How to Implement an XY Plot in PI Coresight 2016 Using Custom Symbols

PI Coresight (now PI Vision) is a powerful web-based visualization platform for OSIsoft PI System data. However, one common feature that users look for—native XY Plots—has been missing from some versions, particularly PI Coresight 2016. In this post, we’ll discuss the available options, practical workarounds, and how to get up and running with your own custom XY Plot in PI Coresight 2016.

The Challenge: No Native XY Plot Support in PI Coresight 2016

Unlike some earlier versions (such as the Coresight 2014 / v2.0 release that allowed imported ProcessBook displays), PI Coresight 2016 does not support native XY Plot symbols out-of-the-box. This limitation can be frustrating for engineers and analysts who need to create scatter plots or correlate two data streams visually.

Workarounds and Solutions

1. ProcessBook Displays (Coresight 2014/v2.0 Only)

If your environment supports it, you might be able to create an XY Plot in PI ProcessBook and import that display into PI Coresight. This requires the version of Coresight that supports ProcessBook integration—a feature no longer present in newer (post-2016) releases and not available in 2016.

2. Custom XY Plot Symbols

The most robust and flexible solution for PI Coresight 2016 is creating a custom symbol:

• Extensibility: PI Coresight 2016 introduced extensibility, allowing you to build custom data visualizations using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
• PI Web API: Custom symbols interact with the PI Web API to retrieve data and render visualizations client-side.
• Visualization Libraries: Leverage existing JavaScript charting frameworks (such as D3.js, Plotly.js, or Chart.js) to handle rendering and interactive capabilities.

Key Features in a Custom XY Plot

Many PI System engineers have gone this route and reported successful implementations with the following features:

• Zoom In/Out: Enable users to interactively zoom into data points.
• Dynamic Axis Assignment: Let users dynamically select which PI attributes to use for X and Y axes.
• Data Point Highlighting: Make it easy to focus on particular data points.
• Add/Hide/Delete Curves: Modify displayed datasets on the fly without a page refresh.
• Validation and User Feedback: For example, ensuring at least two attributes are selected and preventing deletion of the X-axis attribute.
• Configuration Persistence: Saving and reloading plot configurations between sessions.

Getting Started: High-Level Steps

1. Set Up the Custom Symbol Project: Start with a sample custom symbol from OSIsoft’s GitHub or PI System community forum.
2. Integrate a Chart Library: Add your preferred JavaScript charting library to your custom symbol project.
3. Use PI Web API for Data: Write code to fetch two (or more) attribute data streams.
4. Render the XY Plot: Bind the fetched data to the charting library and implement interactive features.
5. Test and Iterate: Deploy your symbol, test it in Coresight, and add missing features or usability improvements.

Community Tips and Resources

• Explore Examples: Some community-contributed code samples (though often basic) can jumpstart your development.
• Ask the Community: The PI Square forums and support channels are great for code sharing and troubleshooting.
• Framework Flexibility: Some engineers have reported using lightweight JS frameworks and adding custom logic for checks, axis changes, and saving functionality.

Conclusion

While PI Coresight 2016 doesn’t include a native XY Plot, the extensibility model and PI Web API make it possible to build a rich, interactive custom visualization tailored to your needs. By combining web development skills with your PI System knowledge, you can create XY plots that are dynamic, robust, and enhance your operational dashboards.

Have you built your own custom PI Vision symbols? What features did you find most valuable in your XY plots? Share your experience in the comments below!