SIMATIC WinCC V7 Basic Software

By the integration of stand-alone editors for alarm logging, tag logging, text library, user administrator, user archive and the acoustic alarm into the Configuration Studio the mass data engineering got again much more efficient.
It is possible to open each single editor separately which makes it very easy to exchange data between these editors. Of course the usual operating functionality of Excel is still valid. When doing project work in a team it is of course possible for multiple project engineers to open the single editors in parallel.

Resulting from the integration into the SIMATIC Manager of the S7-300/400 PLCs it is possible to take and align all variable connections as symbols and all AS messages automatically. In combination with the actual S7-1200 and S7-1500 PLCs the transfer of the AS Symbols out of a connected PLC into the WinCC project is much faster. This reduces the time for the parameterizing of the communication dramatically and that’s why the risk of potential faults decreases. It is also possible to automatically take over the AS messages of a S7-1500 into WinCC.
Support of native drivers for PROFIBUS FMS and PROFIBUS DP, Allen Bradley, Modicon and Mitsubishi. With the help of the integrated OPC-client it is also possible to connect to any 3rd- party system.

The administration and implementation of the messages for the destination countries is clearly arranged and therefore efficient to manage. The use of UNICODE makes the implementation of global applications very easy. By the utilization of the TextLibrary it is possible to export all (or subsets of the) texts used in WinCC. Vice versa it is of course possible to import all these texts after they are translated to any language.

The appropriate operator language is independent regardless of the language of the installed operating system. Every operator can individually choose the language of the displayed texts. For example it is possible to display messages simultaneously using different languages when working in international teams.
 

WinCC allows you to implement display languages in a simple and cost-effective manner. Thanks to UNICODE support, the display language can be changed at any time during operation. This is independent of the language set in the operating system. This means that it is possible to display multiple languages parallel to each other, such as message texts in European and Asian languages.
This makes commissioning considerably easier in international teams.

Resulting from the integration of the cross-reference editor it is on one hand possible to locate very fast the places where a special variable is used for example in case of troubleshooting. On the other hand it is possible to release non used variables to align the license costs optimal to the actual project.

Using the WinCC User Administration you consistently can assign and check the access rights of the users regardless if it is a local access or if the access is web based. For up to 128 user groups with up to 128 single users each the access rights for WinCC functions can be administered. In total it is possible to assign 999 different permissions.

The user management with SIMATIC Logon which is a part of the basic system is integrated into the security system as well as into the user administration of Windows. Therefore it also covers the extended FDA safety requirements.
SIMATIC Logon supports a plant wide user management and protects against unauthorized data manipulations

Using a configuration tool there are several setting options possible

• Language- and environment settings (Domain / Workgroup)

• Login device: Keyboard/ Chip card Reader / other devices

That’s why it is possible for users to login and to logout using their native language via keyboard. But it is also possible to login using a chip card where name, domain and password is saved in encrypted form.

The modern graphics system of WinCC supports the work of a project engineer as well by the use of standardized preconfigured picture components as when creating user definable picture components and faceplates. The use of these components enables the project developer to create his own at any time reusable company specific project standards which results in a much shorter Time-to- Market for the project.

Global settings which can be done in the graphics system enable the project engineers to implement once defined company standards in a WinCC project and to apply these timesaving to all picture objects which have the same attributes. It is also possible to export these settings and to import them again to any other WinCC project. On one hand this possibility supports the in-house standardizing in an efficient way and on the other hand it provides the opportunity that several project engineers can work on huge applications simultaneously in accordance with the company standards.

When creating images it is of course possible to do Direct2D (soft shadows) and to integrate SVG – files.

Instead of using discrete colors the color palette is working with color indexes. This enables the user to realize customer-specific designs in a very simple way. If for example a customer wants to change the color from red to orange he only has to assign the color orange to the index for the color red. While changing this, the color of all red objects having the same index changes to orange

Applying modular design makes it simple to create and to centrally manage custom specific faceplates. Changes are automatically applied to all points where the faceplate is utilized. For example efficient operation is possible by the use of application specific menus and toolbars. It is possible as usual in Windows to either fix them or to leave them movable.

The project engineers are able to adapt the Menus and Toolbars to their individual needs by using the integrated ‘Menus and Toolbars Editor‘. This makes configuring even more efficient.

Libraries and wizards accelerate make the setup of projects easier. Therefore they reduce the error rate dramatically.

Historical process information is saved as WinCC process value archives in the integrated, high-performance SQL database.  512 archive tags are already licensed in the WinCC basic system; this number can be increased at any time through additive PowerPacks. The memory requirement is optimized through efficient algorithms and intelligent, loss-free compression functions such as the Swinging Door algorithm. To reduce the amount of data for long-term archiving, the data can be compressed even further. To do so, the maximum value, minimum value or (weighted) mean, the sum or the difference is calculated for adjustable periods of time (e.g. day, month, year) and saved in compression archives.

In addition to automatic archiving, it is possible to add values manually to the archive or to modify archive values later with the appropriate authorization. This is required, for example, for laboratory values in some industries. For reasons of traceability, these values are marked as "modified manually" and the process is documented with an operation message.
In addition to archiving on a WinCC server, additional central long-term archiving can be implemented with the SIMATIC Process Historian option..

Efficient controls are integrated into WinCC process pictures for the display of current or historical data.  Process values can be displayed as a table or analyzed using a trend display.
The display is either predefined or can be adjusted individually by the operator, if authorized. Numerous means of representation guarantee the best possible overview.
The freely configurable toolbar functions also provide the option of integrating project-specific functions.
f(x) trends, e.g. pressure/temperature, can also be displayed in addition to the time- and value-based representation.

The messages are displayed on the screen via the freely configurable WinCC Alarm Control. Here, the display of the message information can be adapted precisely to the requirements of the operator. The settings made can be saved in user-specific or global templates.
WinCC Alarm Control for the display of current/historical messages based on the contents of the individual message blocks can be filtered, selected and sorted, for example chronologically, by priority or by fault location, in the display. The contents can then be exported directly as CSV file or printed out as report. A freely definable toolbar function also offers a maximum degree of flexibility. For examples, project-specific functions can be integrated. To maintain an overview when there is a large numbers of incoming messages, unimportant operating messages can be suppressed from the screen display via an alarm hiding function. The hidden messages are then archived in the background.

Numerous integrated statistics functions allow a comprehensive analysis of process states. The message hit list shows how long certain messages were pending on average and in total (message duration) and similarly the average and the total acknowledgment time. Of course, the messages can be filtered here by relevant events, message locations and time intervals. This indicates quickly where critical points and bottlenecks in the production are located. To sort the messages in the message display for an evaluation, you can simply select the column heading and the required sorting criterion (for example, "Frequency, descending").

In WinCC/User Archives, associated data, such as recipes or production data, is collected in user archives with fixed data structure. During runtime, this data is exchanged simultaneously with the automation partners (e.g. a controller).

The two calendar options expand WinCC with calendar-based functionality.  Joint calendar control is hereby used to plan times or validity periods.
Time-linked actions can be triggered with the WinCC/Calendar Scheduler.
The WinCC/EventNotifier sends notifications depending on the occurrence of certain events in the WinCC message system.

Depending on requirements, a WinCC single-user system can be expanded into a high-performance client/server system.  In this way, several coordinated operator control and monitoring stations can be operated together with networked automation systems.

The WinCC/Redundancy option gives the user the opportunity to increase the system availability by means of redundant WinCC stations or servers that monitor each other and, therefore, ensure the operability of the plant and allow seamless data acquisition.

WinCC/WebUX  offers flexible operator control and monitoring of plant processes via the Internet or an intranet, especially using mobile devices (tablet PCs or smartphones). All devices with HTML5-capable browser are supported.

WinCC/Web Navigator allows integrated operator control and monitoring of plants via the Internet or intranet without having to make changes to the WinCC project. Thin client solutions support the use of PCs and even rugged on-site devices and mobile PDAs.

SIMATIC Information Server supports the creation of target group-oriented reports and analyses of historical WinCC and Process Historian data on the basis of Microsoft Reporting Services

The SIMATIC Process Historian archives any amount of data from different data sources of automation and the MES world and is the central long-term archive for production data. SIMATIC Process Historian replaces the previous WinCC/CentralArchiveServer option

Using the WinCC/PerformanceMonitor shows weak points of production and to suitable optimization potential can be derived.
Therefore, plant-specific key figures (KPIs) for individual devices, machines, or entire production lines can be calculated and analyzed in machine or line-oriented production plants.
The required formulas e.g. for calculate of OEE, are configurated in WinCC and directly linked to process values. It is possible to link KPIs with context data to get further correlations e.g. quality for each supplier.
WinCC provides table-, performance- and gantt controls to analize performance indicators-  also using WinCC/WebNavigator.

The WinCC/WebUX takes account of the increasing calls of the users to mobile view and control processes via the internet and the intranet.

Using such a flexible access to gain plant data extends the classical control room as it is today. Depending on the application area it is possible to monitor only as well as to control the process.
Because of the individual access to process data using the mobile Scada the user will be informed

• fast

• cheap

• target oriented

about all the data of a plant which is important for him.

SIMATIC Information Server is a comprehensive reporting system for analyzing archived data. 
Based on the Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services it provides interactive reporting services in the form of Web-based analyses.
The reports created are always available on Web-based user interfaces and can be automatically distributed by email.
Transparent data access is also provided by MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint using Add-ins.

Consistent reporting system for:

• SIMATIC Process Historian 2014

• WinCC ( V7.0 SP3 or higher) and WinCC/PerformanceMonitor option package

• WinCC (TIA Portal) RT Professional (V13 SP1 or higher)

• PCS7 ( V8.0 or higher) and SIMATIC Batch

Transparency at any time in any place  from process to management level

State-of-the-art, innovative operational concepts with multi-touch gestures are rapidly gaining significance in the industrial environment. The gestures that users know from consumer devices are particularly useful for more simple and intuitive operation of complex production plants.

SIMATIC WinCC V7.3 and higher accordingly support two-finger operation. You can implement functionality such as zoom or wiping, for example, for screen navigation and panning. SIMATIC HMI WinCC V7.2 also supports two-hand operation that can be used, for example, as enable function for setpoint input

Extensions of the runtime system
Using WinCC it is possible to realize connections and dynamic sequences without programming only by the use of standard dialogues. To realize more complex functions it is possible at any time to write scripts using VB or ANSI-C. Examples for such scripts are the conversion of values or the automatic start of reports or of individual messages.
When programming VB scripts you are supported by the use of a proprietary, comfortable editor with debugging support.
When using scripts you have full access to the properties of all WinCC graphical objects and to the controls as well as to the object model of WinCC and the applications of other manufacturers.

Enhancements of the engineering system
Furthermore the comfortable configuration tool Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is integrated in the WinCC Graphics Designer. This is very helpful for writing custom specific enhancements including debugging. By using this functionality engineers and users can make full use of their Visual Basic-knowledge. VBA can be used to realize own standards, to handle recurring tasks, to create menu entries or configuration dialogues. This saves time and money.

The WinCC function modules are exposed using interfaces which allow access to the data and the functions of the configuration environment as well as to the runtime system itself. Using this interface you are able to apply WinCC-projecting functionality and runtime functions to your scripts or to write autonomous applications with direct access to the WinCC system..

The WinCC/Open Development Kit (ODK) describes the open interfaces which are provided as C-Application Programming Interface (C-API). Starting with WinCC V7.2 the ancient option WinCC/IndustrialX is included in ODK.
Also numerous additional ActiveX-elements and a configuration toolset containing Visual Basic Templates is included for the simple creation of ActiveX-Controls. The development of individual controls supports the creation of industry- and technological functions as protected and standardized modules. This reusable controls shorten your time-to-market and protect your know-how.
Besides of the integration of ActiveX-Controls using the WinCC Media Control (.NET Framework 3.5 & 4.0 Container) the integration of user specific XAML and .NET controls is also supported