S7-1200 Programmable controller
System Manual, 11/2011, A5E02486680-05
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STEP 7 programming software
2
STEP 7 provides a user-friendly environment to develop, edit, and monitor the logic needed
to control your application, including the tools for managing and configuring all of the devices
in your project, such as controllers and HMI devices. To help you find the information you
need, STEP 7 provides an extensive online help system.
STEP 7 provides standard programming languages for convenience and efficiency in
developing the control program for your application.
●
LAD (ladder logic) is a graphical programming language. The representation is based on
circuit diagrams (Page 144).
●
FBD (Function Block Diagram) is a programming language that is based on the graphical
logic symbols used in Boolean algebra (Page 145).
●
SCL (structured control language) is a text-based, high-level programming language.
When you create a code block, you select the programming language to be used by that
block. Your user program can utilize code blocks created in any or all of the programming
languages.
2.1
System requirements
To install the STEP 7 software on a PC running Windows XP, or Windows 7 operating
system, you must log in with Administrator privileges.
Table 2- 1
System requirements
Hardware/software
Requirements
Processor type
Pentium M, 1.6 GHz or similar
RAM
1 GB
Available hard disk space
2 GB on system drive C:\
Operating systems
Windows XP Professional SP3
Windows 2003 Server R2 StdE SP2
Windows 7 Home Premium (STEP 7 Basic only, not
supported for STEP 7 Professional)
Windows 7 (Professional, Enterprise, Ultimate)
Windows 2008 Server StdE R2
Graphics card
32 MB RAM
24-bit color depth
Screen resolution
1024 x 768
Network
20 Mbit/s Ethernet or faster
Optical drive
DVD-ROM