Smart process modules and objects in process plants

A computer-implementable system for use in viewing and providing functionality in a process plant having a processor, the computer-implementable system comprising:

• a computer readable memory;
• an object stored on the computer readable memory and executable on the processor, the object including:
• a parameter memory storage that stores entity parameter data pertaining to an associated process entity during execution of the object on the processor;
• a graphic representation pictorially representing the associated process entity that is displayed to an operator on a display device during execution of the object on the processor, wherein the graphic representation specifies one or more locations at which other elements may be attached to the graphic representation within the display;
• one or more parameter data inputs or outputs, each input or output pictorially represented on the graphic representation;
• and
• a method which executes on the processor to perform a function using the entity parameter data to produce an output related to operation of the associated process entity,
• wherein one or both of:
• (1) the method is an error detection method which detects an error for the associated process entity, and
• (2) the method includes an algorithm for detecting a leak.