Organize and structure elements
- Last UpdatedMay 21, 2025
- 2 minute read
- PI System
- PI Server 2024 R2
- PI Server
Elements are displayed as a tree in the browser. The structure of the element tree is different for each organization. The asset model designer chooses structure that is relevant to the users in the organization. In the following image, elements are organized by plant location. If you were in charge of all the equipment for a particular plant, then such a model might make sense for you. A different model might be more useful for someone with a different role.
The element tree can include different sub trees that provide different context for the same assets. This allows users to find elements in the context that makes the most sense for the task at hand. For example, in addition to the organization by plant location shown above, you might also have an organization by equipment manufacturer, as shown in the following image.
The elements representing the pumps appear in both the Manufacturers and the Plant
Location hierarchies. In the Manufacturer hierarchy, the pump elements are not new
separate elements, rather they are references to the elements that already existed
in the Plant Location tree. To indicate that they are element references, they are
represented by the referenced element icon
.