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Things

The Thing (or "Asset") is the central data element in InDataX. It represents a physical or logical asset at a conceptual level, abstracting the complexity of individual devices and protocols.

Concept of Thing​

Unlike a specific PLC or sensor, a Thing is an intelligent container. It can represent, for example, a "Plastic Injector" or an "Industrial Oven."

The power of Things lies in their unification capability:

  • A single Thing can group variables coming from different protocols.
  • It can obtain data from several physical devices simultaneously and present them as a single unified element.

Historical Records and Timestamps​

One of the most critical functions of Things is the management of historical records.

When several variables belong to the same Thing:

  1. Grouping: They are saved together in the database records.
  2. Synchronization: The timestamps match for all variables in the record.

This is fundamental for subsequent data analysis, as it ensures that when you query the status of a machine at a given time, all parameters (pressure, temperature, speed) correspond exactly to the same instant.

Relationship with Protocols​

Things do not "talk" directly to hardware; they do so through Protocols. Several protocols can hang from a Thing, each taking care of a part of the information that makes up that conceptual element.

Properties​

When configuring a Thing, the following properties are available in the General tab:

  • Name (Nombre): The unique identifier for the Thing in the Modelizer. This name will be used to reference the element throughout the system (synoptics, historicals, etc.).
  • Active Thing (Thing activo): Indicates if the element is in operation. If unchecked, the communications associated with this Thing will stop.
  • Logging enabled (Registro activado): Allows you to enable or disable the storage of data in the history for this Thing.
  • Logging speed (Velocidad de registro): Defines the time interval (in seconds) at which variables will be saved to the database. For example, a value of 2 will save a new record every 2 seconds.
  • View Records (Ver Registros): A shortcut button to view the historical data being stored for this specific Thing.