I think before we go further, you need to modify your naming convention...
So you've got a system where techs are installing these systems, but there's no actual documentation on what's what??
Sounds like an impending cluster...
You're storing the batch number as a point value, as well as having four other points to hold sensor data, correct?
Sounds like you need something to parse the data either before or in mango otherwise you're forever going to be chasing your tail.
If you need to parse values you're going to have to write a controller to read these values and sort them into groups.
EDIT: use a meta data source point for each PLC unit. get it to store the timestamps of when the batch number changes. That way you can create a dropdown of batch values, and filter them with a text box:
//metapoint is settable, var name: batch, type alphanumeric //context point, plc batch number point: batchNum var curr = JSON.parse(batch.value); if(!curr) { var batchObj = {batch:batchNum.value, start:batchNum.time, end:''} return JSON.stringify( batchObj ); } else { if(curr.batch == batchNum.value){return UNCHANGED;} if(curr.batch !== batchNum.value) { curr.end = batchNum.time; batch.set( JSON.stringify(curr), batch.time); //overwrite last value var batchObj = {batch:batchNum.value, start:batchNum.time, end:''} return JSON.stringify( batchObj ); } }Fox