Tips & Tricks

Trigger Happy

One of WinSPC's most powerful features is its ability to automatically initiate events when it encounters non-conforming data. It does this through triggers set up by WinSPC administrators. The events it is capable of initiating-ranging from simple to complex-all have the purpose of facilitating the restoration of conformance as quickly as possible.

The below table alphabetically lists the triggers from WinSPC's Trigger Setup dialog box (the dialog box used by administrators to configure triggers) and explains the event that each trigger automates. Following this table is the procedure for configuring a trigger.

Correct	This trigger replaces a value that meets a test condition with another value. For example, instead of rejecting a value that exceeds the upper reasonable limit, this trigger might be employed to "correct" it to equal the upper reasonable limit.
Email	This trigger sends an email to one or more recipients when a test condition is met. It is occasionally used to notify management of a significant occurrence.
File	This trigger writes one or more data points to a file when a test condition is met.
Increment Attribute Pass Count	This trigger increments the number of parts that pass an attribute inspection when a test condition is met.
Increment Attribute Fail Count	This trigger increments the number of parts that fail an attribute inspection when a test condition is met.
Log	This trigger creates an entry in WinSPC's Event Log when a test condition is met.
Message Box	This trigger displays a message, created by a WinSPC administrator, when a test condition is met. It is commonly used to communicate brief but specific instructions or information to operators, the instructions or information relating to situations that may be encountered as data is being captured for a particular variable or attribute.
Poke DDE Item	This trigger sets one or more properties in an external application via DDE when a test condition is met. It might be used, for instance, to activate a visual or audio alarm in the external application.
Prompt for Notes	This trigger displays a dialog box when a test condition is met, prompting an operator to enter one or more of the following: note, assignable cause or corrective action.
Prompt for Password	This trigger prompts a user to enter a password when a test condition is met. It is sometimes used to ensure that a supervisor is alerted to a situation. In this case, supervisors would know the required password while operators would not.
Reject	This trigger silently discards data when a test condition is met. It is commonly used to reject data that exceeds reasonable limits.
Serial Message	This trigger sends a message to a serial device connected to the WinSPC station when a test condition is met. A complex set of instructions that cause an intelligent device to modify its behavior so its outputs are brought back into conformance is an example message that may be sent.
Set OLE Auto Property	This trigger is the same as the Poke DDE Item trigger above except it uses OLE rather than DDE. Examples of how it may be used include sending a command directly to MES, CAPA or ERP systems to initiate context-sensitive corrective action flows.
Start External Program	This trigger launches a program or file that is external to WinSPC when a test condition is met. It is sometimes used when circumstances require a documented procedure be completed and the procedure is stored outside of WinSPC.
Write OPC Item	This trigger is the same as the Poke DDE Item trigger above except it uses OPC rather than DDE.

To configure a trigger

1. Display the Test Selection dialog box.

This is the dialog box used for the first step in configuring a trigger. It can be displayed by single-clicking a collection plan step on the Step Options tab of the Collection Plan dialog box and clicking the Characteristic Tests button. (The Collection Plan dialog box can be accessed by double-clicking a collection plan in the Administrator window.)

2. In the Test Selection dialog box, single-click the test to which you want to apply a trigger and click the Add Trigger button.

3. In the Trigger Setup dialog box that appears, at Trigger Type, select the type of trigger.

Notice the dialog box changes for each trigger.

4. Complete the dialog box for the trigger type you selected.

5. Click OK

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