System 800xA Training

Chapter 10 Excel Data Access

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 10 Excel Data Access ....................................................................................................................................................... 1

10.1 General Information ........................................................................................................................................................... 2
10.1.1 Objectives ................................................................................................................................................................... 2
10.1.2 Legend ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2
10.1.3 Reference Documentation ........................................................................................................................................... 2
10.2 Data Direct ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
10.2.1 Overview..................................................................................................................................................................... 3
10.2.2 Data Access ................................................................................................................................................................ 4
10.2.3 Enabling Macros ......................................................................................................................................................... 7
10.2.4 Calculation Strategies ................................................................................................................................................. 8
10.2.5 Tool Bar ...................................................................................................................................................................... 9
10.2.6 Login ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10
10.3 Reading Data for Reports ................................................................................................................................................ 12
10.3.1 Common Controls ..................................................................................................................................................... 12
10.3.2 Historical Data .......................................................................................................................................................... 13
10.3.3 Messages from Alarm and Event Lists ..................................................................................................................... 15
10.3.4 Process Values .......................................................................................................................................................... 16
10.3.5 Production Data ........................................................................................................................................................ 17
10.3.6 Using SQL Queries ................................................................................................................................................... 17
10.4 Reading Data from a Remote Client ................................................................................................................................ 18
10.5 Matching Course Contents ............................................................................................................................................... 20

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10.1 General Information

10.1.1 Objectives
On completion of this chapter you will be able to:
 Read data using Excel

10.1.2 Legend
> Indicates when you go from one menu to a sub-menu
Italic Indicates object and file names
“ “ Indicates dialog box buttons, tabs, menus etc.
Bold Indicates important topics
Indicates start/explanation of student activity

10.1.3 Reference Documentation

3BUF001094 IndustrialIT 800xA Data Access and Reports

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10.2 Data Direct

10.2.1 Overview
Data Direct (Excel Data Access) is an add-in for Microsoft Excel designed to retrieve
data (real-time data, historical values, lab data, batch information, and event
information) from System 800xA.
This functionality is one of the basic system functionalities, although it is part of the
Information Management software package. This means that it can be installed along
with the core system without installing IM, and that it doesn’t require additional
licensing. Nevertheless when installed in systems with IM some of its features are
enhanced (data access from non 800xA nodes, extended amount of historical values,
etc).
NOTE! Data Direct can run in any system node.

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10.2.2 Data Access

Excel Data Access provides a series of forms and functions for Microsoft Excel
 Historical Data
 Process Data
 Message Data
 Production Data Log Data

Display Data Server on the IM

Display Data Server Provider

Advant (OMF) History Data OPC Data Relational Data

Data via HDA

Excel Data Access provides the ability for ad-hoc queries and simple reports.
Complex reports should consider the use of Open Data Access (ODA).

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10.2.2.1 Configuring the Add-In

The Data Direct add-in is integrated into Microsoft Excel on a user-basis. It is
automatically available for the user that performed the 800xA software installation,
but it must be explicitly added for any other users (on a node by node basis).
NOTE! It is mandatory to perform this procedure for the service
account since this account is used for scheduled reports
Select Excel Options from the bottom of the menu.

Select Add-ins from the pane on the left. Click the “Go” button in the right pane.

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Click the “Browse” button.

Use the Windows file chooser dialog to find and select the “DataDirect.xla” file
located in:
“%ABB_ROOT%InformIT\DataDirect\Bin”

This makes the DataDirect Add-in available in the Add-ins dialog.

Any add-ins listed in this dialog may be added or removed from Excel by checking or
unchecking the corresponding check box.

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10.2.3 Enabling Macros

The “Disable All macros except digitally signed macros” option should have been
selected in the Macro Settings tab of the Trust Center dialog during 800Xa System
installation. This is necessary to use the DataDirect add-in tools.
If the setting has not been made, when an Excel Worksheet is opened with the
DataDirect add-in tools, error messages may appear. Perform the following steps to
disable all macros except digitally signed macros.
Click the Office button of an Excel 2007 worksheet.
Select “Excel Options > Trust Centre”.

Click “Trust Centre Settings...”

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Click “Macro Settings” in the Trust Center dialog.

Select “Disable All macros except digitally signed macros” option in the Trust Center
dialog.

Click “OK” in the Trust Center dialog. Click “OK” in the Excel Options dialog

10.2.4 Calculation Strategies

The retrieval of system data is performed by executing Data Direct functions in the
Excel environment. These executions are calculations and by default the system is set
to calculate automatically.
In the case of Data Direct this behavior could be negative, since automatic calculation
updates the contents of the tables when the file is opened. To avoid this, the
calculations need to be configured as “Manual”.

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We can run the calculation pressing “Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F9”.

10.2.5 Tool Bar

Operator Workplaces can use a particularly strong version of Excel Data Access.
The functions underlying the icons access data via System 800xA.

10.2.5.1 Adding buttons to the toolbar

If there is any button missing in the toolbar, add it from the “Option” menu.

Select “View” tab, check all toolbar options

See Results

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10.2.6 Login
To obtain a runtime license, log on to a data server. The login procedure connects the
Excel spreadsheet to a specified host data server for all dialogs except the Industrial IT
Process Values, History Values, Alarm/Event dialogs. For the Industrial IT Process
and History Values dialogs, logging in gives full access to all aspects and objects
represented in the connected aspect system. One runtime license is taken up for each
user that logs in to the data server. DataDirect provides two methods for logging in to
support license use.
 Log in on an ad-hoc basis: Automatically disconnects when the current dialog is
closed to help minimize the time that a runtime license is occupied.
 Log in on a perpetual basis: Stays logged in until you choose to log off
regardless of how many dialogs are opened and closed.

10.2.6.1 Perpetual Login

Perpetual login lasts until an active choice is made to disconnect from the host server.
This is used to invoke any number of ad-hoc data requests or function calls without
having to repeat the log in procedure after each request. However, this occupies the
runtime license while logged in. Use a perpetual log in when working with DataDirect
functions.
To log in perpetually, click the “ABB” button, next figure, or choose DataDirect >
Login from the menu bar. Log in as described under.
User: aid
Password: aid
Host: localhost

Click “Connect” button

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To disconnect from the data server, press the “Disconnect” button in the Login dialog,
or exit Excel.

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10.3 Reading Data for Reports

Data Direct is mainly used to create reports. These can be created as:
 one time reports to show and store data from the instant they were created
 reusable reports to allow the user to reload the enclosed data when required
Operators can view reports from their Operator Workplaces by simply browsing report
archives via the Plant Explorer. Reports can be automatically generated and sent to
multiple output destinations such as printers, files etc.

10.3.1 Common Controls

Data Direct functions can be manually typed into the worksheet cells or they can be
invoked by using Data Direct dialogs. Dialogs help the user find the information
within the system structure and define the way the data is going to be presented.
There is one dialog for each type of report (process data, historical data and alarm &
events), but they all share a set of common controls:

Filter Options

Item List

The “Start Cell” input field defines the cell position where the result data will be
filled. If the “Insert” checkbox is selected, instead of filling the cells new rows will be
inserted.
The “Output” options are used for:
 “Formula” = the destination cell will be filled with the function required to
retrieve the specified data. This means that if a calculation is executed the data
will be updated.
 “Data Only” = the numeric value of the property at the moment of configuration
will be written in the cell, and it cannot be modified by a calculation.

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The “Item List” will show the available information for the selected object. The
contents of this list will change according to the data type:
1. Process Data will show every OPC property
2. Historical will show only the properties that are being logged by a Log
Configuration aspect
3. Alarm and Events Dialog will show only the Alarm & Event lists and alarm lines
NOTE! It is recommended to avoid using the “Get Current
Value” option, since it delays the population of the table.

10.3.2 Historical Data

A Historical Data report is used to show historical values of a property. The Historical
Data dialog can be accessed by clicking on the “IIT History Value” button

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If a property is being logged using different logs they will be available to be chosen.

The “Retrieval Information” section defines how the historical data is going to be
treated before being added to the report:
 “Raw Data” = only the first points in the time window will be included
 “Interpolated Data” = the user can select a calculation algorithm (for example time
average) to process all the points in the time window and reduce them to the
amount of points defined by “Nr of Values”

If the “Start” and “End” times are static, the report will always show data from that
fixed time window. If they are dynamic the time window will be relative to the
calculation time, so the data will change for every calculation.

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10.3.3 Messages from Alarm and Event Lists

An Alarm and Event report is used to show historical events from an alarm & event
list or alarm line. The Alarm and Event dialog can be accessed by clicking on the “IIT
History Value” button

The time span needs to be specified like the time window for historical data.

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10.3.4 Process Values

A Process Data report is used to get real time values from the system. The Process
Data dialog can be accessed by clicking on the “IIT Process Value” button

In the following example the In.Value property of the object S01_LT1 was selected,
and in the output options the object name and timestamp were enabled.

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10.3.5 Production Data

To read PDL data use the following dialog

If an icon is not available on the tool bar, use the “View” tab on the Options dialog to
make it available

10.3.6 Using SQL Queries

You can also build ad-hoc SQL queries and display the results in your Excel
Spreadsheet. It is intended primarily for access to Oracle data.
This dialog is not intended for querying historical and process objects on Windows-
based data servers. These applications are better supported by the History Values and
Process Values dialogs

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Open the SQL Query dialog. To do this, click the “SQL” button, or choose DataDirect
> SQL Query from the menu bar.
Enter the query in the SQL Statement window.

10.4 Reading Data from a Remote Client

This can be run from a networked PC that contains the client software, but it does not
have to be a System 800xA workplace.
It is useful for engineers and supervisors to pick up data on their work PCs.
The user interface is embedded in the Excel user interface. When you install Excel
Data Access, DataDirect Add-Ins are added to the toolbar and menu bar.

It retrieves data via the Display Server of the IM. If configured properly, it can pick up
data from either the System 800xA platform or from external sources.
It has two independent methods to access data.
 Forms that allow immediate one time data access
 Functions that allow repeated access for reports
Real Time values

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History Values

Event Log

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10.5 Matching Course Contents

Once we add the process Data, the Alarm and Event List data, the History data, SQL
data, PDL data or data from other OPC Source to our excel worksheet with the tools
saw in this chapter, we can use this excel worksheet as a template as in the
“Scheduling” chapter and the “Report” chapter to run scheduling reports

As a resume, we can follow the following steps to make a scheduling report

1. Create a Report template as it is explain in this chapter. Getting the OPC
properties we need
2. follows “Scheduling” and “Reports” chapters to schedule the report generated in
this chapter

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