Search for attributes on elements

You can search for an attribute or group of attributes. You may want to locate a particular attribute, for example, to configure a formula data reference or to assign it as a value to another attribute. (To search for a specific attribute value, choose an attribute value as search criteria for an element search.)

1. In the navigator pane, click Elements.

2. Choose from the following actions:

   • From the PI System Explorer menu, select Search > Attribute Search.

   • In the browser, right-click the Element Searches collection and select New Attribute Search.

3. Set the Attribute Search window to find the desired attributes in the PI AF database:

   1. Under Where, set the fields to restrict attributes retrieved:

      • Attribute name

        Enter the name of the attribute to retrieve. You can enter special characters to match part of a name. See Special characters in name searches.

      • Attribute description

        Enter a string (of up to 440 characters) that retrieved attributes must match.

      • Attribute category

        Select the category that retrieved attributes must match.

      • Attribute value type

        Select the type of value that the retrieved attributes must store.

      • Maximum results

        Enter the maximum number of matching attributes to retrieve.

   2. In the Element Criteria area, set the fields to restrict the elements searched for matching attributes:

      • Search Root

        Enter the element that you want to use as the root or base level for the attribute search. Type the exact name or click Browse to open the Element Browser window, where you can view the element hierarchy and select an element. You cannot include wildcard characters in the entered name. If you do not specify an element, you set the main level of the element hierarchy as the root. Depending on your PI AF hierarchy, specifying an element in the Search Root field can improve search performance.

        Select the Search Sub-Elements check box to search the entered root and any sub-elements. Clear this check box to search only the entered root.

      • Name

        Enter the name of the elements in which you want to search for attributes. You can enter special characters to match part of a name. See Special characters in name searches.

      • Description

        Enter a string (of up to 440 characters) to retrieve only those elements that match.

      • Category

        Select the category of the elements in which you want to search for attributes.

      • Template

        Select the template of the elements in which you want to search for attributes.

      • Type

        Select the type of the elements in which you want to search for attributes.

   If you specify values for multiple settings, the search returns only those attributes that match all the specified settings.

4. Click Search to retrieve the matching attributes into the Search results table.

   Alternatively, use the element tree under Search results to browse for attributes under particular elements, and then select the attributes to add them to the Search results table.

   Remember that the attributes available by searching and the attributes available by browsing the element hierarchy depend on the configuration properties of the attributes.

5. Select items in the search results list and click OK.

   The results are displayed in the viewer and in the browser tree. For more information on working with search results, see Manage search results.