SIMATIC PCS 7 V8.1 Getting Started Color Project: Restoring Sample Plant Blocks and WinCC Graphics Libraries

When following the official SIMATIC PCS 7 Getting Started - Part 1 tutorial and finding that required graphical templates (such as Global Library/PlantBlocks/Tanks/Tank4) are missing in WinCC Graphics Designer, the issue stems from not importing the companion Getting Started sample project archive. Siemens packages the sample equipment blocks, preconfigured CFC charts, and customized WinCC graphic libraries within an 'Appendix' ZIP archive published alongside the manual on Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS Entry ID 103141812). Extracting this archive and copying the PlantBlocks graphics into the project's GraCS folder or WinCC Library path restores the missing objects.

Structure of the SIMATIC PCS 7 Getting Started Tutorial Curriculum

For engineers entering the process automation domain, Siemens provides structured self-study tutorials, notably PCS 7 Getting Started - Part 1 (with APL) and Part 2. The tutorial guides engineers through constructing a complete, simulated industrial batch facility known as the 'Color Project' (a liquid blending and chemical dosing process). The engineering steps span configuring AS hardware, programming CFC charts with the Advanced Process Library, configuring SFC sequences, and designing WinCC operator mimics.

WinCC Graphics Designer Libraries: Global vs Project Library Architecture

In WinCC Graphics Designer, reusable graphic assets are organized into two distinct repositories in the Library palette:

Global Library: Contains standard system graphics shipped with the core WinCC installation (e.g. pumps, motors, valves, generic pipes). This library is shared across all projects on the engineering workstation.
Project Library: Specific to the open WinCC project, storing custom user-defined symbols, customized objects, and project-specific mimics.

The composite plant vessels referenced in the Getting Started tutorial—such as PlantBlocks/Tanks/Tank4—are not part of the standard commercial WinCC setup; they reside in a customized tutorial library file (*.cyl) designed specifically for the Color Project.

Root Cause of Missing Sample Graphic Blocks and Tank Objects

When a novice engineer follows the written guide step-by-step from a clean PCS 7 installation, opening the Graphics Designer Library palette reveals that the subfolder PlantBlocks is missing. This occurs because:

The Getting Started manual text explains how to build the project, but the proprietary graphic assets and sample master data are distributed in a separate downloadable companion archive named Appendix_Color_GS.zip.
Without importing this archive into the STEP 7 multiproject and WinCC directory, Graphics Designer only displays generic Siemens vector symbols, lacking the composite tanks and agitators shown in the tutorial screenshots.

Locating and Extracting the Official SIOS Color Project Appendix

The companion archive is available on Siemens Industry Online Support (SIOS):

Entry ID: 103141812 (PCS 7 Getting Started - Part 1).
Under the download section, download the ZIP archive labeled PCS7_V81_GS_Part1_Appendix.zip.
This archive contains the completed benchmark project (Color_GS), pre-configured OS pictures, and the customized symbol library folder PlantBlocks.

Comparative Component Matrix: Standard PCS 7 Media vs Getting Started Package

The following table delineates where various tutorial assets originate:

Asset CategoryIncluded on PCS 7 Installation DVDsProvided in Getting Started AppendixInstallation / Storage LocationAPL Function Blocks (MotL, VlvL)Yes (Core PCS 7 APL)Referenced by projectSTEP 7 Master Data LibraryStandard WinCC Symbols (Valves, Motors)Yes (Global Library)Referenced by projectWinCC\bin\GlobalLibrary\Composite Vessels (Tank4, Agitators)NoYes (Appendix_Color_GS.zip)WinCC Project Library / GraCSBenchmark Multiproject (Color_GS)NoYes (Appendix_Color_GS.zip)STEP 7 Project Archive (*.zip)S7-PLCSIM Simulation SetupIncluded in PCS 7 ToolsetParameterized scripts includedS7-PLCSIM memory files (*.lay)

Step-by-Step Procedure to Restore Sample Graphic Libraries

Follow these instructions to restore the missing graphic assets:

Download Companion Files: Navigate to SIOS Entry ID 103141812 and download PCS7_V81_GS_Part1_Appendix.zip.
Extract Files: Extract the ZIP file to a temporary engineering folder (e.g., C:\Setup\PCS7_GS_Appendix).
Import Library Files: In the extracted files, locate the folder GraCS or Library. Copy the .cyl library files and custom bitmaps (*.bmp, *.emf).
Paste to Target OS: Paste these files into your active project directory under wincproj\<OS_Name>\GraCS\ and wincproj\<OS_Name>\Library\.
Refresh Graphics Designer: Open Graphics Designer. In the Library palette, right-click and select Refresh (or restart Graphics Designer).
Verify Availability: Expand Project Library -> PlantBlocks -> Tanks. The composite Tank4 object will now be available for drag-and-drop placement.

Verification

Confirm successful asset integration through these checks:

Palette Verification: Confirm that PlantBlocks appears in the WinCC Graphics Designer library browser.
Drag-and-Drop Test: Drag Tank4 onto an empty test PDL picture. Verify that the vessel graphic renders with all pipe connections and fill level dynamics.
Tag Connection Audit: Connect the tank level fill property to an analog process tag. Open WinCC Runtime; confirm the vessel fill level animates properly.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Observe the following engineering constraints:

Educational vs Industrial Use: The graphic objects in the Getting Started Color Project are educational models intended for learning. They lack industrial safety interlocking and dynamic high-performance HMI standards (such as ISA-101 grayscale concepts).
Version Compatibility: Ensure the downloaded Getting Started Appendix matches your exact PCS 7 release (e.g., V8.1 vs V8.2 vs V9.0) to avoid APL block version mismatches.
Commercial Accuracy Disclaimer: Software order numbers (MLFBs), package structures, and hardware capacity prerequisites vary across PCS 7 versions and hardware platforms. System integrators must confirm exact software entitlements and licensing requirements against the official Siemens Catalog CA 01 and obtain an authorized Siemens distributor quotation prior to purchasing.

Engineer FAQ

How do I add custom graphics to the WinCC Project Library permanently?

In Graphics Designer, select your customized object, click Edit -> Copy, switch to the Project Library tab, right-click the target folder, and click Paste.

Can Getting Started projects be simulated using S7-PLCSIM?

Yes, the Getting Started curriculum is specifically designed to run on a single engineering PC using S7-PLCSIM and WinCC Runtime without physical PLC hardware.