Customizing APL Valve Block Icon Visual Behavior - Static Orientation vs Color States (VlvMotL / VlvL)

To make an APL valve block icon (such as VlvMotL or VlvL) remain in a fixed vertical orientation while changing color to RED when closed and GREEN when open, you must switch from the default rotating icon (Type 1 or 2) to a static orientation icon (Type 3 or 4) or customize the assigned Enhanced Metafile (EMF) graphics. Starting in SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.1, the recommended method is utilizing the PCS7CustomPictures directory in the OS project's GraCS folder: place custom vertical RED and GREEN EMF vector files matching the original naming convention into this folder, and assign the directory name under the block icon's 'Folder for pictures' property. Alternatively, edit the customized object in @PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl and swap the EMF picture assignments on the Symbol object.

Executive Summary

The SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Process Library (APL) provides standardized technological block icons and faceplates conforming to modern human-machine interface (HMI) style guides. By factory default, standard APL valve block icons (VlvL, VlvMotL) indicate state changes through physical orientation shifts: displaying a horizontal grey valve body when closed, and transitioning to a vertical green valve body when opened. In many operating plants, corporate piping and instrumentation diagram (P&ID) standards mandate that valves must remain permanently anchored in their true piping orientation (e.g. strictly vertical), indicating operational states purely through color coding (e.g. RED for closed, GREEN for open). This article details two robust methodologies to achieve this customization while preserving future PCS 7 library migration compatibility.

Architecture and Fundamental Mechanics

APL Block Icon Architecture and EMF Symbol Assignment:

Structure of APL Block Icons (@PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl):
Block icons in PCS 7 are 'Customized Objects' containing multiple graphical sub-objects: background plates, status symbols, quality code badges, and alarm indicators.
For valves (VlvL, VlvMotL), the core valve graphic is driven by an internal object named Symbol, located directly beneath SymbolBadQC.
The Symbol object evaluates the controller status word (e.g. Status1, Status2) and dynamically selects vector graphics files (.emf - Enhanced Metafile) corresponding to each discrete state (Open, Closed, Opening, Closing, Fault).
Icon Types: Dynamic Rotation vs Fixed Orientation:
The APL library supplies four distinct block icon variants for valves:
- Type 1 & 2: Dynamic orientation. The valve graphic physically rotates between horizontal (closed) and vertical (open).
- Type 3 & 4: Static orientation. The valve graphic maintains a fixed spatial orientation (horizontal or vertical), reflecting process states strictly through color transitions.
PCS7CustomPictures Mechanism (PCS 7 V8.1+):
In legacy PCS 7 releases, modifying block icons required directly altering @PCS7Typicals.pdl. When the project was later upgraded to a new PCS 7 release, OS Project Editor would overwrite modified pictures with factory defaults.
As of PCS 7 V8.1, Siemens introduced the PCS7CustomPictures framework. Engineers create a subfolder in GraCS containing custom EMF vector files sharing the exact file names of standard symbols. In the block icon property Configurations -> Folder for pictures, specifying this directory forces WinCC to load custom graphics without altering factory template files, making customizations 100% upgrade-safe.

Step-by-Step Implementation Procedure

Select the Static Orientation Block Icon Variant:
* In SIMATIC Manager on the ES, open your plant graphic picture in Graphics Designer.
* Open the APL template picture @PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl (or @TemplateAPLV8.pdl).
* Locate the block icon for VlvL / VlvMotL. Inspect Type 3 or Type 4: confirm that Type 3/4 retains a fixed vertical orientation.
* If Type 3/4 meets your spatial requirements, you can assign type := '@VlvL/3' in CFC on the valve block's type attribute in the object properties.
Method A: Implementing Custom EMFs via PCS7CustomPictures (Recommended):
* Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to the OS project graphics folder:
<Project_Dir>\wincproj\<OS_Name>\GraCS.
* Create a new folder named PCS7CustomPictures (or custom name MyPlantPictures).
* Identify the required standard EMF file names from GraCS (e.g. APL_Symbol_VlvL_Closed.emf and APL_Symbol_VlvL_Open.emf).
* Using a vector drawing editor (such as Microsoft Visio or Adobe Illustrator exported as EMF/EMF+), create your custom vertical RED valve graphic for closed status, and vertical GREEN graphic for open status.
* Save the custom EMF files into GraCS\PCS7CustomPictures using the exact identical file names.
* In @PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl, select the valve block icon. Open Object Properties -> Configurations.
* Set attribute Folder for pictures to PCS7CustomPictures.
Method B: Direct Customized Object Editing in @PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl:
* In @PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl, right-click the target valve block icon and select Customized Object -> Edit.
* In the object hierarchy, select the sub-object named Symbol.
* Right-click Symbol and select Configuration Dialog.
* Select the Assign pictures tab. Locate the state rows for 'Closed' and 'Closing'.
* Click the file browser button and select your custom RED vertical EMF graphic.
* When finished, select all constituent objects, right-click, and select Customized Object -> Finish editing.
* Save @PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl.
Propagate Updated Block Icons Across Plant Pictures:
* In SIMATIC Manager, select the OS project in the tree.
* Select Options -> Plant Hierarchy -> Create/Update Block Icons.
* The wizard scans all plant pictures and regenerates valve block icons with the new visual properties.
Validate Runtime Faceplate Popups:
* Activate WinCC Runtime.
* Verify that the valve displays in vertical position with RED fill when closed, and GREEN fill when opened.
* Click the block icon; confirm that standard APL valve faceplates pop up smoothly without formatting defects.

Verification

Verify Custom Valve Visualization and Faceplate Operation:
1. In WinCC Runtime, observe the valve block icon during operational state transitions; confirm the icon remains strictly vertical at all times.
2. Confirm that closed state renders RED, open state renders GREEN, and transitioning states (opening/closing) animate properly.
3. Click the block icon and verify that standard APL faceplate tabs (Standard, Alarm, Trend, Parameter) function flawlessly.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Operational Precautions and Vector Graphic Constraints:
- Custom graphics must strictly utilize Enhanced Metafile (.emf) format; raster formats (.bmp, .png) will not scale cleanly and cause pixelation on high-resolution operator stations.
- When using Method B, always maintain a backup copy of @PCS7Typicals_APLV8.pdl, as future major PCS 7 library upgrades may overwrite modified typicals files.

Engineer FAQ

Why do standard APL valve icons rotate from horizontal to vertical?

The Siemens APL style guide uses spatial rotation (horizontal for closed, vertical for open) as an intuitive process representation that does not rely exclusively on color perception (color blindness accessibility).

Which pre-built APL valve icon types remain in a fixed position?

APL valve Block Icon Type 3 and Type 4 maintain a static physical orientation rather than rotating dynamically.

What is the advantage of using the PCS7CustomPictures directory?

Graphics placed in PCS7CustomPictures are upgrade-safe; they override standard symbols without modifying underlying APL template files, surviving OS Project Editor updates.