Hello "humperdoo",

in the past it was easy. I've downloaded the TIA Portal trial-software, to use it for a trial period of 21 days with full functionality.

Link to the trial downloads in the Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS):

List of TIA Portal Trial-Downloads

But things have changed in the meantime:

Some older TIA Portal versions are no longer available (for example TIA Portal V11.0, V12.0, V13.0, V13.0 incl. SP1, V14.0, V15.0).

Some other TIA Portal versions are still available as free download:

TIA V13.0 incl. SP2

TIA V14.0 SP1

TIA V15.1

TIA V16.0

TIA V17.0

Depending on the TIA version originally used to load a project into the PLC, sometimes you need an empty TIA-project for the compatibility mode of the subsequent version.

Here is an empty TIA V11-Project for Upload with TIA V12
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/66027369

Here is an empty TIA V12-Project for Upload with TIA V13 and V13 SP1
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/82169157

Since TIA Portal V14 the compatibility-mode does not exist anymore. Further details see following FAQ: https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/109476392

Also interesting in this context is following FAQ with the title: "What options are available in STEP 7 (TIA Portal) for uploading when the project version in the CPU no longer matches the version on your PG/PC?"  At the end of that FAQ, you'll find a kind of compatibility-table".
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/97554052

I hope this is helpful for you.

Best Regards,
Christian

SIMATIC International Technical Support Hub

We often receive questions about uploading a project from a controller to the programming device in relation to the different versions of the TIA Portal and STEP 7.

In general, you need to know with which version of STEP 7/TIA Portal the project was created and loaded on the controller. The same version must then be used to load the project from the CPU to the programming device. Only then can the project be upgraded.

A concrete example:

A project was created and loaded with STEP 7/TIA Portal V14 on an S7 1500. The project cannot be loaded from the CPU to the programming device with the current version STEP 7/TIA Portal V17. You must therefore load the project from the controller to the programming device with STEP7/TIA Portal V14 and then, if desired, you can create it with the STEP 7/TIA Portal V17.

Supplementary FAQ's from the SIOS Portal

In STEP7 (TIA Portal), how do you load the "Program Blocks" with the PLC tags and PLC data types from the CPU into the programming device?

What options are available in STEP 7 (TIA Portal) for uploading when project version in the CPU no longer matches the version on your PG/PC?

How do you do a program upload in STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V12 when the device has been configured with STEP 7 V11?

In STEP7 (TIA Portal) V13 SP1, how do you load project data from a device that has been configured with STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V12 SP1 or V13?

General information on loading in PG/PC

Best regards,

SIMATIC International Technical Support Hub.

 Evening all,

Very useful messages in this post, a follow on question for me though - When creating a new Project, the version box is a drop down - would there be any software issues if i purchased a license key for each version of TIA up to my current version of 17, or is it best to keep with virtual machines to run the different versions?

Thanks in advance for any info and again, very useful posts!

Craig

Craigporton

Evening all,

Very useful messages in this post, a follow on question for me though - When creating a new Project, the version box is a drop down - would there be any software issues if i purchased a license key for each version of TIA up to my current version of 17, or is it best to keep with virtual machines to run the different versions?

Thanks in advance for any info and again, very useful posts!

Craig

Hello.

Where is that drop down located? 

A Step7 V17 license permits the use from Step7 V11 up to Step7 V17. Multiple sessions can be open at the same time also. WinCC is also like this. Only one WinCC Pro can however be installed on one Windows session.

Helpful?

ChristophD

this drop down is dsplayed if you create a nwe project.

But can only be used in TIA Versions with compatibility Mode (V13; V14).
Since V15 there is no longer a compatibility mode and the Drop down is static and you can not select any older versions

 Thanks both for the replies - I will stick with virtual machines then for my different versions of TIA!

I understand this limitation but never understand why Siemens cannot do it more simply and better way as other brands can do.

TIA Portal size is already a big size, so even we have bigger size of installation file it's is not a problem. Just make latest version to upload project from any lower version. 

Just.....

KISS rule for writing soft aren't considered today, saddly.