Troubleshooting Locked Faceplate Values in FactoryTalk ME with PlantPAx Process Library 4.10.06

Question:

Hello everyone, I am currently facing some challenges with modifying faceplate values within FactoryTalk ME edition using the PlantPAx process library version 4.10.06. The editing fields on the faceplate are all grayed out, except for the security area field where I am using the default "area01". This is a new issue for me as in previous projects with older software versions, entering the security area would unlock all editing fields. The software versions being used are Studio 5000 version 35.00.00, FactoryTalk View Machine Edition (ME) version 13.00.00, PlantPAx process library version 4.10.06, and CPU 1769-L33ER. During testing of my PlantPAx test object, I am encountering warnings such as "Item '[HMI]Program:XXX.M1_ResInh.HMI_Type' is unresolved in the processor on route CompactLogix at 192.168.50.40". Similar warnings appear for other items as well. I have verified the compatibility using the Rockwell compatibility tool and the communication between the PLC and HMI seems to be working fine. Although I am able to change PlantPAx object values in Studio 5000 under instruction logic, I would prefer to make these changes directly within the FactoryTalk runtime application. All PlantPAx objects are assigned to "area01" in Studio 5000. I have ensured that all security codes are enabled during runtime and have initiated the "copy from design to runtime" process for the PLC processor via the FactoryTalk Linx communication device shortcut. If you require any more information for troubleshooting, please feel free to reach out. Thank you for your assistance.

Top Replies

Are you a member of the user group area01? And does your user account belong to that group?

Cardosocea asked if there is a user group named "area01" and if the user is a part of that group. I do not have a user group specifically labeled as "area01." Instead, I refer to the manual 'proces-rm002' in Chapter 2 for configuring HMI security. You can find the manual at https://literature.rockwellautomation.com/idc/groups/literature/documents/rm/proces-rm002_-en-p.pdf. My user, "OE_ADMIN," is assigned to all user groups.

Did you overlook this crucial step? In your Logix code, it is essential to assign an area to each object instance using the tag member Cfg_Area. To ensure proper permissions, two user groups need to be created in the FactoryTalk directory for every area: '{cfg_Area}_Advanced' and '{cfg_Area}_Basic'. These groups play a vital role in regulating access to faceplates for the objects. For detailed instructions, refer to the manual section "Create Area User Groups." We apologize for any confusion caused earlier.

Thank you very much for your understanding. I sincerely apologize for overlooking the crucial information in the manual. It seems I may have skimmed through that chapter too hastily.

I have successfully completed three PlantPAX systems and will soon be starting on my fourth, but I always seem to miss something each time.

Hey there, I've encountered a similar issue before. It might be due to how your access levels are set up. As the security setup has evolved between versions, it might not be enough to just have the security area assigned in Studio 5000. You also need to ensure that your FactoryTalk View ME Station Security Settings are set-up correctly, especially the equal or higher access level requirement. This can often be overlooked, leading to the faceplate values being locked out except for the area field. Regarding the "unresolved in processor" warnings, ensure your tags are correctly defined and are scoped properly in your Studio 5000 program. It might be useful to conduct a thorough cross-validation between your HMI and PLC program for any inconsistencies. Remember, clearing out the warning log after any changes could help in pinpointing any persisting issues. If the problem persists, it could be worth reaching out to Rockwell's tech support. They are usually quite helpful in resolving such issues.

From your description, it seems like there may be something peculiar about your setup. Firstly, please verify that the HMI security is set up correctly and that the specific user has full permissions for editing these faceplates. Secondly, if the issue persists, consider reloading the tags in FactoryTalk ME and check if the warnings still appear. For the unresolved items, you may need to make sure that the path to the tags is correctly spelled and the communication set properly. Lastly, FactoryTalk ME has notorious issues with backwards compatibility, so it could be worth checking the Rockwell Automation Knowledgebase for issues aligning with these software versions.

Hey there, the issue you're dealing with might result from a mismatch between your version of PlantPAx and FactoryTalk or it might be linked to your security settings. For the former, the later versions of PlantPAx, particularly anything later than 3.5, can be somewhat finicky with FactoryTalk View ME. You may want to consider upgrading to a later version of FactoryTalk which could possibly solve the problem. As for the latter, it sounds like a permissions issue. The locked editing fields possibly indicate insufficient permissions assigned to your user role in FactoryTalk security settings. Even if you have enabled all security codes, quite possibly your user role might not have the rights to modify the faceplate values, so I'd recommend rechecking your user role privileges. Lastly, for the warnings you're getting, you might look into whether the tag names in your PLC and HMI match and are spelled correctly. If anything is in uppercase in your PLC that isn't in your HMI (or vice-versa), it can cause this type of communication issue. Hope that helps and good luck!

Hello, I've had a similar issue in the past and I understand how frustrating it can be. I would suggest you check if your FactoryTalk ME application and Studio 5000 are fully compatible as despite using Rockwell compatibility tool, there might be small discrepancies. Try to reinstall PlantPAx library and ensure that all objects are properly imported again. Another possible reason could be that there might be fields within the FactoryTalk ME Project Security Settings that require unique user-rights to modify values. If these are all set to area01, try creating another area and assigning some objects to it to see if it helps. The problem might also be due to firmware version of the 1769-L33ER processor, so consider updating the firmware. And as a final resort, you might have to consider re-installing FactoryTalk itself, after taking necessary backups of course. Good luck!

It sounds like you're dealing with a frustrating situation! It's possible that the issue with the faceplate values being grayed out might be related to the security settings not propagating properly in this version of FactoryTalk ME, especially if it was working in previous versions. Have you double-checked all the security settings within the faceplate properties and also considered if there’s a mismatch in the security level set in the HMI vs. the PLC? The unresolved item warnings could also suggest that there may be a linking issue, so confirming that the tags are correctly set up and published could help. Lastly, sometimes a simple restart of the HMI can resolve odd issues—worth a shot!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

FAQ: 1. Why are the editing fields on the faceplate grayed out in FactoryTalk ME with PlantPAx process library 4.10.06?

Answer: - The editing fields on the faceplate may be grayed out due to the security area field being set to "area01", which might not be unlocking all editing fields as expected in the newer software version.

FAQ: 2. How can I resolve warnings like "Item '[HMI]Program:XXX.M1_ResInh.HMI_Type' is unresolved in the processor"?

Answer: - To resolve such warnings, ensure that the compatibility between the PLC and HMI is verified using the Rockwell compatibility tool, and check the communication setup between the devices to address any unresolved items.

FAQ: 3. Is it possible to change PlantPAx object values directly within the FactoryTalk runtime application?

Answer: - While changes to PlantPAx object values can be made in Studio 5000 under instruction logic, direct modifications within the FactoryTalk runtime application may require ensuring all security codes are enabled during runtime and initiating the "copy from design to runtime" process for the PLC processor via FactoryTalk Linx communication device shortcut.

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