ViewSE Basics
Learn to create, edit, and deploy FactoryTalk View Site Edition Station applications using View Studio Enterprise, including
| ✓ View Site Edition overview | ✓ Hardware and software reqs. |
| ✓ Set up and create a new apps | ✓ Set up RSLinx Enterprise & Classic |
| ✓ Create & edit Graphic Displays | ✓ Live data and Animations |
| ✓ Global Objects and Macros | ✓ Derived Tags and Events |
| ✓ Trends and Data Logs | ✓ Alarms and Security |
| ✓ Navigation, Viewpoint add-on | ✓ Client Setup, Deploying Applications |
| Buy For Someone Else (Voucher) | Open Course Data Sheet (PDF) |
Note: to purchase this course for someone else, choose “Voucher.” Enrolling three or more people? Contact us here to learn about our group enrollment program.
At a Glance
- Format
- Online, self-paced
- Lessons
- 60+ online lessons
- Skill Level
- Intermediate: Some PLC knowledge and Windows experience required
- Access
- Lifetime, no expiration
- Certificate
- Yes, with PDHs
- Starting Price
- $199
- Content Last Reviewed
- March 17, 2026
On This Page
What You’ll Learn:
- ✓ View Site Edition overview
- ✓ Hardware and software requirements
- ✓ Set up and create new applications
- ✓ Set up RSLinx Enterprise & RSLinx Classic
- ✓ Create & edit Graphic Displays
- ✓ Live data and Animations
- ✓ Global Objects and Macros
- ✓ Derived Tags and Events
- ✓ Trends and Data Logs
- ✓ Alarms and Security
- ✓ Navigation and the ViewPoint add-on
- ✓ Client setup and deploying applications
What You Receive With Your Purchase:
- ✓ Immediate online access
- ✓ Sixty plus online lessons
- ✓ Thirty-two file downloads
- ✓ Online instructor support
- ✓ No expiration date
- ✓ Take lessons in any order
- ✓ Retake lessons as needed
- ✓ Completion certificate with PDHs
- ! View Studio software is NOT included
Proudly Serving Thousands of Individuals and Companies
ViewSE Basics Online Training Course
Learn to confidently configure, create, edit, and deploy applications using Rockwell Software’s FactoryTalk View Site Edition.
You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars and several days in a classroom to learn how to configure, create, edit, and deploy FactoryTalk View Site Edition applications. All you need is a Windows PC and our affordable ViewSE Basics online course.
ViewSE Basics is the perfect online course for those who want to learn to set up, create, edit, deploy, and troubleshoot FactoryTalk View Site Edition. Taught by a factory-certified View expert with over thirty-five years of experience, this course teaches you everything you need to know to get a FactoryTalk View Site Edition Station application created and deployed with confidence.
Unlike expensive factory training, which either requires you to spend a week in a classroom or provides time-limited access to online lessons, our HMI and SCADA courses come with no expiration date and expert instructor support. And if you don’t have a copy of FactoryTalk View Studio Enterprise, we walk you through how to get a full thirty-day trial license right from Rockwell — a trial license that, after thirty days, converts into a demo you can continue to use for up to two hours at a time.
For the PLC connections, the instructor provides his PLC sample code in MicroLogix, SLC-500/Emulate 500, PLC-5, CompactLogix, and ControlLogix formats. He also shows you how to connect to each of these controllers, so no matter which one you decide to use (including the free Emulate 500) you’ll know exactly how to set it up.
We stay involved after the sale: our expert instructors monitor the lesson discussion area during the week to answer student questions, and you’re welcome to retake any lesson at any time — none of our courses expire.
Finish the course and pass all the quizzes, and you’ll earn an official Completion Certificate from The Automation School listing the Professional Development Hours you’ve completed.
Topics Covered in ViewSE Basics
Below is a summary of the topics covered in this course. For a complete list of topics, see the course lesson list.
- What FactoryTalk ViewSE is, and how to find its documentation and downloads
- Understanding how ViewSE works, including a look at four sample applications
- Creating your first ViewSE Standalone Application
- Graphic Displays and settings, Object Properties, and In-place Editing
- Testing Displays, Creating Client Files, and Editing running applications
- Using Drawing objects, Library Objects, and the Symbol Factory
- HMI System Tags, Numeric Displays, Color and Fill Animations
- Creating, editing, and duplicating Tags
- Importing Displays, Using Numeric Inputs and Slider Animation
- Tag Substitution, Tag Placeholders and Parameters, and On Top Displays
- Expressions, Derived Tags, and Events
- Setting up RSLinx Enterprise and RSLinx Classic Communications
- Direct References and HMI Device Tags
- Offline Tag Browsing and HMI Tag Importing
- Creating and using Parameter Files and Tag Placeholders
- Command Line, and creating and using Macros
- Creating and Using Global Objects
- Datalogging and Trending
- HMI Tag Alarms and Alarm and Event Alarming
- User, Group, and Application Security
- Backing up your Application
- Setting up an Operator Workstation
- Restoring and Running an Application
- Setting up and Using FactoryTalk ViewPoint
Who Should Take This Course
Anyone who would like to learn how to create, edit, and deploy ViewSE projects. Note: prospective students should already have some PLC knowledge, and be comfortable using Windows 10.
Who This Course Is NOT For
- Complete beginners who don’t know what a PLC is or how PLC addresses and tags work — start with our foundational PLC Basics course first, then come back to this one
- Anyone looking for PanelView Plus / FactoryTalk View Machine Edition training — that’s covered in our separate PanelView Plus course, which is included in the A-B HMI SCADA Bundle below
- Anyone looking for HMI/SCADA training on non-Rockwell platforms (e.g. Ignition, WinCC, AVEVA/Wonderware, iFIX)
- Anyone who only needs PLC programming skills, without HMI/SCADA application development
- Anyone who feels the need to complete the optional hands-on exercises, but is unable or unwilling to obtain a copy of FactoryTalk View Studio Enterprise. The course covers how to request a free thirty-day evaluation copy from Rockwell, but some initiative is required of students who wish to complete the hands-on exercises on their PC.
Meet Your Instructor
Shawn Tierney
Industrial Automation Instructor
Founder of The Automation School, The Automation Blog, and host of The Automation Podcast and Show
Hi, I'm Shawn Tierney, and I've spent more than 35 years helping electricians, technicians, engineers, and programmers learn how to setup, program, and troubleshoot industrial automation products and systems.
During my first 25 years I attended over fifty weeks of Rockwell Automation training, and earned several certifications, including becoming a Rockwell Automation Certified Controls & Information Specialist.
And since 2015 I've focused full-time on creating practical online and in-person training courses to help people like you build and maintain real-world PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems.
Throughout my career I've trained thousands of automation professionals in manufacturing, OEM, and system integration environments. Every course I create is based on practical field experience, emphasizing techniques you can immediately apply on the plant floor.
My goal is simple: help you become more confident, more productive, and more valuable as an automation professional.
- 35+ Years in Industrial Automation
- Rockwell Automation Certified Controls & Information Specialist
- Instructor to Thousands of Automation Professionals
- Creator of The Automation School
- Author of The Automation Blog
- Host of The Automation Podcast and Show
Learn more about Shawn at The Automation Blog.
Course and Bundle Pricing
| Feature | ViewSE Basics | A-B HMI SCADA Bundle Save $50 |
A-B Mega Bundle Save 45% |
A-B Ultra Bundle Save 45% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $199 | $279 | $699 | $899 |
| Instant & lifetime access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lesson Q&A support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Completion certificate with PDHs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| PanelView Plus course | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CompactLogix courses | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| ControlLogix courses | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| MicroLogix courses | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Micro800 courses | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| CCW VFD Quickstart | — | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mastering PLCLogix / Factory I/O | — | — | — | ✓ |
| SLC-500 & PLC-5 (pre-order), SLC-100 & DeviceNet | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Enroll | Buy Online Course | Buy 2 Course Bundle | Buy 11 Course Bundle | Buy 17 Course Bundle |
Note: to purchase this course as a gift, or for someone else to take, choose the Voucher option at the top of the page.
Video: Free Sample Lesson
In this presentation you’ll learn about the different products that make up the ViewSE family, as well as how to find documentation, downloads, updates, and system requirements.
Note: If the sample lesson video above does not load, your place of business may be blocking our video host, Vimeo.com. To verify this, try viewing the video on your cell phone or home PC, or ask your IT department to unblock educational videos hosted on Vimeo.com. You can also view another sample lesson here.
Lesson Snapshots
Student Reviews
All students who complete the course are invited to leave a review, and you can see all the existing student reviews on the Reviews tab above.
Course Requirements
Requirements to follow along and/or complete any optional exercises
Students who wish to complete any optional exercises, or just follow along with the instructor as he teaches, will need the following:
- An internet connection to take this online course
- An installed and working copy of FactoryTalk View Studio Enterprise (information on how to request a free 30-day evaluation and demo copy from Rockwell is covered in the course)
- Note: this course is based on FactoryTalk View Studio 9.0, and all of the instructor’s example work is provided in version 9.0. That said, the files required to complete the optional exercises are also provided in v8.0 and can be found in the appendix
PLC sample code for students who wish to complete the optional exercises is provided for the following controllers:
- RSLogix Emulate 500 (free)
- PLC-5/20
- SLC-5/05
- MicroLogix 1000, 1100, 1400
- CompactLogix L16 and L23 (v20, can be migrated to a newer controller/version)
- ControlLogix L61 (v20, can be migrated to a newer controller/version)
The version of FactoryTalk View Studio used in this course is 9.0, and according to Rockwell it supports these Windows versions:
- Windows 7 Pro
- Windows 8 Pro
- Windows 10 Pro
*Students with Windows XP 32-bit SP3 may use View Studio v8.0, and the files required to complete the optional exercises are provided in version 8.0 in the appendix.
To learn if your PC’s Windows Operating System is compatible with the version of FactoryTalk View Studio you’d like to use, see Rockwell’s compatibility page (finding system requirements is also covered in the free sample lesson).
Course Pre-sales Questions
Have a question about this course? Send it to the instructor below.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Is this course beginner friendly? Do I need previous PLC experience?
This course assumes you already have some PLC knowledge and are comfortable using a Windows PC.
You’ll be connecting your ViewSE application to PLC tags and addresses throughout the course, so those with no prior Programmable Controller experience are encouraged to take my PLC Basics course first.
If you already know what a PLC is, how it’s addressed, and how to use a Windows PC, then you’re ready to take this course.
Who is this course designed for?
I designed this training for anyone who needs to learn how to set up, create, edit, deploy, and troubleshoot FactoryTalk View Site Edition applications.
Whether you’re a controls engineer or integrator building new HMI/SCADA applications, or a technician responsible for maintaining and editing an existing ViewSE system, this course will help you develop those skills with confidence.
How long does it take to complete?
The required video lessons total more than twelve hours of instruction. However, that does not include any additional time you choose to spend completing the optional hands-on exercises.
Because the course is broken into sixty plus lessons, you can complete them whenever your schedule permits without having to set aside several hours at a time.
And since all of my courses include lifetime access, you can return and review any lesson as often as you like.
Do I need a copy of FactoryTalk View Studio?
No, not to watch the lessons, but you will need FactoryTalk View Studio Enterprise if you want to follow along or complete the optional exercises.
If you don’t already have a copy, I walk you through how to request a free thirty-day trial license directly from Rockwell. After thirty days, that trial converts into a demo you can continue to use for up to two hours at a time.
Do I need a physical PLC?
No. You do not need a physical PLC to complete this course.
I provide PLC sample code for RSLogix Emulate 500, which is free, along with MicroLogix, SLC-500, PLC-5, CompactLogix, and ControlLogix formats. I also show you how to connect to each of these controllers, and the course includes lessons on adding emulated PLCs and using a free PLC emulator.
Is instructor support included?
Yes.
When you enroll in this course, you receive more than just the video lessons and downloadable materials—you also receive direct access to the instructor for lesson-related questions.
At the bottom of every lesson is a discussion area where students can post questions, and I personally answer them.
And if a written response isn’t enough to resolve your question, eligible students may also schedule a short Microsoft Teams meeting with me during office hours (see Lesson 1.11).
Note that the number of complimentary live meetings available depends on the course you’ve purchased, and these sessions are specifically intended to answer questions related to the course material, and not as a free consulting or tech support service.
For those students seeking assistance beyond the course content, paid mentoring services are also available for topics covered in my training (see Lesson 1.12).
Is the course self-paced?
Yes.
The course is completely self-paced, allowing you to progress through the lessons according to your own schedule and learning style.
Because all of my courses include lifetime access, you can also revisit and review any lesson as many times as necessary.
Does the course include labs?
Yes.
This course includes optional hands-on exercises, such as creating an application and displays, adding tanks, building derived tags, and importing HMI device tags, so you can apply what you’ve learned in the video lessons and demonstrations.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes.
Once you’ve passed all required quizzes and marked every lesson complete, a link will appear on the course homepage allowing you to view, print, and download your course completion certificate. You’ll also find links to leave course feedback, request a discount on your next course, and submit a course review.
Your certificate also lists the Professional Development Hours (PDHs) you’ve earned while completing the course. These hours are calculated based on the time required to complete all required lessons and successfully pass the quizzes (students may retake quizzes as needed).
Please note that time spent completing the optional hands-on exercises is not included in the PDHs listed on your certificate.
Technical Questions
Which version of FactoryTalk View is used in this course?
This course is based on FactoryTalk View Studio 9.0, and all of my example work is provided in version 9.0.
The files required to complete the optional exercises are also provided in v8.0 in the appendix, and the course includes bonus videos covering what’s new in FactoryTalk View v13 and v14.
Does the course cover RSLinx Enterprise and RSLinx Classic?
Yes.
The course includes dedicated lessons on setting up both RSLinx Classic and RSLinx Enterprise communications, along with a bonus video on the 2023 FactoryTalk Linx update.
You’ll also learn how to use Direct References and HMI Device Tags, browse tags offline, and import HMI tags.
Are Global Objects, Parameter Files, and Tag Placeholders covered?
Yes.
The course covers Tag Substitution, Tag Placeholders and Parameters, and creating and using Parameter Files. You’ll also learn how to both use and create Global Objects.
Does the course cover alarming?
Yes.
The course covers both HMI Tag Alarms and Alarm and Event (A&E) alarming, including HMI tag alarm logs, A&E tag alarms, A&E instruction alarms, and the A&E alarm log.
Are datalogging and trending covered?
Yes.
You’ll learn how to create live data trends, file set datalogs and trends, trend templates, and ODBC datalogs and trends. A bonus video also shows you how to set up SQL Express.
Does the course cover security?
Yes.
The course covers user, group, and application security.
Will I learn how to deploy an application to an operator workstation?
Yes.
The course covers backing up your application, configuring an Operator Workstation (OWS), and restoring and running your application. You’ll also learn how to set up and use FactoryTalk ViewPoint.
Does this course cover PanelView Plus or FactoryTalk View Machine Edition?
No.
This course focuses on FactoryTalk View Site Edition. PanelView Plus is covered in my separate PanelView Plus course, which is included in the A-B HMI SCADA Bundle along with this course.
Does the course show how to install the software?
Yes.
Bonus videos show you how to install ViewSE, create a virtual machine, set up a free PLC emulator, and set up SQL Express.
Practical Questions
Can I use what I learn at work immediately?
Yes.
You’ll start by creating your first ViewSE Standalone Application and building graphic displays, then move on to live data, animations, tags, PLC communications, Global Objects, trends, alarms, and security.
By the end of the course, you’ll know how to back up, deploy, restore, and run an application on an operator workstation—the same skills you’ll use to set up and support real ViewSE systems.
Will this help me edit an existing ViewSE application?
Yes.
The course covers restoring applications, editing running applications, and making graphical edits and changes, including using Find & Replace and the Events system.
Career Questions
Should I learn FactoryTalk View SE or PanelView Plus first?
Great question.
My first recommendation is to learn whichever platform your employer currently uses—or the platform used by the company where you’d like to work.
If you’ll be working with both, the A-B HMI SCADA Bundle includes this course along with my PanelView Plus course at a discount.
License Agreement and Permitted Use of Our Online Courses
This section covers the license agreement and permitted use of our online courses and course bundles, which also includes any course materials, code snippets, downloads, and provided software — taken together, referred to collectively as a “course.”
The purchase of a single copy of a course grants a single individual the right to use the course for personal instruction and reference only. Purchasing a course for yourself (or for another) does not grant anyone the right to distribute or share that work beyond the single individual who registers to take the course.
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This means the course and course materials may not be shared with friends, relatives, co-workers, students, or anyone else, as each sale is for an individual license to access, view, and take the lessons, quizzes, and exercises, and to download any course materials, documents, code, files, and software included with the course.
This per-person licensing helps ensure that the instructor — who created the course and exclusively holds its copyright — can cover the cost of creating it, keeping it available to new and existing customers, and answering ongoing student questions, while receiving fair compensation for a course licensed on a per-person basis.
It is unlawful to share this copyrighted course and course material even if you do not charge or profit from doing so — including for non-profit and governmental organizations — since this proprietary educational work is designed as a chargeable training resource, not one made freely available to the public.
Any unauthorized sharing of the course or course materials would reduce the potential for additional sales and licensing, directly impacting the instructor’s ability to cover costs, keep the course available, and support customers who purchased it lawfully.
If you have questions about the above, please contact us using the “Contact” link in the site menu.
Course Content
About the Instructors
