SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Engineering System (AdvES) Installation, Architecture, and Licensing

SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Engineering System (AdvES) is an optional software package that enables bidirectional data exchange between external engineering tools (such as Microsoft Excel, COMOS, or CAEx databases) and PCS 7 Engineering Stations. AdvES is not included in the standard PCS 7 DVD set; it requires dedicated installation media and a separate floating license managed via Automation License Manager (ALM). For PCS 7 V8.1 environments, AdvES V8.0 SP2 or AdvES V8.1 can be obtained as an add-on package via Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS Entry ID 101094601) or ordered under MLFB 6ES7658-1EX18-0YA5.

AdvES Architecture and Engineering Workflow Integration

The SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Engineering System (AdvES) bridges the gap between basic electrical/instrumentation planning and automation software engineering. In traditional PCS 7 engineering, engineers manually create hierarchy folders, instantiate CFC templates, and configure process tags using the Import/Export Assistant (IEA) or Process Object View (POV).

AdvES introduces an automated bidirectional engineering backbone. It utilizes an intermediate CAEx (Computer Aided Engineering Exchange) XML data model to exchange signals, process tags, equipment hierarchies, control module types (CMTs), and sequence logic with external planning tools like COMOS, EPLAN, or Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. AdvES allows bulk parameter generation, cross-referencing of field I/O channels, and automated chart generation, dramatically accelerating engineering delivery.

Licensing Architecture and Commercial Ordering Rules

Deploying AdvES requires strict adherence to Siemens commercial licensing rules:
1. Software Entitlement: AdvES is an optional engineering tool licensed separately from the standard PCS 7 Engineering Toolset. The base PCS 7 Engineering Station license (SIMATIC PCS 7 Engineering Toolset) does not entitle the use of AdvES.
2. License Key: Operation requires a dedicated floating license: SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Engineering System (e.g., V8.1 or V8.2). The license must be transferred to the local Engineering Station or a centralized network license server using Automation License Manager (ALM).
3. Version Pairing: AdvES must match the installed PCS 7 platform version. For PCS 7 V8.1, Siemens released AdvES V8.0 SP2 and AdvES V8.1. Deploying a mismatched major version (such as AdvES V9.0 on PCS 7 V8.1) is blocked by the installer.

Equipment Schedule - Hardware and Software Ordering Specifications

The following Equipment Schedule specifies the software packages, order numbers, and licensing terms for AdvES deployment:

Package DescriptionArticle Number (MLFB)License TypeDeployment PlatformSIMATIC PCS 7 AdvES V8.1 Full Package6ES7658-1EX18-0YA5Floating License (1 Installation)Engineering Station (Single / Client)SIMATIC PCS 7 AdvES V8.1 Upgrade Package6ES7658-1EX18-0YE5Upgrade from AdvES V8.0 to V8.1Engineering Station (Single / Client)SIMATIC PCS 7 AdvES V8.0 SP2 DownloadSIOS Entry 101094601Service Pack / Web UpdateRequires installed AdvES V8.0 baseMicrosoft Excel (External Planning Tool)Commercial Retail / VolumeStandalone Office LicenseES or Planning PC (32-bit recommended)

[!IMPORTANT]
Commercial Accuracy Notice: Siemens order numbers (MLFBs) and license requirements must be confirmed against the active > Siemens Industry Mall catalog and an authorized Siemens distributor quotation. Do not infer licensing quantities solely from > tag counts or controller size.

Installation Prerequisites and Setup Procedure

Verify Base Engineering Station: Ensure that SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.1 Engineering Station software is fully installed and operational (including STEP 7 V5.5 SP4, CFC V8.1, and Process Object View).
Obtain Setup Media: Access the AdvES media via the purchased installation DVD or download the Service Pack package from Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS Entry ID 101094601). Extract the archive to a local hard drive folder without special characters.
Execute Setup: Run Setup.exe with administrative privileges. The installer verifies the presence of prerequisite PCS 7 ES components and registers the AdvES COM components.
Transfer License Key: Open Automation License Manager (ALM) on the Engineering Station. Transfer the floating license key SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Engineering System from the USB license stick or corporate license server to drive C:.
Initialize AdvES in SIMATIC Manager: Open SIMATIC Manager. In the menu, select Options -> SIMATIC Advanced Engineering System to launch the engineering workbench and configure import/export mapping rules.

Verification

Verify AdvES readiness through the following steps:
1. In Automation License Manager, select drive C: and confirm that SIMATIC PCS 7 Advanced Engineering System shows status Valid and License key: In use when AdvES is open.
2. In SIMATIC Manager, open a sample project and select Options -> SIMATIC Advanced Engineering System: confirm that the AdvES project workspace initializes without COM registration or missing license errors.
3. Perform a test export of a Control Module Type (CMT) to an Excel spreadsheet: confirm successful data serialization into CAEx format.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

AdvES relies on specific Microsoft Office 365 or Excel 32-bit/64-bit interoperability libraries. When exporting or importing via Microsoft Excel, ensure that the installed Office version matches Siemens compatibility specifications (typically 32-bit Excel for PCS 7 V8.1). Furthermore, AdvES is an engineering configuration tool and does not run in online runtime environments; it must never be installed on dedicated OS Servers or Operator Stations.