Global and System Control

Global and System Control

Posted by Robert Ward | 11/25/2020

Updated by Robert Ward | 1/16/2021

Updated by Robert Ward | 5/18/2022

Updated by Robert Ward | 6/3/2022

Updated by Robert Ward | 6/28/2022

Updated by Robert Ward | 3/9/2023

 

GLOBAL CONTROL

Note: Read Global thoroughly, as it pertains to System Control as well.

The WXS comes default with Global buttons and other features on the Dashboard screen.

  • Global Start
  • Global Stop
  • Global Reset
  • Global Emergency Stop
  • Global Status
  • Global Shift Active

Each of these buttons contains a .Enable and .Active tag.

Therefore, the user can use the UDT below for the base tags in the WXS. After which, create a tag called "wxs" and assign it this UDT.

The buttons will have a sub-UDT of two BOOLs, .Enable and .Active. This is called "wxsPushbutton" and contains .Active and .Enable; both are BOOLs

Explanation of Tags:

  • wxs.GlobalStart.Active

    • Data Type: BOOL
    • Use: This bit will go True when a user clicks on the Global Start button on the WXS; returning to False 500ms later

  • wxs.GlobalStart.Enable

    • Data Type: BOOL
    • Use: Set this bit True when you want to allow the user to click the Global Start button on the WXS. Set it to False to disable the user from clicking this button.

  • wxs.GlobalStop.Active

    • Data Type: BOOL
    • Use: This bit will go True when a user clicks on the Global Stop button on the WXS; returning to False 500ms later

  • wxs.GlobalStop.Enable

    • Data Type: BOOL
    • Use: Set this bit True when you want to allow the user to click the Global Stop button on the WXS. Set it to False to disable the user from clicking this button.

  • wxs.GlobalReset.Active

    • Data Type: BOOL
    • Use: This bit will go True when a user clicks on the Global Reset button on the WXS; returning to False 500ms later

  • wxs.GlobalReset.Enable

    • Data Type: BOOL
    • Use: Set this bit True when you want to allow the user to click the Global Reset button on the WXS. Set it to False to disable the user from clicking this button.

  • wxs.GlobalEmergencyStop.Active

    • Data Type: BOOL
    • Use: This bit will go True when a user clicks on the Global Emergency Stop button on the WXS; returning to False 500ms later

  • wxs.GlobalEmergencyStop.Enable

    • Data Type: BOOL
    • Use: Set this bit True when you want to allow the user to click the Global Emergency Stop button on the WXS. Set it to False to disable the user from clicking this button.

  • wxs.GlobalStatus

    • Data Type: STRING

    • Use: Write a general overview as to what the system as a whole is currently doing. Some examples would be:

      • "System E-Stopped"
      • “System Ready”
      • “System Starting”
      • "System Starting - Partial"
      • “System Running”
      • “System Running – Partial”
      • “System Running – No Alarms”
      • “System Running – Alarm Active”
      • “System Alarm”
        •  

  • wxs.GlobalShiftActive

    • Data Type: BOOL
    • Use: The WXS has a shift builder that allows the user to create shifts that will write True when active and False when inactive. It is worth noting that the shift will go inactive if the user enters in break times. Therefore, if it is planned to use to reset the day’s tallies such as Lane Full, Jams, etc., there should be additional time restrictions in the PLC to ignore the inactive status during breaks, or have the end user restrict the adding of break times in for the shift builder.

 

Notes:

Every WXS button has two parameters: *.Active and *.Enable:

  • .Active is a WXS WRITE function that writes a TRUE or FALSE to that tag based on a user mouse click. If the user clicks the button, it writes TRUE (1) to the .Active tag for 500ms and then writes a FALSE (0) after that 500ms.

  • .Enable is a WXS READ function that reads the status (TRUE/FALSE) from the PLC of the .Enable tag.

    • Generally, this is used to tell the operator/user of the WXS whether or not items are available to be stated, stopped, reset, etc.

    • Example:

      • Equipment is fully off and ready to be started, therefore the PLC will write a 1 to wxs.GlobalStart.Enable and thus allows the WXS user to click the button and start the system.
      • Now, as ALL equipment starts to run, the PLC will write a 0 to wxs.GlobalStart.Enable and thus disabling the button on the WXS UI. This button being disabled allows the user to know that all equipment is running and that there is no more equipment to be started.
      • If any equipment is running, the wxs.GlobalStop.Enable shall be TRUE, allowing the WXS user to click the Global Stop button to stop as necessary. If not equipment is running, the wxs.GlobalStop.Enable should be 0.
      • The Global Reset button should operate the same way, if there is something that needs to be reset Globally, enable the reset button, otherwise, disable it.
      • Same with the Global Emergency Stop.

 

SYSTEM CONTROL

The WXS uses System Control, any time a warehouse is large enough to have multiple separate systems that need isolated control.

Therefore, on any particular WXS/project, there might be Global Control and no System Control, System Control and no Global Control, or both.

If System Control is used, here are the tags:

  • System Start
  • System Stop
  • System Reset
  • System Emergency Stop
  • System Status
  • System Shift Active

They behave the UDT is as above, and available for download below.

Therefore, the user can use the UDT below for the base tags in the WXS. After which, create a tag for the System (E.g. "Packing") and assign it this UDT.

Then the PLC will have:

  • Packing.SystemStart.Active
  • Packing.SystemStart.Enable
  • Etc.

System Control behaves the same way that Global Control does, but on a local/isolated level.

This KB Article has supporting downloads. Please reach out to your rep to retrieve those.

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