How to Build a Daily Shift Log in PI Vision Using Events Table+ and Vision Report+

In many industrial facilities, shift handovers are critical. Operators need a reliable way to log key events, note anomalies, and communicate with supervisors. But traditional methods—paper logbooks, emails, or disconnected systems—can lead to missed information and inefficiencies.

With AVEVA PI Vision and the help of Software Athlete’s Vision Library+ tools, you can build a digital shift log system that is fast, structured, and fully integrated into your PI System.

In this article, we’ll show you how to:

• Automatically create event frames for each shift

• Use Events Table+ in PI Vision to add comments and values

• Generate and distribute automated shift reports with Vision Report+

Let’s dive in.

🔧 Step 1: Automatically Create Shift-Based Event Frames

The foundation of this shift log system is a recurring Event Frame—one for each shift.

Configure a Shift Event Frame Template

1. Open PI System Explorer and navigate to the Event Frame Templates section.

2. Create a new Event Frame Template called Shift Log.

3. Set it up to start every 12 hours (or 8, depending on your shift pattern). Use PI Analysis Event Frame Generation to create these events.

Example Analysis Logic:

4. Configure it to capture the relevant AF Elements (e.g., Unit, Area, Plant).

Optional: Add Attributes to Store Notes and Data

Inside the event frame template, define attributes like:

• Shift Operator Comment (String)

• Safety Issues (String)

• Production Total (Double)

• Downtime Reason (String)

These are where operator inputs will be stored.

🖥️ Step 2: Use Events Table+ to Fill Out the Shift Log in PI Vision

Once event frames are created automatically, operators can use Events Table+ to interact with them directly in PI Vision.

What is Events Table+?

Events Table+ is a powerful enhancement over the standard Event Frame table—it allows operators to edit data directly inside the event frame, including:

• Adding shift comments

• Entering downtime reasons

• Writing to numeric or string AF attributes

How to Configure It

1. Create a new PI Vision display and insert Events Table+.

2. Point it to your Shift Log event frame template.

3. Set the table to edit mode and enable editable columns for the fields you want to expose.

Typical Columns:

4. Configure AF Attribute writing: Each editable field writes to the corresponding attribute inside the event frame.

Operators can now fill out the log in real time—no need for separate tools or notes.

📨 Step 3: Automate Reports with Vision Report+

Now that operators are adding structured data to each shift event, the final step is to summarize and distribute this information.

Introducing Vision Report+

Vision Report+ allows you to generate beautifully formatted reports based on PI Vision displays—including custom symbols like Events Table+.

Here's how to use it for daily shift reporting:

1. Create a report display in PI Vision with Events Table+ configured to show:

   • The latest completed shift

   • All relevant fields entered by the operator

2. Set up Vision Report+ to:

   • Export this display as a PDF

   • Attach it to an email

   • Send it automatically at the end of each shift

3. Define the recipient list (e.g., Shift Manager, Plant Manager, Reliability Engineer).

Report Content Example

Each report includes:

• Shift duration and timestamp

• Operator comments and key notes

• Production numbers

• Downtime events and reasons

• Any safety or maintenance observations

This ensures that everyone stays aligned—even across teams, time zones, or remote sites.

✅ Benefits of the Digital Shift Log

🚀 Get Started

If you're already using PI Vision and the Asset Framework, you’re 90% there. With just a few extensions—Events Table+ and Vision Report+—you can build a robust, automated, and traceable daily shift log system.

Want a demo or help setting this up in your facility?

👉 Contact us at Software Athlete to see how Vision Suite Ultimate can transform your PI Vision dashboards.