zenon manual

Golden thread across the help

v.7.60
©2017 Ing. Punzenberger COPA-DATA GmbH

All rights reserved.

Distribution and/or reproduction of this document or parts thereof in any form are permitted solely
with the written permission of the company COPA-DATA. Technical data is only used for product
description and are not guaranteed qualities in the legal sense. Subject to change, technical or
otherwise.
Contents

1. Welcome to COPA-DATA help ...................................................................................................... 4

2. Golden thread through the help - an overview ............................................................................. 4

3. Which help chapters for the start ................................................................................................. 5

3.1 The Editor .................................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Creating a project ........................................................................................................................................ 8
3.3 Frames and screens..................................................................................................................................... 8
3.4 Drivers and variables ................................................................................................................................... 9
3.5 Functions ................................................................................................................................................... 10
3.6 Starting the Runtime ................................................................................................................................. 11
3.7 Extended Possibilities ................................................................................................................................ 11

4. Online updating of the zenon Help: ............................................................................................ 13

5. Guideline through the help ........................................................................................................ 13

6. Functionality of the online help - So I find, what I need............................................................... 22

3
 Welcome to COPA-DATA help

1. Welcome to COPA-DATA help

ZENON VIDEO TUTORIAL S

You can find practical examples for project configuration with zenon in our YouTube channel
(https://www.copadata.com/tutorial_menu). The tutorials are grouped according to topics and give an
initial insight into working with different zenon modules. All tutorials are available in English.

GENERAL HELP

If you cannot find any information you require in this help chapter or can think of anything that you
would like added, please send an email to documentation@copadata.com
(mailto:documentation@copadata.com).

PROJECT SUPPORT

You can receive support for any real project you may have from our Support Team, who you can contact
via email at support@copadata.com (mailto:support@copadata.com).

LICENSES AND MODULES

If you find that you need other modules or licenses, our staff will be happy to help you. Email
sales@copadata.com (mailto:sales@copadata.com).

2. Golden thread through the help - an overview

The more powerful the control system, the more voluminous the according help.
In difference to all the other chapters, where features and functionalities are explained, this chapter should
help you to find your way through our help.

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 Which help chapters for the start

3. Which help chapters for the start

Information
This chapter is designed for all those, who use zenon for the first time and wonder which
help topics are useful for the beginning. Here you will learn about the steps needed for a
simple basic project. The according information from the tutorials and the manual are
linked to the according steps.

3.1 The Editor

ZENON:

zenon consists of two parts:

1. Editor
(operating system): Here the projects are created.

2. Runtime
: There the created equipment can be monitored and operated.

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 Which help chapters for the start

STRUCTURE OF THE EDITOR:

The Editor´s user interface consists of different areas:

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 Which help chapters for the start

Element Contents
01 - Toolbars: A collection of Toolbars for the Editor and its modules. They are
available for:
 Dockable windows
 Alignment
 Screens / Symbols
 Editor profiles
 Elements
 Menu bar
 Production & Facility Scheduler
 Remote Transport
 Report Generator
 Runtime Files
 Visibility levels
 VBA macros
02 - Project Manager: Tree view of the Project Manager.
03 - Detail view of the Project Details for the module selected in the Project Manager.
Manager:
04 - Main window: Main work space; here documents such as screens or reports are
displayed.
05 - Toolbar elements: Toolbar for screen elements - vector elements and dynamic
elements.
06 - Properties Displays the properties of a selected object. Three modes are
available and can be selected from the Properties toolbar.
07 - Properties help: Displays short help messages for properties of screens, variables,
functions and other elements which can be engineered.
08 - Output window Messages are displayed here if projects are compiled and sent to
Runtime.
09 - Status bar: Shows status information for Editor readiness and screens.
10 - Toolbar properties: Defines display and sorting options of the properties, shows
Properties help.
11 - Cross-reference list:

You choose which windows are shown:

 in the Drop-down list under Options or

The arrangement of the windows can be adjustedindividually. Just the main window cannot be hidden.

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 Which help chapters for the start

THE NEXT STEP:

You can find information on creating a project in the Creating a project (on page 8) chapter.

3.2 Creating a project

CREATING THE WORKSPACE:

The workspace is the basis for one or more projects.

How to create a new workspace is described in the Tutorial Basic.

CREATING A PROJECT:

Then a new project is created in the workspace. A project is a self-contained and executable entity of
engineering elements (e.g. screens, variables, functions, etc).
You can find more information on creating a project in the Basic Tutorial
(Main.chm::/T_Basic.chm::/T_Basic_Ein_neues_Projekt_Erstellen_eines_neuen_Projekts.htm).

Information
Now you are able to create a project.

THE NEXT STEP:

To add screens to your projects, see Screens and templates (on page 8) in the next chapter.

3.3 Frames and screens

CREATING A FRAME:

Frames define the screen area, in which the screens are opened then. Each screen is based on a frame.
You will find more information on creating frames in the Tutorial Basic and in the chapter Frames.

CREATING A SCREEN:

zenon offers different pre-defined screen types, so also the simplest "Standard", where a screen area
can freely be defined. For the graphical design of the screens there are hardly any limitations.
Simply select the pre-defined screen elements to display your equipment schematically in the screen.

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 Which help chapters for the start

EXTENDING THE SCREEN WITH SCREEN ELEMENT S:

zenon offers pre-defined vector and dynamic screen elements, which can be linked with functions or
variables.
You will find more information on the picture elements in the Basic Tutorial; the different shapes of the
pre-defined screen elements are described in detail in the Screen elements chapter.
Another possibility to save time in the engineering phase are pre-defined symbols, which you will find in
the symbol library. You will find more information on symbols in the chapter Symbols and Element
groups.

Information
You now can create a new project with screens and screen elements.

THE NEXT STEP:

Drivers and variables are needed in order for your screen elements to show "genuine" values and for
your equipment to be observable via zenon. You can find further information on this in the Drivers and
variables (on page 9) chapter.

3.4 Drivers and variables

SELECTION OF A DRIVER

Variables are based on drivers, so a Driver has to be selected first. During the engineering phase usually
one of the simulation drivers is used. Later it is replaced by the driver for the according PLC. As an open
and independent system, zenon already supports more than 250 communication protocols and drivers.
You can find detailed information on the individual drivers in the corresponding driver documentation.
You can find these in the online help in the Driver section.

CREATING A VARIABLE

Variables are the interface to the process data and represent certain measurement values or status. In
order to make aware of critical events in your process, limit values can be defined for variables.
You will find more information on creating a variable in the Tutorial Basic. You will find an extensive
description of variables datatypes and reaction matrices in the chapter Variable definition and process
data model.

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 Which help chapters for the start

DISPLAYING VALUES IN SCREEN ELEMENTS

Screen elements can be linked to variables in order to display incoming values.

You will find more information on linking variables with dynamic screen elements in the Tutorial Basic.
In the chapterScreen elements you will find a link to the dynamic - and vector screen elements of zenon.

Information
You now have an insight on how to use variables and drivers.

THE NEXT STEP

You not only want to monitor but also operate? Functions have to be created and linked to be able to
operate zenon.

You can find information on this in the Functions (on page 10) chapter.

3.5 Functions

CREATING A FUNCTION:

Functions are the basis for operating the equipment in the Runtime. For example, they allow you to
switch between the individual process screens or to change values.
Several functions can be combined and administered in a script. You will find more information on
scripts in the chapter Scripts.

LINKING A FUNCTION TO A DYNAMIC SCREEN ELEMENT:

You will find more information in the Basic tutorial. As zenon offers a great variety of different functions,
they are listed and explained in the chapter Functions overview. Additionally you will find a short
description in the dialog Function new.

Information
Now you are able to create a simple project. You can create a screen, link variables and
functions to screen elements and also display limit value violations.

THE NEXT STEP:

To see your result in Runtime, see the Starting Runtime (on page 11) chapter.

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 Which help chapters for the start

3.6 Starting the Runtime

FROM THE EDITOR TO T HE RUNTIME

What has been engineered in the Editor, can be monitored and operated in the Runtime. So we leave
the development environment (Editor) and start the Runtime.
You will find more information on starting the Runtime in the Tutorial Basic and in the chapter Runtime.

Information
Now you can design your projects and then monitor and operate your equipment.

MORE?

This of course was only a short glimpse on the possibilities offered by zenon. To find out more, see
further possibilities (on page 11).

3.7 Extended Possibilities

Here you can find numerous possibilities that you can implement with zenon:

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 Which help chapters for the start

You want to ... No problem!

... call attention to critical process events (limit value Alarm configuration
violations)?
... analyze alarms? Industrial Performance Analyzer
... log process and system events? Chronological Event List
... log changes in the project? History of Changes
... record and concentrate process data? Historian
... color and dynamize lines? Automatic Line Coloring
... create a FDA conform user administration (password User administration
system)?
... analyze log files? Diagnosis Viewer
... display values from the process as curves? Extended Trend
... administer maintenance data of machines? Industrial Maintenance Manager
... send message? Message Control
... create a client/server network? Network
Development environment Editor
Import or export parts of the project? Import/Export
... execute actions at a defined time? Production & Facility Scheduler
... create reports? Report Generator
... create parameter lists for set values and commands? Recipes
... define a function sequence? Script administration
... execute functions at a defined time? Time Control
... switch the language of the text information displayed in Language switch
the Runtime?
... control the access to certain zenon objects in Runtime Interlockings
with the help of variables?
... program cyclic tasks? Process Control Engine
... getting to know the integration of zenon Logic? zenon Logic Workbench

Data exchange on ERP level? SAP Interface

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 Online updating of the zenon Help:

4. Online updating of the zenon Help:

The Documentation Download Tool administers the updating of your online help including embedded
help, dialog help, tooltips and the PDF product documentation from zenon and zenon Logic.

The updating is carried out online. An internet connection is necessary for this.

CONTENTS OF THE DOCUMENTATION UPDATE:

The Documentation Download Tool supports the updates of:

 zenon and zenon Logic product documentation
 Driver Documentation
 Tutorials
 Glossary

FILE FORMATS OF THE DOCUMENTATION UPDATE :

The Documentation Download Tool supports the updates of:

 Online help for zenon and zenon Logic (.chm)
 zenon product documentation (.pdf)

The tool is only available in English

License information
Part of the standard license of the Editor and Runtime.

5. Guideline through the help

Here you will find an overview over the chapters of the online manual and a short introduction in the
terminology of zenon. You can find notes on efficient project configuration in the Configure projects
efficiently with zenon manual.

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 Guideline through the help

Parameters Description
Alarm configuration Critical process events
Alarming is used within the overall system to draw attention
to critical process events and to support the user in
localizing and eliminating them.
History of changes Documentation of the engineering, Audit trail
The history of changes serves for complete documentation
of the phase of engineering. The changes (e.g. change,
delete, create) that are made can be logged.
Equipment Modeling Depicts the structure and equipment and makes it possible
to correctly assign details to the lower level (such as
machines, recipes and processes) and to see the
relationship. Complies with the standards ISA S88 and S95.
Historian Recording process data
The objective of archiving is the recording and free
multi-stage summarizing (average, total, maximum or
minimum) of the process data in connection with a flexible
and user-friendly editing level conforming to the system.
Automatic Line Coloring Topological coloring of lines (
the automatic coloring of lines) allows easy automatic
dynamizing of tubes in technology (for media) as well as in
the energy distribution (for electricity).
Batch Control The module Batch Control offers the possibility to automate
batch-orientated manufacturing processes for lot products.
User Administration
zenon password system supports user administration for the
editor (chapter Project) and for online operation (Runtime).
With its password system it supports the requirements of
the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, Part 11).
Screens The main element of a project is the screens which are to
provide the operator with the most comprehensive level of
information about the plants that are operated.
Chronological Event List Operation journal, Audit trail,
all process and system events as well as user inputs can be
logged in the Chronological Event List.
Controls Integration for your own .NET user controls, ActiveX and
WPF elements. Offers possibilities to access the zenon API.
Diagnosis Viewer Reporting Tool
Allows the reading of existing zenon log files, online logging,
saving of the current view, parameterizing the Diagnosis
Client and the Diagnosis Server.

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 Guideline through the help

Dynamic screen elements and Vector screen Vector and dynamic elements
elements zenon offers two different types of screen elements: Vector
and dynamic screen elements. All elements can be
dynamized.

Editor project environment

The control system consists of Editor and Runtime: The
development environment, the Editor, and the online
display, the Runtime. Projects are created in the Editor,
operation and monitoring is done in the Runtime.
Detailed description of the zenon engineering system, the
Editor.
Energy Edition A package with special functions for energy and process
technology (such as Automatic Line Coloring).

Extended Trend Display of values as curves

The extended trend serves for the representation of the
online (HD management) and historical values (archive
values) of process variables and derived process variables.

Functions (on page 10) Predefined macros which can be easily used and
parameterized by engineers and that can serve for
modifications in zenon
User modifications in zenon are implemented via
user-defined project functions. All functions used in a
project are based on the existing system functions.
HTML Display as HTML pages
The use of a screen for the display of HTML pages offers all
the possibilities of the Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Import/Export Parts of a project can be imported to zenon or exported

from zenon. The format of the export file is *.XML.

Industrial Maintenance Manager Administration of maintenance data

The Industrial Maintenance Manager helps administer
machine and maintenance data. Service intervals can
comfortably be planned and administered. You can see at a
glance which device, equipment, machine, etc. has to be
maintained today / this week / next month etc. Additionally

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 Guideline through the help

service work done in the past is logged.

Industrial Performance Analyzer Alarm evaluation

The Industrial Performance Analyzer locates and minimizes
weak points (downtimes) of equipment.

Installation and updates Information for the installation of zenon on different

operating systems (such as Windows CE, .. Embedded, etc.)

Keyblock Runtime Start A program that starts zenon Runtime and blocks all
Windows system keys.
Users work in zenon Runtime and have no access to the
operating system level.

Keyboards Virtual keyboard

Using a screen of the keyboard screen type allows you to
create a freely definable virtual keyboard.

Configuration files Information for system administrators, who directly want to

edit the INI files.

Load Management For implementation of energy supply management for small

and medium-sized power supply companies and also for
industrial firms whose energy supply is arranged by special
contracts.
Can be used for both forecasting and optimization.

Licensing To be able to use the zenon Editor or Runtime, the product

must be licensed.
zenon runs in Demo Mode until it has been licensed.

Measuring unit switch Enables conversion and switching of base units into
conversion units, for example meters into yards or meters
into decimeters, centimeters and millimeters.
For the conversion units, a factor, an offset and a shift of the
decimal point can be defined for conversion units, based in
the relevant base unit.
Menu administration The menu editor allows creating Windows compliant menus.
Message Control Sending of messages via SMS, voice message or email
The task of this module is to send messages to different
recipients.

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 Guideline through the help

Mobile applications for zenon With the mobile applications, you can visualize your zenon
projects on mobile end devices, tablets and desktop
computers.

Monitor configuration Multiple monitor system

With the zenon monitor administration of the control
system you can define for each workplace if the target
system of the project is equipped with one or multiple
monitors.

Multi-Touch With zenon, touch screens can also be operated with

Multi-Touch gestures. Multi-Touch gestures for zooming and
scrolling are suitable for navigation on touch panels in the
worldview.

Network Client/server model

The control system works as a client/server system or as a
multi-hierarchical system with substations, main stations
and headquarters in network environment.

Notepad Output of logs and text files.

OPC server The OPC server makes the variables of the project available
for standard OPC client tools.

PLC Diagnosis With the PLC Diagnosis program details of a PLC can be
displayed directly in a screen of the control system.
Depending on the PLC different functionalities are available.
At the moment, there is the Simatic S7 Graph step chain
analysis for the display of step chain information of S7 PLCs
and the zenon Logic Monitoring Viewer for the display of all
programs being executed in the zenon Logic Runtime.
Process Gateway The Process Gateway serves as a coupling to higher-level
systems. Parts of the zenon process image of other
applications can be made available and be updated.

Production & Facility Scheduler Schedules, switching clocks

The Production & Facility Scheduler (PFS) allows executiong
actions (e.g. changing of a variable's set value, executing a
function) for a period of time or in a time grid.

Programming Interfaces zenon provides different interfaces such as VBA, VSTA or

.Net to include your own programs or to automate project
configuration.

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 Guideline through the help

Project conversion Information on compatibility, including instructions for the

correct conversion of older zenon versions.

Project Backup Back up and restore existing projects.

Project backups can then be restored to the same or
another computer. Project backups can also be versioned.

Project simulation Offers the possibility to switch between simulation mode

and hardware mode. In simulation mode, switching actions
are executed, recipes are sent, set values are defined etc.
without these operations actually being sent to the process
(such as to a control unit for example).

Project manager Information on project creation, project administration

Back up and restore projects, global projects, configuration,
Remote Transport

Process data model and variable definition Variables are the interface between the data source (PLC,
field bus, etc.) and zenon.
Variables, data types, drivers, reaction matrices
Cross-reference list Project overview
The Cross Reference List serves to generate a project
overview in table format. For example, it is possible to see
which variables are used in what screens in the Cross
Reference List.

Remote Transport The Remote Transport is used to transport Runtime

files to a target system. This ensures that all necessary
files are transferred to the target system.
Other functions (such as incremental copying,
transferring of status) are available.
Reporting with the Report Generator and documentation, evaluation and presentation of
process data on the basis of online and archive data
from zenon. Reporting is divided into:
 Report Generator
 Report Viewer
Recipes Input lists for set values and commands
Recipes serve for the assembling of input lists for setpoint
values and commands, which are executed with a function
call in online operation.

Recipegroup Manager In addition to the standard recipes, the Recipegroup

Manager offers more functionalities, such as free layout,
free grouping.

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 Guideline through the help

Runtime Online operation, Runtime

The control system consists of Editor and Runtime: The
development environment, the Editor, and the online
display, the Runtime. Projects are created in the Editor,
operation and monitoring is done in the Runtime.
Online operation in the Runtime
Runtime help zenon offers the possibility to create a context-sensitive
help for projects running in the Runtime.

SAP Interface zenon and SAP communicate using a two-way

interface.
The control system sends messages for any desired
processes to the SAP application (such as monitoring
stock in real time).
Command Sequencer Commands from the Command Processing module can be
compiled into processes in Runtime and visualized. User
interactions can also be executed.

Scheduler Time-triggered function calls

The Scheduler is loaded, if the module PFS is not licensed.
Its functionality is similar to the PFS, but the functional
range is limited. The Scheduler allows the automatic
execution of actions at a defined time.

Fonts Fonts existing in the operating system can be used in zenon.

Script administration Function sequence

If several user defined functions should be connected in a
sequence, they must be combined into a script.

Language switch Allows the language of text information to be switched

between different languages in the Runtime.

Status processing Attribute for variables

It is possible to issue a status for each variable with status
processing. A total of 64 status bits are defined. The most
common are spontaneous, invalid, manual value and
replacement value.

Styles Styles make it possible to extract graphics properties

from screen elements in the Editor, to administer
these and to apply these to other elements.

They are always administered in the global object.

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 Guideline through the help

zenon Logic Runtime The zenon Logic Runtime interprets the compiled code (PLC
code) of the zenon Logic Workbench. The Runtime runs on
Windows 7/8 and 7 Embedded PCs, as well as Windows CE
platforms.
zenon Logic Workbench zenon Logic is an IEC 61131-3 programming environment.
With zenon Logic development environment - the
Workbench - PLCs can be engineered and programmed in
the five defined languages of IEC 61131-3.
Driver simulation If the underlying process is not available when configuring,
this can be simulated and tested in advance.

Tools A range of tools support you for the management,

analysis and configuration of zenon:
 Diagnosis Viewer: Allows zenon LOG files to be read and
configured.
 Keyblock Runtime Start: Starts zenon Runtime and
at the same time blocks all Windows system keys.
 Online updating of the zenon Help (on page 13): Allows
online updating of zenon Help.
 Project Translation Interface: Tool for the
translation of zenon language files. Opens or saves data
for the zenon Language Translation Wizard. With
this, projects can be imported into or exported out of
zenon.
 Startup Tool: Makes it possible to start the Editor and
Runtime with certain parameters, to administer
different zenon versions on one computer, to
administer SQL instances and to define languages for
Editor and Runtime.
 System Information Collector: Reads system
information and zenon information, displays it in an
output window and saves it as a ZIP file.

The following are available for zenon Logic:

 zenon Logic Runtime Manager: Administer all
stand-alone/manual-start zenon Logic Runtime projects
on your computer.
The documentation for this tool is part of the zenon
Logic documentation.

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 Guideline through the help

Variables Variables, also called process variables or data points, are

the interface between the data source (PLC, field bus, etc.)
and zenon. They represent certain measured values or
states of the hardware, including properties such as scaling,
limit values, etc.

Interlockings Access authorizations

Interlockings control the access to certain zenon objects
during Runtime via variables.

Distributed engineering Multi-user administration, distributed engineering

The zenon distributed engineering functionality makes it
possible for multiple users to work on the same project at
the same time.
Video .avi files in zenon
(Main.chm::/H_Video.chm::/H_Video.htm) Online and saved video recordings (*.avi) can be replayed by
using a screen for playing videos.

Worldview Scrolling on large screens.

By using the “Worldview overview” screen type, it is
possible to scroll in standard screens that are larger than the
screen resolution. Here it is also possible to zoom and
depending on the zoom steps to show and hide detail
information in the screen. (Zooming, panning, decluttering).
Wizards Assistants for project support
In order to be able to handle recurring tasks in the project
configuration phase phase easily and quickly, zenon offers
wizards for different tasks. Users can create wizards for
individual tasks.
Time Control In the time control, you can define all function calls that
should be executed at a defined time or cyclically.

zenon Remote Desktop With the zenon Remote Desktop, a remote desktop
connection to a remote target system is established in order
to administrate a remote computer easily.
You will see the desktop exactly as it looks on the target
system.
The zenon Remote Desktop offers two connection types:
one for "watching only" and one for "operating" the remote
system.
zenon Science Package The zenon Science Package makes it possible to program
LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 / EV 3.0. Programs are created in
zenon Logic and executed on the LEGO Controller with
zenon Logic, an IEC 61131-3 programming environment
integrated into

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 Functionality of the online help - So I find, what I need

zenon.

zenon Web Server and zenon Web Server The zenon Web Server gets projects onto the internet or
Pro intranet in exactly the same form. For the transfer no
project adaptations are required. Contrary to the zenon
Web Server Pro, the zenon Web Server only offers viewing
functionality.
The zenon Web Server Pro offers complete viewing and
operating functionality. It is possible to directly engage in
processes over the web.
zenon for Windows CE The zenon CE Runtime can run on different CE hardware
platforms. Generally, the CE version of zenon offers the
same functionalities as the PC version of zenon, however
with some limitations which result from the lower hardware
resources.
Allocations Value transfer
The routing of the current value of a process variable to a
second variable within a driver or across drivers is
implemented with the use of allocations.

6. Functionality of the online help - So I find, what I

need
It sometimes happens, that information is documented in the online help, but cannot be found with the
search functionality.
So you here find a short introduction, how you can successfully search and most of all find information
in our online help.

SEARCH STRATEGIES

 As a default help starts on tab Contents. Here you will find the entire documentation (online
manual, tutorials, and driver documentation) in a tree structure.
 Tab Search allows searching for certain terms by entering them in the search field.
 You can save your favorite help chapters in the Favorites tab. Simply switch to the desired
chapter in the Contents tab or find it with Search (double-click it) and then switch to Favorites.
The selected help chapter will now be proposed under Current topic and can be added to the
favorites.

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 Functionality of the online help - So I find, what I need

Searching for words and phrases:

Parameters Description
Single word e.g. alarm
Chapters containing the word "alarm" are listed.
The grammatical variations of this word are also searched for.
Phrase e.g. "alarm administration"
Chapters are searched for the complete phrase "alarm administration".
Without quotation marks chapters containing both words alarm AND administration
(but not necessarily together) would be found.
Extensions e.g. alarm*
Chapters are searched for words starting with "alarm".
The asterisk (*) can also be in front of the word to be searched for (e.g. *alarm)
Replace AND
Both words should appear in the same chapter.
e.g. Alarm AND CEL
Chapters that contain both words are displayed.
OR
At least one of the words should appear in the chapter.
e.g. Alarm OR CEL
Chapters containing either the word "alarm" or the word "CEL" or both are listed.
NOT
Only one of the words in the chapter
e.g. Alarm NOT CEL
Chapters containing the word "alarm" but not the word "CEL" are listed.
NEAR
Both words in the same chapter, near to each other
e.g. alarm NEAR CEL
Chapters containing both words "alarm" and "CEL" with a maximum distance of eight
words.

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