Advanced Tags

for KEPServerEX
®

Easy Guide
Introduction EASY GUIDE

Advanced Tags for KEPServerEX enables Machine to Machine (M2M) tag

linking, logic, and math functions for operational communications and
analysis. It centralizes data processing on the communication server
rather than across many client applications, and includes functionality to
link two data tags, set a trigger based on logical states, and calculate new
values from raw measures.

Follow the steps below to learn how to launch Advanced Tags and create
six easy-to-use, pre-defined tags to execute math, logic, or analysis.

Follow the Steps

Step 1:
Launch Advanced Tags

To start, open the KEPServerEX configuration.

In the Tree View, select Advanced Tags.

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 EASY GUIDE

Step 2:
Create Tags

Next, create tags using the quick add icons located in the
toolbar or by right-clicking on the Advanced Tags icon.

In Tag Properties, enter a name for the tag and then define its
parameters, which are unique to each type of Advanced Tag.
See Types of Tags to learn more.

Optionally, define tag groups to

organize multiple Advanced Tags.

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Types of Tags: Link EASY GUIDE

Link Tags enable you to transfer data between two existing tags in the
server. For example, you can take an output from an Allen-Bradley
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and use it as an input for a
Modbus register.

The data link will trigger when the data value has changed or on a set time
interval. You can configure this trigger to always occur or to only occur when
a certain condition is met (for example, if a bit from a PLC is high).

The Link Tag can be used in many different applications. For example, you
can trigger a cooling process if a device temperature goes too high by linking
data to a chiller system, or link recipe data from a SQL database to a PLC
when the recipe changes.

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 EASY GUIDE

Step 1:
Create a Link Tag

In the Tree View, right-click on the Advanced Tags icon and select
New Link Tag. Enter a name for the tag.

In Input, click on the

ellipsis located to the
right of the text box
and select the tag from
the server from which
data will be pulled.
This example uses
“Simulation Examples.
Functions.Ramp1”.

In Output, click on the ellipsis located to the right of

the text box and select a tag where the input will be
written. This example uses “Channel1.Device1.Tag2”.

Leave all other settings at their default value and

then click OK to exit the window and create the tag.

Step 2:
Check the Tag Output

Open the OPC Quick Client and locate the group for “Channel1.Device1”.
Verify that Tag2 is updating with values: this data is coming from the
Ramp1 tag.

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Types of Tags: Derived EASY GUIDE

Derived Tags execute a math or logic operation using existing tags in the
server. Expressions can be created using the value or quality of system tags
and device tags paired with supporting operators. For example, in order to
calculate power, you can subtract a DC offset from collected voltage data
and then take the square of that voltage and divide by measured resistance.

Logical Operators Mathematical Operators

Equal to (=) Add and Subtract (+ and -)
Greater than (>) Multiply and Divide (* and /)
Less than (<) Modulo (%)
And (AND) Power (POW)
Not (NOT) Square Root (SQRT)
Or (OR) Absolute (ABS)
Cosine, Sine, and Tangent (COS, SIN, and TAN)
Arc Cosine, Arc Sine, and Arc Tangent (ACOS,
ASIN, and ATAN)

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 EASY GUIDE

Step 1:
Create a Derived Tag

In the Tree View, right-click on the Advanced Tags icon and select In Expression, click on the ellipsis located to
New Derived Tag. Enter a name for the tag. the right of the text box. Select a tag from the
project and click Apply. This example uses
“Channel1.Device1.Tag1”. Enter an asterisk (*)
in the text box after the first tag.

Click on the ellipsis again and select another

tag by which to multiply the first. This example
uses “Channel1.Device1.Tag2”.

Leave all other settings at their default values

and then click OK to exit the window and
create the tag.

Step 2:
Check the Tag Output

Open the OPC Quick Client and select the “_AdvancedTags” group that
was automatically created. The Derived Tag that was just created should
be updating with the multiplied values.

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Types of Tags: Complex EASY GUIDE

Complex Tags enable you to unify several tags into one complex XML
structure that is represented in a single output tag with the String data type.
This is helpful if you would like to transfer a bulk amount of data in only
one tag and send that data in one transaction; for example, to populate a
form with string data in one operation. Separate tags in the server can be
designated as elements in the Complex Tag. You can trigger updates based
on a zero to non-zero transition or at a set rate.

} }
String PLCArea1 Complex Structure Form
Separate Device Tags

Data Type Data Field Input

Date 12/4/2012
String PLCArea1 Name PLCArea1

Boolean 0 Date 12/4/2012 Date 12/4/2012

Boolean 0 On/Off 0
Double 5002
Double 5002 Register 5002
Float 35.6 Float 35.6 Value 35.6

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 EASY GUIDE

Step 1:
Create a Complex Tag

In the Tree View, right-click on the

Advanced Tags icon and select
New Complex Tag. Enter a name
for the tag.

Locate Elements and then click

Add Element. Select a tag from the
project. Leave all other settings at
their default values and then click OK
to exit the window and add the tag.

Repeat this step one or more times

to add additional tags as elements.
This example uses “Channel1.
Device1.Tag1” and “Simulation
Examples.Functions.Sine1”.

Step 2:
Check the Tag Output

Open the OPC Quick Client and select the “_AdvancedTags” group that
was automatically created. The Complex Tag that was just created should
be updating with an XML string that contains data for the tags added.

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Types of Tags: Maximum, Minimum, and Average EASY GUIDE

Maximum, Minimum, and Average Tags enable you to perform simple yet
useful analysis on a data tag, and trigger the computation on a zero to
non-zero transition. For example, you can do the following:

• Find the minimum or maximum of part sizes in a production line

to ensure products are within acceptable tolerances

• Average processing times over a day or several days to create

a timing benchmark

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 EASY GUIDE

Step 1:
Create an Average Tag

In the Tree View, right-click In Average, click on the ellipsis located to the
on the Advanced Tags icon right of the text box and select a tag from the
and select New Average Tag. server. This example uses “Simulation Examples.
Enter a name for the tag. Functions.Ramp1”.

In Run, click on the ellipsis located to the right

of the text box and select a tag to trigger the
calculation. This example uses “Data Type
Examples.16 Bit Device.K Registers.Boolean1”.

Leave all other settings at their default values and

click OK to exit the window and create the tag.

Step 2:
Check the Tag Output
Open the OPC Quick Client and select the tag group “Data Type
Examples.16 Bit Device.K Registers”. Right-click on the tag “Data
Type Examples.16 Bit Device.K Registers.Boolean1” and then
select Synchronous Write.

In Write Value, enter 1 and then click OK. This will trigger the
Average Tag to begin calculating.

Next, select the “_AdvancedTags” group. The Average Tag will be

updating with values.

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Types of Tags: Oracle Cumulative EASY GUIDE

Oracle Cumulative Tags enable you to determine the difference between

a tag’s current and previous values. This tag is defined by Oracle and is
available to all OPC client applications. For example, the cumulative value
for a counter that ranges from 0 to 100 would be calculated as displayed in
the table below.

Samples Mathematical Operators

5 @ 10:00 5 @ 10:00 (raw value)
45 @10:01 45 @ 10:01 (45-5)
95 @ 10:02 50 @ 10:02 (95-45)
4 @ 10:03 9 @ 10:03 ((4-95)+100)

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Learn More EASY GUIDE

Access detailed technical information and examples in the

Advanced Tags product manual.

Kepware is a software development business of PTC Inc. located in Portland, Maine. Kepware provides a portfolio of software solutions to help businesses connect diverse automation devices and software applications and enable the Industrial Internet of Things.
From plant floor to wellsite to windfarm, Kepware serves a wide range of customers in a variety of vertical markets including Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, Building Automation, Power & Utilities, and more. Established in 1995 and now distributed in more than 100 countries, Kepware’s
software solutions help thousands of businesses improve operations and decision making.

© 2017, PTC Inc. All rights reserved. Information described herein is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be taken as a guarantee, commitment, condition or offer by PTC. PTC, the PTC logo, Kepware, KEPServerEX
and all other PTC product names and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of PTC and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other product or company names are property of their respective owners.

J8554–Advanced-Tags-for-KEPServerEX–EG-EN–0717

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