What does the force storage period indicate?

The force storage period is a key setting that governs how and when data values are written to the historian database, particularly in relation to values that may not change frequently. When the force storage period is configured, it specifies the exact timing in milliseconds at which a data point must be recorded, regardless of whether the value has changed since the last recorded timestamp. This means that even if the data remains constant, the historian is compelled to log it at these predefined intervals.

This feature is significant for ensuring that time-series data captures all relevant changes and adheres to the defined temporal resolution prescribed by the user or application requirements. For instance, when monitoring processes where data consistency is critical, forcing the storage of unchanged values at regular intervals ensures that a complete and accurate data set is available for analysis and reporting.

The other choices do not accurately represent the purpose of the force storage period. For example, while it is related to the storage of data, it does not represent the maximum time values can be stored or the overall duration for which data is retained. Additionally, while frequency of new values being recorded is a part of data management, it is not specific to the mechanics of how the force storage period operates.