Change Directory where AMS stores "Device Service Notes" (Drawings/Notes)

We want to attach some DeltaV trends and Event Chronicle data to a device's tag in AMS to show that the configured alarms, interlocks, and / or votes to trip were invoked as the device was being exercised. At the moment we are using "Drawings/Notes" and pasting a screen capture "capture.png" file of the PHV trend from a workstation. This seems fairly workable, but we noticed that AMS is storing the files in an obscure directory, like "C:\Users\administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\1". This does not appear to us to be a good place to store something that you want to be around for a while. This also explains why all the useful data added by technicians - things like heat trace panel circuit breaker numbers and panel locations - was lost when we upgraded the clients last time through.

These files should be in a "normal" directory, and need to be somewhere that's backed up - preferably along with the AMS database. I have a feeling this isn't happening. Any thoughts on where we can store these files so that they don't go down the drain again when we upgrade? There's guidance in AMS "help" about changing templates and so on, but nothing about changing this directory.

  • John – The drawing and note information specific to each device is stored in the AMS\DB directory in the FMSALL.AMS_SRVNTS (AMS Service Notes) file. What you are seeing in the temp directory is just the working copy that Microsoft creates when Offices accesses and manipulates this data.

    As you have mentioned, there are detailed topics in the AMS Device Manager help about how to save drawings and notes after you have made changes. It is important to use the ‘save’ function rather than the ‘save as’.

    Assuming this process is followed, all the drawings and notes information is stored in the AMS\DB directory. Does that meet your requirement or is something else needed?

    Appreciate your participation,

    Nicholas

  • Also, when you do an AMS Device Manager database backup, two files are created. The one with ".ams_bckup_svn" at the end is the drawings and notes information. If you lost data when you upgraded, this file must not have been available when the database was restored.