Process Device Manager (PDM)

The universal tool for configuration, parameter assignment, commissioning, diagnostics and maintenance of intelligent field devices and automation components.

Overview

Area of Application and Usage Possibilities
Major Advantages at a Glance
Device Integration
User Interface
LifeList
Communication
Device integration

Area of Application and Usage Possibilities

SIMATIC PDM (Process Device Manager) is a universal cross-manufacturer tool for configuration, parameter assignment commissioning, diagnostics and maintenance of intelligent process devices and automation components. With SIMATIC PDM, you can use one software program to configure a number of field devices by different manufacturers using a single user interface. Process device data can be easily set, changed, checked for plausibility, managed and simulated. In addition, you can monitor selected process values, alarms and status signals of devices online.

The core functions are:

Setting and changing device parameters

Comparison of setpoint and actual parameter assignment

Plausibility check on entries

Simulation

Diagnostics

Management

Commissioning function, e.g. measuring circuit testing of process device data

LifeList

Protocoll Functions

SIMATIC PDM is the most efficient product of its kind on the market as regards device integration. This offers security, and saves investment, training and subsequent costs.

You can use SIMATIC PDM in two ways:

As an integrated tool in STEP 7 and thus as an integral part of the engineering system of SIMATIC PCS 7.

Independent of system suppliers to a PC/PG under the Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000 /XP operating systems.

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Major Advantages at a Glance

Simple, operating system-independent integration of field devices based on a device descriptions (e.g. EDD or HART DD)

Similar visualization of all field devices

Provides basic functions (e.g. export, data comparison, printing) for all field devices

Various communications possibilities (e.g. PROFIBUS DP/PA, HART, Modbus)

No configuration knowledge required for parameter assignment and diagnostics of field devices via the LifeList.

Type-independent and cross-manufacturer field device parameter assignment and diagnostics

Support of comprehensive field device-specific functions (simulation, measuring circuit test, character tics curve definition, calibration functions, documentation etc.) which can form the overall characteristics of field device manufacturers

All field device parameters can be changed smoothly online, without having to stop the PROFIBUS master.

Over 1,000 integrated field devices from more than 150 manufacturers worldwide (version 07/2003).

Installed large base with more than 4,000 systems worldwide (version 07/2003).

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Device Integration

In view of device integration, SIMATIC PDM is the most efficient process device manager on the world market. Currently, with SIMATIC PDM you can assign parameters to more than 1,000 different field devices by over 150 manufactures worldwide and new field devices are constantly being added to the list.

SIMATIC PDM supports field devices according to the PROFIBUS PA profile descriptions by the PROFIBUS user organization (PUO) as well as devices described by an Electronic Device Description (EDD) or HART Device Description (HART DD).

Ways of integrating field devices into SIMATIC PDM:

Full integration via a device-specific EDD supplied by the manufacturer or provided on the internet

Integration via PROFIBUS PA - Profile V3.0

Integration of HART field device via the HCF catalog of the HART Communication Foundation

The electronic device descriptions (EDD) are either on the supplied CD of SIMATIC PDM or can be obtained from the field device manufacturer on a diskette or via the internet. Using import functions, you can easily integrate new field device descriptions or corrections into SIMATIC PDM anytime.

Inform us of any field you need not in our SIMATIC PDM catalog or if you need support for the implementation of a device description. We will be glad to help you.

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User Interface

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Just like all other PCS 7 Engineering tools, the SIMATIC PDM user interface has been designed according to the Microsoft Windows standard guidelines. The interface offers menu structures and toolbars as well as an Explorer view, which makes navigation between parameter groups easier. You can easily navigate in highly complex stations, such as Remote I/Os, up to connected field devices. The SIMATIC PDM user

interface fulfils the requirements of the VDI/VDE GMA 2187 and the IEC 65/349/CD guidelines. Devices with different communication interfaces are represented homogeneously and in a user-friendly way. Even complex devices with hundreds of parameters are clear and can edited quickly.

The user interface supports different views:

Process device network view:
This is the typical view for the stand-alone use of SIMATIC PDM. The hierarchical structure of networks and communications components to the process devices are configured here. The network structure and the field devices determined from the LifeList are applied.

Hardware configuration view (integrated in SIMATIC PCS 7):
Process devices are configured within STEP 7/SIMATIC PCS 7 using HW Config. The display is in graphic or tabular form.

Process device plant view:
The devices configured in HW Config or in the process device network view are automatically entered in the process device plant view and can be hierarchy arranged in a tree. Open grouping capability is currently being developed.

LifeList view:
This view is used for identification/diagnostics and the online configuration of the process device.

Parameter view:
This view enables the parameters of a selected process devices to be displayed, modified and saved. Communication to the device is also established here. This parameter display is started in the other views by double-clicking on a process device.

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LifeList

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With the integrated LifeList, SIMATIC PDM offers comprehensive functions for identification, diagnostics and configuration:

Scanning of PROFIBUS networks with and without diagnostics of the connected field devices

Handheld functions for HART field devices

Configuration of the field devices from the LifeList

Exporting of the LifeList in projects (stand-alone version)

Diagnostics of the connected field devices with: Symbolic display of the diagnostic status
- Display of addresses and TAG names
- Device status including detail diagnostics
- Manufacturer and device type
- Hardware and software versions
- Additional information

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Communication

SIMATIC PDM supports several communication protocols and components for communicating with connected devices:

Devices with PROFIBUS DP interface e.g. motor starter SIMOCODE DP or remote I/O SIMATIC ET 200iS: These devices are connected directly to the PROFIBUS DP.

Devices with PROFIBUS PA interface, e.g. SITRANS P measuring transducer: connection of SIMATIC PDM supported PROFIBUS PA devices to the PROFIBUS DP via:
- DP/PA link as modular network gateway with decoupling of both networks or
- DP/PA coupler as direct, transparent network gateway

Devices with HART interface, e.g. SITRANS TK-H temperature measuring transducer: these devices can be connected in various ways:
- via PROIFIBUS Remote I/O SIMATIC ET 200M or ET 200iS with HART analog input and output modules
- via PROFIBUS Remote I/O based on the specification of the PROFIBUS user organization (PNO)
- via a HART modem with which a point-to-point connection between the PC or engineering station and the HART device is established
- via a HART multiplexer which forwards the messages transparently to the HART devices

Devices with proprietary interfaces: These field devices communicate with SIMATIC PDM using special communication protocols, e.g.:
- Field devices of the SIPART series such as the compact controller, SIPART DR 19
- Compact recorders of the SIREC series

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Device integration

SIMATIC PDM supports all devices defined by the Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL). Based on EN 50391 and IEC 61804, EDDL is the most widely used standardized technology for device integration worldwide.

In the EDD, devices are described in terms of their functionality and construction. On the basis of this description, SIMATIC PDM automatically creates its user interface with the specific device information.

Using the EDD technology, devices of various types (such as transmitters, actuators, drive controls) and communication types (such as PROFIBUS, HART, Foundation Fieldbus, Modbus) can be integrated.

The current SIMATIC PDM device catalog comprises more than 1,500 devices from over 130 suppliers globally.

A high quality of integration is achieved by means of a certified conformity check. For more information on device integration and on the device catalog, refer to the SIMATIC PDM support pages.

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