Navigation Button+ for AVEVA PI Vision

PI Vision navigation button with time and asset context

Give operators one clear, labelled button that opens another PI Vision display or a website. Navigation Button+ can hand over the display time range and the AF asset context, so the target opens on the same period and equipment.

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Navigation Button+ in PI Vision: four navigation buttons, Pump details, Last shift with a clock icon, an icon-only dashboard button and Operating procedure with a document icon, next to the General settings of the configuration pane with a static display link, Open in New Tab, a custom time range from *-8h to * and a custom AF asset passed as root
Navigation Button+ v2.0 in PI Vision with its configuration pane. Demo display. Select the image to enlarge.

Pass the time range and asset context to the target display

Open the target already showing the right period and the right equipment, instead of making operators set them again.

Open the target on the right time range

Keep the period operators are looking at, or open a fixed review window such as the last shift.

  • Display Time Range hands over the current display start and end time.
  • Custom Time Range opens a fixed range with PI time expressions, such as *-8h to *.
  • Set it per button, so a summary display can offer both.
  • Combine it with the asset context in the same link.
Navigation Button+ General settings with a static display link, Open in New Tab, Set start and end time switched on and Custom time range from *-8h to *
A fixed eight-hour range handed to the target display. Select the image to enlarge.

Open the target on the right asset

Build drill-downs from a summary display to the detail display of one pump, turbine or line.

  • Use Current Asset passes the asset; Use Current Asset as Root makes it the root of the target’s asset tree.
  • Display Asset uses the asset of the display; Custom Asset uses an AF element path you type or drag onto the field.
  • The target display needs asset-relative data sources to follow the context.
Navigation Button+ Set asset context with Use current asset as root and Custom Asset set to an AF element path under Plant 1 Facility
An AF element passed to the target display as the root asset. Demo data. Select the image to enlarge.

Navigation button styles, icons and tooltips

Make every action recognisable at a glance and consistent with the rest of the display.

Labels, icons and tooltips operators recognise

Tell operators what a button does before they select it.

  • Your own button text and font size.
  • An icon from the built-in icon library, found with Search for icons, left of or above the text, in a preset or custom size.
  • An icon-only button when the text is left empty.
  • A tooltip of your own that tells operators where the button leads.
Four Navigation Button+ buttons: Pump details in the High Contrast theme with the icon left of the text, Last shift in Steel Blue with a gradient surface and the icon above, an icon-only dashboard button and Operating procedure in the Light theme with a framed container
Labels, icons, themes and container styles. Demo display. Select the image to enlarge.

Themes that match the display

Start from a shared Vision Library+ theme or set every colour yourself.

  • Built-in themes such as PI Vision, Steel Blue, Midnight, Light and High Contrast, with a flat or gradient surface.
  • Container styles None, Flat, Card, Framed or Glass.
  • A custom theme with your own background, foreground and border colours and font.
  • Apply to all symbols copies the look to the other Vision Library+ symbols on the display.
Navigation Button+ Style settings with the theme grid, Surface Flat or Gradient, Container Style, Apply to all symbols, Text, Tooltip, Font Size and the icon search showing results for file
Button style settings. Select the image to enlarge.

PI Vision navigation button examples

Four common ways teams use Navigation Button+ on their displays.

Asset drill-down

Data
A summary display of pumps or turbines
Settings
Static link to the detail display, Set Asset Context: Use Current Asset as Root, Display Time Range
Shows
The detail display on the selected asset and the same period

Last shift review

Data
Any operating display
Settings
Static link to the shift display, Custom Time Range *-8h to *
Shows
The shift display on the last eight hours, whatever the current time range

Operating procedure

Data
An approved procedure or SOP on an internal website
Settings
Static https link, Open in New Tab, file icon and a tooltip with the document name
Shows
The procedure in a new tab while the display stays open

Asset documentation

Data
An AF attribute that holds a manual or maintenance URL per asset
Settings
Source Data Source, Follow Display Asset Context on, Open in New Tab
Shows
The documentation of the asset currently in context

Related symbols: Navigation Menu+ for a menu of many displays, WebView+ to embed a website or display instead of leaving the page, DateTime Picker+ to set the display time range, and Asset Select+ to choose the asset context.

Navigation Button+ FAQ

Questions we are asked most often. Read the Navigation Button+ documentation or ask a technical question.

When should we use Navigation Button+ instead of Navigation Menu+ or PI Vision’s own navigation links?

Use Navigation Button+ for one visible action on a display: a button with its own label, icon, tooltip and theme that opens one display or website, with a link that can also come from a PI Point or AF attribute. Use Navigation Menu+ when a display needs a hierarchy of several links: it builds a navigation bar with menus, highlights the current display and can share one menu definition across many displays. PI Vision’s own navigation links are attached to a symbol that is already on the display; choose Navigation Button+ when the link should be a dedicated, clearly labelled button.

Can the target display open on the same asset and time range?

Yes. Set Start and End Time hands over the current display time range or a custom range such as *-8h to *. Set Asset Context passes the current asset, or makes it the root of the target’s asset tree, taken from the display or from an AF element you choose. The target display follows the asset when its data sources are asset-relative.

Can the destination come from process data?

Yes. With Source set to Data Source, the button reads its URL from a PI Point or AF attribute, for example a manual or maintenance page stored per asset, and Follow Display Asset Context lets it follow the active asset. The value must be the link itself; the button does not translate states such as "Critical" into different destinations.

Can it open external websites and documents?

Yes. A static link or a data source value can point to a website, such as a procedure, report or application, and Open in New Tab keeps the PI Vision display open. Operators need access to the destination; Navigation Button+ does not change any permissions.

What do we need to run it?

PI Vision 2021 or later with PI Web API, and PI AF Server 2018 SP2 or later for AF attributes and asset context. Operators need access to every destination display or website.

How do we get Navigation Button+?

Navigation Button+ is part of Vision Library+, together with the other Vision Library+ symbols. Request a trial to test it in your own PI Vision environment.

Try Navigation Button+ in your PI Vision

Navigation Button+ is included in Vision Library+, the PI Vision custom symbol library from Software Athlete. Test it on your own displays and data.

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