Export OPC items to PI Builder

To populate Data Archive with the points that are defined in your OPC server, use PI OPC Client tool or OPCtoCSV (installed in %PIPC%\PI OPC Tools\PI_OPCtoCSV) to export OPC items to an Excel file (.csv), then use the PI Builder add-in to Microsoft Excel to load the points into Data Archive.

PI Interface for OPC DA no longer includes PI OPC Tools in the self-extracting installation kit. PI OPC Tools can be downloaded from the AVEVA Customer Portal Products page. Search for PI OPC Tools Set (OPCTools) Install Kit.

Note: To permit PI Builder to create PI points, you must define a trust or configure permissions that enable Microsoft Excel to write to Data Archive.

To export OPC points and create the corresponding PI points, perform the following steps:

1. Start PI OPC Client tool and connect to your OPC server.

2. To select the OPC items you want to export, create a group (select ) and add the desired items to it.

3. Choose File > Save As and specify the name and location of the export file.

4. Select Save.

   PI OPC Client tool creates a .csv file containing the OPC items you selected.

5. In Microsoft Excel, open the .csv file that contains the exported OPC items.

6. Start Microsoft Excel and select the PI Builder menu item.

7. Select the Data Archive using the dropdown next to the Data Server: Ribbon item.

8. Examine the generated entries to ensure that the desired points are listed. If any entries have Unknown in the PointType column, specify the desired data type for the point.

9. To generate the PI points, select the Publish Ribbon item.

   The Publish Options dialog box opens.

10. Verify that the Edit Mode is Create and Edit, and then select OK.

    The PI points will be created.