Control System Studio

Jump Start


1. Introduction

 

This document is intended to assist new CSS users to get a first orientation when working with the system. Therefore the very basic features are explained shortly, along with a brief description of how to navigate within the software.


When you start the CSS for the first time, it will look like this:

 

 

2. CSS Menu Bar

 

All features of the CSS are accessible through the CSS Menu Bar. It provides the following menu entries:

 

2.1. File

 

 

New

Create a new folder, resource, ...

Switch Workspace...

Change the workspace of the CSS instance.

Export preferences...

Write current preferences of the CSS instance in a file.

Open Workspace Navigator...

Open the view 'Workspace'.

Import...

Import resource from CVS in the workspace.

Exit

Shut down your CSS installation.

 

2.2. CSS

 

 

All available CSS applications are linked into the CSS menu. Depending on your CSS distribution this menu provides a subset of the following entries (initially this menu will be empty. To load applications see: 2.4 Help -> Software Update):


Display

Display applications (e. g. The Synoptic Display Studio).


Alarm

Alarming tools and applications.


Trends

Trend tools and applications.


Diagnostic Tools

Diagnostic tools and applications.


Configuration

Configuration tools and applications.


Management

Management tools and applications.


Editors

Editors.


Utilities

Utilities.

 

Preferences

Open the central CSS configuration dialog that provides access to all CSS settings.

 

2.3. Quickstart

 

The Quickstart menu holds links to Synoptic Displays in the workspace. They can be added via context menu of a display.

 

2.3. Window

 

 

Open in New Window

Open a new CSS window.


Open Perspective

Select and open a particular CSS perspective. In the CSS context, a perspective is a set of user interface elements that are positioned in a certain way.


Show View

Open a particular CSS view. In the CSS context, a view is an element of the user interface that displays something and can be freely arranged by the user.


Working Sets

Define and manage Working Sets. Working Sets groups projects in the workspace.

 

2.4. Help

 

 

Welcome

Open this Jump Start document.

About CSS

Open the “About” dialog that contains the CSS license agreement.


Help Contents

Open the CSS help system. There you may find a more detailed description of the basic user interface concepts and all system settings.


Key Assist...

Open an overview of all shortcuts.


Cheat Sheets...

Shows available Cheat Sheets. Cheat Sheets are step by step documentations.


Software Updates

Manage the local CSS installation by installing and updating features. -> find and install -> search for new features to install -> DESY CSS

 

3. CSS Console

 

The CSS contains its own console. This console display system messages of certain events and information about occurred errors.


Click on the Console tab and try to move it around. You may even drag it outside of the main window. Try to get familiar with the Eclipse way to handle windows. (Drag the outside console back to an existing tab – and so on …)

 

4. Synoptic Display Studio (SDS)

 

SDS has its own perspective: Menu 'Window' → 'Open Perspective' → 'Display Development'. There are some example and training displays integrated that demonstrates the functionalety of SDS: Menu 'CSS' → 'Install Synoptic Display Demo Displays'. The training displays are in the workspace folder 'SDS Demo Display/Training'.

For some displays a SoftIOC with special EPICS databases (Folder /SDS Demo Display/Training/EPICS_DBs_TrainingIOC) is necessary. A SoftIOC for MS windows can be found on the CSS Homepage. The databases are part of that distribution. For other OS you can copy the EPICS databases from the SDS directory mentioned above to your IOC load directory.

There are also some help pages available in CSS

 

5. Update Site

 

Since CSS version 1.1 all common plug-ins that do not need additional environment are integrated in the CSS product. The following video will briefly represent, how to load and install special plug-ins to CSS from the update site.
Please accomplish the shown steps parallely.
After the installation you will find several new options listet under “CSS” in the menue bar.


 

6. Alarm System

 

The alarm applications from the DESY update site requires a JMS and LDAP server. Information about the installation and configuration for the JMS and LDAP server are on the CSS homepage.