MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender User Manual

MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender
User's Manual
MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender
User's Manual
This manual is a product of Matrikon Inc.
Matrikon Inc.
Suite 1800, 10405 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 3N4
Canada
Phone: 780.448.1010
Fax: 780.448.9191
www.matrikonanalytics.com
Document Revision History:

Document
Date Description Author
Version
2011-01-21 0.1 Initial document. LB
2011-02-07 1.0 Final edits applied, document released. LB
Modified Software Requirements section, GUI
2011-02-16 1.1 BP, LB
fields, and Appendix D – Installed Files.
Added Limitations section. Updated
2011-02-17 1.2 BP, LB
Troubleshooting section.
MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender v3.0 User’s Manual 2

SOFTWARE VERSION
Version: 3.0
DOCUMENT VERSION
Version: 1.2
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
© Copyright 1997 - 2011, Matrikon Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
translated, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written
permission of Matrikon Inc.
CONFIDENTIAL
The information contained herein is confidential and proprietary to Matrikon Inc. It may not be disclosed or transferred, directly or indirectly, to
any third party without the explicit written permission of Matrikon Inc.
LIMITATIONS
Matrikon has made its best effort to prepare this manual. Matrikon makes no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to
the completeness or accuracy of the contents herein and accepts no liability of any kind including without limitation warranties of
merchantable quality, satisfactory quality, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose on those arising by law, statute,
usage of trade, course of dealing or otherwise. Matrikon shall not be liable for any losses or damages of any kind caused or alleged
to be caused directly or indirectly from this manual.
LICENSE AGREEMENT
This document and the software described in this document are supplied under a license agreement and may only be used in accordance with
the terms of that agreement. Matrikon reserves the right to make any improvements and/or changes to product specifications at any time
without notice.
TRADEMARK INFORMATION
The following are either trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective organizations:
Matrikon, MatrikonOPC, and Analytics are trademarks or registered trademarks of Matrikon Inc.
Microsoft, Windows and Excel are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
OTHER
MatrikonOPC™ is a division of Matrikon™ Inc.

Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
Who Should Use This Manual........................................................................................................................... 11
Overview of Manual .......................................................................................................................................... 11
References ........................................................................................................................................................ 12
Document Terminology ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Getting Started ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
System Requirements ....................................................................................................................................... 14
Software Requirements........................................................................................................................ 14
Hardware Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 14
Starting MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender ................................................................................................. 14
MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Main Window ........................................................................................ 15
Working with the Browser ................................................................................................................................. 15
Browser Overview ................................................................................................................................ 15
Data Source Connection ...................................................................................................................... 16
Organizing Items into Customized Folders Using Workspace .......................................................................... 17
Displaying Process Data ................................................................................................................................... 17
Working with Time Control ................................................................................................................................ 20
Time Control Overview ......................................................................................................................... 20
Data Refresh and Time Control ........................................................................................................... 21
Displaying Data in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender ................................................................................ 25
Configuration ......................................................................................................................................................... 26
Local Configuration ........................................................................................................................................... 26
Managing Easy Trender Configuration Options ................................................................................................ 26
Configuring Data Sources ................................................................................................................................. 30
Creating a Custom Time Period ........................................................................................................................ 33
Changing Application Defaults .......................................................................................................................... 33
Improving Data Retrieval and Application Performance ...................................................................... 36
Create Custom Colors ....................................................................................................................................... 36
Changing the Printer ......................................................................................................................................... 37
Configuring the Browser ...................................................................................................................................... 40
Configuring a Browse Limit ............................................................................................................................... 40
Browsing Tags .................................................................................................................................................. 40
Browsing OPC Tags Considerations ................................................................................................... 40
Applying Filters and Search Criteria .................................................................................................... 40
Creating and Managing Workspaces ................................................................................................................... 41
Introduction to Workspaces............................................................................................................................... 41
Read-Only Workspaces ....................................................................................................................... 42
Types of Workspace Content ............................................................................................................... 43
Creating Workspaces ........................................................................................................................................ 43
Workspace Views ................................................................................................................................. 44
Managing Workspace Contents ........................................................................................................................ 46
Describing Workspace Commands ...................................................................................................... 46
Rearranging the Workspace Tree Structure ........................................................................................ 48
Displaying Workspace Content ............................................................................................................ 50
Sending Context Through E-Mail ......................................................................................................... 50
Sending Workspaces Through E-Mail ................................................................................................. 51
Sharing a Workspace With Another User ............................................................................................ 51
Adding Content to Workspaces ........................................................................................................... 53

Managing Windows in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender .......................................................................... 58
Maximizing the Viewing Area ............................................................................................................................ 58
Creating and Modifying Tab Groups ................................................................................................................. 58
Drag or Drop Item to Easy Trender Tab .............................................................................................. 60
Repositioning the Browser and Navigation Windows ....................................................................................... 63
Saving and Loading Desktop Views ................................................................................................................. 64
Closing All Windows .......................................................................................................................................... 64
Operating the Time Control .................................................................................................................................. 65
Time Control Fields ........................................................................................................................................... 65
Common Times Status ...................................................................................................................................... 67
Viewing/Adjusting Time Control Properties ....................................................................................................... 67
Relative Time Syntax ........................................................................................................................................ 69
Displaying Data in a Trend ................................................................................................................................... 71
Choosing a Trend Format ................................................................................................................................. 71
Single Y Axis Format ............................................................................................................................ 71
Strip Chart Format ................................................................................................................................ 71
Multiple Y Axis Format ......................................................................................................................... 72
XY Format ............................................................................................................................................ 72
Histogram Format ................................................................................................................................ 72
SPC Format ......................................................................................................................................... 73
Interpreting the Histogram ................................................................................................................................. 73
Histogram Algorithm ............................................................................................................................. 73
Creating a Trend ............................................................................................................................................... 75
Create a New Trend Window ............................................................................................................... 75
Add an Item .......................................................................................................................................... 75
Edit an Item .......................................................................................................................................... 75
Delete an Item ...................................................................................................................................... 76
Save a Trend for Reuse ....................................................................................................................... 76
Using Direct Entry to Add Items ........................................................................................................................ 77
Working With Time Ranges .............................................................................................................................. 78
Save a Time Range for Reuse ............................................................................................................. 78
Reuse a Saved Time Range ................................................................................................................ 78
Trend Different Time Ranges ............................................................................................................... 78
Viewing Trend Data Value (Hairline Cursor Position) ....................................................................................... 79
Overview of Hairline Cursors ............................................................................................................... 79
View Specific Time/Date Data Value ................................................................................................... 79
View Data Value at Different Times ..................................................................................................... 80
View Hairline Position Statistics ........................................................................................................... 81
Using the Zoom ................................................................................................................................................. 82
Annotations ....................................................................................................................................................... 83
Changing Trend Visual Properties .................................................................................................................... 84
Show/Hide the Properties Table .......................................................................................................... 84
Show X Axis on Top or Bottom ............................................................................................................ 84
Change Trace Line Style...................................................................................................................... 84
Delete Trace Line ................................................................................................................................. 85
Change Data Points Marker Style ........................................................................................................ 85
Change Trace Line Color ..................................................................................................................... 85
Show Step Instead of Linear Line ........................................................................................................ 85
Display/Edit a Trend ............................................................................................................................. 85
Modify Trend Display Style .................................................................................................................. 86
Export Trend to Image ......................................................................................................................... 87

Viewing and Changing a Trend Scale ............................................................................................................... 87
View a Trace Scale .............................................................................................................................. 87
Change the Scale................................................................................................................................. 88
Data Retrieval Properties (Frequency, Method) Descriptions .......................................................................... 88
Displaying Data in MultiTrend .............................................................................................................................. 93
Overview of MultiTrend Features ...................................................................................................................... 93
Creating a MultiTrend ........................................................................................................................................ 93
Save Charts for Reuse ......................................................................................................................... 95
View MultiTrend Properties .................................................................................................................. 95
View MultiTrend Chart in Trend Window ............................................................................................. 95
Display MultiTrend Hairline Cursors .................................................................................................... 95
Show/Edit Title/Rename MultiTrend .................................................................................................... 95
Displaying Data in a MultiXTrend ......................................................................................................................... 97
Overview of MultiXTrend ................................................................................................................................... 97
Creating a MultiXTrend ..................................................................................................................................... 97
Add Time Ranges to a Trace ............................................................................................................... 97
Displaying Data in a Table .................................................................................................................................. 100
Overview of Table Features ............................................................................................................................ 100
Creating a Table .............................................................................................................................................. 100
Changing the Table Type ................................................................................................................................ 101
Saving a Table to a Workspace ...................................................................................................................... 101
Filtering Table Data ......................................................................................................................................... 101
Delete a Condition From a Custom Filter........................................................................................... 102
Rename a Table ................................................................................................................................. 102
Export Table Data .............................................................................................................................. 103
View Item Configuration in a Table .................................................................................................... 103
Limitations ............................................................................................................................................................ 105
Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................................................. 106
Viewing Logs ................................................................................................................................................... 106
Re-Initializing, Removing, or Editing Invalid Items .......................................................................................... 107
Reconnecting to a Data Source ...................................................................................................................... 107
Licensing ......................................................................................................................................................... 108
Contacting Support ......................................................................................................................................... 108
Table of Appendices
Appendix A Distributed COM (DCOM) ................................................................................................... 110
DCOM Configuration Utility ............................................................................................................................. 110
Default Properties ........................................................................................................................................... 110
Security Permissions ....................................................................................................................................... 111
Server Identity ................................................................................................................................................. 114
Default Protocols ............................................................................................................................................. 114
Remote Program ID ........................................................................................................................................ 115
Appendix B Standard Data Types .......................................................................................................... 116
Appendix C Installation ........................................................................................................................... 117
Appendix D Installed Files ...................................................................................................................... 126
Appendix E Un-Installation ..................................................................................................................... 127

Table of Figures
Figure 1 - MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Main Window ....................................................................... 15
Figure 2 - Trend Pane ............................................................................................................................................ 17
Figure 3 - Trend Pane with Data ........................................................................................................................... 18
Figure 4 - Table Pane............................................................................................................................................. 19
Figure 5 - Table Pane with Data ........................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 6 - Time Control User Interface ................................................................................................................ 21
Figure 7 - Time Control Properties Window ....................................................................................................... 22
Figure 8 - Time Control From: and To: Fields .................................................................................................... 22
Figure 9 - Common Times Icon (Highlighted) ..................................................................................................... 23
Figure 10 - Common Times Icon (Not Highlighted) ............................................................................................ 23
Figure 11 - Trend Pane Time Control................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 12 - Options Button ................................................................................................................................... 26
Figure 13 - Options Window ................................................................................................................................. 27
Figure 14 - Navigation Pane ................................................................................................................................. 28
Figure 15 - Add New Configuration Option Link ................................................................................................ 29
Figure 16 - New Configuration Option Details .................................................................................................... 30
Figure 17 - Data Source Configuration ................................................................................................................ 31
Figure 18 - Options (Application Defaults) Window ........................................................................................... 34
Figure 19 - Custom Tab ......................................................................................................................................... 37
Figure 20 - New Custom Color ............................................................................................................................. 37
Figure 21 - Print Button ......................................................................................................................................... 38
Figure 22 - Print Preview Window ........................................................................................................................ 38
Figure 23 - Page Setup Window (Primary) .......................................................................................................... 39
Figure 24 - Page Setup Window (Secondary) ..................................................................................................... 39
Figure 25 - Navigation Pane Example.................................................................................................................. 41
Figure 26 - Ready-Only Workspace ..................................................................................................................... 42
Figure 27 - Workspace Icons ................................................................................................................................ 42
Figure 28 - Workspace Tree Structure Example ................................................................................................. 43
Figure 29 - Add New Workspace .......................................................................................................................... 44
Figure 30 - View Options ....................................................................................................................................... 44
Figure 31 - Explorer View ...................................................................................................................................... 45
Figure 32 - Workspace Options ............................................................................................................................ 45
Figure 33 - Breadcrumbed View ........................................................................................................................... 46
Figure 34 - Drag Target Horizontal Line .............................................................................................................. 49
Figure 35 - Folder Drag and Drop Example ........................................................................................................ 50
Figure 36 - Send Context Via E-Mail .................................................................................................................... 50

Figure 37 - Send Workspaces Via E-Mail ............................................................................................................ 51
Figure 38 - Mail Recipient ..................................................................................................................................... 52
Figure 39 - My Computer ...................................................................................................................................... 52
Figure 40 - Tab Rearrangement ............................................................................................................................ 59
Figure 41 - New Tab Group ................................................................................................................................... 60
Figure 42 - Different Tab Group ........................................................................................................................... 60
Figure 43 - Trend Tab ............................................................................................................................................ 61
Figure 44 - Split Tab Bars ..................................................................................................................................... 62
Figure 45 - MultiTrend Tab .................................................................................................................................... 63
Figure 46 - Repositioning Browser and Navigation Windows .......................................................................... 63
Figure 47 - Time Control Properties Window ..................................................................................................... 68
Figure 48 - Relative Time Builder Window .......................................................................................................... 68
Figure 49 - Data Entry Error Example .................................................................................................................. 69
Figure 50 - Relative Time Syntax ......................................................................................................................... 70
Figure 51 - Offset Keywords ................................................................................................................................. 70
Figure 52 - Single Y Axis Trend............................................................................................................................ 71
Figure 53 - Strip Chart Trend ................................................................................................................................ 71
Figure 54 - Multiple Y Axis Trend ......................................................................................................................... 72
Figure 55 - XY Trend .............................................................................................................................................. 72
Figure 56 - Histogram Trend ................................................................................................................................. 73
Figure 57 - SPC Trend ........................................................................................................................................... 73
Figure 58 - Chart Tab ............................................................................................................................................. 75
Figure 59 - Specify Item Details Window ............................................................................................................ 76
Figure 60 - Specify Item Details Window ............................................................................................................ 78
Figure 61 - Top Axis Offset Configuration .......................................................................................................... 79
Figure 62 - Display Tab ......................................................................................................................................... 80
Figure 63 - Hairline 1 Position .............................................................................................................................. 81
Figure 64 - Hairline 2 Position .............................................................................................................................. 81
Figure 65 - Statistics Option ................................................................................................................................. 81
Figure 66 - Statistics Information ......................................................................................................................... 82
Figure 67 - Zoom Area ........................................................................................................................................... 82
Figure 68 - Annotation Field ................................................................................................................................. 83
Figure 69 - Available Columns ............................................................................................................................. 84
Figure 70 - Step vs. Linear Trace Lines ............................................................................................................... 85
Figure 71 - Edit Title Window ............................................................................................................................... 86
Figure 72 - Change Trend Name Window ........................................................................................................... 86
Figure 73 - Style ..................................................................................................................................................... 86

Figure 74 - Chart Style Window ............................................................................................................................ 87
Figure 75 - MultiTrend Example ........................................................................................................................... 93
Figure 76 - Home Menu – MultiTrend Option ...................................................................................................... 94
Figure 77 - Layout Charts Option ......................................................................................................................... 94
Figure 78 - Multiple X Axis Trend ......................................................................................................................... 97
Figure 79 - MultiXTrend Window .......................................................................................................................... 98
Figure 80 - Edit Trace TimeRange Window ......................................................................................................... 98
Figure 81 - Specify a Period Window ................................................................................................................... 99
Figure 82 - Table Example .................................................................................................................................. 100
Figure 83 - Table Type Option ............................................................................................................................ 101
Figure 84 - Custom Filter Window ..................................................................................................................... 102
Figure 85 - Change Table Name ......................................................................................................................... 103
Figure 86 - Export To Microsoft Excel Document ............................................................................................ 103
Figure 87 - Table Item Definitions (Collapsed) ................................................................................................. 104
Figure 88 - Table Item Definitions (Expanded) ................................................................................................. 104
Figure 89 - Options Window ............................................................................................................................... 106
Figure 90 - Log Viewer Window ......................................................................................................................... 107
Figure 91 - Licensing Options ............................................................................................................................ 108
Figure 92 - Distributed COM Configuration Properties Window .................................................................... 111
Figure 93 - Distributed COM Configuration Security Tab................................................................................ 112
Figure 94 - Registry Value Permissions Window ............................................................................................. 113
Figure 95 - Add Users and Groups Window ..................................................................................................... 113
Figure 96 - InstallAware Wizard Verification Window ...................................................................................... 117
Figure 97 - License Agreement Screen ............................................................................................................. 118
Figure 98 - Setup Type Screen ........................................................................................................................... 119
Figure 99 - Destination Folder Screen ............................................................................................................... 120
Figure 100 - Start Menu Screen .......................................................................................................................... 121
Figure 101 - Licensing Screen ............................................................................................................................ 122
Figure 102 - Ready to Install Screen .................................................................................................................. 123
Figure 103 - Installing MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Screen ............................................................ 124
Figure 104 - MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Setup Complete Screen ................................................ 125
Figure 105 - Add or Remove Programs ............................................................................................................. 127
Figure 106 - Welcome to MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Maintenance Screen ................................ 128
Figure 107 - Uninstalling MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Screen ....................................................... 129
Figure 108 - MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Setup Complete Screen ................................................ 130

Table of Tables
Table 1 - Terms and Definitions ........................................................................................................................... 13
Table 2 - Easy Trender Data Display Types ........................................................................................................ 25
Table 3 - Configuration Detail Definitions ........................................................................................................... 32
Table 4 - Application Defaults Configuration Fields Descriptions ................................................................... 36
Table 5 - Workspace Commands (1) .................................................................................................................... 47
Table 8 - Context Menu Options ........................................................................................................................... 48
Table 9 - Adding Items to Workspace.................................................................................................................. 57
Table 10 - Tab Group Examples ........................................................................................................................... 59
Table 11 - Time Control Components Descriptions ........................................................................................... 66
Table 12 - Time Control Properties Descriptions ............................................................................................... 69
Table 13 - Histogram Statistics Descriptions ..................................................................................................... 74
Table 14 - Item Detail Descriptions ...................................................................................................................... 77
Table 15 - Definition of Frequency and Method ................................................................................................. 92
Table 16 - Table Types ........................................................................................................................................ 101
Table 17 - Matrikon Analytics Support Regional Contact Information .......................................................... 109
Table 18 - After-Hours Support .......................................................................................................................... 109
Table 19 - Standard Data Types ......................................................................................................................... 116
Table 20 - Files Installed in "Easy Trender" Folder .......................................................................................... 126
Table 21 - Files Installed in "Common" Folder ................................................................................................. 126
Table 22 - Files Installed in "system32" Folder ................................................................................................ 126

Introduction
MatrikonOPC™ Analytics Easy Trender is an intuitive and powerful OPC trending client. This product allows you
to transform your OPC HDA data into knowledge that can be used to improve processes and increase operational
efficiency. With OPC HDA, you can connect to any process historian data source. Easy Trender enables you to
easily create trends to analyze product quality and system performance.
OPC is the most popular method for accessing industrial automation data. With OPC HDA access, Easy Trender
allows you to pull data from multiple process historians and databases using OPC, without relying on custom tools
for each system. You can compare data from separate lines, units, or plants, all from this one tool.
Easy Trender has multiple views for your OPC HDA data: Strip Charts, X-Y, SPC, Histogram, etc.
Easy Trender’s advanced trending algorithms lets you view your data the way you want.
Who Should Use This Manual

This manual is intended for use by all users of the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender.
This manual explains how to install and configure the software, and how to perform common tasks. In addition,
technical information about OPC data items is included, along with sections on diagnostics and troubleshooting.
Overview of Manual
This document uses icons to highlight valuable information. Remember these icons and what they mean, as they
will assist you throughout the manual.
This symbol denotes important information that must be acknowledged. Failure

to do so may result in the software not functioning properly.
Font displayed in this color and style indicates a hyperlink to the

BOLD applicable/associated information within this document, or if applicable, any
external sources.
The User’s Manual has been designed as such so that you can click on references in the document to jump to
that referenced point without having to scroll through several pages (in some cases). For example, if you were to
see the sentence “Refer to Figure 1 for more information”, pressing the CTRL key and clicking your mouse on the
text “Figure 1” will automatically take you to the location of Figure 1 within the document.
This manual consists of several sections and is structured as follows:
Introduction – this introductory chapter.
Getting Started – provides instructions for installing the server, and how to contact the Matrikon Analytics
Support team.
Configuration – shows how to start and configure the server, and describes each component in detail,
including windows/screens, panels, tabs, and menu commands.
Configuring the Browser – provides instructions on browse limit configuration and tag browsing.
Creating and Managing Workspaces – explains types of workspaces and their content, provides
instructions on how to create a workspace and manage workspace content.
Managing Windows in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender – shows how to maximize the viewing
area, create and change tab groups, reposition panes, save and load desktop views.
Operating the Time Control – explains Time Control fields, Common Times status, Relative Time
syntax, and how to view and adjust Time Control properties.

Displaying Data in a Trend – provides instructions on choosing a Trend type, how to create a Trend and
directly add items to it, how to change Trend visual properties, how to view and change a Trend scale.
Also described in this section are time ranges, hairline cursors, the Zoom feature, annotations, and data
retrieval properties.
Displaying Data in a MultiTrend – describes MultiTrend features and provides instructions on creating a
MultiTrend.
Displaying Data in a MultiXTrend – describes MultiXTrend features and describes how to create a
MultiXTrend.
Displaying Data in a Table – describes Table features, how to create a Table, changing Table types,
saving a Table to a workspace, and filtering data.
Troubleshooting – provides solutions for common problems that may be encountered. Also provided in
this section is licensing and Support contact information.
Appendices:
o A - DCOM
o B – Standard Data Types
o C – Installation
o D – Installed Files
o E – Un-Installation
References
This document references information found within the following documents/sites:
www.opcfoundation.org
www.matrikonanalytics.com
www.matrikonanalytics/support/
Document Terminology
The following terms are used interchangeably throughout this document:
screen and window
MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender, Analytics Easy Trender, or Easy Trender
Table 1 provides a list of definitions for terms used throughout this document.
Term/Abbreviation Description
Component Object Model. A method for organizing software, specifying how to build
COM
components that can be dynamically interchanged.
Common Times is a status in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender that allows you to
toggle between a common (master) time control and Local time controls. Common
times mode locks and synchronizes the windows together. A single Time Control
Common Times
user interface is used to set time-related properties. When not in Common Times
mode, you can independently control time-related properties for data requested in
each content window.
Each item that you store in a workspace has properties that are referred to as its
Context
“context”.
DA OPC Data Access. Provides access to real-time process data.

Term/Abbreviation Description
A historian that collects and stores process data and supports data retrieval by clients
Data Source
like MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender.
Distributed Component Object Model. An extension of COM that allows
DCOM
communication between COM components over a network.
HDA OPC Historical Data Access. Provides access to historical process data.
Human Machine Interface. Device that allows interaction between the user and
HMI
machine. Typically used in process control applications.
Link A collector to a MatrikonOPC source system.
Matrikon Matrikon Inc.
A display that depicts a physical representation of a system and presents information
at the level of physical function of a system. Mimic displays use pictorial realism to
show important components or systems to help users detect and diagnose faults.
Mimic
Mimics may consist of line graphics and schematic symbols to represent process
elements, or may consist of digital photographs of the process equipment overlaid
with animated symbols.
OPC A communication standard. Refer to www.opcfoundation.org for more information.
The portion of time for which the user requests a display of data. Also referred to as
Period
time span and time range.
PLC Programmable Logic Controller.
Program ID. An OPC server is identified by a fixed ProgID. This ProgID is used for
ProgID connecting to the server through the Microsoft COM technology. It is not possible to
assign more than one server to a single ProgID.
MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender uses the ribbon instead of toolbars, which is
similar to Microsoft Office 2007. The ribbon helps you quickly find the commands that
you need to complete a task. Commands are organized in logical groups which are
Ribbon
collected together under tabs. Each tab relates to a type of activity, such as Trend
and Table. To reduce clutter, some tabs are shown only when needed. For example,
the Trend tab is shown only when a trend window is open.
SPC Statistical Process Control. A type of trend chart format.
A data item. A distinct value maintained in the database. An OPC interface collects
Tag/Item most tag values from a source system. A data item may be a calculated value or a
manually entered value. Tag Name and Item Name are used interchangeably.
XML eXtensible Markup Language.
Table 1 - Terms and Definitions

Getting Started
This chapter contains important information about installing the server and how to contact the MatrikonOPC
Analytics Support team.
The System Requirements section shows how to avoid future problems by ensuring that the system meets the
minimum software and hardware requirements. Detailed step-by-step instructions in Appendix C - Installation
walks you through the installation process. Appendix D – Installed Files lists the files that are installed during
this process.
Once the software has been installed, refer to the Licensing section for information on how to obtain the
appropriate license. The Licensing section will refer you to the Licensing Procedures document that was installed
along with the software and this User’s Manual. If any problems are encountered during installation or licensing,
refer to the Contacting Support section for information about how to contact the MatrikonOPC Analytics Support
team for assistance.
System Requirements
The software has minimum Software and Hardware system requirements. These requirements must be met for
the software to function properly.
Note: To install and configure a MatrikonOPC server, you must be set up as an

administrative user account rather than a restricted user account.
Software Requirements
The application requires the following software:
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, or
Microsoft Windows 7, or
Microsoft Windows XP SP2, or
Microsoft Windows 2003 SP1
Note: It is recommended that the most current service packs are installed.
Hardware Requirements
The server requires the following hardware:
Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor
512 MB RAM
40 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
Starting MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender

To launch MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender, choose the appropriate shortcut from the Start menu.
To start Matrikon Analytics Easy Trender:
1. Click on the Windows Start button and select Programs -> MatrikonOPC Analytics -> Easy Trender,
and choose MatrikonOPC Easy Trender.
Or,
Double-click the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender shortcut on your desktop.

MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Main Window
The Easy Trender main window (Figure 1) has the following components:
Ribbon bar – provides shortcuts to open Easy Trender applications such as Trend, MultiTrend, MultiXTrend,
and Table. It also has options for window management and licensing.
Browser – allows you to browse OPC tags from the configured data sources. You can drag items from the
Browser to Trend, MultiTrend, MultiXTrend, or Table, or to a workspace.
Navigation window – allows hierarchical organization of the application configurations and other items.
Tabbed content window – displays data in Trends, MultiTrends, MultiXTrends, and Tables.
Figure 1 - MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Main Window
Working with the Browser

Browser Overview
The item Browser screen section (i.e., pane) allows you to browse OPC tags from your data sources. You can
drag items from the browser onto any trend, table, or workspace. You can apply filters to the browser to locate
items of interest. The browser displays items from the currently selected data source.

Data Source Connection
To connect to a data source:
1. Initially, in the Browser screen section, the default data source is automatically selected for browsing. If
you want to browse a different data source, from the Data Source drop-down list, select the required data
source.
2. Click your mouse on the Refresh button to reload the browse structure.
3. The browser retrieves a top-level browsing structure from the data source and updates it in the View In
field.
Note: By default, the All Items category is selected, allowing the display of all items stored in the data
source.
4. In the Item Name Like field, enter search criteria to specify what you are looking for (e.g., tag176). OPC
servers support filtering by tag description, thus enabling the Item Name or Description fields (e.g.,
PIOPC server).
Note: The browser’s default fetch limit is 1,000 tags. Enter the search criteria in
a manner that allows for the return of a manageable number of tags. You can
then scroll through them to find what you need.
5. Click on the Fetch button.
Note: Upon clicking the Fetch button, the browser contacts the selected data source and retrieves the
items. Depending on how the data source is configured, you are prompted to provide Windows user
names and passwords.
6. Enter valid credentials and then click on the OK button. A connection to the data source is attempted. If
the connection is successful, a message stating “Retrieving items” appears and the browse structure is
displayed.
7. After the item names are successfully displayed, you can drag/drop items to a workspace to organize
your tags in folders. Alternatively, you can drag/drop tags directly from the browser to a Trend,
MultiTrend, or Table for data retrieval.
Entering User Names and Passwords

Depending on how a data source is configured, you may be prompted to provide a Windows user name and
password while you attempt to connect to a data source.
A drop-down list for the user name field displays the previously-used Windows user names. Do not assume that a
user name is applicable to the field because it is included in that drop-down list.
Handling an Unsuccessful Connection to a Data Source

If the connection is not successful, do the following:
Verify that you selected the correct data source.
Click on the Refresh button to attempt another connection.

If prompted for user credentials, ensure that you enter valid user names and passwords.
Check the data source settings in the Configuration section of this manual. In particular, check that the
server name and port number (where applicable) are valid. Refer to Configuring Data Sources for more
information..
If the connection is still not successful, view the log files.

Creating or Editing a Data Source
By default, Easy Trender uses the properties of the default data source that you configured during installation. To
change the properties of the default data source, or to create a new data source, refer to Configuring Data
Sources.
Organizing Items into Customized Folders Using Workspace

You can organize items into customized folders using the workspace feature of Easy Trender. It provides a space
to save and organize favourites in a tree hierarchy for use. You can organize items into customized folders using
the workspace.
For more information on creating workspaces, refer to Adding Content to Workspaces.
Displaying Process Data

To open a window to display process data:
1. From the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender main window, select the Home tab and then click on any
application, such as Trend.
2. A new Trend pane (Figure 2) is displayed (providing you selected Trend in step 1).
Figure 2 - Trend Pane

3. Drag and drop items from the Workspace or from the Browser screen section, into the Trend pane.
4. The data is then displayed in the Trend pane (Figure 3).
Figure 3 - Trend Pane with Data
5. Select the Home tab and then click on Table.

6. A new Table pane (Figure 4) is displayed.

Figure 4 - Table Pane
7. Drag and drop items to the Table. The data is displayed in the new Table pane (Figure 5).

Figure 5 - Table Pane with Data
Note: To open a new window, select the Home tab.
Working with Time Control

Time Control Overview
The Time Control allows you to set the time-related properties and to automatically play or step through data.
The Time Control screen section (Figure 6) is displayed in the status strip in the bottom of the MatrikonOPC
Analytics Easy Trender main screen.

Figure 6 - Time Control User Interface
The default time format is Relative. The default time Period is 2 hrs (From: now-2h To: now). You can change
the properties of the Time Control to use Absolute time format. Figure 6 shows the appearance of the Time
Control for both Relative and Absolute time formats.
Current Time
Current time is a position in time between the start and end times. You can point to current time through the use
of the relative time slider or the absolute data/time pickers.
A Trend uses current time as the position of hairline cursor 1.
Data Refresh and Time Control
Data Refresh
By default, data is not automatically refreshed in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender content windows. To
refresh data periodically, click on the Play button on the Time Control to place it into Play mode. To refresh
data on-demand, click on the Refresh button on the Time Control.
Easy Trender does not support applications starting automatically in the Play mode, to ensure that:
Data in the content windows is maintained until you choose to manually request an update.
All of the content windows are linked to a single Time Control without imposing an unnecessary or
unacceptable load on the server to update all content windows at regular intervals.
To access the Time Control Properties window:
1. Right-click your mouse in the Time Control screen section (along the very bottom of the Easy Trender
screen).
Or,
1. Click on the Properties button .

2. The Time Control Properties window (Figure 7) appears.

Figure 7 - Time Control Properties Window
To select a time period from a list:

1. From the Time Control Properties window, in the Period field, select the required time period from the
drop-down list.
Note: When you change the Period, other time properties also change, including the Refresh interval
and Fast replay multiplier for Play mode, as well as the Large and Small step sizes. You can view all
time properties in the Time Control Properties window by clicking on the Properties button.
2. The From and To fields on the Time Control are updated to reflect your selection made in the Time
Control Properties window, and the data is automatically updated to the selected time settings (Figure
8).
Figure 8 - Time Control From: and To: Fields
To specify a time period through direct entry:
1. On the Time Control screen section, click on the Properties button .

Or,
Right-click your mouse in the Time Control screen section.
2. The Time Control Properties window (Figure 7) appears.
3. Adjacent to the From and To fields, select a time format of either Absolute or Relative.
4. Enter the required time period of interest.
5. Click on the OK button.
6. The Time Control Properties window closes, and the Time Control screen section now reflects the
specified time period.
Note: When you change the time period, other time properties also change, including the Refresh
interval and Fast replay multiplier for the Play mode, and the Large and Small step sizes.
For descriptions of all of the time control properties, refer to Viewing/Adjusting Time Control Properties.

To step forward and backward in time:
The step buttons in the Time Control screen section move the current time backward or forward in time, by the
step size:
To move backward or forward by the Small step size, click on or , respectively.
To move backward or forward by the Large step size, click on or , respectively.

Note: You can configure step sizes in the Large step and Small step fields in the Time Control Properties
window.
To scroll data forward automatically:
1. Click on the Play button to automatically scroll data forward in time.

Note: You can configure the automatic data refresh interval for the Play mode in the Refresh interval
field in the Time Control Properties window.
To use separate time settings for each window:
After the initial installation, the Common Times status of Easy Trender is active. That means that each content
window (i.e., Trend, MultiXTrend, MultiTrend, and Table) uses the same Time Control and time properties.
Perform the following steps to deactivate a Common Times mode and allow each Trend, MultiXTrend,
MultiTrend, and Table to use a separate local Time Control user interface that you can manipulate
independently:
1. On the ribbon bar, click on the Common Times icon (Figure 9).
Figure 9 - Common Times Icon (Highlighted)
2. The Common Times icon is no longer highlighted (Figure 10).
Figure 10 - Common Times Icon (Not Highlighted)
3. With Common Times not active, each Trend, MultiXTrend, MultiTrend, or Table pane has its own
Time Control screen section which now appears in the status strip of the window as shown highlighted in
orange in Figure 11.

Figure 11 - Trend Pane Time Control
Synchronize All Windows with Common Times Settings

The Common Times status provides a way to synchronize all windows to the same time settings. This can be
helpful when you need to explore a significant event from different viewpoints.
The Common Times status causes all Trend, MultiTrend, and Table to use the same Period, the same start
and end times (i.e.,, To and From), and a single master Time Control user interface (i.e., screen section). Any
manipulations that you make through this master Time Control user interface affect all of the windows.
To synchronize all of the windows with the Common Times settings:
1. Display the Trend, MultiXTrend, MultiTrend, or Table that has the time settings you wish to use.
2. Click on the inactive Common Times icon (Figure 10).
3. The Common Times icon is now highlighted (Figure 9). The master Time Control appears in the status
strip of the main window. The time properties from the local Time Control of the currently selected

window go to the master Time Control. All windows now use the times of the single, master Time
Control.
Note: When you close Easy Trender, the current Common Times status is saved, and it is used as the default
start-up state when you open Easy Trender the next time.
Displaying Data in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender

Table 2 lists and describes the display types available in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender. The table includes
links to sections in this manual that provide additional information related to each display type.
For this display type… Go to this section…

Trend Displays data in a selected trend format (i.e.,
Single Y Axis, Strip Chart, Multiple Y Axis, Displaying Data in a Trend
XY, Histogram, or SPC).
Multi-Trend Displays data in a matrix of individual charts –

up to 25 charts in a 5x5 matrix, with up to 6 Displaying Data in a MultiTrend
traces per chart.
MultiXTrend Displays data in the MultiXTrend format and

Displaying Data in a
enables you to specify individual time ranges
MultiXTrend
for each trace in the trend.
Table Displays data in a tabular display that supports

a number of the display styles similar to Excel
Report. Displaying Data in a Table
Allows conditional filtering of data.
Table 2 - Easy Trender Data Display Types

Configuration
The term Easy Trender Configuration is used for describing the collection of settings and preferences for
MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender.
Local Configuration
The Easy Trender local configuration is stored locally and within your Windows user profile. The local
configuration is automatically loaded when you start Easy Trender.
Each user has full control over changes to their configuration.
Managing Easy Trender Configuration Options

A range of application-wide settings can be managed in Easy Trender. This includes:
Application Defaults
Periods
Relative Times
Standard Times
Data Sources
The configuration is saved to an .xml file.
Note: Always use the Options button to go to the Easy Trender Configuration
tool. Editing the configuration file directly, without using the Easy Trender
Configuration tool, may corrupt the file.
To access the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender configuration options:
1. From the Easy Trender main screen, click on the icon in the upper left corner of the screen, and then
click on the Options button (Figure 12).
Figure 12 - Options Button
2. The Options window (Figure 13) appears.

Figure 13 - Options Window
3. In the navigation pane (i.e., pane on the left side of the window), select and expand the Configuration
node, and then the Local node (Figure 14), to display the configuration options.

Figure 14 - Navigation Pane
MatrionOPC Analytics Easy Trender allows you to add new configuration options as required.
To add new Easy Trender configuration options:
1. After select and expanding the Configuration and Local nodes in the Options window, select any of the
following configuration options:
Periods
Relative Times
Standard Times
Data Sources
2. A link corresponding to the selected options, appears in the pane on the right side of the Options
window. For example, to add new periods, select the Periods node in the left side of the window.

Figure 15 - Add New Configuration Option Link
3. Click on the link. The pane on the right side of the window is refreshed and now displays the details
(Figure 16) that apply to the new configuration option you wish to add.

Figure 16 - New Configuration Option Details
4. Edit the parameters as required.

6. The Options window closes and you are returned to the Easy Trender main screen.
Configuring Data Sources

A default OPC data source is created during the installation of MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender. The default
data source can be edited and new data sources can be added.
To modify the data source configuration:
1. From the Easy Trender main screen, click on the icon in the upper left corner of the screen, and then
click on the Options button.
Or,
Click on the button.

2. The Options window appears.
3. Select and expand the Configuration and Local nodes.
4. Select and expand the Data Sources node.
5. Select the data source configuration you want to change. The associated details are displayed in the
pane on the right side of the window as shown in Figure 17.

Figure 17 - Data Source Configuration
6. Enter or change the necessary configuration details. Refer to Table 3 for detail definitions.
Field Definition Default

General
A unique name used for identifying a DefaultOPC
data source. This is the setting
displayed when data sources are
used in applications.
Name A valid data source name consists
of alpha-numeric characters,
underscore or hyphen. The
maximum number of characters
allowed in a name is 64.
This setting provides additional <blank>
information for the user to identify
Description
the data source. It is used in various
tool tips and information boxes.
Specifies the type of data source to OPC
be configured. This value affects
what method is used to retrieve data
Type and what other settings are
prompted for on this form:
OPC – OPC HDA Server

This is the name of the server used The default server name that was
by the applications from which to specified at installation time.
Server name connect and retrieve data. Specify a
server name or an IP address in this
box.
OPC Specific
Enter or select the required OPC
HDA Program ID. The available
OPC Program ID OPC HDA Program IDs are
automatically listed for the
configured server name.
When this setting is True, the False
system does not attempt to first
connect using integrated
authentication. You are prompted to
Force prompting of enter a user name and password.
username/password If the setting is False, the
connection is made using the login
detail of the user. If the connection
fails, you are prompted to enter a
different set of credentials.
(Optional) If configured, then this <blank>
server is used for retrieving tag
names and descriptions. Leave
Browse server
blank to retrieve tag properties from
the server nominated in the Server
name field.
* Note: If the value of a data source field is displayed in bold font, it indicates that the value is modified.
Table 3 - Configuration Detail Definitions
7. If required, click on the Test Data Source button to test the connection to the data source.
Note: Depending on the configuration, you may be prompted to enter user credentials. If prompted, enter
the user credentials.
8. A message appears indicating whether the connection is successful.
Note: If the connection was not successful, do the following:
Verify that you selected the correct data source.
Verify that your DCOM settings are correct. For more information, refer to Appendix A –
Distributed COM (DCOM) in this manual or DCOM Manual site .
Click on the Test Data Source button to attempt another connection.
Ensure that you have entered valid user names and passwords.
If the connection is again, not successful, review the log file. Refer to Viewing Logs for
instructions on accessing the log.
9. After a successful connection test, click on the OK button to close the Options window and return to the
Easy Trender main screen.
10. From the Browser screen section , the Data Source drop-down list displays the available data sources.

Note: The Test Connection does not cache any required user credentials, so you must re-enter them
upon initial use of the item browser.
Creating a Custom Time Period

To create a custom time period:
1. From the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender main screen, click on the button in the upper left
corner.
2. Click on the Options button.
4. Select and expand the following nodes: Configuration, Local.
5. Click on the Periods node.
6. A link labelled Add new Period appears in the pane on the right (Figure 15).
7. Click on the link to access the details for the new period.
8. Enter details as needed.
Node: Refer to Managing Easy Trender Configuration Options for information about adding new configuration
options, and to Viewing/Adjusting Time Control Properties for definitions of time-related properties.
Changing Application Defaults

To access the application defaults for your Local configuration:
1. From the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender main screen, click on the button in the upper left
corner.
2. Click on the Options button.
4. Select and expand the Configuration and Local nodes.
5. Under the Local node, select Application Defaults.
6. The configuration details are displayed (Figure 18).

Figure 18 - Options (Application Defaults) Window
7. Change the application defaults as required. Refer to Table 4 for Application Defaults configuration
fields descriptions.
8. Click on the OK button to close the Options window and return to the Easy Trender main screen.

Defaults
This setting stores the number of 2
decimal places used when rendering
Default decimal places
data. This value must be between 0
and 10 inclusive.
This setting is used by the system to Best Fit
use this aggregate by default. The
Default aggregate applications also provide a
mechanism to override this default
wherever it is used.
Default sample This setting stores the default \Documents and

frequency sample frequency to be used by Settings\<current
applications when requesting data user>\Application

with an aggregate other than Raw. Data\MatrikonOPC
Applicable values for this field are
between 1 (1 second) and 3600 (1
hour) inclusive.
General
Maximum Item This is the maximum number of 1000
Browser results results the Item Browser returns.
The point at which the data is 0
Minimum confidence
rendered in the Minimum
threshold
Confidence Color.
The color in which the data is 0, 0, 255
Minimum confidence rendered when the Minimum
color Confidence Threshold is reached or
exceeded.
These colors are used for traces
Trace colors
plotted on the Trend and MultiTrend.
This is the buffer increased to the 1
Auto scale margin
top/bottom Y-axis value.
List of MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy
Workspaces Trender workspace paths (read
only).
MultiTrend
This is the maximum number of 6
Maximum MultiTrend
traces the user is able to add to
traces
each trend on a MultiTrend.
Maximum MultiTrend
rows the user can have on a
rows
MultiTrend.
Maximum MultiTrend
columns the user can have on a
columns
MultiTrend.
Performance
This determines whether to adjust True
the amount of aggregate data
Enable performance requested to the configured limits.
optimization Refer to Improving Data Retrieval
and Application Performance for
more information.
Maximum MultiTrend
aggregate data points displayed per
trace points
trace.
Maximum Table rows rows of aggregate data displayed for
the Table.
Maximum Trend trace This is the maximum number of 2000

points aggregate data points displayed per
trace.
Table 4 - Application Defaults Configuration Fields Descriptions
Improving Data Retrieval and Application Performance

Large data requests can be slow to process on the server. Although Easy Trender retrieves data, it may not be
possible to display it within the limited resolution of a computer monitor or within the constraints of a table. Easy
Trender includes the following features to improve the performance of large data requests:
Performance Optimization for Aggregate Data
Best Fit Aggregate
Performance Optimization for Aggregate Data

You can set the Enable performance optimization property to improve the performance of the Trend, Table,
and other applications. This limits the amount of aggregate data that the server retrieves and displays.
When you set Enable performance optimization to True, the sample frequency for aggregate data is
automatically adjusted (if necessary). This limits the number of values returned per trace to the particular value
set for the application type.
For example, if snapshot data is requested in a Trend for a 1000 day period, and Maximum Trend Trace Points
is set to 2000, the snapshot frequency is automatically set to 12 hours.
Note: The Enable performance optimization setting has no impact on the Raw aggregate. The server does not
impose any limit on the amount of Raw data retrieved. The Raw data must be requested only when the time
period is sufficiently small. For example, when you zoom the Raw data into a short time window of interest.
Best Fit Aggregate

The Best Fit aggregate automatically limits the data retrieved, but attempts to preserve the basic profile of the
data including the minimum and maximum values.
The Best Fit aggregate works best when the server supports minimum, maximum, first, and last aggregate types.
It is less effective if the server only supports minimum and maximum aggregates.
Best Fit is the default aggregate type. It is very useful when reviewing data over an extended time period. The
MaximumMultiTrendTracePoints, MaximumTableRows, and MaximumTrendTracePoints determine how
many intervals are used by the Best Fit aggregate.
For details on the algorithm used for the Best Fit aggregate, refer to Data Retrieval Properties (Frequency,
Method) Descriptions.
Create Custom Colors

To create custom colors:
1. With Application Defaults selected on the Options window, select the item for which you want to create
a custom color:
Minimum confidence color
Trace colors
2. Select the Minimum confidence color item under the General node.
Or,
Select and expand the Trace colors node, and select the required trace item.
3. Click your mouse on the drop-down arrow that appears in the far right of the selected item.

4. From the displayed window, select the Custom tab (Figure 19).
Figure 19 - Custom Tab
5. Select the color that you want to add from the color selection window.
6. The new custom color now appears in the details (Figure 20).
Figure 20 - New Custom Color
7. Click on the OK button to accept the configuration change, close the Options window, and return to the
Easy Trender main screen.
Changing the Printer

Perform the following steps if you want to print to a printer other than your computer’s default printer.
To change the printer:
1. From the window you wish to print, click your mouse on the down arrow next to the Print button located
on the window ribbon (Figure 21).

Figure 21 - Print Button
2. Select Preview from the drop-down menu.

3. The Print Preview window (Figure 22) appears.
Figure 22 - Print Preview Window
4. From the File menu, select Page Setup.

5. The Page Setup window (Figure 23) appears.

Figure 23 - Page Setup Window (Primary)
6. Click on the Printer button.

7. A second Page Setup window (Figure 24) appears.
Figure 24 - Page Setup Window (Secondary)
8. In the Name field, from the drop-down list, select the required printer.
9. Click on the OK button on the first and second Page Setup windows to return to the Print Preview
window.
10. Close the Print Preview window to return to the main screen.

Configuring the Browser
Configuring a Browse Limit
The browser limits the number of items that can be fetched at any one time, to 1000, by default. This default
prevents requests for large numbers of items that could result in performance issues. The MatrikonOPC Analytics
Easy Trender configuration contains a property (Maximum Item Browser results) that allows you to change the
maximum number of items the browser returns.
Note: For more information about Easy Trender configuration, refer to Changing Application Defaults.
Browsing Tags
Browsing OPC Tags Considerations
To browse OPC tag properties, you may need to enable OPC browsing on the OPC server. Refer to the OPC
server documentation for more information.
Applying Filters and Search Criteria

There are two levels of filtering available in the browser:
1. Provide input in the Item Name Like field to limit the items returned from the data source.
2. Enable the filter criteria option provided for each column in the browser results grid view. This selection is
available and applied to future sessions as well.
When you use the Item Name Like field, any items that include the criteria in their name are returned. For
example, boiler1 retrieves Boiler123 and CPlant.Boiler1.
When you click on the Fetch button, the filtered item names are displayed.
Note: If the data source supports filtering on tag description, then the label for the Item Name Like field changes
to Item Name or Description Like. The browser returns items that include the specified characters in their name
or description.
Wildcard Characters
For more specific searches, you can use wildcard characters.
For OPC data sources, use * (asterisk) to match multiple characters and ? (question mark) to match a single
character.
Examples:
*123 retrieves boiler123 and pump123.
Boiler?23 retrieves boiler123 and boiler223.
boiler*3 retrieves boiler123 and boiler13.

Creating and Managing Workspaces
Introduction to Workspaces
A workspace is a collection of reusable items organized into folders in a tree structure, as shown in Figure 25.
Each item that you store in a workspace consists of properties that are referred to as its context. To reuse a
context item, you can drag and drop it into a location that supports it.
Workspaces are selected for viewing one at a time using buttons on the navigation pane.
Figure 25 - Navigation Pane Example

Read-Only Workspaces
Figure 26 - Ready-Only Workspace
Workspaces are read-only if their workspace definition (.xml) file is read-only. The read-only workspace file is
identified by a specific icon. Figure 27 shows two workspaces. The icon in the New Workspace title indicates that
workspaces can be edited. The icon in the Untitled Workspace means that workspace is read-only.
Figure 27 - Workspace Icons
You cannot import another workspace into a read-only workspace.

Only two commands are available for the content items in a read-only workspace:
1. Copy
2. Sent Context To

Types of Workspace Content
You can combine content in a workspace in a way that suits your needs. You can create a folder hierarchy,
rename content, and repeat a particular content multiple times. You can add any of the following contents to a
workspace tree structure.
Trend Aggregate
MultiTrend Item (may include item details)
Table Time Range
Time Control Properties Data Source
Link to external application or file, such as Microsoft
Item (includes trend trace details)
Word or Excel document.
Folder/sub-folder
Figure 28 displays an example of a workspace tree structure.
Figure 28 - Workspace Tree Structure Example
Creating Workspaces
To create a workspace:
1. Before you create a workspace, save any changes made to the current workspace.
2. Right-click your mouse on the background of the workspace. Select Save from the displayed menu.
3. To create a new workspace, right-click your mouse on the top bar of the current workspace. Select Add
Workspace -> Add New Workspace from the displayed menu (Figure 29).

Figure 29 - Add New Workspace
4. The Save As window appears.

5. Enter a name for the new workspace. Click on the Save button to create your new workspace, close the
Save As window, and return to the Easy Trender main screen. Your new workspace is now displayed in
the Navigation pane.
6. Either drag and drop, copy and paste, or right-click your mouse to add content to the new workspace.
7. Right-click your mouse on the background of the workspace. Select Save from the displayed menu.
Workspace Views
Workspaces can be displayed in the navigation pane in two formats: Explorer or Breadcrumbed view. The
Breadcrumbed view has some advantages when working across multiple workspaces. Some users may find the
Explorer view visually cleaner and simpler to navigate.
To switch between views, click on the View button as shown in Figure 30.
Figure 30 - View Options
Explorer View
In the Explorer (i.e., default) view, workspaces are displayed one at a time (Figure 31).

Figure 31 - Explorer View
To switch to another workspace using the Explorer view, click on the workspace’s title bar.
You can use the Navigation pane options shown in Figure 32 to re-order or remove workspaces. Click on the
button located at the very bottom of the Navigation pane (under the list of workspaces) to view and select the
available options.
Figure 32 - Workspace Options
Breadcrumbed View
In the Breadcrumbed view, all workspaces are visible in a hierarchy. This makes it easier to review multiple
workspaces, or drag and drop content between them. Figure 33 displays an example of a Breadcrumbed view.

Figure 33 - Breadcrumbed View
Navigating in Breadcrumbed view is similar to using Windows Explorer in Windows Vista or Windows 7. To
restrict the view to a single workspace or folder, select the required workspace or folder from the navigation
control at the top of the view, or double-click your mouse directly on the folder.
Managing Workspace Contents

Describing Workspace Commands
The tables in this sub-section describe the commands to manage workspaces.
To perform the commands in Table 5:
Right-click your mouse on the title bar of a workspace (Explorer view).
Or,
Right-click your mouse on the top level folder with the workspace name displayed (Breadcrumbed view).

Command Description
Add Workspace -> Add Displays the Open window, allowing you to navigate to a previously configured
Existing Workspace workspace (<workspacename>.xml file) on a local directory or network share.
Add Workspace -> Add Displays the Save As window, allowing you to navigate to a local directory or network
New Workspace share, and create a new workspace (<workspacename>.xml file).
Displays the Delete Workspace window which prompts you to confirm the deletion of
Remove Workspace
the selected workspace.
Displays the Rename Workspace window where you can rename the required
Rename Workspace
workspace.
Displays the Open window and allows you to navigate to a workspace
(<workspacename>.xml file) on a local directory or network share to load that
workspace.
Import Workspace
This command imports a workspace tree structure. Structure may contain content
(such as a Trend) that was made available to you by another user through their use of
the Send Workspace To command.
Send Workspace To -> Allows you to send a workspace by e-mail. This enables you to share the content
Mail Recipient (such as a Trend) with other users.
Send Workspace To -> Allows you to save a workspace to your computer. This enables you to share the
My Computer content (such as a Trend) with other users.
Table 5 - Workspace Commands (1)

Right-click your mouse in the background of the currently open workspace (Explorer view).
Command Description
Add Folder Adds a folder to the root of the workspace tree structure.
Displays the Reset Workspace window which prompts you to confirm that you want
Clear
to purge (i.e., delete) all of the content in the workspace.
Saves the workspace tree structure to the <workspacename>.xml file. The Save
command provides you with the option of manually saving work for the following
reasons:
To be able to share it with other users (through the Send workspace To
command).
Save
As a best practice after performing a lot of changes, to ensure that your work
is not lost because of an unexpected abnormal closure of the application.
Note: User changes to workspaces are not automatically saved until the related
content window is closed (i.e., Trend, MultiTrend, MultiXTrend, or Table). All
workspaces are automatically saved when you close Easy Trender.
Collapse All Collapses the sub-folders.
Expand All Expands the sub-folders

Right-click your mouse on the bottom of the navigation pane in the Explorer view.
Or,
Right-click your mouse on the navigation pane background in the Breadcrumbed view.

Command Description
Add Workspace -> Add Displays the Open window, allowing you to navigate to a previously configured
Existing Workspace workspace (<workspacename>.xml file) on a local directory or network share.
Add Workspace -> Add Displays the Save As window, allowing you to navigate to a local directory or network
New Workspace share, and create a new workspace (<workspacename>.xml file).
Send Workspace(s) To
Sends a workspace to an e-mail address.
Mail Recipient
Send Workspace(s) To
Saves a workspace to a local or network location.
My Computer
Table 8 lists the right-click context menu options available for workspace items.
Right-click your mouse on a folder or item in the selected workspace.
Command Description
Allows you to add contents to the workspaces (folder-level option).
Folder
Sub Folder
Link
Add Item
Time Range
Aggregate
Data Source
Note: For more information, refer to Adding Content to Workspaces.
Edit Allows you to edit the name of the folder (folder-level option).
Allows you to delete an item from the workspace. Displays the Delete window where
Delete
you are to confirm the deletion of the workspace item.
Rename Allows you to rename the item in the workspace.
Copy Allows you to copy the content items or folders to another location.
Paste Allows you to paste the copied content items or folders into the specified location.
Expand All Expands all sub-folders.
Collapse All Collapses all sub-folders.
Send Context To -> Mail Allows you to send the context items to the mail recipient as a desktop view file. The
Recipient file with the saved content can be loaded into Easy Trender (item-level option).
Send Context(s) To -> Allows you to send multiple contexts to the mail recipient as desktop view files. These
Mail Recipient files with the saved content can be loaded into Easy Trender (item-level option).
Table 8 - Context Menu Options
Rearranging the Workspace Tree Structure

You can use any of the following methods to change the workspace tree structure.

To move items (drag and drop):
1. Drag and drop folders and sub-folders to a new location.
2. Drag and drop content items from one folder to another.
Note: To move items between workspaces, drag and drop the item within the Breadcrumbed view.
To copy items (copy and paste):
1. Right-click your mouse and select Copy from the displayed menu. Right-click your mouse again and
select Paste from the displayed menu, to copy content items or folders to a new location.
To select multiple items:
1. To select consecutive items:
a. Click on the first item.
b. Press and hold down the Shift button on your keyboard.
c. Click on the last item.
2. To select non-consecutive items:
a. Press and hold down the Ctrl button.
b. Click on each required item.
To copy items (copy and paste):
1. Right-click your mouse and select Copy from the displayed menu. Right-click your mouse again and
select Paste from the displayed menu, to copy content items or folders to a new location.
Guidelines for Rearranging
1. A horizontal line (highlighted in orange in Figure 34) indicates the location of the “drag target” (i.e., where
you wish to move the selected item).
Figure 34 - Drag Target Horizontal Line
2. To create a parent/child relationship, drag and drop or copy and paste one folder into another folder.
3. You cannot rearrange individual content items within a folder.
Figure 35 shows a folder labelled New Folder 3, dragged and dropped to its new location as a child in the parent
folder labelled New Folder 1.

Figure 35 - Folder Drag and Drop Example
Displaying Workspace Content

To display workspace content, double-click your mouse on the content item to display it in a window, or drag and
drop the item into a location that supports it.
To reuse content that is saved in a workspace, do any of the following:
Double-click your mouse on the item to open a new window.
Drag and drop the item into a supported location, or
Right-click your mouse on the workspace and copy and paste the item from the workspace to a supported
location.
Sending Context Through E-Mail

To send a context in the workspace:
1. Select the required context (e.g., Trend).
2. Right-click your mouse and select Send Context To -> Mail Recipient from the displayed menu (Figure
36).
Figure 36 - Send Context Via E-Mail
3. The context is saved in a Desktop View (.dvw) file which loads the saved context items in Easy Trender.
For more information, refer to Saving and Loading Desktop Views.
4. To send multiple items in the workspace through e-mail:
a. Select the required items.

Note: A workspace allows you to select multiple items by using typical Windows functionality. To
select non-adjacent items in the workspace, click on one item, and then hold down the Ctrl key
and click on each additional item. To select adjacent workspace items, click on the first item in the
sequence you wish to select, and then hold down the Shift key and click on the last item in the
sequence.
b. Right-click your mouse and select Send Context(s) -> Mail Recipient from the displayed menu.
Note: Sending a context or multiple context to a mail recipient is an item-level option.
Sending Workspaces Through E-Mail

To send workspace details through e-mail:
1. Right-click your mouse in the bottom of the navigation pane.
2. Select Send Workspace(s) To from the displayed menu (Figure 37).
Figure 37 - Send Workspaces Via E-Mail
3. Select My Recipient to send workspace to an e-mail address.
Sharing a Workspace With Another User

To share workspace content with another user:
Create a workspace and save your content (e.g., Trend) to the workspace.
Send the <workspacename>.xml file to another user through e-mail or a shared network location.
The other user imports the workspacename>.xml file into Easy Trender.
Note: You can share multiple workspaces (which are saved as multiple files) by adding multiple workspaces and
then sending the files through e-mail, or placing them on a shared resource. The other user opens Easy Trender
and loads the workspaces.
To make a workspace available to another user:
1. With the required workspace displayed in the Navigation pane, right-click your mouse on the title bar of
workspace containing the item to be shared.
2. Select Send Workspace To from the displayed menu, followed by either Mail Recipient or My
Computer.
Note: Select Mail Recipient to send a copy of the <workspacename>.xml file. Select My Computer to
browse to a location on the local drive or a network share where you want to save the
workspacename>.xml file.
3. If you select Mail Recipient, an e-mail message window (Figure 38) appears with an attached copy of the
.xml file.

Figure 38 - Mail Recipient
4. Enter the necessary e-mail address and then click on the Send button.
5. If you select My Computer, browse to the location where you want to save the workspace file. Click on
the Save button (Figure 39).
Figure 39 - My Computer

To import a workspace to your machine:
1. If the .xml file is received as an e-mail attachment, save the attachment to your local drive or to a network
share.
2. If necessary, from the recipient’s machine, create a new workspace.
3. Right-click your mouse in the top bar of the currently-open workspace.
4. From the displayed menu, select Import Workspace.
5. The Open window appears.
6. Browse to and select, the <workspacename>.xml file that is to be imported.
7. Click on the Open button.
8. The content of the current workspace is replaced with the content from the imported file.
Note: Importing a workspace retains the name of the currently open workspace,
but replaces its content and tree structure with that of the imported workspace.
For this reason, you may want to create a new empty workspace and give it an
appropriate name in preparation for the imported workspace.
Adding Content to Workspaces

You can add content to a workspace using the options described in Table 9.
Workspace Content Content Description To add items to a workspace…

Used for organizing workspace 1. Right-click your mouse in the background of
content in a tree structure. the workspace.
2. Select Add -> Folder from the displayed
menu.
Folder/Sub-folder Or,
Right-click your mouse on a parent folder
and select Add -> Sub Folder from the
displayed menu.
3. Enter a new name for the folder.
4. The new folder is now available in the
workspace.
Provides a link to an external 1. Right-click your mouse on the folder in the
application or file (i.e., Microsoft workspace.
Word or Excel document). 2. Select Add -> Link from the displayed menu.
Link 3. Navigate to the location of the application or
file.
4. Click on the Open button.
5. The content is now available in the
workspace.
6. If required, rename the content.
Defines an item reference, including 1. Drag and drop an item from the Browser
item details, if present: window into a folder in the workspace.
Item Minimum Confidence 2. The content is available in the workspace.
Aggregate Or,
Engineering Units 1. Right-click your mouse in the workspace and
select Add -> Item from the displayed menu,

Resample Interval or from a content window, select Items ->
Data Source New Item.
2. Enter the Item Name and optionally specify
item details that you want to save along with
the item name.
3. Click on the OK button
workspace.
5. If necessary, rename the content.
Defines a relative start time and end 1. Ensure there is no content named Time
time. Range already in the workspace. If there is,
rename it.
2. Specify the relative start time and end time in
the Time Control, if not already present.
Time Range 3. Right-click your mouse on a Trend window
that is using the Time Control, and select
Copy Timespace from the displayed menu.
4. Right-click on a folder in the workspace and
select Paste from the displayed menu.
workspace.
Defines a Reduction Method and a 1. Right-click your mouse on a folder in the
Resample Interval. workspace and select Add Aggregate from
the displayed menu.
2. Select an aggregate from the drop-down list.
3. If needed, enter a different Resample
Interval in seconds. The default value is 60
Aggregate seconds.
workspace.
Note: For Aggregate and Resample Interval
definitions, refer to Data Retrieval Properties
(Frequency, Method) Descriptions.
Defines a data source. 1. Right-click your mouse on a folder in the

workspace and select Add Data Source
from the displayed menu.
Data Source 2. Select a data source from the drop-down list.
workspace.
5. If necessary, rename the content
appropriately.
Trend Defines a Trend content window. Note: If not done already, change the name of
the Trend window to something other than the

default “Trend”.
a. Right-click your mouse on the Trend
window and select Title -> Rename
Trend from the displayed menu.
b. Enter the new name and click on the OK
button.
c. The new name appears on the window
tab.
1. Drag and drop the Trend to a workspace
folder:
a. In the Trend pane, float your cursor
below the tab area until you see a
grey border appear.
b. Click on the border and drag it to the
desired location (i.e., drop target) in
the Navigation pane.

workspace.
Or,
1. Right-click on the Trend window and select
Copy from the displayed menu.
2. Right-click on a folder in the workspace and
select Paste from the displayed menu.
workspace.
Defines a MultiTrend content Note: To change the name of the MultiTrend
window. window:
a. Right-click your mouse on the
MultiTrend window and select Title ->
Rename MultiTrend from the displayed
menu.
b. Enter a new name and click on the OK
MultiTrend button.
tab.
1. Drag and drop the MultiTrend to a
workspace folder:
a. In the MultiTrend pane, float your
cursor below the tab area until you
see a grey border appear.
desired location (i.e., drop target) in
the Navigation pane. (For

assistance, refer to the Trend
description and diagram in this
table.)
workspace.
Or,
1. Right-click on the specific chart, or anywhere
on a MultiTrend window.
2. Select Edit -> Copy (to copy a specific chart)
or Edit -> Copy All (to copy all of the charts)
3. Right-click on the folder in the workspace
and select Paste from the displayed menu.
4. The content is available in the workspace. If
you had selected Copy All, the MultiTrend
is saved to the workspace. If you had
selected Copy, the single chart is saved to
the workspace for re-display in a Trend
window.
Defines a Table content window. Note: To change the name of the Table window:
a. Right-click your mouse on the Table
window and select Rename Table from
the displayed menu.
button.
tab.
1. Drag and drop the Table to a workspace
folder:
a. In the Table pane, float your cursor
Table below the tab area until you see a grey
border appear.
desired location (i.e., drop target) in the
Navigation pane. (For assistance, refer
to the Trend description and diagram in
this table.)
workspace.
Or,
3. Right-click on the Table window and select
Edit -> Copy.
5. The content is available in the workspace.
MultiXTrend Defines a MultiXTrend content Note: To change the name of the MultiXTrend
window.
window:
a. Right-click your mouse on the

MultiXTrend window and select
Rename MultiXTrend from the
displayed menu.
button.
tab.
1. Drag and drop the MultiXTrend to a
workspace folder:
a. In the MultiXTrend pane, float your
cursor below the tab area until you see a
grey border appear.
desired location (i.e., drop target) in the
Navigation pane. (For assistance, refer
to the Trend description and diagram in
this table.)
workspace.
Or,
1. Right-click on the MultiXTrend window and
select Edit -> Copy.
3. The content is available in the workspace.
Table 9 - Adding Items to Workspace
Notes:
You can add items to a workspace by dragging and dropping items from the Tag Browser.
You can drag any application window (e.g., Trend, MultiXTrend, MultiTrend, Table) on to the
workspace.
You can drag the Time Control to the workspace.

Managing Windows in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender
Maximizing the Viewing Area
You can use the following techniques to maximize the screen in Easy Trender:
Minimize the ribbon.
Hide windows
To minimize the ribbon:
1. Right-click your mouse on the ribbon and select Minimize the Ribbon from the displayed menu.
Or,
Double-click your mouse on any ribbon tab.
2. The ribbon minimizes to show only its tabs.
3. To view a minimized menu, click on a tab.
To hide windows:
The Navigation and Browser panes can be set to Hide or AutoHide mode.
Right-click your mouse on the Navigation or Browser pane title bar, and select Hide from the displayed menu.
The window remains completely hidden until you select the application on the Home menu.
Right-click and then select AutoHide from the displayed menu. The window slides off the main window, but
shows its title in an area along the outside of the main window. The window remains hidden until you move the
mouse over the title.
You can click on the push pin icon to toggle AutoHide mode:
Click on the icon to “unpin” the window and allow it to auto-hide.
Click on the icon to “pin” the window and turn off auto-hide.
Creating and Modifying Tab Groups

Be default, content windows are stacked into a single tab group. You can create additional tab groups in various
arrangements, as shown in Table 10.
Tab Group Type Display
Single Tab Group

Tab Group Type Display
Horizontal Tab Groups
Vertical Tab Groups
Table 10 - Tab Group Examples
To rearrange tabs within a tab group:

1. Drag the tab to the left or right (Figure 40).
Figure 40 - Tab Rearrangement
To create a new tab group:

1. Right-click your mouse on the tab that you want to place into a new tab group.
2. Select either New Horizontal Tab Group or New Vertical Tab Group from the displayed menu (Figure
41).

Figure 41 - New Tab Group
To move a tab to a different tab group:

1. Right-click your mouse on necessary tab.
2. Select Move to Next Tab Group or Move to Previous Tab Group (Figure 42).
Figure 42 - Different Tab Group
To create a new tab group through drag and drop:

1. Drag a tab (which appears as a page icon) down into the content pane.
2. Once you release the mouse button, a menu appears.
3. Select either New Horizontal Tab Group or New Vertical Tab Group.
Drag or Drop Item to Easy Trender Tab

When you drag any item onto a MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender tab, the tab is put into focus. The dragged
item can be dropped onto the corresponding application hosted in that tab.
To drag an item onto an Easy Trender tab:
1. Click on the Trend tab to bring the application into focus (Figure 43).

Figure 43 - Trend Tab
Notes:
The Trend tab is in the foreground and the other applications (i.e., MultiTrend, MultiXTrend) are
in the background.
Figure 44 displays split tab bars.

Figure 44 - Split Tab Bars
2. Drag the tab and then drop the item from the browser to the MultiTrend application in focus, as shown in
Figure 45.

Figure 45 - MultiTrend Tab
Repositioning the Browser and Navigation Windows

You can reposition the browser and navigation windows in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender by using arrow
guides that appear when you drag the window. The window freely flows horizontally or vertically as you drag it,
and then repositions and resizes when you drop it. A gray box indicates the new position and size (Figure 46).
Figure 46 - Repositioning Browser and Navigation Windows

Saving and Loading Desktop Views
You can save the current layout of the tabbed windows together with configuration of the window content in a
Desktop View (.dvw) file. You can then load the Desktop View file to restore a previously-saved window layout,
or configure Easy Trender to automatically load a layout upon start-up.
Note: The position and size of the workspace and browser windows are not stored in the Desktop View file. They
are automatically set to their position and size when Easy Trender was last closed.
To save a Desktop View:
1. From the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender main screen, click on the button.
2. Click on the Save icon to save the Desktop View.

3. The Save window appears.
4. Enter a name for the Desktop View (.dvw) file.
5. Click on the Save button.
To restore a previously-saved Desktop View:
1. From the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender main screen, click on the button.
2. Click on the Open icon to open a Desktop View file.

3. The Open window appears.
4. Enter or select the Desktop View file to be loaded.
5. The required Desktop View file is opened which restores all of that tabs that were open when the Desktop
View file was saved.
Note: To load Easy Trender with the layout from a previously-saved Desktop View file, simply double-click your
mouse on the .dvw file. You can use this technique to launch Easy Trender by default with a standard start page
or layout.
Closing All Windows

To close all open tabbed content windows:
1. Click your mouse on the Home ribbon tab.
2. Click on the Close All button from the Window tab.
3. You will be asked to confirm whether you want to save unsaved changes to any windows before closing.

Operating the Time Control
Time Control Fields
The Time Control is a user interface within MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender that allows the user to set time-
related properties. For an introduction to the Time Control, refer to Working With Time Control.
Notes:
When Common Times is inactive, the Time Control user interface
resizes to fit the available space within each local content window.
Reductions in size may remove some fields or buttons from the Time
Control, or may completely hid the local Time Control.
You can still change the properties through the Time Control
Properties window.
If a resize of the Time Control hides the From/To times object, you
cannot drag a time range from the Time Control. However, you can still
drop on the Properties button.
Simply increase the size of the content window to display the entire
Time Control user interface.
Table 11 lists and Time Control user interface components.
Field Description
Period Allows you to select a period of time to apply to the Time Control. The properties
of a period are start and end times, step sizes, and refresh interval.
Indicates the start (From) and end (To) times (i.e., time range) used by the Time
Control to request data.
To change the time range:
Right-click your mouse on the range to display the Time Control
Properties window where you can make the change. Or,
Select a different period from the Period drop-down list. Or,
Click on the Forward or Back buttons.
From: You can use the From/To times to drag and drop the Time Control properties to
To: a workspace or to other objects within Easy Trender that can use a time range.
When you left-click your mouse on the From/To times, it loads the Time Control
properties (i.e., context) for drag and drop. When you release the mouse button, it
drops the context.
You can drag and drop onto the From/To times.
Note: When you drop onto the Time Control, the Period changes to Custom.
When Common Times is not active, the From/To times may not display because
the Time Control user interface shrinks to fit the available space of the local
content window. If so, you cannot drag the From/To label, but you can drop a
time range onto the Properties button.
Large Step Back Selecting this button moves the From (i.e., start) time, To (i.e., end) time, and
current time together, back in time by the time increment specified in the Large
Step property.
Small Step Back Selecting this button moves the From time, To time, and current time together,
back in time by the time increment specified in the Small Step property.

Field Description
Large Step Forward Selecting this button moves the From (i.e., start) time, To (i.e., end) time, and
current time together, forward in time by the time increment specified in the Large
Step property.
Small Step Forward Selecting this button moves the From time, To time, and current time together,
forward in time by the time increment specified in the Small Step property.
Slider Control This component moves the current time within the period identified by the From
and To times. When in Play mode, the slider automatically moves and appears
greyed out.
Selecting this button requests an updated of the data in the time range. For
Refresh example, if you display a Trend with a time range of now-2h to now and then go
to a meeting for an hour, when you return from the meeting, the data is one hour
old. Click on the Refresh button update the Trend data with the latest values.
This button toggles between Play and Stop. Play turns on play mode and
increments forward through time at a pre-defined interval. Stop turns off the Time
Control automatic refresh.
In Absolute time format, when in Play mode, the absolute current time is
displayed and the time control appears grayed out, except for the Stop button.
In Relative time format, when in Play mode, the slider automatically moves, and
the time control appears grayed out, except for the Stop button.
Play
Play
Play mode increments forward at a normal or fast interval, depending on the
Stop configuration of the Time Control properties, as follows:
Normal – if the Fast Replay property is set to Normal refresh, Play
mode increments at the Refresh Interval. Normal Play mode continues
incrementing if it reaches a relative end time of Now.
Fast – if the Fast Replay property is set to n times normal, Play mode
increments at the fast interval, where n is a specified multiplier. Fast Play
mode slows to normal refresh when it reaches a relative end time of Now.
When playing, and current time reaches the To: (i.e., end) time:
If Relative end time – playing continues at the refresh interval.
If Absolute end time – playing stops when it reaches the end time.
Selecting this button displays the Time Control Properties window, where you
can view and/or modify the time-related properties.
Properties
This button is also a drag and drop target. You can drag and drop a time range
onto the Properties button. This is useful when the From/To times are not
available as a drag and drop target because the Time Control user interface was
reduced in size to fit the space available in the local window.
Table 11 - Time Control Components Descriptions

Common Times Status
The Common Times status is present in the ribbon of each Trend, MultiTrend, MultiXTrend, and Table. The
status determines whether all windows synchronize to the same time settings or each window has its own
independent time settings.
Common Times include two states: active and inactive. Initially, Common Times are inactive.
Common Times Mode: When Common Times is active:

The Common Time status is highlighted.
There is one master Time Control user interface It displays the status strip
of the main window.
All open windows share common time settings. For example, if you change
the time period, then all windows automatically update to display the same
time setting.
If you drop a time entry (a time range, time control, or saved content that has
an associated time) onto a window, it does not have any effect. The master
Time Control settings continue to be in effect.
Local Times Mode: When Common Times is inactive:

The Common Time status is not highlighted.
A separate Time Control user interface displays in the status strip of each
window.
The Time Control user interfaces resizes to fit the available space within the
status strip of each window.
If you change the time settings of one window, it does not affect any other
windows.
If you add a new window (such as Home -> Trend), it displays with its own
local Time Control user interface.
Note: When you close Easy Trender, it saves the current Common Times status and then uses it as the start-up
state when you reopen Easy Trender.
Viewing/Adjusting Time Control Properties

The Time Control Properties window (Figure 47) allows you to view and adjust the Time Control properties.
The properties are described in Table 12.

Figure 47 - Time Control Properties Window
Field Description
Allows you to select a period from the drop-down list. Properties of a period are start
Period
and end times, large and small step sizes, and refresh rate.
Allows you to enter or select a time range, and to select an Absolute or Relative time
format for the time range (depending on the selection in the adjacent buttons).
Absolute:
The up and down arrow buttons allows you to increment/decrement the number at
the position of the cursor.
Selecting the drop-down list button displays a calendar to assist with date
selection.
Relative:
From: This option button allows you to select a relative time from the drop-down list.
To:
Selecting the ellipsis button displays the Relative Time Builder window (Figure
48) to assist with simple relative time entry.
Note: For relative time syntax, refer to Relative Time Syntax.
Figure 48 - Relative Time Builder Window

Field Description
The current time is a position in time between the From and To times. You can point
to current time using the Relative time slider or the Absolute data/time pickers.
When you select the Relative time format, you can manipulate the current time using
the slider. The slider represents the approximate position between the start and end
times.
Current time Trends use current time as the position of Hairline 1.
Relative:
Absolute:
Specifies how frequently Trends, MultiTrends, MultiXTrends, and Tables refresh

Refresh interval
their data when the Time Control is in Play mode.
Specifies the multiplier that is applied to the Refresh interval when the current time is
Fast replay before the end time, and the Time Control is placed in Play mode. This has the effect
of speeding up history replay by incrementing the current time at the faster rate.
Small step Specifies the time increment used for a small step forward or backward in time.
Specifies the time increment used for the large step button in the Time Control user
Large step
interface, to move forward or backward in time.
Use this button to apply any changes made to the Time Control.
OK When there are errors in the time entries, the OK button is unavailable until the errors
are resolved.
Cancel Use this button to close the Properties window without applying any changes made.
Table 12 - Time Control Properties Descriptions
To display the Time Control properties:
1. From the Time Control user interface, click on the Properties button.
Or,
Using the right or left mouse button, click on the From and To times.
Note: If you make a data entry error, the appropriate field changes to a yellow
background (Figure 49). Errors include incorrect relative time, and errors in a
dependant time entry such as a start (i.e., From) time that is after the end (i.e., To)
time.
Figure 49 - Data Entry Error Example
Relative Time Syntax

The relative time syntax includes the details shown in Figure 50. Offset keywords are shown in Figure 51.

Figure 50 - Relative Time Syntax
Note: Delta formats are not supported for relative time strings in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender.
Figure 51 - Offset Keywords

Displaying Data in a Trend
To view the different types of Trend charts:
1. Open a Trend window and on the ribbon, click your mouse on Type.
Or,
Right-click your mouse on a Trend window and select View -> Chart type from the displayed menu.
2. The following Trend chart types are displayed:
a. Single Y Axis
b. Multiple Y Axis
c. Strip Chart
d. XY
e. Histogram
f. SPC
Choosing a Trend Format

Single Y Axis Format
The Single Y Axis format shows all traces super-imposed on one display with a common X-axis and Y-axis. The
Single Y Axis Trend window (Figure 52) allows you to display up to 32 traces.
Figure 52 - Single Y Axis Trend
Strip Chart Format

Strip Chart format (Figure 53) shows each trace on a separate strip with its own Y-axis, and with a common X-
axis.
Figure 53 - Strip Chart Trend

Multiple Y Axis Format
The Multiple Y Axis format is the default. It shows all traces super-imposed on one display. The Y axis for each
trace is used, but with a common X axis.
In the example shown in Figure 54, the Y axis for each trace displays on the left side of the Trend. You can click
on any trace to display its corresponding Y axis in the same color on the right side of the Trend.
Figure 54 - Multiple Y Axis Trend
XY Format
The XY format plots trace against each other. You select an item as the X axis and an item as the Y axis.
XY format plots display values against common timestamps.
If a trace displays Aggregate data, you can associate X and Y with different items. If a trace displays RAW data,
then both X and Y show trace values for the same item.
You can click on a trace to display its data points (as shown in Figure 55).
Figure 55 - XY Trend
Histogram Format
The Histogram format (Figure 56) is used for displaying how a variable is distributed. The Histogram condenses
a data series into a visual display by taking many data points and grouping them into logical ranges or bins.
On the ribbon, you can use the Number Bins option to specify the number of bins and the resolution.
A chart on the trend lists general statistical information such as normal distribution, mean, and standard deviation.
You can plot a Histogram for any traced that is added to a trend.

Figure 56 - Histogram Trend
SPC Format
The Statistical Process Control (SPC) format (Figure 57) provides you with information about the performance of
processes within a plant. You can use the information in the chart to identify areas where the processes are
running efficiently, and to identify where there is variation in the processes.
The SPC charts display the distribution of Moving Range and Individual X.
You can plot an SPC chart for any trace that is added to a trend.
Figure 57 - SPC Trend
On the ribbon, you can use the Sample Size option to select the required sample size from the list. Specify a
number from 1 through 25 for the calculated X bar and Range bar.
Interpreting the Histogram

Histogram Algorithm
The algorithm used to calculate the Histogram series values, is as follows:
W is the width of a bar in a histogram, and W = (Max - Min) / #Bar.
Counts[] is the heights of bars in a histogram if Unit is selected as Counts, and
Counts[i] = is the number of sample for ((i-1)W * V[j] < iW)

Where i = 1, 2, ..., #Bar, and j = 1, 2, ..., N.
If the Unit is selected as Percent, the heights of bars is
Percent[i], and
Percent[i] = Counts[i] / N
The Normal Distribution Curve (where area is equal to the histogram) is calculated by:
Where x ranges from Mean - 3Dev to Mean + 3Dev.

Table 13 lists and describes the values displayed in the statistics chart appearing on the Histogram trend (Figure
56).
Value Description
#Data Resolution. Number of data points within the sample per trace.
LSL Low Standard Limit. Default is the Low Extreme value in the OPC server tag configuration.
HSL High Standard Limit. Default is the High Extreme value in the OPC server tag configuration.
The Mean value:
Mean
Standard Deviation (Dev):
Std Dev
Minimum ---
Maximum ---
Process Capability.
HSL LSL
If both LSL and HSL are defined, then Cp
6 Dev
Cp Mean LSL
If only LSL is defined, then Cp
3Dev
HSL Mean
If only HSL is defined, then Cp
3Dev
The Process Capability index is defined as the Cp for a centered process producing a similar
level of defects. That is, the ration between permissible deviation measured from the mean
value to the nearest specific limit of acceptability, and the actual one-sided 3 x sigma spread of
Cpk the process.
As a formula, Cpk = either (HSL-Mean)/(3 x sigma) or (Mean-LSL)/(3 x sigma), which is the
smaller (depending on whether the shift is up or down).
Table 13 - Histogram Statistics Descriptions

Creating a Trend
Create a New Trend Window
To create a new trend window:
1. From the Home menu, select Trend.
2. The Trend window is displayed.
3. The view defaults to a Multiple Y Axis trend type. To select a different type, either:
a. Right-click your mouse in the Trend window. From the displayed menu, select View which then
displays the types from which you can select.
Or,
a. With the Trend tab selected on the ribbon, select the Chart tab. The first option on the Chart tab
(highlighted in orange in Figure 58) allows you to select the required trend type.
i. Single Y Axis – shows all traces super-imposed on one chart with a common X axis and
Y axis.
ii. Strip Chart – shows each trace on a separate strip with a common X axis and Y axis.
iii. Multiple Y Axis – shows all traces super-imposed on one display. Each trace has its own
Y axis, but share a common X axis.
iv. XY – shows traces plotted against each other.
v. Histogram – shows the distribution frequency of variables.
vi. SPC – shows the distribution of Moving Range and Individual X.
Figure 58 - Chart Tab
Add an Item
To add items you can drag and drop single or multiple items from the Browser Pane to a trend window.
Alternatively, you can directly enter an item.
For instructions on how to directly enter an item, refer to Using Direct Entry to Add Items.
Edit an Item
To edit an item:
1. Drag a new item from the browser or workspace, and drop it on to the required trend.
2. Right-click your mouse on the trend and select Items -> Edit from the displayed menu.
3. A menu appears listing the items currently used in the trend.
4. Select the item you wish to edit.
5. The selected tag details are now displayed in the Specify Item Details window (Figure 59).

Figure 59 - Specify Item Details Window
6. Edit the necessary details.

7. Click on the OK button to accept the changes.
Delete an Item
To delete an item:
1. In the selected trend’s properties table, select the row you wish to delete.
2. The selection is highlighted.
3. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.
4. A message appears asking you to confirm the deletion.
5. Click Yes.
Or,
1. Right-click your mouse in the trend.
2. From the displayed menu, select Items -> Remove.
3. A list of the current items is displayed.
4. Select the item you wish to remove.
Note: No matter which deletion method you use, the removed item no longer appears in the trend’s properties
table.
Save a Trend for Reuse

For instructions on how to save a trend to a workspace, refer to Adding Content to Workspaces.

Using Direct Entry to Add Items
You can add an item to a Trend, MultiTrend, MultiXTrend, Table, or workspace by directly entering the item
name. Optionally, you can customize the item with details that define how you want the data retrieved. Table 14
describes the entries to customize an item.
Field Description
Item Name Enter the name of the data item. Tag Name and Item Name are used interchangeably.
Enumerated Selecting this checkbox ensures the item is added to the list.
Specifies the default minimum confidence for data retrieved from the OPC server. The
Minimum
confidence values range from 0 to 100, where 0 represents no confidence and 100
Confidence
represents complete confidence in the data.
Null Value
Specifies how you want Null (i.e., bad) values indicated.
Replacement
Specifies the engineering unit conversion that you want to perform.
Units
The units must be a valid, predefined unit conversion.
Selecting this checkbox enables the Aggregate and Resample Interval fields allowing
Specify Aggregate
you to edit those fields.
Aggregate
For definitions of Resample Interval and the various aggregates, refer to Definition of
Frequency and Method.
Resample Interval
Specify Data
Selecting this checkbox enables the Data Source field allowing you to edit it.
Source
Data Source Specifies the OPC server from which to retrieve the item data.
Table 14 - Item Detail Descriptions
To use direct entry to add items:

1. On a Trend, MultiTrend, MultiXTrend, or Table window, right-click your mouse and select Items -> New
Item from the displayed menu.
2. The Specify Item Details window (Figure 60) appears.

Figure 60 - Specify Item Details Window
3. Enter the Item Name and other details as needed.

Note: For descriptions of the entries, refer to Item Detail Descriptions.
5. The new item is now added.
Working With Time Ranges

Save a Time Range for Reuse
For instructions on how to save a time range to a workspace, refer to Adding Content to Workspaces.
Reuse a Saved Time Range

Drag the saved time range from the workspace to the start/end times on the Time Control user interface. If the
start/end times are not visible on the Time Control, you can drag and drop the saved time range to the
Properties button on the Time Control.
If Common Times is not active, you can drop the time range onto an individual window that supports it, such as
Trend.
Trend Different Time Ranges

To trend different time ranges in the same window:
1. Create a Trend (not a MultiTrend).
2. Apply an offset to the top axis:

a. Right-click your mouse on the trend window and select Axis -> Secondary X Axis (Top) ->
Configure.
b. From the displayed box (Figure 61), select either a relative or absolute offset.
Figure 61 - Top Axis Offset Configuration
c. Click outside the box to commit the selection.

Note: The secondary X axis does not display until after you assign at least one trace to the top X
axis.
3. Assign a trace to use the offset:
a. From the Properties table, click on the required cell within the Axis column.
b. Select Top.
Viewing Trend Data Value (Hairline Cursor Position)

Overview of Hairline Cursors
You can display a maximum of two hairline cursors (vertical lines) on a trend. The vertical lines allow you to view
the data value at one specific time, and at two different times.
Hairline 1 – the default color is red. If you reposition Hairline 1, it changes the Time Control’s current time (in
Local or Common Times mode). Hairline 1 synchronizes across all trend windows when in Common Times
mode.
Hairline 2 – the default color is blue. Hairline 2 is manipulated through a local window in Local Times mode
only. The mouse can be used for repositioning both hairlines, as needed. In addition, you can use the slider on
the Time Control to reposition Hairline 1. A box shows the tag name, value, and timestamp of all traces at the
position of the hairlines. A straight line algorithm is used for interpolating between data points when the hairline is
not over actual data points.
View Specific Time/Date Data Value

To view a data value at a specific time/date:
1. Display the trend that contains the trace or traces of interest.
2. Right-click your mouse on the trend and select Display -> Hairline 1 or Hairline 2, from the displayed
menu.
Or,
Select Hairline 1 and/or Hairline 2 from the Display tab (highlighted in orange in Figure 62).

Figure 62 - Display Tab
3. A vertical line appears on the right side of the trend. A text box (i.e., legend) is displayed showing the item
names of all the traces and the timestamp at the position of the hairline.
Note: You can drag the legend out of the way, as needed.
4. Move the hairline:
a. Drag the vertical line to the position of interest.
b. The box shows the data value and timestamp at the new cursor position.
Note: Changing the position of Hairline 1 changes the current time in the local or master Time
Control.
c. If you want more precise movement, use the mouse wheel to move the cursor left and right
between data points, for the selected trace. If no trace is selected, then the cursor uses the first
trace.
d. Alternatively, to move Hairline 1, drag the slider on the Time Control.
Note: To synchronize other windows to this windows Hairline 1 position, click on Common
Times if it is not already highlighted in the ribbon.
5. Show the time/date of the current hairline position:
a. Move the mouse cursor over the slider to display the time/date of the hairline.
Note: Current time is a position in time between the start and end times.
b. Click on the Properties button on the Time Control.

c. The Time Control Properties window is displayed.
d. For current time, select Absolute.
e. Click on the OK button.
f. The time/date replaces the slider on the Time Control.
g. Place your cursor in the time/date field on the Time Control and enter the time/date in the box
provided.
h. Alternatively, you can use the arrows on the Time Control to specify a time/date.
i. Click on the large down arrow to display a calendar, and then select the required date.
ii. Click on the small arrows to increment/decrement the time. Place your cursor in the field
that you wish to increment/decrement.
View Data Value at Different Times

To view a data value at two different times:
1. Display the trend that contains the trace or traces of interest.
2. On the Trend ribbon, click on Hairline 1 and Hairline 2.
3. Two vertical lines are displayed on the trend, and the box shows the names and timestamps at both
hairline positions.

4. Drag the vertical line for Hairline 1 to the position of interest.
5. The values appear in the box (Figure 63).
Figure 63 - Hairline 1 Position
6. Drag the vertical line for Hairline 2 to the position of interest.

7. The values appear in the box (Figure 64).
Figure 64 - Hairline 2 Position
View Hairline Position Statistics

The trend allows you to display summary statistics on the information between Hairline 1 and Hairline 2. This
can be used, for example, to compare the statistics before and after a process improvement was made.
Note: The Zoom function is not available when the Statistics function is enabled.
To view statistics (i.e., min, max, mean, SD) at the hairline position:
1. Display the trend that contains the trace or traces and time span of interest.
2. On the ribbon, select Hairline 1 or Hairline 2.
3. Move the hairlines to the times of interest.
4. On the ribbon, select the Statistics checkbox (Figure 65).
Figure 65 - Statistics Option

5. A text box (i.e., legend) appears showing statistics on the information between Hairline 1 and Hairline 2
(Figure 66).
Figure 66 - Statistics Information
To update the statistics information:

1. Click on the Trend window.
2. If you place the trend in Play mode, the statistics are not updated with the current time update. You must
click on the Trend window to refresh the statistics.
3. After adding an time to the trend, the statistics for the new item do not display automatically. You must
click on the Trend window to display the statistics for the new item.
Using the Zoom

To zoom into an area of interest on a trend:
1. From the Trend window, drag the cursor over the area you wish to zoom (Figure 67).
Figure 67 - Zoom Area
2. Drag the cursor again to zoom again.

3. To reset (i.e., clear) the zoom, right-click your mouse and select Reset Zoom from the displayed menu.
Notes:
The Zoom function is not available when Statistics is enabled. To use the Zoom function, clear the
Statistics checkbox on the ribbon.
The Zoom function is applicable for Trend and MultiXTrend. It is not applicable to MultiTrend.
The X-axis (time) zoom level is maintained until you manually reset the zoom. While zoomed in, you
can make changes such as adding or removing items, refreshing the trend, changing aggregate
method of frequency, or entering Play mode without affecting the X-axis zoom level.
If you are working with non-Raw data, and when you zoom on a trend, the data automatically is
refreshed from the server. This improves data resolution in the zoomed window.
Annotations
To add an annotation:
1. Display the trend that contains the trace or traces and period of interest.
2. Right-click your mouse on the Trend window and select Annotation -> New from the displayed menu.
3. An entry field and prompt message appear in the upper left corner of the Trend window (Figure 68).
Figure 68 - Annotation Field
4. Place your cursor over the entry field and press F2 on your keyboard.
5. Type your annotation and press Enter.
6. Drag the annotation to the required position.
To edit an annotation:
1. Right-click your mouse on the Trend window containing the annotation you wish to edit.
2. Select Annotation -> Edit from the displayed menu.
3. The annotation entry field becomes editable.
4. Change your annotation as needed.
5. Press Enter.
To delete an annotation:
1. Right-click your mouse on the Trend window containing the annotation you wish to delete.
2. Select Annotation -> Delete from the displayed menu.
3. The annotation entry is removed.

Changing Trend Visual Properties
Show/Hide the Properties Table
To show/hide the Properties table:
1. Click on the control that appears on top of the Properties table, yet below the trend.
2. The list of available columns (Figure 69) appears.
Figure 69 - Available Columns
Show X Axis on Top or Bottom

To show the X axis on the top or bottom of the trend:
1. Right-click your mouse on the trend Properties table.
2. Select Columns -> Xaxis.
3. An Axis column now appears in the Properties table.
4. Click in the column, and from the drop-down list, select either Top or Bottom, as required.
Change Trace Line Style

To change the style of a trace line:
2. Select Columns -> LineStyle.
3. A Style column now appears in the Properties table.

4. Click in the column, and from the drop-down list, select the required line style (e.g., Solid, Dash, Dot,
DashDot, DashDotDot).
Delete Trace Line

Refer to Delete an Item for instructions on how to remove an item from a trend, and therefore, remove the
associated trace line.
Change Data Points Marker Style
Note: Enabling the marker styles degrades the performance of the trend.
To change the style of the marker for data points indication:

2. Select Columns -> Marker.
3. A Marker column now appears in the Properties table.
4. Click in the column, and from the drop-down list, select the required marker style (e.g., Nothing,
Rectangular, Circle, Triangle, Diamond).
Change Trace Line Color

To change the color of a trace line:
2. Select Columns -> Color.
3. A Color column now appears in the Properties table.
4. Click in the column, and from the drop-down list, select the required color from the displayed window.
Show Step Instead of Linear Line

To show a step instead of a linear trace line:
1. From the trend Properties table, click on Step.
2. The trace line now appears as steps between data points rather than linear lines (Figure 70).
Figure 70 - Step vs. Linear Trace Lines
Display/Edit a Trend
Note: This procedure applies to a Trend and to each chart in a MultiTrend.
To display a title, edit the title, or rename a trend:
1. To display the trend title, right-click your mouse on the window or chart and select Title -> Display Title

2. The title is displayed across the top of the trend.
Or,
1. To edit the title, right-click on the window or chart and select Title -> Edit Title from the displayed menu.
2. The Edit Title window (Figure 71) appears
Figure 71 - Edit Title Window
3. Enter a title and click on the OK button.

Or,
1. To rename the title, right-click on the window or chart and select Title -> Rename Trend from the
displayed menu.
2. The Change Trend Name window (Figure 72) appears.
Figure 72 - Change Trend Name Window
3. Enter the new name and click on the OK button.
Modify Trend Display Style

Note: Changes to trend style settings will be applied to all new and existing trends. Style settings cannot be
customized for individual trends.
To modify a trend display style:
1. From the Trend ribbon, click on the Style button (Figure 73).
Figure 73 - Style
2. The Chart Style window (Figure 74) appears.

Figure 74 - Chart Style Window
3. You can make any or all of the following changes, as required:

a. Trend Background (select the Chart tab)
b. Plot Background (select the Chart tab)
c. Font/Size/Color of the Title (select the Title tab)
d. Background/Foreground/Transparency setting for Hairlines (select the Hairline tab)
e. Color of the Gridlines (select the Grid tab)
f. Font/Size/Style/Color of the X-axis and Y-axis (select the Axes tab)
Export Trend to Image

To export a trend to an image file:
1. Right-click your mouse on the window or chart and select Export -> Image -> JPG or NPG from the
displayed menu.
2. The Export to JPEG (or PNG) Image window appears.
3. Enter a file name.
Viewing and Changing a Trend Scale

View a Trace Scale
To view the scale of a trace:
2. Select Columns -> YRange.
3. A YRange column now appears in the Properties table.

4. Click in the column, and click on the drop-down list.
5. The scale is displayed.
Change the Scale

To change the scale:
1. From the Properties table, select the YRange property for each trace, and set it to one of the following:
a. Auto Scale – automatically rescales Y range to accommodate the displayed data.
b. Custom Range – allows you to set the minimum/maximum range.
Automatically Rescale a Trace

To configure automatic rescaling for a trace:
1. From the Properties table, select the YRange property for the required trace.
2. Select Auto Scale.
Plot a Trace
To plot a trace with its own scale (normalized Y axis):
1. From the Properties table, select the YRange property for the required trace.
2. Select Custom Range.
3. The Minimum and Maximum items are enabled allows you select or enter the required range.
Change Distorted Trace Scale

To manually change the scale of a trace distorted by a single outlier:
1. From the Properties table, select YRange -> Custom Range.
2. Enter a new Minimum and/or Maximum value.
3. Select the item in the Properties table to display its new YRange.
Lock the Y Axis Range

To lock the range of the Y axis (Lock Scale):
1. Right-click your mouse on the Trend window and select Axis -> Lock Y Scale from the displayed menu.
Data Retrieval Properties (Frequency, Method) Descriptions

Table 15 describes the Method and Frequency properties that affect data retrieval for MatrikonOPC Analytics
Easy Trender. You can change these properties in Trend, MultiTrend, and MultiXTrend, or through direct entry
of an item.
Trend – through the Properties table on a per item basis.
MultiXTrend – through the Properties table on a per item basis.
MultiTrend – through the ribbon on a per window basis.
Note: The list of aggregates that MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender displays changes automatically,
depending on the aggregates the data sources support.
Field Description
Selects the time interval for sampling or reduction: 1S, 5S, 10S, 30S, 1M, 2M, 5M, 10M, 30M,
Interval
1H, 2H, 4H, 8H, 1D, 7D, or 30D.

Field Description
The default value is 10S.
If Enable Performance Optimization is enabled, or you use the Best Fit aggregate, then
sample frequency is automatically adjusted to limit the number of data points to that configured
for the application type.
For more information, refer to Improving Data Retrieval and Application Performance.
Selects a data sampling type: Average, Best Fit, Count, Delta, Duration Bad, Duration
Good, End, Interpolative, Maximum, Maximum Actual Time, Minimum, Minimum Actual
Time, Percent Bad, Percent Good, Range, Raw, Regression Constant, Regression
Aggregate Deviation, Regression Slope, Standard Deviation, Start, Time Average, Total, Variance,
Worst Quality.
The data provided by each method is described below:
Method Data Provided
The Average aggregate adds the values of all good raw data
Average available in a given interval. It divides the sum by the number of
good values.
Annotations The Annotations aggregate returns a count of all annotations.
Best Fit aggregate retrieves the reduced set of data from the
server through through a MinMaxInterp BestFit (three-part)
algorithm
MinMaxInterp BestFit (three-part)
o Calculates a sampling interval for the item using
the following formula: (end time-start
Best Fit time)/((number_values_required-1)/3).
o Retrieves the Minimum Actual Time,
Interpolative and Maximum Actual Time
aggregates for the sampling intervals.
o Combines the aggregate results, discarding
duplicates.
o
This aggregate retrieves a count of all of the raw values within an
Count interval. It lists the aggregates with uppercase instead of
ALLCAPS.
The Delta aggregate retrieves the difference between the earliest
and latest good raw values in an interval.
If the last value is less than the first value, the result is
negative.
Delta If the last value is the same as the first value, or if the last
value is also the first value with the same timestamp, the
result is 0.
If the last value is greater than the first value, the result is
positive.
The duration that the bad aggregate checks for the quality of a
bounding value. It determines what the quality is at the beginning
Duration Bad of the interval. This aggregate considers Bad values only.
If a raw value x, with quality q appears from the start to end within
an interval, then the quality is considered to be q until the next

Field Description
value y appears. From that point the quality of y is considered,
and so on.
The duration that the good aggregate checks for the quality of a
bounding value. It determines what the quality is at the beginning
of the interval. This aggregate considers Good values only.
Duration Good If a raw value x, with quality q appears from the start to end within
an interval, then the quality is considered to be q until the next
value y appears. From that point the quality of y is considered,
and so on.
The End aggregate retrieves the last raw value within the interval.
End It returns the End aggregate value with the timestamp at which
that value occurs.
A value that is the interpolation between the raw data values
within the frequency time interval. It provides the raw data
Interpolative available at specific timestamps. The method of interpolation,
stepped (hold last value), or linear straight line interpolation are
server-dependent.
The Maximum aggregate retrieves the maximum good raw value
Maximum
within the interval.
The Maximum Actual Time aggregate retrieves the maximum
good raw value within the interval. It returns the maximum good
raw value along with the timestamp at which that value occurs.
Maximum Actual Time
Note: If the same Maximum Actual Time aggregate exists at
more than one timestamp, the oldest Maximum Actual Time
aggregate is retrieved.
The Minimum aggregate retrieves the minimum good raw value
Minimum within the interval. In the Minimum aggregate, for every interval
the timestamp of the aggregate becomes the start of the interval.
The Minimum Actual Time aggregate retrieves the minimum
good raw value within the interval. It returns the minimum good
raw value along with the timestamp at which that value occurs.
Minimum Actual Time
Note: If the same Minimum Actual Time aggregate exists at
more than one timestamp, then the oldest Minimum Actual Time
aggregate is retrieved.
The Percent Bad aggregate performs the following calculation:
percent_bad=duration_bad/interval_length, where:
duration_bad is the result of the Duration Bad
Percent Bad aggregate calculated using the interval supplied to
Percent Bad.
interval_length is the interval of the aggregates.
The time is displayed in seconds.
The Percent Good aggregate performs the following calculation:
percent_good=duration_good/interval_length, where:
duration_good is the result of the Duration Good
Percent Good
aggregate calculated using the interval supplied to
Percent Good.
interval_length is the interval of the aggregates.

Field Description
The time is displayed in seconds.
The Range aggregate displays the difference between the raw
maximum and raw minimum values in the interval. If only one
Range value is displayed in the interval, the range is 0.
Note: The range is always 0 or positive.
The actual sample that was stored with its timestamp. No
Raw reduction is performed. It lists the aggregates alphabetically. This
method does not include interpolation.
The method used to determine the Regression Constant
Regression Constant
aggregate is server-dependent.
The method used to determine the Regression Deviation
Regression Deviation
aggregate is server-dependent.
A regression list is a line of best fit across the interval. The
Regression Slope method used to determine Regression Slope is server-
dependent.
The Standard Deviation aggregate uses the following formula:
Standard Deviation
Where X is each good raw value in the interval. Avg(X) is the

average of the good raw values. n is the number of good raw
values in the interval.
For every interval where n = 1, a value of 0 is returned.
The Start aggregate retrieves the first raw value within the
Start interval. It returns the Start aggregate value with the timestamp at
which that value occurs.
The time-weighted average aggregate uses interpolation and
allows you to find the value of a point at the beginning and end of
Time Average an interval. A straight line is drawn between each raw value in the
interval. The area under the line is divided by the length of the
interval to yield the average.
The total aggregate performs the following calculation for each
interval.
Total = time_weighted_avg*interval_length (sec), where:
time_weighted_avg is the result from the Time Average
Total
aggregate, using the interval supplied to the Total call.
interval_length is the interval of the aggregate.
The resulting units are normalized to seconds. For example,
[time_weighted_age Units]*sec.
MatrikonOPC Desktop Historian supports the Trend Friendly
aggregate. This aggregate retrieves trend-friendly values from the
Trend Friendly
OPC server. It performs the following two-part Minimum
Maximum Best Fit:

Field Description
Calculates a sampling interval for the item using the
formula: (end time-start
time)/(number_values_required/2).
Retrieves the Minimum and Maximum aggregates for
the sampling intervals.
Combines the aggregate result, discarding duplicates.
Note: The Trend Friendly aggregate is applicable only for
MatrikonOPC Desktop Historian and is not supported by other
OPC servers.
The Variance aggregate retrieves the square of the standard
Variance
deviation.
The Worst Quality aggregate returns the worst quality of the raw
Worst Quality
values in the interval.
Table 15 - Definition of Frequency and Method

Displaying Data in MultiTrend
Overview of MultiTrend Features
MultiTrend allows you to set up a set of small trends that typically cover a relatively large number of items, for
routine process monitoring. MultiTrend displays only aggregate (not raw) data. Each MultiTrend can contain up
to 25 charts.
The maximum number of traces per chart is user-configurable through MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender
Configuration. The default limit is 6.
The maximum number of rows and columns per chart is also user-configurable through Easy Trender
Configuration. The default limit is 5.
The maximum total number of trace points per MultiTrend is user-configurable through the Max. Trace Point
Count ribbon command. The default limit is 2000 traces.
The MultiTrend automatically adjusts the aggregate frequency based on the number of data points, and the start
and end times. For example, with 100 data points displayed for five days of data, the calculated frequency is
(60*60*24*5)=43200 seconds, or 1H12M (1 hour 12 minutes). If you select a frequency of 2 hrs, then there is no
change.
Each MultiTrend is displayed as a tabbed window (Figure 75).
Figure 75 - MultiTrend Example
Creating a MultiTrend
To create a MultiTrend:
1. Open a new MultiTrend window:
a. From the Applications tab on the Home menu, select MultiTrend (Figure 76).

Figure 76 - Home Menu – MultiTrend Option
b. The MultiTrend window appears. The default layout is four charts.

2. Select a layout:
a. Right-click your mouse on the MultiTrend window.
b. Select Layout from the displayed menu.
c. A menu option appears displaying a series of chart icons (Figure 77).
Figure 77 - Layout Charts Option
d. Select the layout you want by clicking on the number of charts and chart orientation that you want
displayed in the layout.
Note: As shown in Figure 77, your layout selection is identified by a checkmark.
3. Add items:
Method 1:
a. Open the Browser pane (if not already present).
b. Drag and drop the required item into a chart in the MultiTrend window.
Method 2:
a. Right-click your mouse on a chart in the MultiTrend window and select Items -> New Item from
the displayed menu.
b. The Specify Item Details window (Figure 59) appears.

c. Enter the necessary item details. Refer to Item Detail Descriptions for item information.
d. The trend for the item is displayed in the chart.
4. Continue adding items as needed.
Note: Multiple items can be added to an individual chart.
5. Replace or remove items.
a. Right-click your mouse on a chart and select one of the following commands:
i. Items -> Edit – to copy/copy all items.
ii. Items -> Remove – to delete an item.
iii. Items -> Reinitialize Items – to reinitialize the items.
Save Charts for Reuse

For instructions on how to save all MultiTrend charts, or a single chart, to a workspace for reuse, refer to Adding
Content to Workspaces.
View MultiTrend Properties

To view MultiTrend properties:
1. Right-click your mouse on the MultiTrend and select Display -> Legend from the displayed menu.
2. The item names, trace colors, and statistics appear in a text box (i.e., legend) on each chart.
View MultiTrend Chart in Trend Window

To view a MultiTrend chart in a Trend window:
1. Double-click your mouse on any chart in a MultiTrend window to open a new Trend window containing
the same tags/items.
Display MultiTrend Hairline Cursors

To display hairline cursors in a MultiTrend:
1. Right-click your mouse on the MultiTrend and select Display -> Hairlines from the displayed menu.
2. A vertical hairline cursor displays on all charts in the MultiTrend.
Note: If you reposition the hairline in one of the charts, it moves the hairline in all of the other charts. It
changes the Time Control’s current time (for local or master Time Control).
Show/Edit Title/Rename MultiTrend

Note: This procedure applies to a Trend, MultiXTrend, and to each chart in a MultiTrend
To show or rename or edit the title of a MultiTrend:
1. To display the MultiTrend title, right-click your mouse on the window and select Title -> Display from the
displayed menu.
Or,
1. To edit the title, right-click on the window and select Title -> Edit from the displayed menu.
2. Enter a title and press Enter.
Or,
1. To rename the title, right-click on the window and select Title -> Rename MultiTrend from the displayed
menu.

2. Enter the new name and click on the OK button.

Displaying Data in a MultiXTrend
Overview of MultiXTrend
The MultiXTrend varies slightly from the Trend application. This application enables you to specify individual
time ranges for each trace in the trend.
Creating a MultiXTrend
Note: To create a MultiXTrend, or add items to a trend, refer to Displaying Data in a Trend.
In Figure 78, when you choose a trace from the grid, the time range for the trace is displayed at the bottom of the
trend. The corresponding Y axis is also displayed. Alternatively, you can click on any trace in the trend to view the
corresponding X and Y axis details.
Figure 78 - Multiple X Axis Trend
Add Time Ranges to a Trace

Figure 79 illustrates how you add time ranges to a trace. You can add a Start Time and End Time to each trace.
To edit the Time Range for a trace:
1. From the Home menu, select MultiXTrend on the Applications tab.
2. The MultiXTrend window appears.
3. Add tags to the MultiXTrend window.
4. The traces for the corresponding tags appear as shown in Figure 79.

Figure 79 - MultiXTrend Window
5. Right-click your mouse on the MultiXTrend window and select Axis -> End Time Range from the
displayed window.
6. The Edit Trace TimeRange window (Figure 80) appears.
Figure 80 - Edit Trace TimeRange Window
7. If you want to specify the same time range for all traces in a trend, select Same Time Range checkbox.
8. Click on the OK button. All traces in the trend now have the same time range.
9. To modify the time range for a particular trace, select the required trace from the Trace Items drop-down
list.
10. Click on the Modify button.
11. The Specify a Period window (Figure 81) appears.

Figure 81 - Specify a Period Window
12. In the From field, from the drop-down list, select start time.
13. In the To field, from the drop-down list, select an end time.
14. To specify the current time, move the Current time slider to the required position.
15. Adjacent to the From, To, and Current time fields, select the applicable time format option: Absolute or
Relative.
16. Click on the OK button to apply the changes made, close the Specify a Period window, and return to the
Edit Trace TimeRange window.
17. From the Edit Trace TimeRange window, click on the OK button to apply the changes made.
Notes:
When you select the same time range for all traces in a trend, all of the
Time Control settings apply to the MultiXTrend.
When you select an individual time range for each trace in a trend, the
Period time string setting does not apply to the MultiXTrend. The
remaining Time Control properties such as Refresh interval, Fast
replay, Small step, and Large step settings apply to the MultiXTrend.

Displaying Data in a Table
Overview of Table Features
The Table allows you to display data for a given time span in a tabular form. The Data Table (Figure 82) shows
the following detailed data for each item:
Timestamp
Value
Confidence
Figure 82 - Table Example
Note: The Data Table accepts a maximum of 10 tags.

A table can be populated from a trend or it can be directly configured. Each Table is displayed as a tabbed
window.
You can apply a custom filter to any column of a table by entering one or more conditions. Data that meets the
conditions is filtered from the table.
You can export a table to Microsoft Excel.
There are three table formats: standard, matrix, merged.
Creating a Table
To create a table:
1. Double-click your mouse on an item in the Browser pane.
2. A new Table window is created and the selected item is added to the table.
Or,
1. From the Home menu, select Table on the Applications tab.
2. A new Table window is displayed.
3. Add items as follows:
a. Drag and drop a single item, or multiple items, from the browser or from a workspace on to the
table.
Or,

a. Right-click your mouse on a trend.
b. Select Edit -> Copy from the displayed menu.
c. Right-click on the table.
d. Select Context -> Paste from the displayed menu.
Or,
a. Right-click on the table.
b. Select Items -> New Item from the displayed menu.
Note: Refer to Item Details Descriptions for definitions of the optional entries to customize an item.
Changing the Table Type

Four Table types (i.e., formats) are available.
Type Description
Standard
Displays a simple list of Item, Timestamp, and Value, along with Data Source,
Method, and Confidence.
Matrix This is the default type. Displays three columns side-by-side for each tag or item:
Timestamp, Value, Confidence. No attempt is made to align the timestamps. Each
tag may have a different number of rows, depending on what data is available for it.
Merge The data is merged or grouped, by timestamp. Timestamp is displayed in the first
column, followed by pairs of item name and confidence columns. Blank cells are
displayed where one item is missing a timestamp which is available for another item.
Item Info
Useful for reviewing item properties. Properties for each table item are tabulated and
grouped by data source type and name.
Table 16 - Table Types
To change the table format:

1. From the Table group on the ribbon Table tab, select a different format from the Type drop-down field
(Figure 83).
Figure 83 - Table Type Option
Saving a Table to a Workspace

Note: For instructions on how to save a table to a workspace, refer to Adding Content to Workspaces.
Filtering Table Data

Notes:
The filter is available only in the Standard type of table.

To filter by a time range, use the table’s Time Control.
To filter table data:
1. In the table, select the Filter button on the column you want to filter.
2. Select (Custom) from the displayed list.
3. Enter your filter criteria in the Custom Filter window (Figure 84) that appears.
Figure 84 - Custom Filter Window
4. If you want to add more than one condition, click on the Add button to specify the logic to be applied.
6. The Custom Filter window closes and you are returned to the Table which is now refreshed and displays
the items matching your search criteria.
7. The indicator on the column’s Filter button becomes solid black to indicate a filter is present.
Delete a Condition From a Custom Filter

To delete a condition from a custom filter:
1. From the Custom Filter window, click on the condition you want to delete.
2. The condition is highlighted.
3. Click on the Delete button. The condition is removed.
Rename a Table
To rename a table:
1. Right-click your mouse on the Table pane.
2. Select Rename Table from the displayed menu.
3. The Change Table Name window (Figure 85) appears.

Figure 85 - Change Table Name
4. In the Value field, enter the new table name.

5. Click on the OK button to accept the change.
Export Table Data

To export table data:
2. Select Export -> Save as Excel Workbook from the displayed menu.
3. The Export To Microsoft Excel Document window (Figure 86) appears.
Figure 86 - Export To Microsoft Excel Document
4. Enter the file name.

View Item Configuration in a Table


2. Select View -> Item Info from the displayed menu to display the available configuration parameters for all
items in the table.
3. Click on a page (i.e., group) to view the item definitions (Figure 87 – collapsed, Figure 88 - expanded).
Note: For OPC items, the available properties will depend on the OPC server.
Figure 87 - Table Item Definitions (Collapsed)
Figure 88 - Table Item Definitions (Expanded)

Limitations
MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender has the following limitations:
1. Week Keyword – Easy Trender does not support the use of the relative time keyword Week for the start
of the week.
2. Custom Aggregates – Easy Trender does not support OPC HDA Custom Aggregates with the exception
of the Trend Friendly custom aggregate.

Troubleshooting
This section is intended to assist you by providing licensing information and MatrikonOPC Support contact
information. Also addressed here are some troubleshooting and maintenance information while using this product.
Please check this section before contacting the MatrikonOPC Analytics Support team.
Viewing Logs
To view log files:
1. From the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender main screen, click on the icon in the upper left corner
of the screen.,
2. Click on the Options button
3. The Options window (Figure 89) appears.
Figure 89 - Options Window
4. In the navigation pane (i.e., pane on the left side of the window), select Logs.
5. Click on the View Log button.
6. The Log Viewer window (Figure 90) appears displaying the log files.

Figure 90 - Log Viewer Window
7. Close the Log Viewer window to return to the Options window.

8. Click OK to close the Options window.
Re-Initializing, Removing, or Editing Invalid Items

When items have issues on load, invalid tag, or invalid data source, you get an error message and the item is not
added to the window or to the trend properties table. However, the window retains invalid items in it context.
To remove the errors, do the following:
1. Perform the re-initialize command to attempt to connect and remove errors:
a. Right-click your mouse on the trend pane.
b. Select Items -> Re-Initialize Items from the displayed menu.
2. Manually remove or correct invalid items:
a. Right-click your mouse on the trend pane.
b. Select Items -> Edit or Remove from the displayed menu.
i. To correct an item, select Edit and then select the item you wish to edit.
ii. To delete an item, select Remove and then select the item you wish to remove.
Reconnecting to a Data Source

A tag that refers to a data source that was not present, indicates that the tag is not available, even when the data
source is present.

To reconnect to a data source after that data source goes down, do the following:
1. Select Options -> Data Source -> Test Connection. This forces Easy Trender to reconnect to the data
source.
Search the MatrikonOPC Analytics Support Knowledge Base at www.matrikonanalytics/support to find the
answers to other commonly-asked MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender questions.
Licensing
Most Matrikon products require that some form of licensing criteria be met for it to function correctly. Matrikon
provides a Matrikon License Wizard that is used to license their software. The License Wizard allows for a
variety of ways in which licenses can be obtained: Internet Connection, Web Page, E-mail.
The MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender supports software licensing only.
During the installation process, you have the option of installing either a 30-day evaluation license, a permanent
license, or an upgraded version of the software (Figure 91).
Figure 91 - Licensing Options
If you have not purchased the software yet, select the 30-day option (i.e., I wish to install a 30-day evaluation
license for this software). The software can be permanently licensed at a later date without needing to re-install.
If you have purchased the software and have your 34-digit activation key and lock selector, select the second
option (i.e., I have purchased this software and have an activation key). The Matrikon License Wizard is
launched later in the installation process and it can also be launched after the install has completed.
Select the third option (i.e., I have already licensed my software using my activation key) if you have already
installed and licensed the software, but are installing an upgraded version.
To launch the License Wizard after installation is complete:
1. Click on the Windows Start button.
2. Select All Programs -> MatrikonOPC -> Easy Trender -> License Wizard.
Contacting Support
The MatrikonOPC Analytics Customer Services department (www.opcsupport.com) is available 24 hours a day,
seven days a week.
Contact MatrikonOPC Analytics Support using the information below, or send an email
([email protected]).
For Monday to Friday daytime support requests, contact MatrikonOPC Analytics Support using the regional
phone numbers provided in Table 17.
Region Office Hours Contact Information

North America 8:00am-5:00pm +1-877-672-4255
UTC/GMT -7 hours (MST)

Region Office Hours Contact Information
Europe /Africa * 9:00am-5:00pm +49-221-969-77-0
UTC/GMT +1 hours (CET) (Request Analytics Support)
Australia/Asia * 9:00am-5:00pm +61-2-4908-2198
UTC/GMT +10 hours (AEST) (Request Analytics Support)
* Toll-free regional numbers coming soon!
Table 17 - Matrikon Analytics Support Regional Contact Information
For after-hours support in all regions, please use either of the following numbers. There is no extra charge from
Matrikon for calling their after-hours support numbers.
Region Contact Information

+1-780-231-9480
All
+1-780-264-6714
Table 18 - After-Hours Support

Appendix A Distributed COM (DCOM)
DCOM is an object protocol that enables COM components (such as OPC clients and servers) to communicate
directly with each other across a network. A certain amount of configuration is required on the system where the
OPC server is installed to allow remote clients to connect to it over the network.
Information regarding Distributed COM and various links to related sites, white papers, specifications, and so on,
can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/com/default.mspx.
Notes:
The following steps are suggestions only. Ask your Windows Network
Administrator for more information about the settings that you should
use, especially between different domains.
The steps provided in this appendix apply to Windows NT operating
systems only. For information on how to configure DCOM settings for
newer Windows operating systems, please refer to the MatrikonOPC
Online Support page on DCOM Settings.
DCOM Configuration Utility

Start the DCOM configuration utility either from the server configuration utility or from the command-line
(DCOMCNFG). Answer, yes to any message boxes that appear (allowing the utility to assign application ID entries
to those servers that don't already have them).
The main window for DCOMCNFG allows the user to either configure default settings for all COM servers or else
to configure settings for a specific server chosen from the list. The former will affect all servers configured to use
the default settings. The latter will affect the selected server only.
Note: DCOM settings are stored in the registry and loaded by COM (and OPC)
servers at start-up. Therefore, server processes must be shut down and re-
started for these changes to take effect.
Default Properties
The Default Properties tab contains settings that affect all DCOM communication on the machine.
First of all, ensure that the Enable Distributed COM on this computer is selected in so that the
machine is available to others via DCOM.
Select the Enable COM Internet Services on this computer to allow DCOM access to the machine
from the Internet (check with your administrator).
In general, the other settings do not need to be changed.
The Authentication Level specifies when COM should authenticate the identity of calling clients (each call, each
packet, etc).
Normally, it should be set to Connect, indicating that COM should authenticate clients when they first
connect to a server. If it is set to None, then COM performs no authentication and ignores any access
permission settings.
The Impersonation Level specifies whether servers can ascertain the identity of calling clients and whether they
can then perform operations on the client's behalf (as if the server is the client).

Normally, it should be set to Identify, allowing the server to identify the calling client to see if it is
allowed access to a certain resource but not to actually access any of these resources as the client.
Select the Provide additional security for reference tracking to make even the reference counting
on COM objects secure. This setting is not generally required.
Security Permissions
The most important DCOM settings for an OPC server are the security permissions. There are two ways for you
to set these:
1. Change the specific settings for the server (recommended).
2. Change the default settings (not recommended) and make sure that the OPC server will use these.
Either way, be certain that the access and launch permissions are correct for the server.
Setting Security Permissions
To set the security permissions for an OPC Server:
1. Open the DCOM configuration utility.
2. Select the OPC server, and then click Properties.
3. The Distributed COM Configuration Properties window (Figure 92) appears.
Figure 92 - Distributed COM Configuration Properties Window
4. Click on the Security tab to set the security for the server.
5. The Distributed COM Configuration Security tab (Figure 93) appears.

Figure 93 - Distributed COM Configuration Security Tab
Notes:
The Access Permissions contain an Access Control List of principals that are allowed to interact
with objects supplied by a server.
The Launch Permissions contain an Access Control List of principals that are allowed to start up
a server process or service.
6. Include the names of users or user groups from trusted domains that you wish to be able to use the OPC
server on this machine. Include the Everyone group to allow access to all users on a particular domain.
7. To set the Access permissions, click Use custom access permissions and then click Edit.
8. The Registry Value Permissions window (Figure 94) appears.

Figure 94 - Registry Value Permissions Window
9. To add users to the list click Add.

10. The Add Users and Groups window (Figure 95) appears.
Figure 95 - Add Users and Groups Window
11. To add a user to the list, select the user, and then click Add. If the user you wish to add does not appear
then click Show Users.

12. When you are done adding users, click OK to close the Add Users and Groups window. You can then
choose to Allow Access or Deny Access for each user.
Notes:
The procedure to set the launch permissions is similar to the above, but instead of choosing
Allow Access for a user you would choose Allow Launch.
The Configuration Permissions contain an Access Control List of principals that are allowed to
modify the configuration information for a server. In other words, it indicates who is allowed to
alter the registry entries for installed servers as well as who is able to access the registry for the
purposes of installing new servers. It is usually simpler to install and configure servers as a user
with local administrative rights.
13. To connect to an OPC server from outside of the domain, create a local user account on both the server
and the client machine with identical username and password. Then, add the local user on the OPC
server to the DCOM permissions. Use the local account on the client machine to connect to the OPC
server.
Server Identity
The Identity tab for a selected COM (or OPC) server specifies the user account that should be used when COM
starts up the process. The available settings are different for servers that run as local executables as opposed to
those that run as NT services.
Note: It is strongly recommended that OPC servers should be installed to run as

NT services if they are going to be accessed by remote clients via DCOM. This
ensures that the server can always be accessed even if no one is presently
logged on to the machine, and only one server process ever starts up. It also
adds a greater degree of security in terms of who is able to shut down the server
process.
Servers that run as local executables have the option of running as the launching user (the calling client–this is
the default), the interactive user (the one currently logged onto the machine), or a specified user. It is usually best
to use the interactive user or a specified user. Otherwise, remote clients might start up multiple separate server
processes that are not accessible to others.
Servers that run as NT services should generally run as the local System account. Alternatively, the server can
be set to run as a specified user, although this is usually done from the Service Control Manager applet rather
than DCOMCNFG. Access and Launch permissions are particularly important when installing a server to run as
an NT service.
Default Protocols
The Default Protocols tab specifies the communication protocols available to DCOM. The order that protocols
appear in the list indicates the priority in which they will be used (the topmost having the highest priority).
The more protocols that appear in the list, the better the chances of connecting to an OPC server on an unknown
remote machine (such as at an OPC Interoperability Workshop). However, it may also take longer for DCOM to
time out if a server machine is not present since it has to try each protocol in turn.
For most situations, it is best to remove all unused protocols from the list and only include those that are
necessary for your network. For example, on a TCP/IP network, one would include the Connection-oriented
TCP/IP protocol. Contact your IT personnel for more information about your network.

Note: Evidence indicates that there are problems with the datagram-oriented
protocols (such as UDP/IP) that can cause memory leaks in DCOM. Therefore, it
is strongly recommended that these protocols be removed from the list of default
protocols. Datagram-oriented protocols are not supported under Windows 2000
at all (although the DCOM configuration utility still allows you to configure them).
Remote Program ID
Before the OPC Server Browser became available, OPC client applications had to search the registry to
generate a list of available OPC servers. Therefore, some older OPC clients need to have a program ID in the
local registry in order to connect to a particular OPC server.
The simplest solution is to install the OPC server software on the client machine even if it is not used.
Alternatively, use the following steps to copy a program ID to the client machine.
Note: This method may not work for every OPC client. Please check the client documentation for more
information.
WARNING: Any changes made to the registry must be made with extreme
caution!
1. Back up your registry.

2. On the server machine, run REGEDIT as a user that has access rights to the local registry.
3. Expand the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key.
4. Find the program ID(s) for the desired OPC server(s).
Note: In the case of Matrikon OPC Servers, the ID has the form Matrikon.OPC.Device. If you quickly type
the first few letters then REGEDIT should jump to the location of that key. Some servers may have both a
version-specific as well as a version-independent program ID. In this case both IDs should be copied to
the client machine.
5. For each program ID, select the key and choose Export Registry File from the Registry menu. Enter a
file name, and then click Save. Be careful not to overwrite other export files that you are creating.
6. Copy the exported REG files to the client machine.
7. Merge the REG files into the registry of the client machine.
Note: This should simply be a matter of double clicking on the file from the desktop of the client machine.
Alternatively, run REGEDIT on the client machine and choose Import Registry File from the Registry
menu, selecting each file in turn. This must be done as a user who has write access to the local registry.
8. Use REGEDIT to check that the program IDs have in fact, been copied.
9. Delete the REG files since they are no longer needed.

Appendix B Standard Data Types
The Standard data types and their descriptions are listed in Table 19.
Hex Dec Data Type Description

0000 0 VT_EMPTY Default/Empty (nothing)
0002 2 VT_I2 2-byte signed integer
0004 4 VT_R4 4-byte (single-precision) real
0005 5 VT_R8 8-byte (double-precision) real
0006 6 VT_CY Currency
0007 7 VT_DATE Date
0008 8 VT_BSTR Text (UNICODE)
000A 10 VT_ERROR Error code
000B 11 VT_BOOL Boolean (TRUE = -1, FALSE = 0)
0012 17 VT_UI1 1-byte unsigned integer
2002 8194 VT_ARRAY | VT_I2 Array of 2-byte signed integers
2003 8195 VT_ARRAY | VT_I4 Array of 4-byte signed integer
2004 8196 VT_ARRAY | VT_R4 Array of 4-byte (single-precision) real
2005 8197 VT_ARRAY | VT_R8 Array of 8-byte (double-precision) real
2006 8198 VT_ARRAY | VT_CY Array of currency values
2007 8199 VT_ARRAY | VT_DATE Array of dates
2008 8200 VT_ARRAY | VT_BSTR Array of text values
200A 8202 VT_ARRAY | VT_ERROR Array of error codes
200B 8203 VT_ARRAY | VT_BOOL Array of Boolean values
2011 8208 VT_ARRAY | VT_I1 Array of 1-byte signed integers
2012 8209 VT_ARRAY | VT_UI1 Array of 1-byte unsigned integers
Table 19 - Standard Data Types

Appendix C Installation
Once the system requirements have been met, you are ready to install the software.
Note: As part of the installation process, the MatrikonOPC Analyzer tool is

installed and used to detect the system settings that affect the use of this
software. No information is communicated back to Matrikon. Information is
stored on this system only for future use by MatrikonOPC Support to assist with
troubleshooting, if required.
To install the software:

1. Insert the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender CD into the CD drive.
2. If the Welcome screen does not automatically appear, double-click the MatrikonOPCEasyTrender.exe
file. The InstallAware Wizard verifies its contents (Figure 96), and the License Agreement screen
(Figure 97) appears.
Notes:
The Version number located in the lower left corner indicates the version number of the software
that is being installed. The text “X.X.X.X” will be replaced with the specific product version.
From the License Agreement screen, you have the option of selecting the I reject the license
agreement option. Selecting the I reject the license agreement option button disables the Next
button so your only option is to cancel the install by clicking on the Cancel button, or you can
select the I accept the license agreement option button enabling you to proceed through the
install.
Figure 96 - InstallAware Wizard Verification Window

Figure 97 - License Agreement Screen
3. Read the End-User License Agreement, using the scroll bar to view the entire message.
4. Select the I accept the license agreement option button.
5. Click on the Next button. The Setup Type screen (Figure 98) appears.

Figure 98 - Setup Type Screen
6. Select the type of setup to be performed.

Note: Matrikon recommends that you select the Complete Setup option.
7. Click on the Next button. The Destination Folder screen (Figure 99) appears.

Figure 99 - Destination Folder Screen
8. Select the folder in which to install MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender, or accept the default location
displayed in the Folder path field.
9. Click on the Next button. The Start Menu screen (Figure 100) appears.

Figure 100 - Start Menu Screen
10. Select the Start Menu group and then specify whether you want shortcuts created only for yourself, or for
all users, by selecting the applicable option button.
11. Click on the Next button. The Licensing screen (Figure 101) appears.

Figure 101 - Licensing Screen
12. Select the required licensing option.

Note: When you select the I have purchased this software and have an activation key option (i.e., the
second option button) and click on the Next button, the Licensing Wizard is launched. When either of
the other two options (i.e., first or third option button) is selected and you click on the Next button, the
Ready to Install screen appears as in step 11.
13. Click on the Next button. The Ready to Install screen (Figure 102) appears.

Figure 102 - Ready to Install Screen
14. Click on the Next button. The Installing MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender screen (Figure 103)
appears, installation begins, and the product files are copied to the computer.
Note: Prior to starting the installation, you have the option of clicking on the Back button to change any of
the installation information. Click on the Cancel button if you wish to stop or cancel the installation.

Figure 103 - Installing MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Screen
15. When the installation has finished, the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Setup Complete screen
(Figure 104) appears stating that MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender has been successfully installed.

Figure 104 - MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Setup Complete Screen
16. At this point you have the option of launching any or all of the following by selecting the necessary
checkbox or checkboxes:
Configuration panel
Release Notes
User’s Manual
17. Click on the Finish button to complete the installation and exit the Wizard.
18. The necessary files are copied to the target computer, the software components are registered, and
shortcut icons are created in the Start menu.
Note: At this point, it is recommended that you verify the DCOM settings.
Reference to the DCOM configuration can be found in the DCOM Manual. This
configuration varies for different operating systems.

Appendix D Installed Files
The installation program copies all necessary files to the target computer and creates shortcut icons in the Start
menu.
The files listed in Table 20 are installed by default, in the following location:
C:\Program Files\Matrikon\OPC Analytics\Easy Trender
File Name Description

MatrikonOPC Analytics
Easy Trender Release Release Notes for this product.
Notes.pdf
MatrikonOPC Analytics
Easy Trender User This User’s Manual.
Manual.pdf
Table 20 - Files Installed in "Easy Trender" Folder
The files listed in Table 21 are installed by default, in the following location:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Matrikon\Common

MTKAuthorize.exe Matrikon Product Authorization Utility
opcda20_auto.doc MatrikonOPC Automation Component Interface Standard
MatrikonOPC Automation Component – enables developers to access OPC
OPCDAAuto.dll data from client applications developed using Automation tools such as Visual
Basic®, VBA, and VB Script.
opchda10_auto.doc Developer documentation for the HDA Automation Component.
MatrikonOPC HDA Automation Component – enables developers to access
OPCHDAAuto.dll
OPC HDA data from client applications developed using Automation tools.
Table 21 - Files Installed in "Common" Folder
The files listed in Table 22 are installed in the WINDOWS\system32 folder:

Mscomctl.ocx Windows Common Controls ActiveX Control DLL.
mtksw132.dll MatrikonOPC software licensing DLL.
opc_aeps.dll OPC Alarms and Events 1.0 Interfaces Marshalling Library
opccomn_ps.dll OPC Common Interfaces and Marshalling Library
Opcenum.exe OPC Server List Component
The proxy-stub files to allow OPC clients to make remote connections to an
opchda_ps.dll
OPC HDA server.
opcproxy.dll OPC Data Access 2.0 and 1.0a Interfaces and Marshalling Library
opcSec_PS.dll OPC Security Interfaces and Marshalling Library
Richtx32.ocx Microsoft Rich Text OLE Control.
Table 22 - Files Installed in "system32" Folder

Appendix E Un-Installation
To successfully un-install MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender, using the Add or Remove Programs from the
Microsoft Windows Control Panel is recommended.
To un-install MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender:
1. Click on the Start button and highlight the Control Panel item.
2. From the displayed menu, select Add or Remove Programs.
3. The Add or Remove Programs window (Figure 105) is displayed.
4. Scroll through the list of currently installed programs and updates to find and select MatrikonOPC
Analytics Easy Trender.
Figure 105 - Add or Remove Programs
5. Click on the Remove button associated with the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender program to initiate
the un-install process.
6. The MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender – InstallAware Wizard appears, and the Welcome to
MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Maintenance screen (Figure 106) is displayed.

Figure 106 - Welcome to MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Maintenance Screen
7. Select the Remove option button to un-install MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender entirely.
8. Click on the Next button. The Uninstalling MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender screen (Figure 107)
appears and the un-install takes place.

Figure 107 - Uninstalling MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Screen
9. When the un-install has finished, the MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Setup Complete screen
(Figure 108) appears stating that MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender was successfully un-installed.

Figure 108 - MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Setup Complete Screen
10. Click on the Finish button to complete the un-install and exit the Wizard.
11. The program no longer appears listed in the Add or Remove Programs window.

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MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender User Manual

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MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender

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MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender v3.0 User’s Manual 2

MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender v3.0 User’s Manual 3

MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender v3.0 User’s Manual 4

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Who Should Use This Manual

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Note: To install and configure a MatrikonOPC server, you must be set up as an

Starting MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender

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Figure 1 - MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender Main Window

Working with the Browser

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Entering User Names and Passwords

Handling an Unsuccessful Connection to a Data Source

Click on the Refresh button to attempt another connection.

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Organizing Items into Customized Folders Using Workspace

Displaying Process Data

Figure 2 - Trend Pane

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Figure 3 - Trend Pane with Data

5. Select the Home tab and then click on Table.

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Note: To open a new window, select the Home tab.

Working with Time Control

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Data Refresh and Time Control

1. Click on the Properties button .

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To select a time period from a list:

Figure 8 - Time Control From: and To: Fields

To specify a time period through direct entry:

1. On the Time Control screen section, click on the Properties button .

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To move backward or forward by the Small step size, click on or , respectively.

To move backward or forward by the Large step size, click on or , respectively.

1. Click on the Play button to automatically scroll data forward in time.

Figure 9 - Common Times Icon (Highlighted)

2. The Common Times icon is no longer highlighted (Figure 10).

Figure 10 - Common Times Icon (Not Highlighted)

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Synchronize All Windows with Common Times Settings

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Displaying Data in MatrikonOPC Analytics Easy Trender

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Multi-Trend Displays data in a matrix of individual charts –

MultiXTrend Displays data in the MultiXTrend format and

Table Displays data in a tabular display that supports