Create a new instance of a PI interface from an existing instance

You can create a new instance of the same interface without copying and renaming the interface executable file. The new interface is assigned a service ID to distinguish it from other copies of the interface that use the same executable file.

Note: After PI ICU has been used to configure a PI interface, all subsequent configuration changes should be conducted within PI ICU. PI ICU overwrites any manual edits made to PI interface batch (.bat) files.

1. Install an ICU control for the existing PI interface, if available.

2. Run PI ICU and choose Interface > New Windows Interface Instance from BAT file. You can also click the Import existing interface .BAT file button on the toolbar. Use the dialog box that appears to browse to the proper file, and click Open.

   The interface is loaded and appears in the main PI ICU dialog box.

3. Select the appropriate Type for the interface, if it is not selected automatically.

   For details on which attributes are required by a particular interface, see the appropriate PI interface user guide.

4. Use PI ICU and the following applications to create PI points and to configure and run the PI interface:

   • Point Builder tool in PI System Management Tools (PI SMT) - see the "Point Builder" topic in the PI Server 2018 SP3 user guide.

   • PI Tag Configurator add-in to Microsoft Excel (included with PI SMT) - see the "Use worksheets created in PI Tag Configurator" topic in PI Server 2018 SP3 user guide.

   • PI Builder add-in to Excel - see the "PI Builder" topic in the PI Server 2018 SP3 user guide.