Document Number: OTS-400

Operator Training Simulator

for Windows
User’s Guide
_________________________________________

April 12, 2006

This document describes how to install and use the Operator Training
Simulator for Windows.

Survalent Technology Corporation

Mississauga, Ontario
Copyright © 2004-6 Survalent Technology Corporation

All rights reserved

Operator Training Simulator for Windows

User’s Guide

Survalent Technology Corporation

2600 Argentia Road
Mississauga, Ontario
L5N 5V4

TEL (905) 826 5000

FAX (905) 826 7144

The software described in this document is furnished under license, and may only
be used or copied in accordance with the terms of such license.

The content of this manual has been carefully checked for accuracy. However, if you find
any errors, please notify Survalent Technology Corporation.
 Revisions

Date Description
December 18, 2004 Initial version.
April 12, 2006 Corrected example script in Figure 5-2
 Contents

1 Introduction 1-1

2 Installation 2-1

2.1 Basic Installation ........................................................................................................................2-2

2.2 OTS License ...............................................................................................................................2-2
2.3 Start OTS ....................................................................................................................................2-3
2.4 OTS Control Panel .....................................................................................................................2-4
2.4.1 System Preferences.................................................................................................................2-5
2.4.2 Application Preferences..........................................................................................................2-5
2.5 Creating the Script Database ......................................................................................................2-6

3 WorldView 3-1

3.1 WorldView Database..................................................................................................................3-1

3.2 Connecting to OTS .....................................................................................................................3-1
3.3 Using Workspaces ......................................................................................................................3-2
3.4 WorldView Display in OTS .......................................................................................................3-3

4 Studies 4-1

4.1 Creating a New Study.................................................................................................................4-1

4.2 Activating a Study ......................................................................................................................4-2
4.3 Saving a Study............................................................................................................................4-2
4.4 Deleting a Study .........................................................................................................................4-3
4.5 Direct Snapshot ..........................................................................................................................4-3

5 Scripts 5-1

User’s Guide Contents i

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
 1 Introduction

This document describes how to install and use the Survalent Operator Training Simulator for Windows.

The Survalent Operator Training Simulator (OTS) consists of an independent copy of the SCADA system
operating with simulation programs instead of scan tasks.

The OTS system provides facilities that allow the instructor to maintain many different copies of the
database and to select any of these to use for a training session. Each such copy of the database is
called a “study”. New studies can be created by modifying other studies or by modifying a snapshot of
the current real SCADA database.

On systems equipped with Survalent’s System Configuration Status (SCS) software, the OTS system
can be used by operators to check out contemplated control actions in OTS before executing them in the
real system. See System Configuration Status User’s Guide, document number SCS-300.

OTS is completely general. It can be used by Survalent SCADA users in any application such as
electricity/water/gas distribution, pipeline control or communication network management.

Chapter 2 describes how to install and configure the OTS system.

Chapter 3 describes how to configure WorldView for use with OTS.

Chapter 4 describes how to use the OTS Control Panel to create and activate study databases.

Chapter 5 describes how an instructor can use the OTS Control Panel to create and operate scripts for
training purposes.

User’s Guide Introduction 1-1

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
 2 Installation

The installation kit for OTS is identical to the kit for the real SCADA system. What makes the system
operate in OTS mode as opposed to real-time mode is the license.

When the OTS license is enabled:

• The scan tasks (including ICCP and OPC clients) are replaced by dummy scan tasks that don’t poll
RTUs, IEDs or server systems, but react to control requests by simply changing point values in the
database.

• Event printers and scheduled reports are disabled.

• Remote alarm annunciation and external bell control are disabled.

• Real-time WorldView windows cannot accidentally connect to the OTS system.

Because of these, a system that is licensed for OTS cannot operate in live mode. The OTS system must
be installed and configured on a separate computer from the live SCADA host computers.

The installation and configuration steps are described below.

User’s Guide Installation 2-1

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
2.1 Basic Installation
The first step is to install the three components of SCADA just like for a real-time SCADA system, using
the same install kits that you use for the real-time SCADA system:

• Scada Server

• Scada Client

• WorldView

When installing the Scada Client, specify the Custom install option, and enable installation of the OTS
option and all of its features. This causes an OTS Control Panel program to be installed in the
ScadaClient directory. The install kit adds an entry in the Start menu for this, as well as a shortcut on
your desktop.

Note: Do not specify that there is a standby computer.

2.2 OTS License

Next, call Survalent and ask for the codes that will enable the OTS license for this computer.

Note:

• The OTS license that you purchased from Survalent entitles you to install and run OTS on one
computer only.

• The OTS license includes the license for all of the options that you have in the real-time system (e.g.
SCS, Command Sequencing etc). Options that interact with external systems, however, such as
Remote Alarm Annunciation and ICCP, will be automatically disabled in OTS.

• The OTS license also includes the license to run any number of instances of WorldView that will
connect to OTS.

User’s Guide Installation 2-2

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
2.3 Start OTS
You can start the OTS SCADA system using the same SCADA Manager dialog as for the real system.

By leaving the “Start SCADA Service when OS starts” checkbox checked, OTS will start automatically
whenever the OTS computer reboots.

To minimize the possibility of confusion, the SCADA Manager window on the OTS computer is
distinguished by a yellow highlight behind the icon in the upper left area of the window. See Figure 2-1.
Also, the status bar below the Start/Stop pushbuttons refers to the system as OTS SCADA rather than
just SCADA.

Figure 2-1 SCADA Manager Windows in OTS

User’s Guide Installation 2-3

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2.4 OTS Control Panel
The SCADA Client kit contains an OTS Control Panel that allows you to take real-time database
snapshots, create and update studies, and operate scripts. The OTS Control Panel is only installed if you
select the Custom installation option and enable the OTS item.

The OTS Control Panel is illustrated in Figure 2-2. You can invoke the OTS Control Panel from the Start
menu or by double-clicking on the short-cut that was placed on your desktop.

Figure 2-2 OTS Control Panel

In the OTS Control Panel, the File menu contains the following items:

• System Preferences
• Application Preferences
• Start OTS
• Stop OTS

The first two menu items are used to define addresses and directories used by OTS. This is described
below.

User’s Guide Installation 2-4

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
2.4.1 System Preferences

The System Preferences window defines connection data for the SCADA system on the OTS computer
itself. This is the same stuff that you see in a similar window in the SCADA Explorer. The defaults are
fine, so just bring this up to double-check.

Figure 2-3 System Preferences Window in OTS Control panel

2.4.2 Application Preferences

The Application Preferences window defines:

• Paths to the current OTS database and to the studies

• Connection data for the live (real-time) SCADA computers

Figure 2-4 Application Preferences Window in OTS Control Panel

User’s Guide Installation 2-5

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
In the OTS sub-panel, make the following definitions:

• In Study Root Location, enter the root directory that is to contain the studies. Each study database
will be contained in a separate folder inside this root directory.

In the example of Figure 2-4, the study root directory is called Studies, and is located in the
ScadaServer directory. This is the default.

• In Database Directory, enter the location of the current OTS database. Again, Figure 2-4 illustrates
the default for this.

When you first install OTS, this database will be an empty database, just like the real-time SCADA
database was an empty database when it was first installed. Once you create and activate study
databases, however, the OTS database will always contain a modified copy of the study database
that was most recently activated.

In the Scada sub-panel:

• In Hosts, enter the host names of all the host computers that make up the real-time SCADA system.
Separate each host name by a semi-colon.

The host names are used by the OTS Control Panel to connect to the SCADA system when taking
real-time database snapshots to create the studies.

2.5 Creating the Script Database

Scripts are contained in a database that is external to both the current OTS database and the studies.

The script database is presently not automatically created by the installation procedure. To create the
script database, you have to use the SrvAdjust program as follows:

• Stop the OTS SCADA system using the SCADA Manager.

• Run SrvAdjust by double-clicking on the SrvAdjust.exe program in the ScadaServer directory.

• Restart the OTS SCADA system using the SCADA Manager.

Note:

The OTS license must be enabled in order to create the script database. If you run SrvAdjust
before the OTS license is entered, SrvAdjust will not create the script database.

The content of the script database is not affected when you switch studies, re-install the software
or perform another SrvAdjust operation.

The next chapter describes how to configure WorldView for use with OTS

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 3 WorldView

This chapter describes how to use WorldView in OTS.

3.1 WorldView Database

The WorldView database is not part of the study databases. The WorldView database on the OTS
system should therefore be copied (and maintained) from the same place that you maintain the
WorldView database on all of your real-time workstations.

3.2 Connecting to OTS

The WorldView program that is used with OTS is the same one that you use with the real-time system.
The difference is in a command line that you need to include in the shortcut definition. What you do is
this:

• On your desktop, create a new shortcut to WorldView, and name it something like “WorldView
(OTS)”.

• Edit the shortcut by right-clicking it and selecting the Properties item from the pop-up menu that
appears. This will bring up the shortcut’s Properties dialog.

• Select the Shortcut tab of the shortcut’s Properties dialog.

• Add the following to the Target field in the Properties dialog (see Figure 3-1):

-ots[23610]

• Click on OK.

User’s Guide WorldView 3-1

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In the command line, the string “ots” tells WorldView to connect to OTS rather than to the real-time
system. The number in square brackets is the port number to use to connect to OTS. The only value
that will work is 23610. Without this command line parameter, WorldView will not connect to the OTS
system, even if the host name is correct, and even if you’re running WorldView on the OTS computer
itself.

Figure 3-1 OTS Command Line Parameter in Shortcut to WorldView

3.3 Using Workspaces

The shortcut command line parameter described above does not allow you to run two copies of
WorldView and connect to both an OTS system and the real-time system at the same time. It is possible
to connect to both OTS and the real-time system simultaneously, however, but you have to use
WorldView workspaces.

For the real-time system, create the workspace in the usual manner. Then create another workspace for
the OTS system, and enter the host name or IP address of the OTS computer. Then edit the resulting
OTS workspace file using Notepad to add an extra statement in the Options section:

Ots=1

User’s Guide WorldView 3-2

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
See Figure 3-2 for a sample of the text of an OTS workspace file.

The Ots=1 statement in the workspace file tells WorldView that it is connecting to an OTS system, in the
same way that the -ots[23610] command line parameter does in the modified shortcut. If you’re using
a workspace, you don’t need a modified shortcut.

Figure 3-2 Example of OTS WorldView Workspace File

[Options]
Ots=1
User=SCADA
Pass=SCADA
UseAudio=1
ShowUserName=1
LogoutInactive=0
NewAlvViewHeight=0
NewAlvViewWidth=0
DefaultCriteriaFile=All Alarms.alv
...

3.4 WorldView Display in OTS

When connected to an OTS system, WorldView distinguishes itself from a real-time connection by the
following:

• The title bar contains the words “OTS MODE”

• The status bar is colored bright yellow.

See Figure 3-3.

Both the alarm view and the operator summary view windows have the same yellow status panel in OTS.

In OTS, point control dialogs are further distinguished by yellow highlights around the pushbuttons. See
Figure 3-4.

User’s Guide WorldView 3-3

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
Figure 3-3 WorldView Display in OTS Mode

Figure 3-4 Point Dialogs in OTS

User’s Guide WorldView 3-4

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
 4 Studies

This chapter describes how to create and manage study databases in OTS.

The OTS system does not “run” a study database directly. It runs a copy of a study database. When
you activate a study, you are, in one step, temporarily stopping OTS, copying the content of the study
into the current OTS database directory, and restarting OTS.

4.1 Creating a New Study

To create a new study database, right-click anywhere in the Studies (left-hand) pane of the OTS Control
Panel and select New. The New Study dialog will appear. Enter the desired name of the new study and
click on OK.

Figure 4-1 Entering the Name of a New Study

User’s Guide Studies 4-1

Operator Training Simulator for Windows
The OTS Control Panel will then obtain a snapshot of the SCADA database on the currently active real-
time system and save it in a folder of the Studies directory on the OTS computer. The time it takes to
create a study depends on the size of the database, but typically takes less than a minute.

Since the study is saved in a directory having the same name as the study, the study name must be a
legal Windows directory name.

The names of all of the existing study databases are listed in the Studies pane of the OTS Control Panel.

Creating a new study does not automatically cause OTS to run that study. You can tell OTS to run a
study database by using the Activate function. This is described in the next section.

4.2 Activating a Study

To activate a previously created study, i.e. copy the study database into the OTS computer’s database
directory and run it, right-click on the desired study and select Activate. The OTS Control Panel will stop
the SCADA system on the OTS computer, transcribe the contents of the selected study into the OTS
database directory and restart the SCADA system on the OTS computer.

Figure 4-2 Activating a Study

The study that was last loaded into the current OTS database is indicated in the OTS Control Panel by a
plus sign “+” immediately to the left of the study name.

4.3 Saving a Study

Again, it’s important to note that OTS does not run a study database directly. It runs a copy of a study.
Any changes that occur in the OTS database are therefore not reflected in the study itself. In order to
save the current database, with all of its changes, back into the study, you can use the Save function.
Right-click on the current study, and select Save.

Since the Save function is dim if you right-click on any other study, you cannot save the current OTS
database into any study other than the one that was originally loaded into the current OTS database.

User’s Guide Studies 4-2

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If you wish to save the current database into a new study, you can use the Save As function (in which
case you will be prompted for a new study name).

4.4 Deleting a Study

To delete a previously saved study, right-click on the desired study name and select Delete.

The OTS Control Panel does not allow you to delete the most recently activated study.

4.5 Direct Snapshot

There is a function that allows you to create a new study from a real-time database snapshot and
automatically activate it in one step. This function is called Direct Snapshot. Just right-click anywhere in
the Studies pane of the OTS Control Panel and select Direct Snapshot.

You will not be prompted for a study name. The name of the study is manufactured by the OTS Control
Panel as a concatenation of the string SNAPSHOT and the current date and time.

Figure 4-3 Taking a Real-Time Database Snapshot

The purpose of this function is to make it more convenient for an operator to quickly grab a real-time
database snapshot in order to evaluate some proposed switching action. In this case, you’re really not
interested in permanently keeping the study after your evaluation is completed. When this study is no
longer active, you can delete it at your convenience.

But if you change your mind and decide that you wish to keep it for a while (or even forever), with all of
the changes that you’ve already made, you can use the Save As function to save it under a more
meaningful name before deleting it.

User’s Guide Studies 4-3

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 5 Scripts

The OTS system contains an OTS scripting tool that allows an instructor to define and operate scripts.
These scripts can be used to create sequences of events for students to react to.

The scripts are defined in command sequencing language (the exact same command sequencing
language that is used in the SCADA system itself). The OTS scripts are stored outside of the study
databases, however. It is therefore not necessary to re-create the scripts for each study.

To create a new script, right-click in the right-hand pane of the OTS Control Panel and select New. An
Edit Script dialog is displayed, almost identical in appearance and operation to the command sequencing
edit dialog. The sequence state point should not be used. Nor should the Auto Start flag be used unless
you have some scripts that you wish to run for every study.

Figure 5-2 illustrates a simple OTS script that ramps a current point until a breaker trips.

You can start and stop OTS scripts by operating the traffic light icons just like in command sequencing.
You’re not limited to executing only one script at a time. Any number of scripts can be initiated for
simultaneous execution. You don’t have to keep the OTS Control Panel running either. The scripts will
continue to execute if you dismiss the control panel.

User’s Guide Scripts 5-1

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Figure 5-1 OTS Control Panel Showing Scripts (Right-Hand Pane)

Figure 5-2 Example of OTS Script

User’s Guide Scripts 5-2

Operator Training Simulator for Windows