C135 PCS 7 (PCS7)
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How to Mass-Manage Operator Control and Monitoring (OCM) Attributes in Process Object View

How to Mass-Manage Operator Control and Monitoring (OCM) Attributes in Process Object View

To search, filter, and mass-manage Operator Control and Monitoring (OCM) attributes (S7_m_c := 'true') across hundreds of function blocks and parameters in SIMATIC PCS 7 without manually editing individual CFC charts, engineers should utilize the Process Object View (PO-View). In SIMATIC Manager, switching to Process Object View (View -> Process Objects) and navigating to the 'Blocks' tab provides a comprehensive spreadsheet-style grid of all instantiated blocks. Engineers can filter by block type (e.g., MotL, PIDConL, OpAnL), sort by hierarchy folder, and toggle the 'OCM' checkbox column individually or across entire blocks using drag-down selection. Changes applied in PO-View automatically update the underlying CFC block attributes and dictate WinCC OS tag generation during compilation.

Table of Contents

The Role of the OCM Attribute (S7_m_c) in PCS 7 Architecture

In SIMATIC PCS 7, the seamless integration between the automation station (AS) and the operator station (OS) is governed by the system attribute S7_m_c (Operator Control and Monitoring / OCM):

  1. Block-Level OCM: When enabled on a function block instance, it signals the PCS 7 OS compiler to generate a corresponding WinCC structure tag, instantiate alarm subscriptions, and associate block icons in process graphics.
  2. Parameter-Level OCM: Individual input and output pins marked with S7_m_c := 'true' (such as setpoints, process feedbacks, and operating modes) are compiled into WinCC Tag Management as accessible structure elements.

If OCM is disabled on a block, the block executes purely within the controller logic, remaining completely invisible to WinCC Runtime, faceplates, and alarm logging.

The Bottleneck of Manual CFC Attribute Configuration

In medium-to-large process plants containing thousands of motors, valves, and analog transmitters:
* Opening individual CFC charts, right-clicking each block, selecting Object Properties, and navigating to the OCM tab is exceedingly slow and prone to human omission.
* Modifying operational limits—such as tuning all motor monitoring times from 3 seconds to 10 seconds or activating flutter filtering across all digital inputs—would take days of repetitive manual clicking.
* SIMATIC Manager provides the Process Object View (PO-View) specifically to eliminate this bottleneck through multi-object spreadsheet engineering.

Filtering and Modifying Block OCM Attributes in Process Object View

To mass-manage block OCM attributes across a plant section:

  1. In SIMATIC Manager, select the AS project or target Technological Hierarchy folder.
  2. In the menu bar, execute View -> Process Objects (or press the PO-View icon on the toolbar).
  3. Select the Blocks tab:
    * The grid displays every instantiated block along with its Chart Name, Block Type, Block Name, Author, and OCM status.
  4. Filter by Block Type: Right-click the Block Type column header -> Filter -> select MotL (or any target block).
  5. Manage OCM:
    * Locate the OCM column.
    * Check or uncheck the box for any block instance.
    * To apply changes to multiple rows: Select a cell, click and drag the fill handle downward (identical to Microsoft Excel), or select multiple rows and press Spacebar.
  6. Click Save in SIMATIC Manager. The underlying CFC charts update automatically in the background.

Mass-Managing Parameter-Level OCM and Archiving Flags

Process Object View extends beyond block-level management into granular I/O parameterization:

1. Parameters Tab

  • Filter by parameter name (e.g., MonTiDynamic or SP_Ext).
  • Mass-edit default values, engineering units, low/high limits, and parameter-level OCM flags across hundreds of blocks in a single operation.

2. Signals Tab

  • Inspect raw I/O addresses (PEW, PAW), channel driver linkages, and hardware diagnostics.

3. Messages Tab

  • Mass-configure alarm classes, message priorities, single acknowledgement flags, and event text strings across all technological blocks.

4. Archive Management

  • Filter analog parameters and mass-assign archiving properties (e.g., changing 50 analog values from 'No Archiving' to 'Long-term archiving' in seconds).

Process Object View Tabs and Engineering Management Matrix

The following table outlines the management capabilities across PO-View tabs:

PO-View TabManaged AttributesKey Engineering OperationsGeneralHierarchy names, chart authorsRenaming plant areas, modifying chart commentsBlocksBlock name, block icon variant, OCM flagMass-enabling WinCC visibility, assigning icon numbersParametersSetpoints, limits, deadbands, monitoring timesMass-tuning operational timers, parameter OCM flagsSignalsHardware I/O addresses, channel driversAddress verification, signal decoupling, wire auditsMessagesAlarm text, message class, priorityHarmonizing alarm wording, suppressing nuisance alarmsPicture ObjectsBlock icon screen bindings, typicalsMapping block icons to specific .pdl picture files

Leveraging PO-View accelerates commissioning turnaround times by up to 80%.

Verification

To verify that OCM attributes were correctly updated:
1. In Process Object View, confirm that the OCM checkbox reflects the desired state across all filtered blocks.
2. Open one of the modified CFC charts; right-click the block -> Object Properties -> OCM; verify that the OCM checkbox matches PO-View.
3. In SIMATIC Manager, perform an OS compilation (Changes Only).
4. Open WinCC Explorer -> Tag Management; verify that the structure tags for newly enabled OCM blocks appear under SIMATIC S7 PROTOCOL SUITE.
5. Verify that disabling OCM removes obsolete structure tags, freeing WinCC tag counts.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

  • Disabling OCM on a block that has an active graphic block icon on a WinCC picture will cause the icon to render with a broken tag link in Runtime.
  • Applying mass edits in PO-View modifies underlying CFC charts directly; always back up the multi-project before executing large bulk operations.
  • Changes made in PO-View require an AS chart compile and OS compile to take effect on physical controllers and operator stations.
  • Always validate final license quantities, AS RT Process Objects, and MLFBs against the applicable Siemens catalog and authorized distributor quotation.

Engineer FAQ

Does enabling OCM on a block consume an AS RT Process Object (PO) license?

Yes. In SIMATIC PCS 7, any block capable of operator control and monitoring with active WinCC structure tags consumes an AS Runtime Process Object license upon OS compilation.

Can I export Process Object View tables to Microsoft Excel for editing?

Yes. You can copy rows and columns directly from PO-View (Ctrl+C), edit values in Microsoft Excel, and paste them back into PO-View (Ctrl+V).

Why is the OCM column greyed out for certain blocks in PO-View?

Elementary math or logic blocks (e.g., ADD_R, AND) do not support OCM attributes because they have no WinCC structure definitions in their underlying SCL/CFC source.

Technical References

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Related Tags

  • Process Object View
  • OCM Attribute
  • S7_m_c
  • Mass Engineering
  • WinCC Tag Compilation
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