Apparatus and method for defining and controlling graphical faceplates in a process control system

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory configured to store:
• information identifying one or more elements to be presented in each of multiple faceplates, the faceplates associated with control of a process system;
• and
• information identifying an auto-selection behavior associated with each of the faceplates;
• and
• a faceplate controller configured to control automatic selection of one element in a first of the faceplates in accordance with the auto-selection behavior associated with the first faceplate, wherein the faceplate controller is configured to control the automatic selection of the element in the first faceplate by:
• determining at the faceplate controller whether the automatic selection of the element in the first faceplate is to be performed by the faceplate controller or by a script associated with the first faceplate;
• if the automatic selection is to be performed by the faceplate controller, outputting an identification of the element in the first faceplate to be automatically selected;
• and
• if the automatic selection is to be performed by the script, outputting a trigger to cause the script to identify the element in the first faceplate to be automatically selected;
• wherein the faceplate controller is configured to automatically select the element in the first faceplate to enable a user to invoke an operation involving the selected element without requiring the user to manually select that element in the first faceplate.

A computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising:

• computer readable program code for receiving at a faceplate controller information identifying a first faceplate, the first faceplate associated with control of a process system and comprising one or more elements;
• computer readable program code for determining whether automatic selection of one element in the first faceplate is to be performed by the faceplate controller or by a script associated with the first faceplate, the automatic selection enabling a user to invoke an operation involving the selected element without requiring the user to manually select the element in the first faceplate;
• computer readable program code for, if the automatic selection is to be performed by the faceplate controller, outputting an identification of the element in the first faceplate to be automatically selected;
• and
• computer readable program code for, if the automatic selection is to be performed by the script, causing the script to identify the element in the first faceplate to be automatically selected.