Following commands support and enable the AX user to access data from TIA Portal (TOs/DBs) symbolically while using the TIAX Direct Loading workflow. Whereas the import-scl command can generally be used to transform SCL code to ST code:
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IMPORT: This command retrieves data about technology objects (TO-DBs) and converts them into ST code.
This process is based ontia2sttemplates, specifically mustache, that allow control over the generated ST code.
While the tool comes with some pre-defined templates, you also have the flexibility to create your own template file to generate code that meets your specific needs. -
IMPORT-DB: This command generates a SIMATIC AX library which allows access to data blocks ("coupling DBs") defined in a TIA Portal project. With this command technology object data block (TO-DBs) are not considered, but every other optimized data block.
Use cases of "coupling DBs" while using the TIAX Direct Loading workflow: - Access to additional data blocks for Motion Control as an open interface for drives and encoders for reading and writing data of PROFIdrive telegrams. - Access to HMI data blocks configured in a TIA Portal project.
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IMPORT-SCL: This command transforms SCL code and UDTs (User-defined Data Types) from a TIA Portal project into ST code. This process automates many repetitive and time-consuming tasks.
Note
SCL code has a long history in TIA Portal and older tools. It has evolved over years into many variants.
Therefore, it is impossible to achieve a fully automatic conversion.
As a result, manual work is necessary to get the code running in AX in most cases.
Detailed descriptions for each command can be found via the provided links.