Start the Software

Double click

on the Data Explorer shortcut icon on your desktop to start Data Explorer (or under Start > Programs > Rockwell Software > Data Explorer 2.1.0.

Create a New Project by

entering

a name (e.g. TechEd) and

selecting

OK.

Data Explorer is open. We need to add data from various sources such as csv or EXCEL common extraction formats from different archives.

Select

the “Import to Dataset” (Wizard) icon and “Import to Dataset”. The data importer is very flexible (to support all format types, but some steps are involved).

Select

Yes.

Select

Browse, “This PC”, “OSDisc (C:)” or other. And make a folder for training or tutorial and select “OK”.

From the wizard we must first select the files to import.

Select

Add.

Move

to the C:\Program Files\Rockwell Software\FactoryTalk Analytics Data Explorer\2.1\samples folder and

Select

TurbineEmissionsAnalyzer.xls, and TurbinePlantData.csv and

click

Open. For simplicity in the lab (i.e. consistency with graphic images) select files in the order shown (TurbineEmissionsAnalyzer first).

You may use Ctrl-Click for multi-select or Shift-Click for range select, open to complete your data file list.

Select

the middle, second sheet on your XLS format file of emissions, “UnitNH3”. Then

select

“Remove”. We will in this tutorial skip the SCR data.

Select

“Next”. Data import will be set up sequentially.

Select

Next.

Note that the wizard steps you through formatting steps to interpret your data properly (as intended). The first step is a raw file list/preview. There are cases where understanding how the raw data appears is useful in the ‘File Structure’ step. Note Turbine Emissions Analyzer data is captured every 30 seconds.

Select

Next.

The first step determines the column delimiter with an attempt at automatic detection (correctly here as a comma). Header rows are generally the label (Name) assumed first full header row. Properties (may be more than one that contain column information/not data) or Skip. Green are editable fields on the wizard.

Select

Next. Note your timezone may be different than shown.

Confirm

that the identified column formats (initial estimate) are correct. Note that the date/time format interpreted (column 1) is not correct.

Select

the Data Type under the first Column and

change

it from “String” to “DateTime”.

Select the Format Date option and update date time format to match to actual date time format. Modify Date Time Format as shown to match the uploaded data.

Scroll

to the right to check further columns.

Note the red highlighted tags indicated as ‘Unknown’ tags. Values that are blank for the initial (lengthy) period are Unknown (and red). As these tags are ppmvd and %vd (parts per million, volumetric dry and percent volumetric dry) units, we will assume these are not string tags, but Double (real) tags that are gathered (measured or archived) after the start of our data collection.

Change

each DataType to “Double” by

selecting

“Choose Data Types” button (default will be Float) or

select

the first leftmost red format,

scroll

to the far right format and

select-the-range

with a Shift-left-mouse click. Then

press

your spacebar and select “Double-Float”.

Select

Next. Once the active progress step no longer shows a problem (red-X).

Or (

mouse click

on leftmost Unknown,

scroll

right,

Shift-mouse click

, then spacebar &

select

Double-Float) and

Select

OK.

A caution icon in the far left column and yellow highlighted fields indicates there is an uncertainty and indicates this column may be (and is) our Time Column. You should select “Reassign Date and Time” to change or modify individual (Yellow) columns.

Where more than one Time column was available, you could select other than the first, leftmost Time Column (the default).

Select

Next.

You may label ‘other’ Properties by

selecting

the label assigned “Property2” and changing it to your preference.

Enter

the text Units (or your preference).

Select

Next.

Assigning a property name that is common across multiple data files allows you to use (e.g. on labels) or search for common data based on selected properties. This will be more and more useful as the available types of meta-data (data about your data) can be used to set up streaming applications.

Review

your format.

Confirm Time and other cells appear correct. Note you may return to any step by selecting the wizard progress tree on the left if needed to correct a step. You may also return to this step once corrections are made. If all looks correct,

select

“Next” to proceed to the next data file and “Next”

again

to start with our second File Structure specification. Plant data is gathered every 5 seconds.

Change

row 1 to ‘Column Name’.

Select

Next.

The import selected row 2 to Name, because of problems we’ll correct next on row 1. Only one row can be a name, so once Row 1 is selected, Row 2 is changed automatically to a Property.

Note

that the DateTime format appears correct, but there is a problem indicated (red X) with potentially other problems indicated by the Red X.

Scroll

right with the bottom scroll bar until the first problem is indicated.

The first problem we see is about halfway across. An unknown column type (labelled %), indicates “Data Type Must be selected”. Because we want to

change

this to Double-Float

select

“Choose Data Types” from the box in the upper right.

Continue scrolling

to the far right.

More Red columns after about two thirds of the columns and at the far right, indicate a problems with the column Names. You may

put

your cursor over the red cell and a pop-up detailed error message indicates that names 'cannot contain the character (")'. The string text within the csv ends with double “(one for end of string, one for inches H2O). The last column (if you

put

your cursor over the error indicator) indicates a duplicate name of a previous column.

Select

“Correct Column Names”, which fixes these issues (duplicate names with _2). Alternatively you may edit duplicate or non-allowed name strings where desired.

Select

Next twice (or simply select the next “Define Custom Properties”).

Change

the Property Names to “Hist Tag” and “Units”. You may

select

“Start Import” or select Next. You may always jump to any previous step to repair data prior to import.