Record Settings

Overview

The Trend Recording dialog box with Record Settings opens when you select the top node in the tree view of the Trend Recording Editor.

The recording of data is performed using the function of the runtime component that is also used for tracing. The settings that appear here are the same. The parameters that are related to trigger settings are not required during trend recording and are therefore grayed out.

Setting and Modifying the Recording Settings

The Trend Recording Configuration dialog box with Record Settings contains the following configuration elements:

Element		Description
Task parameter		From the list, select the task in which data acquisition is executed. In general, the trend recording runs in the same task as the main program, for example, `PLC_PRG`.
Record condition parameter		Refers to a variable of the type BOOL, to a bit or to a property. The data acquisition is executed if the value is TRUE. The setting is optional.
Comment parameter		Enter a comment text.
Resolution parameter		Resolution with which the time stamp is acquired. Set the resolution of the time stamp to 1 μs if the trend task has a cycle time of 1 ms or less.
Trend storage... button		Click this button to open the Trend storage dialog box. It allows you to configure further parameters that concern the behavior of the trend recording at runtime.
Advanced... button		Click this button to open the Advanced Trend Settings dialog box. It allows you to configure parameters that concern the acquisition and storage of data.

Trend Storage Dialog Box

Click the Trend Storage... button in the Record Settings dialog box to open the Trend Storage dialog box.

The Trend Storage dialog box contains the configuration for buffering data during trend recording.

Parameter		Description
Maximum number of variables		Defines the maximum number of trend variables that are managed in the database. If you modify this value, EcoStruxure Machine Expert updates the database on the controller by forcing a download during next login to the controller. The database will then be uploaded from the controller, the variables of the database will be increased or decreased according to this new setting, and will be downloaded to the controller.
Store every N milliseconds		Number of ms defining the time interval at which the recorded data is temporarily stored in a local buffer before being stored persistently in the database. The time interval is converted internally to the number of task cycles. The duration of a task cycle is defined in the task configuration. A high value results in a better runtime performance. The disadvantage of this is that the greater the value, the amount of data subject to be lost in the case of a controller change of state is likewise increased. A low value reduces this risk. The disadvantage of this is that the control of a trend visualization is degraded with large amounts of data.
Limit		Activate an option to limit the recording.
	No Limit	The amount of trend recording data that is stored is not limited. Use this option only for testing purposes, as using this setting will eventually exhaust the file space in the controller if not regularly maintained.
	Maximum number of records	This option defines the maximum number of data records that are stored in the database. Each data record consists of time stamp and the values of the trend variables. NOTE: If this limit is reached, trend recording is stopped.
	Maximum storage size	This option defines the maximum memory size reserved for trend storage. The number of records that can be stored within this memory depends on the size of the individual records. Select the suitable unit from the list (kilobytes (Kb), megabytes (Mb), or gigabytes (GB)). NOTE: If the memory reserved for trend storage is full, trend recording continues, overwriting the oldest records.

Advanced Trend Settings Dialog Box

Click the Advanced... button in the Record Settings dialog box to open the Advanced Trend Settings dialog box.

The Advanced Trend Settings dialog box enables the configuration of further parameters that concern the behavior of the trend recording at runtime.

Parameter	Description
Measure in every n-th cycle	Defines how often data is acquired by the runtime system, depending on the number of cycles completed. The time interval is calculated according to the frequency by using the settings from the task configuration. Thus, the calculation can only be performed if at least the task cycle time is set. The result is shown on the right of the input field, for example, 1h1m1s1ms. The default setting is 1. Therefore, data is acquired every cycle.
Additional Runtime Buffer for	Defines the time, in ms, that the runtime system can use an additional “overflow” buffer for recording data. Example: 1000 ms NOTE: This additional buffer can help to avoid loss of data if a delay occurs during storage of the trend data.

Parameter

Description

Measure in every n-th cycle

Defines how often data is acquired by the runtime system, depending on the number of cycles completed.

The time interval is calculated according to the frequency by using the settings from the task configuration. Thus, the calculation can only be performed if at least the task cycle time is set. The result is shown on the right of the input field, for example, 1h1m1s1ms.

The default setting is 1. Therefore, data is acquired every cycle.

Additional Runtime Buffer for

Defines the time, in ms, that the runtime system can use an additional “overflow” buffer for recording data.

Example: 1000 ms

NOTE: This additional buffer can help to avoid loss of data if a delay occurs during storage of the trend data.