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How SFHub Visualizer Works

SFHub Visualizer manages your critical resources (cases) by handling access and providing notification to all connected users regarding the status of each critical resource. It checks and reserves the status of each critical resource for every action you or any other user performs. It also highlights and updates Case statuses and automatically enables and disables case editing functions accordingly.

In addition, SFHub Visualizer manages action sequencing to avoid error conditions. For example, if you, use two different sessions, to perform case runner actions (collect, run, etc.) in one session and editing actions (set or delete adjustment) in the other, on the same case at the same time, SFHub Visualizer sequences the two actions to avoid the possibility of the modification being performed at the same time the analysis is in progress. That said, you always have the ability to manually control these types of situations by checking out a case prior to performing an action and checking it back in when that action has completed.

Understanding SF Server (PI AF Server)​

Only authorized users (refer to the PI AF security documentation) can access all the information stored in the PI AF Server. Changes are registered by each user, and each change you make is initially stored in your user sandbox. Your changes become persistent only after you perform a 'Check In' action. All data contained in your user sandbox can be discarded by performing an 'Undo Check Out' action. Case access can be reserved by performing a 'Check Out' which prevents modifications from others until a 'Check In' or 'Undo Check Out' is performed.

Fundamentals Summary

  • Check In -- Makes your user sandbox persistent.
  • Check Out -- Reserves the entity (Case).
  • Undo Check Out -- Discards data in your user sandbox (leaves the entity unchanged).

How SFHub Visualizer Improves Your Experience​

  • SFHub Visualizer provides a better experience by automatically working on your behalf to do what is needed, so you don't have to worry about how cases work. It also automatically organizes activity by disabling concurrent access to the same resource (case).
  • Every time you make a change, SFV automatically performs a Check Out, reserving the case for you and disabling other user actions. Every time you stop working with the case, SFV automatically commits the changes, saving the information and releasing the resource (case).
  • SFHub Visualizer enables and disables its functions according to the status of the resource (case) and provides automatic notification every time the resource state (Case Status) changes.

Data Refresh​

All information shown in the Display or Report panel is automatically refreshed every time a case status change. However, a case change and/or data changes do not necessarily generate a Display or Report update, as it depends on the combination of user, case and display (see Case "Status" (State) Management for more details.) On the contrary, data displayed in the "Tool Tip" The Tool Tip panel appears for each resource in a Display when you roll your mouse pointer over the resource. The Tool Tip panel displays some of the most commonly viewed information about the resource and Element panels are always updated as every time a change is made.

Note

The automatic refresh does not work when a case is not selected.

SFHub Visualizer Built In Tools​

SFHub Visualizer uses the following built-in tools to provide information as well as coordinate and control actions performed by multiple users:

  • Notification panel: SFHub Visualizer uses the Notification panel to display every change and modification action performed on a case.
  • Case Status icon: SFHub Visualizer uses the "Case Status" icon to indicate the current state (status) of a case. The "Case Status" icon is also used by you and others, to select actions that change the status of the case.
  • Action Control:  SFHub Visualizer uses action control to enable and disable actions such as, set, delete, adjustment, case collect element, input, transfer, case run, and menu item options, based on the status of the case.
Important Or Caution

Anomalous situations may occur when you interact with the system using SFHub and other applications for example; PI System Explorer, ProcessBook or a custom application. Therefore, we do not recommend accessing the same cases simultaneously through different applications. If inconsistent conditions are detected, SFHub Visualizer may be unable to notify connected users or to automatically realign itself.