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: 17 August 2026. The current 64-bit release build is Version 7.6.1. The public download file is still linked under the previous Version 7.50 designation; until the new setup is published, the installer available there may differ from the release build described here. 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.
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.
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;
- Mitsubishi GX Works2 and GX Works3, including password-protected GX Works3 projects from Version 7.6.1;
- 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
Edit > New server connectionand 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.
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.
Assigning a controller and program
When a controller is added, its name, host name or IP address, protocol and
connection parameters are defined. Use Test connection to check
that the controller is reachable before continuing with the configuration.
Select Assign program 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.
S7-2 connection (extended S7 protocol) for S7-1200 and S7-1500
From Version 7.6.1, the S7-2 connection to S7-1200 or S7-1500 can be enabled when adding an S7 controller, and the associated port can be configured. The editor reads the variable definitions online through the extended S7 protocol; an offline project is not required for this selection.
Global variables and program variables are displayed in a tree. Individual variables or complete branches can be selected as OPC tags. The list shows the data type, qualified name and HMI write protection. The selection and online-tag data are stored in the editor project and transferred to the server as a separate extended S7 protocol configuration, or read back from the server. This function requires a suitable firmware version on the target server.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
User-defined variables create a separate address space. Variables read from
the server are cached and can be read again with Refresh.
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.
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.
Mitsubishi and Rockwell
Mitsubishi PLCs and robots are added as stations; their programs and variables can then be selected and edited. Version 7.6.1 supports program assignment from GX Works2 and GX Works3 in the 64-bit edition. For a password-protected GX Works3 project, the editor opens the Mitsubishi password dialog; with guest access, the visible project objects are imported even when protected objects remain hidden. Rockwell ControlLogix and CompactLogix controllers are also supported.
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.
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: Python, methods and data models.
Current released extensions compared with the PDF manual
New in Version 7.6.1
| Area | New functionality |
|---|---|
| S7-2 / extended S7 protocol | Direct online connection to S7-1200 and S7-1500 with a configurable port; variable definitions are read without an offline project. |
| Variable selection and transfer | Structured display of GlobalVars and Programs, selection of individual variables or complete branches, and separate transfer and read-back of the extended S7 protocol configuration. |
| Mitsubishi project import | Program assignment through the 64-bit GX Works2 and GX Works3 interfaces, plus the password dialog for protected GX Works3 projects. |
| 64-bit setup | An installed legacy 32-bit version is detected and removed before installation to avoid conflicts between both installations. |
| 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
- OPC UA client functions
- MQTT connection
- Modbus connection
- Mitsubishi PLC
- Mitsubishi robots
- Rockwell PLC
- 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.