Use light backgrounds to eliminate glare and reserve bright colors like red strictly for alarms or exceptions, ensuring they stand out when they matter most. Quick Start Guide for Engineers
Users can easily copy graphics, graphic parts, and entire expressions.
Mastering the ABB 800xA Graphics Builder: A Comprehensive Guide
Engineers can insert bar graphs, buttons, and "animate selection areas" to link graphical elements directly to process tags. abb 800xa graphics builder
Unlike older bitmap-based systems, these graphics use vector scaling. This allows operators to resize windows without losing resolution or dealing with distortion.
: Supports integrating live video feeds directly into process displays and faceplates with just a few clicks.
Open the properties window to link attributes (like Value or State ) to specific object properties in the DCS controller. Use light backgrounds to eliminate glare and reserve
Use the built-in compiler check inside the Expression Editor to catch broken object references, typos, or syntax errors before deploying graphics to live operator workstations. Proactively Managing HMI Lifecycles
: Full-screen overviews of plant sections, such as water plants or cooling systems. Graphic Elements
An easy-to-use expression editor allows for complex animation and dynamic behavior mapping to real-time data with simple syntax. Unlike older bitmap-based systems, these graphics use vector
: Features such as aspect links , hot keys , and filters help operators move quickly between relevant displays. 💡 Best Practices for Efficiency Graphics Builder - 800xA DCS - ABB
You can create a Graphic Display in the following steps: 1) : In Plant Explorer, right-click the object (e.g., a control module) and select New Aspect > Graphic Display PG2 , then name it. 2) Open the Graphics Builder : Right-click the new graphic display aspect and select Edit . 3) Draw the Background : Use the Toolbox to draw static elements representing the equipment. 4) Insert Dynamic Elements : Open the Element Explorer and drag elements like tanks or motors onto the canvas. 5) Configure Connections : Use the Properties Window and Expression Editor to link a motor's color change to its runtime status in the logic (e.g., =If (Motor.Running = True) then Green else Red ). 6) Add Interactivity : Configure hyperlinks to other graphics or define actions for operator interaction such as starting a pump. 7) Test and Save : Use Design Mode for static building and Live Mode to see real-time process data. Live Mode gives you a "what you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG) preview.
The is the core engineering tool used to create the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) for one of the world's most widely deployed Distributed Control Systems (DCS). It allows automation engineers, system integrators, and plant operators to design intuitive, high-performance process displays.
You can create three main types of graphic aspects: : Acts as an overall process picture, such as an overview of a distillation column, composed of static backgrounds and dynamic graphic elements. Graphic Element PG2 : A dynamic, reusable component like a motor indicator showing "Running" or "Stopped." It’s typically used as a building block within a graphic display. Generic Element PG2 : A low-level, customizable graphics container for building custom solutions. Faceplates : Specialized, pop-up windows that provide detailed information and control for a specific object (e.g., a pump). They are context-sensitive and allow operators to change setpoints and perform other tasks.
