Resolving Multiproject Open Errors 299:207 and Compile 296:5014 in PCS 7

To resolve SIMATIC PCS 7 error 'Open Multiproject (299:207) User text could be faulty' and 'Compile (296:5014) message data could be faulty', repair the corrupted project text library and message database. These errors indicate broken relational indices between the block message descriptors and the internal project text tables, which standard Save As with Reorganization cannot reconstruct. Resolve the condition by updating block types from the Master Data Library across all projects, exporting and re-importing the project text database using the Text Distributor, deleting orphaned temporary compiled message cache files, and executing a full CFC compilation with 'Generate module drivers' selected.

Mechanism of Project Text and Message Table Corruption

In SIMATIC PCS 7 multiprojects, alarm texts, message identifiers, unit designations, and operator prompts are stored in a relational database structure shared across the project directory (Global/ folder and individual station database files). When opening a multiproject, SIMATIC Manager runs an integrity check on the text tables. If invalid character encodings, orphaned foreign-key references, or truncated records are detected, the system triggers:

Open Multiproject (299:207): User text could be faulty. This indicates that the global text library contains pointers to block messages or unit strings whose internal references are invalid or conflicting.
Compile (296:5014): Message data could be faulty. Please check the files. This occurs whenever the CFC chart folder or block container is opened, signifying that the pre-compiled message descriptors (.mld cache) do not match the underlying block type message definitions.

Common causes include abnormal engineering station power loss during a CFC compile, transferring project folders across operating systems with mismatched Windows system locales, or manually deleting subdirectories within the project tree.

Why Standard Save As with Reorganization Fails to Fix Error 299:207

Engineers frequently attempt to resolve these warnings using File -> Save As -> With Reorganization (slow). While reorganization effectively purges deleted records and reorganizes database index pages on disk, it does not recalculate or reconstruct missing semantic relationships within the message data structures. If a text record points to a non-existent block parameter or contains corrupted string terminators, reorganization simply packs the corrupted table into a contiguous file space, preserving the logical fault.

Step-by-Step Restoration and Database Repair Procedure

Execute the following structured recovery workflow to repair the corrupted text and message subsystem without discarding recent engineering work:

Archive the Multiproject: Create a baseline archive of the entire multiproject via File -> Archive.
Resynchronize Master Data Library Block Types:
- In SIMATIC Manager, open the Master Data Library (MDL).
- Select the Blocks folder.
- Go to Options -> Charts -> Update Block Types....
- Select all target projects within the multiproject and click OK.
- This forces the system to overwrite corrupt block message definitions in individual projects with pristine templates from the MDL.
Export and Re-import Text Tables via Text Distributor:
- In SIMATIC Manager, select the project or plant hierarchy root.
- Navigate to Options -> Manage Multilingual Texts -> Export....
- Export all languages to a clean .csv file.
- Inspect the exported .csv in a text editor to verify string encodings.
- Re-import the .csv via Options -> Manage Multilingual Texts -> Import....
- Re-importing sanitizes internal string indexes and rebuilds the text dictionary cleanly.
Purge Orphaned Compiled Message Indexes:
- Close SIMATIC Manager completely.
- Navigate to the project directory on disk using Windows Explorer.
- Locate and remove temporary compiled message index files (*.mld and .tmp files located under the station directory).
Execute Full CFC Compilation:
- Reopen SIMATIC Manager.
- Open any CFC chart, select Chart -> Compile -> Charts as Program....
- Choose Entire program, check Generate module drivers, and execute compilation.
Perform Final Reorganization: Select File -> Save As -> With Reorganization (slow) to a clean project target path.

PCS 7 Text and Message Error Diagnostic Reference

The following diagnostic matrix summarizes symptoms, root causes, and corrective actions for text and message corruption in PCS 7:

Error CodeError MessageFailure ScopeRoot CausePrimary Resolution Mechanism299:207Open Multiproject: User text could be faultyMultiproject OpenCorrupted entries in project multilingual text dictionaryExport/Import via Manage Multilingual Texts296:5014Compile: Message data could be faultyChart / Block Folder OpenDesynchronized message descriptors (*.mld files)Update Block Types from Master Data Library296:5001Message number conflict detectedCFC CompilationOverlapping message IDs across ES chart containersOptions -> Customize -> Compilation/Download (Reassign IDs)302:1012Text library read exceptionWinCC OS CompilationMismatched language code pages between ES and OSAlign Windows system locale and WinCC text library languages

[!NOTE]
Commercial Accuracy Notice: Database restoration and text table repairs are native software engineering workflows > included in the SIMATIC PCS 7 Engineering Station software package (6ES7658-1EX58-0YA5). No additional runtime licenses, > Process Object authorizations, or hardware packages are consumed during project database maintenance.

Verification

Confirm that the text and message database integrity has been restored:

Clean Multiproject Open: Close SIMATIC Manager, reopen the application, and open the multiproject. Verify that no warning dialogues (specifically error 299:207) appear during project load.
Clean Chart Folder Navigation: Browse through every AS chart folder and block folder within each sub-project. Confirm that error 296:5014 does not reappear.
Zero-Error CFC Compilation: Initiate a full compilation (Charts as Program -> Entire program). Ensure compilation concludes with 0 errors and valid message numbers generated for all alarm-capable blocks.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Adhere to the following precautions when performing database repair operations:

Mandatory Backup: Always create an uncompressed archive (.zip) of the complete multiproject before updating block types or manipulating project directories.
Avoid Network Drive Live Edits: Never open or repair PCS 7 projects over standard Windows network shares. Always perform repairs on a local solid-state drive to prevent packet drops and file locking timeouts.
Operating System Locale Consistency: Ensure all engineering stations in a distributed team use identical Windows regional and language settings (specifically the language for non-Unicode programs).

Engineer FAQ

Can I safely ignore error 299:207 if the project still opens?

No. While SIMATIC Manager permits you to bypass the dialogue, corrupted message tables can result in missing alarm texts, corrupted WinCC OS compilation, or failed AS-OS message transfers during subsequent engineering phases.

Why didn't 'Save As with Reorganization' eliminate error 296:5014?

Reorganization only repacks the physical database records on disk. It cannot resolve logical mismatches between block type message templates and chart-level instance message descriptors.

Will updating block types from the Master Data Library cause a CPU Stop during download?

If the block type interfaces (inputs, outputs, or internal structures) have not changed, you can perform an online download of changes in RUN. If block interfaces have changed, a CPU STOP may be required depending on CPU architecture.

Do these errors indicate corrupted controller hardware or CPU memory?

No. Errors 299:207 and 296:5014 are strictly confined to the offline engineering station project database and do not reflect controller hardware degradation or online memory faults.