Usage of User Defined Attributes

User Defined Attributes (UDAs) enable the AVEVA E3D Design AVEVA E3D system administrator to add new attributes to any element in the databases of a project. These UDAs are created as elements in the Lexicon database inside the AVEVA E3D Design AVEVA E3D project. Because Lexicon databases are project-specific, it is possible to define attributes to suit individual project requirements or company standards.

Once defined, UDAs may be accessed in much the same way as normal attributes, including setting values, querying and reporting upon these values. Utilities such as the Data Output and Project Reconfiguration functions treat UDAs as they would any other attribute. UDAs can also be used in expressions.

The hierarchy of elements which make up a UDA within the Lexicon database is shown below.

User Defined Attribute World (UWRL) is the top-level administrative element. As well as the standard AVEVA E3D Design attributes, this has a Description (DESC) attribute which can contain up to 120 characters of text.

A UWRL may hold UDA Group (UGRO) elements or individual User defined Attributes (UDA) definition elements. A UGRO has the same attributes as a UWRL.