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Opening a V3 Project

In CODESYS, you can open projects, library projects, or project archives which have been created with different installations. When you open a project, the system automatically checks whether or not the active installation is suitable (versions, installed add-ons) to load the project. A wizard guides you through the Project Inspection and provides possible actions in case of an unsuitable installation.

. Basically, the following actions are possible:

  • Update existing add-ons and install missing add-ons

  • Start another installation which is suitable for the project

  • Install an additional CODESYS version with the suitable state

Loading a project which was last saved with a suitable installation (versions, add-ons)

Requirement: On the development system, CODESYS projects exist which have been saved with the same or similar installation.

  1. Click File → Open Project.

    The Open Project dialog opens to select a file from the file system of your development system.

  2. Set the file filter and select the desired project, project archive, or library project in the Open Project dialog.

  3. Click OK to confirm the dialog.

    The project is loaded and displayed in the Device Tree view.

Loading a project which was last saved with an unsuitable installation (versions, add-ons)

In this case, the Project Inspection wizard guides you through the possible actions.

  1. In your current CODESYS installation, open a project which was last saved with a different installation (different version and/or more add-ons).

    CODESYS interrupts the loading operation and provides you with information and suitable options in the Project Inspection wizard (Project Inspection – Overview dialog) to allow for loading.

    If the project was saved with CODESYS version 3.5.19.0 or higher, then the Details button will be displayed to open the Differences dialog. Here you see which add-ons were installed when you saved the project and whether and how they are available in the current installation.

  2. Select one of the two basic options:

    • Option 1: This project is still in a development phase. I want to open it in this version and do not mind that a different code may be generated.

      You load the project with the unsuitable version and accept the possibility of changed code or losses due to missing components. This could be an acceptable option for projects which are still in the development phase.

    • Option 2: This project has already been deployed on a machine/plant. I want to generate exactly the same code and hence need the possibility to log in without any change.

      This option is necessary when the code of the project must not change under any circumstances. The wizard should make sure that the installation is suitable.

      Therefore, the wizard first scans the computer for other existing installations which are suitable. If it finds suitable installations, then you can select one of them and start it instead of the currently open installation.

      If the wizard does not find a suitable installation, then it offers to download and run a suitable setup. The required and optional add-ons are listed. You can configure the download accordingly and then run it through the CODESYS Installer.

  3. If you choose Option 1:

    After Next, you still get the option to have missing add-ons installed later for editing all objects of the project. In this case, the wizard checks if the necessary add-on setups are available and starts the CODESYS Installer in the next step.

    If you open the project without this post-installation, then the objects affected by missing add-ons cannot be edited. The number of missing add-ons is displayed in the status bar of the project.

  4. If you choose Option 2:

    After Next, the Project Inspection – Selection dialog opens. Under Use another installation, the wizard shows other available installations on the computer which are suitable for continued use of the project. If no suitable installations are found, then there is the alternative Download and setup a new installation.

    For both options, you can have the CODESYS Installer perform the necessary installations in the next step.

For more information, see: Open Project

Loading a write-protected project

Moreover, you can load and read write-protected projects. You need to specify a suitable location where you have the necessary write permissions only when you save the file.

Loading a project with access restrictions

You can load restricted projects only if you have the access credentials, such as user name and password.

Loading a project with a security key

You have selected a project which is protected by a security key. If the security key is not connected to the computer, then you are prompted to insert it. Otherwise CODESYS opens the project without any information about the protection.

Loading a backup of a project

Backups are created when the Automatically save project option is selected. When CODESYS is not properly closed after a change, the project is saved as a backup.

When you have selected a project, the Auto Save Backup dialog opens first when loading. There you can handle the backup.

Updating the project environment

The Project Environment dialog opens when a newer compiler version, visualization profile, or SoftMotion version is available. The dialog notifies you about the current state and provides options for an update.

For example, for projects which were created with very old versions of V3, information is displayed about how to replace specific objects in order to continue using the project. You perform updates depending on whether you leave the project as it is or continue development under most up-to-date conditions.

Tip

An update of the project environment has the effect that a login can be executed only with a download or with an online change.

For more information, see: Load and Save and Open Project

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