Resolving Lost APF Engineering Settings and 'No APF Server Project Defined' in PCS 7 V9.0

Resolving Lost APF Engineering Settings and 'No APF Server Project Defined' in PCS 7 V9.0

In SIMATIC PCS 7 V9.0 SP1 with Advanced Process Functions (APF) V2.1 Update 2, the recurring warning 'No APF server project has been defined! Should the current project be used as the APF server project?' accompanied by the loss of configured server prefixes, date/time formats, and material lots occurs when the APF User Archives fail to commit to the underlying WinCC Microsoft SQL Server database. On ES/OS Single Stations, this failure is typically caused by uncompiled User Archive structures, mismatched SQL computer registration, or insufficient Windows user rights. To resolve this, ensure the User Archives option is licensed and initialized, assign the local station as the APF Server in the APF Integrator wizard, compile user archives, and verify membership in the SIMATIC HMI and SQLServer2005MSSQLUser groups.

Table of Contents

• APF Integrator and User Archive Architecture in PCS 7
• Root Causes of Lost APF Settings and Registration Prompts
• APF Database Configuration and Component Matrix
• Step-by-Step Procedure to Establish and Persist APF Server Settings
• Verification
• Limitations and Operational Precautions
• Engineer FAQ
• Technical References
• Related Articles
• Related Tags

APF Integrator and User Archive Architecture in PCS 7

SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Process Functions (APF) is a specialized modular software package used extensively in food and beverage, chemical, and pharmaceutical processes for material tracking, parameter management, lot administration, and recipe dosage archiving. APF functions by establishing a bridge between the S7-400 controller logic and WinCC User Archives.

The configuration workflow requires two tools: the APF Integrator, which establishes project-level infrastructure (allocating communication channels, server data references, and User Archive tables), and the APF Engineering Tool, where engineers define materials, lots, archive parameters, and unit allocations. All parameters configured in the Engineering Tool are stored as persistent records inside the WinCC SQL Server User Archive tables (UA#...).

Root Causes of Lost APF Settings and Registration Prompts

When the APF Integrator repeatedly prompts for server project assignment and wipes previously entered data, technical analysis reveals the following breakdown:

1. Uncommitted User Archive Schema: In a fresh project, if the APF Integrator creates user archive definitions but the WinCC User Archive editor has not formally committed the database schema to the SQL instance, the tables remain in a volatile state. Re-opening the Engineering Tool causes an initialization timeout, reverting fields to blanks.

2. Server Prefix and Computer Name Desynchronization: On an ES/OS Single Station, APF expects the computer name registered in WinCC Computer Properties to match the local machine exactly. If the server prefix is modified in the Engineering Tool without updating the APF server configuration table, the Integrator fails to recognize the active project as the designated APF master.

3. Windows Security and SQL Rights: In Windows 7 / Windows 10, if the logged-in engineering account lacks explicit membership in the local Windows user groups SIMATIC HMI and SQLServer2005MSSQLUser$ComputerName$WINCC, write operations to APF_Config.xml and SQL archive tables are blocked by Windows User Account Control (UAC).

APF Database Configuration and Component Matrix

The following table summarizes core APF components, database artifacts, and diagnostic indicators:

Step-by-Step Procedure to Establish and Persist APF Server Settings

To permanently register the APF server project and prevent configuration loss:

1. Verify Windows User Group Memberships:
   - In Windows Computer Management (compmgmt.msc), open Local Users and Groups -> Groups.
   - Ensure your Windows user account is an active member of Administrators, SIMATIC HMI, and the local SQL Server WINCC group.
   - Log off and log back into Windows if group memberships were modified.

2. Initialize WinCC User Archives:
   - Open the OS project in WinCC Explorer on the ES/OS Single Station.
   - Open User Archive editor from the WinCC navigation tree.
   - Verify that the User Archive application opens cleanly. If prompted to create tables, click Yes and save.

3. Run APF Integrator and Bind Server Project:
   - Close WinCC Explorer.
   - Launch the APF Integrator from the Siemens SIMATIC program group.
   - Select your current OS project. When the prompt appears: 'No APF server project has been defined! Should the current project be used as the APF server project?', click Yes.
   - In the configuration wizard, select the local station name as the APF Server.
   - Click Generate / Integrate and wait for the confirmation dialog: 'Integration completed successfully'.

4. Configure and Commit Engineering Tool Parameters:
   - Open the APF Engineering Tool.
   - Enter the required parameters: Server prefix (leave blank for local Single Station, or enter configured OS name), date/time format, and archive backup directories.
   - Create your material definitions and material lots.
   - Click Save and close the Engineering Tool.
   - Re-open the Engineering Tool immediately to confirm that all configured settings remain intact.

Verification

Verify APF integration stability:
1. Re-launch the APF Integrator; verify that it opens directly to the management screen without displaying the 'No APF server project defined' warning.
2. Open WinCC User Archive editor; confirm that tables UA#APF_Material and UA#APF_Lot are fully populated with the records created in the Engineering Tool.
3. Start WinCC Runtime and verify that the APF runtime faceplates load material lists without database timeout alarms.
4. Trigger a material lot allocation from CFC and verify that lot parameters are read successfully from the user archive.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

• User Archive License Prerequisite: APF requires an active WinCC User Archives runtime license. Running without valid User Archive licensing causes SQL writes to fail intermittently.
• Single Station Prefix Rule: On an ES/OS Single Station, the server prefix in the APF Engineering Tool must be left empty or set strictly to match the local WinCC computer name.
• Re-Integration Overwrites: Running the APF Integrator with the option 'Re-initialize database' will erase existing material definitions. Always perform a User Archive export before re-integrating.

Engineer FAQ

What license is required to run APF in SIMATIC PCS 7?

APF requires the SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Process Functions Engineering and Runtime software package licenses, as well as the standard WinCC User Archives runtime option license.

Why did my material lots disappear when I re-ran the APF Integrator?

Running the APF Integrator with 'Initialize User Archives' checked drops and recreates the SQL tables. Only run integration during initial commissioning or use archive backups.

Can APF run on an OS Client station?

Yes, APF runtime faceplates can run on OS Clients, but the APF server database must reside on the central OS Server or Single Station.

Where are APF error logs located on the engineering station?

Logs are stored in the project directory under <OS_Project>\APF\Logs\ and in the Windows Event Viewer under Application logs.

Technical References

• SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Process Functions (APF V2.1) Engineering Manual (A5E39221520-AB)
• SIMATIC HMI WinCC V7.4 SP1 User Archives Manual
• Siemens Industry Online Support: Advanced Process Functions (APF) Configuration Guidelines (Entry ID: 109756832)

Related Articles

• Automatic Generation of OB80 and System Blocks via Driver Generation in PCS 7
• Resolving OS Download Failure 'Error Changing Computer Name to Station-Name'
• Managing Database Growth and Sizing for the SIMATIC BATCH sbdata Directory

Related Tags

• APF
• Advanced Process Functions
• User Archives
• APF Integrator
• PCS 7 V9.0