Spreadsheet Columns

The Recipe Builder spreadsheet displays a predefined set of columns. When you first start the Recipe Builder, it displays the following columns:

Item column — contains the item number of the recipe item or variable. This number can help you reference a specific row and is not downloaded to the database.

Identifier column — enables you to enter a recipe variable name or a recipe item tagname. A variable name is an alphanumeric string, up to 15 characters in length, beginning with the # character. An example of a variable name is: #myNamedVar. Each variable name you enter must be unique.

A tagname is a node-tag-field combination or a symbol. A symbol is a label defined in the Tag Group Editor. For more information about defining variables and tagnames, refer to the section Defining Tagnames and Variables. For more information about symbols, refer to the section Assigning Tag Groups.

Only recipe items are downloaded to the database. Recipe variables are never downloaded.

You can enter text into this field using the text editing box or by double-clicking a cell in this column. When you double-click a cell, the Field Select dialog box appears. This dialog box allows you to select a node-tag-field combination.

Formula column — displays the formula of the recipe item or variable. You can represent a formula by combining one or more of the following:

For more information on formulas, functions, and keywords, refer to the chapter Working with Formulas.

Calc Val column — displays the current value of the recipe item or variable. The Recipe Builder automatically recalculates the value of all recipe items and variables, and updates this column when you enter or change a formula.

Whenever the text ?????? appears in the Calc Val column, the recipe item or variable is undefined. The Recipe Builder does not download recipes with undefined recipe items or variables.

NOTE: When you download a recipe, only a recipe item value is sent to the database. Recipe variables are never downloaded.

Override Val column — allows you to enter an alphanumeric value in place of the recipe item's or variable's calculated value. Any formulas that reference an overridden variable are recalculated using the override value. When the recipe is downloaded, the override value is sent in place of the calculated value. For more information about overriding the calculated value, refer to the chapter Working with Formulas.

Description column — contains text describing the recipe item or variable. The following table shows how the Recipe Builder completes this column when you initially enter an identifier:

You can enter up to 40 alphanumeric characters into any cell of this column. If you complete the Description column before specifying a tagname, the Recipe Builder does not overwrite the text you entered. If you want to update the text for a tagname with the text from the block's Description field, double-click a cell in the Description column.

UOM column — contains the unit of measure for a recipe item or variable. The following table shows how the Recipe Builder completes this column when you initially enter an identifier:

You can enter up to four alphanumeric characters into any cell of this column. If you complete the UOM column before specifying a tagname, the Recipe Builder does not overwrite the text you entered. If you want to update the text for a tagname with the text from the block's EGU tag, double-click a cell in the UOM column.

Override Lo Lim and Override Hi Lim columns — defines the highest and lowest possible override value an operator can enter into the Override Value column. The Recipe Builder verifies the override value is within the high and low limit range before it accepts the override value.

The following two tables show the possible override limits and examples of how you can combine the limits.

To learn how to define the high and low limits, refer to the section Entering Override Limits.

NOTE: When the calculated value of a recipe item or a variable is a string constant, you must set both override limits to either Unrestricted or Restricted.