Release notes PLC-Lab

2.5.3.0 (15.12.2023)

  • Differentiation of routines for conveyor elements in projects created with versions <= V2.3.0.0: In version 2.3.2.0, adjustments were made to the behaviour of conveyor elements. This can lead to an increase in the conveying speed of horizontally arranged conveyor elements in older plants. From version 2.5.3.0, when loading a system project, it is recognised that this was created with an older version of PLC-Lab. In this case, the old routines for the conveyor elements are used so that the speed behaviour is identical. If changes are made to the system project and saved, a message appears stating that the conveyor elements will be adapted for the new routines. The adjustment is made by changing the "Speed divisor" parameter. After saving, the new routines are used for the conveyor elements. If necessary, the "Speed divisor" parameter can be increased further.

2.5.0.0 (15.12.2023)

  • Support of PLCSIM S7-1200 in TIA Portal V19.
  • Support of PLCSIM S7-1500 in TIA Portal V19.
  • Support of PLCSIM Advanced V6 via the control panel.
  • Support of PLCSIM Advanced within PLCSIM V19 via the advanced licence type.
  • Fixed an error with cylinders within drawing groups: In rare cases, the cylinders within drawing groups were no longer displayed correctly after switching to RUN and back.

2.4.0.0 (13.10.2023)

  • Option "Do not use the symbol designation as a label": In the Drawing Window Settings dialogue, the option "Do not use the symbol designation as a label" has been implemented. If this is selected, the standard behaviour is switched off, in which, e.g. for switch or lamp objects, when assigning a new operand by drag & drop, its symbol is entered as the object's label. See also: Dialogue Draw-window settings
  • Switching to RUN with changing the wiring (Shift + F5): When pressing Shift + F5 to switch to Run with rewire, rewiring from or to a PLCSIM Advanced Device is now also supported.
  • Error with digital gauge fixed: In rare cases, the value of the display was not renewed if the value had not changed since the last switchover to RUN.
  • Error in PLCSIM300 fixed: In rare cases, the value of a double word operand was no longer renewed.
  • Conveyor elements: The damping behaviour of conveying elements without rotation was adjusted.

2.3.0.0 (10.01.2023)

  • Support of PLCSIM S7-1200 in TIA Portal V18.
  • Support of PLCSIM S7-1500 in TIA Portal V18.
  • Support of PLCSIM Advanced V5 via the control panel.
  • Support of PLCSIM Advanced within PLCSIM V18 via the advanced licence type.
  • Support of SiPlus PLCs S7-1500 via TCP/IP (Profinet).

2.2.0.0 (22.08.2022)

  • Error during saving fixed: In rare cases projects could not be saved after switching to RUN.
  • Connection via OPC UA: For secure OPC UA connections, the login data (user, password) can optionally be specified.

2.1.0.0 (31.01.2022)

  • Implementation of distance sensors. Every geometric physics object (rectangle, ellipse, etc.) can be parameterized as a distance sensor. Distance sensors can be used when distances or the height/width of objects are to be measured. See also: distance sensors
  • The color of geometric objects (rectangle, ellipse, etc. ) and fluid objects can be influenced via a double word. The individual bytes thus provide access to the alpha, red, green and blue color channels. The alpha channel determines the opacity of the color. See also: Influence color via double word operands
  • Calculator object: The new function "Assemble UInt32 from bytes" has been implemented. A byte or a constant can be specified at each of the 4 inputs. These bytes are then written into a double word operand to be specified at the result. This function is especially useful if you want to control the color of an object via a double word operand. See also: Assemble UInt32 from bytes
  • Creator object: An offset in X and Y direction for the creation of the child objects can now be specified at the creator object. Normally the child objects are created at the position of the parent objects. Both operands and constants can be specified as offsets. See also: Create child object with X/Y offset
  • Measuring tape: In the drawing mode, the measuring tape can be activated by pressing the right mouse button and simultaneously pressing the control key [CTRL]. If you hold down the right mouse button and move the mouse, a rubber band becomes visible and the X/Y offset to the starting point is displayed. This function can be used to measure distances. Furthermore, the function is useful to determine an X/Y offset for child objects to be created. See also: Using the tape measure to determine an offset
  • New column in the symbol table which shows the access type of a symbol in the C# script. The C# column has been added to the symbol table. It shows whether the symbol is accessed reading (R), writing (W) or reading and writing (R/W). See also: Display of the C# access type in the symbol table

2.0.0.0 (09.09.2021)

  • Implementation of the C# script within the projects of PLC-Lab. The simulation of plants can now be implemented with the help of the physical possibilities of PLC-Lab and additionally algorithmically, with the help of the powerful C# programming language.See also: C#-Script in PLC-Lab

1.8.4.1 (01.06.2021)

  • Support of the PLCSIM variants in the new TIA portal V17: In the device settings for PLCSim S7-1200/1500, V17 can be set as the TIA version used.
  • New table "Selected objects": The objects currently selected on the drawing area can be inserted into the table "Selected objects". By double-clicking on the entry of an object within the table, its properties can be displayed and edited. This is particularly helpful if an object is arranged in a lower Z-order and thus cannot be selected individually on the drawing area. See also: Table with selected objects
  • Display of the unused operands within the symbol table: The button "Select all unused symbols in the symbol table" can be used to display the symbols that are not used in any object. This is particularly useful if you want to check at the end of a project whether all relevant operands are used in the virtual plant.
  • Select all objects of a drawing group: The selection "Select all objects of a group" has been added within the actions rubric "Drawing group".
  • The property "Neutral on collision" cannot be selected for magnet objects or magnetic objects. This is because a collision must be detected for the magnet properties. Exceptions are now mother objects for which the property "Do not copy neutral on collision" is selected. These can thus be set as "Neutral on collision", which makes it possible to arrange several mother objects one behind the other or one above the other. In this case, the child objects can have the magnet properties, since the property "Neutral on collision" is not inherited to them.
  • Error fixed when a single drawing group is to be converted into a body group.

1.8.3.0 (16.02.2021)

1.8.2.0 (20.01.2021)

  • Graphic switches have been provided with a second contact block, which can be designed as a normally open or normally closed contact. See also: Second contact module for switches
  • If a destroyer is dependent on an operand, the positive or negative edge of the operand can also be used to trigger the destroyer. To do this, press the key combination [CTRL] + [P] before the operand to query the positive edge. If you want to query the negative edge, press the key combination [CTRL] + [N]. Either an arrow up or an arrow down is then inserted in front of the operand as a sign for the query of the corresponding edge.See also: Make Destroyer dependent on positive or negative edge of an operand
  • Improvement of the symbol import.

1.8.0.0 (02.12.2020)

  • New device "Debug": The new device called "Debug" can be used to test the systems without a PLC program or GRAFCET. With this device the outputs can be changed directly via e.g. switches. See also: The "Debug" device

1.7.1.0 (25.11.2020)

1.7.0.0 (18.11.2020)

  • New object Multiple rotary switch: Implementation of a rotary switch with max. 8 positions (three left, four right and zero position).
  • New object horizontal multiple switch: Implementation of a horizontal switch with max. 8 positions (three left, four right and zero position).
  • Negated query of bit operands: For properties which have read access to a bit operand, a negated query of the bit operand can be achieved with the character '!'.
  • Improved error handling when creating solid joints and body groups.
  • Improved error handling when creating joints.
  • Improved error handling when using magnets or magnetic objects.
  • Improved behaviour with PLCSIM S7-300, when accessing operands outside the process image of the CPU.
  • Improved behaviour for cloud licenses when projects are loaded directly at startup.
  • Error in the On/Off rotary switch eliminated if it was configured as an opener.
  • Error in horizontal On/Off switch eliminated if it was configured as opener.

1.6.3.0 (15.09.2020)

  • PLC-Lab can use 4GB RAM on a 64-Bit OS.
  • Symbolic import: Duplicate operands will detected and not imported twice.
  • Communication to S7-300/400 plc: Improved behavior when communication is aborted.
  • Windows-button: Bug fixed when text with underscores are displayed.
  • Optimizations made when switching to RUN mode. This accelerates the switchover significantly.

1.6.0.0 (2020-07-13)

1.5.4.0 (2020-04-27)

1.5.3.2

  • Bug fix when text-labels used a gradient color.
  • The centroid circle of some objects was not correct, if the width/height was directly changed in the property table.
  • The centroid-circle was not correct if an object was placed with a size-template.
  • Intellisense was not possible in the editor of the velocity-property of the cylinder-object.

1.5.3.1

  • Cloud license: the project could not be opened if a double-click was executed on the file in the Explorer.
  • The starting position (after creation) of a revolute-joint is now always at the center of the object.
  • Improvement in the language file

1.5.3.0

  • New device PLCSIM Advanced: A new device of the type PLCSIM Advanced can be created and connected with a instance of PLCSIM Advanced. The inputs can be read and the outputs will be written. Flags can be read or write.It is possible to communicate with more than one instance of PLCSIM Advanced inside one PLC-Lab project. PLCSIM Advanced V2.0 SP1 or higher is supported.
  • New info object "Text" implemented: This object shows a text with a transparent background and without a frame.
  • The symbol of an operand will show in the cross reference list, if existing.
  • Fixed a issue in the cross reference list: The sorting of the operands is now working correctly.

1.5.2.1

  • Fixed a problem with the calculator-object: Editing the inputs and the output of the object was not possible.

1.5.2.0

  • New conveying element "conveyer belt with guide rail" implemented. This element can be used for realizing conveying elements with curves.
  • Cylinder: The max. position of the piston rod is shown in the draw mode.
  • In draw-mode the center of geometry-, lamp-, switch-, limit-switch- and tube-objects is shown.
  • In draw-mode many objects are shown in a transparent view while moving the objects with the mouse. This feature makes it easier to place the objects.
  • The object types switch, lamp, geometry, limit-switch, label, slider, digital gauge and speedometer can be directly provided with operands via drag-and-drop from the symbol-table. To do that, you can drop the symbol directly on the object. If the object is a switch or a lamp, the symbol will also used for the text-label of the object.
  • The view of the symbol of the weld-joint is transparent, so the anchor-points are easier to place.

1.5.1.1

  • New properties "Limit switch changes collision group" and "New collision-group when collide" implemented. With these new properties the collision group of a object or a whole body can be changed, if a collision with a limit-switch is happened. The new collision group can be given as a constant or a variable value inside a operand.

1.5.0.9

  • New Conveying element "Conveyor belt" with special settings for realizing conveyor belts in the view from above or from the side. The conveyed objects act more realistic, for example if the conveyor belt stops. This new behavior is possible because of the new properties "Damping of the linear movement of the transported objects" and "Damping of the rotation movement of the transported objects".
  • New Conveying element "Airstream" with settings for accelerating or deflecting objects.
  • New property "Speed divisor" for conveying elements.
  • New properties "Damping of the linear movement" and "Damping of the rotation movement" for physics objects. With this properties, braking actions compareable with friction are possible. They are helpful for objects without gravity which were moved for example with cylinders.
  • Sliders can be set to an init value. This value is the first value when switching into the run mode.
  • New slider-property "Use last value in run for init value".
  • Increasing the tolerance when import symbols with not allowed chars from the TIA-Portal from Siemens.
  • New feature "smart guides" implemented. They will shown while moving an object with the mouse. They helping arranging the object relative to another object. They can be switched on and off inside the actions.
  • The window-button can also be configured as an physic object.

1.5.0.8

  • New alignment functions "Align center", "Align middle", "Distribute horizontally" and "Distribute vertically" implemented.
  • Issue fixed, when a operand with write access is changed to a constant.

1.5.0.7

  • Intellisense: Improved behavior if the item in the list is selected via the mouse.
  • Inserting of operands via drag-and-drop from the symbol-table: Now the editor is also a possible drop-target.
  • Inserting of new symbols: Is there a predecessor-symbol and the string ends with a number, this number will increase and used for the new symbol.

1.5.0.6

  • New object "digital gauge with push-wheel button" gives the possibility of writing BCD-, HEX or decimal values into operands.
  • New object "digital gauge" gives the possibility of showing BCD-, HEX or decimal values from operands.
  • Setting a password for a project: Without the password the project is read-only.

1.5.0.5

  • Import of symbols from TIA-XML file.
  • Import of symbols from ASC-file (Simatic-Manager).
  • Export of symbols to XML-File (TIA-Portal) or ASC-file (Simatic-Manager).
  • New sensor "Force (N)" for prismatic-joints.
  • New sensor "Torque (Nm)" for revolute-joints.
  • The overview-window of the drawing-area can be switched on or off.
  • New property "Do not influence limit switches" for physic-objects.
  • New modes for the calculate-object: Decimal to BCD for word-operands, BCD to decimal for word.operands.
  • Symbole table: If a new symbol is inserted, the symbol of the operand before it, will use as the new symbol (with extension).
  • Symbole table: The symbol-string can include umlauts.
  • Symboltabelle: The length of the symbols is increased to 80 chars.

1.5.0.4

  • New property "Direction depends on sign of velocity" for prismatic-joint, revolute-joint and wheel-joint.

1.5.0.3

  • The open icon could no longer be used to open a directory for searching a file. This has been fixed.

1.5.0.2

  • Bug fixed when language setting was changed.
  • PLCSim S7-300 (TIA and Simatic-Manager): Sometimes the reading of DB-data were not correct. This issue is fixed.

1.5.0.1

  • Undo function added.