What's New in STEP 7, Version 5.5?
The following subject areas have been updated:
Operating systems
As of STEP 7 V5.5, the operating systems MS Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise (standard installation) are supported.
Configuring and Diagnosing Hardware
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can create I-devices from numerous IO controllers.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can use the PROFINET shared device function.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can assign the IP addresses and device names dynamically.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can configure media redundancy for multiple domains.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can you can configure the isochronous mode for IO devices.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can install hardware updates directly from the "Windows Start menu".
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can manage user rights for the Web server.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can access Web pages of the CPU via a secure HTTPS connection.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can configure keepalive times for TCP connections.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can download I&M data for more than one module at the same time (using multiselection).
Configuration Changes during Ongoing Operation (CiR)
The restrictions in STEP 7 versions up to and including V5.4 regarding hardware configuration in RUN (CiR) for PROFIBUS when upgrading the STEP version no longer apply in V5.5.
Standard Libraries
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, the system functions have been expanded by the addition of SFB104 "IP_CONF" for program-controlled configuration of the integrated PROFINET interface of your CPU.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, the system functions have been expanded by the addition of SFC99 "WWW" for enabling or synchronizing user Web pages.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, the system functions have been expanded by the addition of SFB73 "RCVREC" for receiving data records and SFB74 "PRVREC" for *** data records available on an I-device. These SFBs are only valid for S7-300 CPUs.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, the system status list with SSL-ID W#16#xy9C has been expanded. This provides information on the configured tool changer and its tools.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, the following FBs of S7 communication are included: FB28 "USEND_E", FB29 "URCV_E", FB34 "GET_E", FB35 "PUT_E". These are only for S7-300 CPUs and only on connections via the integrated PN interface.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, the following two FBs for open communication via Industrial Ethernet have new names: FB 210 (previous name: "S5FW_TCP") is now called "FW_TCP", FB 220 (previous name: "S5FW_IOT") is now called "FW_IOT".
Report System Error
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can choose whether or not the status of slaves is evaluated when the CPU starts up.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, the additional texts of messages are displayed or implemented in the "Message Preview", "Print" and "Print Preview" dialogs.
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can also download blocks generated by 'Report System Error' in HW Config
System diagnostics
?As of STEP 7 V5.5, there are two "Diagnostics in Hexadecimal Format" dialogs: one for PROFIBUS slaves and one for PROFINET devices.
Setting the PG/PC Interface
As of STEP 7 V5.5, you can use the USB prommer without needing to install additional software. The required functionality is integrated in STEP 7.