F1528-PI Tag Building v1.0 B

Basic Tag Building
version 1.0
Copyright © 2005 OSIsoft, Inc.

Copyrights - Trademark statement
PI is a registered trademark of OSIsoft, Inc.
Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows for Workgroups, and
Microsoft NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
Solaris is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems.
HP‑UX is a registered trademark of Hewlett Packard Corp.
IBM AIX RS/6000 is a registered trademark of the IBM
Corporation.
DUX, DEC VAX and DEC Alpha are registered trademarks of
the Digital Equipment Corporation.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation.
 1997-2006 OSIsoft, Inc. All rights reserved

2
Introductions
Instructor
Students
 “Describe your PI System”
 “What is your role with PI?”
 “What skills do you need to learn?”

3
Conventions
The following conventions are used throughout the
presentation:
 Bulleted lists: represent different ideas on a topic
1. Numbered lists: represent a list of steps, with a specific order
a) Lettered lists: represent different options to obtain similar results
This icon represents an exercise:
a courier font is used for computer input or

output
Italic is used for filename, directory names, product names and
menu titles (ex. in the File menu, select Save)
utilities and program are shown in lower case with bolding
Underlined text and different colors are simply used to highlight
part of the text. They do not mean anything specific.

4
Course Overview
Chapter and page references are to PI Server

Documents:
 Reference Guide
 System Management Guide
 Server Applications User Guide

5
Course Overview
Length: 2 days
Interactive course:
 Part lecture
 Part exercises and examples
You are Encouraged to Ask Questions

6
Objectives
 Discuss the various tag types and their

functions
 Describe the different tag attributes
 Build tags using the common System Manager
Tools

7
What is the Value?
 Tags are the life blood of the PI Server

 You must understand how to build and
maintain your tags to keep data current
 Calculation tags can add value to your system

8
Pre-requisites
Logging into a computer system like Unix or

Windows NT.
Basic directory navigation:
 creating files
 finding files using the Windows explorer
 using the DOS commands.
Be familiar with real time data sources such as

control systems.

9
Course Content (Day 1)
 Introduction to the PI System

 PI Data Flow
 Time and PI
 Common Dialog Windows
 Tag Attributes
 PI System Management Tools
 Building Tags and Digital Sets

10
Course Content (Day 2)
 PI Tag Security
 PI Backup
 Calculation Tags
 Performance Equations
 Totalizers
 ACE tags

11
1.0 Introduction to PI

OSIsoft is a Trusted Partner
11,000+ Customers,
110+ countries
Knowledgeable Recognized Global Leader

Dominant market position across industries
11,000+ Customer Installations

More than 1/3 Fortune 500
Experienced Manufacturing Customers
25+ Year History

Founded 1980, over 450 professionals
Strategic Partnerships
Recognized Microsoft, SAP, Cisco, Intel
> $125M Revenues

Over 20% reinvested in R&D

13
OSIsoft Offices and Training Centers
Calgary, Alberta
Altenstadt, Germany
OSIsoft, GmbH Seoul, Korea Tokyo, Japan
Issaquah, WA (AID) (OSIsoft)
Montréal, Québec
San Leandro, CA
Yardley, PA Tokyo, Japan
Phoenix, AZ Beijing, China
Cleveland, OH (NetInfo) (Yokogawa)
Houston, TX
Johnson City, TN
Manama, Bahrain Shanghai, China
Savannah, GA (MECA / EMI)
Mexico City, México
Singapore
São Paulo,
Brazil
Durban,
South Africa
Perth, Australia
OSIsoft Offices
Office with Training

Centers
Auckland, New Zealand
www.OSIsoft.com Training.OSIsoft.com 14
The PI System
The Server The Analytics The Visuals
PI Archive Advanced Computing
Smart Clients
Engine (ACE)
Analysis Framework ProcessBook
Module Database PI Analytics
DataLink
Real-Time Interfaces RtReports ActiveView
BatchView
RLINK RtAlerts
Client: Windows XP / Vista
Microsoft Office 2003 /2007
Data Access Sigmafine
Thin Clients
Windows Server 2003
RtWebParts
MCN HealthMonitor Visual Studio.NET
Windows Server 2003 RtPortal iViews

SQL Server 2005
RtReports Clients
Server: Windows Server 2003
Windows SharePoint Services – or –
SAP Enterprise Portal 6

15
The The The
Analytics Visuals
Server
Data Access
RtBaseline Services OLEDB ODBC OPC / HDA
Failover / Management Services
PI Archive MCN HealthMonitor

PI AF 2.0
Asset Connectors Smart Connectors Business Gateways
Real-Time Interfaces

16
The The The
Server Visuals
Analytics
Windows Server 2003 Visual Studio.NET
Advanced Computing Engine

(ACE)
PI Notifications Scheduler
RtReports
Compliance & Standard
Enterprise Services Sigmafine
Facility Monitor
PI Analytics
(new PE, Alarm, and RTSQC engine)

17
The The The
Server Analytics Visuals
Smart Clients Thin Clients

RtActiveView RtTreeView
BatchView RtGauge RtTrend
SQC Client ProcessBook RtWebParts RtGraphic RtTable
RtMessenger RtXYPlot
AlarmView RtTimeRange
Analysis Framework Modeler Add-in
RtActiveView RtTimeRange
BatchView Excel Add-in RtGauge RtTreeView
Analysis Framework Excel Add-in DataLink iViews RtGraphic RtTrend
RtTable RtKPI
RtTagSearch RLINK iViews
ActiveView DataLink Server *

ProfileView Additional Clients Other Thin Clients RtReports Editor
RtReports Generator
Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003

Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista * Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
Microsoft SQL Server
Performance Operational Knowledge Product Lean Asset Situational

Improvement Visibility Management Quality Manufacturing Management Awareness

18
The The The
Server Analytics Visuals
Visualization
Root Cause Structured Portal
Analysis Environment Allows
Planning Users to Build Displays
Content Without IT Training
Authoring
Seamless
Interaction
Between
Smart Clients &
Portal
Environment
Performance Operational Knowledge Product Lean Asset Situational

Improvement Visibility Management Quality Manufacturing Management Awareness

19
PI System – Basic Architecture
- PI ProcessBook - RtWeb Parts
- PI DataLink - RtReports
` `
PI Server
Analytical Tools
- AF Other Systems
- ACE - ERP
- Sigmafine - Maintenance
- LIMS
Interface Interface
Node Node
Data Source Data Source

(DCS, PLC, etc) (DCS, PLC, etc)
20
PI System – Platforms
Windows, OpenVMS, Compaq Unix, HP UX, IBM AIX, Sun Solaris
Interface
VMS (Alpha or VAX Processor)
Windows/UNIX
PI Server
` Windows
Client Tools
1985 1995 2005

21
For more Information…
On the purpose and scope of the PI system:

www.OSIsoft.com
On PI architectures:
 PI Reference Guide (Chapter 1)*
* To download this and other documentation, go to

http://techsupport.osisoft.com and choose
Download Center>> User Manuals. You will have to register.

22
2.0 Data Flow

2.1 Exception Filtering
and Interfaces

Data Interface
The data interface is a program which gathers

data from a source like a Distributed Control
System (DCS) or another data source, such
as a PLC or lab system.

Data Flow
New value
PI PI
(scan or Exception Snapshot compression
Report Archives
exception algorithm
based)
Exception Compression
Interface (on Data PI Server

Collection Node)

26
Raw Data - Example
Raw values scanned on the data source.

 Without Exception and Compression tests, these
Temperature
would all be archived
Time

27
Exception Filtering
PI exception reporting is used to tune data rates to the hardware
and data communications.
 “Deadband” style filter with time parameters
 Takes place in the interface program, not in PI
Exception filtering is used to:

 eliminate duplicate data values
 eliminate instrument noise
Note that some data sources send PI data which is
already exception-based. For these data sources, the PI
interface will probably not employ exception filtering to the
data again and exception parameters will be ignored.

Exception Test (Interface Level)
Exception Test:
ExcMax (time)
+ ExcDev
Current Snapshot
- ExcDev
• New values outside the box violate the Exception test.

• The Exception Test is performed by the interface
• When a value violates the Exception test, this value
and the previous one are sent to the PI Server.

29
PI Exception Test - Example
Scan = 1m … ExcDev = 1 … ExcMax = 10m
DCS Value Exception Current Snapshot

12:00 50.0 Yes 12:00 50.0
12:01 50.3 No 12:00 50.0
12:02 51.1 Yes 12:02 51.1
… … No 12:02 51.1
12:12 51.4 Yes 12:12 51.4

30
Exception Test
When a value passes this test, that value and the
previous value are reported.
 Why? To have a better representation of the actual tag behavior
Temperature
passes the exception

test
Trend if previous
value is not sent
Trend if previous
value is sent
+/- Excdev
Previous value
Snapshot value
Time

31
Exception Test - Example
Temperature
E E P
E
E
E
E P E P E E P E
Time
E: Exception P: Previous

32
Exception Test - Results
Successive values sent to the PI Server.

When a value is sent, it becomes the new
snapshot.
Temperature
Time

33
Turning Off Exception?
Behavior of ExcDev=0, ExcMax= 0 (Exception turned off)
 All values are sent to PI.
 This will increase the traffic between the data collection node and
the server
Turning off Exception Filtering may be appropriate for

many tags and even many entire PI systems,
especially if you have:
- a smaller total tag count
- an efficient and reliable network
- a well-tuned data source / industrial control system

34
2.2 PI Server Snapshot and
Data Compression

Snapshot
A ready reference for current values in ProcessBook,

DataLink/Excel and PI Server Applications. The
“snapshot” contains the most recent value, status, and
timestamp for each tag in the PI System

36
Compression Test (PI Server)
Current
Compression Test: snapshot
ev
+ Compd
Last archived ev
value - Compd
< Compmax (s)
• If a value between the last archive event and the current

snapshot is outside the box, the current snapshot violates the
compression test. In this case, the value previous to the
current snapshot will be archived.
• The Compression Test is done by the PI Server
• Compression can be turned off with the Compressing attribute

37
Compression Test – Example
The compression algorithm is performed

on new snapshots to determine which
data is kept in the PI archives
Temperature
A A
A A A A A
Time
A: Archived Value

38
Compression Results
Values kept in the PI archives

Temperature
When the user requests a tag-time for

which the value is interpolated, the
difference can be no greater than
±compdev
Time

39
Compression Results
Raw
Aftervalues
After scanned
Exception
Compression
Temperature
Time

40
Turning Off Compression?
Behavior of Compression
 Compressing set to Off: all exceptions are archived
(no compression)
 *Better* Compressing set to ON, compdev set to 0:
successive identical values (or values aligning
perfectly) are not archived. This is much more
efficient
It is appropriate to turn off data compression for

laboratory, manually entered, totalized, and other
tags where each event is significant in itself and
not merely representative of an underlying flow.

41
Data Compression – How Much Data?
This highly variable data can This data appears highly

not be compressed by PI. Every compressible. Probably only
value is a pivot point for the three or four of these values
“Swinging Door” algorithm. All would be stored in the
values are archived archive.

Exception and Compression Attributes
Each PI Tag can be individually configured for its exception

reporting and compression
Exception Reporting Compression

Attributes Attributes
 excdev or  compdev or
excdevpercent compdevpercent
 excmax  compmax
 excmin  compmin
 compressing

43
Set Appropriate Zero & Span
Be careful when defining Zero and Span

because:
 Excdevpercent and compdevpercent attributes are
automatically adjusted according to span
 The accuracy and range of Float16 values are set by
the Zero and Span
 Zero and Span are used by many functions in PI
ProcessBook

44
Step Attribute
The step attribute affects both display and

compression:
 Instead of using the usual compression algorithm, a
second exception test is applied using the
CompDev value

45
Exception and Compression Defaults
Excdevpercent = 1 (% of span)
Excmax = 600 (10 minutes)
Compdevpercent = 2 (% of span)
Compmax = 28800 (8 hours)
Zero = 0
Span = 100

46
Recommendations
Set the Compression Deviation to the minimum change

that is measurable by the instrument.
Set the Exception Deviation to ½ of the compression
deviation
Note: these are starting point recommendations.
Note: ExcMin, ExcMax, CompMin and CompMax are in

SECONDS

47
Group Recap Question
Question: Can you name the two processes that

the PI System uses in data collection to filter
out insignificant data before storage?

48
Question: In what situation(s) can you think of

where you would always want to keep
everything collected?

49
On PI Exception Filtering & Data Compression:

 PI Server Reference Guide (Chapt. 2)
On PI Server Data Flow (Queues & Cache):

 PI Server Reference Guide (Chapt. 2)

50
3.0 Time and PI

3.1 How PI Timestamps Data

Time and PI
The PI Data archive stores all data

sequenced in Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC) time stamps.

53
Daylight Saving Time and PI
Your client, server, and interface machines
should observe the same Daylight Saving time
rules. (see note below)
The PI client tools will display 23 and 25 hours
days once a year (daylight saving), The data
will be sequenced correctly. And the data will
be labeled correctly (with a repeated 2am
hour).

54
Sub-second timestamps
Archive timestamps are in increments of 15.26 µs
 Up to 1 value per 1/65535 second
An accuracy of 15.26 µs means:
 Using 4 decimal digits is accurate
Ex: 14-oct-03 15:31:31.1234
remains 14-oct-03 15:31:31.1234
 Using 5 or more decimal digits introduces rounding
errors
Ex: 14-oct-03 15:31:00025
becomes 14-oct-03 15:31:00030
Note: Only a few interfaces (including OPC) do support

sub-second timestamps.

55
3.2 Specifying Times in PI

PI Time Format
Absolute (a specific point in time)

 * : (NOW)
 t : 00:00:00 on the current day (TODAY)
 18-feb-05 16:00:00
Relative (time is offset from another time)
 +8h : + 8 hours
Combined
 t+8h : today + 8 hours

57
Absolute Time
dd-mmm-yy HH:mm:ss
dd Day
mmm Month (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, …)
yy Year
HH Hours in 24 hour format
mm Minutes
ss Seconds
Example:
18-feb-05 10:43:29
58
Absolute Time
dd-mmm-yy HH:mm:ss
 "Date" fields default to the current date

 "Time" fields default to 00.
Expression Meaning
25 00:00:00 on the 25th of the current month
25-Aug-03 00:00:00 on that date
8: 08:00:00 on the current date
25 8 08:00:00 on the 25th of the current month
21:30:01.02 9:30:01.0200 PM on the current date

59
Absolute Time – Other Formats
Absolute time formats
Symbol Meaning
* Current time
t 00:00:00 on the current day (TODAY)
y 00:00:00 on the previous day
(YESTERDAY)
Monday, Tuesday, 00:00:00 on the most recent of that
Wednesday, Thursday, day of the week
Friday, Saturday.
Sunday

60
Relative Time
Number of:
 Hours (h)  Weeks (w)  Years (y)
 Minutes (m)  Days (d)  Months (mo)
 Seconds (s)
Leading sign (+ or -) is required.
No default time unit: must specify d, h, m, s, w, mo, or y
Can use fractions only for Hours, Minutes and Seconds
 +2.5h, -0.5m
Relative time is most often part of a Combined time
Syntax Meaning
+2d + two days
-1.5h - One hour and a half
+32m + 32 minutes
-15 s - 15 seconds
61
Combined Formats
Uses both an absolute and a relative time
The absolute part of the time can be *, T, Y, or a day of
the week
Syntax Meaning
*-8h 8 hours ago
T-7d 00:00:00, 7 days ago
Y+11h Yesterday at 11:00:00 AM
Monday + 14.5h 02:30:00 PM on the most recent Monday

62
Directed Exercise
PI Time
 Express the following timestamps using a specific
day and date:
 Tuesday-2d
 1 6:
 y+8h
 *-30m
 Express the following times in valid PI timestamps:
 Today at 6:00 AM
 The 4th of the current month at 16:00
 12 hours ago

63
On Time and PI:

 PI Server Reference Guide Appendix C
How to Handle Daylight Saving Time
 from: techsupport.osisoft.com/resources
On Specifying Time in PI:

 PI Server Reference Guide Appendix B
 See “Time Concepts” in
\program files\pipc\help\procbook.chm

64
4.0 Common Dialog Windows

PI Connection Manager
Viewing Connection Information
Use the check

boxes to connect /
disconnect from the
available PI servers
Connection settings
Connection information

66
Editing Connection Settings
The connection settings To change the default PI

can de edited server, select Tools 
 Click the Save button to Options
apply the changes

67
Adding a New Connection
To add a new PI server connection, select Server  Add

Server
 Network Path: either PI Server IP address or Hostname

 Default User Name: PI user used to connect
 Password: password if PI user is password protected
 Confirm: validates the connection at creation time
 Connection Type: PI 3 or PI 2 server
 Port Number: 5450 for a PI 3 Server or 545 for a PI 2 Server

68
Directed Exercise
Connecting to PI:
• Learn about connecting to PI with the PI SDK
• Discover the IP address and computer name of
your PI Server

69
Tag Search Window – Basic Search
Select PI Server(s)
to search through
Tag name mask
Look for a specific

point
type/class/source
Look for a specific

value/status/attribute
Tag search results
Start searching according Display the Validate

to the criteria attributes/values selection
for selected tags
70
Tag Search Strategies
Tag Search using wildcards:
 Use * to replace any number of characters
Example: flow* = flow_meter1, flow_meter2, flow_meter3
 Use ? to replace one character

Example: tank?_level = tankA_level, tankB_level
Note 1: Search criteria are not case sensitive

Note 2: Search criteria can be combined
Example: Look for Tag Mask = flow* and Point Source = o

71
Tag Search Window – Advanced Search
SQL-like query
based on user-
defined conditions
1- Define condition
2- Click 'Add'
…
3- Click 'Search

72
Tag Search Window – Alias Search
Search through
aliases in the PI
ModuleDB
(described later)

73
Tag Information Windows
Pt. Attr... Pt. Values...

74
Directed Exercise – Searching for tags
Tag Mask: BA*
Tag Mask: *158*

Descriptor: *end*
Advanced Search:
PIpoint.Span > 100 AND
PIpoint.CompDevPercent > 1
Save this search as a favorite.

75
5.0 Tag Attributes

What is a Tag?
A tag is a unique storage place in the PI System for

a specific stream of data
Examples
 A flow rate from a flowmeter
 A controller’s mode of operation
 The batch number of a product
 Text comments from an operator
 The results of a totalizer or calculation

77
Default Tags
If you selected “Install default tags” during the

installation you will create 10 tags that are
considered “test tags”
You can use these to test PI and not affect your
real data

78
PI Tag Attributes - Point Class
PtClassName: template describing the available
attributes for the tag
 The attributes hold the configuration information for the tag
BASE
Included in all point
types
Totalizer SQC_Alarm Classic (default) Alarm

Adds the point attributes Adds the point attributes Adds the point attributes Adds the point attributes
for totalizer tags for SQC Alarm tags for interface tags for alarm tags
Base + 18 Base + 26 Base + 15 Base + 22

79
5.1 Base Attributes

PI Tag Attributes - Base Attributes
Tag: unique name for a PI tag

 Subject to the following constraints:
 The first character must be a letter or a number
 Tagnames must be unique on the server
 No control characters are allowed (such as linefeeds or
tabs)
 The following characters are not allowed:
* ’ ? ; { } [ ]  \ ` ‘ “
 Also, avoid “_” because it is used in SQL queries as the
wildcard character

81
Tag Names
 Tag Names should mean something to users

so they can find data
 Use a Naming Convention that is recognized
as a standard for your organization
 Descriptor can help
 Aliasing in the MDB or AF will help organize
tags

82
Question: What are some of the naming

conventions you might apply? What are some
that you know of?

83
Descriptor: PI tag description
EngUnits: Engineering units

84
PointType: Type of variable to store

Zero, Span and TypicalValue: minimum, range and
typical value
Step: (On/Off) Displays information in a staircase
manner

85
Zero and Span
150
100
50
0 Zero = 50
-50 Span = 100
-100
150
100
50
0 Zero = 0
-50 Span = 100
-100
150
100
50
0 Zero = -50
-50 Span = 100
-100

86
Step
Step=0
Step=1

87
Point Types
Int16: Integer value, 16 bits (0 to 32767)
Int32: Integer value, 32 bits (-2147450880 to 2147483647)

Float16: Scaled Floating Point number, 16 bits
(acc: 1/32767)
Float32: Floating Point number, 32 bits (single precision)
(default)
Float64: Floating Point number, 64 bits (double precision)
Digital:Discrete value (On/Off)
String: Text value up to 976 characters
Blob: Binary large object up to 976 bytes
Timestamp: Time/Date between 1-jan-1970 to 1-Jan-2038

88
Point Type - Float16
PI can store a floating point value in a 16 bits integer
by scaling it. The scaling always brings a
rounding error.
Why use it ? Why not use it?
 No need to build a PE tag to  Values outside the span can’t be
filter values outside the span archived
 Reduces the disk space  Brings a rounding error of
required to store the same value 1/32767*span (0.00003*span)
by up to 40%
Recommendation: do not use a Float16 tag unless you have a

specific need for it and are ready to accept the rounding
error

89
Point Type - String and Blob
Both are limited to 976 bytes per event

String tags
 All strings are timestamped and indexed like other
PI data
 Useful for capturing lab results or other manual
entries or messages sent by other applications (e.g.,
alarm systems on the control system)
 Not all interfaces support strings
Blobs tags
• Require custom programs to read and write as PI
does not know how to interpret the data in the tag

90
DisplayDigits: Controls the format of numeric values on-
screen and in reports
 Ranges from –10 to 5 (default is -5)
 Positive numbers indicate number of decimal places, negative
numbers indicate number of significant digits.
Display Digits Value of 12.345 Value of 123045.6

3 12.345 123045.600
1 12.3 123045.6
0 12. 123045.
-3 12.3 123000.
-5 12.345 123040.
-7 12.34500 123045.6

91
Scan: (On/Off) Includes the PI tag in the list of

tags to be collected by an interface
Archiving: (On/Off) If set to 0 (Off), PI will
collect data but will not archive it
Shutdown: (On/Off) When the PI server is
shutdown, a shutdown event is written to all
tags that have the shutdown flag set to 1 (On)

92
On PI Tag attributes:
 Introduction to PI System Management, Chapt. 5
 PI Server Reference Guide Chapt. 3

93
Question: What Point Type should you

generally avoid using?

94
5.2 Classic Attributes

Classic Attributes
 Classic attributes are attributes that extend the

tag definition to allow it to be mapped to a data
source.

96
Classic PI Tag Attributes
Instrument Tag: name of the tag/location in the source

system.
Extended Descriptor: place for detailed query instructions
Exception Specifications: defines what is a significant
change in value.
Point Source: allows grouping of PI tags by data interface
(DCS,PLC, or other sources)
Location Codes: define how to locate the data in the
source system.
Scan: includes the PI tag in the list of tags to scan
(On/Off)

97
Interface Configuration
Configuration Methods::
• Using a Text Editor to modify the parameters
in the .bat file (if .bat.new, rename it to .bat)
• With PI Interface Configuration Utility (PI ICU)
– available on Windows only

98
Creating the Windows Service without ICU
Installing the interface as a service:

<name>.exe –install
Options are:
–Auto
–Display "Name”
–Depend "ProcessName"

99
Generic Interface Parameters
/host = PI Server hostname or IP address

/ps = Point Source
/id = Interface Identifier
/f = scan frequencies
/stopstat = system digital state to indicate
interface stopped

100
Scan Classes
PI Interfaces can scan tags at different time intervals

A scan class is defined by an interval and an offset
There are 4 ways to define a scan class:
/f=SS
/f=SS,SS
/f=HH:MM:SS
/f=HH:MM:SS,hh:mm:ss
One could use offsets to avoid having 2 scan

classes with the same frequency scanning at the
same time:
/f=00:01:00,00:00:15 /f=00:01:00,00:00:45

101
Multiple Instances of PI Interfaces
One could want to run multiple instances of the same interface

 Better organization of PI Points
 Multiple data sources
 Load balancing
Example: on a large network with a very high number of

devices to monitor  run 5 instances of the PI SNMP
interface to monitor different parts of a network
A single .exe file, launched by multiple Windows services

Services have different ServiceIDs: directed to different .bat
files

102
Interface Recommendations
Interfaces should be installed as automatic

services
The clock on the data acquisition nodes should
be synchronized with the clock on the PI
server – data more than 10 minutes into the
future is rejected
Buffering should be enabled

103
Typical Attribute Mapping
 PointSource = /PS
 Location1 = /ID
 Location4 = /F (scan class, numbered in order of
appearance)
 Location2,3,5 = refer to interface manual

104
Tag Modifications – Real Time
Tags are modified, created, deleted with a PI System

Manager Tool (piconfig, PI Tag Configurator, Point
Builder plug-in)
Changes are stored on the PI server point database
The PI Update Manager subsystem then queues the
created, modified or deleted tags for the interface.
Every 2 minutes, interfaces check for point updates.
If tags where added, modified or deleted, the interface
will reload the tag. The interfaces will reload tags at a
rate of 25 per 30 second

105
Question: How is pointsource used? Can two

entities use the same pointsource?

106
6.0 PI System Management Tools

PI System Management Tools
The PI System Management Tools (PI SMT) are a
set of Microsoft Windows-based graphical
applications that are used to manage the PI
System from client PCs.
The PI System Management Tools are included
with every PI System server on OpenVMS, NT
and UNIX.
Download the current version of the tools – they are
changing regularly and they are included with
your OSIsoft Software Reliability Program

108
PI System Management Tools – The Console
Alarms:
Analysis Framework:
Batch:
One management tool
Data: (with plug-ins) that
Interfaces:
runs from your
desktop.
IT Points:
Operation:
Points:
Security:

109
PI Tag Configurator
Part of SMT, and add-in to Excel that allows bulk
creation, modification, and deletion of PI tags.

110
PI Interface Configuration Utility (PI ICU)
GUI for interface management including:
 Installing services  Configuring buffering
 Managing the .bat file  Creating interface
 Viewing log files monitoring tags

111
5.1 PI SMT Plug-Ins

PI SMT Plug-Ins – Message Logs
Use the Message Logs plug-In in PI SMT to access the PI server
messages and local pipc.log messages
Search for messages
Set the time range
Set the filters

113
PI SMT Plug-Ins – Message Logs
Use the right click menu to export and save the messages
in a files (.txt or .csv)
 Useful to send messages to OSIsoft technical support staff

114
PI SMT Plug-Ins – Data Section
The Data section in the PI SMT console contains

3 plug-ins to view the data of your PI tags
 Current Values: displays the snapshot value of
multiple tags in a real time screen
 Recorded Values: displays the archived data for a
PI tag
 Archive Editor: same as the Recorded Values
plug-in with more functionalities
 Values can be deleted
 Annotations can be written and read

115
PI SMT Plug-Ins – Current Values
Select the tags (tag search)
Start / stop updating values

116
PI SMT Plug-Ins – Recorded Values
Select a tag
Select the retrieval

options

117
Archived Values – Quality Flags
The following data attributes are available to

retrieve along with the value and timestamp for
each event
 Annotated: indicates that additional information is
available about the value (set by the PI server when
an annotation is added by a PI user)
 Substituted: indicates that the value has been
changed from its original storage value (set by the
PI server)
 Questionable: indicates that there is some reason
to doubt the accuracy of the value (set by a PI user)

118
PI SMT Plug-Ins – Recorded Values

119
Exercise 1
The PI System Management Tools

Objectives:
 Display the current value for the tag
CDT158, and the values over the last 3

hours.
 Write in a value of 15.5 into CDT158 for
the current time.

120
On the PI SMT3 System Mgt Tool:
 Introduction to PI System Management (Chapt. 3)
On PIConfig and the PI System Management Tools:

 PI Server System Management Guide (Chapt.2)
 PI System Manager II Training Materials from
http://training.osisoft.com
On other PI System Management Tools:

 PI Server System Management Guide (Chapt.1)

121
7.0 Building PI Tags

7.1 Creating and Managing Tags

Tag Creation
All PI Tags can be created with any of these tools:

 PI Tag Configurator for Excel
 Point Builder plug-in in the PI SMT Console
 piconfig
Other tools can also create specific tags:
 PI Auto Point Sync (APS), Interface Configuration
Utility (ICU), PI Batch Generator Configurator, PI
Alarm Group Creator, PI Totalizer Editor, PI ACE, PI
PerfCreator, PI SNMPUtil

124
Editing & Renaming Tags
Attributes that cannot be changed

 system assigned attributes: Creator, CreationDate, Changer,
ChangeDate, PointID, RecNo
Renaming a tag
 A tag can be renamed while preserving history
 No effect on ProcessBook, but impact on DataLink
 Any performance equation expressions used in other PI tags (e.g.
filter expressions) must be edited

125
Deleting Tags
Deleting a tag
 Archived data are lost
 There is no quick undelete
 Before you delete a tag, you should wait some time with
scan off. Further, you should keep a copy of the tag
configurations for all totalizers, performance equations,
alarm and batch configurations to assure that the tag is not
being used in one or more of these systems.
 Some sites collect tags for deletion and only delete them
once per quarter or so.

126
PI SMT Plug-In – Point Builder
Graphical tool
allowing the user
to create and
configure PI tags

127
Exercise 2
Building PI Points
Objective:
 Learn how to create a tag with the PI SMT
Point Builder plug-in

128
7.2 Digital State Sets

Digital Tags
Digital tags store values as integer, but display
them as text
 Point Type attribute = digital
Digital tags have an associated Digital Set

 Use the DigitalSet attribute to store the
associated digital set name
 The Digital set must exist prior to the creation of
the digital tag

130
Digital Sets
Digital sets are groups of

Set Name Number of States
states. States
MySet 5 Manual
Digital sets are kept in a Auto
common table for Cascade
multiple tags to access. Bypass
Failed
MySet2 2 ON
OFF
MySet3 3 Crude
Richmond
Rework

131
Exercise 3
Add a New Digital State Set

Objective:
 Create a new digital state set

132
Exercise 4
Add a Digital Tag

Objective:
 Create a digital tag that will use the digital
state set created in the last exercise

133
On Searching for Tags:
 \program files\pipc\help\procbook.chm
see “Tag Search”
On Building and Managing Tags:

 Introduction to PI System Management Chapt.5
 \program files\pipc\help\PI Tag Cnf.chm
 \program files\pipc\help\PI Point Builder.chm
On Digital Sets:
 PI Server Reference Guide Chapt. 3
 \program files\pipc\help\PI Digital State Editor.chm

134
7.3 PI Tag Configurator

PI Tag Configurator
Part of PI SMT, an Excel addin that allows bulk

manipulation of tags.

136
Tag Changes
Deleting a tag
 Archived data will be lost!
 There is no quick undelete
Renaming a tag
 Done with the Newtag attribute
 A tag can be renamed while preserving history
 PI DataLink Reports have to be edited manually to use the
new names
 Renaming has no effect on PI ProcessBook displays (PointID
is stored)
 Any Performance Equation expressions used in other PI tags
(e.g. filter expressions) must be manually edited.

137
PI Tag Configurator

138
Settings
Connect on startup
Allow tag deletion, creation
Use alternate delimiter (default is
|)

139
Import Tags

140
Export Tags

141
Recommendations
Export only attributes that have been changed
Remove unchanged columns
Why?
 All the attributes are exported, not only those that have
changed
 ExcDevPercent (CompDevPercent) has precedence over
ExcDev (CompDev)
 The user might not have the right to edit the Data Access
attributes
Use tag and newtag to rename tags:

142
Exercise 5
PI Tag Configurator
Objective:
 Learn how to create tags from a
spreadsheet with PI Tag Configurator

 Learn how to modify tags in bulk using PI
Tag Configurator
 Learn how to create tags in bulk using
the PI Tag Configurator

143
On the PI SMT Tag Configurator for Excel:

 …\pipc\help\PITagCnf.chm
 Getting the Most from the Excel Tag
Configurator” from http://osidn.osisoft.com

144
8.0 PI Tag Security

PI Users and Groups
On a default PI Server install
 Two users are created:
 PIAdmin (Power user)
 PIDemo
 Two groups are created:
 PIAdmin (containing the PIAdmin user)
 PIUser (containing the PIDemo user)
A user can be a member of many groups
Users and groups are created with the Users and

Groups plug-in in the PI SMT console

146
PI SMT plug-in - Users and Groups
Manage users,
groups and users’
membership

147
PI Tag Security Configuration
PI Tag security is assigned on 2 separate levels:
 Tag configuration access:
 Access is granted to Owner (PtOwner), Group (PtGroup) and
World, via the PtAccess attribute
Example: PtAccess = o:rw g:r w:r
Note: with point access, a user can edit all attributes
EXCEPT the data access attributes
 Access to tag data:
 Access is granted to Owner (DataOwner), Group (DataGroup)
and World, via the DataAccess attribute
Example: DataAccess = o:rw g:r w:r
Note: only the data owner (or piadmin) can modify the data
access attributes.

148
Import Windows Domain Users to PI
• Imports all or
selected Windows
domain users to
PI users table
• Allows you to set
the domain
username as the
initial password or
specify a single
password for all in
the import.

149
Tag Security
Set PI tag security parameters wherever you

build your tags – Point Builder plug-in, PI Tag
Configurator (Excel), etc.

150
Exercise 6
PI Users and Groups

Objectives:
 Learn how to create groups containing
users.
 Learn how to create users and assign
them to groups.
 Learn how to define tags and data access.

151
9.0 PI System Backup

PI System Daily Backup
Daily Backup: It is highly recommended to execute a
daily backup of your PI data and configuration
First step of the Emergency Recovery Plan

The backup should be moved to an external media
to provide protection against an hardware failure
such as a defective hard drive

153
Online Backup
PI Backup Subsystem
 Backs up the PI Server by specifying:
 The number of archive files
 A time period
 Uses Microsoft Volume Shadow Services (VSS)
when available
 Works with the following systems:
 Windows VSS and Windows Non-VSS
 Windows with a third-party backup application
 Windows Cluster environment
 Unix environment

154
Microsoft VSS Overview
VSS  Volume Shadow Copy Service

Requires Windows 2003 Server or greater
 Freeze: Tells applications to put open files in consistent state and
stop writing
 Thaw: Tells applications to resume writing data to files
Very little disruption of normal operations
 Less than 1s from Freeze to Thaw
 Shadow Copy then proceeds in parallel with normal operations
Supported by the PI Backup Subsystem and the most recent
version of widely used backup applications

155
Online Backup: VSS Mode
Platforms:
Base
BaseSubsystem
Subsystem
- Windows 2003 Server VSS 1
Point DB
Point DB
VSSAPI
API Module DB
Module DB
(NTFS)
(NTFS) Security DBs
Security DBs
1
Snapshot Subsystem
Features: Snapshot Subsystem
Snapshot Table
Snapshot Table
-full read/write PI Server 1 Archive Subsystem

Archive Subsystem
VSS-aware backup client
VSS-aware backup client Archive Table
operation except for less Archive Table
Archive
PIPIBackup Archive00(primary)
(primary)
than 1 second BackupSubsystem
Subsystem ……
(pibackup.exe)
(pibackup.exe) 1 Archive
Archivenn
-Backup is driven by
Batch
BatchSubsystem
backup application 11
Subsystem
Batches/Batch
Batches/BatchUnits
Units
Backup scripts (simple wrappers)
Backup scripts (simple wrappers) Message
pibackup.bat, pibackuptask.bat
pibackup.bat, pibackuptask.bat MessageSubsystem
Subsystem
11 Message
MessageLog
LogFiles
Files
…
…

156
Online Backup: Non-VSS Mode
Platforms:
- Windows 2000 Base Subsystem
Base Subsystem
PIPIBackup
Backup Point DB
1 Point DB
- Windows XP Subsystem
Subsystem Module DB
Module DB
Security DBs
Security DBs
(pibackup.exe)
- UNIX (pibackup.exe)
2
Snapshot Subsystem
Snapshot Subsystem
Snapshot Table
Snapshot Table
Features: Archive
ArchiveSubsystem
33
Subsystem
Archive
ArchiveTable
- no subsystems piartool -backup
piartool -backup Archive
Table
Archive00(primary)
(primary)
stopped 4
……
Archive n
Archive n
- no closed files
Batch Subsystem
5
Batch Subsystem
Batches/Batch Units
- read-only operation Batches/Batch Units
during each file copy Backup scripts (simple wrappers) Message Subsystem
Backup scripts (simple wrappers) Message Subsystem
pibackup.bat 6 Message Log Files
pibackup.bat Message Log Files
pibackuptask.bat
pibackuptask.bat
…
…

157
Backup Directory Structure and Content
For a VSS or a non-VSS PI backup,
the backup directory structure and
content will be identical
 adm: site specific files
 pisrvsitestart.bat, pisrvsitestop.bat,
pisitestart.bat, pisitebackup.bat,
pintbackup.bat, pibackup_3.4.370.bat
 arc: archive and annotation files
 bin: pipeschd.bat
 dat: files from \PI\dat except archive
and annotation files
 log: files from \PI\log
 PI backup log files

158
Using Backup Tuning Parameters
Tuning parameters for the backup subsystem
 Backup_NumArchive
 Backup_ArchiveCutoffDate
Example – Using backup Tuning Parameters:

PIBackup.bat E:\PI\Backup

159
View and Edit a Scheduled Backup
Use the Scheduled Tasks control panel
Select the PI Server Backup entry
Using the right-click menu, choose Properties

160
Full and Incremental Backups
By default, full backups will be performed on

Monday and incremental backups will be
performed on every other day
 During an incremental backup, source files are not
copied if a file of the same name and same last
modified date exists in the backup directory

161
Site Specific Backup – pisitebackup.bat
Running the PI daily backup is not sufficient. The PI
backup directory must be copied elsewhere using
a third party backup application or with the
pisitebackup.bat script file
The PI backup script calls the pisitebackup.bat
script immediately before exiting. Tasks can be
added to that script to be executed each day
after the PI Backup.
 Can be used to move the PI backup directory to tape,
to a remote computer or other offline media for
safekeeping
 See example with instructions
(pisitebackup.bat.example) in the \PI\adm folder

162
Site Specific Backup – pisitebackup.bat
If there’s no pisitebackup.bat file present in the
\PI\adm folder, a warning message will be
logged in the PI backup log file
 To get rid of the warning message, create an empty
pisitebackup.bat file

163
Exercise 7
PI Server Backup
Objective:
 Learn how to use and configure the PI
Server daily backup

164
10.0 Calculation Tags

10.1 PI Performance Equations

PI Performance Equations Subsystem
Executes real time calculations (triggered by event

or scheduled based)
Can use many different tags in the equations
Uses a PI tag to store the results so that everyone
can access the same calculations
Contains a rich library of functions

167
Performance Equations Scheduler
Start-up file: \pi\bin\pipeschd.bat

/f : Scan Class Period and Phase. The period is
the amount of time between scans. The phase
is the time to start the first scan as an offset from
midnight.
Example: /f=08:00:00,07:00:00
This example will execute the calculation every 8 hours

starting at 07:00:00.

168
PI PE Expression Syntax
Numbers
0, 0.125, 34.56
Tag names in single quotes
'sinusoid' , 'trc4226.pv'
Timestamps in single quotes
'*' , '14-dec-02', 't-8h'
Strings in double quotes
"This is a string"
A filter expression uses relational operators such as
“<” or “>=”
'trc4226.pv' > 50, 'li315.op' = “Down"
169
Logical and Mathematical Operators
Filters can use the following logical operators:

And, Or, Not
Filters can use the following mathematical
operators:
+, - , *, /, ^
Examples:
(‘trc221.pv’+’trc222.pv’) > 50 AND (‘lrc224.pv' > 90)
((‘li125.pv')/2 + (‘lrc542.pv'-100))

170
Mathematical Functions
Filters can use the following mathematical

functions:
abs() atn()
cos() exp()
int() log()
sin() sqr()
tan() sgn()
Examples:
abs('sinusoid')
(('prc624.pv')^2 + cos('prc441.pv'))

171
If-Then-Else Operator
A filter expression can use the If-Then-Else operator

 IF expr0 THEN expr1 ELSE expr2
Ex.: IF ‘Tag1’ < 50 THEN “under limit” ELSE “good”
 You must include the 'if,' the 'then,' and the 'else'
 Nested operations are supported
Possibility to use the NoOutput function, which does not

send anything to PI
 Ex.: IF TagAvg(‘sinusoid’ ’*-1h ’, ’* ’) > 80
THEN “Alarm”
ELSE NoOutput()

172
Performance Equations Function Syntax
TimeEQ or TimeNE: Returns the number of secnds that a

tag was equal ot not equal to a specified value
TimeLT or TimeLE: Returns the number of seconds that
a tag was less than or equal to a specified value
TimeGT or TimeGE: Returns the number of seconds
that a tag was greater than or equal to a specified
value
Time??(tag, start time, end time, value)

ex: TimeGT(‘trc322.pv', 'y', 't',10)/86400

173
PI PE Syntax Example
Calculation Using a Scan Class
 timegt(‘sinusoid’, ’*-8h’, ’*’,70)
Calculation Using an Event Trigger

 event= sinusoid, tagavg(`sinusoid`, ’*-1h ’, ’* ’)
Use the pipetest utility (\pi\adm) or the Performance

Equations PI SMT plug-in to validate an equation’s
syntax before putting it online

174
PI SMT Plug-In - Performance Equations
Test your equation

175
What is a Conversion Factor?
A multiplier used to change a number from one

unit of measure to another
 Ex: 1000 g/kg, 2.54 cm/inch, 24 hours/day, 1440
minutes/day
When using the tagtot function in PI, it is used to

correct PI’s assumption that the data is in units
per day

176
Conversion Factors
It is important to supply the correct conversion factor when
calculating TOTALS with PI because PI assumes the
engineering units of the rate tag is units per day.
Rate tag Assumption of Conversion

engineering units the PI Server Factor
Units/day Units/day 1
Units/hour Units/day 24
Units/minute Units/day 1440
Units/second Units/day 86400
Example: For a flow measured in m³/h, a conversion

factor of 24 must be supplied to convert between the
engineering units of the rate tag and the units/day
assumption of PI.

177
Computing totals
Flow 7
(m3/h) PI considers this
5 flow to be m3/d
3
1
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Time (hours)
Normal total = 3m3/h x 3h + 5m3/h x 2h + 1m3/h x 3h = 22 m3
PI total = (3 m3/d x 3/24 d + 5 m3/d x 2/24 d + 1 m3/d x 3/24 d) * 24 h/d = 22m3
The total computed by PI must be multiplied by a factor of 24

178
PI Performance Equations
Tag Configuration
PointType : Digital, Float64, Float32, Int32, Int16,

String
PointSource : a single ASCII character (ex: ‘C’)

identifying the interface in the interface startup file
ExDesc : calculation expression
Location4 : scan class number (specified in the

interface startup file)

179
Exercise 8
PI Performance Equation
Objectives:
 Learn how to manage the PI
Performance Equation Scheduler

 Learn how to create PI Performance
Equation tags

180
10.2 Totalizer

PI Totalizer Subsystem
A powerful and flexible post-processor engine

that you can use to create totalizations and
other simple calculations.
Documented in the PI Server Applications User
Guide.

182
Why Use a Totalizer Tag?
R e g io n s th a t a r e in c lu d e d
a n d e x c lu d e d f o r a tim e -
w e ig h t e d c a lc u la tio n u s in g
P I T o t a liz e r
R e g io n c o n s id e r e d in
T im e - W e ig h t e d c a lc u la t io n
u s in g C o m p r e s s e d V a lu e s
E v e n t s t h a t f a il c o m p r e s s io n t e s t
E v e n t s t h a t p a s s c o m p r e s s io n t e s t

183
Selecting the Correct Calculation
There are 5 ways to do a simple average:

1. Performance Equation tag.
2. Advanced Computing Engine (ACE) calculation.
3. Totalizer tag.
4. Archive Value or Sample Data Expression in Datalink.
5. PI Calculation Data Set in PI ProcessBook.

184
Selecting the Correct Calculation
Use the decision tree described in the notes to

help decide where to do the calculation.

185
10.2.1 Options Explained –
Common Options

186
• The following slides are the various options
explained. They will not be discussed in detail
in class. Most of the options described are
obscure features and not used by most
totalizers.
• The class will only discuss in detail the

common functions.

187
CalcMode Explained
Time Weighted
7:00 15:00

188
CalcMode Explained
Event Weighted
7:00 15:00

189
ReportMode Explained
Running
7:00 15:00

190
ReportMode Explained
Ramping
7:00 15:00

191
TotalCloseMode Explained
Clock (period =8h, offset 7h)
7:00 15:00 23:00 7:00

192
TimeMoving (period 20m)
7:00 7:30 8:00

193
Uncommon Options

194
NSampleMoving (moving count =5)
7:00 15:00 23:00 7:00

195
NSampleBlock (moving count =5)
7:00 15:00 23:00 7:00

196
EventChange (eventexpr = BA:Active.1)
BA:ACTIVE.1
7:00 15:00 23:00 7:00

197
EventTrue (eventexpr = MYPUMP.PV = ON)
MYPUMP.PV
7:00 15:00 23:00 7:00

198
RateSampleMode Explained
source tag value
eventexpr value
Event interpolated value for accumulation
7:00 15:00 23:00 7:00

199
Event Counting Options
Function = Events
CalcMode = AllEvents … results =6
CalcMode = ChangeEvents … results = 4
7:00 15:00

200
Function = EventEQ, CompValue = Manual

CalcMode = ChangeEvents … results = 1
CalcMode = TimeTrue … results = 14400 seconds
Auto
Manual
OFF
7:00 15:00

201
Function = EventGT, CalcMode = TimeTrue, CompValue = 70
result = 180 minutes
70
7:00 15:00

202
Function = EventGT_LT, CalcMode = AllEvents, CompValue = 70
result = 2
70
7:00 15:00

203
Percent Good
One hour of “no data”

Result will be either “Bad Total” or an extrapolation.
7:00 15:00

204
Filter Expressions
FilterExpr = TF4473.PV > 50

TF4473.PV
50
7:00 15:00 23:00 7:00

205
10.2.3 Building a Totalizer

206
Steps to Process a Totalizer Tag
Total Close Mode
Rate Filter Function/ Report

Sample Expression Calc Mode
Mode Mode

207
SMT3 Totalizer Editor
Configuration parameters
define the calculation
PI-SMT Totalizer Editor
plug in can help to
configure a tag.

208
Rate Sample Mode
How are values selected as input?

209
Filter Expression
Optional: Filter values sent to the

accumulation.

210
Accumulation
How do we accumulate the values?

Summary Calculations:
 TimeWeighted
 EventWeighted
Count Events:
 AllEvents
 EventChange
 TimeTrue

211
Summary CalcMode

212
Summary Function

213
Counting

214
Total Close Mode
When do we reset the accumulation?

 Clock
 Forever (never)

215
TotalCloseMode

216
Report Mode
When are the results reported?

 PeriodEnd
 Ramping
 Running

217
Conversion Factor
If you use the Total function, don’t forget to use

the appropriate conversion factor.
Rate tag Assumption of Conversion

engineering units the PI Server Factor
Units/day Units/day 1
Units/hour Units/day 24
Units/minute Units/day 1440
Units/second Units/day 86400

218
Directed Exercise
Create PI Totalizer Tags that perform:

1. A ramping, event weighted total that closes at
midnight each day.
2. A running, time weighted average that reports
every 5 minutes and takes unto account 10
minutes of data.
Examine the results before moving to the

exercise.

219
Describe the one main difference between a

Performance Equation Total and a total
generated by the Totalizer.

220
Exercise 9
PI Totalizer
Objectives:
Create PI Totalizer tags

221
10.3 ACE Calculations

ACE Applications – no user interactivity -
ACE is designed to develop standalone

VB applications that make use of PI data
More powerful and flexible than Performance

Equation, Alarm and Totalizer subsystems
More simple than building applications from
scratch with the PI API and SDK
Will be integrated into RtBaseLine (PIANO)

223
ACE features – supports staff roles
The ACE developer can develop, debug and

test the calculations on a development box.
The PI system manager can stop and restart
independently any calculation in production,
set priorities, manage the data fed to ACE,
even assign ACE to other data, – without
recoding.

224
ACE features – rich coding environment
Advanced programming functions (For… Next loops,

Cases, external libraries)
Comments are easily added to the VB code
Natural triggering can use multiple input tags
ACE can perform several computations in the same
module (no need to ‘cascade’ equations)
Several message logging levels and options

225
ACE features – Enterprise Architecture
Can export ACE calculations from a PI server to another

PI server
Allows to define different security levels to access
computations
ACE calculations can be applied to any number of
contexts without re-coding
Tags from different PI servers can be used
ACE structure helps to organize computations
Calculations can be run on a separate computer (ACE
server)

226
The Three Parts of ACE
ACE Wizard (developer’s tool / code generator)

 ACE 1.2: Add-In to Visual Basic 6
 ACE 2.1.5: Add-In to Visual .Net 2003
 ACE 2.1.6: Add-In to Visual .Net 2005
ACE Manager (utility / console client)
ACE Scheduler (middle tier agent)

227
ACE features – summary
ACE is a tool between and PI and VB for the

developer
ACE has no direct application to PI end users
Users are only aware of ACE through value-
added tags and applications

228
Structure of ACE components
PI server
ACE Manager ACE MDB

structure
ACE Wizard ACE

Sched.
ACE
exe/dll

229
Hierarchy of ACE calculations
ACE Executables ACE EXE/DLL file
ACE Executable 1
ACE Context 1
ACE Module 1
ACE Context K
ACE Module N
ACE Executable M
ACE related information is stored

in the PI ModuleDataBase
230
Your current configuration …
ACE PI server
ACE Sched.
exe/dll
ACE Wizard ACE Manager

PI server
ACE MDB
structure
PI server
PI server
231
Configuration 1 – ACE server
PI server
ACE MDB
structure
ACE Manager
ACE
Sched.
ACE Wizard
PI server
ACE
exe/dll
PI server
PI ACE
server
232
Configuration 2 – ACE server & Dev. box
PI server
ACE Manager PI server
ACE
ACE MDB
Sched.
structure
ACE
exe/dll
Dev. Box
PI ACE ACE Wizard

server
ACE
exe/dll
233
Question: As a calculation engine, what

is PI ACE capable of that could not be
done using PI Performance Equation
or PI Totalizer?

234
11.0 PI Module Database

PI Module Database
• Each PI Server has its own PI Module

Database (PI Module DB)
• The PI Module DB is used to organize an
enterprise’s information streams into logical
sub-areas
• The path to a certain area is called a context
• If the context (plant, unit, etc) is changed, the
referenced PI points will change, without
having to search again for their tag names

236
PI Module DB – PI Modules
 The structure of the
PI Module DB allows
the information to be
stored hierarchically
Enterprise in relation to a
physical model, a
Location business model or an
application model
Department
Equipment Class
Equipment

237
PI Module DB – PI Properties
• PI Properties can also be hierarchical

238
PI Module DB – PI Aliases
Reactor1 Reactor 2 Reactor 3 Reactor 4
Temperature identification without aliases

RX:TC143.PV RX:TC144.PV RX:TC145.PV RX:TC146.PV
Temperature identification with aliases
Temperature Temperature Temperature Temperature

Reactor1 Reactor 2 Reactor 3 Reactor 4

239
Editing the PI Module Database
 Edit the PI Module Database from

 the PI SMT Module Database plug-in
 the PI Module Database Builder for Excel
 Security for the PI Module Database is
controlled through PI Database security
 Security can be set for each module with a
named owner, group, and access pattern.

240
What are some of the applications you would

use Module Database for?

241
Exercise 15
The PI Module Database

Objective:
 Use the Module Database plug-in in the PI
SMT console and the PI Module Database

Builder (for Excel) to create and extend a
PI Module Database structure

242
12.0 Managed PI

Principles of Managed PI
 Data Collection
 Data Analysis and Notification
 Support
 Updates

244
In a Managed PI Environment…
The customer is responsible for:

 building new / maintaining existing tags
 moving the backup files to a safe location
 providing IT support for routine OS maintenance
 knowing how to contact the NOC for questions
and information
 understanding the Software Deployment Service
and the tools used to configure it

245
12.1 Monitoring

Monitoring Topology
SMTP ACE
Server Analysis
Servers
`
PI Server NOC PI
Interface
Managed PI Servers
Managed
Service NOC
PI Service
Interface
Managed
PI Service
OSIsoft

247
Installation
The interfaces that the Managed PI system relies upon

for its function.
 PI Enterprise System Monitor
 PI Server Check Utility
 PI Management Subsystem
 PI Management Upgrade Utility
 PI Performance Monitor
 Success is measured only when monitoring is live at

OSIsoft NOC

248
What do we monitor?
 Process Status
 Subsystem Performance
 Interface Status and Performance
 Machine Performance Counters
 NO PROCESS DATA!

249
PI Performance Packet
An email message sent via SMTP Server to

OSIsoft for monitoring analysis
 5 minute interval (max 30 minute)
 NO Process Data
 Performance Counters and Log Files

250
Interface Status Utility (ISU)
 An interface
 One watchdog tag configured per interface
 Usually scan rate is 3x times that of the
monitored point and no exception deviation
 Monitored tag should be selected carefully
 Used by managed PI to determine if an
interface is up or down
 In the future replaced by uniint Health Points

251
The NOC
Network Operations Center
NOCSupport@osisoft.com

252
Notifications
 Specific hierarchy and method are determined

during installation between OSIsoft and
customer
 Normally customers contacted only on critical
alerts (data loss)
 OSIsoft will correct the situation – notifications
are informational in nature
 Problems repaired with little or no impact to
data collection are transparent

253
How do I know OSIsoft is Watching?
 Each customer gets their own space on our

extranet that displays live statistics
 Based upon RtWebParts
 Also includes access to call records that are
made across the organization

254
12.2 Updates

Update Topology
Web Server with

updates will be
maintained by
OSIsoft. Can be
hosted inside the
customer
Web Server Update Web Server infrastructure.
with updates Server with updates
Each PI Server
maintains a catalog
with the version `
information of itself and
its interfaces
NOC
PI Server
Managed PI
Service
Interface
Managed
PI Service
Interface
Managed OSIsoft
PI Service

256
Software Deployment Service
 Controls how deployment of software is

handled
 Downloads new software versions
automatically
 Action is configurable
 No Action
 Prompt for Update
 Automatic Installation

257
12.3 Tools

Managed PI Software Updates

259
Enterprise System Monitor

260
Customer Extranet
 Customer Site-centric Dashboard Of Status

 Important Announcements
 Project Documents

261
Site Status

262
For more information
Documents:
 Managed PI - Software Update Services SMT3
Plug-in
 Managed PI - Software Update Services
Overview
 Managed PI - Overview
 Managed PI - IT Overview

263
Conclusion

“Show Me How” Training Webinars
Live training webinars are offered regularly for

customers who are enrolled in the Software
Reliance Program (SRP).
Go to training.osisoft.com and
choose 5 Ways to Learn >
Training Webinars for more
information and to register.

265
Show Me the Value Webinars
The link is http://www.osisoft.com/Events/Webinars/

Free
We make them available online within one day if you
can’t watch the live Webinar
There are 6 different tracks
Application Report Industry Focus

Compliance Blueprint Platform Update
Partner Spotlight Security Minded

266
Computer Based Training
OSIsoft offers computer based training on CD-ROM

for most PI software.
Go to training.osisoft.com and choose

Classes>> Courses on CD for more information and to order a
free demo.

267
Training

268
Technical Support

269
Developer’s Network

270
Evaluation
Please take a few minutes to fill in the

evaluation form we have on the web. Go to
the training web site, select “Schedule and
Registration” and then log into your profile at
the bottom of the screen.
You will also be emailed a link in a week or so

from our automated registration system.
Thank you!

271
Questions
?
272
NetMeeting (if the projector fails)
If there is a projector failure, NetMeeting can be
used to visualize the trainer desktop
 Click on the NetMeeting icon
 Enter the name of the trainer computer
 Click on the phone button
 Wait until the trainer share his desktop

273
Table Of Contents

274
Common Options

275
• The following slides are the various options
explained. They will not be discussed in detail
in class. Most of the options described are
obscure features and not used by most
totalizers.
• The class will only discuss in detail the

common functions.

276

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Basic Tag Building

Copyright © 2005 OSIsoft, Inc.

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

a courier font is used for computer input or

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Chapter and page references are to PI Server

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

You are Encouraged to Ask Questions

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

 Discuss the various tag types and their

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

 Tags are the life blood of the PI Server

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Logging into a computer system like Unix or

 finding files using the Windows explorer

 using the DOS commands.

Be familiar with real time data sources such as

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

 Introduction to the PI System

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Copyright © 2005 OSIsoft, Inc.

Knowledgeable Recognized Global Leader

11,000+ Customer Installations

25+ Year History

Recognized Microsoft, SAP, Cisco, Intel

> $125M Revenues

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Mexico City, México

Office with Training

Real-Time Interfaces RtReports ActiveView

Windows Server 2003 RtPortal iViews

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Failover / Management Services

PI Archive MCN HealthMonitor

Asset Connectors Smart Connectors Business Gateways

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Advanced Computing Engine

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Smart Clients Thin Clients

ActiveView DataLink Server *

Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003

Performance Operational Knowledge Product Lean Asset Situational

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Performance Operational Knowledge Product Lean Asset Situational

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Data Source Data Source

Windows, OpenVMS, Compaq Unix, HP UX, IBM AIX, Sun Solaris

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

On the purpose and scope of the PI system:

* To download this and other documentation, go to

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Copyright © 2005 OSIsoft, Inc.

Copyright © 2005 OSIsoft, Inc.

The data interface is a program which gathers

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Interface (on Data PI Server

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Raw values scanned on the data source.

would all be archived

Copyright © 2007 OSIsoft, Inc.

Exception filtering is used to: