Technical data

Introducing the Product and Installing the Software
1.4 Extended Uses of the STEP 7 Standard Package
Programming with STEP 7
Manual, 05/2010, A5E02789666-01 37
1.4.1 Engineering Tools
Engineering Tools are task-oriented tools that can be used to extend the standard package.
Engineering Tools include:
• High-level languages for programmers
• Graphic languages for technical staff
• Supplementary software for diagnostics, simulation, remote maintenance, plant documentation
etc.
High-Level Languages
The following languages are available as optional packages for use in programming the SIMATIC
S7-300/S7-400 programmable logic controllers:
• S7 GRAPH is a programming language used to program sequential controls (steps and
transitions). In this language, the process sequence is divided into steps. The steps contain
actions to control the outputs. The transition from one step to another is controlled by switching
conditions.
• S7 HiGraph is a programming language used to describe asynchronous, non-sequential
processes in the form of state graphs. To do this, the plant is broken down into individual
functional units which can each take on different states. The functional units can be
synchronized by exchanging messages between the graphs.
• S7 SCL is a high-level text-based language to EN 61131-3 (IEC 1131-3). It contains language
constructs similar to those found in the programming languages C and Pascal. S7 SCL is
therefore particularly suitable for users familiar with high-level language programming. S7 SCL
can be used, for example, to program complex or frequently recurring functions.