Usecases for the SIMATIC Modular Application Creator Module Builder

This repository demonstrates how to use the comfort functions of the Modular Application Creator Module Builder. With those comfort functions the Openness programmer does not need to handle the xml file when e.g. calls in ladder logic should be generated. More information is available under Modular Application Creator on SIOS.

🚀 Getting started Documentation

We just updated our Modular Application Creator Use Case Based Documentation.

Prerequisites

• TIA-Portal installed on Windows PC
• TIA-Portal Editing language and Reference language set to English (United States)
• Download the same major version of the Modular Application Creator V21.0.5 or higher
• Microsoft Visual Studio with Extension Modular Application Creator Module Builder V21.0.5 or higher installed

Quickstart

Follow these steps to get started with the Modular Application Creator:

1. Clone the Repository:

   • Clone this repository into a local folder (avoid using a OneDrive folder).

2. Set Up Debugging (Optional):

   • Open your project in Visual Studio.

   • Open launchSettings.json in MAC_use_cases project

   • Adapt the executablePath according to the location of your ModularApplicationCreator.exe

     

3. Build & Run the Solution:

   • Build the solution in Visual Studio and ensure it compiles successfully.
   • If there are missing packages, it may be due to incorrect or disabled NuGet sources provided by the Modular Application Creator Module Builder. To resolve this:

     • Restart Visual Studio (this can fix rare issues).

     • Verify your NuGet sources by running the following command in the terminal:

       dotnet nuget list source

     • Ensure the MacMbPackages source is listed and enabled.

   • Once the solution builds successfully, start it in Visual Studio. The Modular Application Creator should launch.

4. Configure the Modular Application Creator:

   • Open the Settings tab in the top right corner

     

   • In the section Enable/disable use of unsigned modules and project templates allow the usage of unsigned modules/projects templates to be able to use this demo equipment module. If you like you can also apply this setting permanently

     

   • Click Add Source to add the source location to this Equipment Module / Project output NuGet package:

     

   • Go back to the Main Page -> Create new project -> Select a Modular Application Creator project template from the list -> Select the first DemoCase template -> Create and open

   • Assign the Equipment Module (MAC_use_cases.xxx-prexxx) to your PLC by dragging and dropping it.

   • Configure your module under the Configure Modules tab.

   • Click Generate under the Generate tab.

   Note: Once completed, your TIA-Portal project will be generated.

Triggering Generation from a 3rd Party Application (CLI)

The Modular Application Creator CLI lets you automate project creation, module installation and configuration without opening the GUI.

1. Create a new project

Creates a new MAC project from a template and saves it to a specified path. It is located next to the ModularApplicatoinCreator.exe file.

Command structure

<PATH_TO_CLI>\ModularApplicationCreatorCLI.exe createProject "<TEMPLATE_NAME>:<TEMPLATE_VERSION>" "<PATH_TO_MAC_PROJECT>"

Placeholders

Placeholder	Description	Example
<PATH_TO_CLI>	Directory containing ModularApplicationCreatorCLI.exe	C:\Program Files\Siemens\MAC
<TEMPLATE_NAME>	Name of the project template	DemoCase_S71500_S210_GSD_ET200SP
<TEMPLATE_VERSION>	Version of the template	21.0.5
<PATH_TO_MAC_PROJECT>	Full path where the .project file will be saved	C:\Projects\MyProject\ModularApplicationCreator.project

Full example

C:\Program Files\Siemens\MAC\ModularApplicationCreatorCLI.exe createProject "DemoCase_S71500_S210_GSD_ET200SP:21.0.5" "C:\Projects\MyProject\ModularApplicationCreator.project"

2. Load, install and configure a module

Loads an existing MAC project, installs a module on a device and applies a JSON configuration file.

Command structure

<PATH_TO_CLI>\ModularApplicationCreatorCLI.exe loadProject      "<PATH_TO_MAC_PROJECT>" installModules   "<DEVICE_NAME>:MAC_use_cases:<MODULE_INSTANCE_NAME>" ` configureModules "<DEVICE_NAME>:<MODULE_INSTANCE_NAME>:<PATH_TO_CONFIG_JSON>" generate

Placeholders

Placeholder	Description	Example
<PATH_TO_CLI>	Directory containing ModularApplicationCreatorCLI.exe	C:\Program Files\Siemens\MAC
<PATH_TO_MAC_PROJECT>	Full path to the .project file	C:\Projects\MyProject\ModularApplicationCreator.project
<DEVICE_NAME>	PLC device name in the MAC project	PLC_1
<MODULE_INSTANCE_NAME>	Module instance name assigned to the device	Mac_use_cases
<PATH_TO_CONFIG_JSON>	Full path to the JSON config file from the Export button	C:\Config\MAC_use_cases.json

Full example

C:\Program Files\Siemens\MAC\ModularApplicationCreatorCLI.exe loadProject "C:\Projects\MyProject\ModularApplicationCreator.project" installModules   "PLC_1:MAC_use_cases:Mac_use_cases" configureModules "PLC_1:Mac_use_cases:C:\Config\MAC_use_cases.json" generate

Tip: Use the Export button on the First Page of the module UI to generate the <PATH_TO_CONFIG_JSON> file. Also a already exported config Json is located in CLI_Example\ModulConfig\MAC_use_cases.json

Contact us

If you have problems or suggestions, please send an email to modular.application.creator.industry@siemens.com

📝 License

Copyright © 2025 Siemens AG.

This project is MIT licensed.