Currently, I am working on a project involving a pair of 1756-L62 processors utilizing RSLogix5000 ver 18.02 and FTViewSE 6.00 in standalone mode. An unusual issue I am facing is when attempting to delete a tag in the PLC, an error message pops up stating: "Failed to delete tag "Test". Tag is actively being read by one or more clients." Surprisingly, the tag has never been utilized on an RSView screen. The mysterious client reading the tag remains unknown. Creating and immediately deleting tags online typically works, but leaving it unattended for a few hours results in it becoming locked. While working in FTView Studio on the same computer, I noticed that every time a tag is created online, the status window in Studio receives a notification. This observation raises some questions. To address this issue, I have resorted to marking tags for deletion by altering their description to "delete." Periodically, I reboot my PC without launching FTView and disconnect the network connection between the PLC and the plant network. After a brief 90-second wait, I am able to delete the tags successfully. Additionally, I have a machine running FTTransaction Manager, which also reads tags in the PLC. However, it does not interfere with the deletion process. My goal is to identify the source actively reading my tags and pinpoint the responsible application. Unfortunately, accessing this data has proven to be challenging. Although Factory Talk possesses this information, I am unsure of how to retrieve it.
I frequently experience this issue as well, and I believe it may be related to RSLinx Enterprise. It seems to automatically recognize and capture newly created tags.
This issue seems to be quite prevalent, almost as if FTView/RSLE was intentionally designed with this flaw. Your workaround seems to be the only viable solution available.
One of the major frustrations with RS Linx is that it locks all PLC tags, not just the ones requested by clients. This issue has been a prominent concern for me while working with RS Linx, and it is the main reason why I recommend Kepware to my Allen-Bradley customers. I am hopeful that Allen-Bradley will eventually address this problem by providing a warning message with a "Do it anyway" option. Despite feeling skeptical, I have seen progress after persistently pushing for changes over the past 13 years. For instance, they are now working on enabling the storage of program comments within the PLC alongside the program itself. This development gives me hope for future improvements.
After encountering difficulties accessing my Controllogix PLC due to plant policies, I discovered a workaround that may be beneficial to others facing similar challenges. While using a PV1000+ device, I encountered issues with deleting tags that were reportedly actively being read. To resolve this, I performed a series of steps that finally allowed me to delete over 200 tags without interrupting production or taking the PLC offline. By temporarily ending the rslinxNG.exe process in the Windows task manager after downloading my ftview .mer file to the HMI, I was able to successfully manage the tags in RSlogix 5000. This solution helped me overcome the obstacle, and I hope it proves useful to others in similar situations.
If you deactivate all RSLinx OPC servers linked to the PLC, you can remove any unused tags since there will be no supervisory system to prevent their deletion. However, this is merely a temporary fix, not a permanent solution. Convincing some clients to operate without HMIs, even for a short period, would be challenging. Shutting down their plant-wide data collection system is a scenario that is highly unlikely to occur. One possible approach could be disconnecting the PLC from the network and using a regular cable to access and delete the tags. Although this method still restricts visibility, it may result in a shorter period of downtime. Ultimately, this is another workaround to address the limitations of overly-restrictive software.
It sounds like you've really dug deep into this issue! It’s interesting that FTTransaction Manager isn’t causing problems, which suggests it might be another application or perhaps a service running in the background. Have you tried checking for any active clients connected to the PLC through FactoryTalk Linx? You might also want to look into the "Active Client" troubleshooting tools in FTView. It can sometimes give you insights into which applications or clients are connected and using the tags. Additionally, if you have any other applications or interfaces accessing the PLC, it'd be worth considering if they’re keeping the tags locked. Good luck, and I hope you pinpoint the culprit soon!
It sounds like quite a puzzling issue you're facing! The problem with the tags being locked for deletion can definitely be frustrating, especially when you can't identify the culprit. Since you mentioned that FTTransaction Manager doesn't interfere, maybe it's worth checking if there are any other background processes or connections to the PLC, especially if you have any other clients or applications that might not be immediately obvious. Additionally, it might be helpful to dig into the FactoryTalk diagnostics; you can enable detailed logging to get more insight into what connections are being made and when. Keeping an eye on network traffic or using tools like Wireshark could potentially help you catch the mystery client in action. Good luck!
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Answer: Answer: The error message "Failed to delete tag. Tag is actively being read by one or more clients" indicates that a client, possibly an application or software, is actively reading the tag, preventing its deletion.
Answer: Answer: To troubleshoot this issue, you can try marking the tags for deletion by altering their description, disconnecting the network connection between the PLC and the plant network, and rebooting the PC without launching FTView.
Answer: Answer: The user has resorted to marking tags for deletion by altering their description, rebooting the PC without launching FTView, and disconnecting the network connection between the PLC and the plant network to successfully delete the tags.
Answer: Answer: Identifying the source actively reading tags can be challenging. The user mentioned that Factory Talk possesses this information, but they are unsure of how to retrieve it.
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