Add a New Datasheet Definition

The Excel spreadsheet layout must first be created in Microsoft Excel prior to adding the new template form to the AVEVA Instrumentation Datasheets Catalog. The fastest ways to do this are to copy and modify an existing Datasheet spreadsheet provided with Instrumentation Engineer, or to copy and modify one previously created for the Project.

To add a new Datasheet definition to the Project catalog:

1. With the Datasheet Form Catalog Grid open, click New in the Records section of the Home tab.

2. The Select Form Type window in then displayed:

   

3. Select the type of datasheet definition to be created.

   Select DataSheet to create a form for instrument datasheets. Select Other to create a form for other types of document that can be generated for instruments, such as calibration sheets, maintenance documents etc. Front Sheet and Summary Sheet are used when datasheets are merged into a single documents (refer to Merge Datasheets into a Single Document).

4. Click Save.

   The Catalog Information window is then displayed.

   

   The version of the Catalog Information window displayed above is that displayed if the selected datasheet definition type was DataSheet. If the selected type was Front Sheet or Summary Sheet, a different version is displayed:

   

   Note: The ... button at the end of the File Name field can be used to locate any existing spreadsheet file and to copy the selected file to the Project datasheet template folder. Any Excel file can be used, including Excel workbooks with multiple worksheets.

The template folder for the current Project is listed on the Project Data window, accessed by selecting Edit Project on the Project tab.

Copy an Existing Form Definition

A new form definition can be copied from any other form in the current Project or from another AVEVA Instrumentation Project.

To copy an existing form select the Copy Definition button to display the Copy an Existing Datasheet form definition window, used to select an existing datasheet form. For details, refer to Copy Existing Catalog Datasheet Definition.

Manually Create a New Form Definition

5. Enter a name for the new form in the Form Name field.

6. Enter a useful Description for the new form.

7. In the Max No. of Plant Connections field, enter the maximum number of Plant connections, in other words, the maximum number of mappings to the properties of process items, that can be defined on the form.

8. Enter the Number of Tags that will be detailed on this form.

   Note: The Max No. of Plant Connections and Number of Tags fields are not relevant to Front Sheets and Summary Sheets and are not displayed when they are being defined.

9. Enter the Excel spreadsheet file name in the File Name field. The file must exist in the Project Datasheets template directory.

10. Select the file format (.xls or .xlsx).

    Note: The ... button at the end of the File Name field may be used to locate any existing Excel file. The file will then be copied to the template folder for the AVEVA Instrumentation Project and renamed to match the form name entered in this window.

11. Enter the spreadsheet cell dimensions (No. of Columns and No. of Rows). These are used to limit the view of AVEVA Instrumentation of each template to those dimensions. This restricts viewing to the number of columns and rows entered here.

12. From the Principle of Operation list, select the operating principle which best describes the type of instrument(s) to be specified on this datasheet. The operating principle is used to automatically match instruments from the Instrument List with the form type definition.

    This is not relevant to Front Sheet and Summary Sheet definitions and therefore the field in question is not displayed.

13. If the Other form type was selected, the field default to the "Other" principle of operation. A different principle of operation can be selected if required (this will not change the form type).

14. Click Save to save the definition information, or Cancel to exit without saving.

Note: The spreadsheets used for form definitions may include checkboxes. However, checkboxes will not be displayed in AVEVA Instrumentation, in other words, in the Datasheet Design window or the Datasheet Viewer window. Checkboxes therefore must be replaced with a picklist with values of True and False only. For details, refer to Checkboxes on Datasheets.