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Enhanced STEP 7 v5.2 with XP compatibility now available
ALPHARETTA, Dec. 9, 2002 — Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc., today released version 5.2 of SIMATIC® STEP 7 containing significant improvements to suite of integrated software tools for complete automation project lifecycle management.
The engineering system has been updated to stay current with technology, including support for Microsoft Windows® XP Professional, configuration in runtime (with supporting S7 CPUs) as well as online help and updates to an internal system hardware catalog over the Internet. System information is better organized for improved ergonomics, meaning that the user needs to open fewer windows for access to data.
In addition, Siemens has enhanced many of STEP 7’s existing functionalities such as multi-language project management and block comparison, as well as enhancement to the usability of the core (ladder/statement list/function block diagram) editors and the symbol editor.
The user can design a project with any SIMATIC controller to meet the requirements of the application. Much more than a basic programming tool, Microsoft-compatible STEP 7 V5.2 also has fully integrated SCADA and HMI (Human Machine Interface) configuration tools, sharing databases and objects with SIMATIC WinCC, Siemens’ process visualization and control software based on Windows, and the ProTool and ProTool/Lite operator panel configuration software. Programs engineered in the SCADA configuration element of STEP 7 V5.2 can supervise production processes up to 64,000 tags.
Fully compliant with IEC 61131-3 conventions, STEP 7 V5.2 is the only package of its kind to offer a common engineering and configuration environment for dedicated hardware (PLCs), PC-based, or Windows CE control solutions. The main benefit is that all configuration data needs to be entered only once for deployment on a PLC, PC or CE panel using a common development system, saving engineering time and system complexity. The familiar Windows environment has been leveraged to make initial data entry straightforward, even for first-time users.
Users may choose from one of five programming languages (Ladder Diagram, Function Block Diagram, Instruction List, Sequential Function Chart (with the S7-Graph option) , or Structured Text (with the S7-SCL option), in the project management and configuration stage, and then port the finished program to any number of Siemens’ SIMATIC hardware platforms. These include the SIMATIC S7-300/400 PLCs, the C7 combination of PLC and operator panel, and the WinAC PC-Based Automation platform.
Microsoft, Microsoft Windows NT Server, SQL Server, ActiveX, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
SIMATIC is registered trademark of Siemens AG.
For more information, please call 1-800-964-4114, or e-mail seainfo @ icn.siemens.com
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