Abstract: A user interface provides the operator of an industrial process control system the ability to set user-initiated alarms on selected parameters representative of a process being controlled, independent of predetermined alarm limits. The interface allows the operator to identify parameters to monitor, when to monitor the parameters, when to trigger alarms, and allows the operator to determine how to be notified that a user-initiated alarm has been triggered. A template having blanks to fill in information related to the alarm limits is provided and has drop down menus providing alternatives. Selecting an icon on a schematic representative of a process causes the template to pop up in a window type of environment with relevant data already filled in. The completion of the template results in a message being sent to a process module which provides real time values of the parameters.