Instructions:
Proceed as follows to import externally preset alarm texts into a WinCC flexible project:
- Explanatory notes about WinCC flexible 2004/2005/2007:
You cannot create new alarms directly via the import. You can only import alarm texts that are already available in a source language. You can import new alarm texts if "dummy texts" exist in the target project, which are overwritten by the import.
- Explanatory notes about WinCC flexible 2008:
WinCC flexible 2008 also supports the procedure described below. However, alarm texts can also be imported without "dummy" texts from WinCC flexible 2008. More information is available in Entry ID: 32947964.
Approach:
Import alarm texts using the export/import interface for converting project texts.
Conditions:
The approach is only effective for the import of alarm texts without process variables (output fields in alarm texts).
| No. |
Procedure |
| 1 |
Download library
A library matching each version of WinCC flexible is available for downloading.
- Download the appropriate ZIP file available below as a packed library onto your configuration computer.
Download the various libraries:
 DiscreteAlarms2004.zip ( 3525 KB )
for WinCC flexible 2004
DiscreteAlarms2005.zip ( 3623 KB )
for WinCC flexible 2005
DiscreteAlarms2005_SP1.zip ( 3663 KB )
for WinCC flexible 2005 SP1
DiscreteAlarms2005_SP1HF7.zip ( 3508 KB )
for WinCC flexible 2005 SP1 HF7
DiscreteAlarms2007.zip ( 3920 KB )
as of WinCC flexible 2007
Note:
With WinCC flexible 2008 you can also use the library "DiscreteAlarms2007.zip". There is an automatic conversion when you open the library.
- In Windows Explorer, extract the relevant file (packed library, such as DiscreteAlarms2005.zip) and save the library. Each of these libraries contains three alarm objects with 1000, 2000 and 4000 discrete alarms in German (Germany) and English (USA).
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| 2 |
Open project and library
- Open your project in WinCC flexible.
- In the Tools window of WinCC flexible, open the appropriate library (e.g.DiscreteAlarms2005). Three alarm objects with 1000, 2000 and 4000 discrete alarms are displayed in the Tools window.
- Drag and drop the required alarm object from the library into the Project window in "Project > Device > Alarm Management > Discrete Alarms".
The new alarms are added.
 
Fig. 01
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| 3 |
Exporting the alarm texts
Export the alarm texts via "Options > Texts > Export" with the settings:
- Source language "German" (or "English")
- Target language for example, "Estonian"
To avoid conflicts, choose an empty folder as target folder.
The target language in this case serves as a temporary "substitute language" that is used purely for alarm text export/import (for example, Estonian).
As "substitute language" you can also use a language other than Estonian, but not a language that you actually need in your project. During the export procedure, the source text is copied by default into the target language column (second column) in the export file.
Fig. 02
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| 4 |
Importing texts
Import the exported file (without any changes) via "Options > Texts > Import".
This creates a second language "Estonian" in the WinCC flexible project, which also contains the desired dummy alarm texts (temporary substitute language).
Fig. 03
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| 5 |
Exporting the alarm texts
Export the alarm texts via "Options > Texts > Export", this time with changed settings for the languages:
- Source language such as "Estonian"
- Target language "German" (or "English")
To avoid conflicts, choose an empty folder as target folder.
Fig. 04
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| 6 |
Open the exported Excel table
- Open the exported file "Messages.xls" with Microsoft Excel.
- Overwrite (edit, copy, etc.) the message texts in column "B" with your message texts.
Leave the first four rows and the column "A" unchanged.
Note:
You must adhere strictly to the formatting/syntax for the individual cells:
"<text> your message text </text>"!
Fig. 05
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| 7 |
Add formatting
To facilitate input of the texts in column "B" you can leave out the formatting/syntax. There are two options for adding formatting:
Option 1:
The specified formatting can be entered in Excel via the cell formatting. By adding the message texts, the syntax is added automatically.
- Mark the relevant cells.
- Click "Format > Cells..." in the menu bar in Excel.
- Select the "User-defined" category in the "Numbers" tab.
- Enter the format string ""<text>"@"</text>"" in the "Type" input field.
- Then click on "OK".
- Where appropriate, enter further message texts in the formatted cells of the worksheet.
Fig. 06
Option 2:
You can then use the attached Excel template "Format_Conversion_V1_3" (in Format_Conversion_V1_3.zip, Attachment 1) to add the formatting or syntax automatically.
First enter your message text in column "B" of the Excel list "Messages.xls". The default formatting or syntax "<text> your message text </text>" can be ignored if you use the Excel template afterwards.
Then run the function contained in the Excel template "Format_Conversion_V1_3".
The formatting required is applied automatically in the Excel list "Messages.xls".
More detailed instructions are available in the Excel template "Format_Conversion_V1_3".
Attachment 1: Format_Conversion_V1_3.zip ( 15 KB ) |
| 8 |
Importing the edited Excel file
Import the changed file in the WinCC flexible via "Options > Texts > Import".
Fig. 07
The changed alarm texts and associated help texts are now available in the WinCC flexible project:
Fig. 08
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Keywords:
Discrete messages, Analog messages
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Suggestion for the entry