SIMATIC WinCC Flexible

Overview

WinCC Flexible 2004 – one HMI Software for all machine-oriented applications

SIMATIC WinCC Flexible is an innovative HMI software family for all machine- and process-oriented applications in plant, machine and series machine engineering. WinCC Flexible enables the universal configuration of all Windows based SIMATIC HMI operator devices ranging from the smallest Micro Panel up PC based solutions.

Existing ProTool projects can be converted to WinCC Flexible, which guarantees investment protection. WinCC Flexible Runtime offers - at an attractive price- HMI functions including alarm and report systems and can be expanded via options if required.

WinCC Flexible combines the openness and flexibility of WinCC, the simplicity and ruggedness of ProTool together with new innovative technologies.

WinCC Flexible represents the consequent and continuous advancement of the software families ProTool and WinCC and will unite them in stages in the medium term:

• Stage 1: Development of the functionality of the ProTool family
• Stage 2: Expansion of the function scope of WinCC with additional innovations

The ProTool family will, of course, stay in our current product line-up and be maintained.

SIMATIC WinCC Flexible 2004 includes:

• Engineering software of varying functionality for all operator devices (Windows CE Panels) and PC-based systems
• WinCC Flexible Micro
• WinCC Flexible Compact
• WinCC Flexible Standard
• WinCC Flexible Advanced
• Runtime software WinCC Flexible Runtime for PC-based (single-user) systems

Highlights  

Flexible in application

• Machine-oriented and process-oriented
• On Panels and PCs (using one engineering software)
• Can be connected to different automation solutions
• Worldwide use (multilingual)

Highest configuration efficiency

• Comfortable user interface
• Intelligent tools
• Reusable faceplates
• Multilingual configurations

Innovative HMI concepts

• System-wide access to tags and screens
• Distributed operator stations
• Local control room solutions
• Connection to the office world

Web-enabled Service and Diagnostics

• Automatic e-mail dispatch
• Remote operation of HMI devices
• Remote diagnostics and download

Part of Totally Integrated Automation

• Can be integrated into SIMATIC STEP 7, SIMATIC iMap and SIMOTION Scout

Protection of investment and ready for future needs

• Conversion of ProTool configuration data

System Features

WinCC Flexible 2004: Engineering Software

WinCC Flexible 2004 provides innovative engineering tools for the configuration of SIMATIC HMI operator devices, the HMI portion of SIMATIC C7 devices, the SIMOTION/SINUMERIK Panel PCs as well as the PC-based visualisation system WinCC Flexible Runtime.

Depending on the selected product, different target systems can be configured:

• WinCC Flexible Micro
• Micro Panel: TP 170micro
   
• WinCC Flexible Compact
• Micro Panel: TP 170micro
• 70-series Panels: OP 77B
• 170-series Panels: TP 170A, TP 170B, OP 170, Mobile Panel 170
• C7 Devices: C7-635 (Touch), C7-635 (Keyboard), C7-636
   
• WinCC Flexible Standard
• Micro Panel: TP 170micro
• 70-series Panels: OP 77B
• 170-series Panels: TP 170A, TP 170B, OP 170, Mobile Panel 170
• 270-series Panels: TP 270, OP 270
• 270-series Multi Panels: MP 270B
• 370-series Multi Panels: MP 370
• C7 Devices: C7-635 (Touch), C7-635 (Keyboard), C7-636
   
• WinCC Flexible Advanced
• Micro Panel: TP 170micro
• 70-series Panels: OP 77B
• 170-series Panels: TP 170A, TP 170B, OP 170, Mobile Panel 170
• 270-series Panels: TP 270, OP 270
• 270-series Multi Panels: MP 270B
• 370-series Multi Panels: MP 370
• C7 Devices: C7-635 (Touch), C7-635 (Keyboard), C7-636
• Standard PC
• SIMATIC Panel PC: Panel PC 670, Panel PC 870, Panel PC IL70
• SIMOTION Panel PC: P012K, P015K, P012T, P015T, PCR, PCR-Touch
• SINUMERIK Panel PC: OP010, OP012, OP015, TP012, TP015, OP015A 
  

WinCC Flexible 2004: Runtime Software

SIMATIC WinCC Flexible 2004 Runtime is the high-performance visualisation software for simple, machine-oriented visualisation tasks. It can be deployed as a single-user solution for all automation applications in production, process and facilities automation.

SIMATIC WinCC Flexible Runtime can be used in connection with the following operator devices:

• Standard PCs with resolutions (W x H in pixels) of:
• 640 x 480, 800 x 600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024, 1600 x 1200

• SIMATIC Panel PCs
• Panel PC 670
• Panel PC 870
• Panel PC IL 70
   
• SIMOTION Panel PCs
• P012K, P015K, P012T, P015T
• PCR, PCR-Touch
   
• SINUMERIK Panel PCs
• OP010, OP012, OP015
• TP012, TP015, OP015A
   

New Features in comparison to PROTOOL V6 

ENGINEERING SOFTWARE

Integration into Automation Systems

Integration into SIMATIC STEP 7 (V5.3 or higher)

• Management of the HMI projects within STEP 7
• Display of HMI configuration objects within SIMATIC Manager (STEP 7)
• Common usage of communication settings and process tag definitions
   

Integration into SIMOTION SCOUT (will be released separately)

• Management of the HMI projects within SCOUT
• Common usage of communication settings and process tag definitions
• Integration of the WinCC Flexible editors into the SCOUT Workbench
   

Integration into Component-based Automation (CBA) with SIMATIC iMap
(will be released separately)

• Management of CBA components with control and HMI portion in SIMATIC iMap
• Linking of CBA components with/without HMI portion in SIMATIC iMap
• Generation of the HMI basic data from SIMATIC iMap for WinCC Flexible Advanced, e.g. tag list and linked HMI blocks
• Support of the configuration of modular machines based on PROFInet

Configuration Interface

• Innovative engineering tools based on the latest software technology - Microsoft.NET
• Quick and easy access to editors and project data via workbench application
• Adaptive user interface of the engineering tools depending on the configured target system
• User-defined settings for the user interface, e.g. layout, toolbars, object pre-settings

Project Handling

• Device-independent configuration data can be utilised on different target systems without conversion; the runtime interface adapts itself to the functional properties of the currently configured device.
• Device-wide use of common configuration data (e.g. text library) in multiple-device projects
• Wizard-guided definition of the basic structure of the HMI projects (e.g. display layout, user guidance).

Screen Editor with extensive functions for the fast and efficient configuration of screens

• Generation of linked screen objects via drag & drop, e.g. tags for the generation of input/output fields with process connection or buttons with screen selection function
• Template for the definition of global screen objects and functions (similar to MS PowerPoint)
• Convenient editor for the creation of faceplates with defined external interface made of simple screen objects
• Graphical configuration of motion paths
• Layer functionality with up to 32 layers
• Tools for the alignment and rotation functions

Tabular Editors

• Quick and easy creation and editing of similar configuration objects in tabular editors, e.g. tags, texts or alarms
• Intelligent pre-settings depending on already configured data, e.g. addresses are incremented automatically when generating subsequent tags
• Quick editing of properties via easily accessible properties dialog box without unnecessary steps (always-on-top)
• Simultaneous changing of common object properties

Object-oriented Data Management with convenient search and editing functions

• Cross-reference list with direct access to all objects, e.g. for editing or for selecting
• Project-wide search for objects
• Central re-wiring of tags
• Finding and replacing of texts

Project Documentation

• Complete or selective project documentation to printer or in a file
  (.pdf, .rtf, htm, tif, txt)

Libraries for predefined or user-created configuration objects

• Delivery scope includes a large number of scalable and dynamic screen objects
• Delivery scope includes scalable graphics in WMF format for industrial applications
• Preview function for library objects
• Storing of all configuration objects in the library, e.g. faceplates, tags, scripts or even complete screens; faceplates can be composed of simple screen objects specifically for a customer or project;
  changes to these faceplates can be made centrally at the block definition

Language Support

• Multilingual project creation (max. 32 languages) in switchable editors
• Automatic translation based on system- and user-specific dictionaries in the central text library
• Central management of language-dependent texts and graphics in libraries
• Editing, exporting and importing of texts for translation
• Language-dependent graphics

Visual Basic Script Support

• IntelliSense function for the quick programming of access to runtime objects
• Easy creation of control sequences in the script code; script debugging in the simulator and WinCC Flexible Runtime

Graphical Configuration of Screen Navigation

• Automatic generation of screen navigation from the screen navigation tree

Test and Commissioning Support

• Simulation of HMI projects on the engineering PC
• Jump to the cause of error starting from compiler messages
• Expanded (free of charge) service tool ProSave for all operator devices that are supported by WinCC Flexible

Task Scheduler for the definition of all global tasks

• Configuration of global system functions or time-triggered events

ChangeControl (available as Option Package)

• Management of project versions with rollback and comparison functions
• Reporting of configuration changes, e.g. for regulated industries (pharma, F&B)

Definition of Runtime Data in the engineering tools

• Users and passwords
• Recipe data records

Migration of existing SIMATIC HMI Projects

• Complete data transfer of projects for ProTool/Pro RT as well as the 170-/270-/370-series operator devices
• Conversion of configuration data for the devices OP/TP27 and OP/TP37
• Conversion of OP7 configuration data to OP77B

Compatibility

• Integrated upward-compatibility: Processing of WinCC Flexible configuration data in future versions without loss of data
• Integrated downward-compatibility: Generation of configuration data for older versions of the WinCC Flexible engineering tools (usable with versions > 2004)
  

RUNTIME SOFTWARE

Expansion of the graphics system by language-dependent graphics

Expansion of the alarm system by analog alarms and user-definable alarm classes

Improved access protection meeting the requirements of regulated industries

• Authentication via user name and password
• User-group-specific rights

Access via scripts to RT screen objects, for xP270 and higher and PC

Multi-protocol support

• Simultaneous connection via multiple protocols:
  OPC client and SIMATIC HMI HTTP protocols are additive, i.e. usable in combination with other PLC connections
• Communication via native drivers and standard OPC channel
   

Changes compared to ProTool/Pro Runtime V6.0 SP2

• Archiving, alarms and OPC server are available as optional functions. The base RT license is now at a reduced price

Option WinCC Flexible / Sm@rtAccess

• Option for SIMATIC WinCC Flexible Runtime as well as SIMATIC Panels for the communication between different WinCC Flexible SIMATIC HMI systems
• Available for the following SIMATIC HMI systems: OP 270, TP 270, MP 270B,
  MP 370 and WinCC Flexible Runtime
• Communication between HMI systems based on TCP/IP networks or the Intranet/Internet:
• Remotely operation or monitoring of a SIMATIC HMI system from another device; Entry into client-server configurations for distributed operator stations or solutions with main station or control rooms
• A new communication protocol (SIMATIC HMI HTTP Protocol) enables read and write accesses to tags; WinCC Flexible Runtime or SIMATIC Panels supply other SIMATIC HMI systems or, for example, office applications with process values (SOAP)
• Onsite operation, visualisation and data processing is possible as well as the plant-wide retrieval of information or the central archiving of process data; continuous flow of information provides an overview of all process states.

Option WinCC Flexible / Sm@rtService

• Remote operation and monitoring of SIMATIC HMI systems via TCP/IP or the Intranet/Internet
• Integrated Web server for providing standard HTML pages
  From the homepage, the following functions are accessible:
• Remote operation of the HMI systems via the Intranet/Internet via Internet Explorer
• Starting and stopping of the HMI Runtime for maintenance purposes
• Remote access to recipe data records, passwords and HMI-system-specific information
• Access to the files of the HMI system via the Filesystem Explorer
• Download of configuration data via the Intranet/Internet
• Standard pages can be modified with custom designed HTML pages
• Sending of e-mails to maintenance personnel via SMTP server (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).Events that can trigger the sending of an e-mail:
• Arrival of an alarm
• On the basis of configurable standard functions aided by various events, e.g. value change of a tag, function button or via scripts
• Possible contents of an e-mail:
• Subject
• Alarm text with process tags
• Date/time 
• The optional use of e-mail/SMS gateways enables the access to standard networks (requires external service provider)
   

Option WinCC Flexible / OPC-Server

Option for SIMATIC WinCC Flexible Runtime as well as Multi Panels for the communication with applications from different manufacturers (e.g. MES, ERP or office applications)

• Available for the following SIMATIC HMI systems: MP 270B, MP 370 (use of OPC DA XML). Communication with OPC DA clients in the field is carried out via a software adapter installed on the client, which is part of the delivery scope
• WinCC Flexible Runtime
   

Positioning to existing products

Previously, the ProTool family covered the applications of the machine-oriented area. This area will now be covered by WinCC Flexible 2004 for Windows-based devices.

• The ProTool family will remain available and is listed together with WinCC Flexible in the current ST80 - 2004 catalogue. A switch to WinCC Flexible can be made at a later time.
• New panels (OP 77B, TP 170micro and MP 270 6") are exclusively configurable with WinCC Flexible.
• All Windows-based operator (MP270B, but not MP270) devices or PCs with ProTool/Pro runtime software - that are currently configured with ProTool/Lite, ProTool or ProTool/Pro - are also configurable with WinCC Flexible. ProTool V5.2 or higher projects can be converted.
• The configuration of RMOS-based devices (TD17, OP3, OP7, OP17, OP/TP27, OP/TP37) is only possible with ProTool. ProTool V5.2 or higher projects can be converted to run on later generation target devices. .
• New HMI functions for machine-oriented applications will from now on only be developed for WinCC Flexible. For the ProTool family, only service releases are planned.
• Following the general delivery start of WinCC Flexible 2004, ProTool customers subscribing to the Software Update Service (SUS) will automatically receive the corresponding software package (example: SIMATIC ProTool -> SIMATIC WinCC Flexible Standard).

Within the SIMATIC HMI product spectrum, SIMATIC WinCC V6 is and will remain the only process visualisation solution for plant monitoring with scalable single-user and multi-user stations until the release of the second stage of WinCC Flexible.

• Additional function expansions are being developed within the framework of future planned versions.
• A compatible conversion of WinCC V6 projects will be possible with the second stage of WinCC Flexible.

Hardware / software requirements

WinCC Flexible Engineering Software

WinCC Flexible Runtime

1) The RAM required is mainly determined by the size of the graphics employed.
2) Without considering archives.
3) For the authorization of the runtime software.

More Information

Automation & Drives international: WinCC flexible Overview