OPC Studio User's Guide and Reference
BrowseNodes Method (_EasyDAClient)
Example 



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OpcLabs.EasyOpcClassic Assembly > OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess.ComTypes Namespace > _EasyDAClient Interface : BrowseNodes Method
The OPC server involved in the operation.
Descriptor for the parent branch to be browsed (can be the root).
Contains filtering conditions.
Browses the specified branch (or root) in OPC server's address space, and returns information about child nodes (both branches and leaves) found. Specify server descriptor, parent item ID, and node filter.
Syntax
'Declaration
 
<ElementsNotNullAttribute()>
<NotNullAttribute()>
Function BrowseNodes( _
   ByVal serverDescriptor As Object, _
   ByVal parentNodeDescriptor As Object, _
   ByVal browseParameters As Object _
) As DANodeElementCollection
 
'Usage
 
Dim instance As _EasyDAClient
Dim serverDescriptor As Object
Dim parentNodeDescriptor As Object
Dim browseParameters As Object
Dim value As DANodeElementCollection
 
value = instance.BrowseNodes(serverDescriptor, parentNodeDescriptor, browseParameters)

Parameters

serverDescriptor
The OPC server involved in the operation.
parentNodeDescriptor
Descriptor for the parent branch to be browsed (can be the root).
browseParameters
Contains filtering conditions.

Return Value

The method returns a keyed collection of OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess.AddressSpace.DANodeElement values, each containing information about a particular node found. The keys of the keyed collection are the names of the nodes.
Exceptions
ExceptionDescription

A null reference (Nothing in Visual Basic) is passed to a method that does not accept it as a valid argument.

This is a usage error, i.e. it will never occur (the exception will not be thrown) in a correctly written program. Your code should not catch this exception.

The OPC "Classic" (or OPC XML-DA) operation has failed. This operation exception in uniformly used to allow common handling of various kinds of errors. The System.Exception.InnerException always contains information about the actual error cause.

This is an operation error that depends on factors external to your program, and thus cannot be always avoided. Your code must handle it appropriately.

Example

.NET

.NET

.NET

.NET

.NET

COM

COM

// This example shows how to obtain all nodes under the "Simulation" branch of the address space. For each node, it displays
// whether the node is a branch or a leaf.
//
// Find all latest examples here: https://opclabs.doc-that.com/files/onlinedocs/OPCLabs-OpcStudio/Latest/examples.html .

using System;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess.AddressSpace;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.OperationModel;

namespace DocExamples.DataAccess._EasyDAClient
{
    partial class BrowseNodes
    {
        public static void Main1()
        {
            // Instantiate the client object.
            var client = new EasyDAClient();

            DANodeElementCollection nodeElements;
            try
            {
                nodeElements = client.BrowseNodes("", "OPCLabs.KitServer.2", "Greenhouse", DABrowseParameters.Default);
            }
            catch (OpcException opcException)
            {
                Console.WriteLine($"*** Failure: {opcException.GetBaseException().Message}");
                return;
            }

            foreach (DANodeElement nodeElement in nodeElements)
            {
                Console.WriteLine($"NodeElements(\"{nodeElement.Name}\"):");
                Console.WriteLine($"    .IsBranch: {nodeElement.IsBranch}");
                Console.WriteLine($"    .IsLeaf: {nodeElement.IsLeaf}");
            }
        }
    }
}
// This example shows how to obtain data types of leaves in the OPC-DA address 
// space by browsing and filtering, i.e. without the use of OPC properties. 
// This technique allows determining the data types with servers that only 
// support OPC-DA 1.0. It can also be more effective than the use of 
// GetMultiplePropertyValues, if there is large number of leaves, and 
// relatively small number of data types to be checked.
//
// Find all latest examples here: https://opclabs.doc-that.com/files/onlinedocs/OPCLabs-OpcStudio/Latest/examples.html .

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using OpcLabs.BaseLib.ComInterop;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess.AddressSpace;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.OperationModel;

namespace DocExamples.DataAccess._EasyDAClient
{
    partial class BrowseNodes
    {
        public static void DataTypes()
        {
            // Instantiate the client object.
            var client = new EasyDAClient();

            // Define the list of data types we will be checking for. 
            // Change as needed for your application.
            // This technique is only usable if there is a known list of 
            // data types you are interested in. If you are interested in 
            // all leaves, even those that are of data types not explicitly 
            // listed, always include VarTypes.Empty as the first data type. 
            // The leaves of "unlisted" data types will have VarTypes.Empty 
            // associated with them.
            var dataTypes = new VarType[] { VarTypes.Empty, VarTypes.I2, VarTypes.R4 };

            // For each leaf found, this dictionary wil hold its associated data type.
            var dataTypeDictionary = new Dictionary<DANodeElement, VarType>();

            // For each data type, browse for leaves of this data type.
            foreach (VarType dataType in dataTypes)
            {
                var browseParameters = new DABrowseParameters(DABrowseFilter.Leaves, "", "", dataType);
                DANodeElementCollection nodeElements;
                try
                {
                    nodeElements = client.BrowseNodes("", "OPCLabs.KitServer.2", "Greenhouse", browseParameters);
                }
                catch (OpcException opcException)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("*** Failure: {0}", opcException.GetBaseException().Message);
                    return;
                }

                // Store the leaf information into the dictionary, and 
                // associate the current data type with it.
                foreach (var nodeElement in nodeElements)
                    dataTypeDictionary[nodeElement] = dataType;
            }

            // Display each leaf found, and its associated data type.
            foreach (KeyValuePair<DANodeElement, VarType> pair in dataTypeDictionary)
            {
                DANodeElement nodeElement = pair.Key;
                VarType dataType = pair.Value;
                Console.WriteLine("{0}: {1}", nodeElement, dataType);
            }
        }
    }
}
// This example shows how to recursively browse the nodes in the OPC address space.
//
// Find all latest examples here: https://opclabs.doc-that.com/files/onlinedocs/OPCLabs-OpcStudio/Latest/examples.html .

using System;
using System.Diagnostics;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess.AddressSpace;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.OperationModel;

namespace DocExamples.DataAccess._EasyDAClient
{
    partial class BrowseNodes
    {
        public static void Recursive()
        {
            var stopwatch = new Stopwatch();
            stopwatch.Start();

            // Instantiate the client object.
            var client = new EasyDAClient();
            _branchCount = 0;
            _leafCount = 0;

            try
            {
                BrowseFromNode(client, "OPCLabs.KitServer.2", "");
            }
            catch (OpcException opcException)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("*** Failure: {0}", opcException.GetBaseException().Message);
                return;
            }

            stopwatch.Stop();
            Console.WriteLine("Browsing has taken (milliseconds): {0}", stopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds);
            Console.WriteLine("Branch count: {0}", _branchCount);
            Console.WriteLine("Leaf count: {0}", _leafCount);
        }

        private static void BrowseFromNode(
            EasyDAClient client,
            ServerDescriptor serverDescriptor,
            DANodeDescriptor parentNodeDescriptor)
        {
            Debug.Assert(client != null);
            Debug.Assert(serverDescriptor != null);
            Debug.Assert(parentNodeDescriptor != null);

            // Obtain all node elements under parentNodeDescriptor
            var browseParameters = new DABrowseParameters();    // no filtering whatsoever
            DANodeElementCollection nodeElementCollection =
                client.BrowseNodes(serverDescriptor, parentNodeDescriptor, browseParameters);
            // Remark: that BrowseNodes(...) may also throw OpcException; a production code should contain handling for 
            // it, here omitted for brevity.

            foreach (DANodeElement nodeElement in nodeElementCollection)
            {
                Debug.Assert(nodeElement != null);

                Console.WriteLine(nodeElement);

                // If the node is a branch, browse recursively into it.
                if (nodeElement.IsBranch)
                {
                    _branchCount++;
                    BrowseFromNode(client, serverDescriptor, nodeElement);
                }
                else
                {
                    _leafCount++;
                }
            }
        }

        private static int _branchCount;
        private static int _leafCount;
    }
}
// Recursively browses and displays the nodes in the OPC address space, and attempts to read and display values of all OPC 
// items it finds.
//
// Find all latest examples here: https://opclabs.doc-that.com/files/onlinedocs/OPCLabs-OpcStudio/Latest/examples.html .

using System;
using System.Diagnostics;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess.AddressSpace;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.OperationModel;

namespace DocExamples.DataAccess._EasyDAClient
{
    partial class BrowseNodes
    {
        const string ServerClass = "OPCLabs.KitServer.2";

        // Instantiate the client object.
        static readonly EasyDAClient Client = new EasyDAClient();

        static void BrowseAndReadFromNode(string parentItemId)
        {
            // Obtain all node elements under parentItemId
            var browseParameters = new DABrowseParameters(); // no filtering whatsoever
            DANodeElementCollection nodeElementCollection = Client.BrowseNodes("", ServerClass, parentItemId,
                browseParameters);
            // Remark: that BrowseNodes(...) may also throw OpcException; a production code should contain handling for it, here 
            // omitted for brevity.

            foreach (DANodeElement nodeElement in nodeElementCollection)
            {
                Debug.Assert(nodeElement != null);

                // If the node is a leaf, it might be possible to read from it
                if (nodeElement.IsLeaf)
                {
                    // Determine what the display - either the value read, or exception message in case of failure.
                    string display;
                    try
                    {
                        object value = Client.ReadItemValue("", ServerClass, nodeElement);
                        display = $"{value}";
                    }
                    catch (OpcException exception)
                    {
                        display = $"** {exception.GetBaseException().Message} **";
                    }

                    Console.WriteLine("{0} -> {1}", nodeElement.ItemId, display);
                }
                // If the node is not a leaf, just display its itemId
                else
                    Console.WriteLine("{0}", nodeElement.ItemId);

                // If the node is a branch, browse recursively into it.
                if (nodeElement.IsBranch &&
                    (nodeElement.ItemId != "SimulateEvents")
                    /* this branch is too big for the purpose of this example */)
                    BrowseAndReadFromNode(nodeElement);
            }
        }

        public static void RecursiveWithRead()
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Browsing and reading values...");
            // Set timeout to only wait 1 second - default would be 1 minute to wait for good quality that may never come.
            Client.InstanceParameters.Timeouts.ReadItem = 1000;

            // Do the actual browsing and reading, starting from root of OPC address space (denoted by empty string for itemId)
            try
            {
                BrowseAndReadFromNode("");
            }
            catch (OpcException opcException)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("*** Failure: {0}", opcException.GetBaseException().Message);
            }
        }
    }
}
// This example shows how to recursively browse the nodes in the OPC XML-DA address space.
//
// Find all latest examples here: https://opclabs.doc-that.com/files/onlinedocs/OPCLabs-OpcStudio/Latest/examples.html .

using System;
using System.Diagnostics;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.DataAccess.AddressSpace;
using OpcLabs.EasyOpc.OperationModel;

namespace DocExamples.DataAccess.Xml
{
    class BrowseNodes
    {
        public static void RecursiveXml()
        {
            var stopwatch = new Stopwatch();
            stopwatch.Start();

            // Instantiate the client object.
            var client = new EasyDAClient();

            _branchCount = 0;
            _leafCount = 0;

            try
            {
                BrowseFromNode(client, "http://opcxml.demo-this.com/XmlDaSampleServer/Service.asmx", "");
            }
            catch (OpcException opcException)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("*** Failure: {0}", opcException.GetBaseException().Message);
                return;
            }

            stopwatch.Stop();
            Console.WriteLine("Browsing has taken (milliseconds): {0}", stopwatch.ElapsedMilliseconds);
            Console.WriteLine("Branch count: {0}", _branchCount);
            Console.WriteLine("Leaf count: {0}", _leafCount);
        }

        private static void BrowseFromNode(
            EasyDAClient client,
            ServerDescriptor serverDescriptor,
            DANodeDescriptor parentNodeDescriptor)
        {
            Debug.Assert(client != null);
            Debug.Assert(serverDescriptor != null);
            Debug.Assert(parentNodeDescriptor != null);

            // Obtain all node elements under parentNodeDescriptor
            var browseParameters = new DABrowseParameters();    // no filtering whatsoever
            DANodeElementCollection nodeElementCollection =
                client.BrowseNodes(serverDescriptor, parentNodeDescriptor, browseParameters);
            // Remark: that BrowseNodes(...) may also throw OpcException; a production code should contain handling for 
            // it, here omitted for brevity.

            foreach (DANodeElement nodeElement in nodeElementCollection)
            {
                Debug.Assert(nodeElement != null);

                Console.WriteLine(nodeElement);

                // If the node is a branch, browse recursively into it.
                if (nodeElement.IsBranch)
                {
                    _branchCount++;
                    BrowseFromNode(client, serverDescriptor, nodeElement);
                }
                else
                {
                    _leafCount++;
                }
            }
        }

        private static int _branchCount;
        private static int _leafCount;
    }
}
// This example shows how to obtain all nodes under the "Simulation" branch of the address space. For each node, it displays
// whether the node is a branch or a leaf.
//
// Find all latest examples here : https://opclabs.doc-that.com/files/onlinedocs/OPCLabs-OpcStudio/Latest/examples.html .

class procedure BrowseNodes.Main;
var
  BrowseParameters: _DABrowseParameters;
  Client: OpcLabs_EasyOpcClassic_TLB._EasyDAClient;
  Count: Cardinal;
  Element: OleVariant;
  ServerDescriptor: _ServerDescriptor;
  NodeDescriptor: _DANodeDescriptor;
  NodeElement: _DANodeElement;
  NodeElementEnumerator: IEnumVariant;
  NodeElements: _DANodeElementCollection;
begin
  ServerDescriptor := CoServerDescriptor.Create;
  ServerDescriptor.ServerClass := 'OPCLabs.KitServer.2';

  NodeDescriptor := CoDANodeDescriptor.Create;
  NodeDescriptor.ItemId := 'Simulation';

  BrowseParameters := CoDABrowseParameters.Create;

  // Instantiate the client object
  Client := CoEasyDAClient.Create;

  try
    NodeElements := Client.BrowseNodes(
      ServerDescriptor,
      NodeDescriptor,
      BrowseParameters);
  except
    on E: EOleException do
    begin
      WriteLn(Format('*** Failure: %s', [E.GetBaseException.Message]));
      Exit;
    end;
  end;

  NodeElementEnumerator := NodeElements.GetEnumerator;
  while (NodeElementEnumerator.Next(1, Element, Count) = S_OK) do
  begin
    NodeElement := IUnknown(Element) as _DANodeElement;
//    WriteLn(NodeElement.Name, ': ', NodeElement.ItemId);
    WriteLn('BrowseElements("', NodeElement.Name, '"):');
    WriteLn('    .IsBranch: ', NodeElement.IsBranch);
    WriteLn('    .IsLeaf: ', NodeElement.IsLeaf);
  end;
end;
// This example shows how to recursively browse the nodes in the OPC XML-DA address space.
//
// Find all latest examples here : https://opclabs.doc-that.com/files/onlinedocs/OPCLabs-OpcStudio/Latest/examples.html .

type
  TBrowseNodes = class
    BranchCount: Integer;
    LeafCount: Integer;
    procedure BrowseFromNode(
      Client: OpcLabs_EasyOpcClassic_TLB._EasyDAClient;
      ServerDescriptor: _ServerDescriptor;
      ParentNodeDescriptor:  _DANodeDescriptor);
  end;

procedure TBrowseNodes.BrowseFromNode(
      Client: OpcLabs_EasyOpcClassic_TLB._EasyDAClient;
      ServerDescriptor: _ServerDescriptor;
      ParentNodeDescriptor: _DANodeDescriptor);
var
  BrowseParameters: _DABrowseParameters;
  Count: Cardinal;
  Element: OleVariant;
  NodeElement: _DANodeElement;
  NodeElementEnumerator: IEnumVariant;
  NodeElements: _DANodeElementCollection;
begin
  // Obtain all node elements under ParentNodeDescriptor
  BrowseParameters := CoDABrowseParameters.Create;  // no filtering whatsover
  NodeElements := Client.BrowseNodes(
    ServerDescriptor,
    ParentNodeDescriptor,
    BrowseParameters);
  // Remark: that BrowseNodes(...) may also throw OpcException; a production code should contain handling for 
  // it, here omitted for brevity.

  NodeElementEnumerator := NodeElements.GetEnumerator;
  while (NodeElementEnumerator.Next(1, Element, Count) = S_OK) do
  begin
    NodeElement := IUnknown(Element) as _DANodeElement;
    WriteLn(NodeElement.ToString);

    // If the node is a branch, browse recursively into it.
    if NodeElement.IsBranch then
    begin
      BranchCount := BranchCount + 1;
      BrowseFromNode(Client, ServerDescriptor, NodeElement.ToDANodeDescriptor);
    end
    else
      LeafCount := LeafCount + 1;
  end;
end;

class procedure BrowseNodes.RecursiveXml;
var
  BeginTime: Cardinal;
  BrowseNodes: TBrowseNodes;
  Client: OpcLabs_EasyOpcClassic_TLB._EasyDAClient;
  EndTime: Cardinal;
  ServerDescriptor: _ServerDescriptor;
  NodeDescriptor: _DANodeDescriptor;
begin
  BrowseNodes := TBrowseNodes.Create;
  BrowseNodes.BranchCount := 0;
  BrowseNodes.LeafCount := 0;

  BeginTime := Ticks;

  ServerDescriptor := CoServerDescriptor.Create;
  ServerDescriptor.UrlString := 'http://opcxml.demo-this.com/XmlDaSampleServer/Service.asmx';

  NodeDescriptor := CoDANodeDescriptor.Create;
  NodeDescriptor.ItemId := '';

  // Instantiate the client object
  Client := CoEasyDAClient.Create;

  try
    BrowseNodes.BrowseFromNode(
      Client,
      ServerDescriptor,
      NodeDescriptor);
  except
    on E: EOleException do
    begin
      WriteLn(Format('*** Failure: %s', [E.GetBaseException.Message]));
      Exit;
    end;
  end;

  EndTime := Ticks;

  WriteLn;
  WriteLn('Browsing has taken (milliseconds): ', (endTime - beginTime) * 1000);
  WriteLn('Branch count: ', BrowseNodes.BranchCount);
  WriteLn('Leaf count: ', BrowseNodes.LeafCount);
end;
Requirements

Target Platforms: .NET Framework: Windows 10 (selected versions), Windows 11 (selected versions), Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2022; .NET: Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows

See Also