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Understanding Tags

What are Tags?​

Tags are the fundamental data elements in AI SCADA. They represent real-time values from industrial processes - sensor readings, equipment status, control commands, calculated values, and system states.

When to Use Tags?​

Tags are essential for:

  • Process Monitoring: Collect temperature, pressure, flow, and other sensor data
  • Equipment Control: Send commands to valves, motors, and actuators
  • Alarm Management: Trigger alerts when values exceed thresholds
  • Data Logging: Store historical data for trend analysis and compliance
  • Automation: Implement logic control and automated responses
  • Visualization: Display real-time data on HMI views

Tag Types Overview​

AI SCADA supports three main tag categories:

External Tags​

What: Tags that exchange data with physical devices (PLCs, sensors, instruments) or software systems (OPC servers).

When to use:

  • Reading sensor values from field devices
  • Controlling actuators and equipment
  • Integrating with PLCs (Siemens, Mitsubishi, Omron, etc.)
  • Connecting to OPC UA servers
  • Monitoring equipment status and alarms

Key features:

  • Bidirectional data exchange (read/write)
  • Real-time updates (100ms polling cycle)
  • Support for 200+ industrial protocols
  • Automatic quality status monitoring

Internal Tags​

What: Tags created and managed within AI SCADA for calculations, logic, and temporary storage.

When to use:

  • Performing calculations (sum, average, filtering)
  • Implementing control logic and state machines
  • Storing intermediate results
  • Managing timers and counters
  • Data format conversion and mapping

Subtypes:

TypePurposeExample Use Case
Memory TagsGeneral-purpose storageStore production counts, user inputs
I/O Mapping TagsIndirect device accessDecouple views from physical addresses
Logic TagsCalculated valuesTemperature_F = Temperature_C * 1.8 + 32
System TagsPredefined system infoCurrent time, shift, logged-in user

Shared Tags​

What: Tags that read/write values from other AI SCADA instances over the network.

When to use:

  • Multi-station HMI systems sharing data
  • Central monitoring of distributed lines
  • Cross-line quality traceability
  • Coordinated control across multiple systems

Example scenario: Each workstation has an HMI collecting local PLC data. Using Shared Tags, all stations can access each other's data for traceability, and a central PC can monitor the entire production line.

Understanding the Tag Manager Interface​

📷 [Screenshot: Tag Manager showing channel tree, toolbar, and tag list]

The Tag Manager consists of four main areas:

1. Channel Tree (Left Panel)​

Hierarchical organization of tags:

📁 External Channels
  └─ 📡 Modbus_TCP_Line1
      └─ 📂 Temperature_Sensors
      └─ 📂 Pressure_Sensors
📁 Internal Channels
  └─ 🔧 Memory_Tags
  └─ 🔗 IO_Mapping
  └─ ⚙️ Logic_Tags
📁 Shared Channels
  └─ 🌐 Station_A
  └─ 🌐 Station_B

Operations:

  • Add Channel: Click New → Select channel type
  • Add Group: Right-click channel → Add Group
  • Context Menu: Right-click for rename, move, delete options

2. Toolbar (Top)​

Quick access to tag operations:

  • Filter: Search by tag name or filter by data type
  • Add: Create a new tag in the selected group
  • Batch Create: Duplicate a tag multiple times with auto-incrementing names
  • Delete: Remove selected tags
  • Batch Edit: Modify properties of multiple tags at once
  • Export: Save tag configuration to CSV/Excel
  • Import: Load tags from file (Update or Replace mode)
  • Save: Commit changes to the project
  • Reset: Discard unsaved changes
  • Start Debug: Enter live tag monitoring mode

3. Tag List (Center)​

Displays tag properties in a table format. Columns vary by tag type (see detailed sections in other guides).

4. Custom Data Types (Bottom)​

Define structured data types for complex equipment (e.g., motor with speed, current, temperature).

Next Steps​

Now that you understand tag types and the Tag Manager interface, learn how to create and configure tags:

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