Password Protection Task

The Password Protection task provides the capability to protect tag values from being changed unless an operator knows the correct password.

The password protection system is based on a Group system. The application engineer defines Groups, for example, an operator group, a supervisor group, a maintenance group, etc. The application engineer then lists FactoryLink tags that are to be protected with in each group and at the same time, can assign initial Users to each group. The Users assigned to each Group can be altered by a Superuser at runtime. The Superuser can add new users, delete users and move users to different Groups. (Users can be assigned to multiple Groups). Runtime changes made by the Superuser are saved in a datafile so that they are not lost when FactoryLink is shutdown.

Tag protection is accomplished via tag sets. Each set consist of a protected tag and a verified tag. The task monitors all protected tags and when it detects a change, checks the password requirements for the changed tag's Group. If the password requirements are met the verified tag is updated with the new value. If the password requirements are not met, a dialog box explains the problem and restores the protected tag's value back to the old value leaving the verified tag's value unchanged.

The password verification method is selectable for each Group to be either a Login method or a Prompt method. When a protected tag in a Group set to use Login is changed, the task checks to see if a User assigned to that Group is currently logged in. If so, the corresponding verified tag is updated, if not, a dialog box pop up announces the reason. If a tag belonging to a Group set to use Prompt method is changed, then the task will require the operator to enter a User name and password. If the entered User belongs the same group as the protect tag, the corresponding verified tag value is updated.

Extensive task status outputs are provided to allow coordination between the Password Protection task and other tasks. Tag outputs are provided to indicate when operations are completed, to signal the type of operation, the User who performed the operation, old and new values and a value description. These outputs allow an application engineer to quickly develop a system for Login/Logout recording and value change tracking via the Report Generator or Database Logger.

A full set of exports are provided with the Password Protection task to minimize the task's configuration time. The task is fully configured from the Configuration Manager and export files are provided for each of the Password task's control tables. In addition Super VGA graphic exports are provided. The graphic files can be used in pop ups such as an Alpha-numeric key pad, password maintenance, dialog box, user and group selection lists. System engineers are free to used the provided graphics or to develop their own.

Other features include:

• Automatic update of protected tags when verified tags change value (such as a recipe load)
• Ability for Superuser to add new Users not originally configured
• Ability for Users to change their own password
• Backdoor password for Superuser
• Generation of a password maintenance report listing all Users assigned to all Groups

• FactoryLink System: MS/Windows, Windows 95/98, Windows 32bit, OS/2, SCO UNIX and HP UNIX
• Number of Groups Supported: Limited only by available memory
• Number of Users per Group Supported : Limited only by available memory
• Number of Tags per Group Supported : Limited only by available memory
• Tag Types Supported: Digital, Analog, Long Analog, Float, Message
• Task Status Output Information:
  Current User Name, Complete Trigger, Status Code, Status Message, Status User Name, Status Old Value,Status New Value
• Task Controls/Inputs:
  Change Password Trigger, Login/Logout Trigger, Generate Password Report Trigger, Password Maintenance Trigger
• Graphic Exports Provided: Password Maintenance, User List, Group List, Alpha-numeric Keypad, Dialog Box Configuration Table
• Exports Provided: Password Graphics Windows Interface Information

Ordering Information
Part No: FLK-PSWDxxx
Software package includes 5-1/4" or 3-1/2" diskette and User's manual
Note: Replace "xxx" with the appropriate platform preface and specify diskette size.

Pricing (U.S.Dollars)

PRICE EFFECTIVE 03/01/97 : List: $475.00 (PC Platforms)
Discount Policy

Rev. 09/01/07