Siemens SIMATIC S7-1200 Manual page 91

Using the "unspecified CPU" to upload the hardware configuration
If you have a physical CPU that you can connect to the programming device, it is easy to
upload the configuration of the hardware.
You must first connect the CPU to your programming device, and you must create a new
project.
After you select the CPU from the online dialog, STEP 7 Basic uploads the hardware
configuration from the CPU, including any modules (SM, SB, or CM). The IP address is not
uploaded. You must go to "Device configuration" to manually configure the IP address.
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Manual, 11/2009, A5E02486774-01
Use either of the following options to insert an
"unspecified CPU":
• In the device configuration (Project view or Portal
view), add a new device, but select the "unspecified
CPU" instead of selecting a specific CPU..
• In the Portal view, click the "Create a PLC program"
from the "First steps".
STEP 7 Basic creates an unspecified CPU.
After creating the unspecified CPU, you can upload the hardware
configuration for the online CPU.
• From the program editor, you select the "Hardware detection"
command from the "Online" menu.
• From the device configuration editor, you select the option for
detecting the configuration of the connected device
Easy to use the online tools
8.4 Uploading from the online CPU
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