Siemens adds Windows 2000 support to software tools

Alpharetta, Ga. – Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. released versions of the Simatic WinAC slot PLC for PCs and STEP 7 engineering software tools that will support Microsoft Windows 2000 and provide enhanced functionality for program editing, diagnostics and hardware support.

In addition to Windows 2000 support, the WinAC Slot PLC (PCI card) version of the PC-based controller is now available with a new ‘T-Kit’ module simulating many of the WinAC Open Development Kit (ODK) functions. ODK had previously been available only on WinAC Basis and WinAC RTX, the software version of the product.

Like ODK, the T-Kit expands integration capabilities enabling user written code in Microsoft C++(C, C++, Visual Basic, to be executed as part of the WinAC slot PLC scan cycle. The T-Kit provides an interface (API) for technological applications that run with WinAC Slot 41x version 3.2 or higher and is intended for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), wishing to implement a high-speed data interface between their application and WinAC slot CPU 41x-2 PCI.

SIMATIC STEP 7 V5.1 and STEP 7 Professional (Edition 08/2001), the integrated software tools to configure, manage and maintain a plant-wide automation system, now has a new service pack (SP2 CD) with Windows 2000 support as well as simplified editing and diagnostic functions for the engineering or runtime stages. SP2 also provides expanded support for a number of CPUs in the SIMATIC PLC family, various I/O and function modules, and industrial networking.

Fully compliant with IEC 61131-3 conventions, STEP 7 V 5.1 is the only package of its kind to offer a common engineering and configuration environment for dedicated hardware (PLCs), PC-based control, or Windows CE control solutions. The main benefit is that all configuration data needs to be entered only once for a PLC or PC-based control application using one development system, saving engineering time and system complexity. The familiar Windows environment has been expanded to make initial data entry simple, even for first-time users.

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