But what if you could generate your EPLAN schematic directly from your TIA Portal configuration? Or, at the very least, cut your design time by 70%? The answer lies in .
You’ll never draw an S7-1200 from scratch again. Do you use EPLAN macros with Siemens TIA Portal? Have you tried using the "PLC Macro Box" for Profinet devices? Let me know in the comments below.
In EPLAN, a macro is a saved snippet of a circuit. Think of it like a Function Block (FB) in the S7-1200. Just as you wouldn't rewrite a PID control loop from scratch for every motor, you shouldn't redraw the wiring for an S7-1214C every time. macros eplan siemens s7-1200
Macros allow you to store the entire PLC schematic—including the power supply, the 24V distribution, the input fuses, and the output relays—as a single, intelligent object.
It feels repetitive because it is repetitive. But what if you could generate your EPLAN
Bridging the Gap: Using Macros in EPLAN to Supercharge Your Siemens S7-1200 Workflow
If you’ve ever built a machine using a Siemens S7-1200, you know the drill. You map out the I/O in TIA Portal, then jump over to EPLAN to draw the schematic. You add the power supply, the PLC, the digital input card, and the relay outputs. Then you do it again for the next project. And the next. You’ll never draw an S7-1200 from scratch again
When you build your macro, assign the symbolic names in the EPLAN macro properties. When you insert the macro into a new project, EPLAN will ask for a "Structural identifier" (e.g., =Conveyor1). Type it once. EPLAN automatically renames all tags inside the macro to "Conveyor1_Motor_1_Run".
Open your largest completed S7-1200 project. Select the entire PLC schematic in EPLAN. Go to Page > Macro > Save . Name it Base_S7-1200_16DI_16DO . Test it on your next small project.