Sorting and Filtering CFC Charts by Creation Date in SIMATIC PCS 7

In SIMATIC PCS 7 (STEP 7 / SIMATIC Manager), the default detail views in Component View and the Process Object View (POV) display the 'Last Modified' (Geändert am) timestamp rather than the 'Created On' (Erstellt am) timestamp. To sort or audit CFC charts by creation date, engineers must customize the Process Object View columns to include creation timestamps, export the chart directory data to CSV via Process Object View, or utilize SIMATIC Version Trail / Version Cross Manager (VXM) for chronological chart lifecycle tracking.

CFC Metadata and Timestamp Architecture in SIMATIC Manager

In large-scale SIMATIC PCS 7 projects containing hundreds or thousands of Continuous Function Charts (CFCs), engineering teams frequently need to audit the history of chart creation. Tracking when a chart was originally built helps identify which software modules were part of the initial commissioning baseline versus those added during later plant expansions or hotfixes.

Every CFC chart maintains internal metadata stored within the STEP 7 project database (.s7p / sybase relational database tables):
* Chart Name: Unique identifier within the chart folder (e.g. CFC_TIC101).
* Author: Engineering user or initials assigned at creation.
* Creation Timestamp (Erstellt am): Exact date and time the CFC chart container was instantiated.
* Modification Timestamp (Geändert am): Date and time of the most recent change to block placements, parameters, or chart connections.
* Version: Manual or automated software version tag (e.g. 1.0, 1.1).

While right-clicking an individual CFC chart and selecting Object Properties clearly displays both timestamps, standard tabular navigation in SIMATIC Manager does not provide a direct single-click sort by creation date.

Why Default Views Only Display Modification Date

In standard SIMATIC Manager Component View (under AS -> CPU -> S7 Program -> Charts), the right-hand detail pane defaults to showing:
* Name
* Type (CFC Chart)
* Size
* Last Modified (Geändert am)
* Author
* Comment

The SIMATIC Manager interface is derived from the classic Windows Explorer shell paradigm where file modification date takes priority for compilation synchronization. When compiling changes (Changes only), the CFC compiler evaluates modification timestamps to determine which charts require code regeneration. Consequently, creation date was omitted from default folder list views.

Methods to Display and Sort CFCs by Creation Date

Engineers can access and sort CFC creation dates using three practical engineering workflows:

Method 1: Process Object View (POV) Customization

The Process Object View (accessible via View -> Process Object View or Ctrl + 4 in SIMATIC Manager) provides a multi-tab tabular environment. Under the General tab, all charts across the hierarchy are listed. Engineers can customize displayed columns by right-clicking the table header, selecting Select Columns..., and enabling creation date fields.

Method 2: Process Object View Tabular Export to CSV/Excel

From the Process Object View, engineers can export the entire chart table to a comma-separated values (CSV) file or copy/paste directly into Microsoft Excel. In Excel, engineers can execute multi-level sorting, chronological filtering, and generate audit reports.

Method 3: SIMATIC Version Trail and Version Cross Manager (VXM)

For formal engineering audit requirements (such as FDA 21 CFR Part 11 validation), Siemens provides optional add-on packages:
* SIMATIC Version Trail: Automatically logs the creation, archiving, and modification history of projects and libraries with exact timestamps and engineering user credentials.
* SIMATIC Version Cross Manager (VXM): Compares project versions and visually highlights newly created CFC charts versus modified existing charts.

Timestamp Tracking and Auditing Comparison Matrix

The following matrix compares methods for auditing CFC creation dates in SIMATIC PCS 7:

Tool / MechanismNative SIMATIC Manager POVExport to CSV / ExcelSIMATIC Version TrailVersion Cross Manager (VXM)License RequirementIncluded in standard PCS 7 ESIncluded in standard PCS 7 ESSeparate License (6ES7658-1EX...)Separate License (6ES7658-1CX...)Effort to AccessImmediate in Engineering StationFast (Export in <1 minute)Requires initial setupRequires saved baseline projectSorting CapabilityTabular column click sortFull spreadsheet sorting/pivotChronological event listDifference tree viewScope of DataCharts, parameters, signalsAll project engineering attributesMultiproject archive historyBlock-level and chart-level diffAudit ComplianceInformal engineering reviewEngineering documentationFull electronic record audit trailFormal design qualification (DQ)

Step-by-Step Procedure to Export and Sort CFC Creation Dates

To extract and sort all CFC charts by creation date:
1. Open Process Object View:
- In SIMATIC Manager, select the top-level Plant folder or AS controller folder.
- Switch to Process Object View by pressing Ctrl + 4 or selecting View -> Process Object View.
2. Navigate to the General Tab:
- In the Process Object View lower pane, click the General tab.
- Ensure the tree selection on the left encompasses the entire plant or target automation system.
3. Customize Visible Columns:
- Right-click anywhere in the table column header and select Customize Columns....
- In the list of available attributes, locate and check Created on (or Erstellt am). If not present directly under General, select the Charts tab.
4. Sort by Creation Date:
- Click the column header Created on. The entire chart catalog will sort in ascending or descending chronological order.
5. Export to CSV for Reporting:
- In the menu bar, select Process Objects -> Export -> All / Selected.
- Choose CSV format and save the file to your engineering documentation repository.
- Open in Excel to review the creation timeline across all commissioned units.

Verification

Verify chart creation date sorting and accuracy:
1. Locate a newly created test chart and an older commissioned chart in the Process Object View.
2. Verify that clicking the Created on column header reliably toggles between ascending and descending chronological sequence.
3. Right-click the test chart, select Object Properties, and cross-check the displayed 'Created' timestamp against the value displayed in the sorted table.
4. Confirm that modifying the chart (e.g. moving a block or editing a parameter) updates the 'Last Modified' timestamp while leaving the 'Created on' timestamp strictly unchanged.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Copying and pasting an existing CFC chart creates a NEW chart object; its creation date will reflect the timestamp of the paste operation, not the original source chart.
Restoring a project from an uncompressed raw file copy rather than SIMATIC Manager 'Retrieve' can alter operating system file timestamps, though internal database metadata remains preserved.
Optional packages such as Version Trail and VXM require engineering station licenses; verify software licensing with an authorized Siemens distributor before planning formal validation procedures.

Engineer FAQ

Can I display creation date in the classic Component View folder pane?

No. The classic Windows Explorer-style detail pane in SIMATIC Manager Component View only provides fixed system columns (Name, Type, Size, Last Modified, Author, Comment). Use Process Object View for advanced metadata display.

Does renaming a CFC chart alter its creation date?

No. Renaming a chart updates the modification timestamp (Geändert am) and project cross-references, but the internal creation timestamp (Erstellt am) remains permanently fixed.

How does Process Object View handle creation dates for charts inside Master Data Libraries?

When viewing charts in the Master Data Library via Process Object View, the creation timestamp represents when the template chart was originally created in the library.