Creating and deleting objects

What is the Create and Delete Object feature?

With this feature you can manage objects in Metasys UI Online. You can create and delete single or multiple objects, discover objects under integrations, and fully configure objects.

What do the Create and Delete Object feature icons look like?

The following table outlines the Create and Delete Object feature icons.

Table 1. Create and Delete Object feature icons
Icon Icon name Icon description

Create icon Opens the Create Item window, where you can create an object.

Delete icon Opens the Delete Item window, where you can delete an object.

How can I access the Create and Delete Object feature?

  1. Open the Building Network tree.
  2. The Create and Delete Object feature is represented in the upper left of the Building Network tree by the Create icon and by the Delete icon, respectively.

Who can access and use the Create and Delete Object feature?

This feature is accessible to both Administrator and Non-Administrator users.

You require the Configure Items permission for at least one authorization category to view the Create and Delete Object toolbar in the Building Network tree. If you do not have this permission for any of the authorization categories, the toolbar is not displayed. Besides, you require the User Can View The Item Navigation Tree (Default Tree) property in your User Details within the User Management feature in Metasys UI to view the network tree.

The available actions depend on your authorization. The following table outlines the actions and required authorization.
Table 2. Create and Delete Object feature required authorization
Action Required authorization and other requirements
Creating an object Configure Items permission for at least one of the authorization categories. This applies to all object types and to all means of object creation, including discovery.
Creating an extension on an object Configure Items permission for the authorization category of the parent object, as extensions inherit the parents' authorization category.
Deleting an object
  • Configure Items permission for the authorization category of the object you wish to delete.
  • An object that has one or more child objects is deletable only if all of its child objects are also deletable.
  • An object is only deletable if you can create that object with Metasys UI.

Which object types are supported?

Depending on the object that you select from the Building Network tree, the Create Item wizard displays the available object types. For example, when you select an engine from the Building Network tree, one of the options for General Type is Extension, and the corresponding options for Object Type are Alarm or Trend. The following table outlines these different options in more detail.

Table 3. Create Item wizard - type options
Building Network tree selection General Type options Object Type options
Site None
Metasys Server Integration (OAS only)
  • BACnet IP
  • Field Bus MSTP
  • VND Integration
Object
  • Folder

Additionally, OAS only:
  • AV
  • BV
  • Calendar
  • MV
  • Schedule
Extension (OAS only)
  • Alarm
  • Trend
Engine Integration
  • BACnet IP
  • Field Bus MSTP
  • LON Trunk
  • N2 Trunk
  • VND Integration
Object
  • AV
  • BV
  • Calendar
  • Folder
  • MV
  • Schedule
Extension
  • Alarm
  • Trend
Integration Field Device
Note: The Object Type field appears when you select Manual instead of Discovery.

The object types depend on the selected field device. The following object types are supported:

  • For BACnet IP: General BACnet Device or JCI Family IP BACnet Device
  • For Field Bus MSTP: General BACnet Device or JCI Family BACnet Device
  • For LON Trunk: LON Controller
  • For N2 Trunk: Controller
  • For VND Integration: VND Controller
Object Folder
Extension
  • Alarm
  • Trend
Field Device Field Point
Note: The Object Type field appears when you select Manual instead of Discovery
The object types depend on the selected field point. The following object types are supported:
  • For General BACnet Device: AV, BV, MV, AI, AO, BI, BO, MI, MO, Calendar, and Schedule
  • For JCI Family IP BACnet Device: AV, BV, MV, AI, AO, BI, BO, Calendar, and Schedule
  • For JCI Family BACnet Device: AV, BV, MV, AI, AO, BI, BO, Calendar, and Schedule
  • For VND Controller: AI, AO, BI, BO, MI, MO
  • For N2 Controller: AI, AO, BI, BO, MI, MO
  • For LON Controller: AI, AO, BI, BO, MI, MO
Object Folder
Extension
  • Alarm
  • Trend
Folder Object
  • AV
  • BV
  • Calendar
  • Folder
  • MV
  • Schedule
Note: When you select a folder under an integration, you can add a field device within that folder. When you select a folder under a field device, you can add field points.
Any other object type that supports alarms and trends, such as AV, BV, extensions, etc. Extension
  • Alarm
  • Trend

How do I manually create and configure an object or integration?

  1. Select the location (object) in the Building Network tree where you wish to create the new object.
  2. Click or tap the Create icon in the upper left of the Building Network tree. The Create Item window opens.
  3. Select a general type from the General Type drop-down list.
  4. Select an object type from the Object Type drop-down list.
  5. Enter a unique identifier in the Unique Identifier field.
    Note: The unique identifier is used as the default value for the object's name. You can change the object's name in the configuration page of the wizard. The object's name displays in the Building Network tree and it forms part of the FQR of the object.
  6. Click or tap NEXT.
  7. Complete the required fields on the configuration page to configure the object.
  8. Click or tap CREATE.

How do I manually create and configure an extension?

  1. Select the location (object) in the Building Network tree where you wish to create the new extension.
  2. Click or tap the Create icon in the upper left of the Building Network tree. The Create Item window opens.
  3. Select a general type from the General Type drop-down list.
  4. Select an object type from the Object Type drop-down list.
  5. Select an attribute from the Attribute drop-down list.
  6. Enter a unique identifier in the Unique Identifier field.
    Note: The unique identifier is used as the default value for the object's name. You can change the object's name in the configuration page of the wizard. The object's name displays in the Building Network tree and it forms part of the FQR of the object.
  7. Click or tap NEXT.
  8. Complete the required fields on the configuration page to configure the extension.
  9. Click or tap CREATE.

Which extensions can I create in Metasys UI?

At Metasys UI Release 5.0, you can create alarm and trend extensions only. See Alarm extensions and Trend extensions for more information about these two extension types.

How do I add a field device with the discovery feature?

At Metasys UI Release 5.0, you can use the discovery feature to add a field device to an existing integration. To add a field device to an integration, complete the following steps:
  1. Select an existing integration from the Building Network tree.
  2. Click or tap the Create icon in the upper left of the Building Network tree. The Create Item window opens.
  3. From the General Type drop-down list select Field Device.
  4. Discovery is selected by default.
  5. Modify the integration attributes as appropriate.
  6. Click or tap DISCOVERY.
  7. Select the devices that you want to add to the integration.
    Note: If you add only a single device with the field device discovery workflow, you can add field points to this device in the same workflow. If you add more than one device, you can follow the steps outlined in How do I add a field point with the discovery feature? to add field points in a separate workflow.
  8. Review and configure the selected devices as appropriate.
  9. Click or tap CREATE.

How do I add a field point with the discovery feature?

You can use the discovery feature to add a field point to an existing field device. To add a field point to a field device, complete the following steps:
  1. Select an existing field device from the Building Network tree.
  2. Click or tap the Create icon in the upper left of the Building Network tree. The Create Item window opens.
  3. From the General Type drop-down list select Field Point.
  4. Discovery is selected by default.
  5. Click or tap DISCOVERY.
  6. When the discovery is completed, select the points that you want to add to the field device by clicking or tapping the check boxes.
  7. Click or tap NEXT.
  8. Review and configure the selected field points as appropriate. For example, you can add alarm and trend extensions to the points by selecting the check box with the alarm icon or the check box with the trend icon, respectively.
    Note: On a site with an engine at version 9.0, you may get an error when you add more than 20 alarm and trend extensions. Reduce the number of extensions that you want to add in one batch and add the remaining extensions in another batch.
  9. Click or tap CREATE.

Where does a newly created object appear in the network tree?

When you create a new object on an engine or a controller, the newly created object appears after all the existing child objects of an engine or controller, but before the extensions on the engine or controller.

When the new object is an extension, the newly created extension appears after all the existing extensions at the bottom of the respective tree branch.

How do I delete an object?

  1. Select an object in the Building Network tree that you want to delete.
    Important: The object's child objects are also deleted by this action.
  2. Click or tap the Delete icon. The Delete Item window opens.
  3. Review the information pertaining to the deletion of a single object and its children.
  4. Click or tap DELETE.

See also Who can access and use the Create and Delete Object feature? for more information about authorization to delete an object.

Who can see the results of a create or delete operation?

The result of any create or delete operation takes effect immediately for the user who performed the action. However, all other Metasys UI users have to refresh the Metasys UI to see the changes in their Building Network tree.

Is the Create and Delete Object feature supported on all devices?

Yes, the Create and Delete Object feature is supported on desktop, tablets, and smartphones.