Customizing APL Block Icon Tag Name Formats and Stripping Hierarchy Prefixes in WinCC

To customize APL block icon tag name formats and strip chart or hierarchy names from the displayed label in SIMATIC PCS 7 WinCC, adjust the 'Create/Update Block Icons' naming rules in SIMATIC Manager or override the 'TagNameDisplayed' property in custom typical files. In Plant View, right-click the OS project, select 'Plant Hierarchy' -> 'Create/Update Block Icons', and configure the tag naming rule to include only the chart comment or user-defined text. Alternatively, create a custom block icon in '@PCS7TypicalsAPLV8UserDefined.pdl' and configure the dynamic text property to link directly to a custom attribute rather than the full hierarchical tag path.

Executive Summary

In SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Process Library (APL) applications, the automated 'Create/Update Block Icons' function compiles block icons into WinCC displays using the full plant hierarchy path (e.g., Plant/Unit/Section/TIC101/MonAnL). While this guarantees globally unique tag interconnections in the WinCC tag database, plant operators frequently request cleaner, concise labels on the graphic screen (such as displaying only TIC101 or the technological comment, without chart or block name suffixes). This guide details the standard PCS 7 engineering options for controlling tag name compilation, customizing @PCS7Typicals templates, and modifying faceplate header text.

Architectural and System Mechanics

The APL Block Icon naming and display architecture:

Tag vs. TagNameDisplayed:
Tag: The internal WinCC runtime tag name representing the CFC block structure. It must remain globally unique across the multiproject.
TagNameDisplayed: A visual attribute of the block icon object in Graphics Designer that determines the string rendered on the operator display.
Plant Hierarchy Rules: Defined in SIMATIC Manager under Options -> Customize -> Plant Hierarchy. Controls whether folder levels are concatenated with delimiters (e.g., / or .) into the compiled tag name.
Block Icon Generation Engine: Evaluates the block's Create block icon property (e.g., 1, 2, 111) and searches template files (@PCS7TypicalsAPL*.pdl). If a user template exists (@PCS7TypicalsAPL*UserDefined.pdl), it takes precedence over standard system templates.

Step-by-Step Engineering and Implementation Procedure

Step 1: Configure Plant Hierarchy Tag Name Compilation Rules

In SIMATIC Manager, select the Multiproject root.
Navigate to 'Options' -> 'Customize' -> 'Plant Hierarchy'.
Under 'Included in the HID (Higher-level Designation)', review which hierarchy levels contribute to the tag name.
Check 'Delimiter' settings to ensure clean separation of plant areas.

Step 2: Configure Create/Update Block Icons Dialog

Switch to Plant View in SIMATIC Manager.
Right-click the OS project folder -> 'Plant Hierarchy' -> 'Create/Update Block Icons...'.
In the dialog, locate the setting for 'Tag name construction'.
Select whether the tag label displays:
* Chart Name
* Chart Comment
* Hierarchy Path + Chart Name
Click OK to regenerate block icons across all pictures.

Step 3: Create Custom Block Icons in User-Defined Typicals

If specific block icons require custom text formatting:
1. In the GraCS folder of the OS project, copy @PCS7TypicalsAPLV8.pdl (or V9) and save as @PCS7TypicalsAPLV8UserDefined.pdl.
2. Open the file in Graphics Designer, copy an existing icon (e.g., MonAnL/1), and set its Type property to @MonAnL/111.
3. In the block properties, locate the text object responsible for rendering the label.
4. Change its dynamic link from Tag to a custom property or directly to TagNameDisplayed.

Step 4: Assign Custom Icon Number in CFC

Open the CFC chart containing the target block.
Double-click the block, open properties, and set 'Create block icon' to 111.
Ensure 'OCM possible' is checked.
Execute an OS Compilation followed by 'Create/Update Block Icons'.

Verification

To verify customized block icon display:
1. Open the target process picture in Graphics Designer; confirm that the block icon displays the customized label without the block name suffix.
2. Start WinCC Runtime.
3. Verify that clicking the block icon successfully opens the APL faceplate.
4. Confirm that the faceplate header displays the correct technological tag name and operational buttons operate normally.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Operational precautions:
- Never modify standard factory templates (@PCS7TypicalsAPLV8.pdl); always use @PCS7TypicalsAPLV*UserDefined.pdl to prevent changes from being overwritten during PCS 7 updates or OS Project Editor runs.
- Altering the underlying Tag property instead of TagNameDisplayed breaks communication links between the faceplate and controller.
- If multiple blocks share identical shortened names in different plant areas, ensure operators can distinguish equipment to avoid incorrect manual interventions.

Engineer FAQ

Q: Will running OS Project Editor overwrite my customized block icons?

A: Not if you place them in a file named @PCS7TypicalsAPLV<Version>UserDefined.pdl. Standard factory files are overwritten, but user-defined files are preserved.

Q: How do I display the CFC Chart Comment instead of the block name?

A: In the 'Create/Update Block Icons' dialog, select 'Chart comment' as the tag name source for the display label.

Q: Can I hide the block name from faceplate headers as well?

A: Yes, by adapting @PG_MonAnL_Overview.pdl or configuring the APL faceplate header script to read OS_Comment instead of the full tag name.

Q: What does the number in `@MonAnL/111` mean?

A: It is the block icon variant identifier. Numbers 1 to 4 are reserved by Siemens, while 100+ are custom user variants.

Q: Does changing `TagNameDisplayed` affect alarm logging?

A: No. WinCC Alarm Logging uses the compiled message tag name and message text configured in CFC message properties.

Technical References

Related Tags

Block Icons, @PCS7Typicals, TagNameDisplayed, Plant Hierarchy, WinCC Graphics

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Customizing APL Block Icon Tag Name Formats and Stripping Hierarchy Prefixes in WinCC