Create PLC Guide

PLCCreator

Create PLC with PLCCreator

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Overview
Quick Guide
Detailed Guide - Introduction
1. Determine PLC Architecture
2. Create IO List
3. Select CPU Module
4. Select PLC Architecture
5. Upload IO List
6. Generate
7. Import into PLC Engineering Software

Overview

PLCCreator enables rapid PLC creation through 7 straightforward steps, structured into 3 clear phases:

1

Preparation

Youwill need to:

  • Analyze your project documentation (requirements specifications, P&IDs, instrument lists)
  • Determine the appropriate PLC architecture for your system
  • Prepare an IO list in the required format for PLCCreator

This preparation ensures PLCCreator can effectively generate your PLC configuration.

Phase includes:

2

Generation

PLCCreator then guides you through the configuration process, offering the same streamlined workflow across all supported hardware and software platforms.

This phase produces ready-to-use files for your chosen PLC software platform .

Phase includes:

3

Import

The final step: simply import your generated files into your preferred PLC software platform .

Your complete PLC project will include hardware configuration, IO signal assignments, and ready-to-use PLC tags.

Phase includes:

Quick guide

Preparation
1

Determine PLC Architecture

Select the appropriate PLC architecture for your project:

2

Create IO List

Convert your instrument IO list or index into the standardized andarchitecturespecific IO List format using Excel.

The templates are available on the IO List Templates page.

Generation - PLCCreator
3

Select CPU Module

  • Navigate to My PLCs and click "New PLC" to open the CPU Data configuration page
  • Complete all required fields and save your configuration
4

Select PLC Architecture

  • Access the PLC Architecture page via the navigation panel
  • Select your pre-determined architecture from Step 1
5

Upload IO List

6

Generate PLC Configuration

  • Access the Generate page via the navigation panel
  • Configure/select:
    • Main Rack Type: Standard Rack or Standalone CPU
    • Main Rack Group
    • Main Rack Fieldbus (for multiple fieldbus architectures)
    • Optional contingency settings
  • Save your configuration
  • Initiate generation process by clicking the "Generate" button

Upon completion, you will be redirected to the PLC Details page.

Import
7

Import to Engineering Software

Refer to the following chapters for detailed implementation guidance.

Introduction

In this guide, we'll provide you with step-by-step instructions for generating a PLC configuration, demonstrated through a real-world project example.

Project Overview:

We will create a PLC configuration for a control system comprising three electrical cabinets (Figure 1):

Figure 1: Three-Rack PLC System Architecture
Figure 1: Three-Rack PLC System Architecture

The project documentation includes an instrument IO list, available for download: Customer-Instrument-IO-List.xlsx

Figure 2 shows a condensed view of this IO list:

Figure 2: Customer-Provided Instrument IO List
Figure 2: Customer-Provided Instrument IO List

System Requirements:

  1. Main Cabinet: Siemens ET200MP platform serving as the main rack with CPU module (specified model: CPU_1515-2_PN).
  2. Remote Cabinet: Compact Siemens ET200SP hardware platform.
  3. Machine 1: IP67-rated ET200Pro platform for direct machine mounting (cabinetless installation).

Step 1:
Determine PLC Architecture

PLCCreator enables you to build PLC systems using 3 distinct architectural models:

Selecting the optimal architecture is crucial for project success. For the system shown in Figure 1 , the Single Fieldbus Architecture architecture represents the most suitable solution.

While a Multiple Fieldbuses Architecture approach could be considered (given the two remote IO racks with potential for separate fieldbuses), we recommend Single Fieldbus Architecture for this implementation due to its superior simplicity.

Step 2:
Create IO List

IO lists serve as the critical data interface between your documentation and PLCCreator. They arearchitecture specific and each PLC architecture supports two standardized IO list formats:

For this project (based on the architecture selected in Step 1 and the signal-based source data), you'll need to use Signal IO List for Single Fieldbus Architecture with its template: Signal IO List Template Single Fieldbus Common.xlsx

IO List Transformation Process

Figure 3 illustrates the workflow for converting user-provided IO data into PLCCreator-compatible format:

IO List Transformation Workflow
Figure 3: IO List Transformation Workflow
Figure 3: IO List Transformation Workflow

The transformation involves two key stages:

  • Structural adaptation: Adapt the user IO list format with the PLCCreator template structure
  • Content standardization: Modify data to meet architecture-specificcolumn requirements
The exact order may vary. The critical requirement is that your final IO list meets thecolumn requirements

Understanding the Template Structure

The Signal IO List template contains 5 columns organized into 2 functional groups:

IO Module Creation Columns:

  • Name
  • Description
  • Signal Type

Inherited from Signal IO List for Single Rack Architecture

Rack Creation Columns:

  • Hardware Platform
  • Group

Data Transformation Guide

The user-provided Customer-Instrument-IO-List.xlsx (Figure 2) requires the following transformations:

1. Directly Transferable Columns

Columns "Name", "Description", and "Signal Type" meetcolumn requirementsand can be copied directly:

  1. Select cells A2:C182 in source file
  2. Paste as values into cell A3 of template
Figure 4: Pasting User Data in the IO List Template as Values
Figure 4: Pasting User Data in the IO List Template as Values
Figure 5: Pasted First 3 Columns in the IO List Template
Figure 5: Pasted First 3 Columns in the IO List Template

2. Group Column Preparation

The "Signal Location" column provides grouping information but requires formatting:

  1. Copy cells D2:D182 from source
  2. Paste into column E (Group) of template
  3. Remove spaces using Find/Replace:
    • "Main Cabinet" → "MainCabinet"
    • "Remote Cabinet" → "RemoteCabinet"
    • "Machine 1" → "Machine1"

Remember to create matching group entries on the My Groups page: "MainCabinet", "RemoteCabinet" and "Machine1"

Figure 6: Pasted and Modified "Group" Data in the IO List Template
Figure 6: Pasted and Modified "Group" Data in the IO List Template

3. Hardware Platform Assignment

Based onsystem requirements:

  1. MainCabinet group: ET200MP
  2. RemoteCabinet group: ET200SP
  3. Machine1 group: ET200Pro
Figure 7: Selection of the Hardware Platform
Figure 7: Selection of the Hardware Platform
Figure 8: Completed Template with Data from "Customer-Instrument-IO-List.xlsx"
Figure 8: Completed Template with Data from "Customer-Instrument-IO-List.xlsx"

Finalizing the IO List

  1. Save the completed template as Customer-Signal-IO-List.xlsx
  2. Export as CSV for PLCCreator upload: Customer-Signal-IO-List.csv

With the IO list prepared, you have completed the Preparation phase and can proceed to PLC Generation.

Step 3:
Select CPU Module

To select your PLC CPU module, navigate to the CPU Data page. Simply log in to PLCCreator and click the "New PLC" button found on your My PLCs page:

Figure 9: Creating a new PLC project

This will open the "CPU Data" configuration page where you can begin setting up your PLC:

Figure 10: CPU configuration interface
Figure 10: CPU configuration interface

Configure these properties:

  • PLC Name (required)
  • PLC Description (optional)
  • CPU Manufacturer
  • Software Platform
  • Hardware Platform
  • CPU Module

For our example project based on thesystem requirements, set above properties as follows:

  • PLC Name: Example1_PLC
  • Description: Example PLC configuration for demonstration purposes
  • Manufacturer: SIEMENS
  • Software Platform: TIA Portal
  • Hardware Platform: ET200MP
  • CPU Module: CPU 1515-2 PN

Note: The name and description in this example are generic. For actual projects, use names that reflect your specific application.

Your completed CPU Data page should resemble:

Figure 11: Completed CPU configuration
Figure 11: Completed CPU configuration

Click "Save" to store your CPU configuration. This completes the CPU selection process.

You'll now notice the "PLC Architecture" option becomes available in the navigation panel:

Figure 12: Next steps available after CPU selection

You're now ready to proceed with configuring your PLC architecture.

Step 4:
Select PLC Architecture

Navigate to the PLC Architecture page by selecting "PLC Architecture" from the navigation panel.

Choose the architecture type you determined earlier inStep 1:

Figure 13: Selecting your PLC architecture
Figure 13: Architecture selection interface

For this example, set Profinet as the fieldbus protocol.

Need to change your architecture? Simply select a different option and revisitStep 2to recreate/update your IO list. All architecture-specific templates are available in the "IO Lists" dropdown menu.

Click "Save" to confirm your architecture selection. This completes the architecture configuration process.

You'll now see new options enabled in the navigation panel:

Figure 14: Next steps available after architecture selection
You can now proceed to upload your IO List , either signal or device IO lists that match your chosen architecture.

Step 5:
Upload IO List

Now that you've created yourSignal IO List, proceed to upload it:

Select "Upload IO Signals" from the navigation panel to open the upload interface:

Figure 15: IO Signals upload interface
Figure 15: Upload interface overview

To upload your file:

  1. Click "Upload File" followed by "Choose File"
  2. Select your signal IO list file Customer-Signal-IO-List.csv
  3. Click "Open" to upload

When successfully uploaded, your Upload IO Signals page will display the processed data:

Figure 16: Successfully uploaded IO signals
Figure 16: Processed signal display

If your file contains no errors, click "Save" to store your signal IO list.

You'll now see all navigation options become available:

Figure 17: All options now available

Your PLC is now ready for generation.

Step 6:
Generate PLC

To complete your PLC setup, navigate to the Generate page using the "Generate" button:

Figure 18: "Generate" Page
Figure 18: "Generate" Page

Before generating your PLC you must designate theMain Rackthat will contain the CPU module:

1

Configure Main Rack

Main Rack configuration is architecture specific:

For your Single Fielbus Architecture, Main Rack configuration has 2 steps:

  1. Select Main Rack Type

    Choose between:

    Standard Rack

    • Default selection
    • CPU and IO modules for the Main Rack Group in single rack
    • Lower hardware cost

    Standalone CPU

    • CPU in separate rack without IO
    • IO modules in remote IO rack(s) only
    • Better scalability, reliability and operational efficiency

  2. Select Main Rack Group - for Standard Rack only

    ChooseMain Rack Groupfrom the selection list, Figure 19

    This list is created from thegroups, derived from unique "Hardware Platform"-"Group" pairs in the uploaded IO list inStep 5: Upload IO List, with "Hardware Platform" matching the CPU hardware platform configured on the CPU Data page inStep 3: Select CPU Module.

    This means the CPU module will be installed in the rack containing IO modules needed to wire the signals that have selected Main Rack Group.

For your PLC:

  1. Select "Standard Rack" as the rack type.
  2. Under "Main Rack Group" , select "MainCabinet":
    Figure 19: Main Rack Group Selection
    Figure 19: Main Rack Group Selection

    Note: Groups "RemoteCabinet" and "Machine1" are unavailable because its hardware platforms (ET200SP and ET200Pro) do not match the CPU hardware platform (ET200MP) configured on the CPU Data page.

This ensures the Main Rack contains signals for Main Cabinet.

2

Optional Settings

Signal Contingency

Add spare capacity for future expansion:

  • Define percentage spare - applies for each signal type (DI, DO, AI, AO)
  • Ensures room for system growth
  • Recommended: 10-20% spare capacity

Review Signal Statistics

Verify all signals before generation:

  • Confirm signal counts match
  • Check signal distribution by type
  • Validate grouping accuracy
3

Generate Your PLC

Finalize the process:

  1. Click "Save" to save settings
  2. Click "Generate" to create your PLC
Figure 20: Generate PLC
Figure 20: Generate PLC

After Generation

You'll be redirected to the details page where you can:

  • Download engineering files
  • Download complete IO list
  • View reports
  • Access order lists
  • Review PLC structure
Figure 21: "PLC Details" Page
Figure 21: "PLC Details" Page

Step 7:
Import into PLC Engineering Software (Software Platform)

Now that your PLC configuration is generated, you need to import the files into your PLC engineering software to create the actual project.

Important Note:

File formats and import procedures vary between different software platforms . See platform-specific instructions below:

Rockwell Automation Logix Studio 5000
SIEMENS Simatic Manager
SIEMENS TIA Portal

After Successful Import:

You can now begin developing your PLC logic according to the customer requirements.