Learn about attribute templates

Attribute templates are associated with element templates. Just as an element template represents a type of asset, an attribute template represents a type of data configuration. When you create an instance of the element template, that element contains an attribute for each attribute template. These attributes inherit all properties configured on the attribute template.

Rather than create attributes on each element, create attribute templates in an element template. Whenever you create elements based on that template, PI AF automatically creates the attributes for you. You still need to give each attribute a value.

Modification of attribute descriptions created from attribute templates

Attribute descriptions can be modified for attributes that are created from templates (AF Client 2017 R2 and later). You may find this helpful when differentiating between attributes that use the same attribute template. For example, in a series of pumps, each pump has a Flowrate attribute with a PI point data reference. The template description for Flowrate is simply Pump flowrate. To make that description unique for each instance of the pump, you could use PI Builder to load the descriptor attribute for each pump flowrate PI point and incorporate that value into each Flowrate description, thereby customizing it.

To modify descriptions created from an attribute template, you must use a PI AF client and server that are running PI AF 2017 R2 or later. Older clients that connect to a PI AF server running 2017 R2 or later continue to see only the description from the attribute template.

Note: Extra memory is required to store attribute descriptions that have been overridden. It may take time to transfer these into client applications.

Video

For information on how to create attribute templates, watch this video: