine when the
data collection state for the collection group is on or off. When the digital block goes from Open to Close,
data collection starts for the group. When the digital block goes from Close to Open, data collection
stops.

If the Qualifier block is not a digital block, then the block's current value is the start and stop qualifier. A
value of 0 stops collection. Any value other than 0 starts collection.
NOTE: You cannot use a Digital Register block as a qualifier block.

Query

A request to the Database Manager to display one or more blocks from the database.

48 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 R

Recipe

A set of rules for changing one or more process values to specific database blocks.

Recipe Development Window

One of two windows that the Recipe Builder provides for displaying recipes. This window provides full
access to all recipes and is intended for the process engineer who must create, modify, and maintain
master recipes and control recipes.

Recipe Item

A process value identified by a tagname or a symbol. Each recipe item contains nine fields. These fields
define the item and include information such as the recipe item identifier, description, value, and unit of
measure (UOM).

Recipe Message

A broadcast of information generated whenever the Recipe application performs an operation, including
uploading, downloading, or saving a recipe.

Recipe Note File

A text file that can provide instructions, comments, version information, or any other data you want to
save about the recipe. The name of each recipe note file matches the name of the recipe associated with
it. The extension .RCN is appended to each recipe note file name. Recipe note files reside in the dir-
ectory pointed to by the control recipe path.

Recipe Operations Window

One of two windows that the Recipe Builder provides for displaying recipes. This window provides lim-
ited control recipe access and is intended for operators who must download control recipes or override a
value.

Recipe Package Command Line Parameters

Use the following parameters with the iFIX Recipe executable, RCP.EXE:

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 49

 Parameter Name Syntax

Batch Size /bbatch_size

Control Recipe /ccontrol_recipe

Error File /e

Command Line File /ffilename

Tag Group /gtag_group_filename

Batch ID /ibatch_id

Master Recipe /mmaster_recipe

Download Remarks /rremarks

Master Recipe Text /xmaster_text_filename

Control Recipe Text /ycontrol_text_filename

Override variable=value

Recipe Report

A text file that lists each column present in the recipe and the data in each column.

Recipe Variable

A user-defined string or numeric parameter used to represent an internal value. In a recipe, variables are
never downloaded to the database. Variables can be used in formulas of recipe items or other variables
to represent the necessary process values.

Rectangle Selector

The visible line that appears when a group of objects is selected. Also known as a bounding outline.

Reentrance Functionality

50 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 A property of certain Experts that allows you to exit the Expert in the iFIX WorkSpace and then go back
and use the Expert later, without having to reopen the Expert.

Refresh

To redraw the screen.

Register:Bit

Register or Register:Bit addresses are used to select I/O addresses provided by the SIM Driver. The
SIM driver provides 2000 sixteen-bit registers which can be accessed from database blocks as I/O
addresses. They can also be addressed from parts of certain blocks, such as STEPS of the Program or
Device Control blocks. The data in the registers can be addressed a word at a time (as Analog data) or a
bit at a time (as Digital data).

For... The ranges are...

Analog Values Register: 0 to 1999, Bit: not used
Digital Values Register: 0 to 1999, Bit: 0 to 15

Examples
The following specifies SIM register number 42:

42

The following register:bit specifies the 13th bit (starting with Bit 0) in the 10th register:

10:12

Relational Database

Standard database, such as Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle.

Remote Access Service (RAS)

Software developed by Microsoft and distributed with Windows that allows a modem to act like a net-
work card so that a remote machine can dial in and participate in a local area network.

Remote Node

Any node on the network that is not the local node.

Replacement String

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 51

 A user-defined piece of text that the Database Manager inserts into a cell when searching and replacing
data.

Reshape

To move a point in a polyline or polygon.

Resolve

A method of updating the tag definitions in a picture or schedule without querying the database. Data-
base information for each tag in a picture is saved as part of the file on disk. When a picture or schedule
is displayed in the run-time environment, and the database information is not up to date, the iFIX
WorkSpace has to query the database and resolve the tag definitions; a time consuming process.

Resolving in the configuration environment eliminates the need for the iFIX WorkSpace to query the
database. The end result is that the picture or schedule opens faster in the run-time environment.

52 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 S

SCADA Failover

SCADA failover occurs when the active SCADA node changes to standby and the standby SCADA
changes to active. SCADA failover can be initiated automatically or manually.

SCADA Node

A SCADA (Supervisory, Control, And Data Acquisition) server is a node that loads a process database
in memory and collects process information from one or more control devices. A SCADA server can
return process information to the control devices to automate and control a process. All SCADA servers
run the Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program in order to process the database.

Scan Time

A user-defined interval at which the Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program processes a block and any
blocks chained to it.

Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC)

A program that retrieves process information from an I/O driver or OPC server. Using the data it
receives, SAC updates blocks in the database and process alarms. SAC also returns corrective values
from the database to a control device.

Scientific Notation

The scientific notation format displays measurements according to the following ranges:

Low Limit

+/-3.4E-38

High Limit

+/-3.4E+38

Numeric Type

Exponential
NOTE: Use this format to display very large or very small numbers. Only the first seven digits are accurate. If
you prefer, you can also use scientific notation for numbers that iFIX can display in decimal notation. Using
decimal notation with scientific notation, you can specify up to six places after the decimal point.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 53

Screen Saver

Pattern or animated image that displays on a computer's desktop after a user-configured period of
mouse or keyboard inactivity.

SCU File

The SCU file contains information that the iFIX Startup program needs to configure your node. When
you run Startup, it reads the SCU file and uses the information to run several system tasks. iFIX only
uses the SCU file during startup, so most changes you make to the file while the system is running will
not take effect until you stop and restart iFIX.

Search String

A user-defined piece of text that you want the Database Manager to locate.

Secondary Block

A block that receives input from an upstream block and performs a specific function with the input. For
example, a secondary block can perform a calculation or store several successive inputs.

Security Area

A physical or functional division of your process that allows you to restrict access to schedules, recipes,
operator displays, and write-protect database blocks. Security areas can be process hardware (such as
pumps or ovens) or utilities (such as fuel, water, or steam), or maintenance functions.

You can define up to 254 security areas, which are identified by number. Associated with each number
is a name of up to 20 alphanumeric characters. By default, iFIX names the first 16 security areas A
through P.

Shared Threshold

A threshold that is shared in either a global data source or in another picture.

Simulation (SIM) Driver

A matrix of addresses where values are written to and read from. If one block writes to a specific
address, other blocks can read the same value from the same address. SIM points are saved in the pro-
cess database itself but are cleared when SAC is started or when you reload the database. Refer to the
Building a SCADA System manual for more information.

SIN Function
54 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.
 Calculates the sine of the specified number. The number must be specified in radians.

Syntax

SIN (number)

Site-Specific Authentication

Provides security for a network and prevents non-certified iFIX installations from communicating in that
network.

Site-specific passwords are used to validate and authenticate network transmissions allowing you to set
up multiple secure networks with different certificates, thus isolating iFIX networks from each other.
Non-configured, or default installations,cannot be used to intercept or initiate communications in a
secure network.

Slider

A scroll bar used to adjust a value along a range.

Snap to Grid

A grid that forces the top left-hand corner of a new or moved object to line up with a grid point.

Sort Order

The order in which the Database Manager organizes and displays spreadsheet data.

Special Purpose Link

A special object that allows you to add push buttons or alarming information to your displays. Special
purpose links generally behave like grouped graphic objects even though they can't be ungrouped.
These links include the Push Button and Alarm Summary links.

Spin

To rotate around a center point that is inside the rotating object.

SQL Data

An data that you want to display in a chart from a relational database. The data is retrieved using the
Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) interface. SQL data can be displayed in the same chart with his-
torical or lab data.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 55

SQL Library Table

Contains the SQL commands to be executed.

SQL Login Account

Allows the iFIX node to connect to a relational database. This account, defined in the system Con-
figuration Utility (SCU), identifies the following elements:

l Database Identifier, or Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) data source, that specifies the
name of the relational database.
l User name for login purposes.
l Password for login purposes.

The iFIX SQL system task does not need to be running to create an SQL login account.

SQRT Function

Calculates the square root of the specified number.

Syntax

SQRT (number)

Stacking

A technique for creating complex objects. In an object-oriented environment, moving one object on top of
another does not erase the object underneath. You can stack many objects on top of each other. In this
way, you can stack simple shapes to create a complex shape. When you select and group the stack, it
becomes a new object.

Standard Integer Format

The standard integer format displays measurements according to the following ranges:

Low Limit High Limit Numeric Type

-32768 32767
Signed Integer

0 65535
Unsigned Integer

0 999
3BCD

56 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 0 9999
4BCD

0 4095
12 Binary

0 32767
15BN

Startup Profile Manager

Utility that allows you to associate a Windows user with a specific iFIX Project Configuration.

An iFIX Project Configuration is the SCU file and node name combination that you want the iFIX Startup
dialog box to display when the specified user launches it. In the iFIX Project Configuration, you can also
define whether the user can modify these fields.

Subsecond Scan Time

The Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program is automatically set to run subsecond scan time pro-
cessing (.05 to .95 seconds). No additional changes are required.

Symbol

Placeholders for data sources or text in a picture. If entering a symbol in a picture, type an at sign (@) at
the beginning and end of the symbol name to allow the iFIX software to differentiate tag group symbols
from ordinary text. If defining symbols in the Symbol column of the Tag Group Editor, you only need to
enter the symbol name.

System Alert Message

A message that pops-up to inform operators of an error. For example, if an alarm queue overflows, a sys-
tem alert message appear to warn the operator that one or more alarms have been lost.

System Configuration Utility

The System Configuration Utility (SCU) is a tool for creating a file that contains specific information
about programs and options, including:

l Where to find files.

l Which nodes to establish network connections with.
l Where to send alarm and operator messages.
l Which I/O drivers to load.
l Which SCADA options to use.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 57

 l Which database to load.
l Which programs to execute.

System Extension Toolkit (STK)

A software module that puts a tag.field interface on an arbitrary data source.

System Menu

The menu located in the currently opened picture's title bar with controls that allow you to perform such
window-related actions as Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, Close, and Next. The system
menu can be disabled or enabled (if the picture's title bar is also enabled) in the Picture dialog box.

58 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 T

Tag

Individual units of instructions stored in the database that are capable of receiving, verifying, manip-
ulating, and outputting process values. Tags can also compare a process value against an alarm limit
and perform calculations based on a specific process value.

Tagname

The information needed to access database data. A tagname consists of a node name, database block
(tag) name, and field name in this format:
NODE:TAG.FIELD

TAN Function

Calculates the tangent of the specified number. The number must be specified in radians.

Syntax

TAN (number)

Task Wizard

An organizer that allows you to access, customize, and run iFIX Experts by choosing a category and a
task specific to that category.

Threshold

A range of values or an alarm state associated with a particular color.

Time

In a time-based processing entry, the time parameter can be:

If the range is... SAC scans the block every...

.05 to .95 seconds .05 seconds (.05, .10, .15 and so on)
1 to 60 seconds 1 second
1 to 60 minutes 1 minute
1 to 24 hours 1 hour

Time-Based Processing

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 59

 Time-based processing instructs the Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program to process blocks at a
set time.

SAC bases hour and minute scan times on the system clock of the node on which the chain exists.
Scan times are set relative to midnight (00:00:00 hours). SAC bases second and subsecond scan times
on the system startup time. Keep this in mind when you enter times for phasing.

To use time-based processing, define the blocks time-based scan time in the Scan Time field in the fol-
lowing format:
time unit

NOTE: When you use time-based processing in chains that include multiple primary blocks, enter 0 in the
Scan Time field and clear the Start Block on Scan field of primary blocks that are not the first block in the
chain.

Time Stamp

The time and date the alarm was generated.

Time Unit

Used with time-based processing to define how often the Scan, Alarm, and Control (SAC) program
scans the block and retrieves values. Valid entries for a time unit are as follows:

l .05 to .95S (sub-seconds)

l 1 to 60S (seconds)
l 1 to 60M (minutes)
l 1 to 24H (hours)

If you enter a time unit without an S (seconds/sub-seconds), M (minutes), or H (hours), SAC assumes
the entry is in seconds.

Tolerance

The allowable deviation from a value when evaluating an expression, data source, or other animation.

Tool Box

Contains buttons that execute iFIX WorkSpace menu commands. You can customize the contents of
the Tool Box, the order of the buttons, and the size of the Tool Box.

ToolTips

60 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 When enabled, each button on the Tool Box displays a ToolTip. The ToolTip appears when the cursor
rests on a Tool Box button. It displays the command that the button performs. By default, ToolTips are
enabled. You can enable and disable ToolTips by selecting the Tool Box Setup command on the Tools
menu.

Trend Area

The area of the chart where the trend lines and grids display.

Trend Line

Displays historical process data collected on a tagname.

Trusted Computing

Trusted computing means that connection authentication is enabled for the communications server
receiving the incoming connections. All incoming connections on a secure communications IP address
must meet the secure communications requirements.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 61

 U

Unit

In a time-based processing entry, the unit parameter can be:

Unit Entry
Seconds S (default)
Minutes M
Hours H

For example: 20S or 15M or 2H

The time that you assign to a unit must be a valid time range for the unit. For example, the seconds unit
accepts a range of 1 to 59 seconds. Anything beyond 59 seconds is in the minute range. Units cannot be
combined. You must enter a valid time followed by an S, M, or an H.

UOM

The unit of measure used by a recipe item.

Update Window Location

A picture operation that allows you to preserve the current view of the picture so that, after being saved
and then reopened, it will look exactly the same way it did when created.

Upload

The transfer of data from process databases on any SCADA node to a recipe.

User Account

Provides individual access to group accounts, security areas, and application features. Each user
account is identified by a full name, login name, optional password and optional timeout specification.

The Security Configuration program lets you specify a user account to automatically log in an operator or
you can have each user log in manually with the Security Login program.

User Profile

A user profile identifies the SCU and node name that you want to load when the specified user attempts
to start iFIX.

62 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 You define user profiles in the Startup Profile Manager, which you can access from the iFIX WorkSpace
system tree.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 63

 V

Variable

A user-defined string or numeric parameter used to represent an internal value. In a recipe, variables are
never downloaded to the database. Variables can be used in formulas of recipe items or other variables
to represent the necessary process values.

Viewport

When a window cannot display the entire contents of a picture file, the window is said to be the viewport.
The viewport allows you to see part of the file. You use scroll bars to move to other parts of the file into
the viewport.

64 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 W

Wizard

A process assistant that consists of a series of dialog boxes that, when completed, performs a task.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 65

 X

X Axis

The X axis (time axis) is the horizontal line at the bottom of the chart that displays the times associated
with the data displayed in the chart.

66 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 Y-Z

Y Axis

The vertical line on the left side of the chart. The Y axis has labels that display EGU limits assigned to
each tagname displayed in the chart.

Y Axis Label

The Y axis label on a Multi-Pen chart displays the limit range associated with one of the eight pens dis-
played in the link. For example, pen 1 may have a limit range of 1 to 100, while pen 2 may have a range
of 1 to 120. The label on the Y axis, when included in the chart, displays the limit range of pen 1 when
pen 1 is selected.

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 67

68 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.
 Index application user 15

Application Validator 16

ASIN function 16
2
Asterisk wildcard character 16
21 CFR Part 11 12
ATAN function 16

audit trail 16
A
Auto Alarm Manager 24-25
ABS function 13
AutoLogin command 16
account 13, 31, 62
automatic login 16
ACOS function 13
automatic mode 16
active path 13
available path 17
active picture 13

alarm area 13 B
alarm area database 13
background area 18
alarm areas 20
background schedule 18
alarm conditions 14
base 18
alarm destination 14
bit 51
alarm limits 14
bitmap 18
alarm ODBC 14
block 18, 48
alarm priority 14
block type 18
defined 14
blocks 13-14
alarm queue 14
BMP 18
alarm status 14
bounded outline 50
Alarm Summary object 14, 29
Bring to Front command 39, 56
alarming 14

alarms 13-15, 60 C

alarms path 15 chain 19

alphanumeric pattern 15 click and stick 19

animation objects 15 Clipboard 21

application feature 13, 15 collection group 19

application message 15 color box 19

application path 15 color palette 19

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 69

 color threshold 19 E

completion status indicator 20 easy database access 25

compression mode 20 EGU 27, 53, 56
constant pattern 20 EGU range 25
contact pattern 20 electronic record 25
contact pattern character 21 electronic signature 25
Continuous Use 19 emergency tag 25
control recipe 21 environment protection 25
control recipe path 21 event-based entries 26
controllable 21 event message 26
COS function 21 executable 27
cross-hair cursor 22 EXP function 27
cursors 22, 33 Expanded decimal notation 27

Expert 27
D
Reentrance functionality 50
data collection rate 23
expressions 42
data link 23

data source 23 F

Database Builder command line parameters 23 fast path 29

database path 23 files 54
deadband limit 23 filter condition 29
Device Control block 21 flip 29
disable tag 23 Flip Horizontal command 29
DIT 24 Flip Vertical command 29
download 24 font 29, 45
drilling down 24 Format file 29
Driver Image Table 24 formula 29, 42
dynamic connections 24 functions 29
Dynamo set 24
G
Dynamos 24
Glossary 1

70 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 grid 31 L

group 19 language path 37

group account 31 latch alarm 37
Group command 31 legacy network computing 37
grouped objects 31 line style marker 37

links 37, 55
H
literal pattern 37
handles 32
local node 37
handshaking 32
local path 37
high level handshake 32
LOG function 38
High Limit field 27, 53, 56
LOG10 function 38
historical data path 32
logical coordinate system 45
historical path 32
login 16
horizontal grid 31
login account 56

I SQL 56

I-beam cursor 33 Lookup function 38

identifier column 33 Low Limit field 27, 53, 56

iFIX project 47
M
iFIX Security Group 33
manual mode 39
iFIX security privileges 33
marker 37
Index function 33
masking 39
insertion cursor 33
master recipe 39
INT function 33
master recipe path 39
intelligent defaults 34
mathematical expressions 42

J messages 39, 57

justify 35 modeless 39

modifiable 39
K
Multi-Bar Trend chart 67
keyword 36 Multi-Pen Trend chart 39, 67
keyword variable 36

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 71

 N phasing 44-45

network path 17, 41 picture 13

network status server 41 picture path 45

node 37, 41, 51 pitch 45

defined 41 pixel 45

nss 41 plant 54

nudging 41 point 46

numeric pattern 41 polygon 46

polyline 46
O
primary block 46
objects 32
primary contact 46
handles 32
primary node 46
nudging 41
primary scada 46
off scan status 42
process database 46
on scan status 42
Program block 46
one-shot processing 42
project 47
operator message 42

operators 42 Q

order of solve 43 qualifier block 48

overphase 43 query 48

override limit 43
R
override value 43
ras 51

P RAS phone book entries 46

Part 11 44 rate 23

Paths command 18, 47 recipe 49

pattern 44 recipe command line parameters 49

PDB 44 Recipe Development window 49

pen 44 recipe item 49

phase 44-45 recipe message 49

phase value 44 recipe note file 49

Recipe Operations window 49

72 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

 recipe report 50 site-specific authentication 55

recipe variable 50 slider 55

rectangle selector 50 snap to grid 55

Reentrance functionality 50 sort order 55

refresh 51 special purpose link 55

register 51 spin 55

relational database 51 SQL data 55

remote access 51 SQL Library Table 56

remote node 51 SQL login account 56

replacement string 51 SQRT function 56

reshape 52 stacking 56

resolve 52 standard integer format 56

Startup Profile Manager 57

S
status 41
SAC 42, 60
stk 58
Scan 53
subsecond scan time 57
Alarm: and Control (SAC) 53
system alert message 57
scan time 53
System Configuration Utility 57
schedule 18
system menu 58
scientific notation 53
system toolkit 58
screen saver 54

SCU 54-55, 61 T

search string 54 tag 42, 59

secondary block 54 tagname 59

secondary contact 46 TAN function 59

security 55, 61 Task Wizard 59

security area 13, 54 text 29, 45

selecting objects 32 threshold 59

Send to Back command 39, 56 color 19

shared threshold 54 shared 54

SIM driver 54 time-based processing 59-60, 62

SIN function 54 time parameter 59-60

© 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved. 73

 time stamp 60 Y axis label 67

tolerance 60

Tool Box 60

toolkit 58

ToolTips 60

trend area 61

trend line 61

trusted computing 61

Ungroup command 31

unit parameter 62

UOM 62

Update Window Location 62

upload 62

user 15

user account 62

user profile 62

Variable 64

vertical grid 31

viewport 64

wildcard character 16

Wizard 65

X axis 66

Y axis 67

74 © 2020 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.