Creation of a Custom Library Based on the APL Style Guide

Navigating the World of Automation

Creation of a Custom Library Based on the APL Style Guide

Harry PiglerPigler Automation, LLC

2012 Automation Summit Washington, DC

Navigating the World of AutomationCopyright © Siemens Industry, Inc. 2012. All Rights Reserved.

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2012 Automation Summit

Title: Creation of a Custom Library Based on the APL Style Guide

Track: Novel Approaches to Problem

Resolutions, Including Tips and Tricks

Topic: Customization of APL Functions

Presenter: Harry Pigler

Company: Pigler Automation, LLC


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Pigler Automation, LLC was founded in 2005 by Karen and Harry Pigler after

17/20 years of employment with various Siemens organizations in both

Germany and the United States

System Integrator for PCS7 and S7 Process Control Applications

Located in Firestone, Colorado -- 30 miles north of Denver

5 Employees and Growing

Industries Served: Oil and Gas, Power, Pharmaceutical and Mining

For more information please visit:

www.piglerautomation.com

Or call : (866) 871-1456

Providing Excellence in Process Automation

Pigler Automation, LLC


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Harry Pigler

Education and Employment

Born and raised in Germany

Electrical Engineering Degree from Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany

20+ years employment with Siemens in Germany and the US

Managing Member of Pigler Automation, LLC since 2005

PCS7 Experience

• First contact with PCS7 in 1996 : Developing add-ons for PCS7 to be applied

in the Power Industry (PCS7 V3)

• Lead System Engineer in the TVA Hydro Automation Project:

Retrofitted 29 Hydro Plants with PCS7 to be Operated from one Central

Headquarter

• As Managing Member of Pigler Automation: the main focus is to support our

Customers with their PCS7 Installation, Improvement and Addition needs


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The Challenge

Supervisory Control for a Hydro Power Unit

Requirement from the Customer:Provide a compact representation for a Hydro Power Unit which displays all

important statuses, as well as allows for mode changes and the entry of set

points

Focus On:

-Two analog set points (Active and Reactive Power)

-Mode selector for multiple states (Local, Manual, Semi-Automatic, Automatic)

Solution with Standard PCS7 APL: The Advanced Process Library does not have such a specialized object out of

the box (who does?)

However, it is possible to create such an object by utilizing existing APL

elements (with some effort)


PCS7 Typicals : 101

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WinCC

S7 Controller

Function Block

Block Icon

Faceplate


PCS7 Advanced Process Library

Siemens provides the PCS7 User with extensive libraries for both the

Controller as well as the HMI

The APL scope of delivery includes:

• A comprehensive Function Block library with a detailed manual and online

help

• Block Icons for Function Blocks with HMI relevance. User can select from

different representations (@PCS7TypicalsAPL.pdl)

• Associated Faceplates, invoked by the Block Icons, that represent functions

allowing for Operator commands

For customization:

• APL Style Guide: a detailed manual for customization of Function Blocks,

Block Icons and Faceplates

• @PCS7ElementsAPL.PDL: building blocks for Faceplate customization

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Out of the Box Solution

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If only existing elements are utilized:

multiple Function Blocks are needed

multiple Block Icons are placed on

the screen

multiple Faceplates used

Cannot fulfill the one compact object

requirement!!

Let’s build a customized Function

Block, with a matching Block Icon

and Faceplate!


Part 1: The Function Block

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First Step: the Function Block

1) Find an existing Function Block that comes

close to what you need.

For this example we will use an OpAnL

(Operator Analog Signal Input) as a starting

point

2) In the Project Library create a new Chart

place the Block



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Create the I/O frame of the

Function Block

At least every I/O relevant

for the HMI needs to be

included

Drag and Drop inputs and

outputs to the CHART I/O

section



Compile Chart to

Function Block

Ensure the S7_m_C

attribute is set!

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Creates a SCL program with

proper I/O definition; ready to add

additional I/Os and to develop the

algorithm



Change I/O names to match the Function

Add I/Os where needed

Use existing I/Os as a template

NOW WRITE CODE

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NOTE: MODE / STATUS DWORD

APL uses WORDs or

DWORDs to

communicate statuses

between the HMI and

the Controller

ATTENTION: There is

a difference between

accessing a Bit in a

WORD or DWORD in

the Controller versus

WinCC.

0-31

16-3124-31

16-23

0-158-15

0-7

DWord

WordByte

0

1

2

3


How to use MODE DWORD

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Mode1{S7_visible:='false';S7_m_c := 'true'}:DWORD:=16#0000;

ModeBits AT Mode : ARRAY[0..31] OF BOOL;

//ModeBits[0] - Unit in Local Control - 24

//ModeBits[1] - Unit in Manual Control - 25

//ModeBits[2] - Unit in Semi-Automatic Control - 26

//ModeBits[3] - Unit in Automatic - 27

Mode1{S7_visible:='false';S7_m_c := 'true'}:DWORD:=16#0000;

ModeBits AT Mode : ARRAY[0..31] OF BOOL;

//ModeBits[0] - Unit in Local Control - 24

//ModeBits[1] - Unit in Manual Control - 25

//ModeBits[2] - Unit in Semi-Automatic Control - 26

//ModeBits[3] - Unit in Automatic - 27

IF FB_Local THEN

Mode1:=16#00000000; //clear all older bits

ModeBits[0]:=1;

END_IF;

IF FB_Local THEN

Mode1:=16#00000000; //clear all older bits

ModeBits[0]:=1;

END_IF;



The new Function Block is in the Project Library

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Part 2: The Block Icon

A Block Icon Type has a fixed association with a Function Block Type.

A Block Icon can be pre-placed on a screen when compiling WinCC.

All existing Block Icons are stored in the file: @PCS7TypicalsAPL.PDL

Naming convention for the Custom Library:

@PCS7TypicalsAPL<ADDON>.PDL

Example: @PCS7TypicalsAPL_PA.PDL

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PCS7ElementsAPL.PDL contains building blocks for Faceplates and Block

Icons



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Copy the OpAnL Block Icon

Use the ‘Customize Object’ function to modify the Block Icon graphic



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Once the graphic is completed, configure the interface



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Adjust the Type reference

Block Dynamic is entered with

the I/O Name only – WinCC

Compile will complete the Tag

Name


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Part 3: The Faceplate

Copy the OpAnL Faceplate files in the GraCS folder and rename them:


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Open the “Standard” view and adapt as needed

• Need additional modes other than “On” and “Out of Service”

• Need two PV/SP combinations

• Need two bar charts


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New Elements placed Object Properties need to be adapted


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Mode changes


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Verify all scripts


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Duplicated Elements Add to scripts


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View List Changes for the Open Picture script and the “Next View” button

If no Batch tab is needed,Set BATCH to “FALSE”


In Conclusion

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Find a Function that is close to what you need as a starting point.

Beats starting from scratch!

Due to the complexity of APL, it might be easier to isolate an aspect

and make it work; then integrate it in the final product

Never underestimate the time it takes to thoroughly test a customized

Function Block, Block Icon and Faceplate!

Check for Script Errors and fix them!

Changes in the I/O Interface of the Function Block require a CPU stop

to load them into the Controller


More Information

For more information please visit:

www.PiglerAutomation.com

Or call : (866) 871-1456

Email: [email protected]

Thank You!

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Creation of a Custom Library Based on the APL Style Guide