TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device description files
Eplan Platform Version 2025
Status: 12. July 2024

TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device
description files
Identification of the PLC devices for the PLC data exchange is effected both in Eplan and in
the PLC configuration program either by means of the PLC type designation or by specifying
a device description file (GSD file / GSDML / EDS file). A device description file contains device information that is not contained in the default hardware catalog of a manufacturer.
Often PLC devices contain integrated modules. This means that for the description by meansof a device description file such a PLC device is combined from two or more modules with
their own indexes in the device description file.
This TechTip helps you in configuring PLC devices of this type in Eplan to be able to perform
a PLC bus data exchange.
Note for PLC devices with PLC type designations:
The procedure described in this TechTip can also be applied to PLC devices with integrated
modules, for which only PLC type designations instead of the device description files areavailable on the part of the PLC manufacturer. In this case only the PLC type designations
instead of the device description file have to be entered at the PLC device in the examples
listed below.
A combination of PLC type designation and device description file within a PLC device is in
most cases not supported by the PLC manufacturers.

How do I recognize a PLC device with integrated modules?
Eplan does not evaluate the content of device description files and can therefore not recognize the PLC devices mentioned above.
What can help us are the manufacturers of such devices, often also the PLC configuration
programs as is shown below using the examples of AML data that were exported fromSIEMENS TIA Portal.

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TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device description files
Eplan Platform Version 2025
Status: 12. July 2024

Configuration suggestion in Eplan
A PLC configuration program cannot recognize on the basis of the structure of the device description file that it is a single device. For this reason two (apparently) independent devices
are exported.
Eplan cannot detect that the devices are related during the data import from the AML file.
Since Version 2.9 this relation can be stored in the parts management. You can also find adescription in the TechTip "TechTip-Preparation-of-master-data-for-PLC-data-exchange".
Previously both devices were configured independently in Eplan. Thus structure data could
be stored at the integrated module, amongst others:•PLC card is placed on rack ID•

Position (slot / module)•Device description: File name and Device description: Index in file

The disadvantage here is that the integrated modules have their own DT even though they
are not real devices.
Since Eplan Version 2.9 it is possible to combine the apparently independent devices via theparts management as one device with PLC subdevices. To do this all other integrated modules are entered as PLC subdevices at the part of the main device. You can also find the details in the TechTip "TechTip-Preparation-of-master-data-for-PLC-data-exchange".
Advantages:•

The integrated modules do not require their own DT.

•The parts data and the configuration in the schematic correspond with the real devices.

Disadvantage:•An import in Eplan requires corresponding parts data.

Important:
If no parts data is available, the relation of the devices cannot be detected during importing.
Therefore the integrated modules are imported as separate devices!
As of Eplan version 2022 there is a workflow which supports you with the creation of data for
a PLC device with subdevices. Further information is available in the TechTip "TechTip-create-PLC-devices-with-subdevices".

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TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device description files
Eplan Platform Version 2025
Status: 12. July 2024

Note on the examples:
The indexes of the device description files additionally have the specification of a preceding
context in the AML file (for example M/1000). This context is automatically detected / supplemented by Eplan at the main device during the import and export and does not have to be
explicitly specified in Eplan during the configuration.
For PLC subdevices this information must be available:
••
•
•
•

D/
R/
DAP/
M/
SM/

(Device)(Rack)(Device Access Point)(Module)(Submodule)

If the index contains forward slashes (for example "abc/def"), the context is not detected automatically and must be entered as well.

Example 1: X67 PROFINET field bus coupler of B&R
The device is modeled in SIEMENS TIA Portal by means of the device description file and isexported into an AML file.
Afterwards the specification <GSD> stands for the used device description file
"GSD:GSDML-V2.25-BR-X67BCE321.L12-20160415.XML".
Structure of the AML file:
StationGenericRack <GSD>/R/DIM 1<GSD>/DAP/DIM 1 on Slot / module 0
Data as head station

Additional (integrated) module<GSD>/M/1000 on Slot / module 1
Two additional (normal) modules <GSD>/M/137 on
Slot / module 2 and 33

TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device description files
Eplan Platform Version 2025
Status: 12. July 2024

Table view of the PLC data in the AML file:
Slot /moduleRow

1<GSD>/DStation2

TypeIdentifier<GSD>/R/DIM 1

Rack3

Head module0<GSD>/DAP/DIM 1

7

Module L12IO_1

1<GSD>/M/1000

8Module L12_1

2<GSD>/M/137

9

Module L12_2

3<GSD>/M/137→ This is a PLC
device

The following exist here:•A head station (Head Module) [Row 3]•The integrated module [Row 7]•Two additional modules [Row 8 and 9]

The following data has to be entered at the individual PLC boxes according to the configuration suggestion:
Row

Rack3

Is placed on
the rack

Position (slot /module)

0Device
description:
Index in file
DIM 1

Bus coupler /head station

802137

903137



Data of the main device (line 3 in the table) in the parts management:
Tab Function templates:
Function definition

Bus system

PLC box

Other bus systems

Network / bus cable connection
point, general
Network / bus cable connection
point, general
PLC connection point, multi-Plugdesignation

Ethernet

P1

Ethernet

P2

PLC subdevice:
Index1function

4

TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device description files
Eplan Platform Version 2025
Status: 12. July 2024

Function definition

Bus system

PLC connection point, multi-Plugdesignation

PLC subdevice:
Index
1function
PLC connection point, multi-1function
PLC connection point, multi-

1function
PLC connection point, multi-

1function
PLC connection point, multi-

1function
PLC connection point, multi-1function
PLC connection point, multi-1function

For the bus ports the Bus interface: Name property has to be specified during the configuration (for example x1). The first bus port is also to be identified as Bus interface: Main bus
port: This bus port has all relevant bus data (for example Physical network: Bus ID / itemnumber).
For the PLC I/O connection points the connection point designations and channel designations should be specified so that the assignment to the connection points in the project isunique.
Tab Properties:
Property

Value

Device description: File name

GSDML-V2.25-BR-X67BCE321.L12-20160415.XML

Device description: Index in file

DIM 1

Object description

BCE321.L12

PLC station: TypeX67

Bus coupler / head stationPLC subdevice 1: NameIO module

PLC subdevice 1: Position

1

PLC subdevice 1: Device description:
Index in file

DAP/DIM 1#BUILTIN

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TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device description files
Eplan Platform Version 2025
Status: 12. July 2024

Notes:•The index including context must be specified for the respective PLC subdevice.

•During the configuration the name, position and device identification of the subdevices
have to remain unchanged since the devices are otherwise not detected during the dataexchange.

6TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device description files
Eplan Platform Version 2025
Status: 12. July 2024

Example 2: Frequency inverter of SEW
The device is modeled in SIEMENS TIA Portal by means of the device description file and isexported into an AML file.
Afterwards the specification <GSD> stands for the used device description file
"GSD:GSDML-V2.25-DFE-DFS-2Ports-20150902.XML".
Structure of the AML file:
StationGenericRack<GSD>/R/DFE32B Option PDEV MRP<GSD>/DAP/DFE32B Option PDEV MRP

on Slot / module 0
Data as head station
Empty (unused) module
Additionally integrated module<GSD>/M/5 on Slot / module 2

Tabular view of the PLC data of the AML file:
Slot /moduleRow
12

TypeIdentifier<GSD>/DStation<GSD>/R/DFE32B Option PDEV MRPRack3

Head module

06Slot not used

17

PD Channel

2<GSD>/DAP/DFE32B Option PDEV MRP→ This is a
PLC device<GSD>/M/5

PD Channel is the module here for transferring the Process Data, the index (here: 5) depends on the used module.
The following exist here:•A head station (Head Module) [Row 3]•The integrated module [Row 7]•An unused (empty) module [line 6]7

TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device description files
Eplan Platform Version 2025
Status: 12. July 2024

The following data has to be entered at the individual PLC boxes according to the configuration suggestion:
RowRack

30

Is placed on
the rack

Position (slot /module)

Device description: Index
in fileBus coupler /head station

0DFE32B Option PDEV MRP

Data of the main device (line 3 in the table) in the parts management:
Tab Function templates:
Function definition

Bus system

PLC box

Other bus systems

Network / bus cable connection point,
general
Network / bus cable connection point,
generalPlug designation

Ethernet

P1 REthernet

P2 R

For the bus ports the Bus interface: Name property has to be specified during the configuration (for example x1). The first bus port is also to be identified as Bus interface: Main bus
port: This bus port has all relevant bus data (for example Physical network: Bus ID / itemnumber).
Tab Properties:
Property

Value

Device description: File name

GSDML-V2.25-DFE-DFS-2Ports-20150902.XML

Device description: Index in file

DFE32B Option PDEV MRP

Object description

Frequency inverter SEWPLC station: TypeSEW

Bus coupler / head station

PLC subdevice 1: Name

Slot not used

PLC subdevice 1: Position

1

PLC subdevice 1: Device description:
Index in file

DAP/DFE32B Option PDEV MRP#BUILTIN

PLC subdevice 2: Name

03 process data words

PLC subdevice 2: Position

2

PLC subdevice 2: Device description:
Index in file

M/58

TechTip: Configuring PLC devices with device description files
Eplan Platform Version 2025
Status: 12. July 2024

Depending on the process data module (PD Channel) used the associated index is specified
in the device description file for PLC subdevice 2.

Notes:•The index including context must be specified for the respective PLC subdevice.

•During the configuration the name, position and device identification of the subdevices
have to remain unchanged since the devices are otherwise not detected during the dataexchange.

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