General Information

Overview

EcoStruxure Machine Expert and the devices supported by EcoStruxure Machine Expert are continuously improved. Therefore, new updates of EcoStruxure Machine Expert and its associated supports are released on a regular basis.

EcoStruxure Machine Expert provides, in most cases, a simple, and straight forward way to migrate projects created with previous versions to the present version.

NOTE:

oLaunch the Schneider Electric Software Update (SESU) regularly to obtain the latest EcoStruxure Machine Expert updates.

oLaunch the Machine Expert Installer to obtain information on new features available for installation.

oAlso visit regularly the Schneider Electric website to download the latest device firmware available.

In specific situations, you may encounter compatibility concerns regarding these updates, and actions are required to establish consistency with your existing systems and project files for the following elements:

oEcoStruxure Machine Expert files created with a previous EcoStruxure Machine Expert version, or SoMachine and SoMachine Motion versions (projects, archives, exports)

oDevice firmware versions (controllers, HMI terminals)

oRelated software (Vijeo-Designer)

EcoStruxure Machine Expert Software

By installing a new version of EcoStruxure Machine Expert, new component versions are available, which include:

Component	Description
Compiler version	The compiler is the software that converts your project into the binary code that is downloaded and executed on the controller. The compiler is called when you execute a Build, Build All, Rebuild, or Generate Code action in EcoStruxure Machine Expert. The version of the compiler used is independent of your EcoStruxure Machine Expert version and can be defined by selecting: Project > Project Settings > Compile options By default, the latest compiler version is selected.
Device description version	The device description defines the properties of a device such as configurability, programmability, and possible connections to other devices. When you insert a device inside a project, EcoStruxure Machine Expert uses the device description to define the properties of the device. The device description version is displayed in the Information tab of the device editor.
Library version	A library is a container of variable lists, data structures (DUTs), functions, and function blocks (POU) that can be used in your projects. The versions of libraries used in an application are visible in the Library Manager.

Component

Description

Compiler version

The compiler is the software that converts your project into the binary code that is downloaded and executed on the controller.

The compiler is called when you execute a Build, Build All, Rebuild, or Generate Code action in EcoStruxure Machine Expert. The version of the compiler used is independent of your EcoStruxure Machine Expert version and can be defined by selecting: Project > Project Settings > Compile options

By default, the latest compiler version is selected.

Device description version

The device description defines the properties of a device such as configurability, programmability, and possible connections to other devices.

When you insert a device inside a project, EcoStruxure Machine Expert uses the device description to define the properties of the device.

The device description version is displayed in the Information tab of the device editor.

Library version

A library is a container of variable lists, data structures (DUTs), functions, and function blocks (POU) that can be used in your projects. The versions of libraries used in an application are visible in the Library Manager.

There are 2 types of project files which are created by EcoStruxure Machine Expert:

File type	Description
.project .library	The version of a EcoStruxure Machine Expert project/library file is determined by the application file version and the application profile. Project format version: The version of the application file is defined by the version of EcoStruxure Machine Expert that saved this application file. It acts as a container that specifies the storage format for the content of the application. Project categories: Defines the versions of device descriptions, the versions of the libraries used, the compiler version, the visualization profile, and the visualization styles versions (refer to Visualization part of EcoStruxure Machine Expert online help). The application profile applies to the applications of the project/library.
*.projectarchive	A project archive can be created by using EcoStruxure Machine Expert and be saved on your PC as a *.projectarchive file. This file contains one project and can contain download information files, referenced devices, referenced libraries, the visualization profile, and the visualization styles. You can also do a source download to create an archive as an Archive.prj file in your controller.

File type

Description

*.project

*.library

The version of a EcoStruxure Machine Expert project/library file is determined by the application file version and the application profile.

Project format version: The version of the application file is defined by the version of EcoStruxure Machine Expert that saved this application file. It acts as a container that specifies the storage format for the content of the application.

Project categories: Defines the versions of device descriptions, the versions of the libraries used, the compiler version, the visualization profile, and the visualization styles versions (refer to Visualization part of EcoStruxure Machine Expert online help). The application profile applies to the applications of the project/library.

*.projectarchive

A project archive can be created by using EcoStruxure Machine Expert and be saved on your PC as a *.projectarchive file. This file contains one project and can contain download information files, referenced devices, referenced libraries, the visualization profile, and the visualization styles.

You can also do a source download to create an archive as an Archive.prj file in your controller.

The following elements can have compatibility concerns between EcoStruxure Machine Expert or SoMachine / SoMachine Motion versions:

oProject files

oArchives files

oDevice firmware

oVijeo-Designer software

Device Firmware

The firmware is the software embedded in the controller.

The firmware version is displayed in the EcoStruxure Machine Expert Logic Builder Communication Settings tab of the device editor associated to your controller.

Vijeo-Designer Software

The Vijeo-Designer software allows you to create your HMI applications.

The EcoStruxure Machine Expert installation includes the installation files of Vijeo-Designer and can be installed or updated without the EcoStruxure Machine Expert software, but cannot be used without the EcoStruxure Machine Expert software.

For compatibility information with Vijeo-Designer, refer to the section Compatibility of EcoStruxure Machine Expert and Vijeo-Designer Versions.