# PLCSIM Advanced (Pro)

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This Interface is only available in realvirtual.io Professional
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### Introduction

PLCCSIM-Advanced is a virtual PLC from Siemens. PLCCSIM-Advanced can be used to simulate S7-1500 PLCs. If you use PLCSim-Advanced no real PLC is needed.

> PLCCSIM-Advanced will work in a multi-threaded mode by starting a parallel .exe command line programm. The PLCCSIM-Advanced interface will only work in Windows environments.

Please check the Siemens Website for more information about PLCCSIM-Advanced:\
<https://w3.siemens.com/mcms/automation-software/de/tia-portal-software/step7-tia-portal/simatic-step7-options/s7-plcsim-advanced/seiten/default.aspx>

Here is a short Youtube Tutorial showing you the interface in action:

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/BZtHKd0lCiY>" %}

### Interface configuration <a href="#interface-configuration" id="interface-configuration"></a>

For using the PLCSim-Advanced Interface, you need to add an interface to your scene by selecting *Tools > realvirtual> Add Component > Interface > PLCSIMAdvanced* or you add the Script SharedMemoryInterface to an empty Gameobject.

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For working in a Unity Build, this interface requires `Allow unsafe Code` to be turned on in Player Settings.

<img src="https://260262196-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FpYxFg97YnJX96UzNNTSd%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-72f996aae52438f9e537d227442f5316277e4e7f%2Fplcsimadvanced-unsafecode.png?alt=media" alt="" data-size="original">
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**New in Version 6.0.7**: The PLCSim Advanced Interface now features an automated setup system that streamlines the configuration process. The entire setup now takes 40-70 seconds with real-time progress indicators and automatic detection of Siemens DLLs.
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### Automated Setup Process

As a prerequisite, you need to have PLCSIM-Advanced installed on your computer. Starting with version 6.0.7, the setup process has been greatly simplified with a single-click automated setup system.

<figure><img src="https://260262196-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FpYxFg97YnJX96UzNNTSd%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9ee7dbb1e713a404851d002f432a88bdd0ba67b5%2Fplcsimadvanced-automated-setup.png?alt=media" alt="Automated setup interface showing dynamic status indicators and single-button setup"><figcaption><p>PLCSim Advanced automated setup interface with real-time progress indicators</p></figcaption></figure>

The automated setup performs three steps automatically:

1. **Auto-detect Siemens DLL**: The system automatically searches for the Siemens.Simatic.Simulation.Runtime.Api.x86.dll in four common installation paths. API 3.0 is checked first and preferred over API 2.0:
   * C:/Program Files (x86)/Common Files/Siemens/PLCSIMADV/API/3.0/ (checked first)
   * C:/Program Files (x86)/Common Files/Siemens/PLCSIMADV/API/2.0/
   * C:/Program Files/Common Files/Siemens/PLCSIMADV/API/3.0/
   * C:/Program Files/Common Files/Siemens/PLCSIMADV/API/2.0/
2. **Download PLCSimAdvancedCoupler.exe**: If not already present, the system automatically downloads the required coupler executable from the realvirtual repository.
3. **Copy DLL to StreamingAssets**: The Siemens DLL is automatically copied to the Unity StreamingAssets folder for runtime access.

The **InfoBox** at the top of the inspector provides real-time feedback during setup:

* **⚠ Warning**: Indicates setup is required or incomplete
* **ℹ Progress**: Shows current operation in progress with detailed status
* **✓ Complete**: Confirms setup is finished and ready to use

Simply click the **"Setup PLCSim Advanced Interface"** button to start the automated setup process. The system will display progress for each step, and the entire process typically completes in 40-70 seconds.

### Connection Configuration

After setup is complete, configure the connection parameters:

<div align="center"><figure><img src="https://260262196-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FpYxFg97YnJX96UzNNTSd%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9b0595f0e319bfa2506d64fe6219c3fbdbccf34f%2Fplcsimadvanced.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>PLCSIM Advanced Interface connection settings</p></figcaption></figure></div>

For connecting you need to define the PLCCSIM-Advanced *Instance Name* as well as the synchronization cycle in Ms under *Sync Cycle Ms*:

If you select *Pause With Unity*, PLCCSIM-Advanced will pause as long as Unity is paused.

*DebugMode* turns on a special debug mode, where all signals are also displayed in the command line prompt. This might take quite a time during the simulation start. Please turn this off for productive use.

*If HMIOnly* is turned on, only variables which are marked as HMI variables in the PLC project itself are imported.

You are now able to import the Signals of PLCSim-Advanced by selecting *Import Signals*. All PLCSignals will be created automatically as sub-objects under the interface.

After importing the Signals you can start the simulation. The signals will be exchanged between Unity and PLCCSIM-Advanced automatically.

{% hint style="info" %}
A separate .EXE file *PLCSimAdvancedCoupler.EXE* needs to be started for the PLCCSIM-Advanced Interface. This is due to the fact, that the Siemens DLLs can’t compile under Unity. For this the separate *PLCSimAdvancedCoupler.EXE* is creating a Shared Memory Interface to exchange the Signals between Unity and *PLCSimAdvancedCoupler.EXE*. The EXE itself is exchanging the values with PLCSim-Advanced. This is just for your information, as *PLCSimAdvancedCoupler.EXE* is part of the asset delivery and is copied automatically to the StreamingAssets folder and will be started automatically during Simulation startup or for the import of signals.
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