Creating Custom Items in FieldPoint Explorer

In FieldPoint it is often convenient to group channels into one item so that the channels can be read together. This capability can simplify reading values into a programming environment by reducing the number of items that need to be accessed.

This document describes how to set up and manage custom items in FieldPoint Explorer that contain multiple channels. It assumes that you have already successfully set up the modules in FieldPoint Explorer and that you can monitor and write values. If you are having trouble setting up your FieldPoint modules in FieldPoint Explorer, refer to the Quick Start Guide for your FieldPoint communications module.

FP-1000/1001 FieldPoint Quick Start Guide

FP-1600 FieldPoint Quick Start Guide

FP-2000/2010 FieldPoint Quick Start Guide

Creating an Item

After you have configured the channels in FieldPoint Explorer, follow these steps to create items which logically group signals together:

1. Right-click the device and select Add an item to this device. This example shows an FP-1000 module with an FP-CTR-500. The configuration is saved as my_fieldpoint.iak in c:/temp.


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2. In the Item Configuration dialog box, enter the name of the new item in the Name field. In the Advise Rate field, enter the rate at which you want the value column to update in FieldPoint Explorer. Click the checkboxes of the channels you want to include in the item.


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As you select additional channels, the Channel Bit Mask and Terminal Connections update automatically.

3. Click OK when you have finished configuring the item.

The new item is now listed as shown in the following dialog box. The item can be read via LabVIEW VIs or OPC. However, when a FieldPoint item represents more than one analog channel, you can read, write, and monitor only the first channel of the item from FieldPoint Explorer.


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Deleting an Item

To delete an item, right-click the item and select Delete this item as shown in the following dialog box.


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Duplicating and Item

To duplicate an item, follow these steps:

1. Right-click on a device in the and select Duplicate this item.


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2. Enter the number of duplicate items to create in the Duplicate Count field.



3. Click OK.

Editing an Item

To edit an item, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the item and select Edit this item.


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2. In the Item Configuration dialog box, make the desired changes.

3. Click OK.

Reader Comments | Submit a comment »

Update
This page realy needs an update
- Márcio Vítor - Feb 15, 2006

document needs to get updated
This document is written for NI FieldPoint Software prior to 4.x. In 4.x the FieldPoint Explorer is obsolete and the configuration is done in MAX. Some details work different there.
- Feb 28, 2005