Point Logs tab

The Point Logs tab provides access to the optional point create, point edit, and point delete log files generated for the current interface.

Note: If the optional point logs are not enabled or all updates are handled automatically, no point logs are generated. That is, a point log for a specific point category is only created if the rule for the point category is set to Store as and points of that category are processed during the synchronization scan.

If point logs are not enabled, this tab is not available. Otherwise, the appearance of this tab depends on the currently configured format for point logs.

If the point logs are formatted as piconfig scripts, the tab appears as shown in the following figure:

When point logs are formatted as piconfig scripts, separate files are generated for creates, edits, and deletes. The Synchronization Engine only creates the files that are needed during the synchronization scan (for example, no files are created if the PI points and data source tags are synchronized). The piconfig commands to create or edit digital sets to support point creation or editing are included in the respective scripts for creating or editing points.

When an interface is registered with PI APS, a folder is created for the interface. The point logs for the interface are stored in this folder, which also contains the APSPoints database for the interface. The Log Path: box shows the path to the selected interface's folder.

Point Create Files

The Point Create Files area displays files containing piconfig scripts to create PI points for available points.

Point Edit Files

The Point Edit Files area displays files containing piconfig scripts to change existing point attributes to match data source attributes.

Point Delete Files

The Point Delete Files area displays files containing piconfig scripts to delete PI points whose data source tags have been deleted.

View Log

The View Log buttons in each area open the currently selected point log with Notepad. If no file is selected, the first file listed is opened. Files can also be opened by double-clicking on files in the lists.

Purge logs every

The Purge logs every: boxes display the settings for how old point log files each type can become before they are purged. There are four choices:

• Never

• 1 Day

• 1 Week

• 1 Month

Choosing an age limit in these boxes prevents unbounded growth in the number of point logs. The age of each point log file is checked and overage logs are purged at the end of each synchronization scan for an interface.

Note: The Synchronization Engine does not have a separate schedule for checking for overage Point Logs.

Therefore, actual purging of log files might not occur at the frequency configured in this dialog box and older logs may be present. In particular, if the interface is configured for manual synchronization, the log ages are not checked until the interface has a synchronization scan. A similar situation occurs if the synchronization period of the interface is longer than the age limit for logs.

If the point logs are formatted as Excel workbooks, the tab appears as shown in the following figure:

When point logs are formatted as Excel workbooks, each synchronization scan that finds available points, edits for existing points, or deleted points to log creates a single Excel workbook. This workbook has one to three worksheets that contain the available points, edits for existing points, and deleted points. Each worksheet is structured for use with the PI Tag Configurator add-in. The online workbooks are listed in the Point File column.

Since PI Tag Configurator does not create or edit digital sets, piconfig commands to create or edit digital sets to support point creation or editing are written to a separate file. If no changes to digital sets are needed, this file is not created. The online scripts to make digital set changes for the companion workbooks are listed in the Digital Set File column.

Note: Before creating or editing using a Point File, ensure that any new digital sets are created first.

Viewing logs

There are three methods to view a point file:

• Double-click a file.

• Select a file and click the View Log button.

• Right-click on a line and select Open XLS Log from the shortcut menu.

To view a digital set file, right-click on a file and select Open Digital State PIConfig file from the shortcut menu.