If you’re using FactoryTalk ViewStudio (aka RSViewStudio) or RSView32 with a PLC-5, SLC-500, or MicroLogix, it often makes sense to import your tags and descriptions from the comments and symbols in your PLC program.

There are actually two means of import tags into View. In today’s article, we’ll cover how to import your tags directly into the HMI Tag database. For how to import tags using the Tag Import Export Wizard, see this article HERE.

NOTE: While the below procedure is for FactoryTalk ViewStudio  (ME or SE,) it is nearly identical to RSView32.

Using the DB Browser

Step 1: Open FactoryTalk ViewStudio ME, Enterprise (SE and ME,) or RSView32. Once open, double click on “Tags” in the project tree to open the HMI Tag Database.

FactoryTalk ViewStudio Database Browser Step 1

Step 2: From the toolbar above the Tag Database window, select the “Browser” icon, sometimes called the “Other DB Browser.” This icon looks like a cylinder and can be seen depressed below:

FactoryTalk ViewStudio Database Browser Step 2

Step 3: In the “Import PLC Tags” popup window shown below, fill in the “tag folder” where you want the tags imported to. Then fill in your RSLinx shortcut (or topic) name.

NOTE: Be careful to provide the correct, existing, and already working shortcut name, as it becomes part of all the Tag’s addresses and is not easily changed.

FactoryTalk ViewStudio Database Browser Step 3

Step 4: Select the browse button, and browse to your PLC file as shown below. Formats currently supported include the PLC-5’s .RSP, the SLC-500’s .RSS, external database .CTD files, and legacy PLC .DSC database files.

FactoryTalk ViewStudio Database Browser Step 4

Step 5: From the returned list of tags, select the ones you would like imported. You can use the “shift key” to select a range of tags, and the “control key” to select individual tags.

FactoryTalk ViewStudio Database Browser Step 5

Step 6: When you’re done selecting tags in the above window, press OK. Your tags will now begin to be imported. Afterwards, you should find the tags you selected in your View Tag database as shown below.

FactoryTalk ViewStudio Database Browser Step 6

I hope you’ve found this “step by step” helpful. If you did, please consider visiting our Support page for several ideas on how you could help us.

Until next time, Peace ✌️ 

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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.

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10 COMMENTS

  2. Hi,
    any help with editing tags, with ease, in duplicated folder in RSView32?
    I have already folder with tags, make a copy of it, renamed it and want to rename tags in newly created folder to something according to my need.
    Up to now I have to move through all tags and use accept, next buttons until end of tags…So stupid by AB to not make comfortable tools (it just ordinary search and replace feature, but for them it is not, obviously).
    Even shortcuts is not well defined between accept and next button.
    To make changes in about 100-200 tags among 2000 tags…you have to move and find right ones or export whole database and edit it with some tools (excel) then import into project and hope that you don’t make error on wrong tags.
    Very stupid thing (I really want to know who is the engineers in AB who was invented this horrible way to edit ordinary database – no search, no sorting and other filters implemented).
    They have many good tolls for other tasks but for one of the most time consuming task they didn’t pay attention at all.
    From my message it is not clearly what is question and what is complaint to AB 😀
    Sorry but is really frustrating when you try to make in their database…
    Any other 3rd tools available for RSView/Factory Talk (even FTV Studio have same problems regarding tag database) you saw, anywhere on planet 😀
    I really need better way to manipulate tags in database.
    Thanks for all, keep up good work and sorry for this long message.
    All best in New year 😉