List of Contributions

Chris Stearns

Contact Details

Chris Stearns


My Content

1 to 20 of 31 total

RE: Trying to show parameter value as a string in a faceplate. FactoryTalk View ME/SE.

Posted By Chris Stearns Nov 06, 2025 10:50:33 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Hi Grady, I'm wondering if you are trying to accomplish something that the instructions provide by default with extended tag properties. Have a look at the screen capture below. I hope this helps. Regards, ------------------------------ Chris Stearns PlantPAx Product Manager Rockwell Automation ...

RE: PlantPAx Organization and BUS System Design

Posted By Chris Stearns Sep 30, 2025 10:44:29 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Hi GLaDOS, I've learned that a future version of the library will add some selective ownership within the BUS. We think this capability planned for later this year or early next year may meet the needs you identified. It is unfortunate that the timing did not work out for your current project. As ...

RE: PlantPAx Organization and BUS System Design

Posted By Chris Stearns Sep 30, 2025 08:30:49 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Thank you for the follow-up! I'm glad you were able to accomplish what you needed to even if the BUS wasn't the solution. I will share your feedback with our Library architect to consider if enhancements could be considered to address your needs in the future. Best regards, ------------------------------ ...

RE: PlantPAx Organization and BUS System Design

Posted By Chris Stearns Sep 25, 2025 12:21:56 PM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Hi GlaDOS, I missed this post - probably busy getting the PlantPAx 5.40 release at that time. I was prompted to have a look, so I wanted to see where you were with this effort. You're a talented and smart person, so I'm guessing you may have worked this out. But if not, let me know and I'll work on ...

RE: raP_Opr_Seq

Posted By Chris Stearns Aug 04, 2025 09:43:09 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Hi Crash, Unfortunately, we've discovered that the save error is a software bug in PlantPAx Configuration Tools Version 7.7, but not in earlier versions. You should be fine to use PlantPAx Configuration Tools Version 7.6.3 as it works correctly without the error. Version 7.6.3 can be downloaded from ...

RE: PlantPAx - Latched Alarms

Posted By Chris Stearns Jul 21, 2025 08:48:32 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Thanks, Bob. I've tried to inquire with the ISA18.2 committee on why the change in the standard. I'll share what I learn, if anything. If anyone here knows the history, I'd suspect we'd all be interest to know! Thanks, ------------------------------ Chris Stearns PlantPAx Product Manager Rockwell ...

RE: PlantPAx - Latched Alarms

Posted By Chris Stearns Jul 21, 2025 08:38:46 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Thank you for the details! ------------------------------ Chris Stearns PlantPAx Product Manager Rockwell Automation ------------------------------

RE: PlantPAx - Latched Alarms

Posted By Chris Stearns Jul 18, 2025 09:01:22 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Thank you for the details, Julia! Can you share any specific about how the Operator interacts with the latched alarms? Is it just using standard PlantPAx or FT View SE functionality from the alarm summary or from the faceplates? I'm curious if there is something you've seen done (maybe customized behaviors) ...

PlantPAx - Latched Alarms

Posted By Chris Stearns Jul 17, 2025 02:55:00 PM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
The relevant alarm standards for the process industries (ANSI/ISA-18.2 and IEC 62682) have removed states and requirements related to latched alarms. Regardless, engineering guidance has always been to use them sparingly and for specific needs (see the rupture disc example in the Basic Alarm Design Technical ...

RE: PLC and HMI control system Design

Posted By Chris Stearns Apr 21, 2025 08:30:00 AM
Found In Egroup: Automation Control \ view thread
From an HMI perspective, I'd suggest you work to understand good human factors practices. Study the standards in the industry such as ANSI/ISA-101.01-2015 and ANSI/ISA-18.2-2016 (largely process industry standards but good to understand). I've largely worked in the process industries so would suggests ...

RE: Process Library v5.1 and CompactLogix 5380 Controller Type Compatibility

Posted By Chris Stearns Apr 09, 2025 10:32:00 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Hi Bob, To address your tool question, we provide a wizard in IAB called the PlantPAx System Estimator (PSE). This tool should always be used to help size the overall PlantPAx system and it helps to size the individual controllers. Our Selection Guide should identify how to get these tools if you ...

RE: Interface with Plant PAx

Posted By Chris Stearns Mar 07, 2025 07:14:00 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
@Delete - No problem tagging me! Thanks for doing that as I missed this post. Your advice is sound. I think this sounds like an OEM is providing a skid with local control that needs to ultimately be integrated into a PlantPAx system that will control the majority of the plant. Using a Process ...

RE: FT Optix Objects for PlantPAx

Posted By Chris Stearns Jan 02, 2025 09:08:00 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Yes, the development of objects (widgets and faceplates) has been underway for PlantPAx instructions in the process controllers for a while now. An initial set of content will be available for our PlantPAx 5.40 release planned for end of June 2025 (subject to change). Updates will be added quickly to ...

RE: 1756-L81EP Memory

Posted By Chris Stearns Dec 06, 2024 07:56:00 AM
Found In Egroup: Automation Control \ view thread
Hi, I have to say that I'm confused by your response. Are you suggesting that after they build the hardware in their project, the controller is out of memory? That doesn't sound right to me, but I'm no expert, to be honest. It sounds like a call to tech support would make sense. I'm not sure ...

RE: 1756-L81EP Memory

Posted By Chris Stearns Dec 05, 2024 04:06:00 PM
Found In Egroup: Automation Control \ view thread
Hi Bingbong, I apologize for the tardy response. Your feedback to Bob's response suggests to me that you didn't understand that the PSE assumes application code based on your I/O count. Thus, it is building in memory and CPU usage for the control strategies necessary for your application program ...

RE: IO Mapping best practices and Alias tags usage

Posted By Chris Stearns Dec 05, 2024 03:44:00 PM
Found In Egroup: Automation Control \ view thread
Our PlantPAx offering provides a number of means for I/O mapping. Our user guide (PROCES-UM100) outlines these some on page 129. Note that for PlantPAx, we recommend using program connections. I don't want to imply that this is a general best practice from RA but it provides advantages that ...

RE: Is there a Version History available for Studio 5000 ?

Posted By Chris Stearns Nov 07, 2024 08:56:00 AM
Found In Egroup: Automation Control \ view thread
Hi Alan, As stated by others, the release notes from PCDC will be the most comprehensive. But there is a version history for much of the RA software offerings at the link pasted below that you may find useful. https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/products/software/factorytalk/version-history.html ...

RE: Multiple PlantPAx process library objects in single application?

Posted By Chris Stearns Oct 15, 2024 10:11:00 AM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
I should have mentioned that there is a PlantPAx migration tool to help with migration from earlier versions of the library that you can download from PCDC. While this may help with the actual activity, it doesn't address your step wise approach of migrating one controller (or a few) at a time. Perhaps ...

RE: Multiple PlantPAx process library objects in single application?

Posted By Chris Stearns Oct 14, 2024 01:50:00 PM
Found In Egroup: Advanced Software \ view thread
Hi AutomationGuru, The naming for the displays and global objects should be unique between the 3.x and 5.x libraries as the 5.x library was designed to coexist with a 4.x library (different naming). The naming between the 3.x and 4.x libraries is largely identical and thus you had to use one or ...

RE: Viewing Ladder Logic on HMI

Posted By Chris Stearns Sep 12, 2024 08:54:00 AM
Found In Egroup: Automation Control \ view thread
Are you familiar with ThinManager Logix PinPoint? https://thinmanager.com/pinpoint/ This capability is intended to meet the need you describe. While I somewhat agree with @Delete, an HMI can become ineffective when designed to address too many users or workflows outside of effective and safe ...