What's the best way to learn PI System?
What's the best way to learn PI System?
Learning PI System is most effective when you follow a structured path from fundamentals to advanced topics.
Phase 1: Foundations (Week 1-2)
Understand the Architecture
- Learn what PI Data Archive, PI AF, and PI Vision do
- Understand tags, archives, compression, and snapshots
- Know how data flows from source to display
Hands-On: PI Vision
- Navigate the AF hierarchy in PI Vision
- Create basic trend displays
- View current values and historical data
Phase 2: Data Access (Week 3-4)
PI DataLink
- Install and use PI DataLink in Excel
- Query current values, compressed data, and calculated data
- Build a simple report template
PI System Explorer
- Navigate the AF model
- Understand elements, attributes, and templates
- Create a simple template with PI Point data references
Phase 3: Configuration (Month 2)
AF Modeling
- Design an asset hierarchy for a small use case
- Create templates with substitution parameters
- Build basic analytics (averages, totals, conditionals)
- Create event frames for batch or alarm tracking
PI Administration
- Create and configure PI tags
- Understand security (mappings, trusts, point security)
- Monitor system health with PI SMT
Phase 4: Development (Month 3+)
Choose Your Path
- PI Web API — if you're building web apps or integrations
- AF SDK — if you're building .NET tools or high-performance apps
- PI DataLink / Power BI — if you're focused on analytics and reporting
Resources
- AVEVA Learning (learning.aveva.com) — official courses and certifications
- PI Square (pisquare.osisoft.com) — community forums
- YouTube — AVEVA PI System channel has tutorials and webinars
- PiSharp — articles, guides, and PiChat for instant help
Tips
- Get access to a test PI System — hands-on practice is essential
- Start with PI Vision to visualize data before diving into configuration
- Focus on AF modeling early — it's the foundation for everything else
- Don't try to learn everything at once — pick one area and go deep
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