Creating Aliased Graphics - Metasys - LIT-12011953 - Server - Metasys UI - 7.0.50

Metasys UI Help
Product
Building Automation Systems > Graphics and Interfaces > Metasys UI
Document type
User Guide
Document number
LIT-12011953
Version
7.0.50
Revision date
2024-03-19
Product status
Active

What is an Aliased graphic?

An Aliased graphic is a Metasys UI graphic associated with an Equipment Definition. Because an Aliased graphic is associated with an Equipment Definition, it is applied to all equipment that shares the Equipment Definition. Aliased graphics allow you to have a single graphic for all similar equipment. However, only one Aliased graphic can be associated with an Equipment Definition. At viewing time, the Aliased graphic appears in the Graphics widget on the Equipment dashboard. Additionally, Aliased graphics auto-bind to points to show values and status at view time.

Note: Auto-binding is available if the Equipment Definition and the template used for the graphic contain the short name of the point. The short name must be an exact match in the Equipment Definition and template used for the graphic.

How do I create an Aliased graphic?

Note: Graphics Manager does not support directly creating aliased graphics for sites that have an engine site director because engines do not support spaces and equipment. However, there are steps you can follow to accomplish this using a combination of SCT and JCT. For details, see How do I create aliased graphics for an engine-only site?.
  1. Select the Graphics tab.
  2. Select Equipment Definitions from the list to see the Equipment Definitions configured to your site .
  3. Select an Equipment Definition from the Equipment Definitions list.
    Note: You cannot create or assign more than one Aliased graphic to an Equipment Definition. To create additional graphics, you can create or assign Exception graphics to equipment associated to the Equipment Definition. See Creating Exception Graphics.
  4. In the Graphics list, click + or + ADD ALIASED GRAPHIC. The New Graphic window opens.
  5. Select a template from the Default list or the Custom list.
  6. Enter a name in the Name field.
    Note: The following are invalid characters for a graphic name: <, >, :, ", /, \, ?, *, |, @, #, . (period), and , (comma).
  7. If required, enter a description.
  8. Select an authorization category.
  9. Click CREATE. The graphic opens in the Graphic Editor. For more information about working with the Graphics Editor, see Graphics Editor.

How do I create aliased graphics for an engine-only site?

Creating graphics with aliased bindings for use on engine-only sites is a multi-step process using both SCT and JCT. In the following procedure, both tools are needed to successfully create graphics that contain aliased bindings for engine only archives.
Note: The following procedure works for aliasing field points that are directly mapped below a field device. This process does not work for cases where the field points are mapped into folders below a field device.
  1. Launch SCT and open an archive that has an engine as the Site Director.
    Important: If you do not have a recent backup of the archive, create a backup before you proceed.
  2. To add a server, complete the following steps:
    1. From the Insert menu, select Server.
    2. Select ADS and complete the Insert Server Wizard using the default selections.
      Note: The name of the server does not matter, as the server is only temporary and deleted in a later step.
  3. To insert an equipment definition, complete the following steps:
    1. Expand the newly added ADS server and select the Equipment Definitions folder.
    2. Click Facility > Prepare Rapid Archive > Insert Equipment Definition. Give the equipment definition a descriptive name.
      Note: Alternatively, import an equipment definition that you previously exported from another archive and then update the short names as-needed to match your controllers.
    3. Edit the equipment definition to include all the points needed for your aliased graphic.
      Note: For more information on building equipment definitions, refer to the Insert Equipment Definition section in the SCT: System Configuration Tool Help (LIT-12011964) .
  4. Launch JCT and open the archive from the previous steps. From the User menu, click Feature Management and Graphics Manager.
  5. From the Location list, select Equipment Definitions.
  6. To create a graphic, complete the following steps:
    1. In the Graphics list, click + or + ADD ALIASED GRAPHIC. The New Graphic window opens.
    2. From the list, select the appropriate equipment template. For example, if you are creating a graphic for several VAVs, select Terminal Unit and the template that mostly contains the short names of the points on the VAVs.
    3. In the Name field, enter a name for the graphic.
      Note: The following are invalid characters for a graphic name: <, >, :, ", /, \, ?, *, |, @, #, .(period), and , (comma).
    4. If required, in the Description field, enter a description.
    5. From the Authorization Category list, select the category that you require.
    6. Click CREATE.
  7. To modify and add bindings to the graphic, in the Graphics Editor, complete the following steps:
    1. Add alias binding(s) to key data modules in the graphic from the equipment definition that you created.
    2. Replace any template bindings with mismatched short names by deleting the bindings and using drag/drop to add aliased points in their place.
    3. Modify symbols to update any aliased bindings with mismatched short names.
    4. Remove any unnecessary bindings or symbols.
    5. Click SAVE.
  8. On the Tools tab, click EXPORT GRAPHICS, and in the Export window, complete the following steps:
    1. On the SELECT SOURCE page, from the Available sources list, select the ADS. Click the Right Arrow icon to add the device to the Selected sources list.
    2. Click NEXT.
    3. On the CHOOSE CONTENTS page, select the check boxes for the aliased graphic(s) that you created or modified. Clear the check boxes for any templates and the Master Layer.
    4. Click EXPORT. Complete the export and note the file location of the export file.
  9. In SCT, to delete the server that you added, complete the following steps:
    Important: When you delete the server, the Equipment Definition that you created or modified will no longer exist in your archive. If you want to use it in the future, export the equipment definition before you proceed.
    1. Select the server and from the Edit menu, select Delete Items.
    2. If your archive includes more than one engine on the site, confirm that the expected engine has been promoted to Site Director. If necessary, change the Site Director by modifying the site object's Site Director Reference.
  10. In JCT, click User menu > Archive > Refresh All Archives. You are logged out of JCT.
  11. Log back on to JCT and open the engine only archive.
  12. To import, your graphic, complete the following steps:
    1. From the User menu, click Feature Management and Graphics Manager.
    2. On the Tools tab, click IMPORT GRAPHICS.
    3. On the SELECT FILE page, click Choose File. Browse to the .export file that you want to import and click Open. To confirm that the file is from a trusted source, select the check box.
    4. Click NEXT.
    5. On the SELECT DESTINATION page, select the engine(s) where you want to add the aliased graphic(s). Click IMPORT. The aliased graphic(s) imports into the Graphics folder on each selected engine.
    6. Click CLOSE.
  13. In SCT, the aliased graphic(s) is now visible in the engine's Graphics folder. To apply the aliased graphic to controllers, complete the following steps:
    1. Select all of the controllers that you intend to apply the aliased graphic to.
    2. Right click, and select Modify.
    3. Select the check box for the Graphic attribute in the Graphic Association section, and modify its value by choosing the aliased graphic that applies to the selected controllers.
    4. Select the check box for the Graphic Alias attribute and then enter an asterisk * in its edit field.
      Note: When you enter an asterisk for the value of Graphic Alias, SCT will automatically fill-in the alias string for each controller with the controller's item reference.
    5. Click Send.
  14. In JCT, click User menu > Archive > Refresh All Archives. You are logged out of JCT.
  15. Log back on to JCT.
  16. Verify that the aliased graphics are functional by clicking on the controllers and validating the point data correctly resolves to the fully qualified references.
  17. In SCT, to open the Manage Archive Wizard click Tools > Manage Archive and then synchronize or download the engine(s) to which you added the aliased graphic.

How do I edit an Aliased graphic?

  1. Select the Graphics tab.
  2. Select Equipment Definitions from the list.
  3. Select an Equipment Definition.
  4. Select the Aliased graphic from the Graphics List. The Aliased graphic displays in the Preview panel.
  5. Click the pencil icon in the upper-right corner of the Preview panel. The graphic opens in the Graphics Editor.

How do I enable a disabled Aliased graphic for a piece of equipment?

  1. Select the Graphics tab.
  2. Select Equipment & Spaces from the list and select a piece of equipment.
  3. Select the Exception graphic and do one of the following: