Configure direct or indirect PI point data references

Use the PI Point Data Reference window to configure PI point data references on element attributes.

1. From the Attributes tab in the viewer, select an attribute.

2. In the attribute configuration section, select PI Point from the Data Reference list.

3. Click Settings.

   Note: You can click in the Settings field and enter a tag name to create a direct PI point data reference in \\serverName\tagname format. PI System Explorer retrieves the tag name from the default Data Archive. For example, if you enter sinusoid, the PI point data reference displays \\yourDefaultDataArchive\sinusoid.

4. In the PI Point Data Reference window, choose from the following actions to create the data reference.

   To ...	Do this ...
   Create a direct PI point data reference	Leave the default server, or choose a different Data Archive from the Data server list. Note: If the desired Data Archive does not appear in the list, click and select a Data Archive from the PI Data Archives window. In the Tag name field, type the point name, or click to search for a point on the selected Data Archive. Tip: You can enter a substitution parameter instead of the tag name. If you are creating a reference in an attribute template, you can use substitution parameters in both the Data server and Tag name fields. See List of PI AF substitution parameters.
   Create an indirect PI point data reference	Choose the Attribute option. Type a relative path to the attribute, or choose one from the drop-down list of attributes that have PI Point data references. To type in a path, use the syntax described in Indirect PI point references. The attribute that is referenced must also have a PI point data reference.

5. Optional. Specify the units that the referenced PI point uses. See Units of measure (UOM).

   Note: For time weighted totals on referenced PI Point data reference attributes, ensure that you select a UOM from the Source Units list that matches the UOM of the source attribute. Even if the default source units appear to match the UOM of the source attribute, do not select <Default> but instead select the appropriate hardcoded UOM from the list.

6. In the Value retrieval methods section, specify how the attribute gets its value. For example, the attribute value could be the same as the point value, or it could be a result of a calculation on the point value. See Configuration of retrieval methods.

7. Use the Read Only check box to specify whether you want PI AF to write the attribute value back to the source point. By default, PI AF does not write data to the referenced PI point (the Read Only check box is checked). See Attribute value updates.