First we create a project, and add our Modbus device quantity tag into WinCC, then we connect to WinCC via OPC Configuration Manager in AVReporter. Step 1.: Open the WinCC Explorer for Start -> Siemens Automation -> SIMATIC -> WinCC -> WinCC Explorer Step 2.: We have to create our project first. Click on File -> New. In the popup window select 'Single User Project'. Step 3.: Define the WinCC project Path. For example here we select the C:\ drive and then we name the project: QuickStart, the subfolder in C:\ will be also named as C:\QuickStart. Click 'Create'. Step 4.: Now we connect to a Modbus TCP/IP device, which will be a Twido PLC, and we will add its registert '1' as our OPC tag. Right click on "Tag management" in the WinCC Explorer list, and select 'Add new driver'. In the file browser select now Modbus TCPIP.chn Step 5.: Expand the Modbus TCPIP, and right click on Modbus TCP/IP Unit #1, select 'New driver connection'. Then select 'Properties'. Here set up the proper modbus CPU type (generally 984 will be good), and adjust the IP address to the device. Click on OK. Now let's name our connection to Twido instead of "NewConnection" ni the Connection properties window. Then click OK. Step 6.: Now we have to add our tag for the twido device. In the WinCC main window right click on "twido" and select "New tag". Let's name it "Test 1", the type is 16 bit unsigned value, and for the address select the proper register from the PLCs holding register. Our register will be the register #1, so the first one. Then click OK. Step 7.: To check this value, and also to run the communication properly, we have to assign a displaying picture for our tag. In WinCC Explorer right click on Graphics designer and select "New Picture". The right click on the created picture and select "Open picture". Step 8.: The graphical designer window comes up. On the right side open Smart Objects and double click on "I/O Field". Here open on the folder icon, and find your "Test 1" tag. Click on File -> Save to save the changes and close the graphical editor now. Step 9.: In WinCC Explorer click on the "play button" in the WinCC toolbar, called Activate. Then the software starts, and we have to set up the start picture. Set up the picture that we just created with the I/O Field. Step 10.: Now go into OPC configurator in AVReporter, connect to our local machine, and read the tags. Here we will be able to find the tags for our twido device, select it for logging. Adjust the namespace, the logging interval and restart the scheduler. After this the OPC data will be logged into AVReporter database. Step 11.: Open Basic Reporter module, select the logged quantity (make sure a few minutes have passed so we have logged data). Then start the query and display your logged values.
