Comparison of picture

window and faceplate

technologies in
WinCC V7.5

SIMATIC WinCC V7.5

Siemens
SIMATIC STEP 7 Professional V15.1 Industry
Online
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/109764584 Support
 Legal information

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 Table of contents

Table of contents
Legal information ......................................................................................................... 2
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 4
1.1 Overview............................................................................................... 4
1.2 Principle of operation............................................................................ 4
1.3 Components used ................................................................................ 5
2 Engineering ........................................................................................................ 6
2.1 Hardware setup .................................................................................... 6
3 Configuration ..................................................................................................... 7
3.1.1 Symbolic access (PLC UDT) ................................................................ 7
3.2 Configuring the faceplate ..................................................................... 8
3.3 Configuration of picture windows ......................................................... 9
4 Differences between faceplate and picture window technologies ............. 10
4.1 Dynamics ............................................................................................ 10
4.2 Standard objects, smart objects, Windows objects, pipe objects
and controls ........................................................................................ 11
4.3 Background and transparency ........................................................... 14
4.4 Displaying images from several servers ............................................ 15
4.5 Access to multiple data sources ......................................................... 16
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 17
6 Appendix .......................................................................................................... 18
6.1 Service and support ........................................................................... 18
6.2 Links and literature ............................................................................. 19
6.3 Change documentation ...................................................................... 19

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 1 Introduction

1 Introduction
1.1 Overview
This document is intended to assist you in distinguishing between faceplate
technology and picture window technology in WinCC V7.5. The reader gets an
overview of when he uses which type of configuration.
The idea behind a faceplate/picture window technology is to create a standard for
operating screens and then to be able to use this many times simply. In this way, a
faceplate for motors, another for valves and a third for conveyors could be created.
The use of a faceplate/picture window technology shortens the configuration time
significantly. Further time savings are also achieved later when changes are made
to a faceplate or picture window. The change is configured once and is effective x
times.

1.2 Principle of operation

You define a PLC UDT in STEP 7, which contains all information about a sensor or
actuator object. For example, a motor has the tags on/off, reference speed, actual
speed. The logic of the motor is then defined in the function block. The visualization
of the motor is carried out either by means of a faceplate or picture window
technology in WinCC V7.5.
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

Figure 1-1

STEP 7 WinCC
Professional V7.5
Sensors / PLC HMI
Actuators
Hardware

Software
Sensor/
actuator
faceplate
Sensors/ Sensors/
Actuators Actuators
Sensor/
actuator
picture
window

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 1 Introduction

1.3 Components used

The following hardware and software components were used to create this
application example:
Table 1-1
Components Quantity Article number Note
SIMATIC WinCC V7.5 1 6AV6381-2BC07-5AX0
SIMATIC STEP 7 1 6ES7822-1AA05-0YA5
Professional V15.1
CPU 1516F-3 PN/DP 1 6ES7 516-3FN01-0AB0
SIMATIC IPC 477E 1 6AV7241-…..-…..

This application example consists of the following components:

Table 1-2
Components File name Note
109764584_Faceplate/BildfensterV7.5.pdf This document.
109764584_Faceplate/BildfensterV7.5.zip This compressed file
contains the WinCC
and STEP7 project.
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

Note You will learn about the products used in this application example in the courses:
• SITRAIN course: SIMATIC WinCC V7 (Entry-ID: 109758633)

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 2 Engineering

2 Engineering
2.1 Hardware setup
The following application example consists of an IPC477E on which WinCC V7.5 is
used. The SCADA system receives measured values from various
sensors/actuators via various control systems and displays them. Standardization
based on the same products is used here.

Figure 2-1

PROFINET / IE
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

… …

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 3 Configuration

3 Configuration

3.1.1 Symbolic access (PLC UDT)

The symbolic addressing was chosen for the addressing.

Figure 3-1

PLC UDT procedure (symbolic access)

PLC
Motor1

Motor Motor Motor2

PLC data PLC data

type type
Motor Motor

HMI
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

WinCC V7.5

PLC data Motor1 PLCDataType

type Motor Motor2 PLCDataType
Motor …
PLC data
type
Motor

STEP 7 TIA Portal

The TIA Portal is optimized for symbolic programming. This results in many
advantages for you. Symbolic addressing allows you to program without paying
attention to the internal data storage. The controller takes care of where the data is
optimally stored. This allows you to concentrate completely on the solution of your
application task.
Benefits
• Easier to read programs due to symbolic tag names
• Automatic updating of tag names at all points of use in the user program
• Memory storage of program data does not have to be managed manually
(absolute addressing)
• High-performance data access
• No manual optimizations necessary for performance or program size reasons
• Auto-complete for quick icon input
• Fewer program errors due to type security (validity of data types is checked for
all accesses)

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 3 Configuration

WinCC V7.5
As of WinCC V7.5, it is possible to transfer Structured Data Types (UDTs) from the
TIA Portal. These can then be interconnected using picture window or faceplate
technologies.

3.2 Configuring the faceplate

Figure 3-2

Faceplate motor

HMI
Process picture
Faceplate Motor1 Faceplate Motor2

Motor1 Motor2
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

PLC

Motor_DB1 Motor_DB2

Motor

Type
Motor

Further information on the configuration of faceplates can be found in the manual

under the entry number: 109760739.

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 3 Configuration

3.3 Configuration of picture windows

Figure 3-3

Picture Motor

HMI Process picture

Picture window 1 Picture window 2
Image: Motor Image: Motor
Tag prefix: Motor1 Tag prefix: Motor2

Motor1 Motor2

PLC
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

Motor_DB1 Motor_DB2

Motor

Type
Motor

Further information on the configuration of picture windows can be found in the

manual under the entry number: 109762744.

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 4 Differences between faceplate and picture window technologies

4 Differences between faceplate and picture

window technologies
4.1 Dynamics
VB scripts are possible for objects in picture windows and faceplates. You can only
use C scripts in picture windows. The dynamic dialog is available in picture
windows.
Table 4-1
Difference Objects in a faceplate Objects in a picture
window
C scripts

VB scripts

Dynamic dialog

Tag

Animation

Possibility to dynamize an object into a faceplate

© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

Figure 4-1

Possibility to dynamize an object into a picture window

Figure 4-2

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 4 Differences between faceplate and picture window technologies

4.2 Standard objects, smart objects, Windows objects,

pipe objects and controls
Within the standard objects, the Connector object is not available for faceplates.
Table 4-2
Differences Faceplate Picture window
Standard objects

Within Smart Objects, the following elements are not available within a faceplate:
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

• Application window
• Picture window
• Control
• OLE object
• Faceplate instance
• .NET control
• WPF control

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 4 Differences between faceplate and picture window technologies

Table 4-3
Difference Faceplate Picture window
Smart objects

Within the Windows objects you can use all elements for faceplates as well as
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

picture windows.

Table 4-4
Differences Faceplate Picture window
Windows objects

Within the pipe objects you can use all elements for faceplates as well as picture
windows.

Table 4-5
Differences Faceplate Picture window
Pipe objects

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 4 Differences between faceplate and picture window technologies

Within ActiveX controls, the following elements are not available within a faceplate:
• WinCC digital/analog clock control
• WinCC Gauge Control
• WinCC Slider Control
• WinCC Alarm Control
• WinCC OnlineTrendControl
• WinCC FunctionTrendControl
• WinCC OnlineTableControl
• WinCC UserArchiveControl
• WinCC RulerControl
• WinCC UserAdminControl:
• WinCC Media Control
• WinCC WebBrowser Control
• WinCC SysDiagControl
• WinCC BarChartControl
• Siemens HMI Symbol Library 1.4.1

Table 4-6
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

Differenc Faceplate Picture window

e
Control

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 4 Differences between faceplate and picture window technologies

4.3 Background and transparency

Table 4-7
Difference Faceplate Picture window
Background and
transparency
supported

Transparency included in the faceplate

Figure 4-3:
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

Transparency not included in the picture window

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 4 Differences between faceplate and picture window technologies

4.4 Displaying images from several servers

Table 4-8
Difference Faceplate Picture window
Display images from
different servers

You can display images from different servers in picture windows in a basic screen
configured on the client. The data of one server can be accessed per picture
window. To include a server image as a picture window in a client screen, you must
precede the image file name of the server prefix.

Figure 4-4

Picture 1 Picture 2
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

Server 1 Server 2

Picture window
Server1:: Server2::
Picture1 Picture2

Client

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 4 Differences between faceplate and picture window technologies

4.5 Access to multiple data sources

Table 4-9
Difference Faceplate Picture window
More than one data source

Faceplate
Within faceplates you can assign several tags or PLC data types as faceplate
interfaces.

Figure 4-5

Data source1 Data source2

PLC data PLC data

type type
Motor Motor
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

Faceplate

PLC data type

Motor1 &
Motor2

Picture window
If the tag prefix is set for a picture window, the tag prefix is added to all tags
contained in the picture to be displayed. If a tag needs to be read without the tag
prefix, you must add "@NOTP::" to the tag name.

Figure 4-6

Data source1 Data source2

PLC data PLC data

type type
Motor Motor

Picture
Tag prefix: Data source1 Tag:
window
Tag: .Setpointspeed "@NOTP::Datasource2.Setpointspeed"
.Actualspeed PLC data type "@NOTP::Datasource2.Actualspeed"
.Direction Motor1 & "@NOTP::Datasource2.Direction"
Motor2

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 5 Conclusion

5 Conclusion
Use picture windows to meet the following requirements:
• Navigation in the project (switching between operating screens)
• Multi-monitor operation
• Configuring identical plant components several times (actuators, sensors)

Use faceplates to meet the following requirements:

• Configuring identical plant components several times (actuators, sensors)
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

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 6 Appendix

6 Appendix
6.1 Service and support
Industry Online Support
Do you have any questions or need assistance?
Siemens Industry Online Support offers round the clock access to our entire
service and support know-how and portfolio.
The Industry Online Support is the central address for information about our
products, solutions and services.
Product information, manuals, downloads, FAQs, application examples and videos
– all information is accessible with just a few mouse clicks:
https://support.industry.siemens.com

Technical Support
The Technical Support of Siemens Industry provides you fast and competent
support regarding all technical queries with numerous tailor-made offers
– ranging from basic support to individual support contracts. Please send queries
to Technical Support via Web form:
www.siemens.com/industry/supportrequest
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

SITRAIN – Training for Industry

We support you with our globally available training courses for industry with
practical experience, innovative learning methods and a concept that’s tailored to
the customer’s specific needs.
For more information on our offered trainings and courses, as well as their
locations and dates, refer to our web page:
www.siemens.com/sitrain

Service offer
Our range of services includes the following:
• Plant data services
• Spare parts services
• Repair services
• On-site and maintenance services
• Retrofitting and modernization services
• Service programs and contracts
You can find detailed information on our range of services in the service catalog
web page:
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/sc

Industry Online Support app

You will receive optimum support wherever you are with the "Siemens Industry
Online Support" app. The app is available for Apple iOS, Android and Windows
Phone:
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/sc/2067

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 6 Appendix

6.2 Links and literature

Table 6-1
No. Topic
\1\ Siemens Industry Online Support
https://support.industry.siemens.com
\2\ Link to the entry page of the application example
https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/109764584
\3\

6.3 Change documentation

Table 6-2
Version Date Change
V1.0 07/2019 First version
© Siemens AG 2019 All rights reserved

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