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AVEVA Enterprise SCADA

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Create a heartbeat point

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  • Last UpdatedApr 24, 2025
  • 4 minute read

Follow this procedure to create a heartbeat point that defines the type of heartbeat to be sent to a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).

To create a heartbeat point

  1. Open the Advanced Database Editor (ADE), and locate the heartbeat table.

  2. Double-click the heartbeat table.

    The heartbeat Table Edit dialog box appears.

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  3. From the Table menu, select Insert Row.

    A new row appears in the heartbeat Table Edit dialog box.

  4. Double-click in the row header of the new row.

    The heartbeat Row Details dialog box appears.

  5. In the Name field, enter a unique heartbeat name.

  6. Optional: In the Description field, enter a brief description of the heartbeat point.

  7. Optional: Select the Enabled checkbox to enable the heartbeat point. 

    Note: When the heartbeat point is enabled, the application will start sending heartbeat commands at the specified time interval (determined by the number of seconds entered in the Frequency field) to the control point. Deselect the Enabled checkbox to disable the heartbeat point.

  8. Optional: In the Dataset field, select (...) and select the name of the dataset you want to associate with this record from the Dataset Select dialog box. 

    The dataset must match the dataset of the control point. If the dataset for the heartbeat point does not match the control point, the system that owns the heartbeat point may not own the control point, and the heartbeat command will fail.

    Note: A dataset contains privileges assigned for each system and mode. Once a record is assigned to a dataset value, the dataset can only be changed to a value for which the system has a privilege record. The dataset of a record cannot be changed in such a way that the system can no longer access the record.

  9. In the Control Point field, select (...) and select the name of the control point from the Point Selector dialog box. The application only supports analog or status control points.

  10. In the Frequency field, enter the frequency (in seconds) that the heartbeat command is to be sent to the control point.

  11. From the HeartBeat Type dropdown menu, select the heartbeat type. The following options are available:

    Note: The Ramp and Time Heartbeat Types are only available when the control point is configured as an analog record. The Toggle and Strobe Heartbeat Types are only available when the control point is configured as a status record.

    • Ramp โ€” This pattern sends an analog value to an analog register in the PLC at a regular interval, increasing in value each time. When the maximum value is reached, it will start over at the minimum value range.

    • Time โ€” This pattern sends the current time (in seconds since Jan 1, 1970) to an analog register in the PLC at a regular interval. The value will be truncated to fit the analog register size on the PLC.

    • Toggle โ€” This pattern will send alternating Command #1 and Command #2 values, as configured on the status control point, to a digital point in the PLC.

    • Strobe โ€” This pattern will send a configured digital command sequence, such as OPEN, CLOSE, OPEN to a digital point in the PLC.

  12. Optional: In the Range Minimum field, enter the minimum range value. 

    Note: This field is only available when the Ramp Heartbeat Type is selected.

  13. Optional: In the Range Maximum field, enter the maximum range value. 

    Note: This field is only available when the Ramp Heartbeat Type is selected.

  14. Optional: In the Increment field, enter the amount the analog value will be incremented each cycle.   

    Note: This field is only available when the Ramp Heartbeat Type is selected.

  15. Optional: In the Command Delay field, enter the delay (in milliseconds) that will be used between commands sent to a digital point. The Command Delay should be set to a value that will allow all the commands in the command sequence to finish before the next cycle begins. 

    Note: This field is only available when the Strobe Heartbeat Type is selected.

  16. Optional: In the Command Sequence field, enter the command sequence that will be sent to a digital point each cycle. For example, OPEN, CLOSE, OPEN.  The commands listed in the Command Sequence should match the output message set for the control point. For example, if the output control point is configured to send ON and OFF commands, the command sequence field should be set to ON,OFF,ON. 

    Note: This field is only available when the Strobe Heartbeat Type is selected.