Operational Changes vs. Configuration Changes

Changes can be made to a running remote application's data using two methods:

•    Configuration changes; and

•    Operational changes.

Configuration Changes Defined

When you modify application resource items using the "Remote Configuration" dialog and VTS's locking scheme (see Remote Configuration and the VTS Locking Scheme), such changes are known as "configuration changes". Configuration changes can only be made when the primary configuration server is running. If the primary configuration server has failed, and a backup server is enabling the application to run, users will only be permitted to perform operational changes to your application.

Operational Changes Defined

In some circumstances, such as in the case of an emergency shutdown, changes can be made to tag data and can be distributed to all workstations without using the "Remote Configuration" dialog and the locking scheme. These changes are known as "operational changes".

Operational changes are accomplished while an application is in operation mode using the shortcut menu. To access the shortcut menu, simply right-click a tag's drawing method on an application page. Any of the options chosen from the shortcut menu will allow you to make operational changes to the tag's data that will immediately be propagated to all workstations running the remote application. The associated resource item(s) will not be locked and will not require updating using the "Remote Configuration" dialog.

Using the toggle and editable options of the shortcut menu bypass the locking scheme employed by VTS and propagate changes immediately across the network.

Operational Changes Example

An example of the contrast between configuration changes and operational changes can be explained using questionable data as an example.

Configuration Change to Questionable Data: If you open the tag properties folder for an analog input tag, and then click the "Merit" tab and select the questionable checkbox, the tag's data will be flagged as questionable, and the tag will be locked (as indicated by the "Remote Configuration" dialog).

Operational Change to Questionable Data: If you right-click the drawing method for an analog input tag while the application is in operation mode and select questionable data from the shortcut menu, the tag's data will be flagged as questionable, but the tag will not be locked.

Other shortcut menu options, such as "Manual Data", are an editable option. Selecting such editable options opens a dialog allowing you to enter or edit a property (or multiple properties) for the tag. Regardless of whether the shortcut menu option is a toggle option or an edit option, the modification to the tag's properties are immediately updated on all workstations.