Rename Tags

Note: To rename tags, you must be a member of the administrator's group with tag level security.

New tag names are called active tag names and old tag names are called aliases.

You can also rename or permanently rename tags using the Non-Web Historian Administrator, the Excel Add-in, or the Application Program Interfaces (ihSDK, ihUAPI, or ihAPI).

If you modify the properties of a renamed tag, the properties of all of its aliases will also be updated.

Whenever you rename a tag, only the active (newest) tag name will be visible in the Tags list on the Historian Administrator Tag screen. You can rename tags multiple times, but only the latest, active tag name will be visible in the Tags list.

You can also retrieve the data using any alias (that is, the new or old tag names). However, the Tag screen will display only an active tag name (that is, the new tag name). Whenever you change or copy a tag name, the information about the old tag name, new tag name, and time stamps are all recorded in the audit trail.

Be aware of the following when you are using the Tag Rename feature:
  • If you modify a renamed tag property, then all of the alias' tag properties will also be updated.
  • If you delete a renamed tag, then all the aliases will also be deleted.
  • You can rename tags multiple times, but only the latest active tag name (renamed tag name) will be visible in the Tags list.
  • If you rename a tag, the tag count does not increase.
  • If you copy a tag, then the tag count increases.
  • An alias can be queried, but cannot be modified or deleted.

Permanently Rename a Tag

You can permanently rename a tag if you no longer want to read from and write to a tag by its previous name. Permanently renaming makes the previous tag name available for new usage. For example, if you had permanently renamed Tag A to Tag B, you can create a new tag with the tag name Tag A with no linkage to the previous tag.

Things you need to know when you are using the Permanent Rename feature:
  • If you permanently rename a tag, the tag name will be updated with the new tag name and the old tag name will be lost.
  • You can permanently rename tags multiple times, but only the latest tag name (new tag name) will be visible in the Tags list.
  • If you permanently rename a tag, the tag count does not increase.
  • Store and forward data will be lost if you do a permanent rename and the data is sent using the old tag name.
  • There will be loss of data during the process of permanently renaming a tag. If you are going to perform permanent rename, it is recommended to stop the collector and then permanently rename the tag.
  • If a tag is permanently renamed and is a trigger tag to other tags, then you need to re-assign the new trigger name to the tags.