Features of PLCnext Engineer

In this topic you see the current features and the software version with which they have been implemented. For a sneak peek into our further development and current activities on this Engineering software, please refer to the PLCnext Engineer roadmap.

Latest Update: February 26th, 2024

Note: In this topic, the versions in the table headers are relating to the software version, not the firmware running on the PLCnext Control. Some new PLCnext Engineer features depend on the corresponding firmware release.The release strategy and rhythm for both software and firmware is almost the same; but release 2021.3 is valid only for the PLCnext Engineer software suite. For the firmware, there was no such release.

Usability tips:

  1. Get quick access to sections via the panel on the right.
  2. You can filter this content for showing only the firmware and device you use:
    • Activate the filtering by the filter icon button in the upper right toolbar.
    • Apply a tick mark to the devices and firmware releases you're interested in. Consider the chosen criteria as joint by an AND logic.

Supported devices

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
AXC F 1152
AXC F 2152
AXC F 3152
RFC 4072S
RFC 4072R
BPC 9102S
EPC 1502
EPC 1522
AXC F XT SPLC 1000

User interface

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Multiple screens support - Cross-function area
Multiple screens support - HMI dynamic and property editor
System filter
Global cross references
Local cross references
Recycle bin function
Mini Map ("Bird view")
Support of multiple instances
Copy & paste between multiple instances 
Chinese language support

IEC 61131-3 editor and features

IEC 61131-3 programming

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Background compilation and syntax check
Download change
Structured Text (ST)
Function Block Diagram (FBD)
Ladder Diagram (LD)
Network-orientated editor (NOLD)
Extended variable identifier
Initialization of user-defined data types
Initialization of user-defined data instances
Copy POUs from libraries
Overwrite data types from libraries
Overwrite POU types from libraries
Documentation editor @POUs 
Create externals from global variables 
NOLD editor – expand/collapse networks  
NOLD editor - adjustable width
Variable type "Constant" 
Editor supports up to 20 worksheets per POU 
Navigate to definition from POU instance 
EN/ENO parameters (in 2022.0 LTS re-implemented with better functionality)
Refactoring of variables
WSTRING datatype 
Arrays assignable to process data items  
Import/export of variables list as .csv file 
Escape sequences for STRING / WSTRING literals

Object-orientated programming (OOP)

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Methods for function blocks
User-defined namespaces

Sequential function chart (SFC+) – Add-in

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Basic functions
Interlocks
Watchdog
Type & Info struct
Compact SFC function block representation
Pre- and post-execution worksheet

Safety IEC 61508 editor

PLCnext Control RFC 4072S is the first PLC to support IEC 61508 safety features. 

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
PROFIsafe® compliant
Network granular CRC
Signal path analysis
Safe semantic analysis
Functional Safety - User libraries
Undo/Redo functionality in safety editor
Auto-generate safety variables by connecting to a Safety I/O  
Resource statistics view for Safety PLC
Reloadable C functions 
Task editor for Safety task
Download of safety and non-safety application
by a single command

Integrated HMI editor

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0
LTS
Basic forms and elements
Symbols
Symbol in symbol (one level)
Symbol in symbol (multi-level) 
Animations
Actions - Execute an event
Actions - Multiple events
Actions - Write value
Search and replace in symbols and dynamics
Import and export HMI Libraries
Import pages from other projects
Access IEC 61131-3 external variables
Access local variables of function blocks
Tags - Primitive data types
Tags - Any Bit (e.g. var. %X1)
Tags - Array
Tags - Struct
Tags - Array of Struct
Tags - Local function block variables
Tags - Assign UDTs to symbol parameters
Tags - Define local tags for symbols 
Folder in HMI application tree
eHMI Easy Login - refresh without re-authentication 
Object Explorer shows a hierarchic tree view of HMI objects
Actions triggered on page-activated event
Actions triggered by data 
Trending chart view 
Multi-language applications 
Expressions in symbol parameters 
Editor for page templates 
Drop list symbol

PROFINET support

Note: GSDML files that comply with profile version 2.2 must also contain the attribute DeviceAccessPointItem/@PNIO_Version with a value ≥"V2.0".

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Supported GSDML profile 2.2 to 2.34 2.2 to 2.35 2.2 to 2.4 2.2 to 2.42 2.2 to 2.42 2.2 to 2.42 2.2 to 2.42 2.2 to 2.42 2.2 to 2.42 2.2 to 2.42 2.2 to 2.42 2.2 to 2.42
Scan for PROFINET devices
Global PROFINET interface table
(all interface settings in one table)
MRP configurator
PROFINET redundancy
PROFINET Fast Start-up (FSU) 
Create preconfigured device templates

Axioline support

Only with Axioline F series controllers.

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Support for Axioline local bus
Support for Axioline Smart Elements
Create preconfigured device templates

Inline support

Only AXC F x152 with AXC F IL ADAPT.

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Supported of Inline local bus
Create preconfigured device templates

Ethernet extension support

Only for AXC F 2152/AXC F 3152 with AXC F XT ETH 1TX extension.

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Network configuration view

INTERBUS support

Only for controllers AXC F 2152 or AXC F 3152 with AXC F XT IB extension.

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Network configuration view 

IO‑Link® support

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
IODD file import 
IO‑Link® devices can be operated in an Axioline local bus 
IO‑Link® devices can be operated in a PROFINET network 
Startup parameters settings

OPC UA® support

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
OPC UA® Security certification management
OPC UA® Data Access configuration view
Extended security settings 
OPC UA® PubSub configuration
OPC UA® Reverse Connect configuration 
OPC UA® Client configuration

Debug support

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Logic analyzer     ✔[1]
Logic analyzer – triggered recordings
Logic analyzer – save/load charts 
Logic analyzer – up to 16 data points 
Logic analyzer – difference measurement between data points
Watchwindow
Watchwindow - support members of UDT
Breakpoints
Execution values (look at every online value in your code – watch the tutorial video
Debug in functions and methods
Online/offline comparison of graphical code worksheets 
Comparison of two offline projects 
Simulation of AXC F x152 
Save data set via Watch Window
  1. Only supports IEC 61131‑3 variables

Model Viewer for Simulink® – Add-in

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
View Simulink® models
Drill down into submodels
Online values for GDS IN ports and OUT ports
Multi-rate models
View Stateflow models 
View Truth Table blocks 

Cyber Security

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
User authentication - PLC access
User authentication - Change Password
View security certificates of PLC
Login template for web visualization
Remembering user credentials
Remembering multiple user credentials
Hash protection for binaries and local project files

General features

PLCnext Engineer version 2019.0
LTS
2020.0
LTS
2021.0
LTS
2022.0
LTS
2022.3 2022.6 2022.9 2023.0
LTS
2023.3 2023.6 2023.9 2024.0 LTS
Network scan for compatible controls
PLCopen XML import from PC Worx 6
Device Replacement
(keeps data of existing objects if possible)
Safety Device Replacement
(keeps data of existing objects if possible)
AutomationML - APC (Automation Project Configuration)
Project statistic overview (consumption and limits)
Native support of 64-bit Operation Systems (Windows 7/10)
(32-bit systems are no longer supported)
Download sources with libraries
Translation Management (comments and strings)
NTP time server configuration 
Import/export of data lists as .csv file
DataLogger session configuration
Network topology viewer 
Release of mixed libraries
Converter for PC Worx 6 projects  
Coupling of SVN and Git repositories
Export a package of project binary files

 

 

 


• Published/reviewed: 2024-02-27   ★  Revision 065 •