Counting CFC Charts and Program Complexity Metrics via Chart Reference Data in PCS 7

In SIMATIC PCS 7, manually counting Continuous Function Charts (CFC) for engineering audits or project estimation is unnecessary and error-prone. To accurately determine the total number of CFC charts and program complexity metrics across an S7 program, open Chart Reference Data in SIMATIC Manager or CFC Editor (Ctrl + R), and select the Statistics view. The first entry displays the exact count of CFC charts in brackets, along with total block instances, runtime groups, and I/O connections.

Need for Quantitative Software Metrics in PCS 7 Project Management

In industrial automation engineering, estimating the scope of work for code reviews, migration audits, safety assessments, or software maintenance agreements requires objective quantitative metrics:
* How many individual Continuous Function Charts (CFC) comprise the automation program?
* How many block instances exist across all runtime organization blocks?
* How many technological interconnections cross chart and controller boundaries?

In large PCS 7 multiprojects distributed across multiple S7-400 or S7-410 controllers (e.g., CPU 410-5H MLFB 6ES7410-5HX08-0AB0), charts are nested across complex multi-tiered Plant Hierarchy (PH) folders. Manually navigating through dozens of unit folders to count charts in the Component View or Plant View is tedious, inefficient, and highly prone to human error.

SIMATIC PCS 7 provides a built-in diagnostic and reporting tool: Chart Reference Data (Plan-Referenzdaten). The Reference Data engine compiles complete topological statistics across the entire S7 program instantly.

CFC Reference Data Statistics and Metrics Matrix

Review the key quantitative metrics reported by the Chart Reference Data Statistics engine:

| Statistical Parameter | Reporting Header in Reference Data | Description and Engineering Purpose | Sizing / Sizing Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total CFC Charts | Charts: (X) | Total count of individual top-level CFC charts in the S7 program | Primary metric for estimating review hours and chart complexity |
| Nested Charts | Nested charts: (X) | Count of hierarchical sub-charts embedded within parent charts | Indicates modularization and structural depth |
| SFC Charts | SFC charts: (X) | Total count of standalone Sequential Function Charts | Indicates batch and state-sequencer density |
| Block Instances | Blocks: (X) | Total count of function blocks instantiated across all charts | Governs CPU work memory utilization and execution scan time |
| Runtime Groups | Runtime groups: (X) | Count of organized execution slices across OB 30-38 | Reflects cyclic interrupt scheduling structure |
| Chart-to-Chart Interconnections | Interconnections: (X) | Total signal lines crossing between different charts | Reflects program modularity and inter-unit coupling |

Engineering notice: Reference data metrics provide verified baselines for commissioning progress tracking.

Accessing Chart Reference Data and Statistics in CFC and SIMATIC Manager

Follow this procedure to generate the statistics summary:

Launch Chart Reference Data from SIMATIC Manager:
* Open the project in SIMATIC Manager.
* In the Component View, expand the target AS station and select the Charts folder.
* Select Options > Chart Reference Data (or press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + R).
* Alternatively, from inside any open CFC chart, select Options > Chart Reference Data.
Open the Statistics View:
* In the Chart Reference Data window, locate the toolbar.
* Click the Statistics (Statistik) icon (depicted as a bar chart icon).
* Alternatively, select View > Statistics from the top menu.
Analyze Program Metrics:
* A pop-up dialog titled Statistics opens instantly.
* The top line clearly presents:
Charts: (142) Nested charts: (18) SFC charts: (12) Blocks: (1845) Runtime groups: (34)
* Record the chart count (142) for engineering scope calculations.

Alternative Reporting: Plant Hierarchy Export and Scripted Metrics

If you need a formal audit report exported to Microsoft Excel or CSV:
1. Export Chart Reference Data:
* In the Chart Reference Data window, switch to View > Block Types or View > Variable Interconnections.
* Select Chart Reference Data > Export to save the complete topological cross-reference as a text file (.txt) or CSV.
2. Plant Hierarchy Reporting via CAx / XML:
* In SIMATIC Manager, select the top-level Plant Hierarchy folder.
* Select Options > Plant Hierarchy > Export to CAx... or use the Process Object Statistics tool.
* This generates an XML equipment schedule detailing every technological chart, its hierarchy path, and assigned OS pictures.

Verification

Verify metric accuracy:
1. Open the Statistics view for the target S7 program: Record the total chart count (e.g., 142).
2. Add a new test CFC chart into any hierarchy folder.
3. Re-open Chart Reference Data and click Statistics:
4. Confirm that Charts: immediately updates to (143), verifying live synchronization with the offline project database.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Generating Chart Reference Data for the first time on a massive multiproject requires the system to parse all charts, which may take 30 to 60 seconds depending on disk speed.
Chart statistics report data for the selected S7 program; if a multiproject contains multiple automation stations (AS1, AS2, AS3), you must open Chart Reference Data for each AS individually to aggregate total plant metrics.
Nested sub-charts (charts-in-charts) are tallied separately from top-level charts; ensure both figures are evaluated when assessing code volume.

Engineer FAQ

Can Chart Reference Data show unused block inputs?

Yes. Under the 'View' menu in Chart Reference Data, you can inspect 'Unconnected I/Os' and 'Address Cross-References' to audit code cleanliness.

Does the chart count include deleted charts that are still in the recycle bin?

No. Chart Reference Data evaluates only active charts currently present in the S7 program directory.

Can I see how many Process Objects (PO) are consumed from this view?

Chart Reference Data reports block instances. To see official Process Object license consumption, select the project root in SIMATIC Manager and choose 'Options > Process Objects > Display License Requirements'.