The Import Tag Wizard facilitates the integration of tags from OSIsoft's PI System or PI AF into user-developed solutions. Users access the wizard in the Designer workspace, configure connection parameters such as the server type and IP address, and execute the import by selecting the data source, testing the connection, and confirming the import to begin data integration.

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Instructions

Wizard Startup

Go to Solution → Import Tags on the Designer workspace and select "PI System". Double-click on the selected wizard or press the "Execute" button to open the initial configuration popup.

Initial Configuration

In the initial configuration dialog, enter the following information:

  • Station: Specifies the setting, including multiple identifiers separated by semicolons, defining connections for the PI System and the Asset Framework components. This typically includes the localhost IP address for direct access to services running on the same machine and may include specific service identifiers like 'AF' to denote the Asset Framework service. This parameter is essential for setting up a connection environment that supports simultaneous access to multiple OSIsoft services.
  • Server IP: Identifies the IP address of the server hosting the OSIsoft PI System or PI AF. Inputting "127.0.0.1" suggests that the services are hosted on the same machine from which the import is conducted, typically used in testing or development environments. This parameter establishes the network target for the connection, allowing the import wizard to communicate with the OSIsoft server.
  • ServerType: Lets the user select the type of server they are connecting to, which can either be a "PI Server" for historical data managed by the PI System or an "AF Server" for asset-based data managed by the PI Asset Framework. This selection dictates the nature of the data interaction, whether focusing on time-series data from PI or structured asset data from AF, affecting how the import wizard queries and retrieves data.
  • PI Server Name: Specifies the network name or IP address of the PI Server. Although similar to "Server IP," this targets explicitly the PI System component, allowing users to define a direct connection to the PI Server, often used for importing historical sensor data and other time-series information. Users typically match this with the "Server IP" if the server and client are local but can specify a different address if accessing remote servers.
  • AF Database: Provides a list of available Asset Framework databases hosted on the selected AF Server. Users select the database from which they wish to import tags, each database potentially corresponding to different physical or logical assets within the organization. This selection is crucial for targeting the specific subset of asset-based data the user intends to manage and analyze.

Sync Device Node

The "Sync Device Node" dialog will appear. Here, you have the following import option:

  • From a file: Provide the path of your stored file.

Prefix Option (Optional)

Select "Add NodeName as Prefix" option to automatically add the PLC's name as a prefix to all imported tags. It improves organization, especially in solutions with multiple PLCs.

Refresh

Click "Refresh" to display a preview of available tags.

Import

Finally, press "Ok" to start the import process.

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