Last week I was contacted by an OEM for my advice on the best way to create reports that customers could view in Microsoft Excel.
Since his equipment was outfitted with the PanelView Plus 6, I suggested the first option we should discuss would be the one already built-in to his existing HMI: Rockwell’s DataStore Plus ActiveX extension.
FactoryTalk View Machine Edition and the PanelView Plus always had the ability to log data using a built-in datalog feature. However, I’ve found this implementation of datalogging so limited that I describe it to new clients as, “just a historical log for trends.”
What’s limited about it? For starters, each ViewME project can only run a single datalog model which logs to a single file. And this log file is limited to 300,000 data points (expanded to 1,000,000 in version 7.0.) The log file is also in a proprietary file format. And while there is a free utility to extract the contents of the log file, providing access to the file can often result in the need to restart the Machine Edition project.
So in my opinion using the ViewME Datalog feature for anything beside historical trends is cumbersome. On the other hand, Rockwell’s free DataStore Plus ActiveX extension is a very practical data logging solution.
NOTE: The DataStore ActiveX was available for use with the older VersaView CE / PanelView Plus CE models. However, to use previous versions on those devices you had to download and install it yourself. Today with the PanelView Plus 6 and ViewStudio 6.0, the DataStore Plus ActiveX is just one of many extensions which come preinstalled.
The DataStore Plus ActiveX is designed to give the PanelView Plus 6 and ViewME runtimes the ability to datalog up to 100 Real tags and 50 String tags. It’s also not limited to a single file, or a certain number of records like the built-in datalog. In fact, it has several options which determine the format and content of the log files, and it’s only log limit is the amount of storage space on your target storage device.
DataStore Plus also allows for time based creation of new CSV files, and can automatically purge old files base on number or age. In fact, there are so many options its just easier to include screen shots versus trying to list them all (see the pictures on right.)
How the DataStore Plus ActiveX works:
In most cases, you’ll want to put the DataStore Plus ActiveX on a display that remains open at all times. This allows it to continuously run and log data.
If you don’t have a display which always remains open, you can easily create a new “on top” display to host this ActiveX. Often, the always open display will be launched as the initial display. Then, it in turn will launch the original initial display. This is accomplished through the use of the Global Connection’s “remote display number” setting.
Well that’s it for DataStore Plus ActiveX basics. Later in the week I’ll post a step-by-step procedure for setting it up.
Until then, If you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to let us know by using the “post a comment” link below.
Until next time, Peace ✌️
If you enjoy this episode please give it a Like, and consider Sharing as this is the best way for us to find new guests to come on the show.
Shawn M Tierney
Technology Enthusiast & Content Creator
Eliminate commercials and gain access to my weekly full length hands-on, news, and Q&A sessions by becoming a member at The Automation Blog or on YouTube. You'll also find all of my affordable PLC, HMI, and SCADA courses at TheAutomationSchool.com.
- Siemens TIA Portal v20 (P227) - November 13, 2024
- Automation Q & A for November 8, 2024 (QA022) - November 8, 2024
- PRTG’s OPC UA Server: IT & OT Monitoring for your SCADA, HMI, or PLC (P226) - November 6, 2024
Discover more from The Automation Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Shawn,
Thanks for a great resource here. I decided to give DSP a shot and followed your directions with no problems.
Thank you,
Awesome!
Thanks for the feedback Bobby!
Shawn Tierney,
Instructor at http://www.TheAutomationSchool.com
Join my free community to follow along! You can also become a member and support our work at: Automation.Locals.com
It is very helpful! one month ago, I did a project using ME Datastore plus for logging data to SD card (2GB from Rockwell) for PanelView Plus 7 Standard, it was successful 🙂
But after few time (around 2 weeks), the feedback from site is that the data logging stops after 7 days, second feedback is that it stops about 5 days, third feedback is that it stops around 2-3 days, is it any possibility to cause that?
note: 1. the setting was followed the instruction, also checked with vendor technical support (RA Authorized Distributor, should be OK;
2. SD has a lot of space available;
3. Site operators have been trained, since data log can be done for few days, operation mistake is very low chance.
very headache now, hope you can give some idea.
thanks a lot!
Good morning Carlos,
I know of several companies using DSP 24/7 for multiple years, so you are right that it should work.
My first suggestion would be sure there is no way the screen with the DSP on it ever closes via the settings of the graphic display.
My second suggestion would be to check the version you are using and any newer version release notes – it very well could be a bug they have patched.
My third suggestion would be to track your PVP7’s onboard memory to see if it’s filling up for some strange reason like a memory leak – there are settings in the config menu to display current memory, and I believe you’ll find there are also global connections that will update tags with the same info.
Hope this helps – please let us know if you find out what caused the issue!
Shawn Tierney
Join my free community to follow along! You can also become a member and support our work at: Automation.Locals.com
Hello,
I have used ME Data store plus in FT VIEW studio v.8.0. its working satisfactorily.
But I have found 1 problem. problem is that i have used started new file is periodic Daily. But if My MS Excel is open and at that time if data log trigger healthy then its not refresh on same excel sheet. but its generate a new excel sheet. tell me about this bugs and its solution.
Good morning Saral,
MS Excel typically locks a file for editing when you use it to open the file. This is because most computer files (unlike databases) are designed to allow a single program to edit them at a time.
While most will just make a copy of the DSP file before opening it (so DSP can still log to the original file,) you could also have Excel open the DSP csv file in “read only” mode.
Hope this helps,
Shawn Tierney
Join my free community to follow along! You can also become a member and support our work at: Automation.Locals.com
Thanks for this very useful solution. I will try this to customer site
report file in.csv format is not only readable. but it is modified. I try to change the permission from properties, but it’s not working. tell me the solution.
Good afternoon Saral,
Let me rephrase my suggestion: Make a copy of the file before opening it in Excel, or open it in Excel as “read only.”
http://www.accountingweb.com/technology/excel/little-known-techniques-for-opening-excel-files
Best of luck,
Shawn Tierney
Join my free community to follow along! You can also become a member and support our work at: Automation.Locals.com
I followed the “step by step” Datastore Plus article and it works great. I am storing the data on a directory that I made on the memory module. I also made this directory accessable via the internal FTP. When i have an established VPN connection to the plant, I can retrieve my data files no problem. However, I would like to automate retrieval of these files and I am finding it difficult to first automatically establish a VPN connection using Cisco Anyconnect (which is what the customer is using so I don’t think I have an option here. Any suggestions for getting my data? Is there anyway that I can get the device to store the data on MY ftp site?
Good afternoon reedrd13,
Several readers have asked if the PVP6 has the ability to store files to a remote FTP server (FTP PUT) but I’ve never come across a way to do that.
All I can say is you can have DSP store the file to a remote “file share,” so that may be worth exploring?
Please let us know if you find another method!
Sincerely,
Shawn Tierney
Join my free community to follow along! You can also become a member and support our work at: Automation.Locals.com
Thanks for this very useful solution. I’d like to add that I tested it in FactoryTalk SE 6.1 and works OK.
Thanks for the update David!
Great to hear you got it working!
Sincerely,
Shawn Tierney
Join my free community to follow along! You can also become a member and support our work at: Automation.Locals.com