Project Integrity Check
PLCnext Engineer allows you to check your project for integrity. With activated project integrity check, PLCnext Engineer calculates an integrity information (hash codes) about the project. The hash codes are used to protect the project and libraries. With help of the hash codes, unauthorized project manipulation can be detected.
If the integrity check is active, any project is checked for integrity while loading. The project's hash codes are checked for mismatching or missing hashes. Depending on the protection level you have configured in PLCnext Engineer, a warning/error message is displayed and an appropriate action will be performed.
The configuration of the project integrity check is done in the 'Extras > Options' dialog under the 'Administration | Data Integrity' category. With activated 'Enabled' checkbox (hash protection is activated), PLCnext Engineer calculates the hash codes about the project and performs the action assigned to the selected protection level.
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.
| 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. |
You can choose between the following protection levels (configurable in the 'Extras > Options' dialog under the 'Administration | Data Integrity' category):
- '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.