Data auditing example

We are going to explain how data auditing works in AVEVA Production Accounting through an example.

In this example we have three models: Model A, Model B and Model C that creates the whole model Audit_Demo.

We have five types of users that have the following privileges.

User Admin

User Admin has write permission for the three models.

User A

User A has write permission for Model A, but read permission for Model B and C.

User B

User B has write permission for Model B, but read permission for Model A and C.

User C

User C has write permission for Model C, but read permission for Model A and B.

User All

User all has write permission for the three models.

Only User Admin can start auditing data by going to File/Database at Tools > Option.

Create an audit table before you start auditing. This table is saved at the Network Database that the user is using.

In this way, User Admin can start auditing by clicking the Run Audit checkbox button.

When an audit is running, the system creates a general dialog box in each model for description purposes. In this dialog box, the user can input a general description for the day.

Example

User A wants to change a stream’s mass flow rate value in Model A. After they make this change, a window will appear. This window is called Input Comment and always appears when a user wants to change a value in the model. In this way, the system forces users to explain why they are making changes.

As you can see in the following figures, Input Comment window shows important information related to the change that has been done.

When User A writes a comment, the value that has been changed turns red

If User A does not want to change the value, they can click Cancel. The system will not save this change.

However, for explanation purposes, let’s imagine that User A wants to change the value.

User A also writes a general comment at the general dialog box.

Now when User B, User C or User All enters Model A, they are not going to see the changes that have been made by User A.

The Mass Flow rate for this stream is not highlighted in red.

User All changes this value as well and writes their comment.

The value is highlighted in red.

User All also writes a general comment in Model A.

User All also writes a general comment in Model A.

Which stream’s value is User Admin going to see?

User Admin is going to see the last value which was modified by User All. This value will be highlighted in red.

Also User Admin is the ONLY one who can check all changes that have been done in all models (in this case only model A was changed) by going to Tools > Data Audit.

In this Audit Table, the user can check who made a change and when, which object and what property was changed, the old and new value and why it was changed.

Summary

• Users can change a model if they have write permission.

• ONLY Administrator User can start auditing. To do that he first has to create an Audit Table in the Database.

• When auditing is running, the user who has made a change is the only one who can see the auditing data highlighted in red. Other users cannot see the auditing data which has been edited by the different user even though the user has write privilege for the corresponding model.

• When there are multiple audit data for same item, the last updated audit data are queried and shown.

• ONLY administrator user can see all changes that have been done by all users.