Understand how PI MDB objects are represented in PI AF

The top-level modules from PI MDB are located directly under the Data Archive element in PI AF. Each PI MDB module is represented by a PI AF element. A module's properties and aliases are represented in PI AF by attributes on the corresponding element. Objects have the same names in PI MDB and PI AF.

Under the Data Archive element, the PI AF elements reproduce the hierarchy of the PI MDB modules. However, the hierarchy of PI properties and aliases is represented differently in PI AF. In PI MDB, aliases and properties are represented as child objects in the tree structure, while PI AF attributes are not. The illustration below shows a migrated module with aliases and properties (shown in SMT's Module Database Editor), and the corresponding PI AF element (shown in PI System Explorer).

Migrated module shown as a PI AF element

To see the migrated properties and aliases, you need to look at the attributes for the element. In PI System Explorer, click to select the element and then click the Attributes tab from the set of tabs to the right. PI aliases are represented as attributes that have a data reference to a PI point; these attributes are marked with a tag icon.

Aliases shown as attributes in PI AF