When integrating Siemens S7 PLCs with software platforms or HMI/SCADA systems, it's common to configure communication settings to ensure proper data transfer between devices. This process specifies parameters like the PLC's IP address, rack, slot, and port.
To import tags from these devices, follow the steps: Navigate to the Solution Import Tags interface; Double-click on the desired Import Tag Wizard; Then you must provide the parameters.
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Importing Procedure
To import tags from these devices, follow the steps:
- Navigate to the Solution Import Tags interface;
- Double-click on the desired Import Tag Wizard;
- Then you must provide the parameters.
Here's an brief description of each parameter:
Siemens s7 Family | |
|---|---|
| Station IP | The Siemens PLC's IP address |
| Rack | The 'Rack' parameter specifies which frame or rack the target module is in in a multi-rack configuration. In many simple configurations, this is often 0, as there's only one rack. |
| Slot | Identifies the exact slot where the specific module, like the CPU, is placed within the rack. |
| Port | For Siemens S7 communication, the usual network port number employed is port 102. |
| S7 Family | Specify the PLC model, either Model 300/400 or Model 1200, to ensure the appropriate communication methods and protocols are applied. Model 300/400: The S7-300 and S7-400 are traditional, modular PLCs known for their flexibility and use in more complex automation systems. They often utilize the PROFIBUS or PROFINET communication protocols, depending on the specific modules and configurations in use. Model 1200: The S7-1200 is part of Siemens' newer generation of PLCs. It's more compact and designed for small to medium automation tasks. It primarily uses PROFINET for communication. |
Importing tags from Siemens PLC
This document has information related to how to import tags to the software platform. It will be divided into 3 sections: the first one being how to configure TIA Portal of your device Siemens; the second is about how to import the tags; and the third one is how to refresh the list of imported tags.
Configure TIA Portal
To communicate the device Siemens S7 1200/1500 with the platform correctly, two configurations in TIA Portal are needed.
In the first configuration, you need to check if the communication with a remote partner is allowed. You can check that on Protection & Security → Connection Mechanism. Make sure that the following box is checked.
In the second configuration, you need to configure the Program Blocks and disable "Optimized block access". To do so, you can follow the procedure below:
- Open the Program blocks folder in the project tree.
- Right-click the block whose block access you want to change.
- Select the Properties command in the shortcut menu.
- The properties dialog box of the block opens.
- Click Attributes in the navigation area.
- Disable the Optimized block access option.
- Confirm your entries clicking OK.
Importing tags
The first step is to access the CLP Siemens import. For this, you will have to go to Run → Extensions → Import tab and select the Siemens icon as the image below shows:
When clicking the Siemens icon, you will need some information to import tags to the software platform, those are: IP, Rack, Slot and which family the CLP belongs to (it can be S7-300/400 or S7-1200).
Summary of some terms above:
< IP > = IP address of the slave device in the Siemens network
< Rack > = Rack of the device
< Slot > = Slot of the device
< S7 Family > = Family of the device 
The next step is to load the file, which be a file with extension .xml or import from TIA Portal — the automation software of Siemens. Finally, click Refresh and observe which tags are available to be imported. The image below does not show it because there is no document inserted.
Where:
< TIA Portal > = It works only when TIA is in the same machine as the software platform. The tested version is 15.1 and version 16, and the file was ProjectName.ap15_1. It is no use that the extension is .ap15_1. When we select the TIA Portal option, the syntax required is <ProjectName.ap15_1>;<DeviceName> = Where the first parameter is the filename of the TIA project and the second one refers to the name of the device that you want to import in the project.
< .xml > = This file can be generated in TiaPortalOpennessDemo.exe. Click the following link: generate_xml . To do so, follow these 4 steps:
- This program has to be executed on the same computer as the TIA running.
- After connected to TIA, select the device you want to export.
- Select the DB you want to export to XML.
- Copy the file to software platform and select it in the Filename field.
Refresh list
If, by chance, new tags come up to the list, go to Edit → Devices → Nodes → Sync, so you can refresh this list. 
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