Path syntax for attribute references

To reference other attributes, you use paths that locate attributes on the server, database, and elements in which they reside.

• Use an absolute path to specify the actual server, database, and element where an attribute is located. For example:

  \\MyPIDataArchive\MyAFDatabase\MyElement|Attribute1

• Use a relative path to identify an attribute based on its name and its place in the hierarchy of elements and attributes. For example:

  ..\Element2|Attribute1

Components of a path

A path is comprised of parts, with each part representing an object or list of objects. Each part of the path is typically separated as follows: by a single backslash (\), with the following exceptions:

• PI AF attributes and PI AF attribute templates are preceded by the pipe character (|).

• The Data Archive is preceded by two backslashes (\\).

You can specify a Data Archive and a database by name or by globally unique identifier (GUID). A GUID is a unique 128-bit number produced by Windows to identify a particular component, application, file, or database entry. GUIDs must be specified within curly brackets ({ and }). For example:

\\{5c64c379-c182-4f35-8d30-78d8c2f84502}\{5c64c379-c182-4f35-8d30-78d8c2f84503}

If you specify both the name and GUID, separate them with a semicolon (;). The first one specified takes precedence in the search, so in the following example, the GUID takes precedence:

\\{5c64c379-c182-4f35-8d30-78d8c2f84502};MySystem\{5c64c379-c182-4f35-8d30-78d8c2f84503};MyDatabase