Browser Use

About this task

All of the browsers provide a similar user interface.

The exact details for each browser depend on the items being browsed.

A using browser features overview is as follows.

1 Select the browser view.
2 (In select instances) Select a CIMPLICITY project or Historian connection.
3 Browse filter fields.
4 Populate the browser.
5 Sort  the Browser List./ Change the column display width.
6 Exit a Browser without selecting an item.
X Exit a Browser without selecting an item.
1 Select the browser view.

Each browser provides the same view options.

Click View on the browser menu bar.

View options are:

Option Description
Hierarchical Displays a Tree View.
Flat Displays a flat list.
Field Chooser Opens a Field Chooser dialog box. The fields correspond to the fields for the selected browser's item.
Auto Browse The following occurs when Auto Browse is checked or clear.
Checked All of the items currently in the database display when you open that Browser.
Clear No items display when you open the browser. You must enter filter information and click Browse to display a list of items.
2 (In select instances) Select a CIMPLICITY project or Historian connection.

If the browser requires a project or an Historian connectionposition: static; (Select a tag browser) to be selected a drop down list will be available to make that selection.

Note: The following will occur when the browser opens if Auto Browse is checked.
The project or Historian connection are: Result
Selected and available All of the items currently in the database display
Not selected Nothing displays.
Unavailable An error message reports the issue.
3 Browse filter fields/Select maximum record limit.

Filter Fields

Fields and the Browse button in the Browser enable you to quickly find a specific item or subset of items.

The exact fields that are available on each browser are based on what is being browsed.

Procedure

  1. Enter a full or partial item name in one or more of the fields.

    You can use the * and ? wild cards, as follows.

    Wildcards: All browsers, except the Select a Tag browser

    Wild card Searches for any:
    * Number of characters at this point in the string. Example To display the list of points that:
    • Start with M.
    • End with X.
    Enter M*X in the Point ID field.
    ? Character in this place in the string. Example To display the list of points whose:
    • Names are three characters long.
    • First character is M.
    • Third character is X.
    Enter M?X in the Point ID field.
    Note: Some filter fields may also let you access other Browsers to select an item for filter purposes. These Browsers have the same functionality as the current Browser.

    Wildcards: Select a Tag Browser (Historian Tag)

    Wildcard usage for A Select a Tag browser, which connects to a selected Historian server, is as follows.

    Filter Field Use * and ? Comment
    Tag Name Yes
    Description Yes
    Engineering Unit No Browsing not case sensitive
    Data Type No A Select Data Type browser is available by clicking the field's Browse button.
    Interface Name No Browsing Is not case sensitive; a Select an Interface Name  browser is available by clicking the field's Browse button.
    Source Address Yes
  2. Click Browse.

Results

A list that is filtered according to your specifications displays.

Note: There are no implied wild cards. If you do not include or terminate your search string with an asterisk, only those items that match your request exactly will be returned.

Max. Record Limit

The number of records that will be listed in the browser will be limited to the number entered in the Max. Record Limit field.

If there are more records that fulfill the criteria than the maximum limit, the records retrieved are    

If additional records are required, the limit can be increased and the browse repeated.

Default limit: 1000 records.

4 Populate the browser.

Click Browse after the filter criteria have been selected.

The browser is populated with items that fulfill the criteria.

5 Sort  the Browser List./ Change the column display width/ Note number of records retrieved.

List Sort

The list is initially sorted alphanumerically in ascending order by the fixed display attribute. You can do additional sorting as follows.

  • Click one of the field identifier buttons at the top of the list to re-sort the list by the field you select or
  • Double-click one of the field identifier buttons to re-sort the list in descending order.

Column Width

The browsers provide the standard column width resizing capability.

6 Select an Item in the Browser

One or more items can be selected in the browser, based on the target destination.

Do either of the following.

  • Double-click the item.
  • Select the item; click OK.

The Browser closes, and the selected item is put in the associated field.

Note: Use the following keys when more than one item can be selected.
Key Selects
Shift Continuous items.
Ctrl items that are separated in the list.
X Exit a Browser without selecting an item.

Do any of the following at any time  to exit the Browser without selecting an item.

  • Click File>Exit  on the Browser menu bar.
  • Click Cancel.
  • Click the Microsoft Close button .