Technical data

Programming with STEP 7
Manual, 05/2010, A5E02789666-01 551
26 Tips and Tricks
26.1 Exchanging Modules in the Configuration Table
If you using HW Config to revise a station configuration and you want to exchange a module for
one with a new order number for example, proceed as follows:
1. Use a drag-and-drop operation to drag the module from the Hardware Catalog window over the
old module that is already placed.
2. Drop the new module. To the extent possible, the new module assumes the parameters of the
one that was already inserted.
This procedure is faster than exchanging modules by deleting the old module and then inserting
the new one and assigning parameters to it.
You can turn this function on or off in HW Config by means of the menu command Options >
Settings ("Enable Module Swapping")
26.2 Projects with a Large Number of Networked Stations
If you configure all stations one after the other and then call NetPro by means of the menu
command Options > Configure Network in order to configure connections, the stations are placed
in the network view automatically. This procedure has the disadvantage that you then have to
arrange the stations and subnets according to topological criteria later.
If your project includes a large number of networked stations and you want to configure
connections between these stations, you should configure the system structure in the network view
from the beginning to preserve the overview:
1. Create the new project in the SIMATIC Manager (menu command File > New).
2. Start NetPro (menu command Options > Configure Network)
3. Create in NetPro station for station as follows:
- Use a drag-and-drop operation to place the station from the Catalog window.
- Double-click the station to start HW Config.
- Use a drag-and-drop operation to place the modules with communication capability (CPUs,
CPs, FMs, IF modules) in HW Config.
- If you want to network these modules, double-click on the corresponding rows in the
configuration table to create new subnets and to network the interfaces.
- Save the configuration and switch to NetPro.
- In NetPro, position stations and subnets (move objects with the mouse until you have
reached the position you want)
4. Configure the connections in NetPro and correct the networking where necessary.