DB backup Online Value Siemens S7-400

How do I back up my DB's that are on the PLC? These are values that are constantly changing and differ from the initial entries. Oh and there is thousands of entries in a hundred or so DB's. I want a back-up copy of actual values on my laptop. I also want to be able to easily load them back into the PLC if I wanted to go back to settings from a few days ago (or if I lost the PLC memory or something.)

Thanks.

Highlight datablock/s in online project then choose PLC->Upload to PG

I would make a backup copy of your off-line datablocks before doing an upload. If any of the on-line datablocks differ from the off-line datablocks then you will lose any comments in the off-line datablocks when you upload the on-line block

consys said:

I would make a backup copy of your off-line datablocks before doing an upload. If any of the on-line datablocks differ from the off-line datablocks then you will lose any comments in the off-line datablocks when you upload the on-line block

Click to expand...

Good point! Sometimes I add a new S7 Program to the project (Insert > Program >S7 Program) Rename it with the date and then upload my online db's there.

I want to make sure that this will grab the values that are in the PLC. The values in the PLC are different than the values in the offline DB. Does this feature move the PLC values into the initial values of the DB? Other than the current values the DB's are exactly the same.

Thanks!

The socalled initial values will not be changed. The actual values will be changed.

www.runmode.com and www.s7xp.com have utilities to copy the actual values into the initial values.

"Upload to PG" versus "drag and drop"

How does "upload to PG" differ from connecting to the online program and draging the DB's I want into a new S7 off-line folder?

I use two other methods to "backup DB's".

1. As a maintenance function I upload the entire project to an empty Step7 project and then download all that projects blocks including system data to a Flash Memory Card.

2. For operator use I use Citect SCADA to maintain a database of "Job Information" records that include PID control setpoints, alarm limits etc. The operator can manage these records, saving a record when everything is running well for later use when the same job runs again.