This dialog enables you to search DCS or PLC panels for I/O cards (terminal strip with channels) in the current <plant>. After Smart Instrumentation finds (according to your search parameters) all the terminal strips that contain channels, you can select the required channels to make their terminal strips available for I/O assignment. The terminal strips to which the selected channels belong become available in the I/O card list of the I/O Assignment window.
To open this dialog, in the I/O Assignment window, select Actions > Find Channels or select 
on the I/O Assignment window toolbar.
Search parameters
The options in this group box enable you to narrow down the number of DCS or PLC panels that you include in your search. You can type or select a search parameter in the following data fields, using wildcards as needed: Network number or highway, Cabinet name, Strip, card, or slot type, Control system tag, Tag number. You can select the required search parameter value from the Strip or card type list.
Clear
Clears all the search parameters you have entered.
Save
Saves the current search parameters for the next time that you open this dialog.
Show channels
Allows you to select one of the three following options regarding spare channels.
Spares only
Searches for spare channels only.
Exclude spares
Excludes spare channels from your search.
All
Ignores spare / not- spare as a search parameter.
Search results
Displays all the channels that the software finds using the search parameters that you set. After you select terminal strips or channels and select OK, the software displays the I/O card name, and the first selected channel in the I/O Assignment window, in the I/O card name list.
Show more search results
Enlarges the data window and displays more channel rows. This hides the search parameter fields. Clear this check box to return to the default view.
Select all
Selects all the channels displayed in the data window.