Customize Internal and External Mode Pictures for Selected PCS 7 APL Icons
Use the APL icon's Directory for pictures property to point selected icons to a custom GraCS subfolder. Put the alternate external-mode artwork there using the standard filename apl_bi_external.emf. Other icons can retain their normal appearance. Siemens documents this selected-icon method, so the requested mixed standard/custom display does not require guessing where the icon's internal external-mode file selection is stored.
Table of Contents
- Use a Per-Icon Picture Directory
- Configure the Selected Icons
- Keep Standard and Custom Icons Distinct
- Verification
- Limitations and Operational Precautions
- Engineer FAQ
- Technical References
- Related Articles
- Related Tags
Use a Per-Icon Picture Directory
Siemens documents custom picture folders under GraCS and a per-icon Configurations > Directory for pictures property. Custom files retain the standard filenames. A missing same-name replacement falls back to the standard picture. Operator Station V9.0 SP1, section 10.2.11.
This addresses the requested MotSpdCL use case without having to locate and rewrite the internal state-selection logic. The desired alternate external artwork can be used as a same-name replacement in a separate folder.
Configure the Selected Icons
- Back up the OS graphics and relevant icon/template before editing.
- Under the project's GraCS folder, create a separate subfolder for the selected icons, for example CustomExternalMode.
- Copy the picture to customize into it. Keep the name apl_bi_external.emf for the alternate external artwork; a differently named apl_bi_external2.emf is not selected merely by placing it there.
- Create or edit the EMF with suitable vector-graphics software while retaining the original dimensions. Siemens excludes Graphics Designer export for this task.
- In Graphics Designer, open the process picture and the selected block icon's properties.
- Under Configurations, set Directory for pictures to the subfolder name.
- Save and verify the selected icons against unchanged icons.
The folder/property workflow is manufacturer-documented; CustomExternalMode is an illustrative project folder. Section 10.2.11.
Keep Standard and Custom Icons Distinct
Maintain a list of which icons should use alternate external-mode artwork. Assign the custom directory only to those objects. Do not replace the shared project-level artwork when the requirement is to change only selected instances.
For the requested appearance, compare both internal and external indications. Keep an untouched baseline so a display difference can be traced to the intended file and property rather than an accidental global edit.
If you maintain a custom MotSpdCL variant or template, include its directory setting and artwork in the controlled project resources. Assess regeneration and library-update behavior separately from the immediate picture edit.
Verification
In an approved test environment, compare a standard icon and a selected custom icon in the same operating mode. Confirm that only the intended external indication differs and that both still represent the correct block instance.
Check internal mode and other visible states, image dimensions and readability. Confirm the files exist in the actual target OS project after approved deployment. A correct design-time property does not prove that the runtime has the corresponding graphics. No runtime display test is claimed.
Limitations and Operational Precautions
The procedure is verified in the V9.0 SP1 OS manual; confirm the installed APL/icon edition's corresponding property before applying it. It addresses picture substitution, not a change to motor logic or operating-mode behavior.
Back up custom templates and graphics. Recheck customizations after icon regeneration or library replacement. Choose symbols that operators can interpret consistently; changing color must not obscure mode meaning. Do not switch production motor modes merely to inspect artwork.
Engineer FAQ
Must the external artwork be renamed in the icon's internal logic? The documented folder mechanism supports same-name replacement instead.
Can standard and custom icons coexist? Assign the separate directory only to selected icons.
Does a visual change alter control behavior? The procedure concerns picture substitution; do not infer logic changes.