Managing Multilingual Texts for UserAna Identifiers and Interlock Channel Labels in PCS 7 APL

In SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Process Library (APL), configuring multilingual text translations for technological block parameters—such as UserAna1/UserAna2 identifiers on MotL and In01 Text0/Text1 on Interlock blocks—is managed via the STEP 7 Multilingual Text Management engine and WinCC Text Library. Changing the language in SIMATIC Manager and editing parameters individually in CFC does not automatically populate the OS Text Library. Instead, export the project text database to a standardized CSV file via 'Options -> Manage Multilingual Texts -> Export', populate the translated language columns in Microsoft Excel, import the CSV file back into STEP 7, and execute a complete OS compilation.

Executive Summary

Process manufacturing plants delivered by international engineering contractors frequently require bilingual or multilingual operator visualization (e.g., English and German, or English and Chinese). In the PCS 7 Advanced Process Library, blocks like MotL provide auxiliary analog inputs (UserAna1, UserAna2) whose faceplate labels should reflect the physical process (e.g., 'Motor Bearing Temp' in English vs. 'Motorlagertemperatur' in German). Similarly, interlock blocks (Intlk08) display text descriptions (Text0, Text1) for each input condition. Attempting to manually translate these strings directly inside CFC charts often fails because translations are overwritten or fail to propagate to WinCC. This guide outlines the standardized central text export/import workflow.

Architecture and Fundamental Mechanics

The multilingual text architecture in SIMATIC PCS 7 coordinates block attributes across Step 7 and WinCC:
1. The Block Attribute Storage Structure:
- Auxiliary Analogs: On MotL (FB1850), parameters UserAna1 and UserAna2 display text descriptions in the faceplate defined by block attributes S7_string_0 and S7_string_1 (or the parameter identifier attribute).
- Interlock Text Descriptions: On Intlk02..16, each input In01..16 possesses text attributes Text0 (state FALSE text, e.g., 'Lubrication Pressure Low') and Text1 (state TRUE text, e.g., 'Lubrication Pressure Normal').
2. The Multilingual Text Database in Step 7:
SIMATIC Manager maintains an internal multi-language string database. When a project is configured with multiple languages (e.g., English US as default, German as secondary), each text attribute is assigned a unique cryptographic Text ID.
3. The WinCC Text Library Bridge:
During AS-OS compilation, the OS compiler extracts all text IDs from the Step 7 database and transfers them into the WinCC TextDistributor / Text Library database. When an operator clicks 'Change Language' on an OS Client, WinCC dynamically queries the Text Library for the active language ID and updates faceplate labels instantly.

Step-by-Step Implementation Procedure

Configure Project Languages in SIMATIC Manager:
a. Open the multiproject in SIMATIC Manager.
b. Select Options -> Manage Multilingual Texts -> Define Languages....
c. Set the 'Default Language' (e.g., English (United States)).
d. Add the required secondary languages (e.g., German (Germany), Spanish, Chinese).
Export Multilingual Texts to CSV File:
a. In SIMATIC Manager, select Options -> Manage Multilingual Texts -> Export....
b. Select the scope: 'Entire multiproject' or specific S7 programs.
c. Select the source language and target translation languages.
d. Under 'Text types to be exported', ensure 'Block attributes' and 'Messages' are checked.
e. Choose a target file destination (e.g., C:\Cielo2\Project_Texts_Export.csv) and click 'Export'.
Translate Strings in Microsoft Excel:
a. Open the exported CSV file in Microsoft Excel.
b. Locate the rows corresponding to your target blocks (filter by block type MotL for UserAna1, or Intlk08 for In01 Text0/Text1).
c. Note that Column A contains the internal Text ID, Column B contains the English source string.
d. In Column C (Target Language, e.g., German), enter the translated terms:
- English: Motor Bearing Temperature $\rightarrow$ German: Motorlagertemperatur
- English: Emergency Stop Tripped $\rightarrow$ German: Not-Aus ausgelöst
  e. Save the CSV file with UTF-8 character encoding to preserve international characters.
Import Translated Texts Back into SIMATIC Manager:
a. In SIMATIC Manager, select Options -> Manage Multilingual Texts -> Import....
b. Browse to the translated CSV file and click 'Import'.
c. Confirm that the import log reports 0 errors.
Execute OS Compilation:
a. In SIMATIC Manager, right-click the OS object and select Compile.
b. Choose 'Entire OS' with 'Alarm Logging' and 'Text Library' checked.
c. Download changes to the OS servers.

Verification

Launch WinCC Runtime on an OS Client station.
Open the motor faceplate (MotL): verify that UserAna1 displays 'Motor Bearing Temperature' in English.
In the WinCC top navigation bar, click the Language Selection button and switch the runtime language to German.
Observe the faceplate dynamically refresh: confirm that the label immediately changes to 'Motorlagertemperatur'.
Open an interlock faceplate (Intlk08): confirm that tripped interlock text descriptions display translated German strings.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Never modify the numerical Text IDs in Column A of the exported CSV file; altering Text IDs corrupts the cross-reference table and causes translations to fail during import.

Engineer FAQ

Why didn't changing the language in SIMATIC Manager translate the faceplate?

Switching language in SIMATIC Manager only alters the ES editor display; faceplates read from the WinCC Text Library, which requires importing translations and compiling the OS.

What attributes define the UserAna labels on MotL?

The parameter attributes S7_string_0 and S7_string_1 on the UserAna1 and UserAna2 inputs.

Can I translate interlock texts directly in CFC?

You can edit them individually in the block properties, but for bulk translation across hundreds of interlocks, the CSV Export/Import tool is drastically faster and error-free.