Scripting

There are two Data Scripting Services; Standard Functions for pre-defined translations and the Scripting Service that gives the ability to create custom functions using VBScript or JScript.

The Standard Functions can be utilized to change Communication Service data into a more usable format or one that the user has a preference for. The functions may be applied to incoming or outgoing data and include:

Temperature conversion between Fahrenheit, Centigrade and Kelvin

Length conversion between feet and metres

Time manipulation functions e.g. offset time/date to a given time-zone

Data scaling e.g. offset, scale (multiply)

Data functions e.g. maximum, minimum, average, sum

Data manipulation e.g. convert to hexadecimal, get bit value from number, get digit from number

Equality operators

Replace functions to insert a value into a structured Tag. Useful for example with Distech Controls® internal values


Scripting services allow for custom Data Service scripts to be created using VBScript or JScript. This is an extremely powerful feature that provides the user with a further level of data manipulation for custom data processing. Example uses of this feature could be the generation of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s), Data Conversion and filtering.

The scripts are written using the built-in editor, which will accept any of the standard VBScript or JScript commands. Once written, the editor contains a test function that allows the script to be run, using dummy data entered by the user, and the output verified against the expected result. After testing, these scripts are stored and can be used and applied to any Communication Service variables in the same way as the Standard Functions. Every time the script is used the input value and the result can be added to the Altitude log file, which the user can reference to verify the integrity of the function when used with real-time data.