Axel: Create comprehensive IBH OPC UA Editor guide with current released features and English manual screenshots

2026-08-05T12:53:20Z

Create comprehensive IBH OPC UA Editor guide with current released features and English manual screenshots

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:IBH OPC UA Editor}}

The '''IBH OPC UA Editor''' is the free Windows tool for configuring the
IBH Link UA and the IBH OPC UA Server/Client. Configurations can be created,
checked, imported and exported offline, transferred directly to the OPC UA
server, or read back from the server.

'''Page status: August 2026.''' The public download is still labelled
'''Version 7.50'''. Functions that require support from the target server are
only available when the connected IBH Link UA or IBH OPC UA Server/Client has
a suitable firmware version.

* [https://download.ibhsoftec.com/neutral/IBHOPCUAEditor750Setup.exe Download IBH OPC UA Editor 7.50]
* [https://download.ibhsoftec.com/english/Manuals/IBH-OPC-UA-Editor-Manual.pdf Manual (PDF)]
* [https://download.ibhsoftec.com/english/Samples/IBH-OPC-UA-Editor-Samples.zip Samples from the manual]

__TOC__

== Overview ==

The workspace is divided into the '''Project''', '''Server''' and
'''Certificates''' views:

* In '''Project''', server connections, controllers, programs, variables, external data and other configuration objects are edited.
* In '''Server''', the configuration read online, status information, historical data and UA nodes are displayed.
* In '''Certificates''', the editor certificate and the certificates of connected servers are managed.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Overview.png|800px|thumb|center|Structure of the IBH OPC UA Editor with Project, Server and Certificates views.]]

A project can contain multiple OPC UA servers. Multiple controllers and
stations can be assigned to each server.

=== Supported projects and devices ===

Variables and data blocks can be imported from the following projects, among
others:

* TIA Portal V13 to V21;
* STEP 7 / SIMATIC Manager;
* S5/S7 for Windows and SIMATIC S5;
* LOGO! Soft Comfort;
* SINUMERIK and NC-VAR Selector.

Supported target systems include SIMATIC S5, S7-200, S7-300, S7-400, S7-1200,
S7-1500, LOGO! 8, SINUMERIK, Modbus devices, Mitsubishi PLCs and robots, and
Rockwell controllers. Depending on the device, IBH Link S5++ or IBH Link S7++
can be used for controllers without their own Ethernet interface.

== Quick start: from an empty project to an active connection ==

# '''Create a server connection:''' Select <code>Edit > New server connection</code> and enter the name, address and port of the OPC UA server.
# '''Select endpoint and security:''' Retrieve endpoints from the server and select the security policy, message mode and login method.
# '''Add a controller or station:''' Specify the protocol, IP address and, for S7 TCP/IP, the rack, slot and target module if required.
# '''Assign a program:''' Select the project and open the required CPU or station.
# '''Activate variables:''' Select variables, check their properties and transfer the configuration to the server.

== Server connection and security ==

A server connection contains a freely selectable connection name, server
address, port, endpoint URL, security policy, message mode, login details and
session name. A reverse connection can be used when a server in a protected
network must establish an outgoing connection to the client.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Server_Connection.png|520px|thumb|center|Properties of a new OPC UA server connection.]]

Different formats are available for variable names. The selected format must
match the setting of the target server, especially for dots in symbolic names
and for compact or S7-1500-compatible formatting.

The editor supports anonymous login, user name and password, and
certificate-based connections. Depending on the endpoint, signing or signing
and encryption can be selected. Different certificate stores and certificate
groups can be selected. The local PKI folder can be configured in the settings.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Security.png|700px|thumb|center|Selection of a security policy, certificate and connection endpoint.]]

== Assigning a controller and program ==

When a controller is added, its name, host name or IP address, protocol and
connection parameters are defined. Use <code>Test connection</code> to check
that the controller is reachable before continuing with the configuration.

Select <code>Assign program</code> to open the offline project and choose the
corresponding CPU or station. Password-protected TIA Portal projects from V15
to V21 can be opened with a user name and password. For TIA Portal projects,
the matching TIA Openness component and the required group membership must be
available.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Program_Selection.png|700px|thumb|center|Selecting a CPU or station from an offline project.]]

== Selecting and editing OPC tags ==

After a program has been assigned, the editor displays symbols, data blocks
and structures. Individual variables or complete branches can be activated as
OPC tags. The search function helps to find variables quickly in large
projects.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Variable_Selection.png|900px|thumb|center|Selecting program variables and data block structures as OPC tags.]]

Variable properties include the OPC name, data type, address, access rights,
comment, measurement and scaling values, limits, and historical data settings.
The UA node identifier is displayed and can be copied.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Variable_Properties.png|600px|thumb|center|Properties of an OPC tag, including the OPC name and access rights.]]

== Transferring, reading, importing and exporting configurations ==

Configurations can be transferred to the server for individual sections or
as a complete project. The configuration stored on the server can also be read
back into the editor. Existing project and XML files can be imported and
exported again.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Transfer_Configuration.png|650px|thumb|center|Transferring a configuration from the Project view to the OPC UA server.]]

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Import_Configuration.png|650px|thumb|center|Importing an existing configuration file.]]

The Server view displays server information, status, historical data and the
address space. The complete XML node identifier is displayed for UA nodes and
can be used in external clients or scripts. Namespaces of the connected server
can be exported as XML nodesets.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_UA_Nodes.png|700px|thumb|center|Online display of the OPC UA address space with node identifiers and attributes.]]

== External data, variable transfer and MQTT ==

Additional OPC UA servers can be connected under '''External data'''. Variable
transfer maps source variables from one server to target variables. Duplicate
and multiple assignments are checked, and array ranges can also be mapped.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Variable_Transfer.png|900px|thumb|center|Mapping source and target variables in the variable transfer view.]]

User-defined variables create a separate address space. Variables read from
the server are cached and can be read again with <code>Refresh</code>.

For MQTT connections, the broker address, client ID, credentials, topics,
message template, last-will message, certificates and other security parameters
can be configured. Availability depends on the target device and its firmware.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_MQTT_Configuration.png|750px|thumb|center|Properties of an MQTT connection.]]

== Modbus, Mitsubishi and SINUMERIK ==

=== Modbus ===

Modbus TCP and RTU devices are added as separate configurations. For every
variable, the data type, unit ID, address, limits, historical data settings and
UA node identifier can be defined.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Modbus_Configuration.png|700px|thumb|center|Adding a Modbus configuration.]]

=== Mitsubishi and Rockwell ===

Mitsubishi PLCs and robots are added as stations; their programs and variables
can then be selected and edited. Rockwell ControlLogix and CompactLogix
controllers are also supported.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_Mitsubishi_Configuration.png|800px|thumb|center|Mitsubishi configuration in the Project view.]]

=== SINUMERIK ===

For SINUMERIK 840D SolutionLine and PowerLine as well as SINUMERIK ONE, CNC
stations can be added, the model can be read and NC variables can be activated.
The integrated PLC is configured separately as a controller. NC-VAR Selector
files can be imported to extend the address space.

[[File:IBH_OPC_UA_Editor_SINUMERIK_Configuration.png|520px|thumb|center|Connection parameters of a new SINUMERIK CNC station.]]

== Nodesets, information models and Python ==

XML nodesets can be added as information models, edited, refreshed, imported
and exported. The complete nodeset configuration can be read from the server
or transferred to it.

The editor generates Python module templates from a nodeset, either with or
without variable instances. Names are checked during generation so that only
valid Python identifiers are created. Variables and methods in an information
model can therefore be linked to Python functions on the IBH Link UA.

See also: [[IBH Link UA:Python/Methods/Data models|Python, methods and data models]].

== Current released extensions compared with the PDF manual ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Area
! Current functionality
|-
| TIA Portal
| Project import up to TIA Portal V21; password-protected projects from V15 can be opened with a user name and password.
|-
| Certificates and PKI
| Selection of different certificate stores and certificate groups; freely selectable local PKI folder.
|-
| Global Discovery Service
| Management of GDS connections; creation of server certificates or CSR files; retrieval of certificates and certificate lists.
|-
| Nodesets and Python
| XML nodeset export, synchronization with the server and generation of Python module templates with valid identifiers.
|-
| User-defined variables
| Caching of server variables and selective refresh of online data.
|-
| Variable transfer
| Checks for duplicate or multiple source and target assignments, plus improved mapping of array ranges.
|-
| Operation and compatibility
| 64-bit support, compatible project files between 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and improvements for high-resolution displays.
|}

== Related pages ==

* [[IBH Link UA:Startup operations|IBH Link UA startup operations]]
* [[IBH Link UA:Client functions|OPC UA client functions]]
* [[IBH Link UA:MQTT connection|MQTT connection]]
* [[IBH Link UA:Modbus connection|Modbus connection]]
* [[IBH Link UA:Mitsubishi PLC|Mitsubishi PLC]]
* [[IBH Link UA:Mitsubishi Robots|Mitsubishi robots]]
* [[IBH Link UA:Rockwell PLC|Rockwell PLC]]
* [[IBH Link UA:SINUMERIC ONE|SINUMERIK ONE]]

''Image source: IBH OPC UA Editor Manual, TTI Trans Tech International / IBHsoftec GmbH, September 2024. The images were taken from the English PDF manual.''

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Axel: Create comprehensive IBH OPC UA Editor guide with current released features and English manual screenshots