ETM developed the ETool application last year to provide quicker and simpler engineering, allowing SIMATIC S7 projects to be particularly efficiently imported into the PVSS control system from ETM. Up to 70% of parameterization work and the associated costs are no longer necessary through this integrated engineering approach. With the new ETool version 2.0 you can now also import project data for PVSS and S7 from conventional Excel or CSV files, which can then be exported to SIMATIC S7 projects, and the existing object database has also been extended into a powerful feature.

Just like PVSS, the ETool is also developed continuously, in the latest version, due on the market at the end of April, planning and device lists can now be imported and then integrated into PVSS or directly into an S7 project. These can be Excel or CSV lists, which can be saved in any required format in ETool. The content is exported directly into PVSS and Step7, following which all instances are saved and cross-referenced in both PVSS and SIMATIC S7. After updating the hardware configuration in SIMATIC S7 the instances are already functional in manual mode, creating the logics then takes place in the proven SIMATIC S7.

The new ETool version includes an integrated object library, with around 30 objects including drives, controllers, valves, readings, and device switchings. The great advantage of the new library is its common use in both S7 and PVSS, saving system integrators and end-customers valuable time in every new project normally required for building new libraries in both PVSS and SPS. OEMs can of course still create their own libraries.

The ETool Advanced Object Library currently includes object types such as single or two stage motors with single or dual rotation and variable speed, monitoring of up to eight digital data points, threshold value monitoring of analogue and binary readings, averaging with plausibility checking, accumulation of dual readings with consideration of specific heat, monitoring of valves, regulators and controllers or switching of up to 16 devices in dependency to operating time or command default.
The Advanced Library now also provides an SPS controlled switching hierarchy, allowing switching operations to be coordinated between differing operating stations. Access can be prioritized using a key switch. This can be performed through an operator panel or operator control station.

The symbols and faceplates of the Advanced Library are created using an object-oriented library mechanism directly from PVSS. This mechanism (Standard Library) has been considerably extended in the course of development of the advanced library and is now available to all customers for their own library-developments, drastically simplifying creation of objects and operational concepts. Library behavior can now be adapted and influenced on a project specific basis.

ETool allows the automatic integration of S7 projects into the PVSS process visualization and control system from ETM. Using this standardized tool parameterization can be accomplished faster and more simply, with optimal support and ultimately cost savings through the open system basis of ETool and PVSS. This enables

• problem free data exchange
• simple standardization of PVSS S7 projects on the basis of preconfigured libraries
• S7 module information, imported by PVSS to create complete objects
• automatic generation of communicative interrelationships to all PVSS data point elements
• automatic generation of mimetic diagrams in PVSS

The program itself is easy and quick to learn, users work in their accustomed SIMATIC engineering environment, obviating the need for any further training.

Simple project generation benefits end customers, system integrators and OEMs wishing to use PVSS in combination with S7, there being now more deployment opportunities for the latter through higher preconfigurability, greater customer acceptance and openness, as ETool is – like PVSS – also an open tool: plug-ins enable deployment in a multitude of control systems and remote control devices.