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PanelView Plus
Reporting from PanelView Plus
XLReporter generates Excel based reports from the log
files created by Rockwell Automation® PanelView Plus
terminals using DataStore Plus.
The DataStore Plus ActiveX control is used for logging
data to log files. The log files on the terminal can be
accessed using a flash drive, directly across the local
network or by FTP. Using FTP, a layer of security may
be added to prevent unauthorized access.
XLReporter recommends,
• Start New Files either Periodic (Hourly or Daily)
or At Specific Times.
• Delete Oldest Files value longer than the transfer
rate scheduled for the File Cabinet.
Advanced Tab
This tab determines when the data is logged.
XLReporter uses these methods to copy the log files into
its File Cabinet. By using network access, this can be
done automatically, on time or event. The advantage of
copying the files automatically to the cabinet is that they
are archived before the data is overwritten by the device.
The File Cabinet technology makes the log files appear as
a single data entity like a database so reports are not
limited to the content of a single file. In addition, the
cabinet maintains a list of tag names so that any tag
selection can be done using a tag browser. Database
features such as filtering and sorting are supported
together with analytic calculations such as the average for
each hour of a day.
DataStore Plus
The DataStore Plus ActiveX control is used to collect data
in comma separated values files (CSV files). It is
configured in the FactoryTalk View Studio-Machine
Edition by placing the control on a screen that cannot be
closed by a user. The following is available when
opening the properties.
General Tab
This tab determines when the files are created.
XLReporter recommends,
• Use tag names for File Headers.
• Suppress log file row numbering.
• Log System Time and Date for each record.
• Log assigned connections only.
Connections Tab
This tab determines what data is logged and where the
files are saved.
File Cabinet
The File Cabinet is the central location where the log files
are stored for reporting purposes. This can be a folder in
the PanelView Plus or a folder on an external PC. It is
recommended that an external PC is used due to the
memory restrictions of the PanelView.
File Content tab
This tab determines the date/time column names in the
log and the column delimiter.
The File Cabinet makes your log files appear as a single
entity for easy data access and reporting. It has similar
characteristics to a database in that when data is retrieved
from it, the user does not need to have any knowledge of
how the data is stored or managed.
A separate File Cabinet is required for each PanelView
Plus terminal used.
File Cabinets are configured from the Project Explorer.
When a cabinet is configured or edited, the following
settings are available:
Source Tab
This tab determines the file transfer method, file location,
naming convention and any filters to determine the files.
When a File Cabinet is refreshed, the tag names (column
names) in the text files are automatically added to the tag
list of the cabinet. During report template design, this list
is going to prove valuable because it enables you to
conveniently select tags with one click.
Automatic Cabinet Update
If an automatic update of the cabinet’s log files is
required, a CabinetTransfer command must be configured
in the Schedule Designer with the time that the transfer
should occur.
Daily@00:00:00 CabinetTransfer PackingLine.ftp
Target Tab
This tab determines the location of the cabinet.
History Group
XLReporter accesses values from a File Cabinet using a
history group.
To create a history group, open XLReporter’s Project
Explorer and double click on History Groups to list the
groups that are already configured in the active project.
Select New… and then the type of group to configure.
Notice that when a tag is browsed, a tag browser opens
with the current list of tag names in the cabinet.
Calculated Values (Standard) are calculations like
average, minimum and maximum, Calculated Values
(Advanced) are interpolated values and Raw Values are
the actual samples recorded.
From the History Group window, select the Time Period
tab and select the Start Time, End Time and Interval for
the group. By default this is set to one hour intervals over
the day.
After selecting the group type, the history group must be
connected to the File Cabinet. From the Setup tab, click
Connect….and select from the list of all the cabinets
configured.
Preview Data
From the History Group window select the Columns tab,
and choose the Name and Calculation for each tag
required in the group. If the group is a calculation group,
the following calculations are provided:
• Count
• Start and End value
• Total
• Interpolated sample
• Minimum and Time of Minimum
• Maximum and Time of Maximum
• Standard Deviation
• Average (Time weighted and raw)
• Range
• Delta
• Percentage Good and Bad
The Preview pushbutton at the bottom of the history
group display can be used to preview the results of the
current configuration.
In the above preview, 24 hourly averages are calculated
for the day specified. Preview displays the data exactly
the same way it is written into the report.
With the history group defined, connect it to an Excel
template to create an Excel report. This step is described
in more detail in the Getting Results documentation.
Publish Reports
With XLReporter reports can be generated automatically
as a background task. Once reports are produced they can
be published as web pages by scheduling the
SaveBookHTML or SaveSheetHTML command.
If Internet Explorer is installed on the PanelView it can be
launched from a pushbutton press on a PanelView
display. This is done by first inserting a ME Program
Launcher ActiveX control on the display.
Using XLReporter’s XWeb Director, a home page is
created which maintains links to all the reports published.
As soon as a new report is published, XWeb Director can
automatically update the home page to make that report
available. To enable this, in the Project Explorer, open
XWeb Director. Under the Options tab, in the Home
Page settings, check Update on content change, then
save and close the XWeb Director Designer.
In the properties of the control, under the Common tab
uncheck the Visible setting so the control won’t be seen
on the display.
To make these published reports available for everyone,
enable Internet Information Services (IIS) in the
Windows Control Panel. The procedure differs
depending on the operating system, but basically involves
opening Programs and Features (or Add or Remove
Programs) and enabling IIS under the Windows features.
More detailed instructions can be found in the Getting
Started document.
Under the Connection tab, set
• Program Location to “\windows\iesample.exe”
(the Internet Explorer executable).
• Program Parameter to “http://IP
Address/PanelViewReports” where IP Address is
the IP address where XLReporter is installed.
• Launch Enable to a digital tag that will be
toggled true by a pushbutton press.
To run the ActiveX control, insert a Momentary
Pushbutton on the display. In the properties of the button,
under the States tab, select State0 and set the Caption to
View Reports.
With IIS enabled, create a virtual directory to the Web
folder of your XLReporter project. This is done in the
Internet Information Services Manager which is
accessible from Control Panel, Administrative Tools.
Under the Connection tab, set Value to the same digital
tag you specified as the Launch Enable setting of the
Launcher ActiveX control.
Expand the tree, right-click Default Web Site and select
New Virtual Directory.
Now, when you view the display with the PanelView, if
you click/touch the View Reports button, Internet
Explorer launches displaying the home page with all the
web published reports. Select any report to view.
Set the Alias to PanelViewReports and the Physical Path
(or Directory) to the Web folder of your project.
Now anyone on the network can access the reports with
their web browser, including the web browser that may be
installed on the Panel View (Internet Explorer).
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Rockwell Software, RSLinx, FactoryTalk, PanelView Plus and
DataStore Plus are registered trademarks of Rockwell Automation, Inc.