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pcs7 and citect

Created by: Rasool S.Alizadeh at: 9/11/2008 1:27 PM (4 Replies)

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9/11/2008 1:27 PM	Rate (0)
Rasool S.Alizadeh Advanced Member Joined: 9/27/2007 Last visit: 4/11/2024 Posts: 37 Rating: (0)	I must develop project with pcs7 and cfc but the hmi is citect. I think i must use OPC server but i dont khnow how i can do that please help me ? I khow that to create s7-connection but I dont khow how to transfer tag's into opc server??? please tell me any information about this configuration???

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9/11/2008 1:35 PM	Rate (0)
dchartier Grandmaster Joined: 9/27/2006 Last visit: 11/7/2024 Posts: 12293 Rating: (2691)	hello Rasool; This will no longer be a PCS 7 project, integration of WinCCOS is an essential part of PCS 7. This will now be a simple S7-400 project, look at Citect knowledgebase or Online help to find the drivers and interfaces supported. Is this a client requirement? This would be like buying the best pair of running shoes and then shooting your ownfoot off. Whatever few dollars they will save on the licenses they will lose in development time, if they are trying to re-create the functionnalities and interfacing of PCS 7. Citect is an excellent SCADA package, I have done a few projects with it, but S7-400 + Citect is not the equivalent of PCS 7. Good luck, Daniel Chartier

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9/11/2008 4:17 PM	Rate (0)
JMJ Posts: 487 Rating: (45)	I do not know why you call it PCS7 when you are using Citect. I think what you mean is an S7 PLC with CFC. There is nothing to 'transfer' to. Here is the syntax for 'item name' to access s7 variables via OPC <protocolID>:[<connectionname>]<variablename> Read this manual for more info http://support.automation.siemens.com/WW/view/en/24843817
JMJ Posts: 487 Rating: (45)	Last edited by: JMJ at: 9/11/2008 4:18 PM
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9/12/2008 3:00 AM	Rate (1)
RonaldNijssen Advanced Member Joined: 1/21/2008 Last visit: 7/12/2024 Posts: 39 Rating: (14)	Rasool, It's not very efficient to connect a 3rd party HMI to a S7 controller programmed with CFC. However, it is possible. You can basically do four things: 1. Global Data Blocks (most engineering work and results in less freindly code) 2. Instance Data Blocks Symbolic (must create/update symbols and risk of Data Block Numbers shifting) 3. Instance Data Blocks absolute (less user friendly and again, risk of shifting) 4. Buy PCS 7 OS and use it as an OPC Server, allows you to compile the tags into the OS, they will be accessible through its OPC Server (more costly but much easier to maintain/extend and no risk) ---------------------------------------------------------- 1. Create a Global data block and use it as the HMI interface. You will have to put work in getting the commands across, as all Operator command inputs in PCS 7 can not be linked by default and are setup for the PCS 7 Faceplate concept. 2. Connect to the Instance Datablocks that each Function Block call in CFC will have. You can resolve the instance datablock numbers and the tags (Chart/Block) they are applied to, in the CFC cross reference. You can export this xref and generate an import symbol file for Citect or the S7-Program symbol file. 3. You can also connect Citect to the absolute Datablock addresses and numbers, again, the CFC cross-reference gives you the relationship between DB-number and Tag (Chart/Block) this is not as convenient as an imported symbol table that makes the data blocks and the data elements in them, available as symbols. IMPORTANT: if you change the interface (input/output/static memory) of a Function Block then all instance datablocks will be re-issued for that Block Type its instances (so not all data blocks for the whole application but only for the Function Block you changed). This will require a regeneration of the symbol data and import into the symbol table and/or Citect Now having the OPC Server expose the symbolic data instead of the absolute data, when you configure the OPC server in a PC station (what you know, because you know how to create a connection through Netpro). In the HW config of the dedicated PC station, you can specify that the OPC Server should inherit all symbolic data of the controllers their program that it has connections to. This is a checkbox item. When you download the OPC server, the complete symbol data will be downloaded to it as well, and an OPC client will be able to browse and access that symbolic data. IMPORTANT: The SIMATIC NET OPC Server is NOT Multi-project aware in regard to this feature. The OPC Server must reside in one project together with all controllers, their CPU's and programs to make the symbolic access work. 4. The 4th solution is to buy a PCS 7 OS (e.g. 1000 PO), compile the OS, it will have tags and expose them through the Built-in OPC server with symbolic names. This is more expensive than the SIMATIC NET OPC Server (which comes for free with any driver), but will give you the easiest maintenance. You can run the OS Single-Station without Graphics Run-time if you like. I hope this helps Kind regards Ronald Nijssen

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6/28/2009 11:28 AM	Rate (0)
mumbles Posts: 160 Rating: (16)	Rasool S.Alizadeh I must develop project with pcs7 and cfc but the hmi is citect. I think i must use OPC server but i dont khnow how i can do that please help me ? I khow that to create s7-connection but I dont khow how to transfer tag's into opc server??? please tell me any information about this configuration??? The driver to use would be PSDirect from Citect. Have a look at the Citect website for information on this driver. However please understand that you will lose all the benefits of using a complete Siemens Solution and the concept of TIA is no longer relevant.
mumbles Posts: 160 Rating: (16)
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