Hi

is there a way to get the job force status flag? this in order to show on the hmi when a force is enabled on the PLC.

this is for an S7 1518F CPU

Thanks in advance

After you submit a Support Request (menu above in the online web site, rather than app) and get an answer, please post your results. 

gcadenas

Hi

is there a way to get the job force status flag? this in order to show on the hmi when a force is enabled on the PLC.

this is for an S7 1518F CPU

Thanks in advance

Since you are using what I consider the top of the line S7-1500 PLC, perhaps money is no object and you have some level of performance to spare.

I came up with an absolutely horrible work-around idea for you to tell me is a horrible work-around idea.  Ok, here goes..

Install a PC inside the electrical enclosure.  Connect a tiny HD monitor so it can meet the requirements of running TIA Portal (whatever version you are using).

Install same portal version as used to program the PLC.

At restart, configure it to auto-logon.  Configure a task in task scheduler to launch TIA Portal and open the proper project.  Configure Portal options to re-open the windows that were open the last time portal was shut down.

Now you have to cause it to go online with the PLC at launch every time.  This may require a TIA Openness script, or Auto-IT! or WinBatch or similar script that can automate windows actions.

Once online, navigate to any screen that shows the RED F (indicating Force is active) but does not require the same block in the project as in the PLC - or does not change often, like maybe a force table?

Enable a force on something to verify the RED F appears.

Now the interesting parts.  Find an application that can inspect pixel color at a given x/y location and produce a true/false output, then written to a file when it changes.  There are many, including Auto-IT! and WinBatch as well as things you can find on github.

Now, using a file monitor in Auto-IT! or WinBatch or other file monitoring tool, use something like Snap7 and toggle "FORCE_TABLE_DB".STATUS (bool) by absolute addressing (DB#.DBXx.x).

In the PLC logic, you now have the ability to detect when a force table is active and take appropriate actions.

--- I SAID IT WAS A HORRIBLE IDEA ---

And, now you know something about me... I can come up with some really crazy yet workable ideas to do things that otherwise are not supposed to be possible.  If money is no object, and you can find the right I.T. people, or at least savvy automation engineers, you can do some creative things to work-around firmware & software limitations.

gcadenas

Hi

is there a way to get the job force status flag? this in order to show on the hmi when a force is enabled on the PLC.

this is for an S7 1518F CPU

Thanks in advance

0_Einstein

Since you are using what I consider the top of the line S7-1500 PLC, perhaps money is no object and you have some level of performance to spare.

I came up with an absolutely horrible work-around idea for you to tell me is a horrible work-around idea.  Ok, here goes..

Install a PC inside the electrical enclosure.  Connect a tiny HD monitor so it can meet the requirements of running TIA Portal (whatever version you are using).

Install same portal version as used to program the PLC.

At restart, configure it to auto-logon.  Configure a task in task scheduler to launch TIA Portal and open the proper project.  Configure Portal options to re-open the windows that were open the last time portal was shut down.

Now you have to cause it to go online with the PLC at launch every time.  This may require a TIA Openness script, or Auto-IT! or WinBatch or similar script that can automate windows actions.

Once online, navigate to any screen that shows the RED F (indicating Force is active) but does not require the same block in the project as in the PLC - or does not change often, like maybe a force table?

Enable a force on something to verify the RED F appears.

Now the interesting parts.  Find an application that can inspect pixel color at a given x/y location and produce a true/false output, then written to a file when it changes.  There are many, including Auto-IT! and WinBatch as well as things you can find on github.

Now, using a file monitor in Auto-IT! or WinBatch or other file monitoring tool, use something like Snap7 and toggle "FORCE_TABLE_DB".STATUS (bool) by absolute addressing (DB#.DBXx.x).

In the PLC logic, you now have the ability to detect when a force table is active and take appropriate actions.

--- I SAID IT WAS A HORRIBLE IDEA ---

And, now you know something about me... I can come up with some really crazy yet workable ideas to do things that otherwise are not supposed to be possible.  If money is no object, and you can find the right I.T. people, or at least savvy automation engineers, you can do some creative things to work-around firmware & software limitations.

gcadenas

Hi

is there a way to get the job force status flag? this in order to show on the hmi when a force is enabled on the PLC.

this is for an S7 1518F CPU

Thanks in advance

Old thread, but actually reading only Force status is possible nowadays, but it isn't easy.

First you need to read diagnostic buffer to PLC code. For this there is GET_ALARM function block and Siemens example.

Secondly, you need to parse string alarm which you have readed to DB-area and compare if  there is text: "CPU maintenance demanded: Force job active". Status code shows outgoing/ingoing.

(You need to parse strings as alarm ID numbers looks like to change after plc restarts or program changes.)

As alarm text is only one program scan on diagnostic buffer and also on GET_ALARM output, you need set / reset bit depending status and eventually tracking is same than OB errors was on classic PLCs.

If strings are possible to communicate to your 3rd part panel then you can show alarms pretty same way than on Siemens panels.

Looking only maintenance led on program side is lot of easier if only alarm of forcing is needed.