Configuring Permanent Column Widths in PCS 7 WinCC AlarmControl

To prevent column widths in the SIMATIC PCS 7 alarm system from reverting to defaults every time an operator closes and reopens the alarm window, configure the column dimensions centrally in SIMATIC Manager or adjust the AlarmControl inheritance properties in WinCC. By default, the WinCC AlarmControl enforces 'Apply project settings' (Projekteinstellungen übernehmen), which overwrites manual runtime resizing with central project parameters. To establish permanent column widths across all Operator Stations, navigate to 'Options -> PCS 7 message system -> Configure...' in SIMATIC Manager, select 'Configure message lists', define fixed column widths in pixels, and run the OS Project Editor to deploy the standardized layout.

Runtime Resizing vs Project Inheritance in WinCC AlarmControl

In SIMATIC PCS 7, the alarm banner and dedicated message screens are rendered by the WinCC AlarmControl active component. During commissioning, operators frequently drag column borders with the mouse to expand truncated event texts or date/time strings. However, as soon as the operator navigates to another graphic picture and returns to the alarm screen, the columns snap back to their original narrow widths.

This behavior is governed by the design principle of Basic Process Control (BPC). PCS 7 enforces central template inheritance to ensure that all operator stations in a control room present identical, standardized alarm views regardless of local user actions.

Why Column Widths Reset Upon Window Reopening

Understanding the property hierarchy inside WinCC AlarmControl explains the reset mechanism:

Apply Project Settings Flag: In AlarmControl properties under Message blocks, the option Apply project settings (Projekteinstellungen übernehmen) is enabled by default. Whenever the picture window loads, AlarmControl queries the central project configuration and applies those widths, overriding local runtime modifications.
Write-Protected Alarm Logging: In PCS 7, column properties inside the classic WinCC Explorer Alarm Logging editor are write-protected (assigned author ID CREAT_ID = 10210). Direct editing in Alarm Logging is blocked to prevent conflicts with the OS Project Editor.
Persistence Mechanism: To make column widths permanent, changes must be injected either through SIMATIC Manager's central configuration dialog or by decoupling local AlarmControl objects from project inheritance.

Central Message Configuration vs Local Picture Properties

Engineers have two methods to achieve stable column sizing:

Central PCS 7 Configuration (Recommended): Using SIMATIC Manager -> Options -> PCS 7 message system -> Configure.... This tool sets uniform column widths across all OS Servers and Clients, guaranteeing total multiproject consistency.
Local Picture Modification: Opening @messageview.pdl in the WinCC Graphics Designer, unchecking Apply project settings in AlarmControl, and saving custom pixel widths directly into the PDL. While effective for single stations, this requires manual maintenance on every OS.

Comparison of Column Width Configuration Approaches

The table below contrasts the different methods of adjusting alarm column widths in SIMATIC PCS 7.

Engineering MethodConfiguration LocationMulti-Client ConsistencySurvives OS Project Editor?Survives Window Reopen?Runtime Column DraggingWinCC Runtime screenIndividual workstation onlyNoNO (Resets immediately)Central PCS 7 Message ConfigSIMATIC Manager -> Options -> Message SystemAutomatic across all stationsYES (100% Permanent)YESLocal AlarmControl EditGraphics Designer (@messageview.pdl)Local client onlyOverwritten unless backed upYES (If inheritance disabled)Alarmlogging Database EditSQL table dbo.MSBlock editNot supportedInconsistentNot Recommended

Step-by-Step Procedure to Set Permanent Alarm Column Widths

Follow this procedure to configure permanent alarm column widths using the official Siemens central configuration workflow:

Open Central Message Configuration in SIMATIC Manager:
- In SIMATIC Manager, select menu Options -> PCS 7 message system -> Configure....
Configure Target Message Lists:
- Switch to the Configure message lists (Meldelisten konfigurieren) tab.
- For each message list (e.g., Alarm list, Acknowledged alarm list, Long-term archive list), check the Configure checkbox.
- The WinCC AlarmControl properties dialog opens.
Set Column Widths in Pixels:
- In the AlarmControl dialog, switch to the Message lists tab.
- Under Displayed columns, select a column (e.g., Event text or Date).
- Adjust the Width parameter (e.g., increase Event from 150 pixels to 280 pixels, or set character width appropriately).
- Repeat for all required columns and click OK.
Activate and Rebuild Screens:
- Ensure the Activate checkbox is selected for all modified lists in the SIMATIC Manager dialog.
- Click OK to commit changes to the multiproject database.
- Open WinCC Explorer on the target OS: run the OS Project Editor and click OK to regenerate standardized screens.
- Download the OS project to the target operator stations.

Verification

Verify alarm column formatting through the following checks:
1. Launch WinCC Runtime: open the main alarm screen and verify that columns display the wider pixel widths.
2. Close the alarm screen, navigate through several plant graphic screens, and return to the alarm screen: confirm that column widths remain stable.
3. Trigger an alarm with long descriptive text: verify that the text displays cleanly without truncation or ellipsis (...).
4. Verify that all OS Clients connected to the server display identical, aligned column dimensions.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Avoid setting column widths excessively wide on low-resolution displays (e.g., 1024x768). Overly wide columns will force the horizontal scrollbar to appear, requiring operators to scroll sideways to view timestamps or acknowledgment statuses during plant emergencies. Always balance column expansion against total available horizontal screen resolution.

Engineer FAQ

Can operators save their personal column widths at runtime?

No. In standard PCS 7 Basic Process Control, runtime column layout persistence per operator is intentionally blocked to ensure standardized situational awareness across shifts.

Why is the Alarm Logging editor column width field greyed out in WinCC?

PCS 7 marks the alarm blocks as read-only (CREAT_ID = 10210) because they are managed centrally by the OS Project Editor and SIMATIC Manager.

Does changing column width require stopping WinCC Runtime?

No. The OS Project Editor can update screen templates while runtime is active, but a screen reload (or project download) is required to apply the new visual framework.