Introduction

All Maple Systems HMIs programmed with EBPro (EasyBuilder Pro), including every cMT X Series and cMT Series model, are compatible with VIPA 200/300 MPI. Configure your Controller and HMI/cMT with the following parameters to establish reliable communication.

HMI Settings

Communication Parameters

Parameters	Recommended	Options	Notes
PLC type	VIPA 200/300 MPI
PLC I/F	RS-485 2W
Baud rate	187.5K		Only HMI with a sticker “MPI 187.5K” on the rear cover supports MPI communication.
Data bits	8
Parity	Even
Stop bits	1
PLC sta. no.	2	2 ~ 31
Online simulator	NO
Extend address mode	Yes
Broadcast command	NO

Device Address

Bit/Word	Device Type	Format	Range	Memo
B	`I`	`DDDDo`	0 ~ 40957	Input (I)
B	`Q`	`DDDDo`	0 ~ 40957	Output (O)
B	`M`	`DDDDo`	0 ~ 40957	Bit Memory
B	`DBnBit`	`FFFFDDDDo`	0 ~ 409699997	Data Register Bit
B	`DB0Bit ~ DB99Bit`	`DDDDDo`	0 ~ 655327	Data Register Bit
W	`IW`	`DDDD`	0 ~ 4095	Input (I)
W	`QW`	`DDDD`	0 ~ 4095	Output (O)
W	`MW`	`DDDD`	0 ~ 4095	Bit Memory
DW	`MD`	`DDDD`	0 ~ 4094
Byte	`MB`	`DDDD`	0 ~ 4095	Bit Memory Byte
Byte	`DBBn`	`FFFFDDDD`	0 ~ 40969999	Data Register
W	`DBn`	`FFFFDDDD`	0 ~ 40969999	Data Register (must be even)
DW	`DBDn`	`FFFFDDDD`	0 ~ 40969999	Data Register Double Word
W	`DBn_String`	`FFFFDDDD`	0 ~ 40969999
DW	`DBDn_String`	`FFFFDDDD`	0 ~ 40969999
W	`DB0 ~ DB99`	`DDDDD`	0 ~ 65532	Data Register (must be even)

* Double word and floating point value must use DBDn device type.

Multi-HMIs-Multi-PLCs Communication Setting

MPI network diagram showing two Weintek HMIs at station numbers 00 and 01, connected to two Siemens S7-300 PLCs at station numbers 03 and 02.

For the SIEMENS S7-300 MPI driver in Multi-HMIs-Multi-PLCs communication, the Max. station no. (MPI network) parameter must be correctly set. This setting is relevant to the station number of the devices. As shown below, two HMIs (station no. 0, 1) and two PLCs (station no. 2, 3) are in the MPI network, so Max. Station No. should be set to 3.

Device Properties dialog for SIEMENS S7-300 MPI showing PLC I/F set to RS-485 2W, COM1 at 187.5K,E,8,1, PLC default station no. 2, and Max. station no. (MPI network) set to 3.

For effective communication, set the PLC device in STEP 7 as shown below. In Properties MPI / Network Settings, set the Highest MPI address to the number closest to the actual device station number.

STEP 7 Properties MPI/DP dialog with the Network Settings tab open, showing Highest MPI address set to 15 with 187.5 Kbps transmission rate selected.

NOTE:

HMI sta. no. cannot be the same as PLC sta. no.
It is highly recommended that device station numbers start from 0 sequentially and that Max. station no. (MPI network) is correctly set.
Available for EBPro (EasyBuilder) V4.50 and later.

How to Import Tag

SIEMENS STEP 7 allows building files of user-defined tags (*.dif file and *.AWL file), which can then be imported in EBPro (EasyBuilder8000/EasyBuilderPro) via System Parameter Settings. The following describes how to build and import these two types of files.

Building a *.dif File

Open Symbols in SIMATIC Manager
In the SIMATIC Manager, navigate to your project and open Symbols to create user-defined tags.
Export the Symbols as a .dif File
In the Symbol Table, click Symbol Table u0026gt; Export to open the Export dialog. Enter a filename (e.g. PLC_Tag.dif), set Save as type to *Data Interchange Format (.DIF), then click Save**.

Building a *.AWL File

Open Blocks in SIMATIC Manager
In the SIMATIC Manager, navigate to Blocks and verify the Data Blocks (DB) you want to export are present in the list.
Open LAD/STL/FBD and Generate Source
Open LAD, STL, FBD – Programming S7 Blocks, then click File u0026gt; Generate Source.
Select Sources as Storage Path and Specify Filename
In the New dialog, select Sources as the storage path, enter an object name (e.g. Object_Tag), then click OK.
Select the Blocks to Export
In the Generate Source dialog, select the Data Blocks to include in the export (move them to the Blocks Selected list), then click OK.
Export Source to Build the *.AWL File
Under Sources in SIMATIC Manager, right-click the saved source file and select Export Source. In the Export source dialog, confirm the filename and click Save.