Command Save as library

Function: The command opens the standard dialog for saving a PLC project as a PLC library.

Call: Context menu of the PLC project object (<PLC project name> Project) in the Solution Explorer

A PLC project can be saved as a PLC library in order to make source code available for other applications as a library and therefore via a defined interface. The command for saving a library is available in the context menu of the PLC project.

The command opens the standard dialog for saving a file in the file system. The existing project name is offered automatically; it can be modified by the user, if required. When a project is saved as a library, there is a choice between two library file formats:

• *.library (source library)
• You can open a source library (for viewing and/or editing) by using the Add Existing Item command, which is available on the PLC node within the project tree.
• You can "step" into a source library using the usual debugging function.
• *.compiled-library (compiled library)
• This file extension can be used to save a library project in a compiled format. An encrypted image of the precompile context of the library is stored, which means the implementations of the library function blocks are no longer accessible or visible.
• A compiled library cannot be opened or debugged.
• Apart from this, *.compiled-library files behave like *.library files. You can therefore install and reference them in the same way.
• The source code of a library can be protected by using the compiled library format. In addition, the library files are smaller and the loading times are shorter.

The code cannot be run through step by step The usual debugging functions cannot be applied to a compiled library (*.compiled-library). It is therefore not possible to jump into a library block of a *.compiled-library via debugging.