Application Design
Integrated Environment for Application Design
The special feature of the asix package is the application development environment integrated with the runtime environment. Each license for the asix package - without additional fees – includes the Designer module, constituting of the application development and design environment. Use of Designer in the application runtime stage depends on the possessed rights. However, if Designer is used during application operation, it does not stop any function of the application. The embedded graphical editor enables synoptic screens to be created. It is also possible to utilize files prepared in external editors. Designer offers a rich library of dynamic objects, featuring a full scope of attributes necessary for the development of a clear and communicative application, which includes: effects of animation, blinking, status signaling through change of object color and size, or the ability to associate sound effects.
VarDef - Variable Definitions Database
The core of each asix application is the variable definitions database VarDef, containing the list of all process variables with their attributes. The list of attributes is declared by the application designer and except for the mandatory items, such as: variable name, unit, range, warning and alarm thresholds, it can contain custom fields required by the application users (e.g. name aliases, variable address in the controller, terminal no. in the crossover strip, number format, etc.). The VarDef definitions base can be stored as MS SQL database, in Jet (MS Access) format databas or directly in an Excel spreadsheet (so-called virtual format).The VarDef definitions database has a fundamental significance for the operation of the visualization system and the comfort of its development and handling, because:
- VarDef base is the only repository storing the definition of variables belonging to the application. If it is necessary to change any variable attribute, it is sufficient to change the variable description in the VarDef base.
- All dynamic visualization objects of the asix application are configured automatically on the basis of variable attributes acquired from the VarDef database.
- VarDef database can be modified online, without stopping the application operation; the scope of modifications allowed includes adding/deleting variables from the database, adding or deleting a variable from the archiving process, changing of variable attribute values.
- VarDef database is the basis for "Variable selection window” object constituting the only unified mechanism, allowing the application user to browse its resources and define its variable sets, presented both in tables and graphically, in an interactive manner, both in a classic asix environment and in the Web browser.
Interactive Application Designer Support Environment - Architect Module
Architect enables a fully visual designing, configuration and ongoing editing of the asix system application with the use of dialogue boxes with a system of tabs. The tabs group all options responsible for specific functional areas of the application in an orderly and clear manner and unfailingly lead the designer through the process of the correct completion of the required parameters. During the application parameterization, Architect conducts an ongoing control of possible conflicts of the declared options, which hugely increases the work efficiency measured in the application startup time. Architect module, associated with the VarDef module responsible for the storage of the variable definitions database enables a fully interactive and visual handling of the definitions base, including: the creation and editing of the database structure.