Creating and configuring a PLC project

What is a PLC project?

• A project contains the objects required to create a controller program:
• Pure programming blocks, for example programs, function blocks, functions, GVLs.
• Objects that are additionally required in order to be able to run the program on a PLC. For example, referenced tasks, library managers and visualizations.
• In a TwinCAT project you can program several PLC projects and run them on a target device.
• TwinCAT manages project-specific function blocks in the view Solution Explorer under the PLC nodes.
• There are templates containing certain objects for the creation of projects.
• Basic configurations and information on the project are defined in the project settings and project information. For example:
• Compiler settings
• Author
• You save a project as a file in the file system. Optionally, you can package it together with project-relevant files and information in a project archive. Storage in a source code management system such as Microsoft Team Foundation Server (TFS) or SVN is also possible.
• Each project contains the information regarding the TwinCAT version with which it was created. If you open it in a different version, TwinCAT will inform you of possible or necessary updates.
• You can compare projects and export and import individual objects.
• You can protect a project against being changed and even completely against being read. Through the use of user administration you can purposefully control access to the project and even to individual objects in the project.