SIMATIC STEP 7 program tools:
1. SIMATIC-Manager:
The SIMATIC Manager manages all data belonging to an automation project, regardless of the target system (SIMATIC S7, SIMATIC C7 or SIMATIC WinAC) on which they are implemented.
It provides a common entry point for all SIMATIC S7, C7 or WinAC tools. The SIMATIC software tools that are necessary for processing the selected data are automatically started by SIMATIC Manager.

۲٫ Symbol-Editor:
With the tool Symbol Editor all global variables (in contrast to the local formal parameters that are declared when the blocks are programmed) are managed. The following functions are available:
– Definition of symbolic designations and comments for the process signals (inputs/outputs), flags and blocks
– Sorting functions
– Data exchange with other Windows programs

The symbol charts that are generated when this tool is used are available to all software products. Changes to a symbol parameter are therefore automatically recognized by all tools.

۳٫ Hardware configuration:
The tool Hardware Configuration is used for configuring and parameterizing the hardware used for an automation project. The following functions are available:

– Configuration of the automation system Racks are selected from an electronic catalog and the selected modules are assigned to the required slots in the racks.

– The configuration of the distributed I/Os is done in the same way as the configuration of the non-distributed I/Os; channel-granular I/O modules are also supported.

– CPU parameter assignment:
Properties such as restart characteristics and cycle-time monitoring can be set menu-driven. multicomputing is supported. The entered data are filed in system data blocks in the CPU.

– Module parameter assignment:
The user can specify all the adjustable parameters of the modules in input screen forms. Adjustments via DIP switches become unnecessary. Parameterization of hardware modules occurs automatically during the CPU’s acceleration. Thus, a change of a module can be made without another parameterization.

– Function module (FM) and communications processor (CP) parameter assignment:
This parameterization also occurs within the hardware configuration in the same way as the parameterization of the other modules. For this parameterization hardware-module-specific screen forms and rules are provided for each FM and CP (is included in the FM/CP functions package). The system prevents faulty inputs by offering only allowed entry options on the parameter assignment screen forms.

۴٫ Communication configuration:
– Configuring and display of communication links
– Time-driven cyclic data transmission via MPI:
– Selection of communication partners
– Entering of data source and data destination in a table.Generation of all system data blocks (SDBs) to be loaded and their complete transmission to all CPUs take place automatically
– Parameterization of the selected communication blocks in the customary programming language (e.g., LAD).
– Event-driven data transmission
– Definition of the communication links.
– Selection of the communication function blocks (CFBs) from the integrated block library.
– Parameterization of the selected communication blocks in the customary programming
language (e.g., LAD).

۵٫ System diagnostics:
System diagnostics offer the user an overview of the status of the automation system. The display can be in two different forms:
– Display of text messages, which can be output directly and quickly.
– Pixel-graphics display within the Hardware Config display, offering the following options:
– Display of general module information (e.g., order number, version, designation) and module status (e.g., faulty)
– Display of module faults (e.g., channel faults) of the central I/O and DP slaves
– Display of alarms from the diagnostics buffer

For CPUs, additional information is displayed:
– Causes of malfunction during user program execution.
– Display of cycle duration (longest, shortest and last cycle).
– Display of the reserved and free memory.
– Capabilities and usage of MPI communication.
– Display of the performance data (number of possible inputs/outputs, flags, counters, timers and blocks)