Tips and hints for PI point creation

Use these tips to streamline PI point creation and avoid common pitfalls:

• Copy existing points for similar configurations: The easiest way to create a new PI point is to copy an existing point with similar attributes and modify it. This approach ensures consistency and reduces setup time. See, PI System Admin: Basics - Bulk PI Point Creation.

• Follow naming conventions: Use a clear and consistent tag naming scheme to simplify point management and prevent conflicts. See, Tag (PI point name).

• Verify permissions: Ensure you have read/write access to the PIPOINT table before creating or modifying points. See, PI point access permissions.

• Validate point creation immediately: Confirm successful creation using PI SMT queries, PI Builder’s Query feature, or the PowerShell Get-PIPoint command. See, GetPIPoint Class.

• Test bulk operations first: When using PI Builder or PIConfig, test with a small batch before applying changes on a large scale. See, Create, Edit, & Delete PI Points (Tags) in Bulk with PI Builder.

• Back up configurations: Export existing point configurations before making large-scale changes. This is critical when using PowerShell or PIConfig. See, Back up the PI Server configuration database and archives.

• Secure your configurations: Limit administrative access to PI Point creation tools to maintain data integrity. See, PI point access permissions.

• Keep records: Document new points, attributes, and tool configurations for audits and future troubleshooting. See, PI System Admin: Basics - Create & Manage PI Points.