SoftPLC7PG.dll

SUMMARY

The SoftPLC7PG.dll in connection with the SIMATIC Manager allows cloning of the most popular functionalities of the Debug-Interface.

CONTENTS

  1. 1 Settings of the SoftPLC7
  2. 2 Settings of the Simatic Manager
  3. 3 Supported Debug Functionalities (Main Menu)
  4. 4 Supported Debug Functionalities (Menu of a Module Window)
  5. 5 Supported Debug Functionalities (Menu of a Variables-Table)
  6. 6 Supported Debug Functionalities in CFC- and SFC plans

1 Settings of the SoftPLC7

The SoftPLC7PG.dll on the SoftPLC7 together with the Simatic Manager allows the use of the most common functionalities of the debug interface. Modules may be loaded, modified and monitored.
Currently the SoftPLC7 supports the MPI- and the TCP/IP interfaces.
They are set up in the pull-down menu 'Extras' item 'PG-Interface...'

PC Adapter (MPI) - Interface
For serial communication COM-Ports 1 to 4 and baud rates 19200 and 38400 can be chosen.
The MPI-Address must match with that one in the STEP7-Program to enable offline debugging.
To use online modus the address of the SoftPLC7 must differ to that of the Simatic Manager. If for not obvious reasons the connection is interrupted several times, the waiting time in layer 1 should be increased. That applies a delay in communication, but reduce the risk of an active controlled disconnect initiated by the Simatic Manager.




TCP/IP - Interface
This interface offers enormous speed-advantage, since Windows-Sockets may be used. Also several instances of the SoftPLC7 on the same PC may be debugged simultaneously. In that case the IP-Address of the Simatic-projecst CPs must be defined according the corresponding SoftPLC7 instance.

If only one instance is debugged any or no IP-Address may be defined. No input stands for IP-Address 0.0.0.0 that causes the SoftPLC7 to respond to any valid IP-Address.
The second parameter 'waiting time layer1' may be used to modify the priority of debugging.
0 ms means, incoming telegrams are worked on immediately - that may cause performance problems; on a heavy workload the value should be set to 100ms.




2 Settings of the Simatic Manager

To communicate between SoftPLC7 and Simatic Manager, the same interface must be used and in case of a serial connection the same parameters too.
Basically SoftPLC7 and Simatic Manager may run on the same PC. Using MPI-Protocol different COM-Ports must be defined and connected via external cable.

For handling of the Simatic Manager please refer to the relevant manuals.

3 Supported Debug Functionalities (Main Menu)

For MPI-Interface only - any SoftPLC7 connected via COM-Port is shown.
The window allows inspecting all Program- and Data Blocks. To load modules that way is the base for Online-Debugging.

Different to Online-Debugging, where the functions are shown as plain STEP7-Code, the Offline-Debugging permits the use of the original STEP7-Program including any terms and comments.

All modules, optionally system modules too, are loaded to the PLC. The SoftPLC7 does not validate system modules yet. The relevant files are created in the SoftPLC7 project folder.

A window is opened, for the functionality of the submenu see below.

A dialog with several tabs is opened.
If the SoftPLC7 is in a Halt= or Stop State and the 'Stack' tab selected the Istack, Lstack and Nesting Stack may be inspected.

The functions Warm Restart, Cold Restart, Hot Restart and Stop are executable. The actual operating condition and key switch position are displayed correctly.

All modules in the PLC are deleted, also the files in the SoftPLC Project folder.
The system is in a STOP state afterwards.

The entries made as 'System Time' are taken as local time.
Currently the SoftPLC takes the Windows Time as System Time.

4 Supported Debug Functionalities (Menu of a Module Window)

A single Program Module or DB is loaded to the PLC.
An appropriate file is created in the SoftPLC7 folder

During execution of the program module the SoftPLC7 records the values after any Assembler command and sends it to the Simatic Manager.
The values for VKE. STA, STANDARD, ACCU2, AR1, AR2, DB1. DB2, Indirect and STATUS may be displayed.

It can be chosen between Process Operation and Test Operation.
Some functions are accessible in Test Operation only.

Match Conditions may be defined to enable recording data.

At the current Cursor position a breakpoint is set.

All break points are deleted.

Activates or Deactivates all breakpoints.
If on executing a STEP7 Program the SoftPLC7 meets an active breakpoint it is put into a HALT state prior to executing the command.

The operation condition changes from HALT to RUN

A single command is executed and the SoftPLC7 is put into HALT state afterwards

This function is only possible prior of calling a module like 'UC' or 'CALL'.
After using this function the called Module is loaded and displayed.
The PLC is in a HALT state at the very beginning of the new module.

5 Supported Debug Functionalities (Menu of a Variables-Table)

For the functions 'monitoring' and 'control' time and frequency of occurrence can be determined.
As particular time 'Cycle start', 'Cycle stop' and the transition to 'Stop' may be chosen.
As frequency of occurence 'once' and 'permanent' are available.

The operands in the table are monitored and according to the trigger conditions handed over to the Simatic Manager.

According to the trigger conditions in the table the operands are overwritten by the control values of the PLC.

Independent of the trigger conditions the operands are read from the PLC once.

Independent of the trigger conditions the operands are written to the PLC once.

The value of the operand selected out of the table is, independent of the trigger conditions, set to 1 once.

The value of the operand selected out of the table is, independent of the trigger conditions, set to 0 once.

6 Supported Debug Functionalities in CFC- and SFC plans