Data Point Groups

The main purpose of grouping data points is to simplify selection of data points and data point elements. To do so, the following panels have been designed in order to allow filtering by groups:

  • The DP selector panel comprises now four tabs.

  • Alert and event panels can also be filtered by groups.

This simplifies selection of edited data point elements in projects as well.

Accordingly, the DP selector has been redesigned to allow filtering by groups. With the DP selector it is also possible to select data points from other systems. Furthermore, you can edit groups in other systems.

Advantage:

With the aid of groups it is easier to manage and edit related data points. You can define data point groups any way you want to. You can also define groups within groups (see defining group filters). A collection of groups, for example, might include the following:

  • All aggregates in hall A

  • All data point elements intended for a trend display

  • All motors in a workshop hall

  • All pilot valves

  • All meters

Filtering options

The filter searches for the specified term, for example, the data point type or specified pattern. A detailed description of using wildcards is given in the chapter on SQL.

What is the data point type?

Specify any existing data point type or leave the filter empty. In this case, the filter returns all data points of all types matching the DP pattern.

What patterns are valid?

The DP pattern (data point name filter) may be all DP string patterns valid in WinCC OA (for example, *.alert).

What group filters are allowed?

The filter can be any defined group. In this case, the DP pattern is left empty and the group is "resolved" internally, i.e. the definitions of the filter group are interpreted. The recursion depth of the group definition is limited to 20 levels. The number of data point groups per level is also limited to 20.

The levels are used to group multiple groups. This division facilitates selection of the desired groups. This allows you to pre-filter the main groups in the DP selector.

Also aliases can be used as group filters. All existing aliases corresponding to the filter criteria are shown.

You can also use data point groups to improve the filtering of the data to be displayed in the event and alarm fields. There is another filtering option that allows to display events and alerts for a specific data point group.

It is also possible to "query by groups" (see SQL panel ) for SQL queries.

Chapter Content
Data point groups, basics Introduction and links to the other chapters
Panels for DP groups How to access DP group management panels
DP group administration panel Use this panel to create your data point groups.
Define DP(T) filter Use this panel to select your filtering options.
Define alias filter Use this panel to define an alias filter.
Define group filter panel Definition of groups in groups
Check group panel This panel is used to view and check the selected data points and whether your filter settings are correct.
Working with DP groups Example of how to create data point groups and filter data points.
Filter by alias names Example of how to filter with alias names.
CTRL functions for DP groups and DP selector CTRL functions connected with DP groups
Details on data point groups Internal data points for DP groups
Summary and related chapters Links to other chapters in the Online Help