Disable Alarms with Fixed Duration

In the server configuration, there is a Fixed Duration setting for Disable Alarms. The Fixed Duration sets the Disable Alarms action to be in effect for a specific amount of time (defined in the Duration field on the server). The item’s alarms and alarm actions will only be re-displayed when the Duration expires or when the Enable Alarms action is triggered.

When Fixed Duration is used, the Disable Alarms action works like this:

When this option is chosen, the Disable Alarms action works like this:

1. The Disable Alarms action for an item is selected by a user or triggered by a Schedule, Logic program or Method Call. The item could be an individual database item or a Group.

   When Independent is enabled, Logic, Schedules and Method Calls cannot apply a duration when disabling alarms. Only users can trigger Disable Alarms with a duration. When Independent is disabled, any specified duration is applied, irrespective of the User Type that triggers the Disable Alarms action. For more information on Independent, see Define whether User Types can Disable Alarms Independently in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Server Administration.

2. Geo SCADA Expert withholds the alarms for the item (the item’s alarms are disabled).

   When the item’s alarms are disabled, Geo SCADA Expert:

   • Assigns the Alarm Disabled system color to the item. The color is used on displays such as Queries Lists, unless another color status takes precedence.
   • Will not display alarms for the item
   • Denies access to the alarm response actions (Acknowledge, Unacknowledge, and so on.)
   • Will not redirect alarms for the item (if any redirections are configured)
   • Logs the item’s change in state in the Event Journal (Events List). This will not appear as an alarm-related entry as no alarm has been generated.
   • Indicates that the items alarms are disabled on the item’s Status display. Geo SCADA Expert continues to monitor the item for alarm conditions, but does not display any alarm information. Geo SCADA Expert will only display the alarm details when the item’s alarms are no longer withheld (are enabled).
3. Geo SCADA Expert continues to monitor the item for alarm conditions, but does not display any alarm information. Geo SCADA Expert will only display the alarm details when the item’s alarms are no longer withheld (are enabled).
4. The item’s alarms and alarm features continue to be withheld until:
   • The Duration (defined in the server configuration) expires. For example, with the default Duration of 1D in place, the Disable Alarms action could withhold the item’s alarms for a maximum of 1 day. When the Duration expires, the item’s alarms are re-enabled.

     If the Independent setting is enabled on the server, at the end of the Duration, the User flag changes from Disabled to Enabled. Whether this means that the item’s alarms become enabled is still dependent on the flags for the Logic, Schedule and Method Call User Types (i.e. these flags may be reset to ‘enabled’ independently).For more information, see Define whether User Types can Disable Alarms Independently in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Server Administration.

     Or:

   • The Enable Alarms action is triggered by a user, Logic program, Schedule or Method Call. The Independent setting on the server has an effect on how the Enable Alarms action works (see Define whether User Types can Disable Alarms Independently in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Server Administration).