Technical data

Startup and Operation
5.4 Objects and Object Hierarchy
Programming with STEP 7
118 Manual, 05/2010, A5E02789666-01
5.4 Objects and Object Hierarchy
In the same way that the Windows Explorer shows the directory structure of folders and files, the
object hierarchy for projects and libraries in STEP 7 is shown in the SIMATIC Manager.
The following figure shows an example of an object hierarchy.
• Project Object
• Station Object
• Programmable Module Object
• S7/M7 Program Object
• Source File Folder Object
• Block Folder Object
Objects have the following functions:
• Carriers of object properties,
• Folders,
• Carriers of functions (for example, to start a particular application).
Objects as Carriers of Properties
Objects can carry both functions and properties (such as settings). When you select an object, you
can perform one of the following functions with it:
• Edit the object using the menu command Edit > Open Object.
• Open a dialog box using the menu command Edit > Object Properties and set object-specific
options.
A folder can also be a carrier of properties.
Objects as Folders
A folder (directory) can contain other folders or objects. These are displayed when you open the
folder.
Objects as Carriers of Functions
When you open an object, a window is displayed in which you can edit the object.
An object is either a folder or a carrier of functions. An exception to this is stations: they are both
folders (for programmable modules) and carriers of functions (used to configure the hardware).
• If you double-click a station, the objects contained in it are displayed: the programmable
modules and the station configuration (station as a folder).
• If you open a station with the menu command Edit > Open Object, you can configure this
station and assign parameters to it (station as the carrier of a function). The menu command
has the same effect as a double-click on the "Hardware" object.