2. Change Approval: Runtime Perform or Perform and Verify

During runtime, when a user CIMPLICITY provides dialog boxes when electronic signatures are required to do either of the following.

  • Set a point.
  • Perform an alarm operation, e.g. acknowledge an alarm.

Set a Point Approval

The dialog box required entries depend on the point's change approval requirements.

1 Perform requirement
2 Perform and verify requirements
3 No requirements
4 Unsigned writes
1 Perform Requirement

When a setpoint is attempted, a:

  1. The Change Approval Perform window appears.
  2. A valid performer must review and enter the required information.
Field Description
PointID (Read only) The point whose value is being set.
Set value The new value of the point.
Current Value The existing value of the point.
Timestamp The time at which the latest value of the point was set.
Available Determines if the point already has a value assigned to it.
  • If the value is True, the point has a value assigned to it, and is available.
  • If the value is False, the point does not have a value assigned to it, and is not available.
Array Details Displays the array elements such as the set value, current value, and element index for an array point.
Note: The Array Details button is disabled if the point is not an array point.
Performer The name and password of a user who has setpoint privileges.
Perform Comments Two methods to enter a comment are available.
Predefined comments If predefined, comments had been listed in a Ca_PreDefinedComments.txt file and are available in a drop-down list. When a comment is selected from the list, it displays in the Comment field.
Comment An original comment can be entered. Note: The original comment overrides a previously selected predefined comment.

Result: One of the following happens if OK is clicked.

Result Description
Success When the user name and password are valid, the new value is set; the digital signature information is logged in the CA_LOG table.
Failure If the user name and/or password are not valid: A message box reports the following: No perform change approval privilege. Result: The point value is not changed.
Note: The setpoint action can be cancelled by clicking the Cancel button in the Change Approval Perform dialog box; nothing is entered in the log.
2 Perform and Verify Requirements

When a setpoint is attempted:

  • The Change Approval Perform Verify window appears.
  • A valid performer and a verifier must review and enter the required information.
Field Description
PointID (Read only) The point whose value is being set.
Set value The new value of the point.
Current Value The existing value of the point.
Timestamp The time at which the latest value of the point was set.
Available Determines if the point already has a value assigned to it.
  • If the value is True, the point has a value assigned to it, and is available.
  • If the value is False, the point does not have a value assigned to it, and is not available.
Array Details Displays the array elements such as the set value, current value, and element index for an array point.
Note: The Array Details button is disabled if the point is not an array point.
Performer The name and password of a user who has setpoint privileges.
Perform Comments Two methods to enter a comment are available.
Predefined comments If predefined comments had been listed in a Ca_PreDefinedComments.txt file they are available in a dropdown list. When a comment is selected from the list, it displays in the Comment field.
Comment An original comment can be entered. Note: The original comment overrides a previously selected predefined comment.
Verifier The name and password of a user who has verifier privileges.
Verifier comments The same two methods that are available for the performer to enter a comment are available for the verifier.
Predefined comments If predefined comments had been listed in a Ca_PreDefinedComments.txt file they are available in a dropdown list. When a comment is selected from the list, it displays in the Comment field.
Comment An original comment can be entered. Note: The original comment overrides a previously selected predefined comment.

Result: One of the following happens if OK is clicked.

Result Description
Success When the user and verifier names and passwords are valid, the new value is set; the digital signature information is logged in the CA_LOG table.
Failure If the user name and/or password are not valid, the following message appears: No perform change approval privilege. Result: The point value is not changed.
If the verifier name and/or password are not valid, the following message appears: No verify change approval privilege. Result: The point value is not changed.
If both the performer and verifier fail validation, the following message appears: A No perform change approval privilege message displays. Result: The point value is not changed.
3 No Requirements

If a user has a role with setpoint privileges, the setpoint succeeds. No electronic signatures are required.

4 Unsigned Writes

Unsigned points can be allowed either with a perform change approval or perform/verify change approval point.

During runtime, the following occurs when Unsigned writes is checked.

  • Will be accepted for services, such as Event Manager Resident Process (EMRP), Tracker and other third party services without requiring valid credentials.

  • The selected change approval (Perform only or Perform/Verify ) validation will continue to be required in CIMPLICITY applications such as Point Control Panel and CimView.

The setpoint will only be completed if valid credentials are entered.

Acknowledge an Alarm Approval

The Point Properties window requires entries depending on the change approval requirements of the alarms.

The change approval options are:

1 Perform requirement
2 Perform and verify requirements
3 No requirements
4 Unsigned writes
1 Perform Requirement

When an alarm operation, for example, Alarm Acknowledge, is attempted for one or more alarms that only require a Perform approval:

  1. Change Approval Perform User window appears.
  2. Valid performer must review and enter the required information.
Field Description
Alarm ID (Read only) One or more alarms on which the action will be performed. Important: The Change Approval Perform window dialog box appears only if all of the alarms require Perform approval only.
Performer The name and password of a user who has alarm operation privileges.
Perform Comments Two methods to enter a comment are available.
Predefined comments If predefined comments had been listed in an ALM_PREDEFINEDCOMMENTS.txt file they are available in a dropdown list. When a comment is selected from the list, it displays in the Comment field.
Comment An original comment can be entered. Note: The original comment overrides a previously selected predefined comment.

Result: If you select OK, one of the following actions occur.

Result Description
Success When the user name and password are valid, the alarm operation is performed; the digital signature information is logged in the CA_LOG table.
Failure If the user name and/or password are not valid, a Change Approval Alarms List window appears with the following information:
  1. The Alarm IDs that are selected ??for the operation.
  2. The reason the operation failed.
Result: The alarm operation is not performed.
Note: The alarm operation can be cancelled by clicking the Cancel button in the Change Approval Perform window; nothing is entered in the log.
2 Perform and Verify Requirements

When an alarm operation is attempted:

  • A Change Approval Perform Verify window opens.
  • The valid performer and a verifier must review and enter the following.
Field Description
Alarm ID (Read only) The alarms on which the operation will be performed.
Performer The name and password of a user who has alarm operation privileges.
Perform Comments Two methods to enter a comment are available.
Predefined comments If predefined comments had been listed in an ALM_PREDEFINEDCOMMENTS.txt file they are available in a drop-down list. When a comment is selected from the list, it displays in the Comment field.
Comment An original comment can be entered. Note: The original comment overrides a previously selected predefined comment.
Verifier The name and password of a user who has verifier privileges.
Verifier comments The same two methods that are available for the performer to enter a comment are available for the verifier.
Predefined comments If predefined comments had been listed in an ALM_PREDEFINEDCOMMENTS.txt file they are available in a drop-down list. When a comment is selected from the list, it displays in the Comment field.
Comment An original comment can be entered. Note: The original comment overrides a previously selected predefined comment.

Result: One of the following happens if OK is clicked.

Result Description
Success When the user and verifier names and passwords are valid, the new value is set; the digital signature information is logged in the CA_LOG table.
Failure If the performer ??name and/or password are not valid, the following information is displayed:
A Alarm IDs that required either:
  • Performer only approval.
  • Performer and verifier approval.
B The reason the operation failed.
Result: The alarm operation is not performed for alarms that required either change approval.

If both the performer and verifier fail validation or the verifier name and/or password are not valid, the following information is displayed:
A The alarm IDs that were both:
  • Selected for the operation .
  • Required the verifier approval.
B The reason the operation failed.
Results: The alarm operation:
  • Was successful for Alarms that required only the performer approval.
  • Failed for alarms that required both performer and verifier approval. .
3 No Requirements

If a user has a role with alarm operations privileges, the alarm operation succeeds. No electronic signatures are required.

4 Unsigned actions

Unsigned alarm operations can be allowed either with a perform change approval or perform/verify change approval alarm operation.

During runtime, the following occurs when Unsigned writes is checked.

  • Event Manager Resident Process (EMRP), Tracker, and other third-party services will be accepted without requiring valid credentials.
  • The selected change approval (Perform only or Perform/Verify) validation will continue to be required in CIMPLICITY applications such as the Alarm Viewer and Alarm Viewer control.

The operation will only be completed if valid credentials are entered.