Configure Associated Assets for PLC Devices

Asset associations must first be added to an asset type in order for assets to be associated with individual custom PLC Devices assets.

1. In the IPFusion PLC Devices integrated system settings, expand the asset type you wish to add associations to.
2. Click Associated Assets.
3. Click Add.
4. Assign a Display Name to the association. This will be used to show which type of asset association is being made for individual assets.
5. Select the Asset Category for this association.
   

   Note: Categories will only appear for asset types which exist in your project. So, for example, if you do not have any integrated systems which use readers, the reader type will not appear.

Once you have created the association types, you can begin associating your custom assets of that type with assets from other integrated systems.

1. Select the PLC Devices asset either on a Map or in Project Explorer.
2. In the Properties, expand Associated Assets.
3. For each association type, select an asset.
   

   Note: These associations can also be assigned via Import/Export on the asset type:

   

It is also possible to modify or remove an Associated Asset from the project.

1. To edit, click on the Display Name to rename the asset, or click on the drop-down menu under Asset Category to change its type. If editing the Asset Category, a confirmation dialogue box will ask you to verify the decision. Click Yes.
2. To delete, select the asset to be deleted and click on the Remove button. A confirmation dialogue box will ask you to verify the decision. Click Yes.

Associated Assets can help simplify a Workflow in the project.

For the Start block:

1. To find Associated Assets in the Start block, go to the Trigger Browser.
   1. Under Integrated Systems go to PLC Devices → Assets→ Asset's Name → Asset's ID. There will be a list of associated asset commands under Events according to the type of integrated system being associated with the PLC device.

   

   Note: This list will have all the possible triggers available for that asset's category. So, if the association is a camera type, it will display camera event options consolidated from all camera integrated systems in the project.

   Note: If you select an Associated Asset as the trigger, the Triggering Item will still remain with the parent asset. If the trigger mentioned above was chosen as (Associated Asset - Camera 1): Selected, the resulting Triggering Item will be the Swing Door that has the association.

For the Logic block:

2. To find Associated Assets in the Logic block, go to the Logic Editor.
   1. Under Integrated Systems go to PLC Devices → Assets→ Asset's Name → Asset's ID → Associated Assets. Choose the required integrated system asset and select from the list of commands available under Properties.

   

For the Action block:

3. To find Associated Assets in the Action block, go to the Action Browser.
   1. Under Integrated Systems go to PLC Devices → Assets→ Asset's Name → Asset's ID → Associated Assets. Choose the required integrated system asset and select from the list of commands available under Properties.

   

This example will demonstrate how to use Associated Assets to automatically initiate and end a call on an associated intercom when a door is selected or deselected.

1. Add the Asset Association to the Asset Type for the intercom.

   

2. Assign the intercom asset's Display Name in the Swing Door's Associated Asset field in the Property Grid.

   

3. Add a new Workflow and label it Call intercom and Select Door on Intercom Touched.
   1. Add a Trigger by double-clicking on the Start block.
   2. In the Trigger Browser go to Integrated Systems → IPFusion PLC Devices → Assets and find the Swing Door asset. Select the (Associated Asset - IntercomA): Touched event and click OK.
   3. Add an Action block to send a Call command to the Swing Door's associated intercom.
   4. In the Action Browser, go to Integrated Systems → Harding DXL. Select the Execute Asset Command (Command, Selected Asset IDs) command.
   5. Click on Command and select the Call | (Default Intercom Commands).
   6. Click on Selected Asset IDs to bring forth the Object Browser. Go to Advanced.
   7. Select Triggering Item → Initial → Associated Assets → (Swing Door): IntercomA and click on Item ID. Click OK.
   8. Add one more Action block after the Call Intercom Action block.
   9. In the Action Browser go to the Display Layout → Select Assets (Assets). Click on Assets in the Expression pane. Click Advanced to get to the Object Browser.
   10. Select Triggering Item → Initial → Associated Assets → (Swing Door): IntercomA and click on Item ID. Click OK.

       

4. Add a new Workflow and label it End Call on intercom when Door is Deselected.
   1. Add a Trigger by double-clicking on the Start block.
   2. In the Trigger Browser go to Integrated Systems → IPFusion PLC Devices → Assets and find the Swing Door asset. Select the (Associated Asset - IntercomA): Deselected event and click OK.
   3. Add an Action block to send an End Call command to the Swing Door's associated intercom.
   4. In the Action Browser, go to Integrated Systems → Harding DXL. Select the Execute Asset Command (Command, Selected Asset IDs) command.
   5. Click on Command and select the End Call | (Default Intercom Commands).
   6. Click on Selected Asset IDs to bring forth the Object Browser. Go to Advanced.
   7. Select Triggering Item → Initial → Associated Assets → (Swing Door): IntercomA and click on Item ID. Click OK.