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Creating a Boot Application

A boot application is the application version, which is started automatically when the controller is switched on or started. For this to happen, the application on the PLC has to exist as a <application name>.app file.

For each application that is running on the PLC, a boot application can also be saved there.

By default, CODESYS generates the boot application automatically when an application is downloaded and transfers them to the PLC. The default settings for automatic generation are located in the Properties of the application object in the Boot applicationcategory. When logging in with a changed application, you are still prompted whether or not to generate a new boot application.

In addition, you can click Online → Create Boot Application at any time in online mode to create a new boot application.

You can create and save a local copy of a boot application in offline mode as well. Then, you can copy this application to the PLC with external tools. As a result, you can transfer an application to the PLC, even when there is no connection to CODESYS.

Generating boot applications on the PLC automatically and explicitly

Requirement: Offline mode and your application is compiled without errors. The connection to the PLC is configured and the PLC is running. The application is active. The following steps demonstrate the options:

  1. Click Online → Login.

    The <application name>.app boot application file is created on the PLC with the CRC of the <application name>.crc boot application.

  2. Explicitly click Online → Create Boot Application.

    The files on the PLC are replaced by new files.

  3. Log out.

  4. Change the application. Log back in to the controller.

    You are prompted to perform an online change. You see the Update boot application option in the same dialog. It is disabled by default. The default setting can be changed in the Properties of the application object in the Boot application category.

  5. Keep the option cleared and continue login.

    A new boot application file is not created.

  6. Logout again. Close the project. Stop the PLC. Restart the controller.

    The boot application that was created above is running on the PLC.

Tip

You can save the encrypted boot application on the PLC. These settings for the application object are defined in the Properties in the Application Build Options category.

For more information, see: Performing an Online Change

Creating a boot application in offline mode

Requirement: Offline mode and your application is compiled without errors. You want to generate a boot application for an application and save it in the file directory for copying it later to the PLC by using external tools (without CODESYS).

  1. Click Online → Create Boot Application.

    A dialog opens for specifying a location in the local file system.

  2. Click a save path and then click Save.

  3. If the application has changed since the last boot application was generated, then you are prompted to use a new code for the boot application. In this case, click Yes.

    The Save as dialog opens.

  4. Select a directory and click Save.

    The <application name.app> boot application file is created in the given path.

    You are prompted whether or not the compile information for the boot application is saved.

  5. Click Yes.

    The compile information is saved to the project directory as a file named <application name>.compileinfo. It is a requirement for a possible online change the next time the application is updated. Note: The Build → Clean command deletes this file.

Note for use with CODESYS Control Win

When using a CODESYS Control Win, the application name also has to be included in the configuration file (*.cfg).

[CmpApp]
Application.1=MyApplication