APL Advanced Process Library Discussion

HelloEveryone,
I'm working with the new Advanced Process Library (APL) included in PCS7 v7.1 and would like to start a new discussion to help others with the transition. One main difference is the use of structures or STUCT in all of the IO of the new blocks. In the past, IO was of the primitive data type (e.g., BOOL, REAL, INT, etc) and the quality of signal was separate. With the APL, the primitive data type is coupled with the quality into a structure. One advantage of the structure is that less connections have to be created between two blocks. The downside of this is that the blocks from earlier library will not work without using a converter block to break out the structure into a primitive data type and quality. Then a person can use their existing library of blocks. The APL library provides a few, replacement blocks for things like ANDs, ORs, and the like; however, be prepared to use an over abundance of these converter blocks if you need more complex functionality. This has led me to ask the question, have many of you tried to develop your own replacement blocks utilizing the new structure intitative? If so, please post your code so other may discuss and benefit.

UPDATE: Individuals CANNOT create custom blocks with block icons and faceplates in the new APL style. These block icons use new scripts and the faceplate generation utility in WinCC only creates the old style faceplates. I have confirmed this fact with the help line. Because of this, one cannot "update" the feature set of previously created custom blocks with the look and feel of the new APL.

beaker

UPDATE: Individuals CANNOT create custom blocks with block icons and faceplates in the new APL style. These block icons use new scripts and the faceplate generation utility in WinCC only creates the old style faceplates. I have confirmed this fact with the help line. Because of this, one cannot "update" the feature set of previously created custom blocks with the look and feel of the new APL.

I also try to edit the Faceplate (Please see the post) but till date Siemens has not take out the manual for the Faceplate editing for new APL. So if you want to creates the new Block then you can’t able to create the Faceplate with new look. Also so block name & I/O also change it is not similar to the previous one.One good feature is Call the Faceplate from faceplate (Button on Bottom) so you can freely assign the which faceplate you want to open as a secondary like the function in CEMAT V7.0, Memo function is also same as CEMAT V 7.0. Then Tag name Display for the Block Icon Hide/unhide during Runtime on Button.

over all good feature added For PCS7 V7.1

The "APL Style Guide" is intended for persons who use standard APL blocks and who want to additionally adapt project-specific blocks to the specifications of the APL.

beaker

HelloEveryone,
Hello All, I am using Siemens PCS7 APL V90 where i am using "Show/Hide Tags" feature to show or hide Tag numbers in WinCC runtime. The feature works well for all the Standard APL blocks with @APLShowTag local variable where we link this local variable to "TagVisibleLink". Now i am trying to use the same feature for earlier developed project specific library but i am not able to do so. Note: Earlier developed project specific library is not in complainace with Siemens APL V90. How i should incur the same feature with my project specific library as there is no property as "TagVisibleLink". Check following images.