Configuration Notes:
This entry includes tips and tricks on STEP 7 compatibility.

1. Can a STEP 7 project from a current version be edited in a previous version?
2. Can the communication cards CP5511 and CP5512 be used with STEP 7 V5.4 in MS Windows Vista?
3. Which version of STEP 7 fully supports the scroll wheel functions of the Microsoft wheel mice?
4. Why are the symbolic names not available if a program created with STEP 7 V5.4 is downloaded from the CPU into the PG with STEP 7 V5.3?

The table below provides information and remedies for the above.
 

No.	Procedure:
1	Can a STEP 7 project from a current version be edited in a previous version? STEP 7 projects are downwards compatible to the previous versions. Projects created in version 5.4 can also be edited in version 5.3. A prerequisite is that the project created in STEP 7 V5.4 cannot contain any components and functions not supported by the previous version, such as new CPU modules or new functions (such as access protection or SIMATIC Version Trail). If a STEP 7 V5.4 project is to be processed, for example with STEP 7 V5.3, then you can only use module order numbers that are known in version V5.3 in the V5.4 project. If necessary, you should configure new modules with the "predecessor order number". In future you will be able to "retroload" new modules as of STEP 7 V5.2 . Refer also to the note in the readme file in section 6.6 "Changing between the different versions of STEP 7", "New modules in old versions of STEP 7". If you open or dearchive a project in STEP 7 version V5.2 that has been created in version V5.3 or V5.4, the following messages might be displayed. As a consequence, you can only read the hardware configuration. S7 Hardware Update options package not available. The project includes objects of the "Hardware Update" options package that cannot be processed because the options package is not installed or an obsolete version of it is installed.
2	Can the communication cards CP5511 and CP5512 be used with STEP 7 V5.4 in MS Windows Vista? STEP 7 is released in Windows Vista Ultimate and Business as of version V5.4 SP3. STEP 7 is not released in Windows Vista Home Basic or Premium. To use the communication cards, note that the CP5512 is released in Windows Vista, the driver is integrated in STEP 7, CP5511 is not released in Windows Vista. More information is available in the readme file under "Notes on using communication cards in PCs/PGs (section 4.4.2).
3	Which version of STEP 7 fully supports the scroll wheel functions of the Microsoft wheel mice? As of version 5.2, STEP 7 supports the scroll wheel function of the Microsoft wheel mice. However, you must install the driver for your mouse separately (the Windows default driver is not sufficient here). The driver is supplied by your mouse manufacturer, usually on a separate CD. Once you have installed the mouse driver, restart the computer and a mouse icon is displayed in the task bar (next to the clock). Open the Control Panel via "Start > Settings > Control Panel" and double-click on the "Mouse" icon. You can make additional mouse settings in the dialog window "Mouse Properties". Fig. 01
4	Why are the symbolic names not available if a program created with STEP 7 V5.4 is downloaded from the CPU into the PG with STEP 7 V5.3? Please refer to the information in the STEP 7 Online Help under "Downloading from the PLC into the PG", "Load station into PG..." The blocks are stored in the CPU irrespective of the STEP 7 version without symbols and comments. To keep the assignment of the symbols and comments for your program, load the program back into the associated project.