What is DataTrend-Plus!? DTP is a utility that allows the user to bump test process loops from a well designed, functional display. DTP allows the user to trend a point, providing important point configuration information (including tuning parameters) for the user to see. Even though DTP was designed to be an aid for bump testing, it can be used for normal process trending.

How Does DTP Work? Touching the change zone at the bottom of the display allows the user to enter a point name. After a point has been entered, the Process Variable (PV),Setpoint (SP),Output (OP), Mode and Description are displayed for the point entered. Only the parameters that exist will be displayed. If the PV, SP, and OP parameters exist, the parameters are trended automatically in the trend display. At the top of the display, a color code of parameters being trended are displayed along with a designation to inform the user whether or not the data is real-time (RT), historical (HM), or being provided via the highway gateway (HG). The user may also enter an auxillary point to trend in the display. The auxillary point's Process Variable (PV) will then be displayed and will be white in color in the trend.

Other Useful Information - Once the points of interest have been entered into the DTP display, the user is now provided with trends of the point parameters that exist. Along with the common PV, SP, OP, and Mode parameter values, the user is also provided with the tuning paramters of the points entered into the display. The Gain, Integral Time (T1), Derivative Time (T2), Ratio, Bias and Filter Time Constant (TD) of the process loop are shown for each of the point entries in the display.

Integrates with DataTrap-3000™ - Another useful aspect of DTP is that it integrates with DataTrap-3000™. Using the DATATRAP button at the top of the display, the user may also control the instance of DataTrap™ that is installed on the system. (Each Instance of DataTrap-3000™ must have a separate DataTrand-Plus! Instance installed on the system) Once the button has been activated, a changezone is shown at the bottom of the display so that the user may start and stop DataTrap™ and also view the status of the data collection application. If Return is activated in the changezone, the user is returned to the main DTP display, with point information displayed in the changezone.