Open WinCC Explorer
When you start WinCC, the WinCC Explorer normally is opened.
After installation, WinCC is entered into the start menu of the operating system. You can start WinCC with the entry “WinCC Explorer”.
The WinCC Explorer can also be opened from the desktop or using Windows Explorer.
| Note If you only have a Runtime license installed on a computer, you can only work in the WinCC Explorer or in a WinCC editor for one hour. If the WinCC Explorer or a WinCC editor remains open for more than one hour, WinCC changes to the demonstration mode. |
You can open WinCC Explorer in the following ways:
- from the Windows Start menu
- by clicking the WinCCExplorer.exe file in the Windows Explorer
- using a shortcut from the Windows Desktop
- in the Windows Explorer using the <PROJECT>.MCP
- with Autostart
- with a project that opens in Autostart
You can start WinCC only once on a computer. If you attempt to open the WinCC Explorer when it is already open, this will be prevented without an error message. You can continue to work normally in the open WinCC Explorer.
Start Mode of the WinCC Explorer
Open project
When you start WinCC the first time, the WinCC Explorer is opened without a project. Whenever you start WinCC again, the last project you had open will be opened again.
With the key combination <SHIFT> + <ALT>, you can prevent WinCC from opening a project immediately. Press the <SHIFT> key and the <ALT> key while WinCC is opening. Keep the keys pressed until the window
of the WinCC Explorer is displayed. The WinCC Explorer opens without opening a project.
Activated Project
If the project was activated when you exited WinCC Runtime, it will be opened in Runtime again when you restart WinCC.
If you close a project and open another project that was opened the last time in the activated state, WinCC once again opens the project in Runtime.
With the key combination <SHIFT> + <CTRL>, you can prevent WinCC from activating Runtime immediately. Press the <SHIFT> key and the <CTRL> key while WinCC is opening. Keep the keys pressed until the project is open and
displayed fully in the WinCC Explorer. WinCC opens the last project without starting Runtime.
Open WinCC Explorer
Windows Start Menu
You can open WinCC Explorer from the Windows Start menu. Select the entry “WinCC Explorer” in the “SIMATIC” > “WinCC” folder. WinCC Explorer is opened.
Windows Explorer
You can start WinCC with the WinCCExplorer.exe start file. The WinCCExplorer.exe file can be found in the Windows Explorer in your installation path in WinCCbin.
Windows Desktop
You can create a shortcut for the WinCCExplorer.exe file. You then place this shortcut on the desktop of the computer.
Opening a Project in the Windows Explorer
You can start WinCC by opening a WinCC project in Windows Explorer. Open the <PROJECT>.MCP file in the installation path of the project. You can only start a project from Windows Explorer when WinCC has not yet
started.
Autostart
You can also start WinCC using Autostart when the computer starts up. To do this, use the “AutoStart Configuration” tool of WinCC. Each time you start the Windows system, WinCC will also be started automatically.
Opening the WinCC Explorer with a Project Open
You can close the WinCC Explorer without closing the open project. You can re-open WinCC Explorer from the Windows Start menu or by clicking a shortcut on the desktop. This also applies even if you open a project using Autostart only in Runtime.
Remote WinCC Startup
You can start WinCC of another computer in the network. You find more detailed information in the WinCC Information System under Configurations > Multi-User Systems > Remote Configuration.
Open project
File > Open
In the WinCC Explorer, you open a project with the Open command in the File menu. In the Open window, select the project folder and open the <PROJECT>.MCP project file.
File > Last File
In the File menu, you can open one of the last files opened with the Last File command. Up to eight projects are displayed.
“Open” Button
You can open a project with the button in the toolbar.
Opening a Project with Autostart
You can open a specific project using Autostart when your computer starts up. To do this, use the “AutoStart Configuration” tool of WinCC.
| Note If you open a project while another project is active in Runtime, Runtime is deactivated and the previously active project is closed. |
| Note WinCC project file cannot be opened Lock mechanisms in WinCC prevent projects from being opened during a long-lasting process. A lock mechanism takes effect each time a WinCC project is opened. The “ProjectOpened.Ick” text file is created in the project folder. A second lock mechanism takes effect in the following situation: An OS is downloaded in SIMATIC Manager A WinCC project is duplicated using Project Duplicator The “wincc.lck” text file is created in the project folder. The opening lock is retained if termination of this process was prevented, for example, because a program was aborted, or the PC was restarted. The project folder contains the “ProjectOpened.Ick” and “wincc.lck” text files with a readable process ID. If all processes are completed, you can delete the “ProjectOpened.Ick” and “wincc.lck” files. |
Close WinCC Explorer
When you close WinCC Explorer, you normally close the project that was last open at the same time.
If Runtime is activated, or if you have opened a WinCC editor, you can close the WinCC Explorer separately. The project remains open and active if it was already active. Open editors are not closed. You can open the WinCC Explorer
again from the Windows Start menu or from a shortcut on the desktop.
You can close the WinCC Explorer regardless of whether a project is open. The relevant WinCC processes continue to run in the background. When you open the WinCC Explorer again, WinCC does not need to reload the project data and the Explorer takes less time to open.
General procedure
You can exit WinCC in the following ways:
- With the Exit command in the WinCC Explorer menu bar
- With the Shut Down command in the WinCC Explorer menu bar
- With the Close button
- When you shut down Windows
- With a C action in the activated project Note After starting, WinCC always opens the last project that was
open before you exited. If the project was activated when you exited WinCC, it
will be opened in Runtime again.
Close WinCC Explorer
File > Exit
Close the WinCC Explorer with the Exit command in the File menu. The Exit WinCC Explorer dialog box is opened.
In the list box, you can select one of the following options:
| Selection | WinCC Action |
|---|---|
| Close project and exit WinCC Explorer | If active, the project is also deactivated and closed. The WinCC Explorer and all open WinCC editors are closed. |
| Exit WinCC Explorer | Only the WinCC Explorer closes. The project remains open and active if it was already active. WinCC editors remain open. |
File > Shut Down
In the File menu of the menu bar, select the Shut Down command. Depending on your computer configuration, you can exit WinCC with Shut Down and at the same time shut down the computer.
Close Button
You can close WinCC Explorer with the button in the top right corner of the window.
Exiting Windows
When you exit Windows or log off the current user, WinCC closes
completely.
C Action in the Activated Project
You can, for example, configure a button in the project with which you can exit WinCC or Windows. To do this, use the Exit WinCC or Exit WinCC or Windows dynamic wizards.
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