Instructions
To load project data into the CPU you need an online connection between your programming device and the device or CPU. The table below describes a sample downloading process for an S7-1500 CPU (generally valid for all CPUs). Under circumstances it might be necessary to first reset the S7-1500 CPU to the factory settings if the module memory is not initialized automatically. Even if the configured CPU is identical to the available CPU, the device is displayed as "not compatible". The reason for the behavior is that the Primary Setup Tool, for example, or another tool was used instead of the TIA Portal to change the IP address from the as-delivered status of the CPU.
 

No.	Procedure
1	In the project navigation, you mark the folder (PLC_1, for example) whose project data you want to load into the CPU and then you execute the menu command "Online > Download to device" or click on the "Download to device" icon in the toolbar. The changed project data (device configuration and the STEP 7 program) are then loaded into the CPU. Fig. 01 Alternatively, you can load separate components like the hardware configuration and the software blocks. If you right-click the "PLC_1" folder in the project navigation, the following menu commands are offered in the pop-up menu: "Download to device > Hardware and Software (changes only)" The device configuration and the changed software blocks are loaded into the CPU. "Download to device > Hardware configuration" Only the hardware configuration is loaded into the CPU. "Download to device > Software (changes only)" Only changed software blocks are loaded into the CPU.
2	With the first download the "Extended download to device" dialog opens. Here you have to define your PG/PC interface. In the drop-down list boxes you select your configuration data and then click the "Load" button. Fig. 02 The IP address of your CPU configured in the device configuration must match the IP address of the CPU that is accessible online. Fig. 03 Note If you enable the option "Show All Compatible Nodes", all the accessible devices are shown with their IP addresses and you can load your program directly into the CPU without having to change the IP address of the module in the offline project.
3	The Ethernet interface of your programming device must be in the same IP band as the module to be configured. If an IP address has already been assigned for your PG/PC, you no longer get the dialog shown in Fig. 04. Click on the "Yes" button. Fig. 04 Also acknowledge the next message.
4	The project data must be consistent. If the project has not been compiled, the project data is compiled automatically before being loaded. In the "Load preview" dialog, messages are displayed and the actions required for loading are proposed. It is only necessary to stop the CPU if the device configuration is loaded or if you have changed the texts in the text lists. If you have loaded only blocks into the CPU, you do not need to put the module into "STOP" mode. In the "Text libraries" line (only with S7-1500) we recommend that you select the "Consistent loading" action. In this way all message texts and text list entries are loaded into the CPU. The "Load" button becomes active as soon as it is possible to load. Click the "Load" button. Fig. 05
5	At the end the "Results of the download procedure" dialog opens informing you whether the loading procedure was successful. Click the "Finish" button to put the CPU into "RUN" mode. Fig. 06 In the inspector window go to "General > Info" for detailed information about the load procedure.
6	After you have loaded the project data into the CPU and put the CPU back into "RUN" mode, you can execute the test and diagnostics functions on your CPU.

Table 01

Note on downloading an earlier version of STEP 7 TIA Portal (S7-1200 CPU)
If you have loaded a project with STEP 7 TIA Portal V12 (or higher) into an S7-1200 CPU and would then like to make more downloads with an earlier version of STEP 7 (V11, for example), you have to reset the CPU to the factory settings. You can do this either with the current version of STEP 7 TIA Portal or with a Micro Memory Card.

Note on S7 routing to an HMI device (S7-1500)
The S7 routing to an HMI device cannot be executed if the option "Use different method to assign IP address" is enabled in the Properties of the CPU S7-1500 (Fig. 03). Connect the HMI device over the second PROFINET interface [X2], because a fixed IP address point is needed from the STEP 7 project for S7 routing.

Further Information
More information is also available in the STEP 7 TIA Portal Online Help under "Download into CPU".

Creation environment
The screens in this FAQ response were created with STEP 7 (TIA Portal) V12.