Foxboro

System Auditor
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
B0750HD Rev A

July 2015
© 2015 Invensys Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Schneider Electric, Invensys, Foxboro, Foxboro Evo, I/A Series, Triconex, Tricon, Trident, and TriStation are
trademarks of Schneider Electric SE, its subsidiaries and affiliates. All other brands may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Companies, names and data used in
examples herein are fictitious unless otherwise noted. No part of this document may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written
permission of Invensys Systems, Inc., now part of Schneider Electric.
Table of Contents B0750HD Rev A

Table of Contents
About this Document .................................................................................................................................... 5
Customer Support .................................................................................................................................. 5
Tips ............................................................................................................................................................... 6
Frequently Asked Questions ......................................................................................................................... 7
Finding FBM Spares ............................................................................................................................... 7
Organizing FBMs in Areas and Enclosures ........................................................................................... 7
Reserving I/O ......................................................................................................................................... 7
Finding a Block or Compound ................................................................................................................ 7
Finding a Block by Description ............................................................................................................... 8
Creating a Block to Block Drawing (Map) .............................................................................................. 8
Creating a HLBL Flowchart .................................................................................................................... 8
Creating a LOGIC (CALC, CALCA, MATH, or LOGIC) Block Flowchart ............................................... 8
Finding Missing Block Connections ....................................................................................................... 8
Finding Missing Display Connections .................................................................................................... 8
Finding Missing Historian Connections .................................................................................................. 9
Finding Inhibited and Disabled Alarms................................................................................................... 9
Generating a Where Used Report by Block ........................................................................................... 9
Adding a Comment................................................................................................................................. 9
Linking an External File to a Block ......................................................................................................... 9
Finding Blocks in Manual ....................................................................................................................... 9
Finding Alarm Configuration Issues ..................................................................................................... 10
Finding Multiple Blocks Connected to the Same FBM I/O ................................................................... 10
Finding All Alarms Configured in the System ....................................................................................... 10
Viewing Changes Made to Blocks in a Specific Time Period............................................................... 10
Auditing a Change ................................................................................................................................ 10
Viewing Most Frequent Alarms in a Specific Time Period ................................................................... 10
Viewing Alarms per Time Period in a Specific Time Period ................................................................. 11
Viewing Chattering Alarms in a Specific Time Period .......................................................................... 11
Viewing Flooding Alarms in a Specific Time Period ............................................................................. 11
Viewing Correlated Alarms in a Specific Time Period .......................................................................... 11
Viewing Most Frequent OAJ in a Specific Time Period ....................................................................... 11
Viewing OAJ per Time Period in a Specific Time Period ..................................................................... 11
Viewing OAJ, SOE and Alarms together in a Specific Time Period..................................................... 11
Finding all Block Connections in a Display .......................................................................................... 12
Viewing System Monitor Messages ..................................................................................................... 12

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 3

Table of Contents B0750HD Rev A

Viewing Changes in HLBL and PLB Code ........................................................................................... 12

Finding Deleted and Created Blocks in a Specific Time Period........................................................... 12
Creating an Advanced Query ............................................................................................................... 12
Viewing a History of CP Idle Times ...................................................................................................... 13
Changing a User’s Password ............................................................................................................... 13
Adding a New User .............................................................................................................................. 13
Detecting Control Network Switch Problems on Ports ......................................................................... 13
Setting the Thresholds on Ports and Parameters ................................................................................ 13
Configuring Control Network Alerts ...................................................................................................... 13
Plotting a Trend over Time for a Control Network Switch Port Parameter .......................................... 14

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 4

About this Document B0750HD Rev A

About this Document

This document provides general tips for using System Auditor, as well as answers to frequently asked
questions.

Customer Support
For customer support and access to the latest product documentation, see the Global Customer Support
(GCS) website.

http://support.ips.invensys.com/ (registration required)

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 5

Tips B0750HD Rev A

Tips
• Use the blue arrows to quickly navigate between previous Blocks visited in System. These arrows are on
the base display near the upper left corner.
• Double-click any compound and block name in System Auditor to rebuild the Main System Auditor Display
for that block.
• Double-click the Table Title to open a field to group by any column (or columns and do a cascading group).
Grouping will sum the number of records on each group.

Note: To add the column title, drag and drop the column in the gray area that was opened when the Table
Title was double-clicked.
• Click the column name to sort ascending or descending by those columns.
• Click the arrow in the right corner of any column to filter by any record. This arrow will appear when the
mouse is over the column name. Or choose Custom... by using the far right arrow in the column to create a
personalized filter.
• To restore the original layout of System Auditor in most windows, click <CTRL>R.

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 6

Frequently Asked Questions B0750HD Rev A

Frequently Asked Questions

This section provides answers to frequently asked questions.

Finding FBM Spares

On the System Auditor Base Display, select FBM Manager under the General heading. In the FBM Manager
window, select the Find FBM Spare tab at the bottom. Choose from various filters to help refine the search for
spare. Select filters and click Find Space.

Note: This feature can also be found at the Main menu, General > FBM Manager.

Organizing FBMs in Areas and Enclosures

On the System Auditor Base Display, select FBM Manager under the General heading. To assign an area and
enclosure to an FBM, select Enclosure Setup at the top of the FBM Manager window. Select the enclosure
under the Area in the Enclosure tree area and then select the FBM in the Unassigned FBMs area. Use the blue
right arrow to assign the selected FBM to its area and enclosure.

Note: Deleting an area or enclosure will unassign all FBMs under that area and enclosure.

Reserving I/O
On the System Auditor Base Display, select FBM Manager under the General heading. To reserve an I/O, find
the I/O (see Finding FBM Spares). When you have found the desired I/O, select it and use the right mouse
button to reserve the spare I/O.

Note: You will be asked to enter a reserve name and description.

Alternative: The I/O can also be reserved directly from the CP list by selecting the I/O from the FBM in the
particular CP.

Finding a Block or Compound

Find a block or compound using any of the following:
• On the Main menu, select Tools > Find Tag
• Use the quick key stroke <CTRL>F
• Use buttons to search by:
− Block, if the block name or part of the block name is known
− Compound, if the compound name or part of the compound name is known
− COMPOUND:BLOCK, if the COMPOUND:BLOCK name or part of the COMPOUND:BLOCK name is
known

Notes:
• When searching for a COMPOUND:BLOCK, separate the compound and block names with a colon.
• The % symbol can only be used before or after the name as a wild card.

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 7

Frequently Asked Questions B0750HD Rev A

Finding a Block by Description

Select Tools from the top toolbar and select Find Tag. Also, a quick key stroke is available <CTRL>F. A button
is also available for finding a block by description. Use the Search Field: box to enter the block description.

Note: The % symbol can only be used before or after the description as a wild card.

Creating a Block to Block Drawing (Map)

Find the block of interest and then click the Mapping tab at the bottom of the Base Display window (see
Finding a Block or Compound). Use the Overview button to navigate the map by moving around the rectangle.

Note: If the block has HLBL code associated with it, the Indirect Block references can be shown by using the
Map HLBL Code check box to the left of the mapping region. Remember to click Generate Map after the
selection is made.

Creating a HLBL Flowchart

Find the block with the HLBL code, and then click the Mapping tab at the bottom of the Base Display window.
This will show the Block. Now click the HLBL Mapping tab at the top of the Block Map window.

Note: If the HLBL code has subroutines, they will be listed separately to the left of the mapping region. Select
the subroutine of interest and click Generate Map.

Creating a LOGIC (CALC, CALCA, MATH, or LOGIC) Block Flowchart

Find the block you are interested in, and then click the Mapping tab at the bottom of the Base Display window.
This will show the Block to Block drawing. Click the LOGIC Mapping tab at the top of the Block Map window.

Finding Missing Block Connections

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Integrity Checks under the System Management heading. Use
the Missing References tab at the bottom and the Missing Tags References tab at the top to find the block of
interest. All missing block connections will be listed.

Alternative: Find the block of interest, and then click the References tab at the top of the Base Display
window. The missing references will have a **Missing** in front of the reference.

Finding Missing Display Connections

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Integrity Checks under the System Management heading. Use
the Missing References tab at the bottom and the Missing Display References tab at the top to find the display
of interest. All missing block connections will be listed.

Alternative: Select Displays under the System Management heading. Find the display of interest in the
Displays grid and click it. The missing display connections will be listed in the Missing Tag References grid.

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 8

Frequently Asked Questions B0750HD Rev A

Finding Missing Historian Connections

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Integrity Checks under the System Management heading. Use
the Missing References tab at the bottom and the Missing Historian References tab at the top, and all missing
historian connections will be listed.

Finding Inhibited and Disabled Alarms

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Alarm Statistics under the System Management heading. At the
bottom of the window is the Inhibited Alarms tab. Both Inhibited and Disabled Alarms are shown.

Note: By clicking the State column the alarms can be ordered by Inhibited and Disabled.

Generating a Where Used Report by Block

Find the block of interest. Click the Summary tab at the bottom of the Base Display, and then select the Where
Used tab under the Quick References title bar.

Adding a Comment
Find the block of interest; click the Summary tab at the bottom of the Base Display. Then select the Comments
tab under the Quick References title bar. In the Blocks Comments grid, right-click and select the Add New
Comment option.

Alternative: On the System Auditor Base Display, select Comments under the System Management heading.
Use the Find Tag button to find the block to which a comment will be added. Then select + Add Comment at
the top of the Saved Comments window to add a comment.

Note: The ADD button must be clicked to save the comment.

Linking an External File to a Block

Find the block of interest. Click the Summary tab at the bottom of the Base Display. In the General grid, “# Ext
Docs (right-click to add)” will appear. Right-click and the Add New Document … box will appear. Select this
box. A new window will appear where an external document can be added by using the … to the right of the
Select the External Document box. Once the document is found, use the , to the right of the Select the
External Document box, to connect the document to the block.
Note: Remember to select a Document Category to help keep the documents organized.

Finding Blocks in Manual

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Integrity Checks under the System Management heading. Use
the Tags in Manual/Local tab at the bottom and the Tags in Manual tab at the top and all blocks in manual will
be listed.

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 9

Frequently Asked Questions B0750HD Rev A

Finding Alarm Configuration Issues

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Integrity Checks under the System Management heading. Use
the Alarm Integrity tab at the bottom and various alarm configuration issues are listed in the tabs at the top.
Select the appropriate tab and view the Alarm configuration issues.
Alternative: If a particular block is of interest, first find the block. Then under the Quick References title bar,
select the Integrity tab. If there are any alarm configuration issues they will be listed along with other types of
configuration issues.

Finding Multiple Blocks Connected to the Same FBM I/O

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Integrity Checks under the System Management heading. Use
the Multiple FBM Reads and Writes tab at the bottom and all multiple connections will be listed, filtered by
FBM.

Finding All Alarms Configured in the System

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Alarm Statistics under the System Management heading. See
the Configured Alarms tab at the bottom of the window.

Alternative: If a particular block is of interest, first find the block. If alarms are configured for this block,
“Alarms Configured” appears in green at the bottom of the General grid. Click this text to list the alarms.

Viewing Changes Made to Blocks in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Change Tracking under the System Management heading.
Ensure the Configuration Modifications tab at the bottom is selected. Create a set using the User Defined
button under Period, and create a filter where “Compound like and Block like” is the COMPOUND:BLOCK of
interest. Finally, select the Modifications tab at the top and use set that was created to view the changes.

Alternative: If a particular block is of interest, first find the block and then use the OAJ and Change Tracking
tabs the bottom of the General grid. These tabs will list the changes made to the block.

Auditing a Change
Find the block of interest. Then at the bottom of the General grid is the Change Tracking tab. Select the
change or changes to be audited and right-click the mouse to show the Audit Selected Change option. Enter
the audit information and click Audit Changes to complete the audit.

Viewing Most Frequent Alarms in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Alarm Statistics under the System Management heading. Create
a Set using the User Defined button under Period. Next, select the Most Frequent Alarm tab at the bottom and
select the set that was created.

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 10

Frequently Asked Questions B0750HD Rev A

Viewing Alarms per Time Period in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Alarm Statistics under the System Management heading. Create
a Set using the User Defined button under Period. Select the Alarms Per Time Period tab at the bottom and
select the set that was created.

Viewing Chattering Alarms in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Alarm Statistics under the System Management heading. Create
a Set using the User Defined button under Period. Select the Chattering Alarms tab at the bottom and select
the set that was created.

Viewing Flooding Alarms in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Alarm Statistics under the System Management heading. Create
a Set using the User Defined button under Period. Next select the Flooding Alarms tab at the bottom and
select the set that was created.

Viewing Correlated Alarms in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Alarm Statistics under the System Management heading. Create
a Set using the User Defined button under Period. Select the Correlated Alarms tab at the bottom and select
the set that was created.

Viewing Most Frequent OAJ in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Change Tracking under the System Management heading.
Ensure the tab at the bottom titled Operator Action Journal is selected. Create a Set using the User Defined
button under Period. Select the Most Frequent OAJ tab at the top of this window and select the set that was
created.

Viewing OAJ per Time Period in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Change Tracking under the System Management heading.
Ensure the Operator Action Journal tab at the bottom is selected, and then create a set using the User
Defined button in under Period. Select the OAJ Per Time Period tab at the top of this window and select the
set that was created.

Viewing OAJ, SOE and Alarms together in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select SOE Messages under the System Management heading. Create
a Set using the User Defined button under Period. Select the Show Process Alarms and Show OAJs check
boxes and then click the Execute button.

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 11

Frequently Asked Questions B0750HD Rev A

Finding all Block Connections in a Display

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Displays under the System Management heading. Find and click
the Display of interest in the Display grid. All block connections will be listed in the Tag References and the
Missing Tag References grids.

Viewing System Monitor Messages

On the System Auditor Base Display, select System Messages and Counters under the System Info
heading. Select the Period button that is appropriate. Next click Execute and the messages will be displayed.

Viewing Changes in HLBL and PLB Code

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Viewer Manager under the System Management heading. Select
the HLBL Viewer tab at the bottom of the View Manager window and select the block that contains HLBL code.
Next select Compare Versions above the code in the HLBL File window (the File Comparison will appear). In
the File 1: and File 2: boxes, select the versions of code to compare. Click Compare at the bottom and the
changes will appear in green, blue or red.

Note: The same process can be used for PLB code by using the Ladder Viewer tab at the bottom of the Viewer
Manager window.

Finding Deleted and Created Blocks in a Specific Time Period

On the System Auditor Base Display, select Change Tracking under the System Management heading.
Ensure the Configuration Modifications tab at the bottom is selected. Create a Set using the User Defined
button under Period. Select the Created and Deleted tab at the top and the Set that was created to view the
results.

Creating an Advanced Query

There are several ways to create an advanced query:
• Import Query – Use the Import Query button at the top left corner of the Advanced Query Windows (select
Advanced Query under the System Management heading. Select the query and it will be imported under
the User Queries folder.
• Use the Advanced Query Tables and Fields tab in the Advanced Query window. First, create a new query
using the New Query button. Next, select the tables and fields from the Tables and Fields tab and press
Enter. The query will be created for those tables and fields.
• Build your own query using the System Auditor MySQL Tables Guide. If you need assistance, contact
customer support.

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 12

Frequently Asked Questions B0750HD Rev A

Viewing a History of CP Idle Times

On the System Auditor Base Display, select CP/MG Status under the System Info heading. In the Controller
grid, select the control processor (CP) you want to look at. Under the System tab at the bottom, locate the CP
Idle Time. Double-click the IDLE TIME (IDLETM) parameter in the System Values window. A histogram of this
parameter will be displayed.

Changing a User’s Password

On the File menu, select User Management. In the Registered Users grid, select the user and then enter the
new password in both the Password: and Retype Password: boxes. Click Apply to apply the change.

Note: The password must be at least six characters, a mix of text and numbers and the final strength must be
at least 12%.

Adding a New User

Note: To add a new user, you must have Administrative privileges.

On the File menu, select User Management. In the Registered Users window, select +Add User. Double-click
the networks in the Networks Available grid to add the networks for that user to the Permitted Networks grid.
Complete the necessary information in the Setting grid and click Add to add the new user.

Detecting Control Network Switch Problems on Ports

Use the MESH Monitoring feature to analyze problems on the switches on the Foxboro Evo control network
(previously known as The Mesh Control Network). On the System Auditor Base Display, select MESH
Monitoring under the System Info heading. Click the MESH Network cloud to see a color-coded grid that helps
identify which ports on which switches are having problems. The squares are red, yellow, and green to help
you identify which ports are having more problems than others.

Setting the Thresholds on Ports and Parameters

In the MESH Monitoring feature, select Manage Thresholds on the File menu. Every parameter for every port
for every switch is shown. Enter a value or use the options at the bottom to create threshold values.

Configuring Control Network Alerts

Use the MESH Monitoring feature to configure alerts for the control network (previously known as The Mesh
Control Network). In the MESH Monitoring feature, select Manage Alerts on the File menu. Fill out the relevant
information to create the alert. This is very similar to creating other reports.

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 13

Frequently Asked Questions B0750HD Rev A

Plotting a Trend over Time for a Control Network Switch Port

Parameter
Using the MESH Monitoring feature, select a switch under the MESH Network cloud. The port parameters for
the control network (previously known as The Mesh Control Network) are displayed with color-coded squares
for each port. Double-click any square to see a history of that parameter over time. Manipulate the period by
changing the period parameters at the top of the window.

Alternative: You can display the same trend by selecting the Port below the Switch in the MESH Switches grid
and then selecting the parameter in the Index grid.

System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions 14

 System Auditor Tips and Frequently Asked Questions

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