Answer Stations

Answer Stations

FactoryTalk Historian, FactoryTalk Batch, FactoryTalk Scheduler, FactoryTalk Metrics

• FAQs
• What's New
• Resources

Our latest release contains many exciting new features, including support for the FactoryTalk data model.

Listed below are the features added to this release of FactoryTalk, as well as a comprehensive listing of features added in previous releases.

• FactoryTalk Historian and FactoryTalk Metrics

  • 8.0

  General

  • FactoryTalk now supports use of FactoryTalk Security, which is intended to improve the security of your automation system by limiting access to those users with a legitimate need. FactoryTalk Security authenticates user identities and authorizes user requests to access a FactoryTalk-enabled system. These security services are fully integrated into the FactoryTalk Directory and are included as part of the FactoryTalk Automation Platform that installs with FactoryTalk and other Rockwell Automation products. For more information, see the FactoryTalk Automation Platform documentation.

  If you want to use FactoryTalk Security (it can be disabled), it is strongly recommended that you review the default security policies described in the FactoryTalk Automation Platform documentation. In particular, the following Policy Settings will impact FactoryTalk:

  • Account lockout threshold: In previous versions of FactoryTalk, user accounts were not locked out when the user entered an incorrect password a defined number of times. Under FactoryTalk Security, a user account is locked out, by default, if a user incorrectly enters his or her password three times.
  • Minimum password length: In previous versions of FactoryTalk, there was no required minimum password length. When you import your FactoryTalk users and groups into FactoryTalk Security as part of the FactoryTalk upgrade, any user (who has a password of less than 6 characters) must change that password the first time the user logs in. To work-around this change, you should consider directing users to change their passwords (before upgrading FactoryTalk) so that all passwords are at least 6 characters long.
  • Maximum password age: In previous versions of FactoryTalk, passwords did not expire. Under FactoryTalk Security, passwords expire by default after 42 days.

  • If you are running scheduled reports, you must update the Advanced properties of your Production Server to specify a Report User and Report Password after upgrading the FactoryTalk, otherwise your scheduled reports will not run properly. For these properties, you must enter the report user name and password that will be used to connect to the FactoryTalk Production Client to run the scheduled reports. You must enter a user with sufficient privileges to run all of the scheduled reports. To access these fields, run the Enterprise Manager, expand the Server Manager and Server items in the tree, select the Production Server item, and click the Advanced button in the configuration panel.
  • The FactoryTalk ActiveX class contains three new methods for manipulating FactoryTalk report objects when using VBScript. Unlike their counterpart methods (GetEndDateTime, GetStartDateTime, and GetTimespan), these methods are meant for use within VBScript because all of the methods' arguments are of type VARIANT:
    • GetEndDateTime2()--Retrieves the ending date and time selections from the time selection toolbar of the Report Object.
    • GetStartDateTime2()--Retrieves the starting date and time selections from the time selection toolbar of the Report Object.
    • GetTimespan2()--Retrieves the timespan settings (e.g. 2 hours) from the time selection toolbar of the Report Object.
  • The FactoryTalk ActiveX class contains a new method, RefreshData(), that refreshes the specified report object using the current toolbar settings. Calling this method is functionally equivalent to clicking the Refresh button on the General toolbar.

  FactoryTalk Historian

  • You can now reassign a time-series report object from one report data source to another report data source by selecting the time-series report object on the Report Data Sources, Objects, and Filters dialog and clicking the Reassign button.
  • You can now generate a report that shows all reporting tags currently used in report objects. To generate the report (a .csv file), select Configure > FactoryTalk Historian > Reporting Tag Cross Reference Report... from the Production Client menu and specify the name and location of the report file.
  • You can now view the total number of reporting tags used and licensed when you access the Time-Series Reporting Tags dialog by selecting Configure > Time-Series Reporting Tags... from the Production Client menu.

  FactoryTalk Metrics

  • You can now configure machine states within the FactoryTalk Metrics application and map those machine states to user-defined events. The advantage of using machine states is that it is possible to account for all time in an activity area by way of the defined machine states, without gaps and without double-counting time. If you do not use machine states and you still want to collect machine state information, you must implement this type of state logic in the control system (which is a more difficult implementation). A new view, OEEQStateData, was added to enable the creation of a report data source for use in creating simple machine state reports.
  • 7.5
  • Windows XP Service Pack 2 Users: The RSBizWare Production Client has no special requirements for running with Windows XP Service Pack 2, however, if you have other Rockwell Software products installed, they may require a special utility. See the help topic Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support for more details.
  General
  • FactoryTalk Activation is now available. This new, streamlined process activates your software via license files generated by Rockwell Software and distributed over the internet (although you can still use FactoryTalk Activation without internet access). Please see the activation PDF file in your program files for complete details.
  • The weighted average (WAVG) function is now available for use on text report objects, as well as an aggregate on a column on text report objects. The WAVG function is an average that takes into account the proportional relevance of each component, rather than treating each component equally. For additional information on the WAVG function, refer to the "Weighted Average" topic in the FactoryTalk Production Client help.
  • It is now possible to convert the report object time values from coordinated universal time (UTC) to local time. For additional information, refer to the "Convert the report object time values from coordinated universal time to local time" in the FactoryTalk Production Client help.
  FactoryTalk Historian
  • FactoryTalk Historian now supports a 15,000 tag license.
  FactoryTalk Metrics
  • Users can now specify the collection of Shift information from the control system when configuring Performance Parameters Scheduled Availability. For additional information, refer to the "Availability" topic in the FactoryTalk Production Client help, as well as the "Collecting Performance Data" chapter of the FactoryTalk Metrics User's Guide.
  • The Workcell Configuration utility is now available from the "Support" folder of the FactoryTalk CD (PMWorkcellUtil.exe). With this utility, you can export existing workcell performance parameter information to Microsoft Excel, create additional workcell performance parameter configuration data using Excel, and import the resulting Excel file. The new workcells will be created in FactoryTalk Metrics. You can also use this utility to overwrite existing workcells. To use this utility, click the Help button on the dialog to display the online help.
  • 7.0

  General

  • Online editing is now available in FactoryTalk Historian and FactoryTalk Metrics. This feature provides the ability to make changes to data collection without stopping and restarting the FactoryTalk Transaction Manager configuration that is performing the collection. This allows you to edit the collection properties of a FactoryTalk Historian reporting tag or add new FactoryTalk Historian reporting tags in a configuration that is actively collecting data, edit the Performance Parameters for a running workcell, and add data collection for new workcells.
  • The FactoryTalk Transaction Manager Live Data Migration Tool (available in the Support folder on the FactoryTalk software CD) has been provided to allow the migration of existing FactoryTalk Transaction Manager Configurations containing Generic OPC, RSLinx, and RSView32 data points, into FactoryTalk data points. Converting existing data points into FactoryTalk data points enables the support of online edits.
  • A help topic designed especially for report users has been added to the FactoryTalk Production Client help. This help topic lists the functions that the report user can perform on FactoryTalk charts or grids (report objects) when viewing them at run time in all supported run-time clients. Please refer to the "Help for FactoryTalk report users" topic in the FactoryTalk Production Client help.
  • The weighted average (WAVG) function is now available for use on text report objects. The WAVG function is an average that takes into account the proportional relevance of each component, rather than treating each component equally. For additional information on the WAVG function, refer to the "Weighted Average" topic in the FactoryTalk Production Client help.
  • Improved diagnostics messages for the Production Server and the Server Manager will help troubleshoot situations in which the two do not properly synchronize with each other.
  • The Excel Add-in has been redesigned to allow for improved access to FactoryTalk data—general reporting (or grid) data and time-series data—within Microsoft Excel. The redesigned add-in will be installed on client computers during the FactoryTalk Production Client complete install.
  • "Use Global Credentials" is now the default run-time connectivity option.
  • The YYYY/MM/DD date format is now available for date fields in report objects.
  • Report designers can now set an entire row in a text report to a certain color based on the value in a single column of that row. The custom settings in an individual column will override the color specified for the row.

  FactoryTalk Historian

  • Report users can make temporary changes to the time-series charts (including adding and removing reporting tags, changing the legend, and changing the axis scaling options). Changes made by report users at runtime are not permanent changes and will be rolled back the next time the report object is displayed.
  • The FactoryTalk SPC Data Transfer Wizard has been created to allow you to easily export FactoryTalk Historian data to an InfinityQS database, where the data can be analyzed via statistical process control (SPC) methods using InfinityQS software.
  • The Sampling and Compression Options dialog has been created to allow report designers to specify the sampling and decompression thresholds that the FactoryTalk Production Server will use for a time-series report object.

  FactoryTalk Metrics

  • Two fault metrics ratings, Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) and Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), have been implemented in FactoryTalk Metrics. These metrics provide a simple way to measure the reliability of manufacturing equipment. The fault metrics values can be used to assess a single machine’s reliability over time or to compare the reliability of machines to each other.
  • User wanted to be able to modify an OPC data point name in FactoryTalk Metrics Performance Parameters without having to re-select the data point. In the 7.0 release of FactoryTalk Metrics, you can now edit an OPC data point by clicking in the data point list control and typing. This functionality is available anywhere you would normally use the Data Point Selection dialog in FactoryTalk Metrics.
  • FactoryTalk Metrics Server performance enhancements during the handling of lookup lists will improve FactoryTalk Metrics Server memory usage.
  • 6.0

  General

  • Please read the Important Note about FactoryTalk Historian and FactoryTalk Metrics books.
  • The Use Global Credentials option has been added to FactoryTalk report object connectivity. This option allows report users to use a "session logon" to connect to report objects at run time. For more information about this option, refer to the FactoryTalk Production Client online help.

    The FactoryTalk HTML Global Update Utility will help you upgrade your FactoryTalk 5.0 reports to use the Global Credentials option. This utility is intended to be used only by experienced FactoryTalk users. The utility and the document describing how to use the utility are located in the Support folder on the FactoryTalk Software Installation CD.

  • When the text report object, or the report containing text report objects, that you are attempting to print is too wide to fit on a single page of paper, some table data will be cropped from the printed copy. The Print to HTML functionality, new in the FactoryTalk 6.0 release, will allow you to create a printer-friendly version of the report object or report, with all text report objects being converted to HTML tables, and to specify the horizontal and vertical page breaks that will be used to split individual HTML tables across multiple pages. This printer-friendly version can then be printed to a networked printer. For further details, please refer to the "Print to HTML" topic in the FactoryTalk Production Client online help.
  • The Quick Web no longer stores or uses "Cookies."
  • New sample reports have been created for both FactoryTalk Historian and FactoryTalk Metrics. These sample reports are available from the Report Explorer tree. You will be prompted to provide a user name, password, and server name for each report object on the report before you can view the sample report. If you attempt to use the HTML Update Utility to set the connectivity settings for the sample reports, you will also be prompted to provide a user name, password, and server name for each report object on each sample report.
  • A new option has been added to the Limit Returned Rows dialog. If selected, this option will automatically resize your text report object to display all rows that have been returned by the server. The report object will show the table with up to 600 - 700 rows of data, depending on the font size that is used in the report object.
    Note: This option is available for text report objects only.
  • You can now run the FactoryTalk setup.exe from the command line to perform minimal and complete FactoryTalk installs. The following are some examples for running the FactoryTalk installation from the command line (where 1234567890 represents the serial number that has been provided to you with your software purchase):

    Minimal Installation:
    setup /V"SERIAL=1234567890 /qr"

    Minimal installation with log of operations:
    setup /V"SERIAL=1234567890 /l* c:\MyInstall.log /qr"

    Complete Installation:
    setup /V"SERIAL=1234567890 ADDLOCAL=ALL /qr"

    Complete installation with log of operations:
    setup /V"SERIAL=1234567890 ADDLOCAL=ALL /l* c:\MyInstall.log /qr"

  FactoryTalk Historian

  • Significant performance improvements when creating, editing, and deleting time-series reporting tags.
  • Batch prompting against compressed data is now supported.

  FactoryTalk Metrics

  • The Filter toolbar is now available on the FactoryTalk Metrics Detail control. This will allow users to create, edit, and apply filters for the FactoryTalk Metrics Detail control; however, filters should be used with caution, as it will now be possible to create and use a filter that conflicts with the criteria specified by the properties that have been set for the report object (tree to select activity area). This conflict of filters may result in no data being displayed in the control. See the "Applying filters to the FactoryTalk Metrics Detail report object" topic in the FactoryTalk Production Client online help for more information.
  • Significant performance improvements when creating performance parameters for a FactoryTalk Metrics workcell.
  • The default Max Time/Transaction value for a new FactoryTalk Metrics connector has been changed from 30 seconds to 15 seconds. The default Max Transactions/File value for a new FactoryTalk Metrics connector has been changed from 10 to 100.
  • 5.0

  General

  • A new button has been added to the General toolbar of the ActiveX control. This button, enabled for text report objects only, will allow touch screen users to invoke the run-time shortcut menus that are normally available by right-clicking on a report object.
  • Improved consistency in the handling of server connections for report objects and FactoryTalk Connection Objects.

  FactoryTalk Historian

  • Tag annotation allows users to select a point on a time-series graph and add a comment with a user name and a time stamp. This provides a simple method of noting why a particular process parameter has deviated from the norm and the reason behind such an event.
  • Batch prompting allows the report user to select at run time the batch for which he wants to view time-series data. This eliminates the need for the user to know the start time and end time of the batch on which he wants to report.
  • The leading/trailing feature has been enabled for analysis tools.

  FactoryTalk Metrics

  • The ability to create up to five user-defined summarization criteria similar to Part ID allows improved data collection and summarization when reporting on activity areas.
  • The ability to request rollover protection for a user-defined event that is triggered by a monitored value and with a value of accumulate value.
  • The ability to change filters on OEE Box report objects.
  • 4.0

  General

  • All FactoryTalk applications now support the FactoryTalk data model allowing them to share information such as Plant Models and Composite Time Patterns.
  • FactoryTalk Historian now supports FactoryTalk Directory and FactoryTalk Live Data allowing it to browse for data from any other FactoryTalk compliant application such as FactoryTalk View SE or RSLinx.
  • FactoryTalk 4.0 ships with and supports SQL Server 2000. Service Pack 2 is required.

  Licensing

  • The ability to connect to and report on external data sources is now included with all FactoryTalk Historian/FactoryTalk Metrics Servers.
  • There is no longer a dedicated FactoryTalk Historian runtime client license and a FactoryTalk Metrics runtime client license. These two licenses have been combined into an FactoryTalk single-user runtime client license. This license allows the user to view any FactoryTalk report created with either FactoryTalk Historian or FactoryTalk Metrics.
  • Runtime client licenses are now assigned to the Production Server rather than individual users, providing simplified license administration. The number of single-user runtime licenses assigned to the Production Server specifies the number of concurrent run-time users that can login and view FactoryTalk reports at a given time. The FactoryTalk configurater still grants security permissions/features to individual user accounts, which may limit a user’s access and author client licenses are still assigned to individual user accounts that will be granted authoring privileges
  • For those customers who will have a large number (typically >25) of concurrent runtime users, there is now an FactoryTalk Unlimited-User Runtime Client License. Customers have the option to purchase and assign one of these licenses rather than purchase and assign multiple single-user licenses.
  • FactoryTalk 4.0 supports "cross activation" of FactoryTalk Historian and FactoryTalk Metrics, so any FactoryTalk Historian server license activates a single FactoryTalk Metrics work cell, and any FactoryTalk Metrics server license activates 25 FactoryTalk Historian reporting tags.

  Reporting

  • When creating a report data source that connects to an external data source, you can now create derived fields as part of the report data source. These fields can perform calculations on the existing data using standard SQL expressions.
  • All FactoryTalk reports are now published as web pages, and can be viewed using Internet Explorer. This functionality is enabled through the FactoryTalk Portal.
  • Using the FactoryTalk Production Client, you can create FactoryTalk reports that contain text, hyperlinks, graphic images, and/or multiple FactoryTalk report objects (time-series charts, tables, pie charts, OEE box charts, and OEE Detail charts). When you save the report, it is saved on the Production Server computer, and automatically published as a web page (an .htm file).
  • The time-series chart report object has been enhanced to provide a customizable "authoring legend" which allows the report designer to select which fields are visible to the user at runtime. Many of these fields can be manipulated at runtime to aid in the analysis of data. For example, pen color, thickness, and plot symbol can be changed at runtime.
  • The time-series report object now supports multiple Y-axes allowing several reporting tags with dissimilar engineering units to be plotted and compared on a single time-series chart.
  • The time-series report object now supports "relative time" allowing the comparison of reporting tag data collected at different times. Each pen on the time-series chart can have a start time and end time independently set.
  • The new table report object greatly enhances the report designer's ability to analyze data in a tabular format. The report designer can customize most parameters of the report object, and the background color of each field in the table can be dynamically changed based on the data contained in the field to bring visual attention to that field.

  Data Collection

  • FactoryTalk Historian now allows data to be stored in a compressed format, reducing the size of the online database and improving query response time.
  • 2.1

  General

  • When the FactoryTalk Enterprise Manager is started, the right pane of the window now displays help especially designed to get first-time users started with the FactoryTalk software. The full Enterprise Manager online help is still available from the main menu.
  • You no longer need to stop and restart FactoryTalk servers when you make changes to users/groups/activations in the FactoryTalk Enterprise Manager.
  • FactoryTalk Security Administration has been broken out into several tree items in the FactoryTalk Enterprise Manager.
  • Default security is available for all objects with permissions (e.g. Displays, Filters, Data Views, Checklists, Audits).
  • Online Help has been converted to HTML format.

  FactoryTalk Historian

  • The ability to remove data points from time-series displays using the right mouse menu.
  • FactoryTalk Historian ActiveX improvements:
    • A CAB file now exists, and can be loaded on demand from a client web browser.
      The ActiveX no longer needs pre-registered on client machines.
    • We now have a signature/certificate for the ActiveX, so the browser will no longer prompt an “ActiveX Control may be unsafe” message.
    • Printing is now supported from the ActiveX.
    • The configuration dialog only permitted the entry of server name of 15 characters or less due to the size of the combo box. The combo box has been widened to accommodate longer server names.
  • Support for deadbands in collected data.
  • Time and date display format enhancements.
  • Improved time-series sampling and reported sampling statistics on output displays.
  • When creating a .JPG file from a chart or grid, the size of the .JPG was previously set to the default display resolution (800x600, 1024x768, etc.) and thus, would fill the entire screen.

    Additionally, due to the nature of .JPG’s, re-sizing the .JPG (to fit within a desired area on a Word document, Web page, etc.) would result in a distorted image.

    We now provide the user the ability to specify the desired size of the .JPG to be generated. To specify the size of the .JPG file, edit the Display, select the “Format” button and go to the “JPEG Size” tab.

  FactoryTalk Metrics

  • The Performance Parameters user interface has been completely overhauled. User navigation is much easier and self-evident, and more information about each Performance Parameter selection is provided.
  • FactoryTalk Metrics has been enhanced to support multiple cycle times for each configured work cell. New options include:
    • Creating a table with part numbers and corresponding cycle times
    • Collecting a cycle time from the control system, which can vary over time.
  • New capabilities for logging custom events have been added:
    • More options for specifying when event records are summarized and written to the database, thereby providing more reporting granularity.
    • Greater control over event triggers is provided, including separate options for low-to-high and high-to-low monitored bits, and the addition of Monitored Counters.
    • Greater control over when event values are collected (beginning of event, end of event, or both) and what event values are used for reporting (beginning of event, end of event, or differences).
    • Improvements to insure that end-of-event information updates all records associated with the event.
    • New accumulated value option for events.
    • Support of strings for event values (except accumulated values).
    • A new “fault” parameter for tracking MTBF.
    • The ability to distinguish between events that happen during Available or Unavailable times.
    • A Recycle Bin for events, which is a category that contains events which are no longer active, but have historical data in the database.
  • Refinements to the OEE displays to distinguish between an OEE value of zero (due to no parts) and an OEE valued of infinity (due to no available time)
  • Additional fields for reporting have been added to both the FactoryTalk Metrics work cell history and FactoryTalk Metrics Event History Data Components.
  • Improved and expanded on-line Help content.
  • FactoryTalk Historian time-series reporting tools available for use on FactoryTalk Metrics data.
  • Improvements to ActiveX and reports (listed in FactoryTalk Historian section).

• FactoryTalk Scheduler

  • 8.0
    Support for FactoryTalk Security and FactoryTalk Activations.

    • Support for Network FactoryTalk Directories.
    • Support for the Rockwell Software Windows Firewall Configuration Utility via a configuration file included on the FactoryTalk CD.
    • The FactoryTalk Scheduler status bar at the bottom of the FactoryTalk Scheduler Client window now identifies the user currently logged into the FactoryTalk Scheduler Client and the server to which the user is connected.
    • Added a Constraint property to the Fixture Action object that will allow the fixture constraints to be disabled in custom FactoryTalk Scheduler code.
    • Added an AvailableQuantity method to the Resource object that will return a resource’s available capacity, ignoring all allocated operations.
  • 7.5
    • Fixture information was added to the operation constraint window in the FactoryTalk Scheduler Analyzer.
    • The ability to set a preferred resource for Additional Resources has been added.
    • The ability to set a fixture action object's quantity property has been added to the object model.
    • A LoadOperationBackward method has been added to the Resource object in the object model.
    • A CreateSimulationCalendarEvent has been added to the Sequencer object in the object model.
    • A method AddToQueue and property InQueue have been added to the Operation object in the object model.
    • Added methods AdjustPhaseTimeInSimulation and ComputeWorkTime to the Operation object in the object model
  • 7.0
    • Fixtures have been added to charts.
    • Fixtures have been added to the operation attributes.
    • Performance enhancements have been added to the scheduling of fixtures.
    • Drag and dropping of operations performance has been enhanced.
    • Performance enhancements have been made to the Oracle interface.
    • A new license is available: FactoryTalk Scheduler Standard Edition. This version does not allow the loading of the FactoryTalk Scheduler Server Extension DLL for custom rules.
  • 6.0
    • Performance Parameters — Often an order isn't really "late" if it is scheduled to be completed one day after its due date and it really isn't "early" if it is scheduled to be completed two days before its due date at your plant, the order is actually "Ontime." It is now possible to set the parameters that determine the definition of an Ontime order. The Performance Parameters dialog (Setup > Performance Parameters) allows you to set the Early and Late Tolerance for orders (in hours) so that you can create a more realistic and useful schedule. Ontime, Early and Late orders are used in the statistical analysis of the Schedule Analyzer, Performance Metrics, and Baseline Comparison windows. All three windows have been adjusted to reflect the addition of this category.
    • FactoryTalk Scheduler Analyzer enhancements — the Schedule Analyzer window (Performance > Schedule Analyzer) now has a tabbed interface that provides easy access to Ontime, Late, Early and Unallocated orders. The number of orders in each category is listed on the tab. Double-clicking on an operation displayed in this window opens the detailed Operation Constraints window.
    • Fixture Constraints — Fixture constraints can be used to model fixtures, tooling, molds, or special material-handling devices that can be required for more than one successive operation. Fixtures differ from materials in that they are not consumed or produced. A fixture can be required at any operation and held across several following operations in the same process plan or it is possible to seize a fixture at the start of an operation and release it at the end of the same operation. (This feature must be setup during configuration.)
    • Capable to Promise Web Services — The Capable to Promise functionality is now exposed through a set of web services. This allows the creation of custom user interfaces for the Capable to Promise feature.
    • Object Model Enhancements — The FactoryTalk Scheduler object model has been enhanced to include direct access to materials, material actions, additional resources, fixtures, and fixture actions. Various existing objects have also been enhanced to provide more object model functionality. The new FactoryTalk Scheduler Customization Guide documents the object model.
    • User Buttons — the Options dialog (Tools > Options) now includes the option to change the default bitmap for User Buttons. Also, checkboxes have been added to activate the buttons individually.
    • "Overwrite Existing FCS" — this option (Setup > Overwrite Existing FCS) makes management of your .fcs easier, since it can prevent accidental changes to the .fcs file. If you leave this option unchecked and save, your database will be saved without altering the original .fcs. If this option is checked (the default), any changes made to the current .fcs will be saved, along with changes to the database.
    • Toolbar Serialization — toolbar position is now being saved to the .fcs file, so any changes you make to toolbar position during a FactoryTalk Scheduler session will be displayed when that .fcs is reopened.
  • 5.0
    • Capable to Promise
    • Batch Transfer In/Out
    • ERP integration enhancements
  • 4.0
    • FactoryTalk Scheduler shares the FactoryTalk Framework
    • Schedule Analyzer
    • Time Pattern Editors
    • Plant Model Editor
    • Import/Export Named Views
    • Set Chart Horizon
    • Move Operation with Precision
    • “Save FCS Only” menu option
    • The Attributes dialog provides more information
    • HTML help
  • 3.0
    • Line Resource modeling
    • "Net Change Scorecard" renamed "Baseline Comparison”
    • Performance Metrics now account for disabled order operations
    • Named Views can be deleted
    • Two new methods added to the Document object for VBA programming: ClearMessageLog and SaveMessageLogToTextFile
    • Multi-Line bar text now available in the Sequence Overview (Gantt view)
    • Three toolbar buttons: Sequence Overview, Order Trace View, and Shift Pattern View
    • New methods added to FactoryTalk Scheduler’s Operation object: Unallocate, UnallocateSubsequentOperations, UnallocatePreviousOperations, UpdateSimulationQueues, SplitBatch
    • New registry value: SimWaitForLoadTime
    • New registry setting: NegativeStartOffset
    • Baseline Comparison now has a printing option
    • Vertical auto-scrolling in the Gantt views
    • Priority property added to the Order object for VBA programming.
    • ReadCacheField method added to the Order, Operation, Resource, and ResourceGroup objects
    • Time span can be specified in the Charts View
    • SQL Database performance improvements

• FactoryTalk Batch

  • 8.0

    Support for Oracle

    You can now use FactoryTalk Batch to create reports for batch data stored in either a SQL Server or Oracle database. Instructions are provided to migrate existing batch history data stored in the Batchhis table in an Oracle 8i database to the FactoryTalk Batch tables in an FactoryTalk Oracle 9i database. (See "Migrating FactoryTalk Batch History Data from an Oracle 8i Database to Oracle 9i" in the FactoryTalk Batch User's Guide for more information.)

    FactoryTalk Batch is only compatible with Oracle 9i databases. For instructions on how to initialize your FactoryTalk database to Oracle 9i, please refer to the FactoryTalk Batch User's Guide, which is available from the installation CD on the Release Notes and Documentation page.

    Sample data

    The FactoryTalk Batch database tables are now populated with sample batch data when the FactoryTalk database is configured, so you can immediately become familiar with the sample FactoryTalk Batch reports. No any additional configuration or connectivity to an FactoryTalk Batch Server is required to view the sample data in the sample reports. A method is also provided to remove the sample data. (See the FactoryTalk Batch User's Guide for more information.)