FactoryTalk View Site Edition (SE) version 13 introduces significant enhancements focused on open technologies, data visualization, and improved engineering efficiency. Core Version 13 Enhancements
Open Technology Integration: Version 13 expands system extensibility by supporting .NET objects, allowing developers to create and integrate custom controls directly into their HMI applications.
Bi-directional Scripting: It introduces expanded PowerShell scripting capabilities that allow for bi-directional data interaction, including the ability to write information directly back to HMI tags. Modernized Data Visualization:
Data Grid Object: Enables tabular data display for easier operator review.
XY Plotting: Support for plotting two sets of production data against each other.
Chromium-based Browser: The web browser object now supports Microsoft Edge (Chromium) as a rendering engine alongside Internet Explorer.
Client-Specific Customization: New client-specific tags allow for unique tag values per user session, making it easier to customize behavior across distributed systems. Engineering & Maintenance Efficiency
Enhanced Object Search: The Cross Reference tool now allows for searching by object name, significantly speeding up the identification of specific elements on complex screens.
Advanced Animation: Horizontal and vertical position animations have been expanded to more objects, including images and panels. Improved User Experience:
In multi-monitor setups, Login and Logout dialogs now open on the specific monitor where the command was initiated.
Application Documenter now supports exporting application information alongside commands for better system logging.
Automatic Diagnostics: Mobile access to automatic diagnostics messages is now available through FactoryTalk ViewPoint web clients, allowing remote troubleshooting from mobile devices. Commercial & Licensing Changes
Simplified Pricing: Version 13 moved toward a lower-cost model where distributed systems are priced based on the number of servers, offering unlimited displays and web/mobile clients per server to reduce the total cost of ownership. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
FactoryTalk View Site Edition Software - Rockwell Automation
FactoryTalk View Site Edition (SE) Version 13 introduces several major features designed to improve data visualization, system flexibility, and server-side automation Rockwell Automation Core Version 13 Features XY Plot Object
: A new graphic object that allows operators to analyze the relationship between two sets of data (tag values) against each other over time. Data Grid Source
: A new data source for the Data Grid object that enables the display of historical data log information in a tabular format directly on the HMI. .NET Control Support
: Users can now develop and integrate their own custom .NET controls into FactoryTalk View SE applications for greater extensibility. Enhanced PowerShell Scripting
: Expands on capabilities from previous versions to allow bidirectional data interactions, including the ability to write information back to HMI tags using server-side scripts. Redundant System Synchronization
: Adds an option to automatically synchronize HMI memory tag values between active and standby HMI servers to maintain consistency during failovers. Client-Specific Tags
: Introduces memory tags that are specific to each individual client and user session in a distributed system, allowing for customized client-side behavior. Chromium-Based Web Browser
: The web browser object now supports Microsoft Edge as a rendering engine alongside Internet Explorer. Rockwell Automation Operational and Security Enhancements System Status Portal
: A new webpage that provides a high-level overview of the status of all application servers, including HMI, Alarms, and Events servers. Electronic Signature (E-Signature) Improvements
: New E-Signature tabs for multistate push buttons and enhanced diagnostic audit messages for value changes. FactoryTalk Batch Integration
: Includes built-in HMI controls like BatchesList, PromptsList, and SFC for seamless integration with FactoryTalk Batch processes. Simplified Licensing
: A new pricing model bundles HMI servers with fixed numbers of clients (5, 10, or 25) and includes unlimited displays and FactoryTalk ViewPoint web clients. Rockwell Automation For detailed implementation, you can reference the FactoryTalk View SE User's Guide for instructions on configuring these new objects. Rockwell Automation Are you planning to an existing project or starting a fresh installation of Version 13? factorytalk view se version 13
FactoryTalk View Site Edition User's Guide - Literature Library
FactoryTalk View SE version 13 focuses on operational efficiency and data connectivity, introducing several long-awaited objects and backend scripting improvements. The release also marked a shift in Rockwell's commercial model, bundling more features into standard server licenses. Key New Features
XY Plot Object: A specialized trend object that plots one set of tag values against another, allowing operators to analyze relationships between two variables over time rather than just time-based trends.
.NET Control Object: Supports reusable and custom Windows Forms and WPF controls, enabling developers to use third-party libraries or build bespoke UI elements directly in the HMI.
Data Grid Object: Allows users to display historical data log models and information from Microsoft SQL databases in a clean, tabular format.
Client-Specific Tags: New memory tags that are unique to each client and user session. This is particularly useful for building custom navigation menus or client-specific animations without complex scripting.
HMI Tag Synchronization: A new redundancy option that automatically synchronizes memory tag values between active and standby HMI servers to ensure consistency during a failover. System & Performance Enhancements
Chromium-Based Web Browser: The Web Browser object now supports Microsoft Edge (Chromium) as its rendering engine, moving away from the aging Internet Explorer standard.
Bi-directional PowerShell Scripting: Expands on previous versions to allow server-side PowerShell scripts to write data back to HMI tags, simplifying integration with IT systems and external data sources.
TrendPro Enhancements: Hovering over a line now displays the tag's caption instead of just the tag name, and new VBA properties support single-trace or stacked axis modes.
FactoryTalk System Status Portal: A web-based dashboard that provides an overview of all application servers (HMI, Alarm & Event, and Data) and their current status. Licensing & Bundling Changes Version 13 introduced a simplified pricing model:
Unlimited Displays: All server bundles now include unlimited displays by default.
Built-in ViewPoint: Activation is no longer required for FactoryTalk ViewPoint; unlimited web and mobile clients are included with every server and station bundle.
Server Bundles: Offered in Small (5 clients), Medium (10 clients), and Large (25 clients) packages to reduce the complexity of purchasing individual components. Hardware Requirements
For a computer hosting the HMI Server or Data Servers in a network application, Rockwell recommends: Processor: Quad-core Intel Xeon, 2.33 GHz or higher. RAM: 4 GB (minimum 2 GB).
If you are planning an upgrade, I can help with a migration checklist or detail the security changes regarding HMI Area Security—which ViewSE – v13: What's New In FactoryTalk View Site Edition
Rockwell recently released version 13.00 of FactoryTalk View Site Edition, and below I'll summarize the new and enhanced features, The Automation Blog
FactoryTalk View Site Edition Software - Rockwell Automation
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FactoryTalk View SE Version 13: Enhancements in HMI Visualization 0;55d;0;1db;
Rockwell Automation’s FactoryTalk View Site Edition (SE) Version 13 focuses on modernization, improved user experience, and tighter integration with the Logix control platform. 0;ea;0;79;0;a3; 🚀 Key New Features 0;4f8;0;40d;
Data-Driven Graphics: New "Automatic Diagnostics" tools to simplify troubleshooting.
Enhanced Web Client:0;436; Improved performance for HTML5-based remote viewing.
Logix Integration: Deeper "Extended Properties" support for faster tag syncing. FactoryTalk View Site Edition (SE) version 13 introduces
Restricted Users: More granular security controls for various operator levels.0;239;
Performance: Faster screen loading and reduced client-to-server latency. 0;7a;0;a5; 🛠️ Core Capabilities Scalability
Supports single-station to multi-client distributed architectures. Designed for enterprise-wide visibility and data logging. Design Efficiency
Global Objects: Create a graphic once; update it everywhere.
Libraries: Extensive pre-built symbol libraries (Process, Power, etc.).0;41; Modern Visualization
Support for high-resolution displays and multi-monitor setups.
Native SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) support for crisp visuals. 0;7a;0;a5; 📈 Impact on Operations
Faster Deployment: Reduced engineering time via Logix tag integration.
Better Mobility: Access dashboards on tablets/phones via FactoryTalk ViewPoint.0;23f;
Future Proofing: Built on a framework ready for Digital Twin and IIoT scaling. 0;7a;0;a5; 📋 System Requirements (Summary) OS: Windows 10/11 Professional or Windows Server 2019/2022.
Database: SQL Server 2019 or newer for historical logging.0;218; Framework: .NET Framework 4.8 or later. 0;7a;0;238;
📍 Pro Tip: When upgrading to V13, always verify your FactoryTalk Services Platform version matches to ensure communication stability.
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FactoryTalk View Site Edition (SE) version 13, released in March 2022, introduced several major updates focused on data visualization, system maintenance, and simplified licensing. Key Features & Enhancements Advanced Data Objects:
XY Plot: A new object that allows operators to plot two sets of production data against each other.
Data Grid: Displays collected data in a tabular format, now supporting FactoryTalk View SE data log model file sets as a source. Enhanced Scripting & Extensibility:
Bi-directional PowerShell: Extends the PowerShell engine introduced in v12 to allow bidirectional interaction, specifically the ability to write values back to HMI tags.
.NET Object Support: Designers can now create and use custom .NET controls (Windows Forms and WPF) within applications. User-Specific Customization: Compatibility with Other Rockwell Software
Client Tags: New memory tags that are specific to each client and user session, allowing for operator-specific navigation and visibility without complex scripting. Modernized System Maintenance:
System Status Portal: A web-based overview providing the status of all FactoryTalk application servers, including HMI, Alarms, and Data servers.
Automatic Diagnostics: Integration with FactoryTalk ViewPoint allows animation to be driven by diagnostic messages from devices like Logix controllers. Commercial & Licensing Changes FactoryTalk View Site Edition Installation Guide
FactoryTalk View Site Edition (SE) Version 13 introduces significant enhancements focused on system extensibility modernized visualization simplified licensing
. This version emphasizes deep integration with Logix controllers and expanded web-based access via HTML5. Rockwell Automation Key New Features in Version 13 Simplified Bundled Licensing
: Servers are now sold as bundles that include the HMI server plus 5, 10, or 25 clients. All server bundles now support unlimited displays , removing the need to pre-determine application size. Unlimited FactoryTalk ViewPoint
: Every server and station bundle now includes unlimited web clients at no additional cost. Server-Side Scripting & PowerShell : Version 13 expands PowerShell scripting
capabilities, allowing bidirectional data interaction where scripts can write information directly back to HMI tags. Enhanced Visualization Data Grid & XY Plot
: Operators can view data in tabular formats or plot two sets of production data against each other. Chromium-Based Web Browser : The web browser object now supports Microsoft Edge (Chromium) as a rendering engine.
: Horizontal and vertical position animation is now available for more objects, including images and panels. Client-Specific Tags
: Allows for customization of tag values and behaviors specific to each unique client or user session in a distributed system. Rockwell Automation System Requirements Operating Systems
: Supported on Windows 10 (v2004 through v21H2), Windows 10 IoT Enterprise 2016, and Windows 11 (64-bit). Hardware (Recommended) : Intel Core i5 Standard Power processor or better.
: 4 GB for operator workstations; 8 GB for engineering workstations and larger application servers. : 16 GB free hard disk space. Rockwell Automation Installation & Configuration Best Practices
PlantPAx Display and Library Guidelines - Datasheet.Directory
Version 13 introduces a revamped tag database engine. Users report up to a 30% improvement in tag resolution speed for large distributed systems. The new engine handles alias tags and derived tags more efficiently, reducing latency in polling-intensive applications like high-speed packaging or material handling.
Even polished software has teething problems. Here are early reported issues and their fixes:
Issue: After upgrade, clients hang on "Validating License".
Solution: Clear the local cached license folder: C:\ProgramData\Rockwell\FactoryTalk\Activation\Cache and rehost the license.
Issue: WebView control shows a blank white screen. Solution: Ensure the embedded URL is using HTTPS (not HTTP) and that the client workstation trusts the SSL certificate. Also, WebView requires the Edge WebView2 runtime, which is not automatically installed.
Issue: Alarm server shows "Database connection failed" even though SQL is running.
Solution: Version 13 enforces SQL Server Authentication (mixed mode). You must explicitly create a SQL login for FTAlarmUser and grant db_owner on the alarm database.
Issue: High CPU usage on Windows Server 2022. Solution: Disable "Virtualization-Based Security" (VBS) and "Hyper-V" if the server is not a VM host. VBS adds significant overhead to real-time applications.
Version 13 continues to support Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) for custom logic behind graphics. This allows engineers to create complex, custom ActiveX controls and faceplates. While VBA is legacy technology, its presence ensures that existing codebases from older versions (v10, v11, v12) can be migrated with minimal re-engineering.
As Microsoft phases out legacy OS support, Rockwell has aligned V13 to run natively on:
Crucially, V13 drops support for Windows Server 2016 and Windows 7. This forces legacy users to upgrade their infrastructure, but also unlocks modern OS security features.
SE v13 is designed for high-availability applications.
Engineers managing extensive distributed systems will notice faster client startup times and reduced network bandwidth usage. Improvements include: