HMI visualization with SIMATIC WinCC
Maximum efficiency for all visualization tasks
From the individual machine to the entire plant, SIMATIC WinCC and the TIA Portal enable you to quickly and efficiently create visualizations for a variety of applications.
The future of visualization starts now!
SIMATIC WinCC Unified is a totally new visualization system that you can use to overcome the challenges of digitalization in machine manufacturing and plant construction, both now and in the future, thanks to the latest hardware and software technologies. It offers proven engineering in the TIA Portal, the latest web technology, and high performance reserves for years to come, allowing you to implement your ideas the way you imagine them.
WinCC (TIA Portal) is the software for all HMI applications, ranging from the simplest operation solutions with Basic Panels to SCADA applications on PC-based multiuser systems. The SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) Engineering Software is available in the WinCC Basic, WinCC Comfort, WinCC Advanced, and WinCC Professional versions.
WinCC Advanced and WinCC Professional are also available as separate Runtime Software Packages that can be expanded by means of options.
SIMATIC WinCC (TIA Portal) is part of a comprehensive, integrated engineering concept that offers a uniform engineering environment for the programming and configuration of control, visualization, and drive solutions. The WinCC Engineering Software includes innovative tools for the end-to-end configuration of all SIMATIC HMI operator panels. These devices also have on board the WinCC Runtime Software, which is available as a separate product for PC platforms.
Visualization of engineering inside 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. These versions build on one another and are optimally tailored to the individual classes of operator panel. The larger software package always includes the configuration options of the smaller package. It’s possible to upgrade to the larger packages by means of Powerpacks.
Perfect interaction in the Engineering Framework
TIA Portal integrates the engineering systems for the different automation tasks. The shared framework, uniform interface, and same type of configuration of comparable automation tasks ensures a short familiarization period with a high recognition value.
TIA Portal combines maximum functionality and efficiency of automation software with a design philosophy that is normally only applied to office software – for uniform operation and a data model without loss of functionality.
Drag and Drop
You can enter process values from the HMI simply by dragging PowerTags from a block and dropping them on a WinCC screen. The system generates all the necessary settings for you, including the connection, HMI tag, and screen object.
You can also access PLC tags directly from WinCC screens during configuration. TIA Portal provides selection windows for configuration, thereby eliminating error-prone, manual, and especially multiple entries of the object names.
Data consistency all the way to the interfaces
TIA Portal is based on shared data management. Changes made to application data at any point in a project are automatically and immediately repeated at all of the other points of use, without the necessity of opening any of TIA Portal’s various editors.
Ready-to-use diagnostics
TIA Portal provides support in the form of ready-to-use diagnostic mechanisms. Activating the devices for system diagnostics generates alarms that are derived from the configured plant layout in the "Devices and Networks" editor. These alarms can be displayed in the HMI.
In addition, WinCC provides a diagnostics viewer for the Comfort Panels that can automatically display the information and alarms.
Cross-reference list and screen properties display
A cross-reference list with a tabular listing of all of the tags, screens, and functions defined in the project, as well as the central display of screen properties is helpful for service and plant personnel. There are no program limits for cross-reference lists, which means that even the PLC tags linked to a screen object are displayed in the respective blocks. In this way, TIA Portal creates transparency in the project and facilitates change configuration even after a longer period of time.
Intelligent tools for efficient configuration
In the lifecycle of an automation solution, engineering costs make up as much as 50 percent of the total costs. To significantly lower costs, you need simple and efficient configuration tools and intuitive operator prompting. SIMATIC WinCC provides both.
Configuration without dead ends
SIMATIC WinCC supports project engineers with wizards for routine tasks such as, for example, device configuration. Thanks to flexible scalability, existing visualizations can also be reused for other devices.
It’s also possible to import data for WinCC Runtime Professional thanks to the uniform engineering system from the panel to the SCADA. System expansions and project adaptations can be carried out with a minimum of outlay.
Configuration with helpful details
User-friendly functions such as those familiar from special graphics software effectively support and speed up the creation of more precise and more visually appealing HMI screens.
For example, the graphics editor allows screen objects to be aligned and positioned by means of many tools and supports up to 32 screen layers, groups, drag & drop, and much more.
Configuring the dynamic way
Animations and dynamic objects help machine manufacturers to respond to error messages or alarms more quickly. The translation costs for multi-language configurations are also reduced thanks to pictorial displays. For many standard tasks in Runtime, predefined functions are easily selected by means of drag & drop.
If requirements are highly individualized, dynamization can also be implemented on the basis of integrated VB scripts.
Configuring with tables
Familiar office functions are available in TIA Portal for conveniently and quickly configuring mass data. Each editor supports the implementation of a very specific task – for example, the alarm editor supports the configuration of alarms. WinCC’s object-oriented approach helps track cross-relationships between the individual editors.
Copy & paste the intelligent way
The library concept and prefabricated or user-created blocks in TIA Portal ensure a very high degree of flexibility, practicality, and user-friendliness. Users benefit from time savings, reusability, and guaranteed quality.
HMI Template Suite
Modular library for speeding up your HMI development process
The HMI Template Suite significantly simplifies the creation of a modern, practical HMI design. It contains a broad selection of templates, images, and objects that can be used as the basis for your own HMI. Each element can be adapted with just a few clicks, giving you full control despite the standardized layout of the templates.
Expandable, multi-language, and future-proof
Individual expansions by means of scripting
For individual, flexible expansions, VB Script provides a powerful and easy-to-learn script language based on Visual Basic. A user-friendly editor and code templates also facilitate programming. The Auto Complete function permits fast programming of accesses to Runtime objects and the simple creation of control sequences in the script.
Support for multi-language projects
WinCC supports up to 32 languages for creating multi-language configurations, up to 32 of which can be selected during runtime depending on the target system. All language versions of an HMI application can be implemented in one project. Changes to the project are immediately updated in all of the created language versions.
In addition, import and export is possible for external applications and service providers, as well as the central management of multi-language graphics.
Runtime simulation
Simulation systems provide effective support for the development of programs and the actual application. For example, a simulated test environment that includes the controller and process shortens commissioning times, resulting in reduced costs.
Three types of simulation are available, depending on the progress of the project, the functionality to be tested, and the degree of integration: HMI tag simulation with tag table, HMI project simulation with simulated controller (PLCSIM), and HMI project simulation with a real, connected controller.
Investment security thanks to the migration of configuration data
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, plant builders, and system integrators. Investment security with SIMATIC WinCC means that all the project data continues to be usable, even if the engineering software has undergone major innovations.
Hardware requirements
Siemens recommends SIMATIC Field PG programming devices as a powerful and rugged platform for WinCC Engineering Software, especially if you also use your engineering station for the commissioning, servicing, and maintenance of your automation system.
However, any PC that meets the following requirements can be used.
Supported Operating systems (64 Bit only)
Compatibility Tool
The Compatibility Tool is a function provided by the Siemens Industry Online Support with which you can select compatible software products or check the compatibility of existing configurations.
Get off to a flying start with SIMATIC WinCC Engineering Software
Scalable engineering packages
WinCC Engineering Software is available in a number of versions differentiated by price and performance. These versions build on one another and are optimally tailored to the individual classes of operator panel. The larger software package always includes the configuration options of the smaller package.
You can adapt the engineering software to your growing requirements at any time with the aid of Powerpacks and upgrades.
At siemens.com/simatic-licenses, you’ll find further information on topics like the Software Update Service (SUS) and Online Software Delivery (OSD), as well as on types of licenses and the administration of your software licenses using the Automatic License Manager.
More transparency for production
Thanks to integrated scalability, SIMATIC WinCC protects investments, from the small, single-user solution with panels to the client/server solution. It enables you to expand visualizations at any time to meet new requirements.
With SIMATIC HMI operator devices, the Runtime software is already on-board. For PC platforms, SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Advanced and SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional are available as independent products.
The integrated Runtime modules of SIMATIC HMI Basic and Comfort Panels
The Runtime software permits various HMI functionalities and quantity frameworks, depending on the device’s hardware equipment. The Runtime software of the SIMATIC HMI operator devices offers HMI functionality according to the classes of the panels.
Basic Panels offer basic HMI functionality and limited quantity frameworks, whereas Comfort Panels and Mobile Panels support an advanced range of functions and extended quantity frameworks.
Industry-standard HMI functions are part of the system’s basic equipment:
- Machine or plant operation via an individually configurable operator interface, e.g. with buttons, switches, and sliders
- Visualization of the process sequences and statuses with dynamizable graphics, bar graphs, and gauges
- Reporting and acknowledgement of events
- Archiving of measured values and alarms
- Logging of current process data and recorded archive data
- Administration of users and their access rights
PC-based HMI Runtime for single-user systems directly at the machine
The range of functions of WinCC Runtime Advanced includes the central HMI components for visualizing and reporting, and can be expanded to suit requirements and costs by means of option packages or VB scripts.
Runtime can also be easily integrated into existing automation solutions based on TCP/IP networks. Innovative service concepts with remote operation, diagnostics, and administration via the Intranet/Internet increase availability.
Additional functions of SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Advanced
- Discrete alarms and analog alarms as well as event-driven Alarm-S/Alarm-D message procedures with SIMATIC S7
- Freely-definable alarm classes for defining acknowledgment responses and displaying alarm events
- Archiving in files (e.g. CSV or TXT file) and Microsoft SQL databases
- Generation of data records for machine data or production data
- Display or entry of data records via a configurable screen object or via process screens distributed within the project
- Time- or event-driven report output for documenting process data, alarm events, and recipes
- Language support of up to 32 online languages for multi-language projects
- User-oriented access protection according to the requirements of regulated sectors
System requirements
Supported Operating systems
Efficiency and transparency for your plant
With WinCC Professional, Siemens offers a SCADA system that is perfectly integrated in TIA Portal and that already prepares you today for the requirements of increasing digitalization of production processes.
SIMATIC WinCC Runtime Professional is a PC-based operator control and monitoring system for the visualization and operator control of processes, production flows, machines, and plants in all sectors – from the simple single-user station to distributed multiuser systems and cross-location solutions with web clients.
Get off to a flying start with SIMATIC WinCC Runtime software
Packages tailored to your individual requirements
WinCC RT Advanced and Professional can be adapted to individual requirements thanks to customized packages. These packages differ in terms of the number of available PowerTags, meaning the process tags and area pointers that have a process link to the controller. Tags without a process link, constant tag limit values, and up to 4,000 bit-triggered messages are also available for added system performance.
The basic software can be expanded at any time by means of option packages. You can adapt the Runtime software to your growing requirements at any time with the aid of Powerpacks and upgrades.
At siemens.com/simatic-licenses, you’ll find further information on topics like the Software Update Service (SUS) and Online Software Delivery (OSD) as well on types of licenses and the administration of your software licenses using the Automatic License Manager. You’ll find attractive software packages with SIMATIC IPCs at Siemens Industry Online Support.
Tailor-made functions for WinCC Runtime Advanced and Professional
The PC-based HMI solutions with WinCC RT Advanced and WinCC RT Professional already include all the essential functions for operator control and monitoring of machinery or plants. For an expanded task range, the functionality can be supplemented with selected additional options that are seamlessly integrated into WinCC and TIA Portal.
Training courses for SIMATIC WinCC
From machine-level visualization to SCADA systems, your individual learning experience is supported by certified SITRAIN training experts with practical experience on the basis of modules that build on one another.
Contact
The direct way to your SIMATIC WinCC contact person
Do you have questions concerning our HMI software in TIA Portal? Would you like to discuss your specific challenges with us, or are you looking for the right project partner? Contact our regional offices. We look forward to hearing from you!
