Technical data

Appendix
27.5 Expanding DP Slaves That Were Created with Previous Versions of STEP 7
Programming with STEP 7
Manual, 05/2010, A5E02789666-01 633
Editing a DP Configuration with an Earlier Version of STEP 7 V5.1, SP4)
If you configure an "updated" DP slave with STEP 7 as of V5.1, Service Pack 4 and then edit the
project with a previous version of STEP 7 (earlier than STEP 7 V5.1, SP4), you will not be able to
edit this DP slave since the GSD file used is unknown to the previous version.
Remedy: You can install the required GSD file in the previous version of STEP 7. In this case, the
GSD file is stored in the project. If the project is subsequently edited with the current STEP 7
version will use the newly installed GSD file for the configuration.
27.5.1 DP-Slaves with Missing or Faulty GSD Files
If you process older station configurations with STEP 7 Version 5.1, it is possible in rare cases that
the GSD file of a DP slave is missing or cannot be not compiled (for example, due to syntax errors
in the GSD file).
In this case STEP 7 generates a "dummy" slave that represents the configured slave, for example
after a station download to the programming device or after an older project has been opened and
processed further. This "dummy" slave can only be processed to a limited extent. You cannot
change the slave structure (DP identifiers) and the slave parameters. However, renewed
downloading to the station is possible. The original configuration of the slave is retained. The
complete DP slave can also be deleted.
Reconfiguring and Assigning Parameters to the DP Slave
If you wish to reconfigure or reassign parameters to the DP slave, you have to request an
up-to-date GSD file for this DP slave from the manufacturer and make it available by using the
menu command Options > Install GSD Files.
After the correct GSD file has been installed, it is used to represent the DP slave. The DP slave
contains its data and can be processed again completely