Automatically Transferring Changes Of User Archives - Siemens SIMATIC PCS 7 System Manual

Additional steps for configuring

9.3 Automatically transferring changes of user archives

9.3 Automatically transferring changes of user archives
Objective
Changes to groups, classes, parameters, and attributes made with the engineering tool usually
produce new or modified tables, table columns, and contents in user archives. This initially
only happens on the engineering station (ES). To avoid the manual export and import of user
archives and archive contents, APF has a function for automatic transfer to the OS.
Handling changes
The engineering tool detects changes that affect the user archives. It then automatically
exports the metadata archives to the <Project directory>\Library\APF\Metadata folder when
function blocks are saved or generated.
When the OS is loaded, the metadata are automatically transferred and entered in the
FB_MetaDataReloaded user archive for monitoring.
Applying changes
On the OS, the APFEngineeringDataLoader.exe program searches for new metadata files and
integrates them into the existing user archives after a backup. The engineering tool enters the
APFEngineeringDataLoader.exe program in the OS startup list.
Note
Following changes to the user archives, manual adjustments may be required before you can
re-load older data backed up using mechanisms such as the "...BackupTrigger..." from user
archives.
Deleting data in the case of changes
Changes made through the engineering tool may lead to structural changes in tables. Data
that already exist in the affected tables are therefore deleted from the engineering tool. This
will occur in the case of the following, amongst others:
●
● Change in data type (e.g. REAL to STRING)
● Delete attribute (column in user archive is deleted)
Data will not be deleted in the case of the following, amongst others:
● Change in field size (e.g. STRING 8 to STRING 16)
● Change in attribute name
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New attribute (new column in the user archive)
Advanced Process Functions Engineering Manual
System Manual, 07/2016, A5E38719921-AA