Abstract: Techniques for flexibly configuring an operating process plant or process control system enable a change to a parent object to be selectively propagated to child objects derived from the parent object, so that a first subset of child objects and their respective instantiations are updated with the change, while a second subset and their respective instantiations remain unchanged. The parent object may be a class or instance process object corresponding to a process entity, and the first and/or the second subset of child objects may be selected. In some cases, the change may have been a propagated change, to the parent object, from a child object that is excluded from the first or the second subset of child objects. In some cases, the change may first be propagated to an instance object derived from the parent object, and then propagated from the instance object to a child object.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to automatically link process control graphics to process control algorithm information are described. An example method involves displaying a first process control image including process control algorithm information and displaying adjacent to the first process control image a second process control image to include process control graphics. The method automatically links at least some of the process control algorithm information to a graphic in the second process control image in response to user inputs associated with the first and second process control images.

Abstract: A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects.

Abstract: Techniques for flexibly configuring an operating process plant or process control system enable a change to a parent object to be selectively propagated to child objects derived from the parent object, so that a first subset of child objects and their respective instantiations are updated with the change, while a second subset and their respective instantiations remain unchanged. The parent object may be a class or instance process object corresponding to a process entity, and the first and/or the second subset of child objects may be selected. In some cases, the change may have been a propagated change, to the parent object, from a child object that is excluded from the first or the second subset of child objects. In some cases, the change may first be propagated to an instance object derived from the parent object, and then propagated from the instance object to a child object.

Abstract: A version control system helps to keep track of versions of process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant. The process plant items may comprise, for example, module objects which may be capable of specifically representing process entities of the process plant. These module objects may be created from module class objects which may be capable of generically representing process entities of the process plant. Version data is stored and associated with a module object. The version data may comprise data indicative of a version of a module class object that was used to create the module object. The version data may also comprise data indicative of a version of the module object. Configuration systems, version control systems, viewing systems, debugging systems, run-time monitoring systems, asset management systems, etc., may examine or permit viewing of the version control data associated with an item.

Abstract: Secure data write apparatus and methods for use in safety instrumented process control systems select a parameter associated with a process control element within the process control system and send first data associated with the parameter to the process control element. A confirmation associated with a request to write the first data to the process control element is received from a user and the second data is sent to the process control element in response to receiving the confirmation. The first and second data are compared at the process control element and the first or second data are written to a location in the process control element associated with the parameter if the first and second data are at least substantially identical.

Abstract: A configuration system uses process plant items that may represent, or be capable of representing, entities in a process plant to assist in configuring, organizing, and changing the control and display activities within the process plant. Access to the items may be controlled by associating access control data with the items. The configuration system may also use objects that represent, or may be capable of representing, one or more steps to be performed by entities in the process plant. Access to these objects may be controlled by associating access control data with the objects. The access control data may indicate whether users or certain users may be able to, for example, view or modify all or some data associated with the process plant items or the objects.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to configure process control system inputs and outputs are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises obtaining a tag of a process control device from the input/output device, and associating the process control device with a process control module based on the obtained tag.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus to manage process plant alarms are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving a process plant control system configuration parameter, the process plant control system configuration parameter representing a selected state of a process plant, performing a first query in an alarm definition data structure based on the process plant control system configuration parameter to obtain an alarm configuration parameter for a process plant alarm module of a process plant controller, and configuring a state of the process plant alarm module based on the obtained alarm configuration parameter.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to automatically link process control graphics to process control algorithm information are described. An example method involves displaying a first process control image including process control algorithm information and displaying adjacent to the first process control image a second process control image to include process control graphics. The method automatically links at least some of the process control algorithm information to a graphic in the second process control image in response to user inputs associated with the first and second process control images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage process plant alarms are disclosed. An example disclosed method comprises performing a first data structure query to obtain an alarm state for a process plant alarm based on a process plant operating state, and configuring handling of the process plant alarm based on the obtained alarm state.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to configure process control system inputs and outputs are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises obtaining a tag of a process control device from the input/output device, and associating the process control device with a process control module based on the obtained tag.