Installing Process Historian Microsoft Office Add-in and Architecture Rules

Installing the SIMATIC Information Server / Process Historian Microsoft Office Add-in requires a 32-bit edition of Microsoft Office (Excel / Word), even when running on 64-bit Windows Server operating systems. The Information Server Add-in installer will abort or fail to load if a 64-bit edition of Office is installed. Furthermore, the add-in requires the Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime (VSTO) and .NET Framework 4.5 or higher. In Microsoft Excel, ensure that Trust Center macro and add-in policies do not block unsigned add-ins, and verify that your Information Server release includes the latest cumulative updates.

Information Server Office Add-in Role in Reporting

In SIMATIC PCS 7, the Process Historian (PH) serves as the high-capacity central archive for long-term storage of process values, alarms, and batch records. To transform raw historical data into executive reports, compliance audits, and KPI dashboards, Siemens provides the SIMATIC Information Server (IS).

A core capability of Information Server is the Microsoft Office Add-in for Microsoft Excel and Word. This add-in allows plant engineers to design dynamic spreadsheet templates that query historical archive data directly from the Process Historian database via web service APIs, automating cyclic shift, daily, and monthly production reporting.

The 32-Bit Microsoft Office Architecture Prerequisite

A pervasive installation roadblock occurs when engineers attempt to install the Office Add-in on modern 64-bit Windows workstations:

32-Bit COM Architecture: The Information Server Office Add-in relies on native 32-bit compiled COM components and OLE DB data providers. Microsoft Office 64-bit cannot load 32-bit in-process COM add-ins.
Mandatory 32-Bit Office Installation: Even though the host operating system is a 64-bit edition (Windows 7/10 64-bit or Windows Server 2012/2016 64-bit), the administrator must install the 32-bit edition of Microsoft Office.
Installer Abort: If the installer detects a 64-bit Office installation (Program Files\Microsoft Office), it halts with cryptic installation errors or fails to register the add-in ribbon in Excel.

Prerequisites: VSTO Runtime, .NET Framework, and Excel Security

Beyond Office bit-depth, three software prerequisites must be satisfied:

Visual Studio Tools for Office (VSTO): The add-in requires the Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime (x86) to execute managed .NET add-in code within the Office process.
Microsoft .NET Framework: Requires .NET Framework 4.5 or higher with all current cumulative security patches.
Excel Trust Center Policies: Corporate IT policies frequently disable add-ins by default. In Excel Options -> Trust Center -> Trust Center Settings -> Add-ins, ensure that 'Disable all Application Add-ins' is unchecked.

Comparison of Supported Microsoft Office Versions

The table below details compatibility across Microsoft Office versions for Process Historian / Information Server 2014.

Microsoft Office VersionBit DepthService Pack Level RequiredInstallation CompatibilityOperational NotesMicrosoft Office 201332-bit (x86)None / SP1Supported & CertifiedBaseline standard for IS 2014 SP2Microsoft Office 201364-bit (x64)AnyUNSUPPORTED (Fails setup)64-bit COM boundary violationMicrosoft Office 201032-bit (x86)Service Pack 1+Supported & CertifiedFully verified on Windows 7/Server 2008Microsoft Office 200732-bit (x86)Service Pack 3Supported (Legacy)Compatible with base releaseMicrosoft Office 365 / 201632-bit (x86)Current ChannelRequires IS 2014 SP2 Upd1+Requires latest Information Server update

Step-by-Step Procedure to Install the Information Server Add-in

Follow this step-by-step procedure to deploy the Information Server Office Add-in:

Verify Office Architecture and Prerequisites:
- Open Microsoft Excel: navigate to File -> Account -> About Excel.
- Confirm that the line reads: '32-bit' (if 64-bit, uninstall and reinstall 32-bit Office).
- Download and install Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Tools for Office Runtime (x86) from Microsoft.
Download Add-in from Information Server Web Portal:
- Open Internet Explorer / Edge on the reporting PC.
- Connect to the Information Server web portal: http://<IS_Server_Name>/InformationServer.
- Navigate to Administration -> Tools / Downloads.
- Download the IS Office Add-in installation executable directly from the server.
Execute Setup as Administrator:
- Close all open instances of Excel and Word.
- Right-click the installer and select Run as administrator.
- Complete setup. Ensure the installer registers the VSTO add-in without errors.
Configure Trust Center and Connection:
- Launch Excel: open File -> Options -> Add-ins.
- Under Manage: COM Add-ins, click Go...: verify that 'SIMATIC Information Server Add-In' is checked and shows 'Load at Startup'.
- Switch to the new Information Server ribbon in Excel.
- Click Server Configuration: enter the URL and authentication credentials for the Process Historian / Information Server.

Verification

Verify add-in functionality through the following tests:
1. In Excel, verify that the 'Information Server' tab appears prominently on the main ribbon.
2. Click Connect: verify that the status indicator transitions to green ('Connected to Server').
3. Click Insert Historical Data: select a test tag (e.g., Reactor_Temp.PV_Out.Value) and specify a 1-hour time range.
4. Click Execute: verify that historical timestamp and process value rows populate the Excel spreadsheet smoothly.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Never install Microsoft Office or the Information Server Add-in directly on the core Process Historian Server or active WinCC OS Servers! Installing desktop Office applications on industrial servers can disrupt Microsoft SQL Server instances, modify shared system OLE DB components, and violate plant IT security hardening. Always install Microsoft Office and the Information Server Add-in on a separate, dedicated reporting client workstation or office PC.

Engineer FAQ

Can I install the Office Add-in on a 64-bit Windows 10 PC?

Yes, provided the 32-bit edition of Microsoft Office is installed. 32-bit Office runs smoothly on 64-bit Windows via the Windows-on-Windows (WoW64) subsystem.

Why does the Information Server tab disappear when Excel is restarted?

Excel disables add-ins that crash or take too long to load. Open Excel Options -> Add-ins -> Manage: Disabled Items, click Go..., select the Siemens add-in, and click Enable.

Can the Office Add-in generate automated PDF reports?

Yes. By designing an Excel report template and uploading it to Information Server, reports can be generated automatically on schedule and emailed as PDF or Excel attachments.