PanelView Plus. Technology in the Spotlight

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1 Technology in the Spotlight PanelView Plus Reporting from PanelView Plus XLReporter generates Excel based reports from the log files created by Rockwell Automation PanelView Plus terminals using DataStore Plus. The DataStore Plus ActiveX control is used for logging data to log files. The log files on the terminal can be accessed using a flash drive, directly across the local network or by FTP. Using FTP, a layer of security may be added to prevent unauthorized access. DataStore Plus The DataStore Plus ActiveX control is used to collect data in comma separated values files (CSV files). It is configured in the FactoryTalk View Studio-Machine Edition by placing the control on a screen that cannot be closed by a user. The following is available when opening the properties. General Tab This tab determines when the files are created. XLReporter uses these methods to copy the log files into its File Cabinet. By using network access, this can be done automatically, on time or event. The advantage of copying the files automatically to the cabinet is that they are archived before the data is overwritten by the device. The File Cabinet technology makes the log files appear as a single data entity like a database so reports are not limited to the content of a single file. In addition, the cabinet maintains a list of tag names so that any tag selection can be done using a tag browser. Database features such as filtering and sorting are supported together with analytic calculations such as the average for each hour of a day. FTP Server Setup If you wish to retrieve data using FTP, the FTP server must be enabled on the PanelView Plus. This is done from the Windows Control Panel by opening Services. If the FTP Server button is not green, it is not running. Click the button to turn it green and start the FTP server. The FTP Server settings are configured from the Windows Control Panel by opening Server Config. Under the FTP Server tab are all the available FTP Server settings. XLReporter recommends, Start New Files either Periodic (Hourly or Daily) or At Specific Times. Delete Oldest Files value longer than the transfer rate scheduled for the File Cabinet. Advanced Tab This tab determines when the data is logged. The Default Directory and Base Directory determine the root folder of the FTP server. To set this to the root folder of the system, configure both settings to \. To allow anonymous access, check all the Allow Anonymous options for the FTP Server.

2 XLReporter recommends, For File Headers select Use tag names. Suppress log file row numbering. Log System Time and Date for each record. Log assigned connections only. Connections Tab This tab determines what data is logged and where the files are saved. The FileLocation setting determines both where the csv files are located as well as the fixed text portion of the naming convention. It is important that this location is configured to a folder that is accessible either from the local network or via FTP in order for XLReporter to have access to these files. The Trigger setting is typically set to a tag that determines if data should be logged. Only when the value of the tag is non-zero will data be logged to the CSV file.

3 Text File Cabinet The Text File Cabinet is the central location where the log files are stored for reporting purposes. This can be a folder in the PanelView Plus or a folder on an external PC. It is recommended that an external PC is used due to the memory restrictions of the PanelView. Files Tab This tab determines where the source files are located, what files to transfer from the source, and where the files will be transferred to. The Text File Cabinet makes your log files appear as a single entity for easy data access and reporting. It has similar characteristics to a database in that when data is retrieved from it, the user does not need to have any knowledge of how the data is stored or managed. A separate Text File Cabinet is required for each PanelView Plus terminal used. Text File Cabinets are configured from the Project Explorer. When a cabinet is configured or edited, the following settings are available: Server Tab This tab determines the transfer method of the files. If the Transfer Method is FTP Server the Source Folder is relative to the root folder of the FTP Server. If the Transfer Method is Local Network, the Source Folder is the folder on the Panel View where log files are located. If the Transfer Method is FTP Server, a configured FTP server must be defined. The easiest way to access this is to create a mapped drive on the system to the Panel View. When configuring the mapped drive, specify the Folder as \\IP Address\Internal where IP Address is the IP adress of the Panel View and Internal is the folder name that gives the system root. From here the folder with the files can be found using the mapped drive letter. Content Tab This tab determines the date/time column names in the text files and the column delimiter. The Server(FTP) name can be either the device name or IP address of the PanelView Plus. For Logon Information, check Use Anonymous to have the Name and Password filled in automatically.

4 When a File Cabinet is refreshed, the tag names (column names) in the text files are automatically added to the tag list of the cabinet. During report template design, this list is going to prove valuable because it enables you to conveniently select tags with one click. Automatic Cabinet Update If an automatic update of the cabinet s log files is required, a CabinetTransfer command must be configured in the Schedule Designer with the time that the transfer should occur. Maximum and Time of Maximum Standard Deviation Average (Time weighted and raw) Range Delta Percentage Good and Bad Daily@00:00:00 CabinetTransfer PackingLine Text File Group XLReporter accesses values from a File Cabinet using a Text File Group. Notice that when a tag is browsed, a tag browser opens with the current list of tag names in the cabinet. Select the Time Period tab and select the Start Time, End Time and Interval for the group. By default this is set to one hour intervals over the day. Text File Group Builder To create a text file group, open XLReporter s Project Explorer and double click on Text File Groups to list the groups that are already configured in the active project. Select New and then the type of group to configure. Summary Values are calculations like average, minimum and maximum, Summary Values (Time-weighted) are interpolated values and Raw Values are the actual samples recorded. On the Filters tab, you can specify conditions to limit the number of records returned by the text file group. Filters can be based on value and on quality. Preview Data The Preview pushbutton at the bottom of the text file group display can be used to preview the results of the current configuration. After selecting the group type, the text file group must be connected to the file cabinet. From the Setup tab, click Connect.and select from the list of all the cabinets configured. From the Text File Group select the Columns tab, and choose the Name and Calculation for each tag required in the group. If the group is a calculation group, the following calculations are provided: Count Start and End value Total Interpolated sample Minimum and Time of Minimum In the above preview, 24 hourly averages are calculated for the day specified. Preview displays the data exactly the same way it is written into the report.

5 With the text file group defined, connect it to an Excel template to create an Excel report. This step is described in more detail in the Getting Results documentation. Publish Reports With XLReporter reports can be generated automatically as a background task. Once reports are produced they can be published as web pages by scheduling the SaveBookHTML or SaveSheetHTML command. Using XLReporter s XWeb Director, a home page is created which maintains links to all the reports published. As soon as a new report is published, XWeb Director can automatically update the home page to make that report available. To enable this, in the Project Explorer, open XWeb Director. Under the Options tab, in the Home Page settings, check Update on content change, then save and close the XWeb Director Designer. To make these published reports available for everyone, enable Internet Information Services (IIS) in the Windows Control Panel. The procedure differs depending on the operating system, but basically involves opening Programs and Features (or Add or Remove Programs) and enabling IIS under the Windows features. More detailed instructions can be found in the Getting Started document. With IIS enabled, create a virtual directory to the Web folder of your XLReporter project. This is done on the right panel of the Project Explorer by clicking the browse pushbutton [ ] for the Web Output Folder. If Internet Explorer is installed on the PanelView it can be launched from a pushbutton press on a PanelView display. This is done by first inserting a ME Program Launcher ActiveX control on the display. In the properties of the control, under the Common tab uncheck the Visible setting so the control won t be seen on the display. Under the Connection tab, set Program Location to \windows\iesample.exe (the Internet Explorer executable). Program Parameter to Address/XLRWebPublish where IP Address is the IP address where XLReporter is installed. Launch Enable to a digital tag that will be toggled true by a pushbutton press. To run the ActiveX control, insert a Momentary Pushbutton on the display. In the properties of the button, under the States tab, select State0 and set the Caption to View Reports. Under the Connection tab, set Value to the same digital tag you specified as the Launch Enable setting of the Launcher ActiveX control. Now, when you view the display with the PanelView, if you click/touch the View Reports button, Internet Explorer launches displaying the home page with all the web published reports. Select any report to view. Check Remote web browser access and click OK. A virtual directory called XLRWebPublish is created. Now anyone on the network can access the reports with their web browser, including the web browser that may be installed on the Panel View (Internet Explorer). SyTech, The Report Company, develops software for reporting and database management systems. Get your evaluation copy at and solve your reporting problems today! Rockwell Software, RSLinx, FactoryTalk, PanelView Plus and DataStore Plus are registered trademarks of Rockwell Automation, Inc.