Working with projects 3
3.5 Converting projects
3.4.5 Migrating existing projects
Migrating projects from ProTool and WinCC
Projects can also be opened in WinCC flexible which were created with ProTool or WinCC.
Such projects are automatically converted when the WinCC flexible edition installed supports the HMI device defined.
Instead of a file of the type "HmiProjects", open one of the following types in the
"Open" dialog:
● ProTool project
On opening the project, all data is converted. Afterwards, the project can only be saved as a WinCC flexible project.
● WinCC project
Only WinCC Version 6.2 projects can be migrated to a very limited extent to WinCC flexible.
3.5 Converting projects
3.5.1 Projects of different WinCC flexible versions
Introduction
WinCC flexible automatically converts projects that were created with an earlier
product version of WinCC flexible to the current version. This functionality enables you to edit projects that were created with an earlier version using the current WinCC flexible version. WinCC flexible also offers you the possibility of saving a project for an earlier product version. The converted project can only be edited further in the selected earlier product version.
Requirement
The "Save as version" function is installed. For additional information, refer to the installation instructions.
3.5 Converting projects
Conversion options
WinCC flexible can be used to convert projects for the available product versions.
The following conversion options are available:
Project created with Convert to version
WinCC flexible 2008 WinCC flexible 2007
WinCC flexible 2007 WinCC flexible 2005 SP1
WinCC flexible 2005 SP1 HF7 WinCC flexible 2007
WinCC flexible 2005 WinCC flexible 2004 SP1
WinCC flexible 2005 SP1 WinCC flexible 2007
WinCC flexible 2005 WinCC flexible 2004 SP1
WinCC flexible 2005 WinCC flexible 2007
WinCC flexible 2005 SP1 WinCC flexible 2004 SP1
WinCC flexible 2004 SP1 WinCC flexible 2007
WinCC flexible 2005 SP1 WinCC flexible 2005
WinCC flexible 2004 HF2 WinCC flexible 2007
WinCC flexible 2005 SP1 WinCC flexible 2005
The system automatically converts a project from an earlier version of WinCC flexible to the current version when the project is opened. The command "Save as version" is available for saving a project in an earlier version.
WinCC flexible 2005 SP1 or higher versions support the conversion of projects which are integrated in STEP 7 or SIMOTION Scout. You can find further information in the chapter
"Converting an integrated project."
The ProAgent folder is not displayed in WinCC flexible
Install the ProAgent option before running a complete conversion of projects with ProAgent elements. Start the corresponding customized installation.
3.5 Converting projects
3.5.2 Differences between projects of different WinCC flexible versions
Introduction
A number of special features should be observed when editing projects for different versions of WinCC flexible. You can only use new functionality for a project that is to be saved in an earlier version of WinCC flexible to a limited extent. When carrying out configuration for an earlier version of WinCC flexible, only use functionality that is supported in the desired target version. New functionality from a more current WinCC flexible version is not supported in an earlier version of WinCC flexible.
System requirements for converted projects
To edit a converted project, you require WinCC flexible in the version selected during conversion. A service pack in the version specified must be installed. Please also note the system requirements and any service packs required for the operating system. Information on the system requirements can be found in the documentation of the respective version of WinCC flexible. With regard to an invalid HMI device, check whether a hardware support package is available for the corresponding version of WinCC flexible.
HMI devices in libraries
The system automatically selects the HMI device version which matches the selected WinCC flexible version if you are using WinCC flexible to save a project in an earlier version.
HMI devices in libraries are not automatically converted to an older HMI-device version. If you want to use this kind of HMI device in the earlier WinCC flexible version, you have to adjust the HMI-device version after adding the HMI device using the dialog for changing the devices.
Displaying alarm classes
When you save a WinCC flexible project in an earlier version, no alarm classes are assigned to system events in the "System event" editor in the earlier version of WinCC flexible. This problem is specific to the view in the engineering system. The project can be executed in Runtime without any change of its configuration.
Screen navigation settings
When you save a WinCC flexible project from version WinCC flexible 2005 and later in the version WinCC flexible 2004 SP1, the default settings from the version WinCC flexible 2004 SP1 are used in the screen navigation. The use of the earlier default settings may alter the layout of the configured screen navigation. For example, the settings "Adapt to function keys" and the settings for additional rows and columns are eliminated for keyboard devices.
If you save a project in the version WinCC flexible 2005 or an earlier version with
WinCC flexible, the background color of the screen objects is not used in the navigation bar.
3.5 Converting projects
Scripts in converted projects
When you save a project in a different version of WinCC flexible, differences in the functional scope of the different versions may result in inconsistencies in a script.
To eliminate inconsistency of the scripts, open the script of the converted version in the
"Scripts" editor then run the "Check syntax" function.
OPC connection in converted projects
In a converted project, you have to manually adjust the OPC Server name and the item name for an OPC connection with the help of the OPC XML Wrapper.
Version OPC-Server name Item name
WinCC flexible 2004 SP1 n_OPC.Siemens.Xml
1_OPC.Siemens.XML, for example Win CC Flexible RT<@>[tag name]
Win CC Flexible RT<@>S7_Bool_Tag_out, for example
As of WinCC flexible 2005 OPC.Siemens.XML [Prefix]:Win CC Flexible RT<@>[tag name]
1:Win CC Flexible RT<@>S7_Bool_Tag_out, for example
User password
The option of configuring user passwords with special characters is supported in WinCC flexible 2007 or higher. Passwords which contain special characters are not supported in previous versions of WinCC flexible.
A password which contains special characters is reset to the default value "100" if you convert a project as of WinCC flexible 2007 or higher into a previous version. Define a new password without special characters after having completed the conversion.
Functional differences
When you save a WinCC flexible project in an earlier version and transfer it to an HMI device on the basis of the earlier version, certain fixes and enhancements of functionality may cause functional differences.
3.5 Converting projects
3.5.3 Differentiation of HMI-device versions
Introduction
Due to functional extensions, a number of different HMI-device versions are available for the different versions of WinCC flexible. When you convert a WinCC flexible project to a different version, the appropriate HMI-device version must be used for the HMI device used.
Selecting the HMI-device version
The system automatically selects the HMI device version which matches the selected WinCC flexible version if you are using WinCC flexible to save a project in an earlier version.
New HMI devices that are supported only in the current version of WinCC flexible can not be used in an earlier version of a WinCC flexible project. The system outputs a corresponding dialog box if you attempt to save a project in an earlier version containing an HMI device which is not available in the earlier version of WinCC flexible. If you confirm this dialog with
"OK," the "Change device type" dialog will open. This dialog box shows all HMI devices supported in the selected WinCC flexible version. Select an appropriate HMI device. The project is converted and saved to the selected HMI device. If you select "Cancel" in the dialog, the save operation will be cancelled and a conversion will not be performed.
When you convert a project from an earlier version with the current version of
WinCC flexible, the HMI-device version is automatically converted to the current version during conversion. The current operating system version must be installed on the HMI device before the project is transferred. You can find further information in chapter "Operating System Transfer".
The current version of WinCC flexible allows you to configure different HMI device versions.
Select the HMI-device version before making changes to the existing project. After
conversion of the HMI-device versions, all the existing configuration data are still included in the project file. In the engineering system, only the functions are still available and only the configuration data that are supported by the current HMI device in the selected version are displayed. You can find further information in the chapter "Project HMI device dependency".