User Archives and Database Software

You can do this without using any additional software.

You could createa database within the WinCC MS SQL Server instance and within it create a table. You could then use SQL commands / stored proceduresto move the data between the two databases. You can then view the data in WinCC either using VBS / ADO scripts to query the local SQL Server database and populate tags / IOFields / Static Texts / etc. OR you can use an ActiveX grid control.If you have MS Office installed then you get a few good choices. Alternatively you can program your own or find one on the internet.

Basically, using User Archives makes it a lot easier to view the data in WinCC. However as you have noticed it doesn't really make use of the database connectivity. Even though it is possible, I personally would not recommend using direct SQL calls to a User Archive table. This is because it is unsupported and as it's stored in the WinCC runtime database there is a small possibility that it could corrupt your project !

I hope this makes clear the two options you have. The first is fully in your control, avoids extra software licences, but increases the engineering time. The second will involve an extra licence, use of CSV files instead of database-to-database connectivity and a pre-programmed interface.

Regards,
Salma

As a point of interest, when programming your own solution instead of using the User Archives, the Connectivity Pack is not needed. This isbecauseyou are not accessing the WinCC databases (alarm logging / tag logging / user archives ) but instead using your own database.

Also as all work is being done on the WinCC machine, there is no need to purchase a WinCC CAL either.

This is my understanding anyway [:)]

Various providers provide interfaces which can be used to access data on the

database. These interfaces also enable direct access to archive databases from

WinCC. In direct access you can for instance read off process values which you

can then process further in spreadsheet programs.

The process values are partly stored in the archive databases in compressed

form. Use the WinCC OLE DB Provider in order to access the compressed

process values. In the case of data which is not compressed and data in the

message archiving, the ADO/OLE DB interfaces form Microsoft can also be used,

for example. You can use programming languages such as Visual Basic or Visual

C++.

In addition to the ADO/OLE DB interface, access to non-compressed data can

also be made using the ODBC interface to access data in the archive databases.

When making direct access to the archive database using ADO/OLE DB or

ODBC, please note that the table structure in a new WinCC version may be

different.

Further information on this topic is available in Internet under:

• "http://www.microsoft.com/data/oledb/default.htm" and

• "http://www.microsoft.com/data/odbc/default.htm".

OPC (OLE for Process Control) provides interface ports for communication with

process automation systems. Using the OPC interface, devices and applications

from various manufacturers can be connected to each other in a uniform way.

WinCC can be implemented as an OPC client in order to access process data or

messages on an OPC server. If WinCC is implemented as an OPC server, it can

be used to manage archive data.

Further information on this topic is available:

• In "WinCC Information System" under "Communication" > "OPC",

• In the "WinCC Information System" under "System Overview" > "Openness"

• In Internet under "http://www.opcfoundation.org"