LoggerPlotter

SAM's edits 12/8/20

Add variables to log via database editor: UI Ops>>Logger/Preset/Scans>>Add logger variable. Variable must have an alias before it can be added.

For HTW,

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Logger:

The logger is a LabVIEW based program that acquires data from different aspects of the BELLA project and saves in a common TDMS file.

The logger collects data from the following entities:

1. Johnson Controls Server (Environmental Data for the BELLA facility)

2. Shared Variable Engine for Thales Laser System

3. BELLA Control system for device data

1. Johnson Controls Server (JCS): The interface to the JCS is implemented using a client application developed in VB6 called the ‘BELLA JC Interface Server’ and a LabVIEW DLL that works as a translation layer between the VB6 Client and the BELLA logger.

The VB6 client makes WebService calls to the JCS to retrieve data. The LV DLL translated this data to be sent as an array of strings over datasocket to the logger that listens on the same port.

a. To begin logging from the JCS, launch the datasocket Server from Start Menu/All Programs/National Instruments/Datasocket/Datasocket Server

Figure 1: NI Datasocket Server

b. Launch the BELLA JCS Interface program using the shortcut on the desktop. The program is also located at "C:\Users\loasis\Documents\Johnson Controls Logger\BELLA JC Server Interface.exe". The following screen will pop open.

Figure 2: BELLA JC Server Interface

Hit the login button and click on “OK” to begin logging. The Site Director, User name and password information has been pre enetered and set as default as shown in Figure 3. BELLA JCS Server interface will query data values every 30 seconds.

Figure 3: BELLA JC Server Interface Login Screen

c. Sometimes the Server stops responding to logging queries from the BELLA JCS Server interface. In such an event an error messages shown in Figure 4 pops up. The resolution for this error is to close the application and relaunch it using steps a-c.

Figure 4: JC Server Interface Error

1-1 Adding new variables for logging

STEP 1: Editing the INI for BELLA JC Interface application.

a. To add new variables as channels to be logged, shout down the BELLA JCS Interface application. The datasocket server can be left running.

b. Open the MetasysSampleApp.ini file located at “C:\Users\loasis\Documents\Johnson Controls Logger” using Notepad. An example is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Configuration file for JC Server Interface

c. In the Configuration sextion edit the maxrefs entry (2 in Figure 5) to match the number of channels/variables that have to be looged. For example, in figure 5, there are 6 channels being logged. The reference keys that map to the JC server are entered in the Input Reference section of the INI file. The maxrefs parameters is thus set to 6.

d. The reference key (1 in Figure 5) can be obtained using the JC web interface by navigating to the parameters being logged.

STEP 2. Editing the INI for Super logger

a. Open the sl-config.ini file located at “C:\Users\loasis\Documents\Johnson Controls Logger” using Notepad. An example is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Configuration File for Super Plotter

Three sections as marked in the INI file have to be edited to start logging the new variables/References added in the BELLA JC Interface ini file (MetasysSampleApplication.ini).

sequentially add the variables to be logged. Any name may be used for the channels

Other detailed instructions for adding channels to the ini file can be found in the commented section of the INI file itself.

2. Shared Variable Engine for Thales Laser System

STEP 1. Edit the sl-config.ini file

The super logger is capable of logging the shared variables from the Thales Laser system also. The Thales shared variable logging system also uses the “sl-config.INI” file as shown in Figure 7

Figure 7: Thales Variables in Configuration file for Super Logger

The variables to be logged should be added using the same naming/entry convention as defined in the commented section of the INI file itself.

STEP 2. Launch the translation application for Thales SVE

Launch the translation application “Thales SVE Logger” using the shortcut on the desktop. The application is also located at "C:\Users\loasis\Documents\000 Labview Local\Developers Version\Interface\builds\Logger and Plotter\Thales SVE logger.exe". This layer/application will connect to the Thales SVE and transmit the data received over datasockets to the superlogger.

Note: The Thales SVE data will not get logged if the datasocket server is not running.

Figure 8: Thales SVE Interface

The application will display “Collecting data” if all connections are valid. A communication error is reported if network connections are dropped.

3. BELLA Control system for device data

Variables from the BELLA Control system devices can now be logged by the super logger.

Step1. Adding variables to be logged by the superlogger

a. Launch the database editor application on any control room computer or any computer on the BELLA network. Using the Menu, launch the Plot/Log-Logger-Add Logger Variable editor.

b. Select the Device type, Device and Variable to be logged and click on Add Logger Variable to enable logging for the particular variable using the superlogger. Repeat this for all the variables you need to configure for logging

c. Launch the MC and choose the datalogging experiment. Launch the control system devices to be monitored.