Back to: Advanced TIA Portal – Managing Version Control Using VCI, Workspaces & Automation Compare Tools
In TIA Portal, the VCI is an area that allows users to manage Version Control. It stands for Version Control Interface.
Utilizing Workspaces, more than one VCI can be configured, for example, if you have more than 1 PLC in the project and want to manage them separately, but within the same project
By integrating with version control systems like GIT, VCI allows engineers to systematically manage and track changes across project blocks, making it easier to monitor updates, identify differences, and ensure consistency in project versions. This tool is especially useful in larger teams or complex projects where multiple engineers might be working on the same files or configurations
One of VCI’s key strengths lies in its ability to handle detailed version tracking within TIA Portal. Engineers can capture “snapshots” of their project state at various stages, enabling them to quickly review or revert to previous versions if needed. With this functionality, users can maintain a clear record of all modifications, whether it’s a simple parameter adjustment or a significant project overhaul. This added layer of control also minimizes the risk of losing essential configurations or accidentally overwriting critical settings.
Beyond version management, VCI also provides options to document changes, simplifying collaboration across teams. Detailed logs and descriptions can be added to each version, providing transparency and ensuring everyone on the team understands the purpose of each update. VCI also integrates with the Automation Compare Tool, which allows for in-depth analysis and reporting of changes between versions, further empowering engineers to monitor and manage project evolution effectively.
For engineers working on extensive automation projects, VCI brings a new level of control and reliability to their workflow, making it easier to track, share, and safeguard their work in a structured and secure way.
How VCI Works
The Version Control Interface (VCI) in TIA Portal operates on core principles of efficient change detection, comparison, and synchronization. This is the same core principles that revision control systems such as GIT use.
VCI detects modifications by continuously monitoring changes made in the project files, specifically within SimaticML files, which are XML-based representations of TIA Portal configurations. When a difference is detected, VCI allows users to view these changes directly within the Workspace, offering clear insights into what has been altered compared to previous versions.
📝Note
TIA Portal doesn’t show the differences against the workspace version in the same way TIA does with an online PLC. For that, an external tool must be tied to TIA Portal. This is covered later on in the course
This visual differencing feature makes it easy for engineers to see precisely where updates have occurred, and it provides options for action, such as synchronizing changes from the live project into the Workspace or vice versa. By facilitating this selective sync functionality, VCI gives users control over which changes are applied, whether they need to update the project to match the Workspace or bring Workspace changes into the active project. This approach ensures that every modification is intentional, making project management more structured and reliable.
Conclusion
In this introductory lesson, we’ve explored the fundamentals of TIA Portal’s Version Control Interface (VCI) and how it enhances project management by detecting, displaying, and synchronizing changes across versions. By understanding the core principles of VCI, you’ve taken the first step toward mastering version control in complex automation projects.
As you move through the rest of the course, you’ll dive deeper into VCI’s capabilities with video lessons that show you how to perform detailed project comparisons, save and report differences, and leverage tools like the Automation Compare Tool for advanced project analysis. You’ll also learn how to integrate VCI with Git for robust versioning and cloud storage, enabling collaborative workflows. By the end of this course, you’ll have all the skills needed to confidently manage, compare, and synchronize project versions using TIA Portal’s VCI tools, empowering you to streamline your workflow and keep your automation projects organized and up-to-date.
