TrainTools Glossary

This Glossary lists and defines the basic terms used to describe TrainTools programs and their underlying concepts.

A

Accounts Database
database file in which the name, password, and access rights of each TrainTools User Account are stored

Acrobat Reader
a third-party program that various TrainTools programs use to display Portable Document Format help and documentation files

Active-X Control
an independent operator-interface object that can be embedded in a TrainView Picture to provide access to Distributed Component Object Model data

Administrator
program used to create and modify the Accounts Database

Alarm
a structured Human-Machine Interface Variable that indicates whether or not a particular abnormal condition currently exists, whether its last occurrence has been acknowledged, and whether posting of the corresponding alarm messages has been disabled

Alarm Control
TrainTools Active-X Control that displays a list of alarm messages

Alarm Message
a record of a particular occurrence of an alarm condition provided by an Alarm and Event Server

Alarm Monitor
TrainTools field engineering utility program that displays lists of alarm and event messages

Alarm Notice
a Notification Object Service record providing basic information about an occurrence of a Series 5 Controller alarm condition

Alarm and Event Server
TrainTools Workstation run-time process that distributes alarm and event messages to its Alarm Control, Alarm Monitor, Archive Communication, and Event Control clients

Application Editor
TrainTools project engineering program used to code and compile each controller’s IEC-61131 program organization units (POUs)

Application Generator
TrainTools project engineering program used to generate Series 5 Controller application software and transit files

Application Software
the application-specific software of a programmable controller

Archival Data Manager
TrainTools run-time program that maintains the Archive Database

Archival Data Reports
tabulated and summarized listings of the changing values of selected archived data during a specified period of time, created by the Report Generator and displayed by the Report Viewer

Archival Data Utilities Package
a group of TrainTools programs that extract archived AE and OPC data to files that can be replayed using a TrainView-like GUI and compile archived OPC data into formal reports

Archival PC
a Personal Computer running at least the Archive Server Package Adobe Reader

Archive Communication
TrainTools Workstation run-time program that gathers data from OPC and AE servers and directs the Archive Server to record it

Archive Database
a group of TrainTools Workstation files in which the Archival Data Manager stores run-time process and control system data

Archive Exporter
TrainTools program that the TrainView Program invokes to export archival data subsets

Archive Reporter
TrainTools program used to design and view Archival Data Reports

Archive Reporter Agent
TrainTools program that automatically triggers the generation of Archival Data Reports periodically or during specified events

Archive Server
a component of the Archival Data Manager program that records and shares data at the direction of Distributed Component Object
Model clients

Archive Server Package
a group of TrainTools programs that collect, store, and share data from one or more AE and OPC/DA servers

Archive Viewer
TrainTools program for replaying archival data subsets exported from the TrainView Program

C

Command
a Human-Machine Interface Variable that can be changed to alter the operation of a controller or workstation script, such as a local set point or a startup command (in general, a Command would be changed more frequently than a Configuration Parameter)

Communication Monitor
TrainTools program that activates a redundant TrainView Program instance if any of a primary TrainView’s OPC and AE servers fails

Component Object Model
a Microsoft technology that allows multiple programs to share information with each other

Compressor Map
a two-dimensional plot of a turbocompressor’s operating characteristics and limits, either in general or at a particular moment in time, displayed by a TrainView Map Control

Configuration
a group of IEC-61131 Resources, generally a group of controllers that share data and control the same overall process

Configuration Parameter
an externally-accessible variable that can be (but rarely is) changed to alter the characteristics of a controller, such as a PID coefficient Configurator any of the three field engineering utilities that display interactive lists of Human-Machine Interface Variable values for Series 5, Series 4, or Series 3 / 3 Plus / 3++ Controllers

Control System
a combination of Controllers and workstations that collectively provide integrated control and monitoring of an industrial process

Control System Resource
the TrainTools implementation of an IEC-61131 Resource, extended to include both Controllers and TrainTools Workstations

Controller
a single main processor unit and its associated input/output subsystems, which is generally used to provide integrated process and sequencing control for one turbomachinery train

Critical Event
a change in the control system or process (such as an emergency shutdown) whose development is automatically recorded by the data archiving system

D

Database Parameters
any externally-accessible variable defined by a Series 4 Controller‘s application software

Data Type
the type of information represented by a control system variable, which can be a simple value (such as a number) or a complex group of values (such as a group of numbers representing a mathematical function, a set of PID coefficients, or a description and time stamps associated with an alarm condition)

DIAC
acronym for Dynamic InterApplication Communication

Distributed Component Object Model
a Microsoft technology that allows multiple programs running on interconnected computers to share information with each other

Distributed Control System
a process control system used to control an entire plant or industrial process, generally incorporating several cooperating devices

Duplex Supervisor
see: Series 5 Duplex Supervisor

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
a TCP/IP protocol that allows each computer (host) to obtain an appropriate IP address and subnet mask from a DHCP server

Dynamic InterApplication Communication
a proprietary protocol that WOIS programs used to communicate with each other

Dynamic Link Library
a computer file containing executable subroutines and other program resources that can be used by more than one program

Dynamic Object
TrainView Picture element that visually or numerically displays the values of a controller Human-Machine Interface Variable and/or changes the value of that variable or the appearance of the TrainView interface in response to operator actions

E

Emulator
see: Series 5 Emulator

Engineering Workstation
a TrainTools Workstation that is primarily used to run Project Builder and the Engineering Utilities

Event
a structured Human-Machine Interface Variable that indicates whether a particular (generally transitional) process or control system condition currently exists and whether posting of the corresponding event messages has been disabled

Event Control
a TrainTools Active-X Control that displays a tabular list of alarm and event messages

Event Message
a record of a particular occurrence of an event condition provided by an Alarm and Event Server

Event Notice
a Notification Object Service record providing basic information about an occurrence of a Series 5 Controller event condition

Excel Importer
TrainTools program that can import field I/O information and logic program alarm and event definitions into a Series 5 Controller project database

Extended Attributes
various characteristics of a Series 5 Controller’s Human-Machine Interface Variables, such as their default values, range limits, minimum security access levels, and Modbus accessibility, which are used by the controller operating system and stored in its file system

Extraction Map
a two-dimensional plot of a multi-section steam turbine’s power output and steam flow rates as a function of the throttle and extraction valve positions

F

Fast Recorder
TrainTools field engineering utility that displays strip charts of controller Human-Machine Interface Variable values

File Transfer Protocol
the TCP/IP protocol for transferring files between computers Function a Program Organization Unit that calculates a single output value exclusively from the current values of one or more inputs, generally used to implement mathematical functions (such as the trigonometric sine and boolean AND functions)

Function Block
a Program Organization Unit that calculates one or more output variables from the current values of its inputs and specified global and internally-stored variables

Function Block Diagram
graphical programming language that defines control functions by showing the flow of data through a group of Function Blocks

G

Generic Controller AE Server
TrainTools program that can post alarm and event messages that are triggered by boolean OPC data items

H

Human-Machine Interface
features that communicate the operating state and variables of a controller to a human operator or companion device

Human-Machine Interface Variable
any externally-accessible variable defined by a Series 5 Controller’s application software, including every Alarm, Command, Configuration
Parameter, Event, or Status Variable

I

IEC 1131
an international standard for industrial control system programming

Instruction List
textual programming language that uses low-level instructions (similar to those of assembly languages) to define control functions

International Electrotechnical Commission
an organization that develops international quality and interchangeability standards for industrial products and procedures Internet Protocol the TCP/IP network-layer protocol, which routes individual datagrams to other computers

JScript, Java Script
a standard Windows scripting language that is derived from the Java programming language and can be used to code the behavior of TrainView operator interface elements

L

Ladder Diagram
graphical programming language that uses traditional relay logic representations primarily to describe the calculation of a controller’s
discrete outputs from its discrete inputs

Libraries
collections of externally-defined Program Organization Units that can be incorporated into any Project

Logic Control Program
a custom Series 5 Program that implements high-level process sequencing and protection

M

Machine Control Function Block
a TrainWare program organization unit that implements a set of turbomachinery control and protection functions that would traditionally have been satisfied by a single-loop device (turbine speed control, for example)

Machine Control Program
a Series 5 Controller Program that incorporates instances of one or more TrainWare machine control function blocks Map Control a TrainTools Active-X Control that displays a dynamic, two-dimensional plot of turbocompressor or gas turbine operating conditions

Modbus
an open master-slave communications protocol used to transmit control system information via serial communication links

Modbus AE Server
a TrainTools Alarm and Event Server that creates and distributes alarm and event messages triggered by Modbus discrete bits

Modbus Data
any slave device variable that can be accessed by a Modbus host

Modbus OPC Server
a TrainTools OPC Server through which OPC clients can access Modbus slave data points

Modbus Slave OPC Client
a TrainTools program through which Modbus TCP, RTU, and ASCII protocol masters can access OPC Server data items

N

Network Address Translation
a firewall technique that prevents external computers from learning the actual TCP/IP addresses of the protected computers

Network Interface Card
a Personal Computer expansion bus circuit board that implements an ethernet or other network communication channel

Network Time Protocol
a message format computerized devices use to communicate the current Universal Time, Coordinated with an accuracy of a few microseconds

Notification Object Service
a Series 5 Controller operating system task that communicates Alarm Notices and Event Notices to Series 5 AE Servers

NT File System
the standard format the Windows NT, 2000 Professional, and XP operating systems use to record data to hard disk drives

O

Object Linking and Embedding
a general term for the inclusion of automatically updated data from one program within the display windows of or documents printed from another program running on the same of different computers

OLE
acronym for Object Linking and Embedding

OLE for Process Control
a Microsoft Windows OLE-based protocol for the dynamic sharing of data among process control and automation devices

OPC
acronym for OLE for Process Control

OPC Online Data Access
the OPC standard that defines COM interfaces for accessing the current values of controller HMI variables

OPC/DIAC
TrainTools program that allows DIAC clients to communicate with OPC servers (the TrainView 1 OPC program provides the opposite
communication pathway)

OPC Server
a computer program or background process that provides OPC access to defined sets of variables within a process control device or program

Operator Interface Station Protocol
the proprietary communication protocol that Series 4 Controllers use to communicate with Personal Computers

Operator Workstation
see: TrainView Workstation

P

PComm Engine
WOIS program that provided DIAC and SCI communication with Series 4 Controllers

PC Workstation
see: Personal Computer, TrainTools Workstation

Personal Computer
an IBM-PC compatible computer capable of running the Microsoft Windows operating system

Piping and Instrumentation Drawing
a formal illustration of an industrial process and its control system

Platform Communication Servers Package
a group of TrainTools programs that includes AE and OPC/DA server programs for CCC and generic controllers

Platform Engineering Utilities Package
a group of TrainTools programs for configuring and tuning CCC controllers

Portable Document Format
a standard format used to record the content and appearance of printed documents (including TrainTools program manuals, on-line help, and archival data reports) to files that can be displayed and printed using the Acrobat Reader program

Program
an IEC-61131 controller software component that is generally a combination of lower-level Functions and Function Blocks comprising either an entire Task or one of its highest-level components

Program Organization Unit
an IEC-61131 Function, Function Block, or Program (generally, functions and function blocks are combined to form programs)

Project
one or more Control Systems, generally being engineered for the same customer or location

Project Builder
a project engineering program that edits Project Databases

Project Database
a group of computer files in which TrainTools programs store the elements describing a control system project

Project Data Interface
standard, password-protected methods that TrainTools programs use to access and modify the Project Database

Project Engineering Utilities Package
a group of TrainTools programs that create and modify the TrainTools HMI and the application software for Series 5 Controllers

Project Tree
a hierarchical outline format that TrainTools programs use to display the components of a control system project

Project Unzip
a field engineering program that unzips project files from the compressed revisions saved by Project Builder

Python
an open-source scripting language or the software implementing it

R

Report Data Format
archival data report file format that can only be viewed using the Archive Reporter program’s View mode

Reporter Agent
see: Archive Reporter Agent

Report Generator
TrainTools program that generates Archival Data Reports at the direction of the Archive Reporter Agent and TrainView Program

Report Layout Editor
the report design mode of the Archive Reporter program

Report Viewer
the report viewing mode of the Archive Reporter program

Resource
a device (usually a controller) that executes IEC-61131 Tasks see also: Control System Resource

Rich Text Format
a standard format used to store formatted text to files that can be displayed by most word processing programs

S

SCI acronym for Serial Communication Interface

SCI Interface
an optional process provided by the Series 4 OPC Server program that allows it to share its controller communication links with the Series 4 Configurator utility and other SCI clients

Script Engine
a TrainTools run-time program that periodically executes scripted process control and operator-interface tasks on its host workstation

Script Engine AE Server
an Alarm and Event Server component of the TrainTools Script Engine, which distributes Alarm Messages and Event Messages to TrainTools clients

Script Engine OPC Server
a TrainTools OPC Server through which OPC clients can access Script Engine variables

Sequential Function Chart
graphical programming language that uses flowchart representations primarily to describe the selection of controller operating states
and the triggering of state transitions

Serial Communication Interface
a communication protocol that allowed several WOIS programs to communicate with a Series 4 Controller via a shared serial port

Series 3 Plus Configurator
an engineering utility program for monitoring and changing Series 3 Platform Controllers Configuration Parameters

Series 3 Plus OPC Server
a TrainTools OPC Server through which OPC clients can access any Series 3 Controller’s Modbus Data, some of its configuration parameters, and additional variables calculated from that data

Series 4 Configurator
an engineering utility program for monitoring and changing Series 4 Controller Configuration Parameters

Series 4 Map
TrainTools program the TrainView Program uses to display Series 4 compressor controller performance maps

Series 4 OPC Server
a TrainTools OPC Server through which OPC clients can access Series 4 Controller Database Parameters

Series 5 AE Server
a TrainTools Alarm and Event Server that retrieves Alarm Notices and Event Notices from the Series 5 Controller Notification Object
Service and converts them to and then shares the corresponding Alarm Messages and Event Messages

Series 5 CheckTime
TrainTools program (which can be invoked from the Series 5 Configurator) that displays the deviation of Series 5 Controllers from the host PC’s Windows system time

Series 5 Configurator
an engineering utility program for monitoring and changing Series 5 Controller Human-Machine Interface Variables

Series 5 Duplex Supervisor
TrainTools program used to keep the operating system, application software, and configuration data of a backup controller the same as those of its active peer

Series 5 Emulator
TrainTools program that executes the Application Software of a Series 5 Controller for testing and training purposes

Series 5 OPC Server
TrainTools program with OPC Server and Alarm and Event Server components through which client programs can access Series 5 Controller Human-Machine Interface Variables

Series 5 Operator Panels
TrainTools program that the Series 5 Configurator utility invokes to display simulated controller faceplates

Series 5 Protocol
a proprietary protocol TrainTools Workstations use to communicate with Series 5 Controllers

Series 5 TrainCalc
TrainTools utility for calculating TrainLink onfiguration parameter settings for Series 5 Controller networks

Snapshot Compare
TrainTools program that the Series 5 Configurator utility invokes to compare controller HMI variable snapshot files

Status Variable
a Human-Machine Interface Variable that reports the current value or state of some process or control system variable or condition, which cannot be changed via that interface

Structured Text
textual programming language that uses high-level abstractions (similar to those of Fortran and Pascal) to describe control functions

T

Tagged Image Format
a standard format used to store bit-mapped images to files that can be opened using most photo editing and painting programs

Task
one or more Programs that are executed as a group at defined intervals or in response to defined triggers

Transmission Control Protocol
a TCP/IP transport-layer protocol that provides verified transmission of datagrams to specified TCP ports of other computers

TCP/IP
a multi-layered set of network communication protocols developed for UNIX and since added to most computer operating systems

TrainTools Information Utility
program that lists the host PC’s TrainTools program and data folders, installed components, and license information

TrainTools Server
a Personal Computer running at least the Platform Communication Servers Package

TrainTools Software Package
one of TrainTools programs that can be purchased for installation on a single computer

TrainTools User Account
an Accounts Database entry specifying the Project Data Interface access rights of users who log into various TrainTools programs using an associated user name and password

TrainTools Web Package
a group of TrainTools programs that allow networked workstations to communicate via WebServices

TrainTools WebServices
program that routes requests from remote WebGateway programs to the appropriate OPC, AE, and ADaM servers of its host PC

TrainTools Workstation
a Personal Computer running a TrainTools Software Package, which might more specifically be a TrainTools Server, Archival PC, Engineering Workstation, or TrainView Workstation

TrainView 1
a name used to distinguish the WOIS TrainView package (TV1) from the TrainTools program of the same name (TV2)

TrainView 1 OPC
a TrainTools program that allows OPC clients to communicate with DIAC servers (the OPC/DIAC program provides the opposite communication
pathway)

TrainView 2
a name used to distinguish the TrainTools TrainView Program (TV2) from the WOIS software package of the same name (TV1)

TrainView Package
a software package consisting of the TrainView Program, various Active-X Controls, and our standard TrainView component libraries

TrainView Picture
a TrainView program display consisting of static background drawing with superimposed Dynamic Objects and Active-X Controls that allow an operator to interact with controller Human-Machine Interface Variables and display alternate pictures

TrainView Program
a TrainTools Workstation run-time operator interface program that displays interactive TrainView Pictures

TrainView Script
customizable Visual Basic or Java script that controls interactions between an associated TrainView picture element and controller Human-Machine Interface Variables

TrainViewWeb Service
software that allows the TrainView operator interface to be installed, automatically updated, and run as Internet Explorer web pages

TrainView Workstation
a personal computer that is specifically running the TrainView operator interface program

Transmission Control Protocol
a TCP/IP transport-layer protocol that establishes reliable, sessionoriented communication between programs on separate computers

Trend Graph Control
a TrainTools Active-X Control that plots the values of controller Human-Machine Interface Variables as a function of time

Turbine Map
a two-dimensional plot of a gas turbine’s operating condition relative to its corresponding design limit, which can be displayed by a TrainView Map Control

Turbomachinery
refers to all the rotary machines in a train, such as compressors, turbines, and generators

U

Uninterruptable Power Supply
a battery-backed-up power supply that continues to provide power to the system when the primary input power fails

Universal Time, Coordinated
the current official time along the zeroth meridian (through Greenwich, England), accurate to atomic clock standards, which serves as an international time reference

User Datagram Protocol
a TCP/IP transport-layer protocol that provides for the unverified transmission of individual datagrams to specified UDP ports of other computers, used by the Series 5 OPC program to broadcast timesynchronizing data to Series 5 Controllers

V

VBScript, Visual Basic Script
a standard Windows scripting language that is derived from the Basic programming language and can be used to code the behavior of TrainView operator interface elements

Version Scanner
an earlier version of the TrainTools Information Utility

W

WebServices
tasks a host computer will perform in response to requests received via a network HTML port

WebGateway
client PC program that routes OPC/DA, AE, and ADaM requests to remote servers via their TrainTools WebServices programs