Historian Module Overview

The Historian module stores tag values with timestamps in SQL databases or specialized time-series databases, enabling historical data analysis, trending, and reporting for your industrial processes.

Key Concepts

  • *HistorianTag*: Tag configured for historical data storage
  • *HistorianTable*: Group of tags with shared storage settings (sampling rate, retention)
  • *StorageLocation*: Database destination for each historian table
  • *Trigger*: Condition that determines when to store data (on change, periodic, etc.)

What it Does

  • Stores time-series data from any tag in the system
  • Connects to multiple databases simultaneously
  • Provides data retrieval for trends, reports, and analytics
  • Manages data retention and automatic purging
  • Handles store-and-forward during database outages
  • Supports both SQL and specialized historian databases

Configuration Workflow

Historian Module Configuration Workflow

Step

Action

Description

Select Database

Choose storage destination

Default SQLite or external database (PI, Canary, InfluxDB)

Create HistorianTables

Define storage groups

Set sampling rates, triggers, and retention policies

Add HistorianTags

Assign tags to tables

Map tags to appropriate storage groups

Configure Triggers

Set storage conditions

On change, periodic, or condition-based storage


Runtime Behavior

Data Collection

The module subscribes to all configured historian tags and evaluates trigger conditions. Data is stored to designated locations based on table settings, with automatic buffering if databases are temporarily unavailable.

Data Retrieval

Scripts, displays, and reports request historical data through the Historian module's query interface. The TrendChart component provides built-in visualization of time-series data.

Features Highlights

  • Native integration with Canary, OSIsoft PI, InfluxDB, and other major historians
  • Store-and-forward ensures no data loss during network interruptions
  • Automatic timezone and daylight saving time handling
  • Built-in Historian engine for SQL Databases.