I have an application requiring me to integrate a CTC Interact Touchscreen (via ethernet) to a Siemens S7-300/S7-400 class PLC. In this case one of each. The 300 has an existing HMI, and the 400 is part of a PCS7 system. The ethernet bus is common to all.The touchpanels already existat our operator stations and there is a need for them to view (not control) data in the Siemens PLCs. Normally our CTC screens are either serial or ethernet to SyMax / Modicon Quantums PLC’s. This particular application is needed in order to keep cost down and to not further crowd the op-station. There is a CTC screen at the operator station on the ethernet bus. My issue at the moment is, I can’t seem to get a connection to the Siemens PLC. Typically we drop a CTC screen in the system (Modicon or SyMax), throw tags or direct addresses in the graphics, download the runtime and it flies. I can’t get the Siemens PLCs to “talk” to the CTC screen. I’ve tried several of the Siemens drivers in the Runtime to no avail.

One thought I had was, do I have to make a connection in NetPro and download it to the PLC before it will recognize the screen? Or, do I need to put data in specific locations for the screen to read it? The machine process runs all the time so getting a few minutes to download the HW Config would have to be planned out well in advance, probably on a holiday shut-down.

I got it working. I think I forgot to mention that I was using the basic InterAct screen. DOS based runtime, 10" screen. I am familiar with IP addressing, I was going through a ethernet switch. I was trying to use the "Siemens TI Ethernet" driver initially. I think this one is for the old TI line. I know the InterActX and InterActExpress screens both support Siemens Industrial ethernet.

So, I was browsing the support pages and found a reference to some driver files being in thier forum. I found the Siemens S7 driver there (S7EN), and it works. No NetPro configs, just make sure they are on the same subnet and that the Rack\Slot configuration matches that of the Siemens PLC rack.

If anyone needs the file, you have to register to go into thier forums. It's free.

Thanks to all.