Options - Adapting PLCnext Engineer

Select 'Extras > Options' to call the 'Options' dialog where you can adapt PLCnext Engineer and its user-interface. The dialog is separated into various categories.

Category Meaning

International

International Settings Select the 'Language' of the user interface and then restart the application to apply the new setting.

Default Language Settings After setting a default language and at least one alternative language, PLCnext Engineer supports the display/use of translated HMI texts and user comments.
The translated strings must be provided ...

in the 'Resources' editor of the 'Application' PLANT node (under the 'HMI Webserver') or in the 'Resources' editor of the text list editor group (you open this editor group by double-clicking a text list in the COMPONENTS area under the 'Text Lists' folder in the 'HMI' category).
These translations of user-defined text strings (object labels, etc.) can be read by the HMI application after switching the LanguageCode tag when executing the HMI application.
See topic "Localization of the HMI Application" for details.

in the 'Resources' editor of POUs.
Such translations can be read by the GET_LANG_STRING/GET_LANG_WSTRING function blocks. After integrating these FBs in the application code, the FBs can read these translations of variable comments, user-defined texts (e.g., message texts) as well as free code comments and write them into a user-defined string variable.

See topic "Project Language Translation (Localization)" for details.

Tool

Auto Save Select 'Enable auto save' to activate the function and define the time interval (1 to 480 minutes).
After an abnormal PLCnext Engineer termination, PLCnext Engineer checks on restart whether an auto save project is available. If existent, a message dialog appears where you can decide to load the auto save project.
The folder where the auto Save project are saved is located in the same path as (i.e., parallel to) the 'Binaries' folder (see category 'Tool | Directories'). PLCnext Engineer keeps only one auto save project.

Note
Each time, a project is written to the controller (e.g., with the 'Write and Start' command), an auto save is performed too.

Directories

'Projects location': path to which the project files are stored.

'User libraries location': default path set in the browse dialog when including or releasing libraries to/from the project.
See topic "Library Management" for details.

'Binaries location': path to which the compiler outputs the project image file. (The project image is one part of the generated binaries.)
See topic "Building the Project (without Writing) ‣ Rebuilding the Project (without Writing)
×‣ Rebuilding the Safety-Related Project (without Writing)
×" for details.

'Parameterizations location': default path for the parameter files containing standard and safety-related parameterizations exported from PLCnext Engineer.
See the topic "Import/Export Safety-related Device Parameters" for details.

The 'Reset to Default' restores the factory default path settings after having modified them.

Recycle Bin By default, when you delete an element in the COMPONENTS area or the PLANT, the element is moved to the RECYCLE BIN window (located in the Cross Function Area) so that you can restore the element.
The 'Disable recycle bin' checkbox is used to turn off the use of the recycle bin and delete the elements permanently instead of moving them to the RECYCLE BIN window.

Version Information Select the description format to be used by default for the description editor (part of the 'Version Information' editor). The description editor allows you to enter your documentation for the project, POUs, and HMI symbols. The setting is applied when creating a new project.

Select 'RTF' to use the Rich Text Format editor for editing and formatting the text. The RTF editor allows you to easily enter text, change the font size and text color, insert tables and images, etc. (The RTF editor is the recommended editor for editing the documentation.)

Select 'HTML' to use the HTML editor for entering and editing the description. The HTML editor is a text editor that accepts content in HTML format (HTML tags and text). The editor allows you to toggle between plain text and HTML view.

Note
It is not possible to switch between both editors in an existing project.

See the topic "Version Information on Projects, POUs, and Symbols" on details.

Text Editor

General Editor-specific settings:

'Word-wrap': selecting this checkbox allows the editor break long words and wrap them onto the next line.

'Line numbers': shows line numbers in textual worksheets.

'White spaces': displays white spaces as dots and shows line break symbols (as known from usual text editors).

Tabs Allows to define the default indentation and tab size settings for the text editor.
Indentation

'None'
New lines are not indented. A new line always starts at the first position on the left in the editor.

'Block'
New lines are automatically indented. A new line automatically gets the same indentation as the preceding line.

'Smart'
New lines are positioned to fit the syntax of the code. The indent of new lines is set automatically according to specific formatting rules.
For normal text, the indentation works like the 'Block' indentation. For opening keywords such as WHILE ... DO, the next line is automatically indented by a tab with the number of spaces defined in the 'Tab size' field (see below) when pressing <ENTER>.

Tab
The 'Tab size' value defines the distance in spaces between tab stops. Default value: four spaces.

Printing

Company Information Enter the information on your company to be printed. Observe the maximum size of the logo bitmap.
Refer to the topic "Print Project" for details.

Settings The print scaling range is the minimum/maximum scaling factor with which PLCnext Engineer tries to print the entire network width onto one page. If this is not possible, the network layout is distributed on several pages as space-saving as possible.
When setting the value to '1' (means 100% scaling in the editor/in Windows), one screen pixel corresponds to approximately one printer pixel.

Online

Online Values Set the format of online values shown in online worksheets, i.e., when monitoring or debugging the application.

'REAL'/'LREAL': For the representation of REAL and LREAL online values, enter the maximum number of digits after the decimal point. If activated, the online value is rounded up to the digit configured here.

'Boolean display format': Set the default display format for Boolean online values.

'Tab': Set the width of a tab character (distance in spaces between tab stops) displayed for a string in online mode. Default value: four spaces. (See the subchapter "Escape sequences" in the topic "Literals according to IEC 61131-3" for information how to escape special characters in strings.)

These settings apply to textual worksheets, graphical worksheets, variables tables and Data Lists in online mode, as well as to variables shown in the WATCHES window.
Refer to the related help topics ‣ Debug mode: Monitoring the Application Execution
×‣ WATCHES: Monitoring/Debugging the Application
×‣ Debugging Code: Forcing/Overwriting
×‣ Debugging SFC Code
×‣ Monitoring/Debugging the Safety PLC
×‣ Monitoring Mode: Displaying Online Values
×‣ Debugging Safety-Related Code: Forcing/Overwriting
×‣ WATCHES: Monitoring/Debugging the Safety-Related Application
× for details.

Communication Settings PLCnext Engineer and PLCnext Technology controllers communicate via a TCP connection with TLS Handshake.
Poor internet connection? Performance problems due to VPN connection? You can adapt the TCP communication settings by increasing the handshake timeout value and the polling interval.

'Timeout': If the TCP connection is repeatedly terminated because responses on requests (such as connect/read/write commands sent to the controller) are delayed (TLS handshake fails), you can increase this value to make the connection more stable and reliable thus increasing its availability.
The higher the timeout value the more stable is the TCP connection. However, an actual connection termination is only detected later.

'Polling interval': Increase the polling interval to reduce the (background) traffic load between PLCnext Engineer and the controller. This background traffic includes, for example, the transfer of online values, polling of controller attributes, such as the controller state, FW errors, etc.
The higher the interval value, the less data is transferred in the background.

Note
The update rate of online values in online worksheets is directly influenced by the set polling interval. The higher the value, the longer the time until the next value update.

Write and Start Settings If you are operating on a network with a slow connection or the latency on your network is high, disable the 'Use optimization' option (option is enabled by default).
: the file system on the controller is cleared, all the necessary files will be created on the controller and all of the files belonging to the project will be sent to the controller when downloading. The files are not checked for any modifications with disabled option.
: PLCnext Engineer checks the project files for changes before downloading the project to the controller. Only the changed files will be downloaded after completion of the checks. These checks are more time consuming on slow connections but faster on fast connections. Keep 'Use optimization' enabled when working in a LAN.

Write and Start Commands The checkboxes allow you to choose which 'Write and Start' commands will appear in the cockpit toolbar under the drop-down button or the context menu of the controller node in the PLANT. By default, all checkboxes are enabled.
The 'Default command' lets you specify which command appears first in the list of the 'Write and Start' drop-down button and the controller's context menu and which command is executed when clicking the drop-down button itself.
If a Safety PLC is included in your project, the safety application can be written to it along with the standard application. For that purpose, the commands 'Write and Start Project (incl. Safety)' (with and without project sources) are available.
For further information refer to the topics "Controller Commissioning: From Compiling to Debugging" and "Controller Cockpit - Toolbar".

Compiler

IEC Compiler Settings

'Allow extended identifiers' enables the compiler to supports the additional characters - + < > / * # and the numbers 0 to 9 in IEC 61131-3 variable names .
Observe the rules when using extended qualifiers.

'Use dynamic arrays for SFC info' specifies whether the size of the arrays inside the STRUCTs at the outputs STRUCTURE and STEP_STATES are static (checkbox not selected) or dynamic (checkbox is marked). Refer to the section "Dynamic Array Sizes in SFC info structures" for further information.

If 'Allow write on variables with usage 'Input'' is marked, the application may write on a user POU inputs without this leading to the semantic error "Assignments to read-only variables are not valid."

Warnings Settings Use this category to suppress the output of selected warning messages in the MESSAGES window. If a checkbox of a warning is activated, the warning will not be shown in the MESSAGES window and it will not be counted in the build result (number or errors and warnings) displayed in the status bar. By default, all warnings are enabled (visible in the MESSAGES window).
Activate the checkboxes of the warning(s) you want to hide in the MESSAGES window.

Note
The 'Hide' setting of a warning is ignored and the warning is shown, if the 'Show hidden' filter in the MESSAGES window is activated.

GSDML Import

GSDML Import Settings Use the category to configure the endianness to be used for the conversion and representation of process data when importing Profinet devices from GSDML files.
With 'Recommended Profinet Endianness' set to 'Yes' (default setting), big endian is used when importing. With 'No', little endian is used for the data conversion and representation.

Note
Behavior in earlier versions than PLCnext Engineer 2023.0:
In earlier versions than PLCnext Engineer 2023.0, little endian is used by default for the conversion of process data when importing Profinet devices. When re-importing Profinet devices into your project due to any file modifications, ensure that the same endianness conversion as used for the initial import is configured.

See the topic "Adding Devices by Importing Device Description Files" for further details.

EN/ENO

EN/ENO Settings The checkboxes allow you to choose whether functions with or without EN/ENO formal parameters will be inserted into FBD or ST code worksheets by default.
With activated checkboxes, all newly inserted blocks in FBD will have EN/ENO formal parameters (EN/ENO pins). In ST, the tooltip shows two prototypes of the function (with EN/ENO and without EN/ENO) when typing the function name.
See the topic "Inserting POUs with EN/ENO" for further details.

Cross references

Settings With activated 'Collect cross references after initial project compilation' checkbox, the cross references are automatically collected in the CROSS REFERENCES Window when initially opening/compiling a project.

HMI Editor

Page Settings Set basic worksheet properties for HMI pages.

Symbol Settings Set basic properties for HMI symbols.

Administration

Trust Stores Use the category to add, enable/disable, and remove device communication (controller) certificates and code signing certificates to PLCnext Engineer.

Note
Adding, deleting and enabling/disabling certificates is only possible after launching PLCnext Engineer with Windows administrator rights and while no project is open.

'Device Communication' certificates
If the controller is equipped with an owner-specific device certificate, PLCnext Engineer must be adapted accordingly. You have to deposit the corresponding certificate for validating the customer-specific controller certificate in PLCnext Engineer.
Refer to the topic "Network Security: Certificates enable Secure Connection ..." for details.

'Code Signing' certificates
The list contains the trusted root certificates and intermediate certificates. These certificates are required by PLCnext Engineer to verify the signing certificates which are used when releasing a user library that contains loadable C function code or when adding a signed released safety-related library to your project.
You can only add a released safety-related library with loadable C function code to your project or release such a library if the corresponding root certificate and intermediate certificates are added and enabled in the list.
See the topics "Adding Libraries", "Releasing Libraries", and "Loadable C Functions as Released Library" for details.

To add a certificate, select the corresponding group header, and click the 'Add' button to browse for the certificate file(s). For each certificate, the issuer (creator), serial number and subject (owner) is displayed. An added certificate is automatically enabled for use, that means, the associated checkbox is checked.
To remove one or several certificates, select the certificate(s) and click 'Remove'.

Password Manager PLCnext Technology controllers allow to store your credentials (user name and password) in PLCnext Engineer when logging on to the controller. (For that purpose, the checkbox 'Remember credentials' must be marked in the LOGIN mask.)
The button 'Delete' removes the stored credentials from the PC and you have to enter them again when logging on the next time.
Refer to the section "Storing user credentials for controller logon" for details in the storing mechanism.

Application Control Interface Enables the use of the Application Control Interface (ACI). The ACI is an internal interface of PLCnext Engineer which allows remote access to and controlling of the engineering tool. Via the ACI, an external application can perform the same operations as via the PLCnext Engineer user interface.

Note
Enabling the use of the Application Control Interface is only possible if PLCnext Engineer runs with administration rights.

Note
As long as the ACI is enabled, special points regarding security must be observed.

Data Integrity Enables/disables the project integrity check (hash protection of projects and libraries locally stored on your computer) in PLCnext Engineer. With activated 'Enabled' checkbox (hash protection is activated), PLCnext Engineer calculates hash codes (numeric value of fixed length that uniquely identifies data) about the project. The project's hash codes are checked for mismatching or missing hashes when opening the project. Depending on the protection level selected here, you will be informed with a warning/error message and the appropriate action will be performed.
With deactivated hash protection ('Enabled' checkbox deactivated; default setting), PLCnext Engineer does not use hash codes for comparison of project contents. No hash codes are calculated and checked. You will not be informed whether a project has or does not have hash codes.
Select the 'Protection Level' you want to use:

'Warning (Load All)'
Regardless of an integrity breach, the project is loaded in any case. If PLCnext Engineer has detected at least one integrity breach when loading the project, a corresponding warning notification appears. When the project is saved, the hash codes will be automatically recalculated, added, or removed. Any further opening of the project will then result in no further warning.

'Warning (Load Repaired Only)'
If PLCnext Engineer has detected at least one integrity breach when loading the project, a window appears asking you whether the project should be repaired and stored. If you select 'Yes', the project will be opened with only the required files. Files with violated integrity (with integrity breaches) will not be loaded. After opening the project, the 'Project Log' in the 'Messages' window shows a warning that the project has at least one integrity breach which was repaired.

'Error (Load None)'
If an integrity breach occurs, a window appears informing you that the project could not be loaded and the access to the project is denied.

Note
Configuring the protection level of data integrity is only possible if PLCnext Engineer runs with administration rights.
You must restart PLCnext Engineer to apply the protection level settings.

See the topic "Project Integrity Check" for further details.

Physical Topology

General General representation
Choose whether to show or hide the device labels for the device symbols and the connection labels for the device connections in the 'Physical Topology' editor.
The 'Device label' drop-down list provides the following options:

None - no device labels are shown.

Station name - Profinet name of station.

System name - SNMP name of the device.

Mac address - MAC address of the device.

Type - Device type.

The 'Connection label' drop-down list provides the following options:

None - no connection labels are shown.

Media type - Material type of the connection (e.g., copper).

Connection length.

Profinet representation

Choose whether to show or hide the display of the color markings of the connections relating to an Application Relation (AR) between a Profinet controller and its Profinet devices in the 'Profinet' view in the 'Physical Topology' editor.
Refer to the subchapter "Profinet ARs / color markings of participants and connections" in the chapter "Profinet" for details.

Compare

Settings Activate the 'Include libraries for compare' checkbox to include referenced libraries in the project comparison.

Extensions

Aspect Hierarchies If enabled, the PLANT provides additional views on the project (functional, locational and instantiated Automation Modules) which are represented as different tabs in the PLANT window. The main project view showing the usual instance tree is then contained in a separate tab. Furthermore, the COMPONENTS area provides the 'Automation Modules' category.
Refer to the chapter "Automation Modules" for details.

Graphic Editor

NOLD Options With activated checkbox, you can set the page width for new NOLD/SNOLD worksheets to a specific size using the slider, i.e., the worksheet is restricted to the right. The size is defined by the number of contacts placed in a network rung (range from 8 to 16 contacts).
If the checkbox is deactivated, the size of the NOLD/SNOLD worksheet is unlimited (slider is deactivated). In this case, the worksheet content is treated and printed in the same way as in LD worksheets.
When you print an unlimited network that does not fit the printer page width, the scaling factor set under the 'Printing > Settings' category is applied.

Note
The 'Fixed with...' setting is only applied for new NOLD/SNOLD worksheets. Existing worksheets are not affected.

Safety

Settings 'Password timeout' defines the time interval after which you are automatically logged off ‣ Safety-Related Area: General Information
×‣ Safety PLC Password Protection
× after a period of inactivity. Allowed value range: 10 to 60 minutes.