What with all the version of Siemens Step 7.

I Just started studying siemens plc. I have some what experience with AB. Siemens has so many version. I am getting confused. You have S5 S7 (200,300 400,1200) . You have step 7 simatic manager microwin ,professional ,basic.What the difference ?? then you have wincc and protoool. Can some one compare this with ab.

S5 would be similar to AB PLC2/30, PLC3, PLC5, i.e. old, obsolete.

S7-200 is a small PLC initially designed by Texas Instruments, programmed with S7-Microwin. This is now replaced with S7-1200 (with its own new programming package).

S7-300 and S7-400 are medium and large PLC's programmed with Step 7 Manager. (Professional is this will PLCSim and SCL added). Compare these to Control Logix PLC's.

Protool is the old HMI programming package, WinCC Flex has replaced that. Compare with RSView32.

WinCC is a SCADA package.


Oh... and compare the number of different licenses and external packages required with this, as opposed to AB. I think you'll find that Siemens becomes a much better option.

I would have to disagree with Peter... RSView32 is a SCADA although not being developed anymore and PLC5s are not really obsolete there are still being sold and are more on par with a S7300. Maybe S7-300/400 is somewhere between PLC5 and CL5K...matter of opinion I guess. WinCC Flex seems very good...I would rate higher then RSView ME for Panelviewm Plus and protools is something like Panelbuilder.
Everything in Step7 for S7300/400 has a different application and is not very intuitive. I am really looking forward to the new software coming this spring!

Cheers

Bornwild, you also have a TIA Portal and Step7 V11 and WinCC V11

Warning. Very crude comparison !

S5 ~ PLC2, PLC5 classic.
STEP5 ~ 6200 software.
S7-200 ~ ML1000, ML1200, ML1500.
Step7 MicroWin ~ RSLogix500.
S7-300 ~ SLC500, CompactLogix.
S7-400 ~ ControlLogix.
S7-1200 ~ ML1400.
STEP7 Basic v5.x ~ RSLogix5K
STEP7 Pro v5.x ~ RSLogix5K Advanced
STEP7 Basic v11 ~ RSLogix5K Starter
STEP7 Pro v11 ~ RSLogix5K Advanced
Protool ~ PanelBuilder32
WinCC Flexible ~ FTView ME.
WinCC v5,6,7 ~ RSView32, FTView SE.
WinCC Basic v11 ~ FTView ME.
WinCC Advanced v11 ~ FTView SE.

Thanks a lot everyone. I was assuming S7 1200 was more advanced than S7-400 . I was wrong. Anyways thanks again. Cheers

Bornwild,
Step7 V11 and WinCC V11 were releaed two days ago. It's about future.
If you use Siemens today,
-S7-200 requires Step7 Microwin V4.0 +SP7 and have own text-HMI programmable with Step7 Microwin
-S7-300/400 requires Step7 V5.5
-S7-1200 requires TIA Portal (Step7 Basic V10.5 + WinCC Basic V10.5)
-WinCC Flexible 2008 + SP2 creates application for all HMIs and also runs on PCs
-WinCC 7.1 is SCADA (runs on PCs only)

This is basic you need for one family. There are lot of options, but learn about Siemens hardware first. YOu can start with software I suggested.