Configure String Points for DNP3 Communications

The topics in this section document the properties on the Forms of SCADAPack x70 DNP3 String Points. You only require such points if Geo SCADA Expert is to retrieve string data from a SCADAPack x70 device, and is to use the DNP3 protocol to retrieve that data. Geo SCADA Expert uses the points to store protocol-specific information about how it processes the point data that it retrieves from the device.

For each item of string data that Geo SCADA Expert is to retrieve from a SCADAPack x70 device using the DNP3 protocol, you need to create and configure a SCADAPack x70 DNP3 String Point in the database.

Instead of manually creating a SCADAPack x70 protocol-specific Point, you can use the Create Protocol Point pick action to create the point from the <Point Type> Configuration item with which it is to be associated. This means of point creation will associate the Point automatically with the <Point Type> Configuration item from which the pick action was triggered. For more information, including essential checks to perform before using the pick action, see Create Protocol Point.

Alternatively, you can automatically create a suite of SCADAPack x70 protocol-specific Points for each of the SCADAPack x70 <Point Type> Configuration items that are associated with a particular SCADAPack x70 Device Configuration item. To do this, you use the separate Create Protocol Points pick action on that SCADAPack x70 Device Configuration item. Again, this means of point creation with associate each automatically-created Point with the SCADAPack x70 <Point Type> Configuration item to which it relates on the SCADAPack x70 Device Configuration item. For more information, including essential checks to perform before using this pick action, see Create Protocol Points.

You configure the properties of each Point using the fields on the SCADAPack x70 DNP3 String Point Form. The Form has several tabs, some of which contain properties that are common to many database items, and others that contain properties that are specific to String Points.

This topic provides information about the properties that are on the String Point tab.

Use the String Point tab to:

• Configure the Common Properties on Points used for DNP3 Communications
• Specify the Length of String to Request
• Use the Formatting Properties to Define the Appearance of a String Point’s Values.

The properties on the remaining tabs are common to points on many drivers. For information about those tabs, see Tabs on Point Forms in the Geo SCADA Expert Guide to Advanced Drivers.