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Principles of Operation

The oldest data files are read first. The last modified time is read to determine the oldest file. Data in the files is read from the top, so older data should be at the top.

If communication fails to the PI Server, the interface will stop reading data files and the files will queue. The interface will try to re-connect every 30 seconds. When the connection is back, the data files will be processed. The record that was being read at the time of a communication failure will be reprocessed once communication has resumed.

Extended PI API calls for string tag support and sub-second data support are used by default if the PI server is at version PI 3.1 or higher. The command line parameters /lb for piar_putvalue and /ex for pisn_sendexceptionqx support the extended PI API calls if the PI server is PI 3.2 SR1 or higher and PI API 1.3.0 or higher. If both /lb and /ex are passed, /lb takes precedence.

The maximum tag name size is 255 characters. The maximum string value size is 1024 characters. If a PI Tag name does not exist, a single error message will be written to the log file.

With the Windows interface version 1.9 or higher, data that is out of order will be rejected and an error message written. The exception to this is if the interface is started in the /lb mode where data can be replaced or if the /oo parameter is passed to allow out of order events.

When using the Alias Tag command line parameter (/as=E or I), the data file will have an Alias Tagname instead of a PI tagname or PI tag number. The interface will search for the alias tag in the Extended Descriptor (E) or Instrument Tag (I) of the points with the specified point source. If the /as is used, a point source must be specified (/ps=x). The interface will HALT if anything other than an E or an I is passed. The strings in the extended descriptor or instrument tag field and the alias tag field in the data line are not case sensitive. All strings are converted to upper case before being used.

The interface supports checking for point updates when running in alias mode. It is imperative that the user passes a unique point source when in this mode. A maximum of 25 points will be processed for point updates and is done after all files are scanned.

With interface version 2.6 or higher, scaling can be performed on the data. If you put a /sc in the startup file, the userreal1 point attribute will be read and the value will be multiplied by the value in the data file. This is only for integer and real type points. No scaling will be done if the userreal1 value is equal 0.0.

Connection Establishment and Connection Recovery to PI

Point Updates

The interface will only process 25 point updates at a time. If more than 25 points are added, edited, or deleted at one time, the interface will process the first 25 points, wait 30 seconds, process the next 25 points, and so on. Once all points have been processed, the interface will resume checking for updates every 2 minutes.

If the interface is not running in alias mode, point updates have little effect on the interface. The interface will put data into PI for those PI tags that exist at the time the file is read and that have the correct point source (if the point source is used).

Point Creation

Each instance of the interface will only be able to create one type of point, so multiple instances will need to be run. One for each point type required. Digital type points will also required an instance for each Digital State Set used. The interface supports Digital, Int16, Int32, Float16, Float32, Float64 and String type points.

If the PointType is digital then the Digital State set name to be used with these new points will have to be specified on the startup command line. The /DS=DigitalSetName is the switch for this purpose. The DigitalSetName will have to be one of the digital set names found on the PI home node that the interface is communicating with.

Installation Checklist

1. 
   Install the PI Interface Configuration Utility (which installs PI SDK and PI API)
   
2. 
   Verify that the PI API is installed.
   
3. 
   Install the Batch File Interface.
   
4. 
   Create any needed digital states.
   
5. 
   Choose a point source.
   
6. 
   Configure PI Points.
   Location1 is not used.
   Location2 is not used.
   Location3 is not used.
   Location4 is not used.
   Location5 is not used.
   ExDesc is used to define an Alias for a tag name. Either ExDesc or InstrumentTag can be used.
   InstrumentTag is used to define an Alias for a tag name. Either ExDesc or InstrumentTag can be used.
   
7. 
   Configure I/O Rate Tag (for details see the section titled “I/O Rate Tag Configuration”).
   
8. 
   Configure the interface using the PI ICU utility or edit startup command file manual. It is recommended to use PI ICU whenever possible.
   
9. 
   Set interface node clock
   
10. 
    Set up security.
    
11. 
    Create a test input file.
    
12. 
    Start the interface without buffering.
    
13. 
    Verify data.
    

Interface Installation on Windows

OSIsoft recommends that interfaces be installed on PI API nodes instead of directly on the PI Server node. A PI API node is any node other than the PI Server node where the PI Application Programming Interface (PI API) has been installed (see the PI API Installation Instructions manual). With this approach, the PI Server need not compete with interfaces for system resources. The primary function of the PI Server is to archive data and to service clients that request data.

Bufserv is not needed for this interface. The interface will stop scanning data files when the connection to the PI server is down. The interface will start scanning the data files once the connection is back up.

In most cases, interfaces on PI Interface Nodes should be installed as automatic services. Services keep running after the user logs off. Automatic services automatically restart when the computer is restarted, which is useful in the event of a power failure.

The guidelines are different if an interface is installed on the PI Server node. In this case, the typical procedure is to install the PI Server as an automatic service and install the interface as an automatic service that depends on the PI Update Manager and PI Network Manager services. This typical scenario assumes that Bufserv is not enabled on the PI Server node.

Naming Conventions and Requirements

In the installation procedure below, it is assumed that the name of the interface executable is BatchFL.exe and that the startup command file is called BatchFL.bat.

When Configuring the Interface Manually

When configuring the interface manually it is customary for the user to rename the executable and the startup command file when multiple copies of the interface are run. For example, BatchFL1.exe and BatchFL1.bat would typically be used for interface number 1, BatchFL2.exe and BatchFL2.bat for interface number 2, and so on. When an interface is run as a service, the executable and the command file must have the same root name because the service looks for its command-line parameters in a file that has the same root name.

Interface Directories

The PIHOME Directory Tree

The PIHOME directory tree is defined by the PIHOME entry in the pipc.ini configuration file. This pipc.ini file is an ASCII text file, which is located in the %windir% directory. A typical pipc.ini file contains the following lines:
[PIPC]
PIHOME=c:\pipc

The above lines define the \pipc directory as the root of the PIHOME directory tree on the C: drive. OSIsoft recommends using \pipc as the root directory name. The PIHOME directory does not need to be on the C: drive.

Interface Installation Directory

The interface is installed to:

PIHOME\Interfaces\BatchFL\

Where PIHOME is the corresponding entry in the pipc.ini file.

Interface Installation Procedure

The PI Batch File Interface setup program uses the services of the Microsoft Windows Installer. Windows Installer is a standard part of Windows 2000 and greater operating systems. When running on Windows NT 4.0 systems, the PI Batch File setup program will install the Windows Installer itself if necessary. To install, run the BatchFl_x.x.x.x.exe installation kit.

Run PI ICU to configure the interface, or alter the command-line parameters in the .bat file as discussed in this manual.

Try to start the interface interactively with the command:
BatchFL.bat

If the interface cannot be started interactively; the interface will not be able to run as a service either. It is easier to debug interactively started processes because error messages are echoed directly to the screen. Once the interface is successfully running interactively, one can try to run it as a service by following the instructions below.

Installing Interface as a Windows Service

The Batch File Interface service can be created, preferably, with the PI Interface Configuration Utility, or can be created manually.

Installing Interface Service with PI Interface Configuration Utility

The PI Interface Configuration Utility provides a user interface for creating, editing, and deleting the interface service:

Service Configuration

Service name

The Service name box shows the name of the current interface service. This service name is obtained from the interface executable.

ID

This is the service id used to distinguish multiple instances of the same interface using the same executable.

Display name

The Display Name text box shows the current Display Name of the interface service. If there is currently no service for the selected interface, the default Display Name is the service name with a “PI-” prefix. Users may specify a different Display Name. OSIsoft suggests that the prefix “PI-” be appended to the beginning of the interface to indicate that the service is part of the OSIsoft suite of products.

Log on as

The Log on as text box shows the current “Log on as” Windows User Account of the interface service. If the service is configured to use the Local System account, the Log on as text box will show “LocalSystem.” Users may specify a different Windows User account for the service to use.

Password

If a Windows User account is entered in the Log on as text box, then a password must be provided in the Password text box, unless the account requires no password.

Confirm password

If a password is entered in the Password text box, then it must be confirmed in the Confirm Password text box.

Dependencies

The Installed services list is a list of the services currently installed on this machine. Services upon which this interface is dependent should be moved into the Dependencies list using the button. For example, if API Buffering is running, then “bufserv” should be selected from the list at the right and added to the list on the left. To remove a service from the list of dependencies, use the button, and the service name will be removed from the Dependencies list.

When the interface is started (as a service), the services listed in the dependency list will be verified as running (or an attempt will be made to start them). If the dependent service(s) cannot be started for any reason, then the interface service will not run.

Note: Please see the PI Log and Windows Event Logger for messages that may indicate the cause for any service not running as expected.

- Add Button

To add a dependency from the list of Installed services, select the dependency name, and click the Add button.

- Remove Button

To remove a selected dependency, highlight the service name in the Dependencies list, and click the Remove button.

The full name of the service selected in the Installed services list is displayed below the Installed services list box.

Startup Type

The Startup Type indicates whether the interface service will start automatically or needs to be started manually on reboot.

• 
  If the Auto option is selected, the service will be installed to start automatically when the machine reboots.
  
• 
  If the Manual option is selected, the interface service will not start on reboot, but will require someone to manually start the service.
  
• 
  If the Disabled option is selected, the service will not start at all.
  

Generally, interface services are set to start automatically.

Create

The Create button adds the displayed service with the specified Dependencies and with the specified Startup Type.

Remove

The Remove button removes the displayed service. If the service is not currently installed, or if the service is currently running, this button will be grayed out.

Start or Stop Service

The toolbar contains a Start button and a Stop button . If this interface service is not currently installed, these buttons will remain grayed out until the service is added. If this interface service is running, the Stop button is available. If this service is not running, the Start button is available.

The status of the Interface service is indicated in the lower portion of the PI ICU dialog.

Status of the Interface Service



Service installed or uninstalled

Installing Interface Service Manually

Help for installing the interface as a service is available at any time with the command:
BATCHFL.exe –help

Open a Windows command prompt window and change to the directory where the BATCHFL1.exe executable is located. Then, consult the following table to determine the appropriate service installation command.

Windows Service Installation Commands on a PI Interface Node or a PI Server Node with Bufserv implemented
Manual service	BatchFL.exe –install –depend “tcpip bufserv”
Automatic service	BatchFL.exe –install –auto –depend “tcpip bufserv”
*Automatic service with service id	BatchFL.exe –serviceid X –install –auto –depend “tcpip bufserv”
Windows Service Installation Commands on a PI Interface Node or a PI Server Node without Bufserv implemented
Manual service	BatchFL.exe –install –depend tcpip
Automatic service	BatchFL.exe –install –auto –depend tcpip
*Automatic service with service id	BatchFL.exe –serviceid X –install –auto –depend tcpip

*When specifying service id, the user must include an id number. It is suggested that this number correspond to the interface id (/id) or parameter found in the interface .bat file.

Check the Microsoft Windows Services control panel to verify that the service was added successfully. The services control panel can be used at any time to change the interface from an automatic service to a manual service or vice versa.

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