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Building Asset Hierarchies with PI AF

Learn the skills needed to successfully model your processes and equipment using the Asset Framework (AF) Server.

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About this course

In this course, you will learn the skills needed to successfully model your processes and equipment using the PI Asset Framework (AF) Server. This course discusses the methodologies needed to build representations of assets (AF Elements) and their associated data (AF Attributes)

By the end of the course, you will be able to...

  • Organize assets into AF hierarchies
  • Unify data from multiple sources (PI Data Archive, relational sources, calculations from Asset Analytics) in AF
  • Standardize models across different assets using:
    • Templates
    • Substitution parameters
    • Unit of measurement (UOM)
  • Create tags through AF

Audience

This course is for beginning users of PI AF, but is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about building assets and hierarchies in PI AF, and asset-based data organization. This course is primarily suited for those who are responsible for managing the PI AF database since the tasks involve building elements and defining data to be associated with them.

However, any user who has read/write access to a PI AF database (even if it is a "sandbox" environment) will benefit. In fact, having a good knowledge of the equipment and processes involved will lead to more meaningful models; so participation by process engineers and other subject matter experts is highly encouraged.

Level: Introductory

Study Time: 12 hours

Course Access: Unlimited access to all content except the Training Cloud Environment (TCE). You have 30 days access to the TCE starting on the day you access module section "Launch Cloud Environment". 

After those 30 days you can purchase additional access with one of the two options below:

Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge of the PI System, Microsoft Excel, and relational databases
  • A computer that can access our YouTube content, and pass our connection test

Software Requirements

It is recommended that each learner use their own software and their own data structures. This allows each learner to leave the course with something immediately valuable in their enterprise. Specifically, this course will not cover the installation of PI AF Server and PI client tools, so the student needs to ensure the following:

  • Access to a PI AF database with read/write permissions (that is, permissions to create elements and attributes in PI AF).
  • Installation of PI System Explorer and Microsoft Excel with the PI AF Builder add-in.
  • Access to visualization tools such as PI DataLink (2013 or above), PI ProcessBook (3.2 or above), and PI Vision.
  • Students should also have read access to tag data from the PI Data Archive, and optionally the permissions to create tags and write data to them.
  • Optional:  If there is a foreign relational database or spreadsheet with data relevant to the process to be modeled, then read access to those tables would be useful.

If you do not have access to a PI System you can use the included Training Cloud Environment. Go to the Training Cloud Environment section to learn more about it and deploy your cloud environments.

This Course Includes...

  • Videos, exercises and quizzes to help you learn the material
  • A Cloud Environment accessible for 30 days and configured to complete all the exercises in the course
  • A shareable certificate of completion

Further Information

  • This is a self-paced course. Any questions or assistance needed about the material can be asked in this course's space in the OSIsoft PI Square community
  • When you complete the examination at the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion which can be shared and directly posted on LinkedIn
  • For more information about our Online Courses please visit our FAQ page

Course Material

Course Outline

  • Getting Started
  • How to Navigate This Course
  • Discussion Forum
  • Offline Course Videos for Blocked YouTube Users
  • Course Workbook
  • Training Cloud Environments
  • Launch Cloud Environment
  • Lesson 1 - Introduction to AF
  • Introduction to Asset Framework (AF) (6:13)
  • Lesson 2 - PI System Explorer Basics
  • Navigate in PI System Explorer (PSE) (6:12)
  • Connect to and Search a PI System (22:14)
  • Connect to, Create, and Share PI AF Databases (8:42)
  • Knowledge Check: Create a New Database
  • Lesson 3 - Introduction to AF Modeling
  • Details About HVAC System Example Used in Course (3:24)
  • Modeling Approaches in PI AF: Top-down Versus Bottom-up (8:46)
  • Create Elements and Attributes in AF (6:52)
  • Knowledge Check: Understand Your Assets
  • Lesson 4 - Attribute Data References
  • Create Attributes with PI Point Data Reference (6:30)
  • Use Alternative Value Retrieval Methods with PI Point Data Reference (6:28)
  • Create Attributes with Table Lookup Data Reference & Build AF Tables (12:54)
  • Use Linked SQL Tables in AF (11:12)
  • Create Attributes with Formula Data Reference (4:50)
  • Create Attributes with String Builder Data Reference (14:19)
  • Attribute Data References - Quick Reference Guide
  • Lesson 5 - Create Templates in AF
  • Introduction to and Advantages of AF Templates (9:02)
  • Convert an Element to a Template (7:55)
  • Use Substitution Parameters with Attribute Templates (6:37)
  • Group Attributes to Build a Base Template (5:46)
  • Use PI Builder Tool to Create New Attribute Templates (9:16)
  • Introduction to Derived Templates (3:40)
  • Build Derived Templates in AF (13:20)
  • Knowledge Check: Work with Templates
  • Expand AF Hierarchy & Use PI Builder to Map Tags to Attributes (16:12)
  • Lesson 6 - Build Tags in AF
  • Use Advanced Substitution Parameters with Attribute Templates (9:43)
  • Revert Attributes to Template in Bulk with PI Builder (10:02)
  • Configure AF Templates for Tag Creation (15:57)
  • Rapidly Deploy New Asset Models Using AF Templates (5:42)
  • Knowledge Check: Expand Asset Hierarchies
  • Lesson 7 - Organize Elements and Attributes
  • Use Categories to Organize Attributes in AF (3:55)
  • Move and Reference Elements in AF (11:05)
  • Lesson 8 - PI Security
  • Data Archive Security
  • Asset Framework Security
  • AF Identities and Mappings
  • AF Access Rights
  • AF Server Security
  • Learn More
  • Lesson 9 - Asset Analytics
  • AF Calculation Options
  • Account permissions for PI Analysis Service
  • Configure PI Data Archive access for PI Analysis Service
  • PI Analysis Server Installation
  • Scheduling Options
  • Types of Analysis - Overview
  • Expressions
  • Rollups
  • Event Frame Generation
  • Configure buffering for analysis outputs to PI points
  • Lesson 10 - Troubleshoot the Analysis Service
  • Performance counters for PI Analysis Service
  • Analysis service statistics
  • Troubleshooting: Cannot connect to the PI Analysis Service in PI System Explorer?
  • Common Troubleshooting Scenarios
  • Best Practices
  • Final Exam
  • Final Exam
  • Course Evaluation
  • How did it go?
  • Next Steps
  • Additional Learning Resources
  • End of the course

About this course

In this course, you will learn the skills needed to successfully model your processes and equipment using the PI Asset Framework (AF) Server. This course discusses the methodologies needed to build representations of assets (AF Elements) and their associated data (AF Attributes)

By the end of the course, you will be able to...

  • Organize assets into AF hierarchies
  • Unify data from multiple sources (PI Data Archive, relational sources, calculations from Asset Analytics) in AF
  • Standardize models across different assets using:
    • Templates
    • Substitution parameters
    • Unit of measurement (UOM)
  • Create tags through AF

Audience

This course is for beginning users of PI AF, but is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about building assets and hierarchies in PI AF, and asset-based data organization. This course is primarily suited for those who are responsible for managing the PI AF database since the tasks involve building elements and defining data to be associated with them.

However, any user who has read/write access to a PI AF database (even if it is a "sandbox" environment) will benefit. In fact, having a good knowledge of the equipment and processes involved will lead to more meaningful models; so participation by process engineers and other subject matter experts is highly encouraged.

Level: Introductory

Study Time: 12 hours

Course Access: Unlimited access to all content except the Training Cloud Environment (TCE). You have 30 days access to the TCE starting on the day you access module section "Launch Cloud Environment". 

After those 30 days you can purchase additional access with one of the two options below:

Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge of the PI System, Microsoft Excel, and relational databases
  • A computer that can access our YouTube content, and pass our connection test

Software Requirements

It is recommended that each learner use their own software and their own data structures. This allows each learner to leave the course with something immediately valuable in their enterprise. Specifically, this course will not cover the installation of PI AF Server and PI client tools, so the student needs to ensure the following:

  • Access to a PI AF database with read/write permissions (that is, permissions to create elements and attributes in PI AF).
  • Installation of PI System Explorer and Microsoft Excel with the PI AF Builder add-in.
  • Access to visualization tools such as PI DataLink (2013 or above), PI ProcessBook (3.2 or above), and PI Vision.
  • Students should also have read access to tag data from the PI Data Archive, and optionally the permissions to create tags and write data to them.
  • Optional:  If there is a foreign relational database or spreadsheet with data relevant to the process to be modeled, then read access to those tables would be useful.

If you do not have access to a PI System you can use the included Training Cloud Environment. Go to the Training Cloud Environment section to learn more about it and deploy your cloud environments.

This Course Includes...

  • Videos, exercises and quizzes to help you learn the material
  • A Cloud Environment accessible for 30 days and configured to complete all the exercises in the course
  • A shareable certificate of completion

Further Information

  • This is a self-paced course. Any questions or assistance needed about the material can be asked in this course's space in the OSIsoft PI Square community
  • When you complete the examination at the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion which can be shared and directly posted on LinkedIn
  • For more information about our Online Courses please visit our FAQ page

Course Material

Course Outline

  • Getting Started
  • How to Navigate This Course
  • Discussion Forum
  • Offline Course Videos for Blocked YouTube Users
  • Course Workbook
  • Training Cloud Environments
  • Launch Cloud Environment
  • Lesson 1 - Introduction to AF
  • Introduction to Asset Framework (AF) (6:13)
  • Lesson 2 - PI System Explorer Basics
  • Navigate in PI System Explorer (PSE) (6:12)
  • Connect to and Search a PI System (22:14)
  • Connect to, Create, and Share PI AF Databases (8:42)
  • Knowledge Check: Create a New Database
  • Lesson 3 - Introduction to AF Modeling
  • Details About HVAC System Example Used in Course (3:24)
  • Modeling Approaches in PI AF: Top-down Versus Bottom-up (8:46)
  • Create Elements and Attributes in AF (6:52)
  • Knowledge Check: Understand Your Assets
  • Lesson 4 - Attribute Data References
  • Create Attributes with PI Point Data Reference (6:30)
  • Use Alternative Value Retrieval Methods with PI Point Data Reference (6:28)
  • Create Attributes with Table Lookup Data Reference & Build AF Tables (12:54)
  • Use Linked SQL Tables in AF (11:12)
  • Create Attributes with Formula Data Reference (4:50)
  • Create Attributes with String Builder Data Reference (14:19)
  • Attribute Data References - Quick Reference Guide
  • Lesson 5 - Create Templates in AF
  • Introduction to and Advantages of AF Templates (9:02)
  • Convert an Element to a Template (7:55)
  • Use Substitution Parameters with Attribute Templates (6:37)
  • Group Attributes to Build a Base Template (5:46)
  • Use PI Builder Tool to Create New Attribute Templates (9:16)
  • Introduction to Derived Templates (3:40)
  • Build Derived Templates in AF (13:20)
  • Knowledge Check: Work with Templates
  • Expand AF Hierarchy & Use PI Builder to Map Tags to Attributes (16:12)
  • Lesson 6 - Build Tags in AF
  • Use Advanced Substitution Parameters with Attribute Templates (9:43)
  • Revert Attributes to Template in Bulk with PI Builder (10:02)
  • Configure AF Templates for Tag Creation (15:57)
  • Rapidly Deploy New Asset Models Using AF Templates (5:42)
  • Knowledge Check: Expand Asset Hierarchies
  • Lesson 7 - Organize Elements and Attributes
  • Use Categories to Organize Attributes in AF (3:55)
  • Move and Reference Elements in AF (11:05)
  • Lesson 8 - PI Security
  • Data Archive Security
  • Asset Framework Security
  • AF Identities and Mappings
  • AF Access Rights
  • AF Server Security
  • Learn More
  • Lesson 9 - Asset Analytics
  • AF Calculation Options
  • Account permissions for PI Analysis Service
  • Configure PI Data Archive access for PI Analysis Service
  • PI Analysis Server Installation
  • Scheduling Options
  • Types of Analysis - Overview
  • Expressions
  • Rollups
  • Event Frame Generation
  • Configure buffering for analysis outputs to PI points
  • Lesson 10 - Troubleshoot the Analysis Service
  • Performance counters for PI Analysis Service
  • Analysis service statistics
  • Troubleshooting: Cannot connect to the PI Analysis Service in PI System Explorer?
  • Common Troubleshooting Scenarios
  • Best Practices
  • Final Exam
  • Final Exam
  • Course Evaluation
  • How did it go?
  • Next Steps
  • Additional Learning Resources
  • End of the course