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Siemens Step 7
S7-300
Programming

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Table of Contents
Page
A. Starting a Project With the S7-300
1. Configuring Communications
2. I/O Configuration
3. Specifying Other Variables
4. Processor Download
B. Ladder Logic Programming
1. Two Contacts in Series (Logical AND)
2. Entering Branches (Logical OR)
3. Timers
4. Counters
C. Adding Comments to Ladder Logic
D. Assigning Symbols to Addresses
E. Displaying Memory Locations
F. Input/Output Forcing
G. Importing/Exporting Symbols
H. Saving Ladder Logic Program
I. Restoring Ladder Logic Program
J. Printing Ladder Logic Program

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This document is a supplement to the Lab 1.doc lab exercise that introduces one to the
basics of ladder logic programming. The following equipment is assumed:
Siemens 6ES7 307-1EA00-0AA0 PS307 10A power supply
Siemens 6ES7 316-2AG00-0AB0 CPU316-2 DP processor
Siemens 6ES7 321-1BL00 32 chan. 24v disc. input
Siemens 6ES7 322-1BH01 16 chan. 24v disc. out/0.5A
This document is primarily for version 5.4 of the Step7 software. A MPI/DP PC adapter (6ES7
972-0CA23-0XA0) plus serial cable connection from the PC to the processor is also assumed.
In order to become familiar with basic ladder logic programming and addressing
techniques on the Siemens equipment, the steps to accomplish the first part of the first lab
exercise are outlined in sections A and B. The remainder of the sections outline the steps to
document your ladder, to print the ladder logic program, and to save your ladder logic diagram.
In an industrial setting, the initial PLC programming is done offline and then later
downloaded to the PLC when ready for the final test and debug. In addition, there is usually
only one project (program) for each PLC on the network. For these labs, the ladder
programming will be done online so that changes can be immediately tested.
Siemens Step 7 version 5.4 is used to program the S7-300 and S7-400 PLCs. An icon for
these programs should already be on the desktop.
The PLC and the PC used to program it are connected directly through a serial RS-232 link.

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A. STARTING A PROJECT WITH THE S7-300

Make sure the computer, PLC, and external power supply are all powered.
Since the PC serial port is used to connect to the processor, the RSLinx AB_DF1 driver
must be stopped before Step7 will be able to connect to the processor.
Start the Step 7 software by clicking on the SIMATIC STEP 7 icon on the desktop, or by
selecting
Start | All Programs | SIMATIC | SIMATIC Manager
A project window should appear with a list of selections. If you are starting a new project and a
project is displayed in the window, close it by clicking on the red "X". The easiest way to start a
new project is to use the "New project" wizard:
Select from the program menu, File | 'New Project' wizard
Click on Next>.
Select CPU316-2 DP as the CPU type. Click on Next>.
The OB1 block should be checked. Select "LAD" as the language for the OB1 block.
Click on Next>.
In the "Project Name" field, type in your project name. Click on Finish.
The software will start up in the offline mode and a blank project is displayed.
To save the project to the C:\Projects\Siemens directory, select File | Save As and
select the appropriate project storage location (C:\Projects\Siemens)
Click OK.
If your project is already in the PLC, click the "open file" icon and select your project from
the list of projects, and then click on OK. Connect to the processor (*not finished *) (click on the
"lightning bolt" icon). Double-click on _MAIN in the Inspector window to show the ladder in the
Editor window. Skip to the online programming functions.
When starting a project for the first time, it must initially be set up offline, and then go
online. The initial setup consists of specifying the processor and configuring the discrete I/O
modules.
1. Configuring Communications
Set up project communications. Right-mouse the name of your project in the left window
pane, Select Insert new object and select PG/PC. Press enter to keep the default name. To set up
serial port communications:
Right-mouse PG/PC(1) in the right window pane. Select Open Object.
Click on the "Interfaces" tab. Click on the New button.
Select "MPI" and click on OK.
Set the address to "3" and select (highlight) the MPI in the Subnet field. Click on OK.
Click on OK.
Now verify that the PG/PC interface parameters are correct.
From the main program menu, select Options | Set PG/PC Interface .
Select the "PC Adapter (MPI)" line.
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Click on Properties.
Click on the "MPI" tab. Verify that "PG/PC is the only master on the bus" is checked
and the Address is "3".
Click on the "Local Connection" tab. Verify that the COM port is "1" and the
transmission rate is "19200". Click on OK.
Click on OK.
You are now ready to configure the I/O channels.
2. I/O Configuration
Using the Step 7 software, configuration of the inputs and outputs involves two steps:
1.
2.

specifying modules in the rack

assigning symbols to the I/O channels

The second step is not absolutely necessary, but it is easier to specify symbols now than when
programming the ladder logic. The Step 7 programming software aids the programming of a
PLC because one does not need to memorize the I/O addresses and file addresses, but can refer
to them symbolically, as a variable.
The PLC will be set up so that the module configuration is as follows:
Slot Module

Description

Start Addr.

PS307

Power supply

2, 3

CPU316-2 DP

Profibus CPU

6ES7 321-1BL00

32 chan. 24v disc. input

6ES7 322-1BH01 16 chan. 24v disc. output Q4

I0

To configure the I/O modules, do the following:

Highlight the SIMATIC 300 Station in the left pane
Double-click "Hardware" in the right pane.
The window displays a rack with the CPU already in slot 2 (and 3).
The catalog of available items is in the right pane. Expand the SIMATIC 300 folder,
the SM-300 folder and then the DI-300 folder. Select the appropriate module
(SM321 DI32xDC24V). Watch the catalog number in the lower window and
verify that it matches the number in the table above.
Now drag-and-drop the module to slot 4 of either rack displayed on the left. It should
appear in slot 4 and the I addresses should be automatically assigned.
Expand the DO-300 folder. Select the appropriate module (SM322 DO16x24V).
Watch the catalog number in the lower window and verify that it matches the
number in the table above.

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Now drag-and-drop the module to slot 5 of either rack displayed on the left. It should
appear in slot 5 and the Q addresses should be automatically assigned.
Click on the Save icon (floppy disk).
Close the hardware configuration window by clicking on the red "X."
To assign symbols to the input/output channels, an organization block must be open. The
default organization block is OB1. To open it, keep expanding the project "tree" in the left pane
until the "Blocks" folder is visible. Select the "Blocks" folder. The OB1 block should now be
visible in the right pane. Double-click on "OB1" to open it. A window with a blank network 1
should open. To access the symbols, from the menu select Options | Symbol Table. A symbol list
with only OB1 defined will appear. To assign symbols to the discrete input channels,
Click in the symbol column of the second row.
Type "Start_PB" and press <Tab>.
The address column will now have "OB 2". Change the address to "I0.0" and press
<Tab>. The data type will change to BOOL.
Press <Tab> to place the cursor in the Comment column.
Type in a description, for example, "Start push button switch" and then press <Tab>.
Enter the other discrete input symbols. Note that the address automatically increments
to the next one.
Repeat the above 5 steps to specify the variables and descriptions for the other input
and output channels. Note that when entering the first discrete output symbol, the
address will need to be changed to "Q4.0."
To close the symbol editor, click on the red "X" in the upper right corner.
Close OB1 (click on red "X" in upper right corner).
3. Specifying Other Variables
It is good practice to enter all of the variables before you start programming. If you enter
a rung with undefined variables, errors will be reported. At that point, you can enter new
variables into the program and clear the verify errors.
However, since timers and counters are handled quite differently than other PLCs, they
will be defined as they are used.
To check that the processor is properly configured, the blank program should be
downloaded to the processor.
4. Processor Download
To download to the processor,
Highlight "Blocks" in the left pane.
Click on the Download icon (yellow arrow pointing down to a PLC rack).
A popup window will ask if you want to overwrite objects. Unless you know what
you are doing, you should answer "Yes" to this prompt.

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A popup window will ask if you want to load system data. When downloading for the
first time, answer "Yes" to this prompt. On subsequent downloads due to program
changes, answer "No" to this prompt, unless you are changing system data (e.g.,
error log).
If you answered "Yes" to the last prompt, a popup window will ask if you want to
delete the system data. Answer "Yes" to this prompt.
If a prompt appears indicating that the processor will be stopped, answer "OK."
If a prompt appears asking whether you want to start the module, answer "Yes."
Go to the next section to start programming.

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B. LADDER LOGIC PROGRAMMING

The steps necessary to program the first part of the experiment, the series rung, will be
explained in detail. For the other parts of the experiment, only the different steps required to do
these parts are explained.
1. Two Contacts in Series (Logical AND)
The first ladder program to be implemented will be a simple series control rung. Two
switches, SW3 and SW4, will be placed in series and will be used to control a single light, LA1.
To show the ladder program in the Editor window, double-click on "OB1" in the left pane
of the project window. Each ladder rung is called a network.
To put in the contacts and coil on the first network, do the following:
Click on the horizontal bar that is the blank network 1.
A normally open (NO) relay contact is needed at the input, so click on the appropriate
contact symbol (-| |-) above the ladder window. A contact will appear on the left
side of the rung with a red "??.?" above it..
Click on the appropriate contact symbol (-| |-) above the ladder window to add the
second contact in series.
Click on the coil symbol (-()-) to add the coil to the rung.
Click on the "??.?" above the first contact and an edit line will popup.
Switch SW3 will be used first, so type the variable or address for that switch ("SW3"
or "I0.2") and press <Enter>. The variable that controls the contact will appear
above the contact symbol on the ladder diagram. Alternatively, if you have
forgotten the variable name, after typing the first character, you may select the
variable from the displayed list.
Note: the ladder editor can switch between displaying the symbol or the address by
clicking on the "tag" icon (just to the right of the Download icon).
Click on the "??.?" over the other NO contact. Type the symbol or address for that
switch ("SW4" or "I0.3") and press <Enter>.
Click on the "??.?" over the output coil and type the symbol or address for light LA1
("LA1" or "Q4.0").
The online/offline box at the bottom of the window should display "offline." Download
the changed program by clicking on the Download icon. If a red "STOP" is displayed at the
bottom of the screen, start the processor with the following steps:
From the main menu, select PLC | Operating Mode
Click on the "Warm Restart" button.
Answer "Yes" to the next prompt.
Click on "Close".
On the bottom of the window, there should be a green bar "moving" right.

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Click on the "eyeglasses" icon to turn on the program monitor.
Try the input switches in various combinations and observe the output. Also observe the
changing status of ladder components on the screen. Energized or true conditions cause the
elements to be highlighted (green) on the ladder diagram.

2. Entering Branches (Logical OR)

Click on the "eyeglasses" icon to turn off the program monitor. It is not necessary to stop
the controller. All edits are made off-line and downloaded to the controller.
The SW4 contact is deleted and then added to the row below the contact for SW3. To
place the SW4 contact in parallel with the SW3 contact,
Delete the SW4 contact by selecting it (it turns dark green) and pressing the <Del>
key.
Now, click on the horizontal line to the left of the SW3 contact to highlight it. Open
the branch by clicking on the icon that appears as an "L" with an arrow pointing
right.
Now click on the NO contact icon to add the parallel contact.
Close the branch by clicking on the icon that appears as an arrow pointing right and
up (next to the Open Branch icon).
Click the "??.?" above the new contact and type "SW4" to add the variable to it.
Download the program and start the processor. The controller is now set to respond to
input conditions and perform appropriate output commands.
Note: to make on-line changes and download the processor, it is not necessary to stop the
processor. If you download the processor while it is running, you will be asked if you really want
to do the download, but you will not be forced to stop the processor.

3. Timers
A new blank rung is added to the program by clicking on the New Rung icon, which
looks like a rung with one contact and coil with a dashed line beneath it.
The IEC-compliant timers are system function blocks and are added to the program
blocks when the first one is placed in the program. To place a timer block in a network:
Position the cursor where you want the timer block to appear.
The blocks are shown in the pane on the left side of the window Expand the
"Libraries" entry and then expand the "Standard Library" folder. Expand the
"System Function Blocks" folder. Note that the first six entries (SFB0 to SFB5)
are the normal timer and counter blocks.
Double-click on the "SFB4 TON" line. A TON timer is added to the current rung.

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Now, add a symbol for the timer. Start the symbol editor by selecting Options |
Symbol Table. Note that the TON symbol with address and symbol type of SFB4
has been added.
Add a new timer symbol (e.g., "Tmr1" to the symbol column of the last line of the
symbol list. The address should be "DB1" and the data type is "SFB4." Actually,
the DB (data block) number can be any number as long it is not already assigned
as a data block. The data type must match the data type of the TON timer (SFB4,
in this case).
Save the new symbols by clicking on the disk icon in the menu bar.
Exit the symbol editor.
Now change the "???" above the TON block to the timer symbol you defined in the
previous step. Press <Enter>. You will be asked if you want to generate the data
block. Answer "Yes."
Place the logic for the IN timer input. You can add contact logic to the EN and IN
inputs. Generally, the EN input is connected directly to the power rail.
To specify the preset (PT) input, click on the PT input. Type in the preset value in the
IEC format for time.
You cannot connect a coil to the Q output. You can connect it to a symbol.
Since we added a SFB to the program, we must download it from the project manager
window (that shows the program blocks). Save OB1 and then exit from the LAD/STL/FBD
editor. Click on the download icon. You will need to answer "Yes" to the prompts about
overwriting blocks. You do not need to load the system data.
Re-open OB1 and observe the program operation.

4. Counters
An up-counter is SFB0. The procedure to add an up-counter is very similar to that of
adding a timer, except that the data type for the counter data block is "SFB0". To place a counter
block in a network:
Position the cursor where you want the counter block to appear.
Double-click on the "SFB0 CTU" line in the "System Function Blocks" folder. A
CTU counter is added to the current rung.
Now, add a symbol for the counter. Start the symbol editor by selecting Options |
Symbol Table. Note that the CTU symbol with address and symbol type of SFB0
has been added.
Add a new counter symbol (e.g., "Cnt1" to the symbol column of the last line of the
symbol list. The address should be "DB3" and the data type is "SFB0." Actually,
the DB (data block) number can be any number as long it is not already assigned
as a data block. The data type must match the data type of the CTU counter
(SFB0, in this case).
Save the new symbols by clicking on the disk icon in the menu bar.
Exit the symbol editor.

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Now change the "???" above the CTU block to the counter symbol you defined in the
previous step. Press <Enter>. You will be asked if you want to generate the data
block. Answer "Yes."
Place the logic for the CU and R counter inputs. You can add contact logic to the EN,
CU, and R inputs. Generally, the EN input is connected directly to the power rail.
To specify the preset (PV) input, click on the PV input. Type in the preset value as an
integer.
You cannot connect a coil to the Q output. You can connect it to a symbol.
To display the CV while the program is executing, you must connect it to an INT
variable.
Since we added a SFB to the program, we must download it from the project manager
window (that shows the program blocks). Save OB1 and then exit from the LAD/STL/FBD
editor. Click on the download icon. You will need to answer "Yes" to the prompts about
overwriting blocks. You do not need to load the system data.
Re-open OB1 and observe the program operation.

C. ADDING COMMENTS TO LADDER PROGRAM

Comments are placed inside the Comment box that appears with each network.

D. ASSIGNING SYMBOLS TO ADDRESSES

To assign symbols to addresses, an organization block must be open. The default
organization block is OB1. To open it, keep expanding the project "tree" in the left pane until the
"Blocks" folder is visible. Select the "Blocks" folder. The OB1 block should now be visible in
the right pane. Double-click on "OB1" to open it. To access the symbols, from the menu select
Options | Symbol Table. To assign symbols to an address,
Click in the symbol column of the last row.
Type the name of your symbol and press <Tab>.
The address column will now contain the next address after the address in the
previous row. The address may be highlighted in pink if it is the same as another
address already existing in the data base. Change the address to what is needed
and press <Tab>. The data type will change to a type consistent with the address.
If you really want INT (for integer) or REAL (for real values), you will need to
change the data type. The default type for a MDx address is DWORD.
Press <Tab> to place the cursor in the Comment column.
Type in a description and then press <Tab>.
Enter the other input symbols. Note that the address automatically increments to the
next one.
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To close the symbol editor, click on the red "X" in the upper right corner.

E. DISPLAYING MEMORY LOCATIONS

To display memory locations, an organization block must be open. The default
organization block is OB1. To open it, keep expanding the project "tree" in the left pane until the
"Blocks" folder is visible. Select the "Blocks" folder. The OB1 block should now be visible in
the right pane. Double-click on "OB1" to open it. Click on the eyeglasses icon to go on-line.
While on-line, a window should appear at the bottom of the screen. Select the Modify
tab. A table with one blank row should appear. To add the symbol column, right-mouse the
header of the Address column, select Display columns (on/off) and then select Symbol.
Type the name of the symbol you wish to display in the Display column. The value will
appear in the @ Status value column. To change the format, right-mouse the Display column
for that row, and select the appropriate format (Boolean for internal coils, decimal for integers, or
floating point for reals).
To modify a particular location that is not an input/output channel, enter the new value in
the Modify value column. To actually change the address to that value, right-mouse the cell
with the new value, and select Modify. For Booleans, it is not necessary to enter a value in the
Modify value column. One can right-mouse any cell on the row and select Modify address to
0 or Modify address to 1.

F. INPUT/OUTPUT FORCING
For inputs, the force function allows one to override the actual status of external inputs by
forcing individual discrete inputs to be ON or OFF. Input forces are written to the input image
table and have no effect on the actual input. The value in the force table overrides the actual
input. For example, if I0/1 is forced to 1 (ON), it will appear in the input image and ladder logic
as 1, regardless of the actual status of the device.
For outputs, the force function allows one to override the processor logic and force
individual discrete outputs to be ON or OFF. Output forces are written directly to the output
device and do not appear in the output image table. The value in the force table overrides the
value in the output image. For example, if Q4/2 is forced to 1 (ON), the actual output will be
ON, regardless of how it appears in the ladder and output image table.
Note: Enabling or disabling forces can result in sudden machine movement, possibly injuring
personnel. Applying of removing forces while forces are enabled takes place immediately,
with no prompt for confirmation. USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN USING FORCES!

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Note: for the S7-300 PLC, discrete outputs cannot be forced.
To force discretes, the Force Values Display must be invoked. The individual inputs or
outputs are forced from this display. To force values:
From the Step 7 manager menu, select PLC | Display Force Values. The Force
Values window pops up.
If the processor status is not displayed at the bottom, connect it to the processor by
selecting PLC | Connect to | Configured CPU.
Type the address or symbol of the discrete input to be forced in the table.
To force a discrete,
Type the force value ("1", "0", "true", or "false") in the Force Value column.
Right-mouse the force value and select Force.
When prompted if you want to continue, answer "Yes."
To remove a force
Right-mouse the force value and select Remove Force.
When prompted if you want to continue, answer "Yes."
The entry is deleted out of the table.
If a discrete is forced, a red "F" will appear in the first column of the Force Values
display. A forced discrete in a monitored program will appear with a yellow highlight.

G. IMPORTING/EXPORTING SYMBOLS
1. Importing Database from DIF file
To import an address/symbol/description database from a .DIF (data interchange format) file:
First open the symbol table. Open an organization block (usually OB1). From the menu
select Options | Symbol Table.
From the symbol table menu select Symbol Table | Import.
Select the appropriate file. Click on Open.
A pop-up will remind you that you cannot undo the action. Click on Yes to continue the
import.
The symbols are imported.
A pop-up will appear with a summary of the errors (if any). If you click on Yes, a log of
the import operation will be displayed. If there are no errors, you should click on No.
2. Exporting Database to DIF file
To export an address/symbol/description database to a .DIF (data interchange format) file:
First open the symbol table. Open an organization block (usually OB1). From the menu
select Options | Symbol Table.
From the symbol table menu select Symbol Table | Export.
Select the appropriate file name. Click on Save.
The symbols are exported to the file.

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A DIF file can be edited with Excel.

H. SAVING LADDER LOGIC PROGRAMS

Ladder logic programs (projects) may be saved for future use. By saving your ladder
logic programs, you are able to resume your experiment, even though others have been using the
same PLC. One usually saves the program to the C:\Projects\Siemens program directory on the
hard disk and then saves the program to a flash drive for backup/transport to another computer.
From the SIMATIC Manager, select File
To save with a different project name, select Save As...
To save your project to another directory, use Save As... and select the proper drive
and directory.
A more efficient way of storing programs is to archive them in a .zip file. A project has
more than 150 files and more than 30 subdirectories. To archive a program,
From the SIMATIC Manager, select File | Archive..
Select your project and click on OK
Select the directory in which to place the archive and its name. The default name is
the first 8 characters of the project name. Click on Save.
The files are zipped into the selected file.
DO NOT USE Winzip, or any of its variants to save your project. You must use the Archive
feature of the SIMATIC manager. If you use Winzip, the project will be irretrievable and cannot
be restored.

I. RESTORING LADDER LOGIC PROGRAMS

You may restore your ladder logic project by copying a previously saved project
directory from a flash drive or your account or retrieve a previously archived project. After
copying the project directory to the appropriate place (usually C:\Projects\Siemens\), select File |
Open and then click on Browse and then select the project directory.
If you do not want to copy the project, but merely access it on your flash drive, select
File | Open and then click on Browse and then select the project directory.
To restore a project archived in a .zip file,
From the SIMATIC Manager, select File | Retrieve..
Select your project and click on OK
Select the directory in which to place the project and click on OK.
A pop-up summarizing the operation is displayed. Click on OK.
Another pop-up will ask if you want to open the project. Click on Yes if you want to
open the project.

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K. PRINTING A LADDER LOGIC PROGRAM

To print program, for each program block (except for SFC, S7-Graph)
Right-mouse block
Select Print | Object Content
To print S7-Graph block
Open source
Select File | Print Preview
Select According to Settings and click on Settings button
On Views select Sequencer, Block Comment, Conditions and action, Symbolic
representation: LAD
Click OK on this window and the next.
Make sure print preview is fine
Click Print to print to Distiller
To print symbol table
Double-click on OB1 block to open it
Select Options | Symbol Table
Click on printer icon
To print cross-reference
Display project in SIMATIC Manager
Select Options | Reference Data | Display
Select Cross Reference
Click on printer icon
.

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