How to Configure Multi-Monitor Dual-Screen Displays on SIMATIC PCS 7 Operator Stations

In SIMATIC PCS 7 V6.2 and WinCC V6, configuring a dual-monitor operator station (single PC workstation driving two display screens) requires proper coordination between Windows graphics card settings and the WinCC OS Project Editor. First, the Windows operating system must extend the desktop across both physical monitors (using multi-monitor graphics cards such as NVIDIA Quadro). Second, in WinCC Explorer, the OS Project Editor must be configured under the 'Layout' tab by selecting a dual-monitor screen resolution (e.g., 'SIMATIC Standard 2 x 1280x1024'). If graphics appear on only one screen, verify that Windows desktop extension is active and that the multi-VGA screen layout is compiled cleanly.

Multi-Monitor Architecture in SIMATIC PCS 7 and WinCC

In control room operations, displaying process overviews on Monitor 1 while viewing alarm logs and trend curves on Monitor 2 is standard operating procedure:
* The Single-Workstation Architecture:
* An operator station PC (e.g., SIMATIC Rack PC) is equipped with a multi-output graphics card (NVIDIA Quadro or Matrox multi-VGA).
* A single instance of WinCC Runtime executes, managing process graphics, alarms, and navigation toolbars across both physical screens.
* The Failure Symptom:
* An engineer selects '2 monitor option' in WinCC, but runtime only populates Monitor 1; Monitor 2 displays a blank desktop or black screen.
* The root cause is almost always a mismatch between Windows desktop spanning/extension and the WinCC OS Project Editor layout selection.

Hardware and Windows OS Configuration: NVIDIA Quadro Desktop Extension

Before configuring WinCC, Windows must be configured to recognize both displays:

Physical Cabling:
* Connect Monitor 1 to Graphics Card Output 1 (Primary Display).
* Connect Monitor 2 to Graphics Card Output 2.
Windows Display Properties:
* Right-click the Windows Desktop: select Screen Resolution (or NVIDIA Control Panel).
* Verify that both displays appear: Display 1 and Display 2.
* Under Multiple Displays, select: Extend these displays (do NOT select 'Duplicate these displays').
* Set identical native resolutions on both monitors (e.g., 1280 x 1024 or 1920 x 1080).
* Confirm that the mouse cursor moves smoothly across the boundary from Monitor 1 to Monitor 2.

Configuring Multi-Screen Layouts in the OS Project Editor

To configure WinCC to span runtime across both monitors:

Launch OS Project Editor in WinCC Explorer:
* Open the OS project in WinCC Explorer.
* In the navigation tree, open OS Project Editor.
Select Multi-Monitor Layout:
* Open the Layout tab.
* Under Available Layouts, choose a multi-screen template matching your monitor resolution:
- SIMATIC Standard 2 x 1280x1024 (for dual standard screens)
- SIMATIC Standard 2 x 1920x1080 (for dual widescreen displays)
- Set Monitor Arrangement: Side by Side (Horizontal) or Stacked (Vertical).
Execute Configuration:
* Click OK. The OS Project Editor regenerates @screen.pdl, @overview1.pdl, and @overview2.pdl, configuring the alarm bar on one screen and process navigation on both.

Manual Dual-Screen Implementation Using Picture Windows

If using standalone WinCC V6 without the PCS 7 OS Project Editor option:

Create Master Container Screen:
* Create a base picture (e.g., MAIN_FRAME.PDL).
* Set picture width to double resolution: Width = 2560, Height = 1024.
Embed Dual Picture Windows:
* Insert Picture Window 1: Left = 0, Top = 0, Width = 1280, Height = 1024. Picture Name: Screen1_Overview.pdl.
* Insert Picture Window 2: Left = 1280, Top = 0, Width = 1280, Height = 1024. Picture Name: Screen2_Trends.pdl.
Configure Runtime Startup:
* In WinCC Computer Properties, under the Graphics Runtime tab, select MAIN_FRAME.PDL as the start picture.
* Runtime will open across the extended desktop, dividing screens perfectly at pixel 1280.

Comparison of Multi-Monitor Configuration Methods in PCS 7

The table below compares multi-monitor deployment techniques in SIMATIC PCS 7.

Configuration MethodSoftware FrameworkAlarm Bar ManagementEngineering EffortUpgradabilityOS Project Editor (Standard)Native PCS 7Automated across both screensMinimal (Select layout)100% Migration-ProofManual Dual Picture WindowsWinCC StandaloneManual scripting requiredModerate (Manual sizing)High maintenanceHardware Video SplitterExternal HardwareDuplicates identical imageNoneDoes not provide dual viewsMulti-VGA Option (Legacy)WinCC V6 OptionProprietary multi-VGA driversModerateDeprecated in modern PCS 7

Verification

To confirm that the dual-monitor display is operational:
1. Activate WinCC Runtime on the operator station.
2. Verify that runtime spans cleanly across both physical screens without black borders.
3. Confirm that the top alarm banner and bottom navigation bar display properly on Monitor 1 and Monitor 2 according to the OS Project Editor layout.
4. Click a process picture button on Monitor 2: verify that the picture loads specifically in Monitor 2's workspace without altering Monitor 1.
5. In Windows Task Manager, verify that CPU load and graphics memory consumption remain stable under 15%.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Both physical monitors must have identical resolution and aspect ratios; mixing a 4:3 screen (1280x1024) with a 16:9 widescreen (1920x1080) will distort graphics and misalign navigation toolbars.
Ensure graphics card drivers are locked to manufacturer-approved enterprise releases; consumer game-ready drivers can cause screen tearing or memory leaks in 24/7 runtime environments.
When running the OS Project Editor, customized @ screen files will be replaced unless protected in the project configuration.
Always validate final industrial PC hardware, multi-monitor graphics cards, and software licenses against the applicable Siemens catalog and authorized distributor quotation.

Engineer FAQ

Why does WinCC Runtime only open on one screen despite selecting 2 monitors?

Windows desktop extension is not active. In Windows display settings, ensure that 'Extend these displays' is selected and that the mouse cursor can move across both monitors before launching WinCC.

Can I run 4 monitors on a single PCS 7 OS Client?

Yes. SIMATIC PCS 7 supports up to 4 monitors per PC workstation using quad-output graphics cards (e.g., NVIDIA Quadro P620 / P1000) and the '4 x resolution' layout in the OS Project Editor.