Properties Tab

Overview

The defaults in the Properties tab will function for most systems.

Gas Analysis Processing Blackout Periods

There are four available blackout periods during which no write requests will be processed or sent. The display shows a short description of the blackout.

To alter it:

1. Click the editing box ... to the right of the short description
2. Make the alterations
3. Click Save and then Save again on the parent page.

Gas Analysis Write File Service

There are eight settings associated with the Gas Analysis Write File Service that can be modified by the users:

1. Archive Completed Folder: The Archive folder for files that have succeeded with at least one request.
2. Archive Failed Folder: The Archive folder for the files that have failed to create any requests.
3. Field Delimiter: The field delimiter used in the file. The default setting is (,).  Valid delimeters are: comma (,), tab (\t), pipe (|) and semi-colon ( ;)
4. Field Mapping: The column mapping scheme used to read values from each file line into a predetermined GC Write Request field. By default: GCIDENTIFIER,ARGON,CO,CO2,ETHANE,H2,H2O,H2S,HELIUM,IBUTANE,IPENTANE,METHANE,N2,NBUTANE,NDECANE,NEOPENTANE,NHEPTANE,NHEXANE,NNONANE,NOCTANE,NPENTANE,O2,PROPANE,HEATINGVALUE,SPECIFICGRAVITY
5. Has Column Headers: Set to true if the first row of the file contains column headers. The default setting is True. To change this setting, select the cell marked “True” and use the drop-down menu.
6. Import Folder: The import folder for new files to be processed.
7. Meter Resolution Mode: Resolves the meters in ACM by RecordField or FileName. The default setting is RecordField. To change this setting select the cell marked RecordsField and type in FileName.
8. Validation Tolerance: The value +/- of the mole component total used to create a tolerance window. 100 would let any sum validate. The default setting is 100.

Gas Analysis Writes

There are six settings associated with Gas Analysis Writes that can be modified by users:

1. Exclude Non-External: Use the External GC Reference or External Meter Reference properties to find the correct meter name and device. The default setting is False. To change this setting, select the cell marked “False” and use the drop-down menu.
2. Fail Orphaned Requests: Any gas analysis writes that occur during a server shutdown will be marked as “failed”. The default setting is False. To change this setting, select the cell marked “False” and use the drop-down menu.
3. FlowCal Area Index: Use this setting to associate ACM with one or more specific measurement areas in your FlowCal system. The default setting is empty - which means ACM will handle all measurement areas. To limit ACM to a specific measurement area, enter the integer value of the measurement area index. You can also enter multiple integer values separated by commas to make ACM handle a specific set of measurement areas. For example, enter "1,3,4" (without quotes) to make ACM handle requests from measurement areas 1, 3, and 4.
4. Max Concurrent Writes: The maximum number of gas analysis writes that can be queued simultaneously. The default setting is 25. To change this setting, select the cell with the numerical value and use keyboard input.
5. Request Service Interval Timer: The interval time (in seconds) for the asiGCRequestManager service to process requests. Default is 30. Changes require a restart of the service.
6. Trace Logging: This enables logging of gas analysis related progress messages. The default setting is False. To change this setting, select the cell marked “False” and use the drop-down menu.

Gas Analysis Writes Retry

There are five settings associated with the Gas Analysis Writes Retry that can be modified by the users:

1. Max Tries: The maximum number of tries to attempt a gas analysis write for a specific request. This is not used when Switch to Slow Mode is enabled. The default value is 3.
2. Slow Timeout: The maximum time (in seconds) to allow for a gas analysis write to complete before putting in the retry list. The default value is 300.
3. Switch to Slow Timeout: The maximum time (in seconds) to allow the Write Timeout to complete a gas analysis write before switching to the Slow Timeout. The default value is 500.
4. Use Switch to Slow Mode: Enable Slow Timeout schedule for request and retry attempts once the Switch to Slow Timeout has triggers. Max Tries is ignored when Enabled. The default value is False.
5. Write Timeout: The maximum time (in seconds) to allow for a gas analysis write to complete before putting it in the retry list. The default value is 180.

Retry configuration examples

The Gas Analysis Writes Retry properties can work in 'regular' mode or in 'slow mode'. The section below describes how each mode works.

'Regular Mode' is active when the property "Use Switch to Slow Mode" is disabled. In this mode, retries follow this logic:

• Each GCWrite request is attempted up to the "Max Tries" value.
• Each attempt can take up to "Write Timeout" seconds to complete.
• If an attempt succeeds, the request is marked as 'Complete' and no more action is required.
• If all attempts fail, the request is marked as 'Failed' and no more action is taken.
• If ACM is stopped while a request is in progress, the request is marked as 'Failed' unless the property to "Fail Orphaned Requests" is disabled. If disabled, any remaining retries will be attempted when ACM is started again.

'Slow Mode' is active when the property "Use Switch to Slow Mode" is enabled. In this mode, retries follow this logic:

• Each GCWrite request is attempted, allowing up to "Write Timeout" seconds to complete. There is no "Max Tries" limit.
• If an attempt succeeds, the request is marked as 'Complete' and no more action is required.
• If the request has not yet completed when the "Switch To Slow Timeout" period has elapsed (since the start of the first attempt):
  • Attempts will continue indefinitely.
  • Each attempt can take up to "Slow Timeout" seconds to complete.
  • If an attempt succeeds, the request is marked as 'Complete' and no more action is required.
  • If ACM is stopped while a request is in progress, the request is marked as 'Failed' unless the property to "Fail Orphaned Requests" is disabled. If disabled, retries will resume when ACM is started again.

Report Services

There are two settings associated with the Report Services that can be modified by the users:

1. Archive Schedule: This enables users to configure when the Archive Manager process runs.
   1. Do not run automatically:  The archive process will only run if triggered to run manually. 
   2. Run every hour at # minutes past the hour:  If 55 is entered for minutes, the archive process will run at 1:55, 2:55, 3:55 and so on.
   3. Run once a day at entered time
2. Detail Logging: This option allows users to show logging messages for starting and completing calls through the Report Service, such as, Archive Management and Scheduled Reports.

Server

The following settings associated with Server can be modified by users:

1. Data Path: This points to the folder used for user file storage including View filters, saved grid layouts and RTU tag and unit files. These files are created and used by ACM based on device and user configuration. The default data path is: C:\ProgramData\AutoSol\Communication Manager\7\DataFiles.
2. Dot Naming: This option allows “Object.Item” naming syntax. Otherwise, “[Object]Item” syntax must be used. The default value is True.

3. Keep Meter Record History: This option provides the ability to turn off meter configuration record historization. Leave at the default value True to continue historizing meter records.  

   Important!

   Only change Keep Meter Record History to false if you do not want to keep any meter configuration history.

4. Log Startup Config: This option allows users to log all configuration properties during server startup. The default setting is False.

   Important!

   Enabling Log Startup Config may slow down the startup process.

5. OPC Trace: OPC trace information between clients and server is possible when this option is enabled. The default setting is False

   Important!

   Enabling OPC Trace may produce large log files and add significant overhead to the server.

6. SQLTimeout – Bulk Insert: This is the maximum time, in seconds, allowed for a SQL command to complete. The default value is 60.
7. SQLTimeout – Publisher Commands: This is the maximum time, in seconds, allowed for a Publisher SQL command to complete. The default value is 60.
8. SQLTimeout – Report Commands: This is the maximum time, in seconds, allowed for a Report SQL command to complete. The default value is 60.
9. UniqueNamesWithinType: Enabling this option forces unique object names within each object type. The default setting is False.
10. UseCacheForDeviceReads: This property is not visible in the Server properties list. It controls how ACM provides data to OPC clients that request a read from field devices. The default setting is False, which makes ACM follow the OPC specification for data updates. If OPC clients request a read from field devices while this setting is True, ACM will update OPC clients with data from its internal cache instead of polling field devices for data. Contact technical support if you believe this alternate behavior will benefit your application.

Service Ports

The TCP ports used for communication between the ACM Configuration client and the server components can be configured in the Service Ports section. If another application on the computer is already using one of these ports, the associated service will not be able start successfully. The port numbers to use can be modified in this section:

• Archive Service Tcp Port: The port used to connect to the asiREPORTSERVER.exe service. This service houses both reporting and archive management features.
• Command Service Tcp Port: The port used to connect to the asiCONFIGSERVER.exe service. This services houses both the configuration and command features.
• Config Service Tcp Port: The port used to connect to the asiCONFIGSERVER.exe service.
• Item Service Tcp Port: The port used to connect to the asiITEMSERVER.exe service.
• Logging Service Tcp Port: The port used to connect to the asiLOGSERVER.exe service.
• Report Service Tcp Port: The port used to connect to the asiREPORTSERVER.exe service.

TotalFlow Laptop File Import Service

For these settings and information about the service, refer to the TotalFlow Laptop File Import Service page.