OPC write interface to the DeltaV Continuous Historian

Sample clients for the OPC write interface

Two sample applications are provided to demonstrate using the Open Platform Communications (OPC) write interface to the DeltaV Continuous Historian. SampleDataWriterClient_CPP.exe is a command line application written in C++ that relies on Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) communications with the DeltaV OPC HDA server to create history tags and write history samples to the newly-created history tags. SampleDataWriterClient_CS.exe is written in C# and communicates with the DeltaV OPC .NET server through the Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) application programming interface in the .NET Framework.

Both sample applications perform the following sequence of routines:
  • Read a file containing a list of history tags, time stamps, values, and qualities
  • Attempt to create each of the history tags in the DeltaV Continuous Historian database
  • Write history samples to history tags at the specified time stamp with the specified value and quality

Install the sample applications

Important

It is strongly recommended that developing client applications for the OPC write interface to an OPC HDA or OPC .NET server be done on a non-DeltaV workstation.

When installed to the default folder on Windows 10 and Server 2016 operating systems (the required operating systems), the application cannot create the log files when running the sample applications. Therefore, it is recommended that you change the installation to a different folder that you have created.

To install the sample application executables along with their source code to a non-DeltaV workstation computer, run the setup.exe program located in the _Support\OPC Sample Clients\OPC HDA Write Interface folder on DeltaV installation disk #4. By default, the Setup program copies the sample applications to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Emerson Process Management\DeltaV OPC Sample Clients\OPC HDA Write Interface folder.

Installing the sample applications on a non-DeltaV workstation also installs:

  • OPC Remote – required to access the OPC write interface to an OPC HDA server
  • OPC .NET Remote – required to access the OPC write interface to an OPC .NET server
Note

The Setup program does not detect whether Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 Update 4 is installed, but installs any Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 and .NET Framework packages required to work with the sample applications, if necessary.

For more information about using the sample applications, navigate to Emerson Process Management → DeltaV OPC Sample Clients → OPC HDA Write Interface on the Start menu, and then click SampleDataWriter ReadMe.rtf.

Access the OPC write interface from a non-DeltaV workstation

You can access the OPC write interface to an OPC HDA server from a non-DeltaV workstation provided that OPC Remote is installed on the remote workstation and that the DeltaV Continuous Historian workstation being accessed has Windows DCOM Security configured to allow remote client access. For more information about OPC Remote and DCOM setup, refer to the Using OPC and DCOM Setup topics in DeltaV Books Online.

Also, you can access the OPC write interface to an OPC .NET server from a non-DeltaV workstation provided that OPC .NET Remote is installed on the remote workstation.

Note

Installing the sample client applications for the OPC write interface on a non-DeltaV workstation also installs OPC Remote and OPC .NET Remote. To install OPC Remote or OPC .NET Remote on a remote workstation without installing the sample client application for the OPC write interface, run the setup.exe program located in the \DV_Extras\OPCRemote or \DV_Extras\OPC .NET Remote folder on DeltaV installation disk #4.

Alternatively, after developing a production client for the OPC write interface to an OPC HDA or OPC .NET server on a non-DeltaV workstation, you can copy the client application's executable to a DeltaV workstation and run it.

Uninstall the sample applications

To uninstall the sample applications files, complete the following steps:

  1. Open Control Panel, and then click Programs and Features.
  2. Select DeltaV Historian Write Interface Sample Clients in the Name column, and then click Uninstall.
Note

Uninstalling the sample applications files does not uninstall any Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2012 or .NET Framework packages.