Importing Absolute Addresses in PCS 7 Import-Export Assistant (IEA)

In the SIMATIC PCS 7 Import-Export Assistant (IEA), field signals can be imported directly using raw absolute peripheral addresses (e.g., IW 512, EW 512, I 4.0, Q 4.0) without requiring symbolic names to be pre-defined in the STEP 7 Symbol Table. In the IEA import file (CSV or tab-delimited text), format the signal column using standard STEP 7 absolute syntax matching the project's configured language mnemonic (English: 'IW 512', 'I 4.0', 'Q 4.0'; German: 'EW 512', 'E 4.0', 'A 4.0'). The IEA connects the absolute address directly to the block margin bar in CFC, and if symbols are later added to the Symbol Table, CFC resolves them automatically.

Role of the Import-Export Assistant in Bulk Engineering

In large-scale SIMATIC PCS 7 projects with thousands of analog transmitters, valves, and motor drives, creating CFC charts manually one by one is highly inefficient. Siemens provides the Import-Export Assistant (IEA) to enable bulk engineering.

Engineers create standardized Process Tag Types (PTT / Messstellentypen) in the Master Data Library. The IEA exports an Import/Export File (typically a spreadsheet or CSV table) listing all configurable parameters, block comments, and I/O signal interconnections. Engineers populate this spreadsheet in Excel and import it back into SIMATIC Manager to instantiate hundreds of fully wired CFC charts in minutes.

Absolute Addressing vs Symbolic Name Requirements in IEA

A frequent engineering question during early project phases—when electrical I/O wiring lists are finalized before the software symbol table is populated—is whether the IEA accepts raw absolute hardware addresses:

No Mandatory Symbolic Requirement: The IEA does not force you to define symbolic names first. It accepts raw peripheral addresses directly.
Direct Margin Bar Wiring: When an absolute address is imported, the IEA wires the address directly to the block input or output pin margin bar in the generated CFC chart.
Automatic Downstream Resolution: If you subsequently open the STEP 7 Symbol Table and assign symbolic names to those addresses, CFC automatically updates the margin bar to display the symbol name alongside the absolute address upon the next chart compilation.

Language Mnemonics and Exact Syntax Rules

When formatting absolute addresses in the IEA CSV file, the address string must adhere strictly to STEP 7 syntax and match the active language mnemonic selected in SIMATIC Manager (Options -> Customize -> Language):

English Mnemonic (Default):
- Digital Inputs: I 4.0, I 4.1, IB 4, IW 512, ID 512
- Digital Outputs: Q 4.0, Q 4.1, QB 4, QW 512, QD 512
- Peripheral Inputs / Outputs: PIW 512, PQW 512
German Mnemonic (Deutscher Sprachraum):
- Digital Inputs: E 4.0, EB 4, EW 512, ED 512
- Digital Outputs: A 4.0, AB 4, AW 512, AD 512
- Peripheral Inputs / Outputs: PEW 512, PAW 512

Entering German syntax (EW 512) on a system configured with English mnemonics will cause the IEA import parser to reject the line with syntax errors.

Comparison of IEA Signal Import Formats

The table below contrasts the different ways I/O signals can be populated in IEA import files.

Import Format StyleExample Syntax in CSV ColumnRequires Pre-Existing Symbol Table?CFC Margin Bar DisplayBest Suited Project PhaseAbsolute Address (English)IW 512 or I 4.0NO (Zero dependency)Displays IW 512 directlyEarly commissioning / fast I/O checkAbsolute Address (German)EW 512 or E 4.0NO (Zero dependency)Displays EW 512 directlyGerman-speaking engineering sitesSymbolic Name"TI_101_PV" (in quotes)YES (Must exist in Symbol Table)Displays Symbol + AddressFinal standardized DCS engineeringCross-Chart ReferenceCFC_Reactor1\PID.PV_OutNo (Links between charts)Textual interconnection arrowInter-chart control loops

Step-by-Step Procedure to Import Signals via Absolute Addresses

Follow this procedure to bulk-import I/O signals using absolute addresses with the Import-Export Assistant:

Create Process Tag Type (PTT) in Master Data Library:
- In the Master Data Library, create a template CFC chart (e.g., PTT_AnalogInput).
- Place the technological block (e.g., Pcs7AnIn).
- Right-click the chart -> Process Tags -> Create/Change Process Tag Type.
- Designate input parameter PV_In as a configurable I/O signal parameter.
Export the IEA Template File:
- Select the plant hierarchy folder: choose Options -> Process Tags -> Assign/Edit Process Tag Types....
- Click Export to generate the tab-delimited or CSV file.
Populate Absolute Addresses in Excel:
- Open the exported file in Microsoft Excel.
- Under the column representing the signal connection (e.g., PV_In.Signal), enter the raw absolute addresses: IW 512, IW 514, IW 516.
- Save the file as Text (Tab-delimited) or CSV, preserving ANSI encoding.
Execute IEA Import:
- In SIMATIC Manager, return to the Import/Export Assistant.
- Click Import: select the modified file and verify mapping.
- Click Finish: the IEA generates the instantiated CFC charts with peripheral addresses wired directly to block margin bars.

Verification

Verify signal import integrity through the following checks:
1. Open one of the newly generated CFC charts in the plant hierarchy.
2. Inspect the input parameter pin (e.g., Pcs7AnIn.PV_In): verify that the left margin bar displays the assigned absolute address (e.g., IW 512).
3. Open Chart Reference Data (Options -> Chart Reference Data -> Address): confirm that all imported addresses appear in the cross-reference table.
4. Compile CFC charts with Generate module drivers enabled: confirm that driver generator creates module diagnostic blocks linking to the hardware address.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Ensure that the absolute addresses entered in the IEA file correspond to hardware modules actually configured in STEP 7 HW Config. If an absolute address falls outside the controller's peripheral process image or references an unconfigured slot, the IEA will still place the address on the margin bar, but subsequent CFC compilation with Generate Module Drivers will fail with 'Driver could not be generated: address does not exist' errors.

Engineer FAQ

Does the IEA require quotes around absolute addresses in the CSV file?

No. Absolute addresses do not require quotes (e.g., IW 512). Quotes are recommended only when importing symbolic names that contain spaces or special characters.

What happens if I enter an invalid address like 'IW 99999'?

The IEA checks basic syntax (valid mnemonic and number). If the address is syntactically valid, it imports successfully, but the CFC compiler will flag an error during compilation if the address exceeds CPU limits.

Can I update existing charts with new absolute addresses via IEA?

Yes. By re-exporting the IEA file, updating the address column in Excel, and importing with the 'Overwrite existing charts' option selected, all addresses are updated automatically.