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Seasoned ⭐️⭐️
June 22, 2023
Planned for development

CDF to handle String Timeseries

Related products:Charts
  • June 22, 2023
  • 20 replies
  • 372 views

Hello,

We’re currently having some issues with pulling our PI data from Cognite since we have several PI tags that are string timseries vs numeric (as in rather than having 0 or 1, the timeseries shows open or closed). It appears that Cognite cannot handle string timeseries because they cannot be aggregated, however some of the logic that’s built in to our devices can only be pulled in this manner. We’d at least need a way for Cognite to convert the data pulled as strings as numeric and maybe auto assigning numeric values to each string event? A bonus would be to have an associated conversion of those numeric values to the associated string from the pull

Example:

Cognite pulls timseries EXAMPLE.TIME.VALVE.A.STATUS that contains “Open” and “Closed” and auto assigns 0 to “Open” and 1 to “Closed”

There’s then an associated ‘conversion’ that states for timeseries EXAMPLE.TIME.VALVE.A.STATUS:

0 = “Open”

1 = “Closed”

 

then Cognite pulls another timeseries EXAMPLE.TIME.VALVE.B.STATUS and happens to assign 0 to “Closed” and 1 to “Open” for whatever reason

There’s then an associated ‘conversion’ that states for timeseries EXAMPLE.TIME.VALVE.B.STATUS:

0 = “Closed”

1 = “Open”

 

20 replies

rmaidlaAuthor
Seasoned ⭐️⭐️
October 12, 2023

It could be anything. For our platforms offshore, a lot of times we use this type of data to show which wells are flowing through which separator, or conversely which flowline is being used for a given well based off of the valve position. 

The requirement is to be able to handle a source text timeseries as is the capability in OSI PI. 

Glen Sykes
Expert ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expert ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 12, 2023

OK, so from the Charts UI perspective, you would like the ability for a given Time Series (or group of Time Series that share the same String values) to define positions on the Y axis that correspond to strings that occur in those Time Series, and then plot the occurrence of those strings as they appear in the chart.

So for example, you’d select the time series you’d want to plot, the strings in the Time Series would appear on the Y axis, you would have the ability to adjust the position of the strings to suit your needs, and then the occurrence of those strings would be plotted over time.  

Do I have it right?

Glen | Cognite Product Management
Glen Sykes
Expert ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expert ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 30, 2023

Following up on this request.  Representation of Machine States in Time Series is now in our program backlog for 2024.  By our current estimation we will have capacity to deliver this in Q3/Q4 timeframe.  Timescales are subject to adjustment of course.



 

Glen | Cognite Product Management
dalvaniamp
Seasoned ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Seasoned ⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 28, 2024

Hello everyone. Any updates on this topic?

Glen Sykes
Expert ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expert ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 29, 2024

Hi @dalvaniamp 

We expect to commence development of the feature imminently, and our estimates are that we should have the feature available in Beta toward the end of Q4.  We are juggling this work alongside another critical (non-functional / architectural) requirement so there is some risk of this timeline slipping, but as of right now we are looking ok.

 

Glen | Cognite Product Management
msibs90
Seasoned ⭐️⭐️
Seasoned ⭐️⭐️
April 10, 2025

Hello, is there any update on this ?

Lead Product Manager
April 10, 2025

Hi,

Due to short-term shifts in priorities, the Machine State Time Series beta was pushed back to Q3 (as of right now), which also affects out ability to GA the functionality. 

As of right now, it looks like we may be able to include the GA release of Machine State Time Series in the Q4, 2025 release.

Practitioner ⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 29, 2026

Hi Team - 

 

We’re interested as well from the ExxonMobil team’s side. What is the current timeline for the product to support?

 

Ideally we’d like to have Canvas as well as Charts to be able to plot against my normal float values. ​@Praveen Prakash 

 

Thanks,
Matt

ArifZanuri_Mys
Practitioner ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Practitioner ⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 2, 2026

Hi everyone,

Wondering on the plan to enable the string timeseries to be visualizable in CDF. We have the following use cases from one of the customer in SEA:

 

The customer planning to migrate from PI Vision to CDF. One of the blockers is that Charts doesn't support string time series visualization, which PI Vision handles natively. Key examples they need are ESD Status and Compressor Status — these are critical for operators monitoring equipment states. Even a basic tabular or stepped display would go a long way in unblocking this migration.

 

Hopefully the use cases above would support this features to be implemented accordingly.

 

Thank you.

Practitioner ⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 17, 2026

International Paper also has interesting on this.