The GIO is a single software representation of the hardware/internal data points from a device that has been integrated into your Metasys network. One GIO can represent one or more control strategies (for example, temperature control or static pressure control). Up to 256 data points can become attributes of the GIO and each attribute of the GIO works with Metasys features, such as historical data management, alarm and event handling, and basic monitoring and commanding capabilities.
You can map data points to the GIO in either online or offline mode. When you map the data points, you define their label, units, display precision, category, and whether or not the data point should be commandable. You can command points from the GIO using Generic Integration Attributes commands.
The GIO is useful when you have multiple hardware/internal data points from an integrated device and it logically makes sense to view them as a single entity rather than individual Metasys objects (that is, AI, BI, AO, BO, and so on). While you may be able to browse to each device, there may only be a few data points you need to see on a regular basis. The GIO lets you group the data points you need to see in one place and organize them in the following categories:
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inputs
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outputs
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parameters
When the GIO appears in Metasys software, the attributes are organized by tabs bearing the names of the three categories (Input Category, Output Category, and Parameter Category tabs). Each tab includes the status, description, and value of the items in that category.
For general information on Metasys system objects, see Common Object Attributes.