Locked

If you enable this option, a data store configuration can only be changed or disabled if the current user has the corresponding rights with the user management enabled.

Active

Data store must be enabled in order to work. The advantage of configuration and activation being separated is that you can define and configure several data stores without being obliged to use them all at the same time when you disable the store you do not require. Simply disable the data stores you do not want to use.

To enable a data store, click on the major branch of the relevant data store and check the Active option.

Name

Enter a comprehensible name for the data store here. When using multiple QDR data stores, take advantage of the naming in order to distinguish the data stores.

Length unit

Set the base unit of length (default m). This string is then reused in all subsequent dialogs (up to ibaAnalyzer). You can enter another unit, e.g. “ft” (feet) here instead of “m”.

Don't generate product files when ibaQDR is not fully synchronized

If you enable this option, only complete ibaQDR files are generated. However, when starting data storage it means that no ibaQDR file is generated for all entry products currently in the line. Particularly for “long lines” such as pickling tandem lines (PLTCMs) this option is frequently disabled as a compromise, in order to at least obtain files with data for the last measuring locations for the entry products already in the line.

Don't generate product files that are shorter than ...

This option allows scrap cuts to be hidden and thus prevents product files being generated for incomplete strip sections. The option is definitely advisable if a large number of sheet cuts are made using flying shears in the exit section of a line. It is also possible that with short scrap cuts, for example, (e.g. 0.2 m) there is no guarantee that data will be available for all measuring locations.

Ignore timebased data when the line is stopped for more than ... minutes

If the entire line is stopped, i.e. all length signals are constant for more than ... minutes, it does not generally make sense to continue storing data for length mapping. Particularly for longer stoppages, very large data volumes would accumulate for the entry products, which could lead to problems when restarting and generating the ibaQDR files (memory overflow, etc.). Setting an appropriate value here is strongly recommended. The time-based data from the stopped sections can also be taken from parallel configured ibaPDA stores if required.

If a line stop is detected, ibaQDR reports this in the event log and the measuring locations are flagged with a pause icon in the data store status window:

This would produce the following in the ibaQDR data file:

Ignore tracked parts that are shorter than ...

In the entry section of strip lines, it is possible that very short tracking IDs are generated at the first measuring location (e.g. welder) due to movement back and forth, and these do not need to be tracked further. This setting can be used to filter them out.

Ignore changes in the length signals that are larger than

Large “jumps” in the length counters (with the exception of the reset at the transition from one tracked part to the next) generally indicate an error and can be filtered out.

Pass numbering

This setting is only relevant if there is a reversing measuring location in the plant. It helps to identify correctly the last pass, e.g. in a reversing mill. Depending on whether the numbering of the last pass should always be the maximum pass number or the real number of passes choose one of the two options.

If you select Relative to last pass, the number of the last pass is always the maximum number as configured under Maximum number of passes in the measuring location configuration, regardless of the actual number of passes done. Thus, the number of the last pass is always the same and further analyses of the data files can always refer to the same number if the last pass is relevant.

Example for "Relative to last pass"

Setting for maximum number of passes at reversing measuring location: 7

If all seven passes are done, the numbering is as follows:

First pass = 1, ..., last path = 7

If only five passes are done, numbering is as follows:

First pass = 3, ..., last pass = 7

If you select Relative to first pass, the pass number of the last pass depends on the number of passes actually done. Take this into account, when identifying the last pass in further data file analyses.

Example for "Relative to first pass"

Setting for maximum number of passes at reversing measuring location: 7

If all seven passes are done, the numbering is as follows:

First pass = 1, ..., last path = 7

If only five passes are done, numbering is as follows:

First pass = 1, ..., last pass = 5

Process signals in parallel

With more than 32 signals per measuring location, this enables you to enable or disable parallel processing, which results in a performance improvement particularly on modern multi-core computers.

Debug mode

If you enable this option, detailed messages are displayed in the ibaPDA event log window. Enabling the option is recommended.

Maximum number of log files

Here, you can set how many log files are stored (cleanup). If the system is only checked very sporadically, it may be useful to increase the value. One file is normally created each day. The value specifies how many days the log files are available for.

<Open log file> button

You can use this button to open the current log file (qdrLog.txt) in the default text editor.

Process measuring locations in parallel

If you enable this option, then more resources (processor cores) of the computer will be used in favor of processing the measuring locations. Enabling this option is recommended if you have a multi-core computer and many measuring locations or if you use multiple QDR data stores, e.g. as for multi-strand caster lines or hot rolling mills.

Use asynchronous file access

Enabling this option decouples data acquisition and data storage, i.e., data acquisition and data storage are then processed in different threads. This prevents data acquisition from being negatively affected by slow file access times during data storage. When using multiple physical drives for different data stores, if one drive is ever unavailable, only the corresponding store is affected. The other stores can continue writing. The disadvantage of this operating mode is a higher memory requirement. The buffer memory for write commands to be executed is 500 MB per data store. If this limit is reached, then the recording stops and restarts after 5 s.

Enable this option if you use multiple QDR data stores in parallel.