SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) ES
Visualization engineering inside the TIA Portal
The WinCC Engineering Software includes innovative engineering tools for the end-to-end configuration of all SIMATIC HMI devices and is available in a number of versions differentiated by price and performance. They are based on each other and are optimally tailored to the individual classes of operator panel. The larger software package always includes the configuration options of the smaller package. As of WinCC Comfort, it is possible to upgrade to the larger packages by means of PowerPacks.
Benefits
- Innovative configuration interface based on the latest software technologies
- Comprehensive library concept for user-definable objects and faceplates
- Intelligent tools for graphical configuration and mass data handling
HMI Engineering redefined
Compared to WinCC flexible, which has set the standards in engineering for years, configuration efficiency has been further increased, particularly if further TIA components such as the SIMATIC S7 Controller are part of the automation solution.The perfect interaction with STEP 7 in the TIA Portal prevents multiple entries and guarantees consistent data managementat all times. The engineering framework into which the software products are integrated standardizes all shared functions – also in their on-screen representation.
User benefits range from intuitive operation through the editors' integrated intelligence to the advantages of a shared database, which ensures highest transparency and absolute consistency.
Reusability saves engineering effort and simultaneously increases the quality of the solution. Reusability extends to acquired knowledge in using the software just as much as it does to existing engineering blocks that have been developed and tested.
A comprehensive library concept makes them available for new projects, no matter whether they are single operator controls or entire visualization solutions.
Perfect interaction in the TIA Portal Engineering Framework
For the first time, the TIA Portal combines the engineering systems for the diverse automation tasks. The shared framework, uniform interface, and the same type of configuration of comparable automation tasks ensures a short familiarization period with a high recognition value.
For decades, the development of automation software was aimed at more functionality and more efficiency. Engineering software was developed to the point where it became a highly specialized, tailored tool for a given task. Only with the increasing importance of software ergonomics did software developers begin to look beyond their own tool and begin to include the approaches of other developers with regard to user interfaces in their considerations. The look and feel of the software products also became more uniform under the influence of office software.
In this development, the TIA Portal represents the next logical step: from similar to shared, from related to integrated.
An operating philosophy and a data model without loss of functionality.
By simply dragging and dropping PowerTags from one block to a WinCC screen, you allow process values to be entered from the HMI. The system generates all of the necessary settings, such as the connection, HMI tag and screen object for you. Whether you have selected an individual tag or are using a multiple selection plays no role in this. You can also access PLC tags directly from WinCC screens during the configuration. A user-friendly selection window allows you to select the corresponding object. The entire TIA Portal provides selection windows for configuration, which eliminates error-prone, manual and especially multiple entries of the object names.
One problem of traditional engineering systems is guaranteeing consistent data management. Every engineering tool only guarantees data consistency within its own system. Even if an attempt is made to standardize the interfaces, the configuring engineer is mainly responsible for the availability and consistency of the data, with all of the accompanying disadvantages such as additional work expenditure and increased susceptibility to errors. The TIA Portal is based on shared data management: Any changes to application data which are made at any point in a project are automatically and immediately repeated at all of the other points of use. The various editors of the TIA Portal do not have to be opened for this.
For service or plant personnel, it is often difficult to get acquainted with a project and to analyze the individual project specifics. The ideal tools in this case are a cross-reference list with the (filtered) tabular listing of all of the tags, screens and functions defined in the project and the central display of the screen properties. The different views show where the object is used or what other objects are used by the selected object. There are no program limits for cross-reference lists either, which means that even linked PLC tags of a screen object are displayed in the respective blocks. In this way, the TIA Portal creates transparency in the project and facilitates the change configuration even after a long period of time.
Ready-to-use diagnostics
The timely knowledge of faulted or faulty modules and devices is essential for avoiding long downtimes. Therefore, constant monitoring of the plant is of the utmost importance. The TIA Portal provides support with its ready-to-use diagnostic mechanisms. No additional comprehensive configurations of the diagnostics are necessary. Activating the devices for the system diagnostics generates alarms derived from the configured plant layout in the "Devices and Networks" editor. These can be displayed in the HMI. In addition, WinCC provides a diagnostics viewer for the Comfort Panels, which can automatically display the information and alarms.
Intelligent tools for efficient configuration
In the life cycle of an automation solution, engineering costs make up as much as 50% of the total costs. If you want to significantly lower costs, you will need simple and efficient tools for configuring – and intuitive operator prompting. SIMATIC WinCC provides both.
Configuration without dead ends
Time-saving configuration means: delegating tasks. SIMATIC WinCC supports the project engineer with wizards for routine tasks. One example is the device wizard: The most important settings can be configured right when the device is being created. User-defined settings can be saved and imported directly when creating another device. There is no need for redefining. This allows you to ensure that all of the devices of a production line have the same basic configuration and are identical in appearance.
Often a comparable WinCC project already exists and a great deal of it can be imported. Even if it has been designed for other target devices, this does not mean that the configuration must be started from the beginning, because the configuration is freely scalable. In the machine-level area, the target HMI device can be easily switched via the device switch-over. The system provides detailed information about any functions that might be different and detailed specifications for adapting the configurations. Thanks to the uniform engineering system, from the panel to the SCADA, it is also possible to import data for WinCC Runtime Professional. System expansions and thus project adaptations can be carried out with a minimum of outlay.
Configuration with helpful details
Engineering time is expensive and yet it is often wasted on time-consuming detailed work. User-friendly functions, like the familiar ones from special graphics software, effectively support and speed up the creation of precise, visually appealing HMI screens. The graphics editor allows, for example, the alignment and positioning of screen objects by means of adjustable grids, snaplines that can be hidden or shown, functions such as horizontal and vertical centering, or the even distribution and alignment with adjacent objects. There are no more time-consuming manual pixel corrections.
The WinCC "Screens" editor supports configuration in 32 screen layers. For complex screens involving several overlaid objects, individual levels can be hidden to provide a clearer overview. To this end, all layers with the screen objects they contain are clearly displayed in the "Layout" task card. The editor gives you the capability of conveniently moving the objects between the layers at a central point. The layer assignments in the object's properties are updated automatically. Of course, this also applies to grouped objects. Individual objects can be conveniently removed from the group, added, detached, and moved by means of dragging and dropping. The grouping of any screen objects facilitates working with many individual elements. All properties of grouped objects are displayed at the group can can be changed there without ungrouping the group.
Configuring the dynamic way
It has long been known that animations and dynamic objects are not a gimmick, but rather they are an effective means of improving the operating ergonomics. The speed with which operators react to almost self-explanatory visual stimuli, such as color changes or the fading in/out of objects, is considerably faster than any interpretation of a text message and it greatly reduces the risk of misinterpretation.
A side-effect which must not be underestimated: The translation costs for multi-language configurations are reduced with each image. The increasing quality and resolution of the displays on HMI devices and improved performance result in new capabilities of integrating more complex animations. WinCC accomplishes the creation of dynamic objects in minimal time. No programming knowledge is required. For many standard tasks in Runtime, pre-defined functions can be easily selected by means of drag and drop. If the requirements are very individualized, dynamization can also be implemented on the basis of integrated VB scripts.
Configuring with tables
Automation tasks can generally be grouped into different focal points, for which there are special input screens. Editors for creating screens, the alarm system, the tag management, the blocks, the device configuration, etc. At many points in the TIA Portal, there are table-based editors, which give the user a quick and simple overview. The immediate mastering of editors, even at first glance, thanks to their uniform appearance, the simultaneous changing of many objects, and even the simple copying of properties inevitably increase the efficiency. Well-known office functions are available in the TIA Portal for conveniently and quickly configuring mass data.
An example: You can intelligently create hundreds of tags with only one movement of the mouse. Either the properties are retained, object names are adapted, or addresses are increased automatically.
In doing this, each editor supports the implementation of an individual special task, e.g. the alarm editor for configuring alarms. Cross-relationships between the individual editors are often difficult to track. As a result of this, an object-oriented approach was chosen for the WinCC tag editor. In addition to the configuration of the tags, a determination can also be made as to whether this tag should initiate an alarm and the logging of it. This not only helps the first time you create a project, but it also helps later by providing a quick overview of existing configurations.
Copy & Paste the intelligent way
The use of building blocks and libraries are work techniques that have been around as long as the copy function itself. The benefits of these techniques, such as time savings, reusability and guaranteed quality are obvious. In actuality, the benefits depend directly on how comprehensive and consistent the library idea is implemented in a library concept.
For example:
- Can the user only save and retrieve objects of a specific complexity in libraries?
- Can the library elements be protected from unauthorized access?
- Can libraries be integrated in projects or can they be deliberately created to be cross-project by design?
- How high is the adaptation effort required for the integration of library elements in a project?
The benefits of reusability can only be fully utilized if a library concept combines a very high degree of flexibility with practicality and user-friendliness.
The library concept of the TIA Portal ideally meets these requirements.
Libraries - versions and objects
The libraries can be used to the same extent when creating a control program and when configuring the HMI application. The library can be structured in a user-specific way, according to the requirements of the project. Libraries can contain all types of configuration objects, from simple HMI basic elements and entire screens to completely configured HMI devices. An object that is stored in the library only has to be configured once. Subsequently, it can be reused as often as necessary.
Libraries are available in two versions:
Objects that are frequently needed in the current task are stored locally in the project library. The project library is characterized by the fact that it belongs to the project and is opened, closed, but also saved along with it.
Objects that are used across projects can be managed in global libraries. Global libraries can be saved on a fileserver, for example, and then be utilized by several users
Libraries contain two basic types of objects:
Types are objects that can be centrally modified
Copy templates are simple copies of configuration objects
If types are modified, all occurrences of this type in a project are automatically updated by the library management system if the user approves the update. Types are either user-defined data types (HmiUDT) or faceplates. User-defined data types can be used to describe the data of a complex automation object (e.g. motor with status and control values) as a unit. As an interface to a faceplate they reduce the wiring overhead, because, as a result, only one structured tag of the same data type can be assigned to the interface of the block.
Faceplates
Faceplates are created as a group of display and operating objects, so that they can then be used like other screen objects from a library. A faceplate integrates itself into a project via its interface. Only the user-defined properties that are important for the block to function during runtime are set at this interface. The user then only has to deal with this concentrated interface in order to define the dynamic properties of the block and the screen objects it contains. The central modification capability also improves the error correction at this point or the subsequent expansion of previously used instances of the faceplate.
WinCC already provides a large number of scalable and dynamizable objects in standard HMI libraries:
„Buttons and Switches“ provides a large selection of pre-configured switches and buttons
"Monitoring and Control objects" contains more complex operating and display objects in several designs, including the associated control lamps, buttons and switches
Finally, the "HMI Symbol Library" contains a number of technological and industry-specific objects such as pipes, motors, valves, etc. for displaying machines and plants.
Expandable, multilingual, and future-proof
The openness of the Engineering Software manifests itself in more than just one way:
individual functional enhancements by employing scripts, importing or exporting mass data, e.g.when translating project texts externally or easy migration of project data in order to secure investment. Openess after all is also a perequisite for a comprehensive Runtime simulation.
Individual expansions by means of scripting
Normally, screens, links and dynamic processes are configured via simple and user-friendly dialogs. For individual, flexible expansions, VBScript provides a powerful and easy to learn script language based on Visual Basic. A user-friendly editor and code templates also facilitate the programming. The Auto complete function permits high-speed programming of the accesses to runtime objects and a simple creation of control sequences in the script. Debugging is possible in the simulator during the engineering and, if required, also at runtime.
For WinCC Runtime Professional, there is also the option of integrating ANSI-C scripts. The scripts themselves have access to the properties and methods of all WinCC graphic objects, to ActiveX Controls and to the object model of applications from other manufacturers. This allows the dynamic behavior of objects to be controlled, and it also allows a connection between WinCC and applications from other manufacturers to be established easily (e.g. Microsoft Excel and Microsoft SQL databases).
Multi- language project support
Machine manufacturers normally supply customers from around the world. The localizability of user interfaces has long been an indispensable feature in terms of global competition. At the same time, the customers of machine manufacturers and plant constructors are becoming increasing multinational in their structure, but for reasons of productivity and quality assurance they insist on the global standardization of production processes in their plants. The service personnel of a machine manufacturer provide support to plants in several countries and the capability of being able to switch over to a familiar interface language supports both the teleservicing and onsite service. Finally, it is no longer unusual that the operators of a plant have varying degrees of proficiency in various languages, which makes it a good idea in terms of operational safety to have the capability of switching over to the respective mother tongue. All of these are reasons for deciding on HMI software that is not limited in terms of language diversity.
WinCC supports up to 32 languages for creating multi-lingual configurations, up to 32 of which can be selected during operation depending on the target system. Asian and Cyrillic character sets are also supported. In engineering, selectable views allow multi-lingual text entry directly in the context of the configuration objects (e.g. operating screens or alarms). Language-dependent texts can also be accessed centrally. The central project text editor allows access to all of the texts and thus provides the capability of conveniently and quickly translating the texts in the engineering system. All language versions of an HMI application can be implemented in a project. Changes to the project are immediately updated in all of the created language versions.
An import and export interface with the open XLSX format (also supported by Microsoft EXCEL) allows the project texts to also be further processed in Unicode outside of the engineering system using external tools, e.g. for translation by a service provider. This is of particular interest, for example, if a global machine builder would like to have his WinCC project translated into Asian pictographic languages (e.g. Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese) for export.
Country-specific features, however, are not only available for texts. There are many instances when it is also necessary to adapt graphics to country-specific conditions, which might, for example, rule out the use of certain colors or which take regionally established operating symbols into consideration. For this reason, the central graphic collection of the system also supports the management of multi-language graphics.
Investment security as configuration data can be migrated
Implemented solutions and configurations and applications that have been created using a great deal of expertise and effort are among the most valuable possessions of machine manufacturers and plant constructors or system integrators. Investment security therefore means that any innovation in the engineering software, however far-reaching and revolutionary it may be, must never lead to customers no longer being able to use their engineering efforts. SIMATIC software has always been developed in such a way that a migration is ensured to the greatest possible extent with the lowest possible outlay.
Migration of projects of the WinCC family
With WinCC (TIA Portal) it is possible to migrate WinCC flexible projects that exist in the WinCC flexible 2008 SP2 version. After the migration, the engineering data is available in WinCC. It is also possible to import the Runtime data such as logs and alarms during the migration. In this way, the history of a running system is not lost after a migration. For projects that have been created using WinCC V7, there will be a converter in a future version of WinCC (TIA Portal).
Importing/exporting of mass data
Data such as HMI tags, alarms, and text lists whose configuration data is already defined can easily be imported into TIA Portal projects. HMI configuration data can be easily created via this. HMI tags and alarms can also be exported. The Open Office XML, which is provided by various applications, is used as a format for import/export.
Importing/exporting of texts
Texts that were stored in the shared text library of a project can also be exported. This is helpful for translating them independently of the engineering software. The format of the exported data is also Open Office XML, an open standard. When exporting the texts, the point of usage and, for example, the name of the corresponding screen or alarm is also exported, so that the text can be translated in context. After the translation, the XML file can be re-imported into the TIA Portal project and the translated texts are available in the configuration data.
Runtime simulation
Simulation systems provide effective support with the development of programs and the actual application.
A simulated test environment including controller and process reduces, for example, commissioning times and thus costs. Depending on the progress of the project, the functionality to be tested, and the degree of integration, three kinds of simulation are available:
HMI tag simulation with tag table
The testing of the configuration without a connected controller or without a running process via the tag simulator cost-effectively checks an HMI project for inner consistency. In the simulator, the configured tags are simulated; for example, do the configured color changes agree with the value pattern of a tag? The configured tags can be manipulated, activated and deactivated in the course of simulation. The simulator provides various kinds of simulations for this (sine, random, increment, etc.).HMI project simulation with simulated controller (PLCSIM)
For testing the interaction of a WinCC configuration with the PLC, the project can be tested on the engineering PC in combination with a simulated controller (PLCSIM). The PowerTags are directly provided with the values of the simulated PLC program.HMI project simulation with a connected, real controller
The simulation of a WinCC configuration in communication with a real controller provides the greatest degree of integration and accuracy. In this case, the WinCC simulation connects directly to the PLC in the plant via PROFIBUS, Ethernet, or PROFINET. The PowerTags are directly provided with the values of the real process in the plant.
Hardware Requirements
Siemens recommends SIMATIC Field PG programming devices as a powerful and rugged platform for STEP 7 Engineering Software, especially when your engineering station is also used for commissioning, servicing and maintenance of your automation system.
Yet of course you can use any PC that meet the requirements below
Supported Operating systems (64 Bit only)
- Windows 7 (64-bit)
- Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (only for WinCC Basic)
- Windows 7 Professional SP1
- Windows 7 Enterprise SP1
- Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 - Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Windows 10 Professional Version 1709, 1803 (OS Build 16299 /17134)
- Windows 10 Enterprise Version 1709, 1803 (OS Build 16299 /17134)
- Windows 10 Enterprise 2016 LTSB (OS Build 14393) - Windows Server (64-bit)
- Windows Server 2012 R2 x64 StdE (full installation)
- Windows Server 2016 Standard (full installation)
Compatibility Tool
The Compatibility Tool is a function provided by the Industry Online Support with which you can select compatible software products or check the compatibility of existing configurations.
Scalable Engineering packages
SIMATIC WinCC ES (TIA Portal) - Licenses of the basic system
The WinCC Engineering Software is available on a graduated price and performance basis, that can be tailored to your specific operator control and monitoring devices in an optimum way. Upward compatibility is always ensured within the WinCC offering. You can upgrade your version by purchasing power packs.
The following licenses are available:
SIMATIC WinCC Basic (TIA Portal)
for the configuration of SIMATIC HMI Basic Panels; WinCC Basic is part of the STEP 7 Basic software package and cannot be upgradedSIMATIC WinCC Comfort (TIA Portal)
for configuring SIMATIC HMI Comfort Panels as well as Mobile Panels, x70 Panels and Multi PanelsSIMATIC WinCC Advanced (TIA Portal)
for the configuration of PC-based HMI single-user solutionsSIMATIC WinCC Professional (TIA Portal)
for process visualization and SCADA applications
(available in three variants with 512, 4096 or maximum number of Power Tags 1))
Powerpacks give the user the option to adapt the engineering software to increasing requirements at any time. With Powerpacks the user can upgrade from WinCC Basic to WinCC Comfort, from WinCC Comfort to WinCC Advanced, from WinCC Advanced to WinCC Professional, and within WinCC Professional to the version with the next available higher number of configurable PowerTags 1).
You cannot use powerpacks to change a program version.
To keep you program up-to-date you can purchase Upgrades or sign a Software Update Service contract.
In addition to the version upgrades of the WinCC (TIA Portal) product portfolio Siemens offers the possibility to upgrade the predecessor product WinCC flexible as well as the SCADA system WinCC V7 to WinCC (TIA Portal). In this case the customer receives so called Combo Licenses which allow engineering on both platforms. These Combo Licenses can be upgraded like normal Floating Licenses when a new program version is available.
Owners of a V15 license can update their program version to V15.1 free of charge
> www.siemens.com/tia-portal-trial
When you order the Software Update Service for your product, you’ll get every upgrade and service pack of your SIMATIC software product, delivered at no charge right to your workplace for a whole year. All you need is a valid software license for the latest available version.
You can order a SUS contract for each of the WinCC (TIA Products WinCC Comfort, WinCC Advanced and WinCC Professional choosing among the SUS delivery variants Download, Package or Compact.
1) Only process tags that are connected to the controller or other data sources via a WinCC communication channel are designated as Power-Tags. Up to 32 alarms and up to 256 user-definable analog alarms can be derived from one PowerTag. Moreover, internal tags without process linking are available for free as additional system performance.
Contact
The direct way to your SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) contact
You have questions concerning our SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) software? You want to discuss your specific challenges with us or are looking for the right project partner? Contact our regional offices – we are looking forward to hearing from you!
