<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation:  Installation and Starting SpecView > Instrument Definition/Detection > Manually Defining Instruments

 

Instruments will need to be defined manually if they:

1        Are not physically connected to the computer for auto detection

2        Are a special instrument that cannot be auto detected, for example, Red Lion, Dupline and Omron

3        Modular instruments where SpecView isn't able to automatically detect all the modules in the instrument

 

After starting SpecView click Select/Create Project, then click New Manual Project on the Projects box. This will go directly into Edit Mode.

 

Then see Templates List for the steps to define a new instrument.

 

For more information on Modbus instruments read Modbus instrument addressing

 

If this is the first occurrence of an instrument being assigned to this COM port then the Port Settings box will be displayed. Typically, just clicking OK on this box will be sufficient, unless the instrument is using non-standard settings, in which case please read Port Settings.

 

Some instruments in SpecView are made up of more than one Instrument View. This is done when an instrument has a large number of parameters. In this case the parameters for the instrument are split into logical groups, for example, Programmer & Controller, which are assigned the same instrument address. Each logical group has its own Instrument View.

 

Typically when an instrument is AutoDetected all the required Instrument Views for it are detected & automatically added to both the screen & the Variables List. However, for some modular instruments it isn't possible for SpecView to automatically detect all the modules in the instrument so they will need to be added manually, as described above. If in doubt at this stage please contact a SpecView representative.

 

This is now configured as if the instrument was connected and the instruments had been automatically detected by clicking the Test Comms for New Project button.

 

Now add the Instrument View or individual numeric values to the GDW

 

Precautions Deleting and Creating Instruments

When an Instrument  is defined in SpecView it is given a unique identity code (Unique ID) When any variable from that Instrument is used, SpecView identifies it by the Unique ID, NOT by name.

Note: If an Instrument is deleted IT IS GONE FOREVER. All variables from that Instrument on GDW's, in Logging, on Trends will no longer be updated.

Please be aware that defining another instrument with the same name is NOT regarded by SpecView as the same Instrument.

 

Adding Instruments to the Database

Special configuration tools are used by SpecView's engineers to define the database. These are available, for some drivers only, to qualified users and only then in certain circumstances. It is not possible to add variables to pre-defined instruments from within SpecView. The configuration tools are required to do this.

 

SpecView has a generic driver for the Modbus protocol which can be used to communicate with Modbus instruments which SpecView doesn't as yet support. This can also be used for Modbus PLCs.

 

For further information on the above please contact a SpecView representative.

 

Now go straight to Edit Mode.