Once you've configured a custom alarm list, provided users with buttons to change the category of alarms being displayed in the list, and added some additional alarm management buttons, you may additionally add buttons to your display to enable operators to silence and/or mute alarms.
Acknowledging alarms using the buttons created using the Ack Selected Btn or Ack All Button tools (see Creating Buttons to Allow Users to Respond to Alarms) will silence the associated alarm sounds until a new alarm has been triggered. The Silence Button tool allows you to draw a button that will silence the currently sounding alarm sound without acknowledging the alarm. The Mute Button tool allows you to draw a button that will silence all alarms sounds, current and future, without acknowledging the alarms. When you are creating a custom alarm display, you should consider whether or not you want users to have the ability to silence all alarm sounds in the system at the click of a button, as the alarm sounds are an important part of notifying operators that the system needs attention.
Creating a Button to Allow Users to Mute All Current and Future Alarm Sounds
1. Click the Libraries button in the Configuration Toolbox. The Libraries dialog will open.
2. Click on the plus sign beside Drawing Tools to open the list of libraries.
3. Right-click on the Alarm Tools library to open its context menu.
4. Select Draw
5. Click the Mute Button. A sample button will be attached to the cursor.
6. Click on the page where you would like to locate the button. The Mute Button graphic editor dialog will open.
7. Enter the label you wish to be displayed on this button in the Button Label field. This label should indicate the function of the button (e.g. Mute All).
8. Enter the text you wish to be displayed for this button’s tool tip in the Tooltip Label field (e.g. Mute All Alarms).
9. Click the OK button.
Creating a Button to Allow Users to Respond to the Currently Sounding Alarm Siren
1. Click the Libraries button in the Configuration Toolbox. The Libraries dialog will open.
2. Click on the plus sign beside Drawing Tools to open the list of libraries.
3. Right-click on the Alarm Tools library to open its context menu.
4. Select Draw
5. Click the Silence Button. A sample button will be attached to the cursor.
6. Click on the page where you would like to locate the button. The Silence Button graphic editor dialog will open.
7. Enter the label you wish to be displayed on this button in the Button Label field. This label should indicate the function of the button (e.g. Silence One).
8. Enter the text you wish to be displayed for this button’s tool tip in the Tooltip Label field (e.g. Silence Current Alarm).
9. Click the OK button
The Alarm Tools library contains many other useful tools that can help you customize your alarm display. To learn about these tools, please refer to the topic: Alarm Tools Library.