Troubleshooting Dial Gauges and Display Controls Not Rendering on WinCC Web Navigator in SIMATIC PCS 7

In SIMATIC PCS 7 (v7.1 to v9.x), a graphic display control (such as the analog dial gauge Meter_1_100 from the Display Library) working perfectly on local OS Servers and Clients but failing to render or animate on WinCC Web Navigator clients occurs because the underlying ActiveX control has not been published for the web or lacks client-side registration. Standard WinCC Graphics Designer controls must be processed through the Web View Publisher to generate web-compatible metadata and compressed download packages. To resolve this, run the Web View Publisher on the Web Server, verify that the ActiveX control is authorized in Internet Explorer security settings, and publish the pictures.

WinCC Web Navigator Client-Server Architecture and ActiveX Rendering

SIMATIC WinCC Web Navigator allows viewing and operating SCADA pictures across intranet and internet links:
* Thin-Client Architecture: The Web Client executes inside Microsoft Internet Explorer using an ActiveX rendering container.
* The Web View Publisher: Standard WinCC pictures (*.pdl) cannot be served directly to web clients. They must be compiled and compressed by the Web View Publisher into web-optimized .pdl formats.
* ActiveX Packaging: Complex graphic objects (such as analog gauges, sliders, and bar meters from the Siemens Display Library) are implemented as ActiveX components (.ocx). For a web browser to render them, the corresponding signed cabinet package (.cab) must reside on the Web Server and be installed on the client machine.

Root Causes of Dial and Meter Controls Failing on Web Clients

When an analog meter (Meter_1_100) displays as an empty box or red cross on Web Navigator:
1. Unpublished Graphic Pictures: The picture was modified in Graphics Designer but the engineer did not re-run the Web View Publisher. The Web Server serves stale cache.
2. Missing Client-Side ActiveX Installation: The client browser blocked downloading or installing the dial gauge ActiveX control due to Windows User Account Control (UAC) or restrictive Internet Explorer security policies.
3. Unsupported Custom Controls: Certain legacy 16-bit or third-party OCX controls lack digital signatures and 64-bit browser compatibility, preventing instantiation inside the Web Navigator viewer.

Remediation Procedure - Web View Publishing and Browser Configuration

Follow this procedure to enable dial gauges on Web Navigator clients:

[Phase 1: Run the WinCC Web View Publisher on the Web Server]
   │  • In WinCC Explorer on the Web Server, navigate to: Web Navigator
   │  • Right-click Web Navigator -> Select "Web View Publisher"
   │  • Select options:
   │      [x] "Publish all pictures"
   │      [x] "Publish all functions"
   │  • Click "Publish" to regenerate web binaries and compress ActiveX controls
   │
[Phase 2: Configure Web Server ActiveX Download Directory]
   │  • Verify that the dial gauge OCX / CAB file exists in:
   │      C:\Program Files (x86)\Siemens\WinCC\Webnavigator\Server\Web\install   │
[Phase 3: Configure Client Internet Explorer Security Settings]
   │  • On the client PC, open Internet Explorer (32-bit)
   │  • Open: Internet Options -> "Security" tab -> "Trusted Sites":
   │      - Add Web Server URL (e.g. http://os_web_server/)
   │      - Set Security Level to "Low" or customize:
   │          Enable: "Download signed ActiveX controls"
   │          Enable: "Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins"
   │  • Open Web Navigator site as Administrator on first launch to install controls!

Control Type and Web Navigator Compatibility Matrix

Compare graphic controls and their respective web support requirements:

Graphic Control CategoryExamplesWeb Publishing RequiredClient Installation RequiredStandard WinCC ShapesRectangles, Lines, CirclesYes (Publisher)None (Native vector rendering)Siemens Display LibraryMeter_1_100 (Dial), SlidersYes (Publisher)Signed ActiveX (.cab)APL Block IconsValve, Motor, PID IconsYes (Publisher)APL Web Client PackageWinCC Alarm / Trend ControlsAlarmControl, OnlineTrendControlYes (Publisher)WinCC Web Controls PackageThird-Party ActiveXCustom vendor gaugesYes (Publisher)Manual client registration

Verification

To confirm that the dial control operates on the Web Navigator:
1. On the client workstation, launch Internet Explorer and navigate to the WinCC Web Navigator portal.
2. Log on with valid operator credentials; open the process graphic containing Meter_1_100.
3. Verify that the dial gauge renders completely with dial face, graduation ticks, and needle indicator.
4. Inject a fluctuating analog process value in the AS controller.
5. Confirm that the gauge needle rotates smoothly in real time matching the live process value.

Limitations and Operational Precautions

Never use uncertified or obsolete third-party ActiveX controls in web graphics. Unsigned ActiveX controls introduce severe browser security vulnerabilities and will be blocked automatically by modern corporate endpoint firewalls. Where possible, utilize native HTML5 / WebUX solutions in modern PCS 7 releases to eliminate ActiveX dependencies entirely.

Engineer FAQ

Why does the dial work on the Web Server but not on client PCs?

The Web Server has all engineering libraries registered locally. Client PCs must download and install the ActiveX component across HTTP, which fails if permissions are restricted.

Can WinCC Web Navigator run in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge?

Classic WinCC Web Navigator requires an ActiveX container and must run in Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge configured in 'IE Mode'. Modern PCS 7 provides WinCC WebUX for native Chrome/Edge support.

Where is the Web View Publisher located?

In WinCC Explorer, right-click 'Web Navigator' in the navigation tree, or launch it from Windows Start -> Siemens Automation -> SIMATIC -> WinCC -> Web Navigator -> Web View Publisher.

What should I do if the client displays a red cross instead of the gauge?

A red cross indicates that the browser failed to instantiate the ActiveX control. Verify trusted site security settings and reinstall the Web Client plugin.