C135 PCS 7 (PCS7)
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Resolving Disabled Save and OK Buttons in APL Operator Trend Control for PCS 7

Resolving Disabled Save and OK Buttons in APL Operator Trend Control for PCS 7

In SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 and CEMAT V9.0 runtime, the 'OK' / 'Save' button in the APL Operator Trend Control (AOTC) dialog remains disabled (greyed out) primarily because the operator has not pressed the Enter (Return) key after typing the new trend group name. WinCC Graphics Designer dialogs do not commit text field input into the internal C-script property until Enter is pressed. Additionally, saving trend groups requires that the logged-in operator account possesses WinCC User Administrator Authorization Level 5 ('Process controlling') or Level 6 ('Higher process controlling') across all monitored process areas included in the trend group.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

The APL Operator Trend Control (AOTC, @PG_APL_OA_Trend.pdl) is an essential diagnostic feature in SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 and industry sector packages such as CEMAT V9.0 SP2. Operators utilize AOTC to combine multiple process variables (PV), setpoints (SP), and output values (MV) into customizable trend groups during runtime. A frequent source of operator confusion occurs when attempting to save a newly assembled trend group: after entering a name in the 'Save Trend Group' dialog, the 'OK' or 'Save' button remains completely inactive (greyed out). This behavior stems from WinCC GUI input-field mechanics where the string buffer is only transferred to the underlying C-action upon receiving an explicit VK_RETURN (Enter key) event. Furthermore, PCS 7 security architecture requires strict User Administrator authorization validation against every tag instance within the trend group.

Architecture and Fundamental Mechanics

Understanding the failure to save AOTC groups requires examining both the WinCC Graphics Designer GUI event model and the PCS 7 Area Authorization hierarchy.

1. WinCC Dialog Text Property Commitment Mechanics

The AOTC save dialog utilizes an I/O field or edit box configured with a string property (OutputValue / Text). In standard WinCC C-scripts (@PG_APL_OA_Trend.pdl), the validation script managing the 'OK' button's Enable property monitors the internal property representing the committed group name. When an operator types text into the input field, the characters reside only in the Windows edit buffer. Until the operator presses Enter (Return) or shifts focus away in a manner that fires the OnPropertyChange event, the internal tag remains empty (""). Because the validation logic verifies strlen(szGroupName) > 0, the 'OK' button remains disabled.

2. Plant Hierarchy and Area Authorization Validation

In PCS 7 APL and CEMAT, trend group saving does not operate as an unauthenticated file write. The AOTC script loops through all added trend tags and inspects their parent plant hierarchy area (Area attribute). To save and recall a trend group, the logged-in Windows/WinCC user must have:
- Authorization Level 5 ('Process controlling') or Level 6 ('Higher process controlling') globally or on the specific picture area.
- Valid authorization rights across all areas represented by tags in the group. If an operator has rights to 'Area_A' but the trend includes a tag copied from 'Area_B' where the operator lacks authorization, the entire save action is rejected.

Step-by-Step Implementation Procedure

To resolve the disabled Save/OK button and ensure operators can store AOTC trend groups:

Step 1: Execute Proper Operator Input Sequence

  1. In WinCC Runtime, open the APL Operator Trend Control window.
  2. Add the desired process tags to the trend display via faceplate trend buttons or drag-and-drop.
  3. Click the 'Save Trend Group' icon on the AOTC toolbar.
  4. In the popup dialog, click inside the input field and type the desired group name (e.g., Kiln_Temperatures).
  5. Press the Enter (Return) key on the physical or on-screen keyboard.
  6. Observe that the 'OK' / 'Save' button immediately switches from greyed-out (disabled) to active (enabled).
  7. Click 'OK' to save the trend configuration.

Step 2: Verify WinCC User Administrator Permissions

  1. Open the WinCC project on the Engineering Station (ES) or active OS Server.
  2. In WinCC Explorer, open User Administrator.
  3. Select the user group or operator user account experiencing the issue.
  4. Ensure that the following authorizations are enabled:
    - Authorization Level 5: Process controlling.
    - Authorization Level 6: Higher process controlling.
    - Area-specific authorizations: Verify that all relevant plant hierarchy areas are checked.

Step 3: Inspect Block Icon and Tag Hierarchy Integrity

  1. If the problem persists for specific tags, open SIMATIC Manager.
  2. Verify that block icons on process pictures were generated via Picture Tree Manager and OS Compilation, rather than copied manually between pictures.
  3. Check the OS_PermLog and TagPrefix of the source blocks to confirm that no unauthorized cross-area references exist.

Verification

To confirm resolution:

  1. Operational Test:
    - Log in to the OS Client with standard operator credentials.
    - Open AOTC, assemble 4 process tags from different plant areas, enter a unique group name, and hit Enter.
    - Verify that the 'OK' button activates immediately and the trend group saves without error.

  2. Recall Test:
    - Close the AOTC window, reopen it, and select the saved trend group from the dropdown list.
    - Confirm that all curves, scales, and tags restore accurately in runtime.

  3. Diagnostic Logging:
    - Open APDiag output window (apdiag.exe -> Output Window) and confirm no script errors (AOTC_SaveGroup: access denied) occur during save execution.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Operational limitations and precautions:

  1. Client Storage vs Server Synchronization: In multi-client architectures without central trend server synchronization, trend groups saved locally on an OS Client reside in client project directories unless configured for server-side persistence.
  2. CEMAT Specific Objects: In CEMAT V9.0, certain specialized curve objects (C_CURVE) follow proprietary CEMAT authorization rules (Authorization 110/111) which must be assigned in addition to standard APL Level 5/6.
  3. Character Restrictions: Avoid using special characters (/, \, :, *, ?, ", <, >, |) in trend group names, as WinCC scripts store configuration files using the group name on the NTFS file system.
  4. Commercial Disclaimer: Verify all software versions, CEMAT licenses, and OS client packages with an authorized Siemens distributor or the Siemens Industry Mall.

Engineer FAQ

Why does WinCC require pressing Enter after entering a trend group name?

WinCC edit fields only commit string changes to the internal property buffer upon receiving an Enter key event or an explicit focus-loss event. The script monitoring text length evaluates to empty until committed.

Can an operator save a trend group containing tags from areas they do not have rights to view?

No. PCS 7 APL security enforces that an operator must possess operational and monitoring permissions for all plant hierarchy areas included in the trend group.

Where are AOTC trend group configurations stored on the hard drive?

They are stored as XML or configuration files inside the WinCC project directory under GraCS\AOTC\ or within the client's local user profile directory.

Does CEMAT V9.0 SP2 modify the standard APL Operator Trend Control behavior?

CEMAT integrates seamlessly with APL AOTC but introduces additional interlocking and authorization checks if tags originate from CEMAT C_DRV_1D or C_MEASUR blocks.

What should be done if pressing Enter still does not enable the OK button?

Check APDiag for script execution faults, verify the logged-in user permissions in User Administrator, and ensure no illegal characters (e.g., slashes or asterisks) exist in the name.

Technical References

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Related Tags

  • APL Trend Control
  • AOTC
  • CEMAT V9.0
  • WinCC Runtime
  • User Authorization
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