C135 PCS 7 (PCS7)
6C
6 Cielo Ciencia y Tecnología
·Publicada en C135 PCS 7 (PCS7)

Configuring the Microsoft Office Multifunction Toolbar Add-In for SIMATIC Information Server

Configuring the Microsoft Office Multifunction Toolbar Add-In for SIMATIC Information Server

In SIMATIC Information Server (IS), the 'Multifunction Bar' (Multifunction Toolbar) is a dedicated ribbon tab integrated into Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word via the official 'Information Server Office Add-in'. It allows engineers to create, edit, and schedule historical reports directly within Excel worksheets. To activate it, install the add-in either during the initial Information Server installation or by downloading the installer directly from the Information Server web portal ('Download' app), launch Excel, enter the Information Server URL, and authenticate with valid user credentials.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

SIMATIC Information Server provides web-based reporting and automated data aggregation from SIMATIC Process Historian and WinCC OS Servers. While users can generate pre-configured reports via web browsers, process engineers frequently require custom data modeling, financial reconciliation, and ad-hoc analytics within familiar spreadsheet environments like Microsoft Excel.

Information Server documentation frequently references the 'Multifunction Bar' (or Multifunktionsleiste / Information Server Toolbar) in Microsoft Excel and Word. However, users opening Excel often find no trace of this bar. The multifunction toolbar is not a native Microsoft Office feature; it is provided by a specialized client-side add-on package: the SIMATIC Information Server Microsoft Office Add-in. If the add-in was not installed during initial setup or if network connectivity to Information Server is disrupted, the ribbon tab is absent or greyed out. This guide explains how to download, install, and connect the Information Server Office Add-in.

Architecture and Fundamental Mechanics

The Information Server Microsoft Office Add-in links desktop productivity software to central historical databases:

  1. Architecture of the Office Add-In:
    - The add-in is a VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office) component built for 32-bit and 64-bit Microsoft Excel and Word.
    - Upon startup, Microsoft Office loads the add-in, creating a top-level ribbon tab titled 'Information Server'.
    - This ribbon tab contains the 'Multifunction Toolbar' buttons: 'Connect', 'Templates', 'Parameters', 'Insert Historical Data', 'Messages', and 'Publish to Server'.

  2. Communication and Authentication Layer:
    - The add-in communicates with the central Information Server web service over HTTP/HTTPS (ports 80/443).
    - It authenticates using Windows Integrated Authentication or explicitly provided credentials.
    - If the client PC cannot resolve the Information Server hostname or lacks network access to the web server, the commands on the multifunction toolbar remain disabled/greyed out.

  3. Dynamic Report Templates in Excel:
    - Unlike static CSV exports, Excel sheets built with the Information Server add-in contain dynamic database query definitions.
    - When opened or scheduled, the sheet queries live historical tags and alarm statistics directly from Process Historian, rendering fresh charts and tables automatically.

Step-by-Step Implementation Procedure

Follow these steps to obtain, install, and activate the Information Server Multifunction Toolbar in Excel:

  1. Verify Microsoft Office Installation:
    - Ensure Microsoft Office (Excel / Word) is installed on the client workstation (2016, 2019, or Microsoft 365 matching Information Server release compatibility).
    - Check whether Office is 32-bit or 64-bit ('File > Account > About Excel').

  2. Download the Office Add-In from Information Server Web Portal:
    - Open a web browser (e.g., Microsoft Edge or Chrome) and navigate to the Information Server web application:
    https://<InformationServer_Hostname>/InformationServer
    - Log on with your user account.
    - In the web portal menu, navigate to 'Downloads' (or 'Apps & Tools').
    - Locate 'Microsoft Office Add-in' and download the installer executable (InformationServerOfficeAddIn.exe).

  3. Execute Installation on Client Workstation:
    - Close all open instances of Microsoft Excel and Word.
    - Run InformationServerOfficeAddIn.exe as Administrator.
    - Follow the installation wizard prompts to complete installation of the VSTO runtime and certificate.

  4. Open Microsoft Excel and Verify Ribbon Tab:
    - Launch Microsoft Excel.
    - Inspect the top ribbon bar: verify the presence of the new tab named 'Information Server'.
    - Click the 'Information Server' tab to reveal the Multifunction Toolbar.

  5. Connect to the Information Server Host:
    - In the Information Server ribbon, click the 'Connect' button.
    - In the connection dialog, enter the server URL (e.g., https://CS1075SR02/InformationServer).
    - Enter valid Windows credentials.
    - Click 'Connect'. The status indicator will turn green ('Connected'), and all reporting buttons across the multifunction bar will activate.

Verification

  1. In Microsoft Excel, click 'Insert Data' on the Information Server ribbon.
  2. In the query window, browse the plant hierarchy: confirm that historical process tags and archive values appear in the selection tree.
  3. Select an analog tag, specify a time interval (e.g., 'Last 24 Hours'), and click 'OK': verify that historical values and timestamps populate the spreadsheet cells.
  4. Click 'Save Template' and verify that the customized Excel report can be published directly to Information Server for automated scheduling.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

The Office Add-in requires an active network path to the Information Server; running Excel in disconnected offline environments will disable toolbar functions. Microsoft Office bitness (32-bit vs 64-bit) must align with the downloaded add-in package. Software licenses for Information Server Client Access Licenses (CALs) and reporting options should be verified through an authorized Siemens distributor or the Siemens Industry Mall.

Engineer FAQ

What is the 'Multifunction Bar' in SIMATIC Information Server?

It is the custom ribbon toolbar installed into Microsoft Excel and Word by the SIMATIC Information Server Office Add-in.

Where can I download the Information Server Office Add-in?

Directly from the Information Server web application under the 'Downloads' or 'Tools' section.

Why are the buttons on the Information Server ribbon greyed out?

Because Excel has not established an authenticated connection to the Information Server host, or network access is blocked.

Can I schedule Excel reports to generate automatically?

Yes. Excel templates created via the add-in can be published to Information Server and dispatched automatically via email or network shares.

Does the Office add-in consume an extra Information Server license?

Connecting to Information Server from Excel consumes a standard Information Server Client Access License (CAL).

Technical References

Related Articles

Related Tags

  • Information Server
  • Excel Add-in
  • Multifunction Bar
  • Reporting
  • Process Historian
  • PCS 7 V9.1
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