OPC UA allows information to be represented as complex Variables(Variablewith nested sub-variable) and/or as complex DataTypes, where a DataTypehas a structure or other special meaning associated with it. Each of the nested Variables can have a value that represents a simple base DataTypesuch as an Integer or can represent a custom DataTypesuch as a Currency or a structure.

The format of a value is represented by Attributesof Variables. This standard maps all value formats defined in ISA-95 into those attributes.

Arrays of values are represented by DataType, ValueRank, ArrayDimensions, and MaxArrayLengthattribute of a VariableType. (See OPC 10000-3). The following examples illustrate the usage of these Attributes:

1. A set of values for a single dimension array of integers with 6 values

EBNF: [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6]

OPC UA: DataType=Int32(any), ValueRank=OneDimension(1), ArrayDimensions=6, MaxArrayLength=6.

1. A set of values for a two dimension array of size 2x3

EBNF: [ [1 , 2] , [3 , 4] ,[5 , 6]]

OPC UA: DataType=Int32(any), ValueRank= 2, ArrayDimensions=[2,3], MaxArrayLength=6

1. A set of values for a four dimension array of size 2x3x4x5

EBNF: omitted for simplicity

OPC UA: DataType=Int32(any), ValueRank= 4, ArrayDimensions=[2,3,4,5], MaxArrayLength=120

Ranges of values are represented by Range DataTypedefined in OPC 10000-8. If the Range is an array, then ValueRank, ArrayDimensions, and MaxArrayLengthattributes are utilized to indicate an array.

1. A simple range of values

EBNF:{0..100}

OPC UA : DataType=Range, ValueRank= Scalar (−1)

1. A non-continuous range of values

EBNF: {0 .. 100 , 200 .. 300 , 500 , 600 .. 650}

OPC UA : DataType=Range, ValueRank= OneDimension (1), ArrayDimensions=4

A set of allowed values is defined in EnumStrings andthe EnumValues Standard Propertyof Enumeration DataType.

1. A series of values that defines colours.

EBNF: <Red, Green, Yellow, Blue>

OPC UA : Array of LocalizedTextthat is a list of the enumeration strings is set to EnumStrings

Structured data element is defined in custom DataTypederived from Structure DataTypeor is represented by nested VariableTypethat has Variablesas children.

1. A structured data element represented as flattened Property Name

Struct Simple {

Integer Position;

Float LastValue;

Boolean Exists;

String Comment;}

ISA-95: Simple.Position, Simple.LastValue, Simple.Exists, Simple.Comment

OPC UA: ABC DataType(custom DataType) derived from Structure DataType is defined, with the given structure.

1. A structured data element represented by creating an ISA95Property with no data value with nested child ISA95Properties and identification of element.

Struct Simple {

public int Position;

public double LastValue;

public bool Exists;

public string Comment;}

ISA-95: Property [ID=”Simple”]

Property [ID=”Simple”]\ Property [ID=”Position”]

Property [ID=”Simple”]\ Property [ID=”LastValue”]

Property [ID=”Simple”]\ Property [ID=”Exists”]

Property [ID=”Simple”]\ Property [ID=”Comment”]

OPC UA: All ISA95Properties are represented as Variablesand Simple property points to Position, LastValue, Exists, and Comment properties by HasComponent or subtypes of HasComponent ReferenceType.(See clause 4.3.8.6)

1. A combination of a) and b) where a structured data element represented by creating a ISA95 Property with a data value that is a structured data element and with nested child properties and identification of element (see Figure 14). This is the preferred method for modelling complex information. [Note: the figure flow the template defined in OPC 10000-3with some extensions defined in Annex F]

Figure 14- Complex Data Mapping