C135 PCS 7 (PCS7)
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Minimum Version Requirements and Long-Term Archiving for SIMATIC BATCH Reports with Process Historian

Minimum Version Requirements and Long-Term Archiving for SIMATIC BATCH Reports with Process Historian

To generate and view long-term archived SIMATIC BATCH reports using SIMATIC Process Historian (PH) and Information Server (IS) 2014, the engineering and runtime environment strictly requires SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1 or higher. In base PCS 7 V8.1 (without Service Pack 1), native integration between the SIMATIC BATCH Control Center (BatchCC) and Process Historian is not available, and configuration dialogs do not expose the PH archiving target. Upgrading the BATCH Server and BATCH Clients to V8.1 SP1 is mandatory to enable automated batch data archiving, centralized PH storage, and web-based reporting through Information Server.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

In pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, and food processing plants governed by FDA 21 CFR Part 11 or GMP regulations, archiving electronic batch records (EBR) and recipe execution data is a mandatory compliance requirement. With the release of SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.1, Siemens introduced a unified archiving architecture centered on SIMATIC Process Historian (PH) and SIMATIC Information Server (IS). However, plant engineers configuring long-term batch archiving frequently discover that batch reports cannot be generated from BatchCC, and the archiving configuration screens do not match vendor documentation. This discrepancy arises because native integration with Process Historian requires SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Operating base V8.1 lacks the software hooks for PH archiving.

SIMATIC BATCH Archiving Evolution: Local Archives vs Process Historian

Prior to PCS 7 V8.1 SP1, SIMATIC BATCH relied on localized archiving mechanisms:

  • Local Database Detachment: Completed batches were closed and archived to local server hard drives as detached Microsoft SQL Server database files (*.mdf / *.ldf) or proprietary compressed archive files (*.sbx).
  • Manual Retrieval: Viewing an archived batch required an operator to manually mount the detached database via BatchCC, view the electronic record, and manually export PDF reports.
  • Unified Archiving with PH/IS: Starting with SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1, completed batch data, recipe parameters, operator comments, and electronic signatures are automatically transferred over the plant Terminal Bus to the centralized Process Historian enterprise database. Information Server then provides scheduled, automated web reporting.

Why SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1 is the Minimum Version Requirement

The Siemens system manual 'Long-term archiving of Batch data (PCS 7 V8.1 with PH/IS 2014)' specifies operational procedures that apply exclusively to V8.1 SP1. In base SIMATIC BATCH V8.1, the communication interface between the BATCH Server service (bfserverx.exe) and the Process Historian Archiving service (PH-DataExport) had not yet been implemented.

Attempting to configure long-term PH archiving on a base V8.1 system is not supported by any hotfix; installing the full Service Pack 1 for SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 is the sole engineering remedy.

Configuration Dialog Differences: V8.1 vs V8.1 SP1

Engineers can immediately detect whether their system supports Process Historian batch archiving by inspecting the BatchCC configuration interface:

  • SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 (Base): Under Project > Settings > Archive, the interface displays only local directory targets and options for database detachment. No options exist for selecting Process Historian or configuring PH server tags.
  • SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1: The Archive settings tab provides a dedicated selection for Process Historian, allowing configuration of automatic batch export thresholds, archiving status flags, and server redundancy failover.

BATCH Archiving Architecture Comparison

The following table compares the architectural differences, version requirements, and functional capabilities of BATCH archiving:

Engineering FeatureSIMATIC BATCH V8.1 (Base)SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1SIMATIC BATCH V9.0+Minimum Required VersionBATCH V8.1 (Base)BATCH V8.1 SP1 (Mandatory)BATCH V9.0 / V9.1Supported PH/IS PlatformNot SupportedProcess Historian 2014Process Historian 2014 SP3 / 2020Archiving MechanismLocal SQL detachment (.mdf) / .sbx filesAutomated background streaming to PHAutomated streaming with high-speed compressionWeb-Based ReportingNot Available (Local Crystal Reports only)Information Server 2014 Web ReportsInformation Server 2020 HTML5 / Excel / PDF21 CFR Part 11 ComplianceManual administrative procedureFully automated audit trail and electronic recordsFully automated with centralized security managementClient Report ViewingBatchCC only (requires local DB attachment)BatchCC and Information Server web portalAny web client, tablet, or BatchCC station

Step-by-Step Configuration for Long-Term Batch Archiving

Method 1: Upgrading to SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1

  1. Verify existing installed software versions using Siemens Installed Software in Windows Control Panel.
  2. Procure the SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1 installation media (or download corresponding Service Pack from Siemens Industry Online Support).
  3. Perform a full backup of the active BATCH project database (sbdata) using the BATCH Backup/Restore wizard in BatchCC.
  4. Close all SIMATIC BATCH instances and install SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1 on the Engineering Station, redundant BATCH Servers, and all BATCH Clients.
  5. Restart the computers and restore the BATCH project database.

Method 2: Enabling Process Historian Archiving in BatchCC

  1. Open SIMATIC BATCH Control Center (BatchCC) on the primary BATCH Server.
  2. Navigate to System > Settings > Archive.
  3. Select the radio button Process Historian as the target archive location.
  4. Set the archiving condition (e.g., 'Automatically archive completed batches after 24 hours').
  5. Click Apply and verify that the connection status indicator to Process Historian turns green.

Verification

To verify that batch reports and archiving operate correctly:

  1. Archive Execution: In BatchCC, run a test recipe to completion and execute the 'Close Batch' and 'Archive Batch' commands.
  2. Process Historian Verification: On the Process Historian server, open the Process Historian Management Console. Navigate to the Diagnostics tab and confirm that the batch archive record appears with status 'Completed'.
  3. Report Generation: Open the SIMATIC Information Server web application in a browser. Select the Batch Report template, choose the archived test batch from the drop-down menu, and click Generate Report. Confirm that the PDF report renders with full trend curves and event logs.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

  • Version Synchronization: All nodes running SIMATIC BATCH (Server, Single Station, and Clients) must run identical versions and Service Packs. Mixing V8.1 base clients with V8.1 SP1 servers will cause communication aborts.
  • Process Historian Ready State: Before configuring BATCH archiving, ensure Process Historian is in the 'Active' operating state with a validated database license.
  • Licensing Guardrail: SIMATIC BATCH and Process Historian require distinct runtime and archiving licenses. Ensure valid licenses for SIMATIC BATCH Server, SIMATIC BATCH POs, and Process Historian BATCH Archiving are installed on the Automation License Manager.

Engineer FAQ

Can I install SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1 without upgrading the rest of PCS 7 to V8.1 SP1?

Siemens supports installing SIMATIC BATCH V8.1 SP1 within a PCS 7 V8.1 base environment, provided that the required PCS 7 core components and compatibility guidelines are respected.

What happens to batches completed in base V8.1 before upgrading to SP1?

Previously completed batches remain stored in the local BATCH database and can be migrated and transferred to Process Historian after upgrading to V8.1 SP1.

Where are batch reports rendered when using Process Historian and Information Server?

Reports are generated by SIMATIC Information Server using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and delivered as PDF, Excel, or Word documents through a web browser.

Technical References

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  • https://industrialautomation.net/search?query=simatic-pcs7
  • https://industrialautomation.net/search?query=simatic-batch
  • https://industrialautomation.net/search?query=process-historian
  • https://industrialautomation.net/search?query=information-server
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