CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION

CENTO is a multifunctional software platform for data acquisition, processing and display. This manual describes how to configure the CENTO user tool Control.

It is assumed that the user, having read the "User manual", is already familiar with the basic elements of the CENTO interface.

This manual describes how to configure the Control service, which is used to send control commands to the objects being controlled.

2. CONTROL USING WEB INTERFACE

2.1. Control using the device, tags editor

A user with the appropriate permissions can control the object using the devices, tags, channels editor.

By default, for security reasons, in CENTO software, the Administrator role is not authorized for remote control and control operations, and the Dispatcher role does not have access to the devices, tags, and channels editor. To enable control and remote control using the editor, configure a custom role. For example, duplicate the Dispatcher role and assign it the necessary permissions to access and use the editor.

To control the device, navigate to the Tags, channels tab on the Devices, tags, channels page accessible in the menu: Settings > Devices, tags, channels. In the tree structure, locate the device whose parameters are to be controlled. All the tags with preconfigured control functionality will display either a C button (see Fig. 2.1) or a TC button (see Fig. 2.2) in the Control column.

C is an abbreviation for Control. TC is an abbreviation for Remote control. In CENTO software, Control refers to sending a non-negative integer value to a device, while Remote control refers to sending a discrete signal.

Figure 2.1. Tags with remote control enabled

Figure 2.2. Tags with control and remote control enabled

Clicking C opens a pop-up window prompting the user to enter a password to access the control function (see Fig. 2.3).

Figure 2.3. Entering password

To proceed, enter the account password. After successful authentication, a modal window appears allowing to specify the value to be written to the device (see Fig. 2.4).

Figure 2.4. Entering value for control

After entering the value in the field, click Send (see Fig. 2.4).

Next, confirm the entered value by clicking Execute to initiate the control command and write the value to the device. Alternatively, click Cancel, to cancel the operation (see Fig. 2.5).

Figure 2.5. Confirmation of the command to write a value

Clicking TC also opens a password prompt window. After successful authentication, a command selection window appears (see Fig. 2.6). As with the Control, a confirmation window follows the selected command.

Figure 2.6. Selecting command for remote control

3. SETTING CONTROL

3.1. Setting using WEB interface

Setting control for tags transmitted via Modbus, OPC DA, or IEC-104 protocols is performed through the Edit parameter interface located under Settings > Devices, tags, channels, in the Tags, channels tab. In this interface, select the target device in the device tree by checking the box next to it. The device should be configured with one of the supported protocols: Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU over TCP, OPC DA, or IEC-104. To open the tag editing interface, click on the tag identifier or tag name in the general tag list.

The interface includes protocol-dependent fields:

- general settings described in the “Setup manual”,

- reading settings as defined in the relevant configuration manuals,

- settings for writing:

• Remote control (discrete signal transmission to the device) for IEC-104 protocol: "Remote control is allowed", "Select before operate (SBO)", "Function", "Command duration", "Switch on address", "Switch on value", "Switch off address", "Switch off value", for Modbus TCP protocol: "Remote control is allowed", "Function", "Value length", "Switch on address", "Switch on value", "Switch off value", "Switch off address", "Write by bitmask";
• Control (transmission of a positive integer to the device) for Modbus TCP protocol: "Record values", "Function", "Data type in device", "Address", "Byte order", conversion elements: "Physical value (lower limit)", "Physical value (upper limit)", "Value to record (lower limit)", "Value to record (upper limit)", for OPC DA protocol: "Record values", "Device Tag Data Type", conversion elements: "Physical value (lower limit)", "Physical value (upper limit)", "Value to record (lower limit)", "Value to record (upper limit)".

1) The remote control function is available for Modbus TCP Modbus RTU over TCP) protocols (see Fig. 3.1.1) and IEC 104 (see Fig. 3.1.2).

The position of the Remote control is allowed switch determines whether record commands can be sent to the device at the specified address.

The position of the Select before operate (SBO) switch defines whether command selection is required prior to executing remote control commands.

In the Remote control field, select the appropriate ASDU type for the control command from the drop-down list (see Fig. 3.1.4).

Figure 3.1.1. Setting remote control via Modbus protocol

Figure 3.1.2. Setting remote control via IEC-104 protocol

The following functions are available for the Modbus protocol:

FC5 (0x05) - recording the value of one flag (Force Single Coil).

FC6 (0x06) - recording the value to Preset Single Register.

FC16 (0x10) - recording multiple registers, used to record a block of contiguous registers (1 to 123 registers) to a remote device (Write Multiple Registers)

The Value lenght field specifies the number of registers to be recorded.

The Switch on address field specifies the address of the register in the device memory where the enable command will be written. The address should be a non-negative integer.

The Switch off address field specifies the register address in the device memory where the disable command will be written. The address should be a non-negative integer.

The Switch on value and Switch off value indicate the value to be written to the register address to execute the disable command. The value can be specified in decimal, binary, octal, or hexadecimal (HEX) format. Decimal is written as a plain number, binary is prefixed with 0b or 0B, represents setting the two least significant bits to 1 and 0, octal is prefixed with 08, HEX is prefixed with 0x or 0X.

The Write by bitmask field specifies the mask in decimal, binary, or HEX format.

2) The Control function is available for Modbus TCP (Modbus RTU over TCP) protocols (see Fig. 3.1.3 ), and OPC DA (see Fig. 3.1.9). 

Figure 3.1.3. Setting  control for Modbus protocol

Figure 3.1.4. Remote control for IEC-104

Settings for writing: Write values, Function, Device Tag Data Type, Address, Byte order; Tranformation elements: Physical value (lower limit), Physical value (upper limit), Record value (lower limit), Record value (upper limit).

The position of the Write values switch determines whether value write commands can be sent to the device at the specified address.

The Function field selects the Modbus recording function from the drop-down list (see Fig. 3.1.5).

Figure 3.1.5. Modbus control function

FC5 (0x05) - recording the value of one flag (Force Single Coil).

FC16 (0x10) - recording multiple registers, used to write a block of contiguous registers (1 to 123 registers) to a remote device (Write multiple registers).

The Address field specifies the address of the tag in the device memory to which the value will be written. The address should be a non-negative integer in decimal format.

The field Byte order from the drop-down list (see Fig. 3.1.6) is used to select different order of bytes and/or words in the written CENTO data.

In the Device Tag Data Type field, select the data type used by the device to store values from the drop-down list (see the device manual for details) (see Fig. 3.1.7).

Fig. 3.1.7. Device Tag Data Type

In the Transformation block, a linear transformation is applied to convert a physical quantity into a value to be recorded, using defined upper and lower limits for both. These limits establish the valid ranges for the physical quantity and its corresponding recorded value, within which data can be filled in (see Fig. 3.1.8).

Figure 3.1.8. Transformation block

In devices using the OPC DA protocol, the control function is easier to configure. In the settings, enable Write values, select the device tag data type, and define the necessary transformations (see Fig. 3.1.9).

Figure 3.1.9. Configuring control for OPCDA protocol

3.2. Setting control using MS Excel

To configure Control for a tag polled via the required protocol using Excel, download a configuration template. To do this, navigate to Settings > Configuration files in the CENTO interface. The Import/Export configuration file page opens (see Fig. 3.2.1). In the Tags and Channels section, click Download to download the template file.

Figure 3.2.1. Import/Export configuration files

Next, open the previously downloaded file, which contains a list of all tags used in CENTO. The details for setting these tags are outlined in the corresponding manual for configuring tags and devices based on the selected protocol.

Figure. 3.2.2. Table of tags

The table includes columns specifically designated for control and remote control settings:

• Resolution of TU field specifies whether the ability to send remote control (recording) commands is enabled.
• Register address enable specifies the address of the register in the device memory where the enable command will be written. The address should be a non-negative integer.
• Value for enable specifies the value to be written to the register address to execute the enable command.
• Register address disable specifies the address of the register in the device memory where the disable command will be written. The address should be a non-negative integer.
• Value for disable specifies the value to be written to the register address to execute the disable command.
• Control resolution field specifies whether the ability to send write commands is enabled.
• Write function is completed according to the device manual. The mapping between write functions and their identifiers is provided on the ID Directory sheet (see Fig. 3.2.3).

Figure 3.2.3. ID Directory write function

• Device data type is filled in according to the device manual. The mapping between data types and their corresponding identifiers is listed on the ID Directory sheet (see Fig. 3.2.4).

Figure 3.2.4. Directory ID data type

• Write address specifies the memory address of the tag in the device where the value will be written.
• Byte order is filled in according to the device manual. The mapping between byte order and their corresponding identifiers is provided on the "ID Directory" sheet (see Fig. 3.2.5).

Figure 3.2.5. Directory ID byte order

• Transformation for Modbus: Physical value (lower limit)
• Transformation for Modbus: Physical value (upper limit)
• Transformation for Modbus: Value for writing (lower limit)
• Transformation for Modbus: Value for writing (lower limit)

After creating the configuration, upload the template to the CENTO database. To do this, click Upload in the Tags and Channels block of the Configuration files interface Then, click Select a file. A window opens to select the storage location of the tag configuration file that was previously uploaded and edited.

Afterward, check the file for any errors that may have occurred during configuration by clicking Check.

If the check is successful, write the configuration to the database clicking Save. If errors are detected during the check, eliminate them and repeat the process until all errors are resolved.

3.3. Setting up control in the information model

The Information Model (IM) is an add-on to the structure recorded in CENTO.

The IM classes define the types and subtypes of all devices on the site, ensuring the system knows which parameters to expect from these devices.

To add Control to the IM, download the Excel file from the Configuration files menu item under Information Model Classes (see Fig. 3.2.1), or configure it using the web editor by going to Information Model Editor > Classes (see Fig. 3.3.2).

In the downloaded file, first create a new class Write value in the List of Classes sheet. Then, create a separate sheet where the code name matches the tab name (see Fig. 3.3.1).

Figure 3.3.1. Value for writing class with attributes in Excel file

This class has four attributes to be specified exactly as shown in Figure 3.3.1:

• Tag ID is a mandatory field;
• Optional fields include the lower and upper limits of values, which define the range within which any values can be entered. The Value variants field is provided for convenience, allowing to select from predefined options instead of manually entering values. To use this feature, specify a reference to the directory in the Type column, such as ref_value_variants (see Fig. 3.3.6). This reference can then be used to select the desired numeric parameters (see Fig. 3.3.7).

Check the created Write value class on the classes editor page:

Figure 3.3.2. Class Write value with attributes in the web-interface of the IM editor

Next, create a class, for example, Motor, to be used to control the IM object. For this class, add attributes with the reference to the class Write value in the Type column (write the class code):

Fig. 3.3.3 - Class Motor with attributes in Excel file

Check the created Motor class on the classes editor page:

Figure 3.3.4. Class Motor with attributes in the web-interface of the IM editor

In the IM object editor, create an object with the class Motor. In the Attributes table, set tag ID, upper and lower limits, value variants (if necessary, reference book is to be created) for configuring.

Figure 3.3.5. Configuring the Control in the Information Model (object editor)

To add aliases of values for writing, download a template from the Information model references block (see Fig. 3.2.1). Next, open the downloaded file. On the sheet Categories, add the code of the directory and its name:

Figure 3.3.6. Configuring IM directory

The added directory should be placed on a separate Excel tab, with the tab name matching the directory code. The table structure for the directory should be copied from the provided templates, and the values for writing should be entered into it (see Fig. 3.3.7). These values can later be selected during control operations on the diagram (see the “User manual” for details).

Figure 3.3.7. Table of IM directories

IM directories can also be configured using the web Information Model editor on the Directories tab. The directory shown in Fig. 3.3.7 is displayed in the web interface as illustrated in Fig. 3.3.8.

Figure 3.3.8. IM directory

IM settings allow sending both single and multiple remote control commands. Remote control is configured in the same way as control, but uses its own set of system commands.

• Single remote control command of an IM object

If an IM object is intended for remote control from a diagram, the following system attributes are added to the object's class (see Fig. 3.3.9)

Figure 3.3.9. Adding remote control attributes to the Switch class

Values for these attributes should be specified for class elements (see Fig. 3.3.10):

• telecontrol_on_ti – Tag ID for switching the object on;
• telecontrol_off_ti – Tag ID for switching the object off;
• telecontrolled – flag indicating whether the object can be controlled (TRUTH – remote control is available, FALSE – not available).

Figure 3.3.10. Configuring Switch remote control via Excel

Remote control can also be configured in the Information Model Editor (see Fig. 3.3.11).

Figure 3.3.11. Configuring switch remote control via the web editor

• Multiple remote control commands for a single IM object

For objects with multiple telecontrol (remote control) commands, the IM includes a system class called Telecontrol (class code: telecontrol) with the following attributes (see Fig. 3.3.12):

Figure 3.3.12. Telecontrol (remote control) class with attributes

For an IM object requiring multiple remote control commands, a class should be created whose attributes reference the Telecontrol system class. An example of such a class is shown in Fig. 3.3.13:

Figure 3.3.13. Class attributes with the type Telecontrol

Fig. 3.3.14 shows an example of a configured IM object with multiple remote control commands:

Figure 3.3.14. IM object with multiple telecontrol commands

Fig. 3.3.15 shows the drop-down menu of an active diagram element bound to the IM object configured as shown in Fig. 3.3.14:

Figure 3.3.15. IM object on the diagram with multiple remote control commands

The system class Telecontrol can also be used for objects with single remote control commands. Attribute configuration is done in the same way – simply add a Telecontrol attribute to the remote control object, as shown in Fig. 3.3.13.

3.3.1. Setting up control and remote control without password

In standard operation, sending control and remote control signals requires user password entry. However, in certain cases, this level of security may be excessive. To accommodate such scenarios, the CENTO software includes a setting that allows Control without password.

Control without password is configured using the diagram (i.e., via the Information Model). To enable this, add the attribute Control without password with the code skip_password and the bool type to the class of the control object (see Fig. 3.3.16).

Figure 3.3.16. Setting the control attribute without entering password

Thus, when creating an object of the selected class (see Fig. 3.3.17), include the specified attribute in the value field and verify its functionality on the diagram.

Figure 3.3.17. Configuring an object with control without entering password

To skip password entry during remote control, as with control, an attribute named Skip password (any name can be used) is to be added. This attribute should have the  skip_password code and the bool type(see Fig. 3.3.18).

Figure 3.3.18. Configuring the attribute for password-free control

Next, for the object with remote control commands, this attribute, should be enabled as shown in Fig. 3.3.19, and the command sending on the diagram should be tested.

Figure 3.3.19. Configuring object for control without entering password

3.3.2. Configuring permission for remote control

Before executing remote control commands, some devices require an initial permission signal to be sent to a dedicated register. This signal enables remote control functionality. Only after this permission is granted the device accepts and process the main remote control commands.

To implement this type of remote control (TC) in CENTO, the following attributes are added to the object class (see Fig. 3.3.20):

• telecontrol_permit_on_ti – permission to switch TC on;
• telecontrol_permit_off_ti – permission to switch TC off.

Figure 3.3.20. Attributes for remote control permission

The system assigns the IDs of the corresponding tags to these attributes of the IM object. These tags are configured to send a signal to the register that enables remote control (see Fig. 3.3.21)

Figure 3.3.21. Configuration of attributes for enabling telecontrol

When an object uses the system class Telecontrol to send control commands, the permission-related attributes are designated as permit_on_tag and permit_off_tag (see Fig. 3.3.22):

Figure 3.3.22. Attributes for enabling remote control

In some devices, a single tag handles this function, while in others, two separate tags perform it. These tags are configured similarly to those used for direct remote control, differing only in the register address (see Fig. 3.3.23):

Figure 3.3.23. Tag configuration for telecontrol permission

Thus, after adding the attributes telecontrol_permit_on_ti and telecontrol_permit_off_ti, configuring the tags, and assigning them to the IM object, CENTO software first sends the remote control permission command before transmitting the actual remote control command.

4. RECOMMENDED SETTINGS AND SPECIAL CASES