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Use of Source file

Created by: Waterboy at: 6/12/2006 5:58 PM (14 Replies)

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6/12/2006 5:58 PM	Rate (0)
Waterboy Posts: 85 Rating: (6)	Hello all, Is it possible to access the S7 "source file" (compiling which we can have DBs and FCs) at OS level? I mean is it possible to access that file through Visual Basic so that I can automate some task? In any case how the Source file are intended to use? Regards.
Waterboy Posts: 85 Rating: (6)
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6/12/2006 11:07 PM	Rate (1)
Late Platinum Expert Joined: 1/7/2006 Last visit: 11/17/2023 Posts: 2705 Rating: (318)	Hi, You may write a program with a source, thats normal ascii inthe rightstructure. When from Visual Basic the source is written you may load it as a external source in to STEP7 and compile it. The Command Interface will help you to do some work in the background. [;)]
	Last edited by: Late at: 6/12/2006 11:35 PM I hope that the answer will help, if you have still questions, don't hesitate to ask me. All the best, Late Never say never, think in solutions, not in trouble......
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6/13/2006 8:34 AM	Rate (3)
Chris Silver Member Joined: 8/31/2005 Last visit: 10/24/2024 Posts: 217 Rating: (41)	Hi! The manual Programming with STEP 7 V5.4 (chapter 13 Creating STL Source Files) says: "You can enter your program or parts of it as an STL source file and then compile it into blocks in one step. The source file can contain the code for a number of blocks, which are then compiled as blocks in one compilation run. Creating programs using a source file has the following advantages: You can create and edit the source file with any ASCII editor, then import it and compile it into blocks using this application. The compilation process creates the individual blocks and stores them in the S7 user program. You can program a number of blocks in one source file. You can save a source file even if it contains syntax errors. This is not possible if you create logic blocks using an incremental syntax check. However, the syntax errors are only reported once you compile the source file. The source file is created in the syntax of the programming language representation Statement List (STL). The source file is given its structure of blocks, variable declaration, and networks using keywords." And, as Late mentioned, the Command Interface of STEP 7 gives you the possibility to access the functionality of STEP 7 (SIMATIC Manager, HW Config, NetPro, etc.) in a Visual Basic program. See the attached help file for details. Attachment CommandInterfaceManual.zip (1974 Downloads)
	Greetings, Chris
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This contribution was helpful to 1 thankful Users SRITN

6/14/2006 10:47 AM	Rate (0)
Waterboy Posts: 85 Rating: (6)	Thanks. That is really useful. I am going through the help manuals but I just wonder, can we have some demo VB project created in this fashion? It will really shorten the learning curve. I will briefly explain what I am trying to do. Say I have a '.txt' file prepared which contains some data in DB souce file syntax. Now if I copy paste it in a DB Source file and complie the DB will be generated. Now I want to automate this task i.e. the VB application will directly pick up the data from .txt file, create a souce file, paste the data in it and compile it so that the DB will get automatically generated. I guess this is possible.Isn't it? Thanks.
Waterboy Posts: 85 Rating: (6)
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6/14/2006 12:35 PM	Rate (0)
Chris Silver Member Joined: 8/31/2005 Last visit: 10/24/2024 Posts: 217 Rating: (41)	Which version of VB do you want to use? VB 6.0 or .NET ?
	Greetings, Chris
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6/14/2006 12:47 PM	Rate (0)
Waterboy Posts: 85 Rating: (6)	Either of it will do. I know V 6.0 so I would prefer that but if .NET makes life simple I don't mind using it. Thanks.
Waterboy Posts: 85 Rating: (6)
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6/14/2006 2:16 PM	Rate (1)
Chris Silver Member Joined: 8/31/2005 Last visit: 10/24/2024 Posts: 217 Rating: (41)	Hi! The attached ZIP file contains an Microsoft Excel file. This file contains a sample code (VBA), that uses the STEP 7 command interface. There you will find some buttons, for different tasks like: Creating, opening, deleting STEP 7 projects Adding some hardware to the STEP 7 project Generating, importing and compiling STL sources Most of the parameters (project names, station names, program names) are hard-coded and should be changed before using the sample. But remember: The sample program is freeware. Any user can use, copy and forward this program free of charge. The authors and owners of this program take no responsibility whatsoever for the functionality and compatibility of this software. Since this software is free of charge, there is no warranty nor entitlement to error correction and hotline support. Attachment CommandInterface_Samplecode.zip (1821 Downloads)
	Last edited by: Chris at: 6/21/2006 7:56 AM Removed example, since it is outdated. An updated example can be found below! Last edited by: Chris at: 6/19/2006 4:11 PM Last edited by: Chris at: 6/19/2006 8:44 AM New version of sample file Last edited by: Chris at: 6/19/2006 8:27 AM Greetings, Chris
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This contribution was helpful to 3 thankful Users Kahl SRITN stalker89

6/14/2006 9:17 PM	Rate (0)
Late Platinum Expert Joined: 1/7/2006 Last visit: 11/17/2023 Posts: 2705 Rating: (318)	Hi Chris, Together with the handbook this is a perfect example [8)]
	I hope that the answer will help, if you have still questions, don't hesitate to ask me. All the best, Late Never say never, think in solutions, not in trouble......
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6/15/2006 9:04 AM	Rate (0)
Waterboy Posts: 85 Rating: (6)	Chris \ Late, Indeed it is very useful thread. I tried using the tool but I am getting some error which I amnot able to troubleshoot. When I click the Create Project button I get following error.. "Project already exists! Object variable or With block variable not set" . I have checked about the project path and project name and I see that it is not cause of the error. I tried to debug the VBA code and found that the program execution thows error when it tries to esecute.... m_Simatic = New simatic I have checked that the necessary refrences are set for the compiler i.e. s7hcom_x 1.0 Type Library and Simatic 1.0 Type Library. I also found that objects used in code like 'IS7Station4' are not part of the library. Thanks.
Waterboy Posts: 85 Rating: (6)
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6/19/2006 8:44 AM	Rate (0)
Chris Silver Member Joined: 8/31/2005 Last visit: 10/24/2024 Posts: 217 Rating: (41)	Good Morning! [:blush:] This is my fault! I wrote this example in Visual Basic .NET and ported it to Excel VBA. And I forgot to add the "Set" command, which is needed in Excel VBA (and also Visual Basic 6.0). So the right syntax is: [code]Set m_Simatic = New Simatic[/code] I have updated the sample file in my previous post. The '4' in the interface name 'IS7Station4' is the version of this interface. Maybe with you STEP 7 version there is no version 4 included. I have set all objects in the sample file to the first version (without a number in their names). For more informations about the versions of objects, please refer to the manual, chapter 'Ensuring Backwards Compatibility'.
	Greetings, Chris
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