Classifying Animations Errors

iFIX lets you define how any animation behaves if an error occurs. Using the Output Error Mode field of the Advanced Animations dialog box, you determine how the output data appears to operators. From this field you select the desired error classification based on the specified data conversion method. The output data appears to the user as the specified error type when the default value is reached.

The following table details the error output you can define for a particular data conversion type.

Error Handling Based on Data Conversion Types 

The data conversion...

Lets you define errors using...

Which gives you the following options...

Range
  • Current Output
  • Error Table
  • Minimum Value
  • Maximum Value
  • Minimum and Maximum Input
  • Minimum and Maximum Output
  • Use Offset
  • Fetch Input Range on Open

Table
  • Current Output
  • Error Table
  • Exact Match (and tolerance)
  • Range Comparison

Format
  • Current Output
  • Error Table

Display messages in a Data link for any of the following errors:

  • Communication Failure
  • Data Uncertain
  • Unknown Failure
  • Device Failure
  • Out of Space
  • Configuration Error
  • Custom messages for any of the above as entered in User Preferences.

Object
  • Exact Value

No output classification. The data received from the data source is processed or displayed at that exact value.

For more information on the output fields, refer to the Animating Properties Using Color section.

NOTE: Error handling in iFIX is global, not per-object. You can choose the behavior of a single object based on an error condition; however, because of performance reasons, the error classification is applied system-wide.

Specifying OPC Errors

iFIX provides predefined error defaults that you can customize for your needs. The Animations Data Error Defaults tabbed page of the User Preferences dialog box contains the default OPC error strings and values that display when an error occurs. The tabbed page is divided into three areas:

  • Linear Animation Object Defaults – Contains six numeric, OPC failure strings based on the Linear object using a Range data conversion.
  • Format Animation Object Defaults – Contains six OPC strings based on the Format object using a Format data conversion. The error string is displayed in a Data link.
  • Lookup Animation Object Defaults – Contains six numeric table, string table, and color table entries based on the Lookup object using a Table data conversion.

The error defaults are global, resulting in better system performance. You can modify the defaults to make error messages more intuitive for your specific process. For example, when a device error occurs, Data links display by default the text "XXXX". To create a more intuitive message for device error messages in the future, enter an alternate string in the Device field of the Format Animation Object Defaults area. For example:

Device is not working!

By changing the defaults, you can configure error messages with the text and color that you want, thereby customizing your error handling scheme. For more information on the fields of the Animations Error Defaults tabbed page, refer to the online help.

See Also

How Do I...