Working with STA instead of STU files

In Schneider EcoStruxure Control Expert, STA files can be created from the STU project files. These STA files are smaller than the original STU files and provide some compatibility between the different versions of EcoStruxure Control Expert.

To create a component type for STA files, proceed as follows:

If you want to work exclusively with STA files, we recommend that you create a new component type. The new component type should be based on a copy of the Schneider EcoStruxure Control Expert component type.

Once you have copied the component type, you will need to replace the entry STU with STA in the section Compare these files.

 

This will ensure that octoplant compares STA files automatically without creating a new component type:

Normally the Schneider EcoStruxure Control Expert component only compares STU project files. There is no component type for STA files.

If you do not want to create new component types, you can customize the Schneider EcoStruxure Control Expert component types so that SmartCompare also compares STA files:

  1. Start the AdminClient.
  2. Click on the ribbon item Component type editor.
  3. In the tree Component type library:
    1. Expand the Schneider directory.
    2. Expand the SPS directory.
    3. Select the Schneider EcoStruxure Control Expert component type.


      4. Image: Module Component Type Editor, Component Type Schneider EcoStruxure Contol Expert

    4. In the middle of the screen, select the second line of the Compare these files field.
      1. In the column Specification, enter the entry sta.
      2. In the second column Comparator, select SchneiderEcoStruxureContolExpert from the dropdown menu.

      3. In the Subdirectories column, select Include from the dropdown menu.

      Image: Module Component Type Editor, Select comparator for STA files

    5. Click on Save

Now, in addition to the STU files, STA files will also be included in the comparison.

STU files can be compared with the free comparison of octoplant with STA files. The version of the Schneider EcoStruxure Control Expert editor installed must match the version of the editor used to create the STU file.

This is how octoplant handles components that contain both a STA and a STU file:

If the component is set to include STA files in the comparison, octoplant will display a list of files which can be opened via the option Open in editor.

The files will be displayed in a pop-up and you now will need to select which one to open with the EcoStruxure Control Expert editor.

Please note that the EcoStruxure Control Expert editor will create a STU file after editing an STA file.

 

Related topics

AdminClient -> Module component type editor