VantagePoint Results Guide

VantagePoint Getting Results Guide v3.1, Rev A Page 1

VantagePoint Getting Results Guide FactoryTalk VantagePoint provides dashboards, trends and reports against a broad range of real time and historian data sources.

To start using FactoryTalk VantagePoint you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Install the FactoryTalk VantagePoint Server on a suitably configured machine. 2. Complete the FactoryTalk Activation process. 3. Configure connectors to the data sources that you want to use with VantagePoint.

You are now ready to begin using FactoryTalk VantagePoint (hereafter referred to as VantagePoint). The VantagePoint Portal will start at the end of the installation process and allows you to start viewing and analyzing your manufacturing data. This Quick Start Guide will help you with your initial configuration. Detailed information about each step and the capabilities of VantagePoint can be found in the online Help file which is installed with the server.

Please check the website www.incuity.com for updates to this document.

Step 1: Installing FactoryTalk VantagePoint Server

Preparing the FactoryTalk VantagePoint Server Machine

Network Considerations The FactoryTalk VantagePoint Server should be installed on a server that has:

Network access to the plant data sources (Control systems, HMI systems and historians) that VantagePoint will be configured to access data from; and

Is accessible to the intended FactoryTalk VantagePoint Users.

In environments where control networks have been separated from business networks the Server will require a network card attached to each network.


This figure shows a typical architecture with the server running VantagePoint having access to several data sources. Users of VantagePoint connect to the VantagePoint Portal (which runs on the server) to begin working with the system.

Server Platform Considerations Production installations of FactoryTalk VantagePoint Server require:

Windows Server 2003; SQL Server 2005, Standard Edition; and Microsoft Excel 2007.

These products in addition to all applicable service packs and updates should be installed prior to the installation of the FactoryTalk VantagePoint Server.

The Windows Server should be configured as an Application Server and a member of the domain (if applicable to your organization). If you are using a domain, it is recommended that you be logged onto the server where you will be installing VantagePoint as a domain user that has local administrator rights on the server.

Install the FactoryTalk VantagePoint Server The VantagePoint DVD contains installation files for both VantagePoint and VantagePoint EMI versions of the software. Depending on the version you want to install, you must navigate to the appropriate VantagePoint folder prior to running the setup program.

To install VantagePoint navigate to the VantagePoint folder. Run the setup program (setup.exe) on the target machine. Select Install VantagePoint Server and FactoryTalk Services Platform, and follow the instructions on the screen.

Note:

A detailed description of the options on this screen can be found in the VantagePoint install options.htm file located in the VantagePoint folder on the DVD.


This is the start screen for installing VantagePoint. The installation process will automatically install any of the prerequisites if they are not present with the exception of MS SQL Server and MS Excel. Prerequisites that will be installed include:

NET Framework 2.0 ASPNET 2.0 AJAX Extensions 1.0 FactoryTalk Activation Server FactoryTalk Services Platform PI-SDK OPC Core Components

To install VantagePoint EMI navigate to the VantagePoint EMI folder. Run the setup program (setup.exe) on the target machine. There are two options when installing the VantagePoint EMI Server.

Install VantagePoint Server and FactoryTalk Services Platform

- Select this option if you want to install VantagePoint Server and connect FactoryTalk products.

Install VantagePoint Server Only

- Select this option if you do not want to connect FactoryTalk products via VantagePoint. The FactoryTalk Services Platform can be installed at a later date.

Note:

A detailed description of the options on this screen can be found in the VantagePoint install options.htm file located in the VantagePoint EMI folder on the DVD.


This is the start screen for installing VantagePoint EMI. The installation process will automatically install any of the prerequisites if they are not present with the exception of MS SQL Server and MS Excel. Prerequisites that will be installed include:

NET Framework 2.0 ASPNET 2.0 AJAX Extensions 1.0 FactoryTalk Activation Server FactoryTalk Services Platform PI-SDK OPC Core Components

Note:

Several SQL Server databases are created during the VantagePoint installation.

When the installation completes you will have access to the VantagePoint Portal (Portal). On the VantagePoint Server, the applications that comprise a VantagePoint System can be found under the start program group: Start | All Programs | Rockwell Software | FactoryTalk VantagePoint.

When the installation of VantagePoint completes, the Portal will automatically open. From the Portal you can launch the other applications that are part of the VantagePoint System from shortcuts on the Homepage or from the Portal Menu. These applications typically run on a client computer and will download on demand.


Step 2: License Activation

FactoryTalk Activation VantagePoint utilizes FactoryTalk Activation. In order for your VantagePoint System to be operational, you must complete the FactoryTalk Activation Process. If your VantagePoint Server has access to the Internet, you can complete the activation process via the Activation Wizard which is accessed from the FactoryTalk Activation Tool (Start | All Programs | Rockwell Software | FactoryTalk Activation | FactoryTalk Activation Tool). If using the Activation Wizard, the FactoryTalk Activation Tool needs to be run on the VantagePoint Server.

If you do not have access to the Internet from the VantagePoint Server, you can complete the activation process from a computer with access to the Internet via the website https://licensing.software.rockwell.com. Refer to the FactoryTalk Activation Help File or the Activate Rockwell Software Products booklet for additional information.

The FactoryTalk Activation Tool is used to complete the activation process. You will require the information on the license certificate in order to complete the process (Serial Number & Product). If you do not have access to the Internet from the VantagePoint Server, you will need to complete the process via the licensing website.

VantagePoint utilizes capacity based licensing which requires the FactoryTalk Activation Server. The FactoryTalk Activation Server is installed during the installation of the VantagePoint Server and runs on the same server. When completing the activation process, the generated license file(s) must be located in folder searched by the activation server.


If you complete the activation process via the website (rather than use the Activation Wizard) you will need to copy the downloaded license file (xxx.lic) to a folder that is being searched by the local activation server.

On Windows Server 2003 the default folder is:

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Rockwell Automation\Activations\

Initializing the License on VantagePoint After you have completed FactoryTalk Activation, VantagePoint Manager (Manager) is used to update VantagePoint with the licensing information from the FactoryTalk Activation Server (Start | All Programs | Rockwell Software | FactoryTalk VantagePoint | Manager). This step must be completed on the VantagePoint Server (not by running Manager from a remote client). Select Reactivate License from the Configuration menu in order for the VantagePoint Server to check for new FactoryTalk Activations. (This menu item is only available in Manager when it is run on the VantagePoint Server.)

Manager is used to administer the entire VantagePoint System. There is a menu item License Activation under Configuration to update the license used by VantagePoint. This step is done after the FactoryTalk Activation process has been completed.


Click Reactivate on this dialog in order for VantagePoint to request licenses from the FactoryTalk Activation Server. If no valid VantagePoint licenses are available from the FactoryTalk Activation Server, an error message will be displayed. Adding a new license to VantagePoint will cause the server to stop/restart briefly.

Using Manager you can confirm what license is being used by VantagePoint. Select the leaf License under the System Folder. You should see the License Type specified as Permanent. If you were running under a Grace Period license, the License type should be displayed as Grace Period.

Note:

When first installed, VantagePoint will use a Grace Period License if the FactoryTalk Activation has not been completed. The Grace Period License allows the system to run for 7 days from the time of the initial installation. The expiration date of the Grace Period License is displayed in Manager and in the Help About on each of the VantagePoint applications.

For VantagePoint and VantagePoint EMI, a Grace Period License activates VantagePoint functionality and sets the capacities to 5x Named Users, 5x 3rd Party Real-time Connector Instances and 5x 3rd Party Historian Connector Instances. There is no restriction on the number of FactoryTalk Live and FactoryTalk Historian connectors that can be configured. In addition, a Grace Period License limits tag creation to 50 calculation tags, 50 Incuity tags and 100 storage tags.

The FactoryTalk Activation Server will not start if a valid VantagePoint license is not found.


The FactoryTalk Activation Server runs as a service. After the activation process is completed you can close the FactoryTalk Activation Tool.

The reactivate process from VantagePoint Manager needs to be completed each time you add additional capacity to the system through FactoryTalk Activation.

Additional licenses for VantagePoint can be purchased to: o Add additional Named User Licenses; o Add 3rd Party Real-time Connector Instance(s); and o Add 3rd Party Historian Connector Instance(s).

Assigning Named User Licenses VantagePoint Named User Licenses are automatically assigned to users as they connect to the VantagePoint Server. Manager can be used to pre-assign users or change which users have been assigned a VantagePoint Named User License.

User Licenses are configured through Manager. Browse to the leaf Named Users to see a list of the users who have been assigned licenses.

To delete a user that has been assigned a license, you can right click and select delete from the menu. If this user connects to the VantagePoint Server again, they would automatically be assigned a license if one was available.


Step 3: Configuring Connectors

Connecting to Data Sources To view and analyze your manufacturing data, you will need to configure the VantagePoint Server to connect to your production data sources. This configuration is done using Manager. (Manager is used to manage the entire VantagePoint System including configuration of the model and security.)

Manager can be started from the Portal (there is a short-cut on the default homepage or via the Portal menu Tools | Manager). In the model browser expand the System node and then the Sources node to list the connector types available. Right click on the desired connector, choose New|Item and let the wizard guide you through the installation process.

Connectors can be configured to access data from:

FactoryTalk Live Data Sources (Logix controllers, PLC, SLC, etc.) FactoryTalk Historian FactoryTalk Alarm & Events History 3rd Party Real-time Sources (through FactoryTalk Live Data-OPC DA connector) 3rd Party Historian Sources (through OPC HDA, IndustrialSQL Server, GE Proficy Historian, OSI PI)

VantagePoint Simulator A simulator is installed with VantagePoint so that you can begin learning the product before you have it attached to your plant data sources. Several instances of the simulator are created during the installation. Additional instances can be created by right clicking on the Simulator node and selecting Create Instance.

Configuring FactoryTalk Data Sources FactoryTalk VantagePoint supports connection to FactoryTalk Live Data, FactoryTalk Historian and FactoryTalk Alarm and Event data sources. FactoryTalk data sources must be configured appropriately prior to referencing the data in VantagePoint.

The flow chart below illustrates how to configure FactoryTalk data sources such that the data can be referenced by VantagePoint. This example uses RSLinx Enterprise which is the recommended and preferred data server for communicating with Rockwell Automation controllers (Control Logix, PLC-5, SLC-5 etc.). RSLinx Enterprise installation files can be found in the Resources|RSLinxE folder on the VantagePoint DVD.


Configuring FactoryTalk Data Sources Flowchart

Begin

Does your environment contain an existing

FactoryTalk Directory?

Connecting Rockwell Automation data sources to VantagePoint that are not associated with a FactoryTalk Directory.

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION CONTROLLERS(ControlLogix, PLC-5, SLC-5, ETC)

o Install RSLinx Enterpriseo Using RSLinx Enterprise,

create a Device Shortcut that links directly to the underlying control devices.

o Reference the data item via the Device Shortcut in VantagePoint Manager.

To learn more about creating a Device Shortcut using RSLinx Enterprise, please review the RSLinx Enterprise Getting Results Guide located in the Resources folder on the VantagePoint installation DVD.

FACTORYTALK HISTORIAN

Use the VantagePoint Standalone FactoryTalk Historian connector to reference data items from a FactoryTalk Historian.

For additional information, please review the VantagePoint Help topic .

If your environment contains more than one Factory Talk Directory you have 2 options for VantagePoint connectivity.

OPTION 1

Using RSLinx Enterprise, create Device Shortcuts that links directly to underlying control devices. Reference these data items via the Device Shortcut in the VantagePoint Manger.

Use the VantagePoint Standalone FactoryTalk Historian connector to reference data items from a FactoryTalk Historian.

OPTION 2

Create a new application on one of the existing directories that contains all Resources, PLCs, Historians, Alarm & Events etc.

Set the Directory name in VantagePoint to join the existing FT Directory that contains the application created above.

NO

Does your environment contain more that one FactoryTalk

Directory?

If your environment contains one FactoryTalk Directory, set the Directory name in VantagePoint to join the existing FT Directory.

If necessary, you may need to use the FactoryTalk Directory Server Location Utility to ensure that VantagePoint points to the correct FT Directory.

For additional information, please review the VantagePoint Help topic

NO

YES

YES

End Note:

FactoryTalk VantagePoint does not support browsing the online folder of RSLinx Classic or connectivity to a PI collective.

When using the VantagePoint FactoryTalk Historian Connector, the following two conditions must be met: 1. A Trust needs to exist between the VantagePoint Server and the machine hosting the Historian before

creating this connector. 2. The machine hosting the target Historian must be added to the PI-SDK on the VantagePoint Sever

machine. If your environment requires RSLinx Classic, please consult the product documentation or contact Rockwell

Technical Support for further assistance.


Connecting to FactoryTalk Data Sources To ensure that VantagePoint selects the correct FactoryTalk Directory, you must use the FactoryTalk Directory Server Location Utility to change directories prior to creating a data source connection in VantagePoint. See Add a FactoryTalk Connector in the Online Help for more information on this topic.

Browse to the type of connector you would like to create an instance of. The connectors available on your system are found under the leaf System|Sources.

The configuration wizard for each type of connector is different based on the requirements of the data source.

The first step in creating a FactoryTalk Connector is to confirm the Factory Talk directory location for the items you wish to import. This name is displayed in the Directory host field. If necessary, you may need to use the FactoryTalk Directory Server Location Utility to ensure that VantagePoint points to the correct FactoryTalk Directory.

VantagePoint requires a FactoryTalk User account to connect to the FactoryTalk Directory. VantagePoint can create a new user for this purpose and automatically assign necessary rights within FactoryTalk Security to operate correctly. If you choose an existing FactoryTalk User account, that user account must be a member of the FactoryTalk Administrators and FTHAdministrators groups for VantagePoint to operate.


Once the credentials have been verified, the new connector is created. In VantagePoint Manager the structure for the new connector has been created with the default name of the FactoryTalk Directory machine name. Finishing at this point will leave the connector configured and you can import data at later time.

The FactoryTalk Import Wizard provides three choices for importing:

FactoryTalk Live Data Tags FactoryTalk Historian Tags FactoryTalk Alarms and Events Information

For the purpose of this Quick Start Guide we will choose to import Live Data.

When importing FactoryTalk Live Data tags you can choose to import structures from a Logix controller as VantagePoint Types or just import controller tags as simple data items. When importing structures from a Logix controller, the import wizard will search the associated controller offline file (.ACD file) and locate structures which VantagePoint can map to existing pre-defined Types or create new User Types to map to the selected User Defined structures in the controller program. The advantage of importing these structure definitions is for using them when building report templates and leveraging the context of the data within the structures as a single entity. Refer to the VantagePoint Help for additional information.

If you choose to import the FactoryTalk Live Data as simple data items you will be able to create your own Trends, Dashboards and other reports against these items in VantagePoint. These "simple" items are not associated with any Type structures in VantagePoint but still can be referenced as data elements in custom built reports.


VantagePoint makes it relatively easy to import simple tags from Logix controllers and other data servers. These items are brought into the VantagePoint Model with a flat structure.

The first step is to browse the FT Directory for the device items you want to import. Move the selected item to the right pane and determine whether sub-folders should be included.

In this example we have selected to import simple items associated with a Counter and a Timer.


You can specify a filtering condition to limit what is imported.

Click Finish to complete the import wizard.

You have now successfully configured your VantagePoint System to provide data from a Logix Controller. You can find the items that you imported into VantagePoint under the MyEnterprise|FactoryTalk folder.

This view of the VantagePoint Model is available from each of the Applications. Notice the simple data items that were imported with CIPCounter[0].


Using VantagePoint After the VantagePoint Server has been installed and the FactoryTalk Activation process completed, everything can be done from a remote client. VantagePoint has been designed so that all of the administration tasks including connector configuration and building your model can be done from a remote client. You no longer need to work on the computer that is running the VantagePoint Server.

Casual users will be able to begin by browsing to the Portal. From the Portal they will be able to view any reports, trends, dashboards, etc. that have been saved to the model. They can start using the applications Trend and XY Plotter by starting them from the Portal (through links on the Homepage or from the menu items) and using them for ad hoc analysis of the data that VantagePoint exposes.

Installing Client Applications Administrators and users creating content that will be shared through the Portal will want perform a client installation on the computer that they will be accessing the VantagePoint Server from. The client install is initiated from the Portal menu (Tools | Install Excel Add-in).

The client install is required to use the Excel Add-in on your computer. The install also:

Installs the Excel Office Add-in; Establishes a Full Trust between the client computer and the VantagePoint Server (this is required to use

Manager to perform certain administration functions remotely); and Adds Start Menu items for each of the VantagePoint Applications.

Depending on your network configuration you may also experience improved performance of the VantagePoint applications if the client install has been completed.

Portal The Portal is where users can go to see what is in their VantagePoint System. Users can browse to the portal via the address: http://YourServerName/VantagePointPortal. The Portal has preconfigured reports generated by the analytic tools; Trend and XY Plotter, as well as preconfigured reports and dashboards.

This is the default Portal Homepage. It can be easily modified through a rich text editor that is built into the Portal. If you have Portal Administrative rights there will be a link to modify the Homepage.


You can browse the Portal content from the Reports menu. Some sample content based on the built-in simulator is included. There are also components that can be used to build your own reports in the Report Library folder.

The data displayed in a report can be modified through the Parameters Tab.


Trend Trend is a client application that runs in an Internet Browser and allows you to query data and plot them on a graphical display. Trend relies on the VantagePoint Server to present data from multiple sources in an orderly fashion, allowing you to navigate to specific data, and then plot that data.

Key features include:

Data can be trended over an historical period of time, a pre-set period of time, or in real time. Can display and compare multiple tags concurrently independent of the data source of the tags. Can be saved as time-periods, or batches, and used to compare trends over different time periods.

Once you have selected a tag, or multiple tags, you can manipulate the data in a graph in a variety of ways, including panning, zooming, and scaling. Trends that are configured can be published to the VantagePoint Model and available to other users through the Portal.

Trend can be used as a desktop application and will download on demand from the VantagePoint Server. After trends have been configured they are Published to the Model. The trends can be re-opened in Trend or used via Portal.

After a Trend has been published to the Model, users can access the Trend through the Portal.


XY Plotter XY Plotter is a client application that can run in an Internet Browser and displays the relationship between two items selected from the model. It supports analyzing data from multiple tag pairs over multiple time periods.

Key features include:

Users can easily identify the boundaries that define normal or optimal conditions for a trace, by employing user-defined shapes.

Determine if a Tag Pair is outside of a defined boundary.

XY Plots that are configured can be published to the VantagePoint Model and available to other users through the Portal.

XY Plotter can be used as a desktop application and will download on demand from the VantagePoint Server. After plots have been configured they are Published to the Model. The published plots can be re-opened in XY Plotter or used via the Portal.

After a plot has been published to the Model, users can access it through the Portal.


Excel The Office Excel Office Add-In is the tool that end users will want to use to fully exploit the power of VantagePoint. Users can:

Create powerful reports that use data from anything in the VantagePoint Model. Build content for the VantagePoint Portal available to anyone in your organization with access to a browser

When working on a client machine it is necessary to install the Excel Office Add-in. This can be done from a menu item on the VantagePoint Portal.

The Excel Office Add-in requires installation on the client computer. The install can be launched via the Portal. A new menu item will be added to your instance of Excel under the menu item Add-Ins.

The Excel Office Add-in provides a series of wizards for adding any of the data that is available from the VantagePoint Model into Excel.

Reports and analysis created in Excel can be Published to the VantagePoint Model. These reports are available to other users through the Portal.


This is the same report shown above being viewed from the Portal. From the Portal, a user can open and update the report without needing anything more than a browser. Depending on how the report is created in Excel, Parameters can be created allowing the same report to be used to analyze data for a different time period, piece of equipment, process variable, etc.

Dashboard Builder The VantagePoint Dashboard Builder adds a rich visualization on top of the reports and analysis that can be created with Excel. VantagePoint uses Xcelsius Engage 2008 for creating dashboards. You will need to install Xcelsius if you want to create new dashboards and add them to your VantagePoint System. Once the dashboards have been created, they are available for anyone to use through the Portal. VantagePoint includes a library of pre-built dashboards.

Dashboard Builder is purchased as an optional component of a VantagePoint System and has a separate installation program. When you purchase Dashboard Builder you will be provided with an installation code (it does not use FactoryTalk Activation). You may try the Dashboard Builder using the following 30-day trial installation code:

CR51K-8V5W2V7-0M0MPU3-X277

Note:

Dashboard Builder requires a version of Microsoft Excel that supports XML Maps. Versions of Microsoft Excel that support XML Maps include MS Office Professional 2003, 2007 and MS Office Enterprise 2007.


Dashboard Builder allows rich visualization to be added to the data that is available from VantagePoint. When creating a dashboard, data is first brought into Excel and manipulated as required. A library of controls is available to display the data. Excel is used from with Xcelsius and requires that the Office Excel Add-In has been installed.

After dashboards have been created in Dashboard Builder, they are available for anyone to use through the Portal. Generic dashboards can be created utilizing the Model.

Manager VantagePoint Manager is the tool used to configure and manage a VantagePoint Server. The targeted audiences of this application are people who will develop and maintain the VantagePoint Model, the VantagePoint Server, and associated services such as Security Management.


Next Steps This guide has given you a quick introduction to the basic VantagePoint functionality. Use the online help for more information about:

Trend

XY Plotter

Excel Office Add-in

Portal Customization

Using the Type Builder

Building Your Model

Managing Security

Upgrading to FactoryTalk VantagePoint EMI VantagePoint has been designed so that you will be able to upgrade your system to VantagePoint EMI allowing you to expand your model and analysis capabilities. Some of the capabilities that VantagePoint EMI will add to your system include:

Ability to access data from databases including Oracle, MS SQL Server and data that can be accessed through OLEDB and ODBC.

Unlimited tag creation

Advanced Security

Advanced Portal capabilities

Visit www.incuity.com for more information.


System Machine Configuration Recommendations The VantagePoint product requires version 2.0 of .Net and only supports installation onto 32 bit operating systems.

System Server

Software MS Windows Server 2003 MS SQL Server 2005 MS Office 2007 Internet Explorer v7 or 8 IIS v6 .Net 2.0 (included with install) ASP.Net 2.0 AJAX Extensions 1.0 (included in install) Note: MS Windows XP and Office 2003 are suitable for demonstration purposes only and are not supported on production systems.

Hardware 2.5 GHz 2 GB Hard Drive Space 2048 MB RAM

Full Client

Software Windows Vista, XP , or 2003 Server MS Office Windows 2007 or 2003 -For Dashboard development: Office 2007 or Office 2003 Professional Edition Internet Explorer v6, 7 or 8 .Net 2.0 Framework Xcelsius 2008 (for Dashboard development) Adobe Flash Player (for Dashboard viewing)

Hardware 1.5 GHz 100 MB Hard Drive Space 512 MB RAM

Browser Client

Software .Net 2.0 Internet Explorer v6, 7 or 8 Adobe Flash Player (for Dashboard viewing)

Copyright 2009 Incuity Software, a Division of Rockwell Automation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.This program is protected by U.S. and International copyright laws as described in the about box.

VantagePoint Getting Results GuideStep 1: Installing FactoryTalk VantagePoint ServerPreparing the FactoryTalk VantagePoint Server MachineNetwork ConsiderationsServer Platform Considerations

Install the FactoryTalk VantagePoint Server

Step 2: License ActivationFactoryTalk ActivationInitializing the License on VantagePointAssigning Named User Licenses

Step 3: Configuring ConnectorsConnecting to Data SourcesVantagePoint Simulator

Configuring FactoryTalk Data SourcesConnecting to FactoryTalk Data Sources

Using VantagePointInstalling Client ApplicationsPortalTrendXY PlotterExcelDashboard BuilderManager

Next StepsUpgrading to FactoryTalk VantagePoint EMISystem Machine Configuration Recommendations