GRAFCET Studio is a new Windows software which may be used on Windows 7/8/10. The basis for GRAFCET Studio is the latest Microsoft technology for desktop programs: Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF).
SIMATIC S7-GRAPH is based on the STEP 7 programming software. It is used for describing procedures with alternative or parallel step sequences. The procedures are configured and programmed clearly and quickly in a standardized method of representation (to IEC 61131-3, DIN EN 61131).The process is described graphically, and divided into individual steps with an easily comprehensible scope of functions.
Actions can be defined for the steps, and their execution controlled. Transitions control the conditions required for the next step. Interlock and monitoring conditions are defined for each step. Design and functions Flexible sequencer structure:. Simultaneous and alternative branches,.
jumps within the sequencers,. step enabling and disabling.
Selective processing of steps. The processing time of a sequencer is thus independent of the number of steps. Synchronizing automatic and manual operation. The process is not synchronous anymore when it was placed into a different state manually. S7-GRAPH supports the locating of synchronization points for restarting automatic operation. To do so, the relevant steps are marked. Step-enabling conditions or interlocks can be defined as criteria.
Licensing. S7-GRAPH is part of the Software package yet also available separately. S7-Graph V5.6 is delivered with a floating license which allows you to install the software on as many computers as you like. For each license, one user can use the software no matter what computer they’re on, or where they’re working. The number of licenses determines the number of computers the software can be used on at one time. There is an upgrade to version 5.6 for the users of the previous version 5.3. You can subscribe to a S7-GRAPH Software Update Service contract as well Software/Licenses Article No.
Dia Diagram Editor is free Open Source drawing software for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. Dia supports more than 30 different diagram types like flowcharts, network diagrams, database models. More than a thousand readymade objects help to draw professional diagrams.
Dia can read and write a number of different raster and vector image formats. Software developers and database specialists can use Dia as a CASE tool to generate code skeletons from their drawings. Dia can be scripted and extended using Python.
I have used Dia for my own side projects and, as a professor of computer science, I have recommended this tool to my students for their UML diagrams. I find Dia to be easier to use than others that I have tried, like Microsoft Visio.
I like it's many features, including export to various image formats that enables me to create clean diagrams for use in things such as assignments and exams. Students like the fact that it is cross-platform, which enables them to use their personal computers with Windows, OSX, and Linux and share the.dia files. Some diagramming tools use templates that create a whole diagram for you.
However, they tend to be hard to modify. With Dia, UML diagrams are build up by component.
This provides more flexibility but can have its own issues and takes a bit more time. One issue that my students and I typically face is too few connection points on a class object.
This makes it difficult to use autoroute and not have lines overlap. Basic editor for basic diagrams, if you want some serious stuff, than look elsewere.