Cross-Referencing Field I-O Addresses and Finding Points of Use in PCS 7 CFC

To locate and jump directly to the exact point of use for any field input or output address in SIMATIC PCS 7—which is not supported from the static STEP 7 Symbol Table—use the CFC Chart Reference Data tool. In the CFC Editor, open Options -> Chart Reference Data (or press Ctrl + R), select View -> Cross-References -> Chart Element -> Address, and locate the target peripheral address (e.g., IW 512 or Q 4.0). Right-click the address entry and select 'Go to point of use'. The CFC editor instantly opens the specific chart, centers the canvas, and highlights the interconnected block pin.

Symbol Table Limitations vs Dynamic Chart Reference Data

In classic STEP 7 ladder logic (LAD/FBD/STL), engineers often cross-reference operands by right-clicking an address in the Symbol Table. In SIMATIC PCS 7, however, automation software is engineered graphically within Continuous Function Charts (CFC). The STEP 7 Symbol Table serves strictly as a static symbolic name-to-address mapping dictionary; it does not maintain dynamic pointers into compiled CFC chart graphics.

Attempting to find an I/O signal's usage from the Symbol Table fails because there is no 'Jump' or 'Go to' command. Instead, PCS 7 compiles comprehensive graphical metadata into the CFC Chart Reference Data (CFC-CRD) subsystem, enabling instant cross-referencing across thousands of charts in a multiproject.

CFC Reference Data Views and Cross-Reference Navigation

The Chart Reference Data utility provides several specialized analytical views:

Chart Element -> Address: Lists every block input/output interconnected to a physical peripheral address (I, Q, IW, QW, PIW, PQW), bit memory (M), or global data block (DB).
Address -> Chart Element: Groups addresses alphabetically, displaying all charts and blocks reading or writing to that memory location.
Block Type Cross-Reference: Shows every instance of a specific function block (e.g., MotL or Pcs7AnIn) across all AS charts.
Run Sequence View: Details execution organization blocks (OB30-OB38, OB100), execution order, and runtime group hierarchy.

Comparison of Address Search Tools in SIMATIC PCS 7

The table below contrasts the search capabilities, navigation depth, and operational roles of address inspection tools:

Tool / FeatureNavigation MechanismCross-Reference ScopeDirect CFC Canvas Jump?CFC Chart Reference Data (Ctrl + R)View -> Cross-References -> AddressComplete AS project (CFC, SFC, OBs)Yes: 'Go to point of use' centers on block pin.Process Object View (Signals Tab)Tabular grid filter by addressMultiproject-wide I/O signalsYes: Double-click opens chart; does not center pin.STEP 7 Reference DataOptions -> Reference Data -> DisplayGlobal S7 program operandsNo: Opens STL/LAD editor; bypasses CFC graphics.STEP 7 Symbol TableStatic dictionary tableAddress-to-symbol string mappingNo: Static only; no cross-reference link.CFC Find / Replace (Ctrl + F)Search by Block / Signal nameActive chart or all open chartsYes: Jumps to block matching string criteria.

Step-by-Step Procedure to Trace I/O Addresses and Jump to Logic

Open Chart Reference Data in CFC:
- In any open CFC chart, click Options -> Chart Reference Data (or press shortcut Ctrl + R).
- If prompted that reference data must be updated, click Yes to synchronize with current chart changes.
Select Address Cross-Reference View:
- In the reference data window menu, select View -> Cross-References -> Chart Element -> Address.
- The table displays columns: Address, Symbol, Data Type, Chart, Block, I/O, Mode (Read/Write).
Filter and Locate Target Operand:
- Select Edit -> Filter... or use the search field to enter the peripheral address (e.g., IW 512 or I 4.2).
- Locate the row corresponding to your signal.
Execute Direct Jump to Point of Use:
- Right-click the target entry -> select Go to point of use (or double-click the row).
- SIMATIC Manager instantly brings the target CFC chart to the foreground, scrolls the sheet view to the precise coordinates, and highlights the block input pin in bold blue.

Verification

Verify cross-reference accuracy through the following steps:
1. Confirm that the target block input (e.g., parameter PV_In on Pcs7AnIn) displays the expected peripheral address string in the margin bar.
2. Switch the CFC chart to Online Test Mode: verify that live process values fluctuate on the highlighted block pin.
3. Cross-check against the electrical wiring schematic: confirm that field wire terminal numbers correspond to the verified address.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Chart Reference Data reflects the last compiled or saved state of the CFC database. If charts were modified offline without saving or if blocks were added during concurrent multi-user engineering, regenerate the reference data cache (Options -> Update) before relying on cross-reference listings. Additionally, addresses accessed indirectly via SCL pointer logic (ANY pointers or PEEK/POKE) are not indexed by the static cross-reference parser.