Configuring XY Plots in PI Vision Ad Hoc Displays Using URL Parameters

Creating powerful visualizations quickly is one of the hallmarks of PI Vision, and the ad hoc display feature is a fantastic tool for on-the-fly analysis. While it’s relatively straightforward to plot time series trends via ad hoc URLs, configuring advanced symbols like the XY Plot requires a deeper understanding—especially when it comes to pairing X and Y axes via URL parameters. This blog post offers clear guidance on how to configure XY Plots using ad hoc URLs in PI Vision, filling in the gaps left by the standard Live Library documentation.

What Are Ad Hoc URLs in PI Vision?

Ad hoc displays in PI Vision allow users to generate instant visualizations, such as trends or other symbols, simply by visiting a specially crafted URL. This is helpful for sharing quick insights or exploring data interactively without building permanent displays.

The general format looks like:

https://<your-pivision-site>/PIVision/#/Displays/AdHoc?dataItem1=...&dataItem2=...

For trends, this is usually enough, but for XY Plots, some extra configuration is needed.

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XY Plots: Basics and Challenges

The XY Plot symbol in PI Vision plots the relationship between two (or more) data items, mapping one data stream on the X axis and another on the Y axis. The primary challenge when using ad hoc URLs is instructing PI Vision which data item to use for each axis—since, unlike trends, this isn’t automatic.

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Constructing an Ad Hoc URL for an XY Plot

1. Specify Data Items

Start by adding your data items as URL parameters:

dataItem1=af:\\<AFPath1>&dataItem2=af:\\<AFPath2>

2. Select the XY Plot Symbol

By default, ad hoc displays use the Trend symbol. To pre-select the XY Plot, use the symbol parameter:

symbol=XYPlot

3. Configure Axes Pairing

This is the critical piece: You must define how the symbols pair the X and Y data streams. Unfortunately, as of PI Vision 2019 and later, the ad hoc URL documentation does not fully describe all available parameters for configuring XY Plots. However, based on testing and available references, you can attempt the following:

• The order in which data items are listed generally determines their mapping (first item as X, second as Y).
• There is no official public documentation for a parameter like xAxis or yAxis, but some community experts suggest trying with an index mapping.

Sample URL:

https://yourpivision/PIVision/#/Displays/AdHoc?dataItem1=af:\\AFServer\AFDB\Element|Attribute1&dataItem2=af:\\AFServer\AFDB\Element|Attribute2&symbol=XYPlot

Note: The mapping may depend on your version of PI Vision. Test the URL with your specific data items.

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Additional XY Plot Settings

Other settings that can affect the XY Plot’s behavior (like time range, pairing method, or reference curves), currently lack direct URL parameter equivalents. For advanced configurations, you may need to create a standard display and configure the symbol interactively.

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Useful References and Learning Materials

• PI Vision 2019 Documentation
• PI Vision - XY Plot with Reference Curve (YouTube)
• OSIsoft: Build an XY Plot (YouTube)

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Summary & Recommendations

• XY Plots in ad hoc displays are possible but less documented than trends.
• Order matters: Generally, the first data item is X and the second is Y.
• Explore: Try constructing URLs manually, and don’t hesitate to reach out to OSIsoft/AVEVA support if you need to configure less-common features (like paired data or reference curves).
• Keep Learning: Supplement your knowledge with reference videos and community posts, as advanced scenarios are often covered there first.

Do you have experience or tips for configuring ad hoc displays for XY Ploys in PI Vision? Share your findings in the comments below!