UNS →  Tutorial | Concept | How-to Guide | ISA-95 | Reference

Configuration Workflow

Typical Process

1. Create DataTemplates - Define reusable structures
2. Create Tags and Folders - Organize data hierarchy
3. Configure TagProviders - Connect external sources
4. Build Asset Tree - Model physical/logical structure

Quick Actions

Core Components

DataTemplates

Create custom data types:

• Reusable structures
• Hierarchical organization
• Property inheritance
• Consistent modeling

Tags

Real-time variables with:

• Multiple data types
• Arrays support
• Retentive options
• Security settings

Enumerations

Value-to-text mappings:

0 → "Off"
1 → "On"
2 → "Fault"

TagProviders

External connections:

• OPC UA, MQTT
• Historian systems
• Other solutions
• Dynamic discovery

Runtime Architecture

Execution Model

At startup, the UNS loads into an in-memory real-time database (TServer.exe):

• Event-driven updates
• Module data exchange
• Real-time synchronization
• Optimized performance

Data Access Methods

Direct Tag Access:

csharp

@Tag.Machine1.Temperature
@Tag.Line1/Pump1/Status

Asset() Function:

csharp

Asset("/Line1/Machine1.Temperature")
Asset(@Client.Context.AssetPath + "/Status")

Asset Tree Structure

Organization Examples

By Location:

/Plant
  /Area1
    /Line1
      /Machine1
        Temperature
        Pressure
        Status

By Function:

/Production
  /Mixing
  /Packaging
/Utilities
  /Power
  /Water

Integration Points

Module Access

All modules can access UNS data:

• Displays - Visualization
• Alarms - Event monitoring
• Historian - Data logging
• Scripts - Logic execution
• Reports - Data presentation

External Systems

TagProviders enable:

• Protocol integration
• Historian connections
• Database links
• API interfaces

Common Issues and Solutions

Recursive Data Model Crash

Issue: Templates containing circular references Solution: Avoid recursive structures; validate template hierarchy

Missing External Data

Issue: TagProvider data not updating Solution:

• Verify connection status
• Check external system
• Review security settings
• Monitor network connectivity

Import Inconsistencies

Issue: Data missing after import Solution:

• Validate file format
• Check column mapping
• Verify data types
• Review import logs

Performance Issues

Issue: Slow data updates Solution:

• Optimize tag count
• Review update rates
• Check network latency
• Monitor resource usage

Namespace Properties

Access runtime properties:

csharp

// Tag count
int tagCount = @Info.Model.TagCount;

// Check if tag exists
bool exists = @Info.Model.HasTag("Machine1.Temperature");

// Get tag reference
var tag = @Info.Model.GetTag("Machine1.Temperature");

Security Considerations

Tag Security

• Read/Write permissions per tag
• User group restrictions
• Visibility settings (Private/Protected/Public)

Connection Security

• TagProvider authentication
• Encrypted communications
• Certificate validation

Performance Optimization

Design Guidelines

• Limit hierarchy depth (3-5 levels)
• Group related tags
• Use templates efficiently
• Optimize polling rates

Runtime Tips

• Monitor memory usage
• Check update frequencies
• Review connection counts
• Optimize queries

Best Practices Checklist

Data Structure Organization

• Plan hierarchy - Consider relationships carefully
• Use templates - Reduce redundancy
• Clear naming - Consistent conventions
• Logical folders - Intuitive navigation
• Document structure - Maintain documentation

System Monitoring

• Add displays - Monitor performance
• Implement alarms - Critical connections
• Track status - Connection health
• Log events - Audit trail

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

• Check network connectivity
• Verify credentials
• Review firewall settings
• Test with simple query

Data Quality

• Check Quality property (192 = good)
• Verify timestamps
• Review error messages
• Monitor communication logs

Performance

• Check CPU/memory usage
• Review tag count
• Optimize update rates
• Monitor network traffic

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