A macro is a text string that is recognized by Smart Instrumentation and is used to extract data from a given item such as a loop, instrument, panel, strip, and so forth. Each macro corresponds to specific information available in Smart Instrumentation database, for example, the color of a wire. Smart Instrumentation provides you with easy ways to search for the macros that need to be placed on a drawing block or a symbol. The software also comes with a standard set of macros that you can customize according to your needs
The type of data that the software can retrieve depends on whether you are working with loop drawings or hook-up drawings. For loop drawings, you can retrieve data for the following item types:
-
Domain definitions
-
Plant hierarchy items
-
Documents
-
Revision information
-
Loop data and instrument tag numbers
-
Wiring data (including connection information)
-
Process data
-
Specifications data
-
Loop drawing data
-
Hook-up drawing data
For hook-up drawings, you can retrieve data for the following item types:
-
Domain definitions
-
Plant hierarchy items
-
Documents
-
Revision information
-
Instrument tag numbers
-
Process data
-
Hook-up drawing data
All of the standard Smart Instrumentation macros are displayed on the Macro Definitions dialog.
You can use Smart Instrumentation macros in:
Enhanced reports
You can add macros to the various symbols used to represent items that appear in enhanced reports using the Symbol Editor, or you can add macros directly in an enhanced report after generation. For further details, see Using Macros in the Enhanced Report Utility help.
CAD drawings
To display data in CAD drawings, you must add them to the blocks that are used in generating the drawings. For further details, see Using Macros in CAD Blocks.
Macros in a CAD application, that you want to solve with a general signal in Smart Instrumentation, must have the general signal name (as defined in the Smart Instrumentation Local Signal dialog box) added as a prefix to the CAD application macro. For example, for the
CAD macro PNL_NAME.1.4, to be recognized by Smart Instrumentation and solved with the general signal called GENERALIST1, you add the general signal name to the CAD macro as a prefix in the CAD application:
GENERALIST1.PNL_NAME.1.4.