Customizing APL Block Icon Status Colors and Faceplate Backgrounds in SIMATIC PCS 7

In SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Process Library (APL), block icon dynamic states (e.g., motor running red instead of green) are rendered via vector graphic files (.emf / .emf+) managed by the Extended Status Display, not static color attributes. To change motor colors, create custom 32-bit EMF+ graphics and place them in the 'GraCS\PCS7CustomPictures' directory (available in PCS 7 V8.1+), then set the 'Folder for pictures' attribute in the block icon properties. For analog and digital monitoring blocks like MonDiL, modify the 'Color' input parameter on the CFC block to assign configured message class colors distributed via the Status3 tag, or adapt the C-script / dynamic dialog within the faceplate picture (@pg_MonDiL_Standard.pdl).

Executive Summary

Standard SIMATIC PCS 7 APL designs adhere to international ergonomic standards (such as NAMUR NE107 and ISA-101), where normal operational running states are represented in subtle gray or green, and alarms appear in prominent amber or red. However, specific regional standards or legacy plant conventions demand alternate color schemes, such as motor running displayed in red and stopped in green, or custom white status indications on digital monitors (MonDiL). Because APL block icons utilize precompiled Extended Status Display vector files and internal status word encoding (Status3/Status4), modifying these visuals requires specific engineering procedures. This article details the custom graphic replacement workflow and faceplate scripting adaptations.

Architecture and Fundamental Mechanics

APL block icons (such as @MotL/1 or @MonDiL/1) utilize the WinCC 'Extended Status Display' active control. Rather than relying on simple fill-color properties, the control evaluates a multi-bit integer status tag (e.g., Status1) generated cyclically by the CFC block in the AS. Each combination of operational bits (running, stopped, faulted, interlocked, manual, automatic) maps to a specific bitmap or enhanced metafile (.emf / .emf+).

In PCS 7 V8.1 and higher, the OS Project Editor automatically generates the PCS7CustomPictures directory inside the project's GraCS folder. When the block icon's Configurations -> Folder for pictures property is populated, WinCC searches PCS7CustomPictures first, allowing custom EMF+ files to override Siemens system defaults without modifying core installation libraries.

For digital monitoring blocks (MonDiL), the background color is governed by the CFC input parameter Color. Setting Color assigns predefined status bits within the Status3 double-word tag (e.g., Color = 6 sets violet via bit 20). The standard faceplate picture @pg_MonDiL_Standard.pdl evaluates Status3 using an internal C-script to apply background colors. Displaying unsupported colors, such as white, requires either mapping unused message class colors or altering the C-script evaluation logic within a custom faceplate.

Step-by-Step Implementation Procedure

Create Custom EMF+ Status Vector Graphics:
a. Design the motor graphic states in Microsoft Visio, PowerPoint, or WinCC Graphics Designer.
b. Export each distinct state (e.g., running in red, stopped in green, faulted in yellow) as an Enhanced Metafile (.emf) using 32-bit EMF+ formatting.
c. Retain standard APL naming conventions (e.g., APL_MotL_Running_Red.emf, APL_MotL_Stopped_Green.emf).
Configure the Custom Pictures Directory:
a. In Windows Explorer, navigate to the WinCC project directory: <Project_Path>\wincproj\<OS_Name>\GraCS\PCS7CustomPictures.
b. Copy all newly created custom EMF files into this directory.
Assign Custom Graphics to the APL Block Icon:
a. In WinCC Graphics Designer, open @PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl (or @TemplateFilter_APLV8.pdl).
b. Select the desired MotL block icon variant (e.g., @MotL/1).
c. In the Object Properties window, navigate to Configurations -> Folder for pictures and enter PCS7CustomPictures.
d. Double-click the Extended Status Display inside the icon and assign the custom EMF files to their respective state bitmasks.
e. In SIMATIC Manager Plant View, right-click the OS project and execute 'Create/Update Block Icons' to propagate changes to all process pictures.
Adapt MonDiL Faceplate Background Colors:
a. In the CFC chart, navigate to the MonDiL block and configure the Color input parameter according to the message class table (values 1–8).
b. To implement custom colors (such as pure white 16#00FFFFFF), open @pg_MonDiL_Standard.pdl in Graphics Designer.
c. Locate the background rectangle, inspect the C-script or Dynamic Dialog attached to the BackColor property, and insert a conditional branch mapping a designated Color code directly to RGB white (0x00FFFFFF).
d. Save the modified faceplate in the OS project's GraCS directory.

Verification

In WinCC Runtime, activate the motor: verify the block icon dynamically renders the custom red EMF vector graphic when running and green when stopped.
Verify the block icon preserves transparent background bounding boxes without clipping neighboring graphic objects.
Trigger the MonDiL digital input: confirm the customized white background color illuminates cleanly on the faceplate view.
Run the OS Project Editor in a staging project: confirm that custom EMF files located in GraCS\PCS7CustomPictures are retained without being deleted.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Modifying default @pg_*.pdl faceplate files directly makes them susceptible to being overwritten whenever the WinCC OS Project Editor is executed with 'Update Basic Data' enabled. Always maintain backup copies of customized PDL and EMF files. Custom EMF graphics must strictly match the pixel dimensions and transparent background bounding boxes of original APL vector files to prevent visual clipping or misalignment on process displays.

Engineer FAQ

Why did my block icon revert to standard green/gray after running OS Project Editor?

If custom EMF files were placed in the root GraCS folder instead of GraCS\PCS7CustomPictures, or if @PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl was overwritten by a library update, the icons reset to factory defaults.

Can I change motor colors directly via dynamic dialog without EMF files?

No. The motor body in APL block icons is an Extended Status Display object driven by vector files, not a native WinCC basic geometric shape with a dynamic background color property.

What software is recommended for creating APL-compliant EMF+ files?

Microsoft Visio or AutoCAD exported to Enhanced Metafile format, or native WinCC Graphics Designer grouped objects exported via active screen capture.

How does the Color parameter on MonDiL communicate with WinCC?

The CFC block encodes the numerical Color selection into specific bits of the Status3 double-word tag, which WinCC faceplate scripts evaluate at runtime.

Does changing block icon colors affect ISA-101 alarm visibility?

Using red for normal running motors violates ISA-101 and NAMUR NE107 high-performance HMI standards, where red is reserved exclusively for unacknowledged alarm conditions.