This driver provides a software interface and communication protocol between Xpanel and Siemens Simatic S7 PLCs via the MPI protocol.
The following families of Siemens Simatic S7 systems are supported:
S7-200/300/400
Communication Setup: Xpanel
Create a new device | To create a new device, select [Tools] → [I/O Devices] or click the The following picture shows the first step in creating a new device:  I/O Device Name: Give a device name. This name will be used in the tag database, accompanied by the ‘Station Name’. |
Select a device type | After selecting the [Ok] button in the previous step, the ‘Serial Communication Configuration’ dialog box will appear as shown in the following picture:  In this window, set the ‘Device Type’ to ‘SIEMENS S7 MPI’ and configure the remaining communication parameters. These parameters must match those chosen for the PLC. Local ID: Give a station (node) number for the Xpanel. This number must not be used by any of the S7 MPI PLCs. The node number can be an integer value between 0 and 126. Network Opt: Designate the maximum station (node) number used in the connected network. If the Xpanel is the unique master in the network, the integer value of (1,000+maximum station number) should be designated. Ex) 15, 31, 63, 126 (when the Xpanel is not the unique master in the network). See the Communication Configuration section for more information about the remaining parameters. |
Create a station | Move to the [Station] tab of the ‘Serial Communication Configuration’ dialog box. In this dialog box, connected PLC stations can be configured and registered to the Xpanel.  Each field can be configured with the following rules: Station Name: Give a name to the PLC. This name will be used in the tag database, accompanied by the ‘Device Name’. Station Type: Choose ‘S7 MPI’ (this is the only available option). Network ID: N/A Station No: Specify a decimal number between 0 and 126. This must be a unique number, matched with the settings of the chosen PLC. See the Communication Configuration section for more information about the remaining parameters. |
icon in the toolbar.Address Notation
Tags in the database must use the following device address format:
Tag Type | Format | Example |
Analog | [Symbol][DB Number,][Address] | DB1,1 |
Digital | [Symbol][DB Number,][Address].[Bit Number] | DB1,2.7 |
[DB Number,]: decimal number (0 – 65535) followed by a comma (,). This is used for data block (DB) addressing only. For other types of memory, this field must be omitted.
[Address]: decimal number (0 – 65535)
[Bit Number]: decimal number (0 – 7)
The following table lists the devices which can be referenced within the Xpanel database:
Symbol | Description | Word Notation | Bit Notation | Type | Access |
PI | Peripheral Input | PI001 | PI001.7 | Analog/Digital | R/W |
I | Input | I002 | I002.7 | Analog/Digital | R/W |
Q | Output | Q003 | Q003.7 | Analog/Digital | R/W |
M | Memory | M004 | M004.7 | Analog/Digital | R/W |
DB | Data Block | DB01,01 | DB01,01.7 | Analog/Digital | R/W |
T | Timer | T005 | - | Analog | R |
C | Counter | C006 | - | Analog | R |
Note: The T and C devices (timer and counter) must be defined as “UBCD16” type tags for normal data manipulation. The following picture shows the data type configuration window of the Xpanel database:
Communication Cable Wiring
SSW7 Adapter | The cable supplied with the adapter can be directly connected to the Xpanel without any change. If you need to make another cable, please refer to the following diagram for the pin layout:  |