Manage tag metadata

Tag metadata lets you describe, classify, and manage Historian tags beyond their basic configuration. Maintaining accurate metadata makes tags easier to search, group, and govern across projects and environments. This topic discusses best practices for using and managing metadata, as well as how to view and edit metadata in the Operations Control Management Console.

Understand tag metadata

Tag metadata consists of descriptive attributes that provide additional context about a tag. Unlike core tag properties such as tag name or data type, metadata helps data analysts and administrators understand what the tag represents and how it should be used.

Common uses for tag metadata include:

• Identifying the asset, unit, or process area associated with a tag

• Classifying tags by system, discipline, or data owner

• Supporting consistent naming, filtering, and reporting

• Enabling downstream analytics and integrations

Tag metadata does not change how Historian collects data, but it affects how users discover, interpret, and manage tags.

When to manage tag metadata

Manage tag metadata whenever you:

• Add new tags to Historian

• Standardize tags during a system upgrade or migration

• Correct inconsistent or outdated tag descriptions

• Prepare tags for reporting, analytics, or data sharing

Keeping metadata current reduces ambiguity and improves long-term maintainability.

Apply metadata consistently

Consistent metadata improves usability and reduces administrative effort over time.

Follow these best practices:

• Use standardized terms for assets, areas, and systems

• Apply the same metadata structure across similar tags

• Avoid free-form text when controlled values are available

• Document your metadata conventions for other administrators

When it comes to applying metadata, quality is more important than quantity. A smaller set of well-maintained metadata fields is easier to manage and more useful than many loosely defined ones.

Review and maintain metadata

Tag metadata requires ongoing maintenance as systems evolve.

Plan regular reviews to:

• Validate metadata accuracy

• Remove obsolete values

• Align tags with updated asset models or naming standards

Treat metadata as part of your Historian governance process, not as a one-time setup task.

View existing tag metadata

You can review metadata for a tag to understand how it is currently classified.

To view tag metadata:

1. Open the Operations Control Management Console (OCMC).

2. In the console tree, expand Historian Server.

3. Expand Configuration and then select Tags.

4. Use the tag list to locate the tag. You can browse or use the search field to filter the results.

5. Right-click the tag and select Properties.

6. Select the Metadata (or equivalent metadata-related) tab in the tag properties dialog.

7. Review the metadata fields and values for the tag.

Use this information to identify missing, incomplete, or inconsistent metadata values.

Edit tag metadata

You can update metadata in the Operations Control Management Console (OCMC) to better describe a tag or align it with organizational standards.

To edit tag metadata:

8. Open the OCMC.

9. In the console tree, expand Historian Server.

10. Expand Configuration and then select Tags.

11. Locate the tag you want to update by browsing or searching the tag list.

12. Right-click the tag and select Properties.

13. Select the Metadata (or equivalent metadata-related) tab.

14. Update the required metadata fields with new values.

15. Select OK to save your changes.

Use clear and consistent values when you update metadata.

Note: If a tag was originally created in the System Platform IDE as part of a deployed galaxy, ideally you should edit the metadata there. Otherwise, re-deploying the galaxy will overwrite your edits.