Data point conditions and properties

Most behavior rules will be linked to a data point condition. The rule then only takes effect if this condition is met.

First, you must select which data point property to compare to evaluate the condition. In addition to all common bus-specific properties (such as IN_ALARM or Out_Of_Service for BACnet), there are also some general properties available that abstract the bus-specific properties. These are indicated by <angle brackets>. Use these general properties as often as possible to make your shapes independent of the bus. This allows you to animate shapes with data points of different protocols.

<LiveValue>

The default property used for behavior rules is <LiveValue>. Basically, this is a converted Present_Value (i.e. the current value).

<Unit>

You can use this property to display the unit of a data point or to link it to a condition. If you select Set dynamic text as the action type, you can display this property directly in your shape. Use the Always option as the condition function.

<LiveValue&Unit>

If you want to display the text and unit as a combined string (for example, “20 %” or “20 °C”), use the <LiveValue&Unit> property in conjunction with the Set dynamic text action. Use the Always option as the condition function.

<AlarmState>

If you want to create a behavior rule that reacts when there is an open ticket for the associated data point, you can select this property. Use one of the following comparison values:

0

There is currently no open ticket for this data point.

1

There is currently an acknowledged but not yet resolved ticket for this data point.

2

There is currently an open ticket for this data point that has not yet been acknowledged.

<ManualMode>

If you want to create a behavior rule that reacts when the data point is in manual mode, you can select this property. Use one of the following comparison values:

0

Not in manual mode

1

In manual mode

<Writable>

You can use this property to determine whether a data point can be written. Use one of the following comparison values:

true

The data point can be written.

false

The data point cannot be written.

<MultistateText>

This property translates the Present_Value for a data point of the type Multistate. This property is particularly useful for the Set dynamic text action, as it allows you to translate the machine-readable value of the multistate into a human-readable text. Use the Always option as the condition function.

<RenderedProperty>

This property is known as a meta property. At runtime, it is replaced with the value that you select in the Rendered Property property of the corresponding shape on the schematic.

Example rule

Property

<RenderedProperty>

Function

Always

If you have placed this shape on a schematic, open the property editor of this shape and set the Rendered Property property to the value to be displayed in the shape, for example <LiveValue>.

The advantage of <RenderedProperty> over <LiveValue> is that you do not have to define the actual property directly in the shape, but can change it dynamically as desired for each individual shape instance on the schematic. This means that you can use the same shape to visualize different properties on your schematic.

IN_ALARM

This property can be used for BACnet data points that may be in the alarm state. If the data point is in the normal state, the value is false or 0. If the data point is in the alarm state, the value is true or 1.

Example rule

Action Type

Show Object Conditionally

Property

IN_ALARM

Value

true

OUT_OF_SERVICE

This property can be used for BACnet data points and indicates whether the data point is currently set to out of service. Inputs can only be written if they have been set to out of operation.

Example rule

Action Type

Show Object Conditionally

Property

OUT_OF_SERVICE

Value

true