# DVLiveDisplays

DVLiveDisplays is a Windows engineering tool for preparing Excel display definitions and generating Emerson DeltaV Live Display XML files (.di.ahc).

The tool can read GEM Class XML files from a DeltaV Live export ZIP and add their names, properties and validation rules to a bundled Excel template. After manual completion, the definition workbook is used to generate a Display for import into DeltaV Live.

DVLiveDisplays is developed and distributed by Mavabe Technical Consultancy B.V., trading as Batch-A.

## INSTALLATION

DVLiveDisplays is supplied as a portable application and does not require installation.

1. Extract the complete contents of the DVLiveDisplays ZIP file to a folder of your choice.
2. Keep DVLiveDisplays.exe and all supplied DLL files together in the same folder.
3. Run DVLiveDisplays.exe.

Do not run DVLiveDisplays directly from inside the ZIP file.

The release is self-contained; a separate Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime installation is not required.

The Excel definition template and empty Display XML template are embedded in the application.

## LICENSING

DVLiveDisplays requires a valid licence. Licences are validated offline and are not tied to a specific computer. The signed licence Product must be DVLiveDisplays.

Use Help > Enter/Replace License... to select a licence. The selected licence is stored under the user's Batch-A/DVLiveDisplays application-data folder.

## PREPARING A DEFINITION WORKBOOK

1. Open the Input Definition tab.
2. Optionally select Open GEM Classes ZIP... and load a DeltaV Live GEM Class export ZIP.
3. Select Save Definition Excel As... to save an .xlsx workbook.
4. Open the saved workbook in Excel and complete the required sheets.
5. Save and close the workbook before loading it in DVLiveDisplays.

Without a GEM ZIP, the tool saves a copy of the bundled template. Load a GEM ZIP when preparing a workbook for device generation: the export adds the hidden GEM metadata required to interpret device properties later.

The GEM import updates only Device Information. Other sheets retain the bundled template's content. Every export starts from the bundled template, rather than updating a previously completed workbook.

Only XML files with a GemClass root element are imported. Linked GEM names combine the library name after Graphics.Libraries. with the GEM Class Name. Properties are read from ConfigurationPane > PropertyGroup named BasicConfiguration > Properties.

## WORKBOOK SHEETS

General Info

Enter Display Name, Path, Display Title, Display Description, AlarmUnitFilter, AreaSelection and Units in the labelled rows. A blank Path retains the embedded Display template's path. Units supports Centimeter, Inch and Point; blank defaults to Centimeter. Units applies to device X and Y coordinates. AlarmUnitFilter and AreaSelection supply the Display variables AlarmUnitFilter and AlarmUnitAreaName and their OnOpen assignments to the layout.

Device Information

Select a Linked GEM and enter its property values. The first ControlTagNameCustomPropertyDef in each GEM Class is included using its actual property name. Distinct property names receive separate columns; matching names share a column. X and Y remain in columns C and D.

Supported properties are ControlTagNameCustomPropertyDef, BoolCustomPropertyDef, DoubleCustomPropertyDef, IntegerCustomPropertyDef, LocalizableStringCustomPropertyDef, StringCustomPropertyDef and SelectionCustomPropertyDef.

Boolean and Selection properties have GEM-dependent dropdowns. Numeric properties have validation. Cells for properties unavailable to the selected GEM are greyed out. Shading is visual; it does not prevent editing. Values in properties that do not apply to the selected GEM are ignored during generation.

Blank property cells are omitted from the generated XML so GEM defaults can apply. False and zero are explicit values and are included. Localizable strings use English (en). Selection labels are converted to their stored OptionIds. No macros or automatic filling of defaults are used.

Supply both X and Y, or leave both blank. Automatically positioned devices start at 0 mm, 0 mm and advance by 5 mm in both directions. Only devices with both coordinates blank advance this counter. Supplying just one coordinate is an error.

The exported validations and cell borders cover 1,000 device input rows. Hidden columns hold dropdown choices, applicability, validation and GEM metadata. Keep these columns intact and hidden.

Page Connections

Enter Label, Open Display, Shape and optional Description. Shape supports Left, Right and Rectangle; blank defaults to Right. Right omits DisplayLinkShape in XML. Connections start at 8 cm, 0 cm and advance by 5 mm in both directions, using a separate placement counter.

EM Information

Enter the linked GEM Name in A2 and up to 16 EM names in column B, starting at B2. Nonblank names become Tag1 through Tag16, and their count supplies NumEMs. The generator assumes NumEMs OptionIds match the number of EMs. The GEM is placed at XML coordinates 9500220, 8114312 and receives a visibility animation referencing Lyt.EMInfo.

Unit Information

Enter the linked GEM Name, Unit Name and optional Unit Support Module in row 2. Unit Name supplies Tag; Unit Support Module supplies SupportTag. The GEM is placed at XML coordinates 24922, 8404606. Blank tag values are omitted.

Alarm Lists

Each populated Names For cell starts an AlarmList. Its Filtered For value and subsequent values beneath blank Names For cells provide up to five filters. Names For supports Area, UM/EM and Module/Device. Each list requires at least one filter name.

All generated lists use FilterByPlantContext=SpecificName, FilterByPlantHierarchy=True and FunctionalClassification=Not classified. SpecificNameContext is omitted for Area, set to UM_EM for UM/EM, and Module_Device for Module/Device.

Alarm Lists start at 16 cm, 0 cm and advance by 5 mm in both directions, using a separate placement counter.

Remove unused template sample entries and replace placeholders before generation. Populated sample entries are treated as input.

## GENERATING A DISPLAY

1. Open the Display Generation tab.
2. Select Load Definition Excel... and choose the completed workbook.
3. Review the loaded device rows and resolve any reported input errors.
4. Select Generate Display... and save the .di.ahc file.
5. Import the file into DeltaV Live and review the resulting Display.

The suggested output filename is the Display Name with the .di.ahc extension. GEM instance names use the GEM portion of Linked GEM followed by an underscore and a three-digit sequence. Generated navigation, EM/Unit and alarm elements share the sequence counter.

The workbook's hidden metadata supplies device property types and Selection mappings, so the original GEM ZIP is not needed during generation. Older workbooks without this metadata must be regenerated using the updated tool.

Loading reads a snapshot of the workbook. Reload it after making Excel changes. The device grid does not list every generated element from the other sheets.

## OUTPUT AND REVIEW

The generator preserves the embedded Display template's styling, background, Display dimensions and schema version. Display identity and content are populated from Excel. GEM Width and Height are omitted so GEM Class dimensions apply. The XML is formatted for readability.

DVLiveDisplays works with DeltaV Live XML exports and Excel definitions; it does not process FHX files or connect directly to or modify a running DeltaV system. Importing the generated file into DeltaV Live is a separate user action.

The target system must contain the referenced GEM Classes, graphics-library resources, Displays and control tags. Compatibility depends on the target DeltaV Live version, the embedded template and the referenced libraries. Check the generated Display, property assignments, navigation actions, alarm filters and layout behaviour before use.

Excel validation can be bypassed by pasted data, and changing Linked GEM does not automatically revalidate or clear existing cell values. The application validates supported inputs when loading, but engineering review remains required.

DVLiveDisplays is an independent Batch-A product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by Emerson Electric Co. or its affiliates. DeltaV is a trademark of Emerson Electric Co. or its affiliates.

## SUPPORT

Batch-A
Mavabe Technical Consultancy B.V. trading as Batch-A
https://www.batch-a.com/
info@batch-a.com