Locations (synonym: nodes) of partial or complete routes are configured in the SIMATIC Manager as "Equipment properties of plant units" and transferred to the RC project together with the other RC-relevant basic data of the SIMATIC PCS 7 project. The configuration requirements caused by many repeated sequences can be minimized by exporting locations in CSV format, duplicating and modifying them using a spreadsheet program, and then importing them again.

Nodes are parameters for requesting a material transport (source, destination, intermediate locations/via) and which mark the start and end of each partial route, and thus also the source and destination of a material transport.

In addition to the basic tools (SIMATIC Manager, CFC, etc.) of the SIMATIC PCS 7 engineering system, the following configuration components of the SIMATIC Route Control Engineering program package are available for configuration of the route control applications:

Route Control library

The Route Control library contains blocks for RC and transport route configuration and interface blocks for RC elements. It is provided in the catalog of the CFC editor.

Route Control wizard

The Route Control wizard is the interface between the SIMATIC PCS 7 basic configuration supplemented with RC interface blocks and the actual RC configuration in the RC engineering tool. The wizard, which can be called up from the SIMATIC Manager menu, accepts the RC-specific configuration data of the SIMATIC PCS 7 project into the Route Control engineering. In doing so, it carries out plausibility checks, defines the AS‑OS and AS‑AS communication connections (NetPro and CFC), and configures the RC server signals.

Route Control Engineering tool

Following importing of the RC-relevant data of a SIMATIC PCS 7 project into an RC project, the RC-specific objects are configured using the Route Control Engineering tool:

• Partial routes:
  division of the transport paths into partial routes is used to increase the flexibility and minimize the configuring overhead by means of repeated application. Relevant partial route parameters: "bidirectional" and "priority" (lowest total of partial route priorities is decisive when searching for the overall route).
• Interconnections:
  Through inclusion in a partial route, the RC elements receive additional properties depending on the type, and these can be edited using configuration dialogs (e.g. in the basic setting: "close valve").
• Function catalogs:
  The partial routes can be assigned to function catalogs depending on technological and product-specific aspects, e.g. "cleaning" or "product transport". In the route search, function catalogs permit restriction of the resulting quantity to the type of material transport.
• Function steps/sequence functions:
  Function catalogs contain as many as 32 configurable technological sequence functions which define the sequence of material transport by means of the RC elements connected in the partial routes, e.g. base position of the control elements, open transport valves, open origin valve, switch on pump).

Configuration of the partial routes and assignment of the RC elements to the partial routes are performed in a matrix of the Route Control Engineering tool. With the aid of generic elements, objects or blocks generated on a user-specific basis can be integrated into the RC project and handled like RC elements.

Graphical offline route search

Graphical offline route search to determine all possible route combinations

Similarly to a navigation system, the graphically visualized offline route search determines all possible route combinations. Errors in the route network or undesired routes can be detected in advance. A preferred route can be selected from the results of the offline route search, and saved as a static route. An active route can also be saved for re-use via the Route Control Center. A saved route takes priority in a route request.

Special configuration functions

Special configuration functions make it easier to perform repetitive routine work and extend the range of options for controlling material transport, e.g.:

• Exporting configuration data in the form of CSV files to Microsoft Excel, copying and editing the data there, and then re-importing the files into Route Control
• Controlling the joint use of partial routes by configurable function IDs
• Checking material compatibilities and interlocking partial routes in case of incompatible material sequences based on the material ID saved in the connection element of the partial route
• Injection of dynamic (external) setpoints coming from the process at runtime into the route block (e.g. weighed quantity)