Vision Library+ / Event Frames & downtime
Playback
The Playback Tool lets you systematically replay historical data in PI Vision. Unlike the standard time bar, it provides precise control over the display window size, step increments, and playback speed — making it well suited for Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and detailed process reviews.
Overview
The Playback Tool lets you systematically replay historical data in PI Vision. Unlike the standard time bar, it provides precise control over the display window size, step increments, and playback speed — making it well suited for Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and detailed process reviews.
Overview & Controls
The top section contains the playback controls and the timeline progress bar.
- Current Time — the large timestamp at the top shows the End Time of the data currently visible on the display.
- Progress Slider — shows your position within the defined Start and End range. Drag the slider to scrub through the timeline manually.
- Control Buttons:
- Go to Start — jumps the display immediately to the configured Start time.
- Step Back — moves the display backward by one Step Size.
- Play / Pause — starts or stops automatic playback.
- Step Forward — moves the display forward by one Step Size.
- Go to End — jumps the display immediately to the configured End time.
- Loop Mode — when enabled (shown highlighted in blue), playback restarts automatically from the beginning after reaching the end.
Configuration
The bottom section defines the behavior and range of the playback session.
- Display Span — the window size of data shown on screen at any moment (for example, 1 hour).
- Step Size — how far the time moves forward with each tick or click (for example, 12 minutes).
- Tip: If Step Size is smaller than Display Span, the view overlaps between steps, ensuring no data is missed during replay.
- Step Interval (s) — controls playback speed in seconds. A lower value means faster playback.
- Start / End — define the total boundaries of the playback session.
- Reset to Display Time — reads the current time range from the PI Vision display and automatically populates Start, End, Span, and Step Size with smart defaults.
Features & Shortcuts
Smart Synchronization
The tool is context-aware. If you manually zoom or pan on a PI Vision trend while the tool is open:
- Playback automatically pauses to prevent interference.
- The tool's internal pointer and slider sync to match the new time range you selected on the display.
Keyboard Shortcuts
When the tool is open, use the keyboard for quick navigation:
- Right Arrow (→) — Step Forward.
- Left Arrow (←) — Step Back.
- Spacebar — toggle Play/Pause.
