Topic 15.1.1: Tag Linker, Access Name & Export-Import Tags

  • You use Tag Linker to accomplish the following tasks:
    • Configure InBatch tags as internal memory tags
    • Link tags to an item of an external I/O Server or DAServer application
  • Tag Linker includes powerful filtering and selection tools so that you can make changes to multiple tags at once.
  • You can select tags and export their configuration to a comma-separated variable (.csv) file and then import the information into InTouch using the DBLoad utility.
  • Tag Linker
    • Tag Linker is associated with two categories of InBatch tags; process model tags and InBatch function tags.
    • Process model tags are all the unit, connection, and segment tags that are generated when you develop the process model.
    • These are the only tags that are shown and can be edited by the Tag Linker.
    • Process model tags are divided into two types: system tags and equipment tags.
      • System tags are associated with units, connections, and segments and are generated by InBatch as the units, segments, and connections are created in the model.
        • System tags are not associated with phases and are therefore distinguished by a triple-dot in the tagname.
        • Most of these tags are string tags. Although the Access of these tags can be changed, we strongly recommend that these tags be left as InBatch memory tags.
        • Adverse performance can occur if these tags are written to by anything but InBatch. The exception to this rule is the equipment status tag (Unit...USTAT or Segment...USTAT).
      • Equipment tags are associated with a specific phase or phase parameter and are generated when a phase is created.
        • These tags are generally owned by an I/O Server, InTouch, or another server application; however, they can be defined as InBatch memory tags for simulation purposes.

  • When to Use Tag Linker
    • We recommend that you develop your application in the following order:
      1. Develop your InBatch process model.
      2. Use Tag Linker to assign required tags to appropriate control systems or InTouch nodes.
      3. Develop your InTouch application scripts and animation links.
    • You can use Tag Linker to import export information to a file you can open in a spreadsheet application, such as Microsoft Excel.
    • This allows you to easily configure the batch system tags.
  • Starting Tag Linker
    • Use Tag Linker to define the data sources and assign the appropriate sources to the InBatch tags.
    • You can also use TagLinker to export the definitions as a .csv file for loading into an InTouch client application.
    • Only one instance of the Tag Linker can be active. Also, Tag Linker cannot start if the Process Model Editor or Train Editor is running.
    • You perform the following high-level tasks with Tag Linker:
      • Create your Access Names
      • Configure the tags
      • Validate the tags
      • Export the tags
  • Defining Access Names
    • An Access Name represents a data source for InBatch tags. The Access Editor verifies all new Access Names to ensure their uniqueness.
    • When you create the process model, all the tags associated with it are stored in a configuration link database. The default Access Names enable the process model to operate and simulate batch operation.
    • The following three Access Names are provided by default:
      • Galaxy
      • ControlSystem
      • InTouch

  • Example Access Name for ControlSytem
    • The Application must be the computer name where the DAS server is installed and the name required for server conversations. An example Application is \\STRIPER\DASABCIP.
    • STRIPER is the computer name where the DAS server is installed. DASABCIP is the name required for server conversations.
  • Exporting Tags
    • Use Tag Linker to select tags and create a comma-separated variable (.csv) file of the configuration information. You can then import the contents of the .csv file into the InTouch HMI using the DBLoad utility.
    • In the InTouch HMI, you can define remote tag sources from which tags can be viewed and remotely referenced in an application. InBatch can be one of these external sources.
    • If tags are remotely referenced, it is not necessary to use the DBLoad utility to import the InBatch tags from the exported .csv file.
  • Importing Tags
    • If you edited the exported .csv file, you need to import it back into Tag Linker for validation. The default file location is the current configuration (config_A) folder.
    • The InTouch HMI allows you to define remote tag sources from which tags can be viewed and remotely referenced in an application. InBatch can be one of these external sources.
    • If tags are remotely referenced, using the DBLoad utility to import the InBatch tags from the exported .csv file is unnecessary.

Last modified: Friday, 8 May 2020, 4:26 PM