scada expert clearscada -...

SCADA Expert ClearSCADA Software for Telemetry & Remote SCADA Solutions

SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2014 R1 BETA

Release Notes

v6.75.5053

SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2014 R1 BETA Release Notes of 6

SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2014 R1 New Features

New User Interface A new User Interface has been developed for SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2014 R1, which will replace the current ViewX client user interface. New features include:

• Ribbon interface, which has replaced the previous Toolbar implementation – this includes a user-customisable Quick-Access Toolbar for frequently used functions.

• The multi-document interface has been improved providing tabs for all open documents, allowing for quick switching.

• Tabs can be dragged from their default location and ‘snapped’ for automatic horizontal and vertical alignment.

• Recent document history is provided for quick document recall. • Improved handling of documents (mimics, trends, object properties, etc) to allow

asynchronous opening. UI will not ‘freeze’ when loading documents across slow network connections.

• Refreshed database icons.

The development of the new User Interface is not 100% complete, and as such contains the following outstanding issues.

Known Issues – to be resolved before Official Relea se

• Initial start-up performance. • Full Screen mode has not been implemented. • Restricted Workstation mode has not been implemented. • Homepage for guest user does not automatically display on start-up. • Copy and paste of database objects between connected Control Systems has not

been implemented. • The client will always show "Connecting…" when a License can't be allocated by the

server. • The client will always show "Connecting…" when attempting to connect to an older

version of the ClearSCADA Server. • Problems with automatic focus – before using keyboard shortcuts or mouse wheel

you will need to click with the mouse on the window that you want to interact with. • Inset windows have not been implemented – currently pop-ups display in a new

document tab. • Closing a Modal Dialog may cause a switch to another application. • Multi-monitor support – this is being redesigned to provide enhanced functionality

than what is currently available in ViewX, but is not yet complete.


• Import/Export – you may find user notification or progress issues. • Deleting a large number of objects will block the server. Users will not be able to

perform operations on the database while the deletion task is executing. • The ViewX Mimic Automation Interface requires an instance of the old ViewX client to

operate. • Runtime Pick Actions – pick actions affecting System and ViewX Commands may not

work correctly. • Super favourites – user favourites containing multiple windows may cause the client

to crash. • The Copy Shortcut action may cause ViewX to crash. • User Favourites cannot be displayed within WebX. • Document Print Preview has not been implemented. • Web pages currently are unable to be displayed within the client UI, but instead are

forced to display within an external browser. • UI does not handle theme changes or different system colours. • The Aquis Guide in the ClearSCADA help contains script errors which need to be

accepted before the page is displayed completely.

Features Removed from the User Interface

• SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2014 R1 does not support Windows XP or Vista. • SCADA Expert ClearSCADA 2014 R1 does not support Windows Server 2008 R1,

although continues complete support for Windows Server 2008 R2. • The new User Interface is not compatible with Windows Server 2003, although the

SCADA Expert ClearSCADA server is still compatible with this Operating System. • Inactivity Shutdown has been removed – the client will no longer shutdown after a

period of inactivity. • Mimic Overview (Navigation) has been removed. • It is not possible to customize the Appearance of the Mimic and Standard Object

Menus. • It is not possible to open/save a Mimic/Trend/Plot from/to disk. • It is not possible to display the On-Screen Keyboard.

Simplified Internal Point Calculations New internal calculation points have been defined allowing for the combination or transfer of data between database points without the complexity of using a separate logic program. These point calculations use the familiar mimic ‘expression’ interface to define the required calculation and support a variety of execution trigger conditions, and data quality and timestamp generation options.


Automated Data Visualisation Management A Data-Grid-style collection has been created which provides separation of table definition (called the “Data Set”) and rows (called a “Data Set Row”). This separation allows for individual rows to be included within templates, referencing the local template data points, while still maintaining their link to the master data set. The end result is a self-maintaining data set (table) that automatically expands to include new rows as template instances are created.

Applications include:

• Metering Grid, for upstream Oil & Gas site summary information • General Site Lists, automatically maintaining as new sites are added to the system • Data Consolidation, for reporting or data extraction

Enhanced Security

Enhanced Firewall and NAT Support

ClearSCADA provides increased security of critical assets, now fully accessible behind a firewall or NAT (Network Address Translation) device:

• Driver configuration can now be performed via a user-specified range of ports for client browsing requests (required when browsing, for example, for the Tag Name on OPC points from an external OPC server), allowing these ports to be mapped through a firewall for secure remote ViewX configuration.

• All web links served from ClearSCADA will be relative so the ClearSCADA server address can be masked behind a NAT device.

Restricted access to Sensitive System Information

ClearSCADA provides increased security of critical assets, allowing configuration of the ClearSCADA Server Label, which is visible to users via the Database Explorer, removing visibility of the actual server IP Address or Node Name. Furthermore, ClearSCADA restricts access to the IP Address and Node Name information within the Event Journal relating to server synchronization, workstation connections and user logon events.

In addition, access can be restricted to sensitive IP address or node name information associated with individual database items (e.g. IP-connected field devices, routers, UPSs, etc), where a row of asterisks is shown in place of the sensitive data within mimics, lists, status displays and configuration forms.


Enhanced Operational Intelligence

Integration of Aquis Water Network Simulation

Aquis is Schneider Electric’s Water Network Simulation and Modelling package that uses real-time data to analyse and track the current situation of the distribution network enabling operators to make better and smarter decisions and to optimize production and enhance the bottom line.

ClearSCADA allows for integration of the Aquis User Interface into ViewX, providing optimization of system operation and enabling integration of an external Aquis installation into ClearSCADA. This will allow SCADA users the ability to display screens from Aquis within ViewX and interact with the Aquis installation, and to receive Aquis’ simulated data forecasts within ClearSCADA for visualisation and alarming.

XYZ Plots

XYZ Plots are a new special type of trend that allows you to monitor the relationships between multiple sets of historic values. The configuration of each XYZ Plot provides a 3D graphical representation of sets of historic values, with the z-axis providing the 'depth' in the form of a timeline.

This new plot provides enhanced visualization and operation of pressure/flow profile in pipeline or water distribution applications. The consistent ‘structure’ of the curve allows immediate historic comparison and simpler detection of abnormal conditions.

Advanced OPC Driver [this feature is not available in this BETA version]

A new advanced OPC driver extends beyond the current simple OPC driver implementation providing enhanced performance and more polling and communications options. This advanced driver also provides an extension framework for integration with SE’s OPC Factory Server (OFS) Software to access Schneider Electric PLC functionality not available with a standard OPC connection including data time-stamping and diagnostics.

Driver for SCADAPack 50 (SP50) Wireless Data Logger

This native driver provides connectivity to the SCADAPack 50 Wireless Data Logger (previously called the Brio or Wade 310); a cost effective way to deploy monitoring systems for assets that are widely dispersed where power and network access is either not available or prohibitively challenging. The SP50 remote units monitor the process inputs and store data at configured intervals, data is then transmitted to a host system over a GSM network using SMS. This demonstrates our continued commitment to close product integration.


Enhancements to DNP3 Driver for new SCADAPack E RTU

This demonstrates our continued commitment to close product integration, providing expansion of the existing DNP3 extension driver to include support for the upcoming SCADAPack 535E Smart RTU hardware configuration.

Driver for T-Box RTU

This native driver provides connectivity to the T-Box range of RTUs from CSE Semaphore via the TComm Modbus protocol, enhancing ClearSCADA’s ability to interface with a variety of field devices. This driver leverages the ClearSCADA Advanced Driver framework and includes support for communications over IP, Network, Serial and PSTN. Analog I/O, Digital I/O and String points are supported, including retrieval of Historical Analog Point Data from the RTU. In addition, Outstations can be uniquely identified by either their numerical Address or Station Name.

Enhancements to SNMP Driver

The current SNMP implementation has been enhanced to include support for version 3 including asynchronous notification functionality (traps and informs), of which integrated security is a major component. In addition, the implementation will include an SNMP ‘device’ component to which points are associated. This allows more efficient configuration of SNMP communications as all points inherit the device’s communication options.

scada expert clearscada -...

Documents