Analytics & Visualization · PI Vision Custom Symbol

How to Add a Combo Chart to AVEVA PI Vision

Everything you need to get the PIForge Combo Chart symbol running on your AVEVA PI Vision server — installation, license activation, and a tour of every feature with live video.

Installation — 5 steps, about 10 minutes

1. 1

   Download the package

   Purchase the symbol at piforge.app and download the ZIP from your profile. It contains four files: the symbol script (.js), two templates (.html) and an icon (.svg).

2. 2

   Copy the files to the PI Vision server

   Extract all four files into the PI Vision extension folder on the server: %PIHOME%\PIVision\Scripts\app\editor\symbols\ext\ (create the ext folder if it does not exist yet).

3. 3

   Restart the PI Vision application

   Recycle the PI Vision application pool in IIS (or run iisreset), then hard-refresh the browser (Ctrl+F5) so the new symbol script is loaded.

4. 4

   Add the symbol to a display

   Open a display in edit mode. The new symbol appears in the symbol palette on the left. Select it, then drag a tag or AF attribute onto the canvas.

5. 5

   Activate the license

   Open Format Symbol, paste the license key from your purchase email into the License field, and save. The watermark disappears immediately — no restart needed.

What you can do with it

Overview

Live Combo Chart — Trend Lines and Bars, One Symbol

Two Y-axes, multiple series, real-time data from PI tags

Smart Combo Chart renders trend lines and bar series together in a single PI Vision symbol — no external tools, no static screenshots. Watch temperature and pressure trend lines build alongside production volume bars as live data arrives.

• Dual Y-axis: left axis for trend lines, right axis for secondary scale
• Mixed series: line and bar in the same chart, independently configured
• Legend auto-updates as series are added or removed
• Responsive scaling: axes adjust to data range automatically

Axes

Dual Axis Control — Show Exactly What Your Operators Need

Left axis, right axis, or synchronized — configure per display

Some displays need both axes for context. Others need a clean trend without axis clutter. Toggle left and right axes independently, or synchronize them to a common scale when your variables share units.

• ShowLeftAxis / ShowRightAxis: toggle each independently
• Y-Axis Sync: lock left and right to the same scale for direct comparison
• Auto range: axes scale to data — no manual min/max required
• Manual range override available when fixed scale is needed

Display

Clean or Detailed — Toggle Grid and Legend per Display

One click to adapt the chart to any control room layout

A wall display needs a clean chart. An engineer's workstation benefits from grid lines and a legend. Toggle each element independently — the chart adapts to its context without requiring a separate symbol configuration.

• ShowGrid: horizontal reference lines — on for precision, off for clarity
• ShowLegend: series labels — useful for multi-tag charts, removable for clean tiles
• Changes apply instantly — no reload, no reconfiguration
• Combine with color settings to match any display theme

Bar

Grouped or Stacked — Choose the Right Bar Layout

Switch bar mode to match how your operators think about the data

Grouped bars make it easy to compare values side by side. Stacked bars show contribution to a total. Change bar mode from the configuration panel and the chart redraws instantly — same data, different analytical view.

• Grouped mode: compare individual values across categories
• Stacked mode: see part-to-whole relationships at a glance
• Mode switch is instant — no data re-fetch required
• Bar color and opacity configurable per series

Time Range

Flexible Time Range — Display, Duration, or Custom

Follow the PI Vision page time or pull any historical window independently

Combo Chart Pro works in three independent time modes. Display mode follows your PI Vision page time automatically — no extra setup. Duration mode fetches a fixed rolling window. Custom mode lets you compare any historical period alongside live data.

• Display mode: syncs with PI Vision page time — zero configuration
• Duration mode: 24h, 7d, 30d rolling window, configurable offset
• Custom mode: exact start and end date for historical overlay and comparison
• Time mode is per-symbol — each chart on a display can use a different window

Frequently asked questions

Does Combo Chart work with my PI Vision version?

Yes — PI Vision 2019 R2 through 2023+ are supported. The symbol uses the standard PI Vision extensibility model, so regular version upgrades do not break it, and one year of compatibility updates is included.

Do I need to install anything on client PCs?

No. The symbol is installed once on the PI Vision server; every browser client gets it automatically from there.

How is it licensed?

One license covers one PI Vision server, with unlimited displays and unlimited users on that server. The key is delivered instantly by email after purchase.

Can I try it before buying?

Every feature is demonstrated in live video on the product page, and a free symbol (Combo Chart Free Edition) is available on GitHub to validate the install workflow end to end. For evaluation keys, contact [email protected].