Release Notes

2.5.0.5 (2023-09-25)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2023-09-25. See More->Update dialog.
  • Bugfix: If in an action the value of a symbol was increased (Symbol:=Symbol+1) and there were spaces in this term, then an error message was displayed. This has been fixed.

2.5.0.4 (2022-06-09)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2022-06-09. See More->Update dialog.
  • Improvement: Setting the step number sequence when creating steps and copying steps. Step nummer sequence...
  • Bugfix: Symbol table: the {{negate}} flag did not work with rising or falling edges. This has been fixed. See: Manual ....
  • Improvement: Symbol table. Usage column. Up to now the number of usages was displayed here. Now it is additionally displayed whether the symbol is used in a transition or action. Example "2 (2+0)" means. The symbol is used 2 times in total. 2x in transitions and 0 times in actions. Manual ...
  • Bugfix:The symbol "1S1" caused problems in transitions in connection with time specifications. This has been fixed.
  • Bugfix:When using the direct addressing, the editor displayed it in red although there was no error. This has been fixed.

2.5.0.2 (2022-02-22)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2022-02-22. See More->Update dialog.
  • Bugfix: When importing symbols (CSV), the symbols were sorted incorrectly.
  • Bugfix: In certain constellations, the negation line was not displayed in transitions: Transition is edited -> another Grafcet page is displayed -> the original page is displayed again -> the negation lines are not displayed in the transition that was edited.

2.5.0.1 (2021-11-26)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2021-11-26. See More->Update dialog.
  • New: License Manager in case of a Cloud License: The cloud password can now be displayed via a button.
  • Bugfix: Bug fixed when printing the symbol list.
  • Symbol import (XML) improved: symbols are sorted by addresses.

2.5.0.0 (2021-09-17)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2021-09-17. See More->Update dialog.
  • New: Save Grafcet projects in the cloud and share your files with other people. Read more ...
  • New: Remote control of PLC-Lab. PLC-Lab can be controlled with the PLC-Lab window on the right side of the screen: Simultaneous RUN/STOP, load PLC-Lab project and arrange windows side by side. Read more ...
  • New: Errors and Warnings window. In a tab to the right of the symbol window, existing errors and warnings of the project are listed. By clicking on the row, you can quickly jump to the relevant location.
  • Symbol export files in CSV format from Factory I/O are now supported.

2.1.0.8 (2021-06-15)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2021-06-15. See More->Update dialog.
  • Bugfix: Symbol import (CSV,XML): Symbols with more than 24 characters were truncated even though up to 26 characters are allowed.
  • Bugfix: Symbol import (CSV,XML): After import the imported symbols were no longer checked for validity.
  • Grafcet drawing: Connection from step to action can now consist of multiple connecting lines.

2.1.0.7 (2021-05-20)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until May 20, 2021. See More->Update dialog.
  • Bugfix: For multi-line transition terms: If the last symbol of a line was negated and the following link was in the next line, then the negation line was not displayed. This has been fixed.
  • Performance optimized for large projects (>200) steps.
  • Printing improved: The Grafcet is always moved to the very left when printing, so that no printing space is lost.
  • Bugfix printing: A Grafcet chart that was too big for the sheet in Y-direction was sometimes not scaled.

2.1.0.6 (2021-05-05)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2021-05-05. See More->Update Dialog.
  • New feature: Arrows and Rectangles for decorating a Grafcet chart. Read more ...
  • Bugfix: Grafcet logic: Negated bracket expressions were not processed correctly. Specifically: Negation at the beginning and following operations. This has been fixed. Example: !(I2+I3)+I4
  • Bugfix: Selecting and moving multiple Grafcet symbols: When moving a comment field with other objects, it could happen that the objects were no longer aligned to the grid.
  • Long symbol names were not accepted in the Grafcet chart, although the setting for this was active.

2.1.0.5 (2021-03-22)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2021-03-22. See More->Update Dialog.
  • Bugfix: Grafcet logic: Negated bracket expressions were not processed correctly. This has been fixed. Example: I0*!(I2+I3)
  • Bugfix: If actions were placed directly (without spacing) below each other, an error (exception) occurred when trying to edit. This was fixed.

2.1.0.4 (2021-02-11)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2021-02-11. See More->Update Dialog.
  • Bugfix: After turning on the "Watch-Mode" and switching to another Grafcet page, the Hi-Lo indicator in the Grafcet terms no longer worked. This has been fixed.
  • License Manager has been improved: When a cloud license is deactivated, the old activation file of a single license is also deleted at the same time.
  • Symbol editor: To avoid accidental dragging of lines, a line can now only be moved via the drag&drop symbol in the leftmost column.
  • Horizontal transition: If the transition was too narrow, the negation lines were not displayed. Now a transition has a minimum width to avoid this.

2.1.0.3 (2020-12-21)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2020-12-21. See More->Update Dialog.
  • Bugfix RaspberryPi: When watching a RaspberryPI Device, the values of the symbols were not displayed.

2.1.0.2 (2020-11-25)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2020-11-25. See More->Update Dialog.
  • Bug fixed: Green help arrows: The horizontal line was not added but only moved if two horizontal connections had the same X-position.
  • Bug fixed: An error was displayed for this transition:(2s/(P2*[C>0]))*B11. The opening brackets at the beginning are not necessary. This was marked as an error.
  • Grafcet border: The upper input field of the frame is normally the corresponding enclosing step. However, you can also enter a description here. Therefore the syntax check was removed here.

2.1.0.1 (2020-11-17)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2020-11-17. See More->Update Dialog.
  • Symbolic Table, Column Flags: The {{negate}} flag can be used to specify, that the negated state should always be processed for symbols of the sensor/input type. The flag enables you to design Grafcet charts without having to consider NC contacts. Read more ...
  • New setting (Icon More->Settings...) for the Watch Mode: Consider negation:

    Should a negated symbol which has the state '0' be displayed as True?
    Note: This new setting has nothing to do with the {{{negate}} flag. It targets the negation in terms. Example: S1 * !S2
  • Bugfix for v2.1.0.0: Transition with timer: Example: 3s/!S1. A negation in front of the first symbol was not recognized. This is fixed.

2.1.0.0 (2020-10-26)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2020-10-26. See More->Update Dialog.
  • All Grafcet terms can now be examined with the mouse: For almost every term component there is a tooltip with information.

  • Where it makes sense, e.g. with macro steps, forced control, you can jump to the corresponding Grafcet chart:
  • Via a context menu, a comment field with monitoring option can be created:

  • Enclosing step: The activation link is now also possible for initial steps.
  • OPC/UA support: the 2000 and 2001 versions have not yet worked with the OPC/UA Grafcet engine. This has been fixed.

2.0.0.1 (2020-10-06)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2020-10-05. See More->Update Dialog.
  • Vertical transitions can now be multi-line. With Shift-Return a line break can be inserted. This helps to save space with long terms.
  • The negation of operands and bracket expressions is now visually nested supported. The negation lines are displayed one above the other.
    Image:
  • Documentation box: Images from the project directory were not displayed.
  • If a step name was changed, usage locations (step variables) were only updated on the current Grafcet page.
  • Watch mode: the value of a step variable was not displayed if the step was on another page and therefore not visible.
  • Editor: An error message was displayed if the step type was changed several times via the Tab key.

2.0.0.0 (2020-06-30)

  • Note: You can only use this version if your subscription is valid until 2020-06-18. See More->Update Dialog.
  • New: Chart-Box (Documentation)

    With the new Chart-Box you can record any symbols (digital or analog) and create line charts. A chart box is placed on the drawing area like a Grafcet element.

    Signals (symbols) can then be added. The line charts are cycle exact in simulator mode and thus edges can be detected and displayed.
  • New: Documentation box with the popular Markdown syntax. Read more ...
  • New: Now implemented: the Enclosing Initial Step.

    See new example 11_Enclosing_Initialstep.grafcet in the Examples folder (Personal files, folder Grafcet-Studio)
  • New: Editor: Multiple steps can be renumbered via a dialog. Right mouse button on drawing area -> Change step names. Read more ...
  • New: A print border can be displayed via More->Settings: If you draw too many elements on a Grafcet page, the printout will be too small on the sheet. You can now display a print border to have a better orientation that all Grafcet elements are inside the print friendly area. Picture of settings dialog:

  • New system variables: _ST_10Hz,_ST_100Hz. Delivers a clock with 10Hz or 100Hz. Read more in section System variables
  • New: Grafcet-Engine: Dynamic time specification in operands: Sample: Transition: Instead of "2s/X1" you can write "VTime/X1". In this case VTime must be a UInt32 Symbol. See new example 10_dynamic_timers.grafcet in the Examples folder (Personal files, folder Grafcet-Studio)
  • New: Grafcet Engine: Negation of comparators: ![Value=30]
  • New: Grafcet Engine: Support from !↑I0 (is the same as ↓I0)
  • New: Grafcet Engine: Simulator: You can now specify the desired cycle time.
  • Bugfix: In watch mode the states of symbols of horizontal transitions were not displayed. This has been fixed.
  • Bugfix: Grafcet-Engine (PC): the system variable _ST_1Hz delivered 0.5Hz instead of 1Hz, this was fixed.
  • Bugfix: Grafcet-Engine: if a macro step is forced to "Active", the entry step wasn't activated.
  • Bugfix: Grafcet-Engine: 1st cycle of Grafcet processing: A rising edge was wrongly detected if the signal already had the state '1' during the 1st cycle. The edge is now only detected if there is a 0-1 change.

1.2.0.1 (2020-01-10)

  • Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 2020-01-10. See More->Update dialog.
  • The drawing area can be moved with the mouse: Hold Ctrl and Alt and then click and drag with the mouse.
  • Optimization of the help arrows for drawing new connection lines: Sometimes a helper arrow could overlap a connection line.
  • Error in symbol table fixed: After inserting system variables an error message was displayed.
  • Pasting steps via the clipboard: if all steps in the clipboard are not yet existing in the project,then the step names are not renamed. This helps if you want to move steps (cut and insert) to another page.

1.2.0.0 (2019-12-12)

  • New printing function: Menu More->Print... Printing of complete Grafcet pages and the symbol table with Headline, footer, own logo, etc. See Printing...
  • Support of long step names. Steps usually have the step name "1", "2", "3", etc. Now long step names are supported like "Automatic". In this In this case, the step name is displayed to the left.

  • If the step variable of a step is used, the step name is underlined. (This can be switched off in the settings, More->Settings)

  • Symbol table: with the flag {{NotInIoPanel}}} you can hide a symbol in the I/O Panel
  • Search function: Now search "for whole words" possible
  • Symbol table: You can drag a symbol onto the drawing area and it will be created a comment field with the symbol comment at the drop position.

1.1.0.3 (2019-08-19)

  • Bug fixed: If a Grafcet page was opened after the search, the search result was no longer displayed.
  • Bug fixed: Check Grafcet: In some cases, an error occurred if a vertical connection existed before a transition. This has been fixed.

1.1.0.2 (2019-08-08)

Helper Arrows - Note: You can use this version if your subscription is valid until 18.07.2019. See More->Update dialog. - NEW: When creating Grafcet plans, auxiliary arrows appear automatically with which you can insert missing connections or extend connections that are too short. - NEW: New setting "Show helper arrows for new directed lines".
- NEW: Continuous syntax check in the Grafcet canvas: If the Grafcet is changed a syntax check is carried out automatically. - NEW: New setting "Enable/disable continuous syntax check on the Grafcet canvas - NEW: Step number assignment. Step sequence setting. The setting "1/5" creates new steps with this step sequence: 5,10,15 See also the input field to the left of the initial step in the Grafcet items window. - NEW: License manager for cloud licenses improved: In the license manager you can now see currently used licenses (users) and you can lock and unlock users or PCs.

1.1.0.1

  • NEW: Support for CODESYS V3 based controllers. CODESYS V3 controls can now be programmed with Grafcet. Read more...
  • NEW: Horizontal/horizontal transition directly selectable (not only via context menu)
  • NEW: Used symbols are displayed bold in the symbol table.
  • NEW: The symbol table shows how often a symbol is used in the Grafcet. Read more: Table of symbols
  • New: In watch mode you can now also use the search with Ctrl+F.
  • New: Import/Export options in the symbol table. Formats: XML, ASC, CSV. Read more...

1.0.3.4

  • New: After writing the grafcet you can configure which steps should be active (Situations). See Options in Grafcet-Engine-Window. The Grafcet Engine has been upgraded to version 1011 to support the situations. See Mhj-Wiki.de "Write to the device"->"The window Grafcet-Engine"
  • New function in the drawing area context menu: add/remove quotation marks in comment fields
  • This error will be detected now: If a forced control "G1{}" is inserted in a continuously acting action.
  • Conversion to .NET Framework Version 4.6.2
  • Grafcet logic: If two parentheses were placed one after the other in a term, the term was converted incorrectly, and is executed incorrectly. E.g. "I1((I3I4)+(I4*I5))" This was a code generation problem - not within the Grafcet-Engine.
  • New Grafcet Engine Version: 1.0.1.1 -Bugfix: If the action condition contained a time delay, the term may have been executed incorrectly. e.g. "(30ms/I31)*I32"
  • Note: Grafcet-Studio will soon support CODESYS V3 based controllers.

1.0.3.3

  • Grafcet-Engine: Bugfix: New version: 1.0.0.9: several continuous actions with condition to the same address Please ust the new version of the Grafcet-Engine for your device (e.g. S7-300).
  • Window Grafcet snippets: "drag and drop" gripper added for better usability.
  • The update check now uses the proxy settings of the license manager.

1.0.3.2

  • New: System variables in the Grafcet-Engine (Simulation+Device) System variables return useful values. Inputs: SI_RTC_YEAR: Returns the current year (type UInt16) SI_RTC_MONTH: Delivers the current month (type Byte) SI_RTC_DAY: Returns the current day (type Byte) SI_RTC_H: Returns the current hour (type Byte) SI_RTC_M: Returns the current minute (type Byte) SI_RTC_S:: Returns the current second (type Byte) SI_RTC_MS:: Returns the current millisecond (type UInt16) SI_TOGGLE: Changes with each cycle: True, False, True, ... (Type Bool) SI_1HZ: Delivers a 1 Hz cycle (e.g. for signal lamps) (type Bool) SI_TICKS: Is a millisecond counter. For time measurements (type UInt32) SI_CYCLIC_COUNTER: Always incremented by 1 for each cycle. (Type UInt16) SI_CYCLIC_TIME: Delivers the current cycle time in milliseconds (type UInt16) SI_VERSION: Returns the current Grafcet-Engine version (type UInt16) SI_WBYTES: If>0, then monitoring is active (type UInt16)

  • New: New function in the context menu (right mouse button) in the symbol table: 'Insert all system variables at current position'.

  • New: In the symbol table is now supported: Copy (Ctrl+C), Paste (Ctrl+V), Cut (Ctrl+X), Duplicate (Ctrl+D).
  • New: When 1 action/transition is selected and a comment is added by clicking, then the symbol comment is inserted, if an assignment is unique.
  • 30 days trial: Pro-Edition with 255 steps can be tested on a PC for 30 days. The corresponding dialog is displayed automatically if no license is available.
  • New: "Grafcet-Pages" window: The number of unused items is displayed for each page. (colored exclamation mark)
  • Bug fixed: If the network card had more than 1 IP address, no connection was established with an S7-300/400/1200/1500.
  • Fixed a bug in the Grafcet-Engine: Two or more cont. Actions with an assignment condition, that affect the same output was not always processed correctly.

1.0.3.0

  • Support of new devices: All devices that support the Python V3 scripting language: Raspberry Pi, Siemens IOT2020, IOT2040, Revolution Pi This is made possible by a new Grafcet Engine in the Python V3 programming language. You need: IoT-Edition or Pro-Edition of Grafcet-Studio
  • Direct addressing is now possible. All symbols can be addressed by direct addressing: Bit access: %D2.2
    Byte access: %DB5
    Word access: %DW8 DWord access: %DD10 Instead of the symbol uses e.g. %DW8 Usage: Instead of resetting 8 bit outputs via 8 actions, one action can reset all 8 bool symbols by writing 0 to the correct byte address. The correct address can be taken from the symbol table.
  • New function over context menu: Search and replace with a right mouse click on the drawing area->Search-Replace.
  • New function in the symbol editor: Multiple lines can be changed via the context menu; e.g. change the group from "Sensor" to "Data".

1.0.2.5

  • New, Editor: If elements have been modified/added and they are still have not been saved, they are highlighted in gray. Note: This feature must be activated via the settings.
  • New: Editor: Navigation in Grafcet plan: Jump to step, group via context menu or double-click (in watch mode)
  • New, Editor: Navigation in Grafcet plan: Editor-jump-target can be defined arbitrarily
  • New: Editor: Definition of arbitrary comments (user notes) for each object in Grafcet via tool-tip display
  • New: Editor: Actions can now be connected to the step faster: Command from the "Connect Action" context menu.
  • New: Symbol table: If you need an address gap (Area DI,DA,AI,AO), you must use now no longer create several "Reserved" symbols. With a special comment (e.g. {{#10}} creates a gap of 10 bits), an address gap (PLC address) can be defined.
  • New: Symbol table: If there is a string "{{NC}}" in the comment for a BOOL input, then this input is set to TRUE when the simulation is started or when the "Reset" button is pressed. in the I/O panel. (Only useful if no virtual system is used)
  • New: Symbol table: If the string "{{Button}}" is present in the comment for a BOOL input, then this input is set to TRUE only as long as the LED in the I/O panel is clicked. (Only useful if no virtual system is used)
  • Steps with a dot (e.g. "10.1") can now be used in the forcing commands.
  • Grafcet pages can now be sorted by "drag and drop" (click on page number)
  • Bugfix: If you moved several actions with the mouse it could happen, that the objects were no longer aligned in the grid.
  • BugFix: If forcing commands and the corresponding groups have been placed to different pages, the forcing commands stopped working.
    See also: http://www.mhj-wiki.de/en/grafcet-studio/new-features/v1-0-2-5

1.0.2.4

  • Performance of Grafcet-Studio significantly improved: Lower CPU load
  • Performance improvements when moving many objects with the mouse
  • Bug with Grafcet Pages fixed: If a Grafcet page has been repeatedly viewed, you couldn't select anything.
  • Grafcet drawing via keyboard improved. Insert key: Insert transition or step (depending on selection), Ctrl+Ins: Insert action (step must be selected), Ctrl+Ins: Insert jump (transition must be marked).
  • The Tab key can be used to change the step type and action type (if selected).
  • The drawing area has been increased by 40%.
  • Error at image export fixed: The pins at the parallel branch were shifted
  • Image export: After the export the destination folder is opened now.
  • Grafcet Engine of the S7-1200 and S7-1500 optimized again: Up to 30% faster. V1.0.0.5 available at: http://www.mhj-wiki.de/en/grafcet-studio/grafcet-in-geraet-uebertragen/grafcet-engine-1200-1500
  • Grafcet-Snippets Window: content was not correct saved.
  • New Grafcet-Engine version for Arduino Due: After power returns, the program was not always restored.
  • Neue setting: Show or hide rotating gear in watch mode

1.0.2.3

  • Better editing experience: Sometimes the editor closes short time after editing e.g. a transition.
  • Within comments, the status (True/False) of a step can now also be displayed with {X1}
  • Grafcet Engine: If the last step of a parallel branch was a macro step, the logic don't wait for the exit step of the macro
  • Grafcet Engine: If the group of a force command of type "{}" was on another page, the steps were not reset.
  • Arduino Due Grafcet-Engine: The transferred Grafcet is now saved remanently
  • Grafcet Engine for S7-1500/300/400/1200: Performance improvements of up to 50%

1.0.2.2

  • Pro: Arduino DUE support (see www.mhj-wiki.de)
  • Error prevention: When two instances of Grafcet Studio are running: If watch mode is active, the other instance can't go into watch mode.
  • Improvement of the Grafcet-Engine in case of forcing
  • Time-limited action with parentheses was no longer recognized: !(3s/X1)
  • Synchronization of parallel processes improved
  • Pro: After connecting, the I/O panel is already updated.
  • Pro: In an S7-300 PLC the Grafcet program was not saved remanently. This has been fixed. (Please load new Engine into the S7-300)

1.0.2.0

  • The status of the step variables is now also displayed in watch mode.
  • Now arithmetic with Boolean symbols is possible: Example: AnalogueValue:=BoolValue1 + (BoolValue22) + (BoolValue34) + (BoolValue4*8)
  • Constants can now also be defined as hexadecimal number (0xFF or 16#FF) or as dual number (2#00001111).
  • Selection of Grafcet elements with the keyboard improved (cursor keys: right, left, top, bottom)
  • Editing for action with condition or event: Return key: Edit action, F2 key: Edit condition
  • Accelerated loading of Grafcet files.
  • Simulator I/O settings are now saved project related.
  • A symbol can now begin with a number: 1Hz
  • A symbol can now contain a dot. This will now support steps with "." Example step name="10.2".

1.0.1.9

  • The current values of analog symbols were no longer displayed. This has been fixed.

1.0.1.8

  • Pro Edition: Watch an external device: If offline NOT online, then a dialog appears with which you can download the Grafcet.
  • Symbols of the "Data" group are now also displayed in the I/O panel.
  • In the symbol window, in the "Current value" column, you can write a value to the control: Press F2, then enter the value in decimal notation and press return. If you do not want to write anything, enter "-" and press return.
  • Undo improved
  • Error message is generated if too many symbols are created in a group in the symbolic table. Then the IO setting must be adjusted.
  • Error not detected when writing: Q1:=true. Correct would be Q1:=1
  • If the device goes to STOP state during the watching, then the watch mode will stop.
  • Grafcet RUN/STOP switch has been removed, so that the Grafcet Engine is always running when the PLC is in RUN mode.
  • Pro-Edition: For S7-300/400: The Grafcet-Engine can be downloaded/installed with Grafcet-Studio directly!
  • In RUN mode the Grafcet items can no longer be selected.
  • An initial step is marked as an error, if the step name begins with "E" or "S".
  • If there are elements in the invisible area, a small symbol to the right of the scaling slider appears.
  • New function in the context menu of the drawing area: Select all unused elements. This makes it easier to find these elements.
  • When creating a project, information about the creator is stored in the project file (user, machine, date)
  • In the Grafcet-Engine window it is now always displayed whether ONLINE and OFFLINE are identical (bottom, to the right of the timestamp)
  • The freezing command is now e. g. "G1{*}" possible
  • Installation routine: When uninstalling Grafcet Studio, the File WS7_S7AG.DLL incorrectly uninstalled (Windows system folder). After that, WinSPS-S7 or SPS-VISU could not be started anymore.
  • Graphcet-Engine: Switch-off delay actions corrected
  • Improvements in Grafcet recognition

1.0.1.6

  • In a continuous action, you can now also negate the operand: !Q0
  • Grafcet notes: fixed an error that occurs when editing the cell and then Drag and Drop.
  • Fixed an error in "Action on deactivation". The action was executed twice
  • If all symbols were deleted, you could not insert any symbols. This has been fixed.
  • New check added: If a symbol is written in a continuous action and at the same time in a stored action, then both actions are marked as incorrect. Because it's a programming error.
  • Now possible: Time limited action: !(6s/X28) or !6s/X28 In a cont. action with condition.