If your WITS Field Device does not appear to function as configured, it may be due to an error relating to the version of the bulk configuration file (BCF): ClearSCADA and the Field Device may have different bulk configuration, but a BCF with the same version.
When you modify a BCF by using the Configuration Application, you need to give the the updated BCF a different version to the original BCF. That way, when the updated BCF and matching incremental configuration file (ICF) are imported into ClearSCADA, ClearSCADA knows to download the BCF. Alternatively, if the updated BCF is loaded into the Field Device, ClearSCADA knows that it needs to upload the BCF.
Similarly, if you make local modifications to a Field Device's bulk configuration, you need to change the BCF version (so that ClearSCADA knows to upload the BCF).
Unfortunately, some Configuration Applications and vendor-supplied tools do not prompt you to change the version of the bulk configuration file. With such tools, it is possible to make configuration changes and create a bulk configuration file that has the same version as the previous bulk configuration file. This results in ClearSCADA and the Field Device being unable to differentiate between the bulk configuration file versions.
If your WITS Field Device is not functioning in a way that is consistent with its configuration settings, it may be because the bulk configuration files in ClearSCADA and the Field Device are not synchronized. This can result in unexpected behavior.
To resolve this situation, you need to determine whether the correct configuration for the Field Device is in ClearSCADA or the Field Device itself.
If ClearSCADA has the correct configuration and supports configuration download:
In ClearSCADA, right-click on the relevant WITS Outstation item and select Download Configuration (WITS Outstation). When the dialog box appears, choose All Configuration. This will download the entire configuration from ClearSCADA to the Field Device. The downloaded configuration overwrites the configuration in the Field Device.
If configuration download is not supported by your Field Device, you will need to load the correct bulk configuration file into the Field Device locally.
If your Field Device has the correct configuration and supports configuration upload:
In ClearSCADA, right-click on the relevant WITS Outstation item and select Upload Configuration. When the dialog box appears, choose All Configuration. This will upload the entire configuration from the Field Device into ClearSCADA. The uploaded configuration overwrites the configuration in ClearSCADA.
If your Field Device has the correct configuration and does not support configuration upload:
You can either:
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Use a vendor-supplied tool to extract the current configuration from the Field Device locally (if supported by your Field Device). You will need to extract the configuration as a bulk configuration file and a matching incremental configuration file. If you can only extract the configuration as a bulk configuration file, you will need to use the Field Device's Configuration Application to generate a matching incremental configuration file.
Or
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Locate the original bulk configuration file that was loaded into the Field Device. You should also locate its matching incremental configuration file. If only the original bulk configuration file is available, use the Field Device's Configuration Application to generate a matching incremental configuration file.
This approach is unsuitable if you have made any local changes to the Field Device's bulk configuration file.
For both of these options, you will need to:
- Log on to ViewX via a user account that has the Configure permission.
- Right-click on the relevant WITS Outstation item and select Import Configuration.
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When the dialog box appears, set the Mode:
Choose Replace if you extracted the current configuration from the Field Device or if there are no changes in ClearSCADA that you want to keep. When you choose Replace, you will need to browse to the configuration files you created for the Field Device configuration.The imported configuration will overwrite the configuration in ClearSCADA.
Choose Merge if you located the original configuration files or if there are changes in ClearSCADA that you want to keep. When you choose Merge, you will need to browse to the original configuration files. When the import is complete, carefully review the merged configuration and then perform a download of all configuration (see Download Configuration (WITS Outstation)). The configuration that is downloaded to the Field Device will overwrite the local Field Device configuration.
Further Information