AF SDK Reference

PIPoint.LoadAttributes Method

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PIPoint.LoadAttributes Method

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Last UpdatedJan 12, 2026
4 minute read

Load PIPoint attributes into the cache.

Namespace: OSIsoft.AF.PI
Assembly: OSIsoft.AFSDK (in OSIsoft.AFSDK.dll) Version: 3.2.0.7

Syntax

public void LoadAttributes(
	params string[] names
)

Public Sub LoadAttributes ( 
	ParamArray names As String()
)

Dim instance As PIPoint
Dim names As String()

instance.LoadAttributes(names)

public:
void LoadAttributes(
	... array<String^>^ names
)

member LoadAttributes : 
        names : string[] -> unit

Parameters

names: Type: SystemString
The list of PIPoint attribute names to be loaded. The PICommonPointAttributes class contains some of the common PIPoint attribute names. If or an empty list, then all PIPoint attributes will be loaded.

Remarks

The PIPoint attribute values for the specified list of attributes are loaded from the server into the client's cache. After loading, the GetAttribute(String) method can be used to read the PIPoint attribute value. When the PIPoint attributes are no longer needed, the UnloadAttributes(String) method or the UnloadAllAttributes(String) method can be called to remove the PIPoint attributes from the cache and free memory. Beginning in AF 2.6, the LoadAttributes method will not unload previously loaded PIPoint attributes. If multiple PIPoints are being accessed, use the bulk call PIPointList.LoadAttributes for improved performance.

Examples

// This example demonstrates how to create an attribute for an
// element and retrieve and set PIPoint attributes.

// Get the Database
PISystems myPISystems = new PISystems();
PISystem myPISystem = myPISystems.DefaultPISystem;
AFDatabase myDB = myPISystem.Databases.DefaultDatabase;

// Create an Element Template
AFElementTemplate myElemTemplate = myDB.ElementTemplates.Add("MyElementTemplate");
AFAttributeTemplate myAttrTemplate = myElemTemplate.AttributeTemplates.Add("Attr#1");
myAttrTemplate.DataReferencePlugIn = AFDataReference.GetPIPointDataReference(myPISystem);
myAttrTemplate.ConfigString = @"\\%Server%\%Element%;pointtype=Float64";

// Create an Element from the Element Template
AFElement myElement = myDB.Elements.Add("MyElement", myElemTemplate);

// Create the PIPoint for the Attribute
AFAttribute myAttribute = myElement.Attributes["Attr#1"];
myAttribute.DataReference.CreateConfig();

// Find all PIPoint Attributes and Display their values
object drAttrValue;
myAttribute.PIPoint.LoadAttributes();
IEnumerable<string> list = myAttribute.PIPoint.FindAttributeNames(null);
Console.WriteLine("Found PIPoint Attributes: nameFilter='<null>'");
foreach (string item in list)
{
    drAttrValue = myAttribute.PIPoint.GetAttribute(item);
    Console.WriteLine("  {0} = '{1}'", item, drAttrValue);
}
Console.WriteLine();

// Find PIPoint Attributes matching 'Ex*' and display their values
list = myAttribute.PIPoint.FindAttributeNames("Ex*");
Console.WriteLine("Found PIPoint Attributes: nameFilter='Ex*'");
int cnt = 0;
foreach (string item in list)
{
    cnt++;
    drAttrValue = myAttribute.PIPoint.GetAttribute(item);
    Console.WriteLine("  {0} = '{1}'", item, drAttrValue);
}
Console.WriteLine();

// Unload all PIPoint Attributes
myAttribute.PIPoint.UnloadAllAttributes();

// Load specific PIPoint Attributes and display their values
myAttribute.PIPoint.LoadAttributes(PICommonPointAttributes.PointType,
    PICommonPointAttributes.PointID,
    PICommonPointAttributes.Descriptor,
    PICommonPointAttributes.ExtendedDescriptor,
    PICommonPointAttributes.CreationDate);
drAttrValue = myAttribute.PIPoint.GetAttribute(PICommonPointAttributes.PointType);
Console.WriteLine("PIPoint Attribute '{0}' = '{1}'.", PICommonPointAttributes.PointType, drAttrValue);
drAttrValue = myAttribute.PIPoint.GetAttribute(PICommonPointAttributes.PointID);
Console.WriteLine("PIPoint Attribute '{0}' = '{1}'.", PICommonPointAttributes.PointID, drAttrValue);
drAttrValue = myAttribute.PIPoint.GetAttribute(PICommonPointAttributes.Descriptor);
Console.WriteLine("PIPoint Attribute '{0}' = '{1}'.", PICommonPointAttributes.Descriptor, drAttrValue);
drAttrValue = myAttribute.PIPoint.GetAttribute(PICommonPointAttributes.ExtendedDescriptor);
Console.WriteLine("PIPoint Attribute '{0}' = '{1}'.", PICommonPointAttributes.ExtendedDescriptor, drAttrValue);
drAttrValue = myAttribute.PIPoint.GetAttribute(PICommonPointAttributes.CreationDate);
Console.WriteLine("PIPoint Attribute '{0}' = '{1}'.", PICommonPointAttributes.CreationDate, drAttrValue);
Console.WriteLine();

// Set PIPoint Attribute value
string newAttrValue = "New Value: " + DateTime.Now.ToShortTimeString();
myAttribute.PIPoint.SetAttribute(PICommonPointAttributes.Descriptor, newAttrValue);
myAttribute.PIPoint.SetAttribute(PICommonPointAttributes.ExtendedDescriptor, newAttrValue);
AFErrors<string> errors = myAttribute.PIPoint.SaveAttributes(PICommonPointAttributes.Descriptor,
    PICommonPointAttributes.ExtendedDescriptor);
if (errors != null && errors.HasErrors)
{
    Console.WriteLine("Errors calling PIPoint.SaveAttributes:");
    foreach (var item in errors.Errors)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("  {0}: {1}", item.Key, item.Value);
    }
}

AF SDK Reference