How do you import DBs in a STEP 7 (TIA Portal) project that were created in other projects or

with earlier versions of STEP 7?

Entry ID:79168964 Date:2013-09-03
STEP 7 (TIA Portal) -- Creating S7 programs -- Addressing variables and data structures
STEP 7 -- Creating S7 programs -- Processing sources
How do you import DBs in a STEP 7 (TIA Portal) project that were created in other projects or with
earlier versions of STEP 7?
Instructions
How do you import the sources of DBs in a STEP 7 (TIA Portal) project that were created in other
projects or with an earlier version of STEP 7 (TIA Portal)? Importing the DB sources has the following
advantages over copying the complete program:
You can import small volumes of data into your project without having to copy the complete
program.
You can create data blocks in another project and also on other programming devices
regardless of the version of STEP 7 (TIA Portal).
Several people can create or change blocks for the same project at the same time and from
different locations. Then you can integrate the generated data blocks from the imported
sources in the main project. Existing data blocks are updated.

Fig. 01
The instructions below show you how to export a data block as source from STEP 7 (TIA Portal) and
back again to STEP 7 (TIA Portal).
Export a data block as SCL source from a STEP 7 (TIA Portal) project
1. Open the "Program Blocks" folder in the project navigation.
2. Right-click the data block that you want to export and select "Generate source from blocks" in
the pop-up menu.
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Fig. 02
3. In the "Save as..." dialog that opens you navigate to your desired storage path and assign a
name for your DB source.

4. Click the "Save" button.

Note
The file type "scl files (*scl)" is assigned by default and the selected data block is stored as
SCL source in the folder you select.
Import DB source into a newly created STEP 7 (TIA Portal) project
5. In the project navigator, open the "External Sources" folder and double-click "Add new external
file".
6. Navigate to the folder where you stored your source and select the source.
7. Click the "Open" button to import the SCL source to STEP 7 (TIA Portal). The source is then
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stored in the "External Sources" folder.
8. Right-click the imported source and select the "Generate blocks from source" item in the pop-
up menu.

Fig. 03
9. You receive a message informing you that existing blocks will be overwritten. Acknowledge
with "OK". Now the data block is compiled and stored in the "Program Blocks" folder.
10. Save and compile your project. The imported data block is now available for further program
processing.
Creation environment
The screens in this FAQ response were created with STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V12.
Entry ID:79168964 Date:2013-09-03
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