# Information about data browsing

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/information-about-data-browsing/17364>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [March 14, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/information-about-data-browsing/17364 "2018-03-14T16:50:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![antoine.soumillion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@antoine.soumillion](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/antoine.soumillion)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 4:50pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/information-about-data-browsing/17364/1 "2018-03-14T16:50:28Z")

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Good morning,

As part of an end-of-study assignment, I would like to have some information.  
I saw that it was possible to browse tags in ignition if the PLC was compatible.  
What is the criterion that tells me if my PLC is compatible or not with data browsing?

Best regards,

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**Author:** ![Kyle\_Chase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kyle\_Chase](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kyle_Chase)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/information-about-data-browsing/17364/2 "2018-03-14T16:55:21Z")

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It all depends on the protocol and the controller you are using.

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**Author:** ![bfuson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/bfuson/32/4597_2.png) [@bfuson](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/bfuson)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/information-about-data-browsing/17364/3 "2018-03-14T17:48:24Z")

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There’s an overview of existing drivers here: [https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC79/Drivers](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC79/Drivers)

The individual driver articles outline the types of browsing they support. For example: the UDP/TCP driver supports very limited browse of the entire message within 1 variable node, whereas the AB drivers support full browsing.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![antoine.soumillion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@antoine.soumillion](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/antoine.soumillion)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/information-about-data-browsing/17364/4 "2018-03-22T15:17:47Z")

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Thank you for your answers.  
If I understand correctly, it depends very much on the situation. So how do I know if I can use data browsing with a siemens PLC S7-1500, S7-400 or a Bedrock PLC for example?

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**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 3:45pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/information-about-data-browsing/17364/5 "2018-03-22T15:45:08Z")

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If you follow bfuson’s link and click on [Siemens](https://docs.inductiveautomation.com/display/DOC79/Siemens) there, you find that you cannot browse them. IIRC, Bedrock PLCs have a built-in OPC server which should be browsable.

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**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/information-about-data-browsing/17364/6 "2018-03-22T15:46:09Z")

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It’s case-by-case as @Kyle_Chase mentioned.

If you’re connected to the S7-400 or S7-1500 via the S7 protocol there is no browsing.

If you’re connected to a newer S7-1500 or a Bedrock PLC via OPC UA then browsing _is_ supported, because each of those has an embedded OPC UA server in them.