Advanced Siemens PLC Programming with TIA Portal masterclass

Master S7-1200 and S7-1500 PLCs using SCL, GRAPH, UDTs, Diagnostics, PLCSIM and Factory I/O

New

Created bySeyedreza Fattahzadeh

Last updated 6/2026

English

What you'll learn

Build advanced Siemens PLC applications using S7-1200 and S7-1500 controllers in TIA Portal.
Manage complex data efficiently using Arrays, Structures, UDTs, and VARIANT data types.
Develop professional PLC programs using advanced Structured Control Language (SCL) techniques.
Create sequential control systems using Siemens GRAPH and industry-standard programming practices.
Configure and utilize Organization Blocks (OBs), interrupts, and structured I/O mapping for robust automation projects.
Perform PLC diagnostics, troubleshooting, and performance analysis using Siemens Trace tools and built-in diagnostic functions.
Migrate projects between TIA Portal versions and implement best practices for maintainable and scalable applications.
Deploy, back up, restore, and maintain HMI applications while integrating PLCSIM and Factory I/O into automation workflows.

Course content

1 section • 16 lectures • 2h 44m total length

How to Upgrade TIA Portal V16 Projects to V2012:12
Quiz 01
Run Multiple TIA Portal Versions on One PC Using VMware18:44
Quiz 02
TIA Portal UDT vs Struct vs Array Explained | Best Way to Manage PLC Tags13:37
Quiz 03
TIA Portal OB80 Explained | Prevent PLC STOP on Scan Cycle Time Errors9:20
Quiz 04
TIA Portal CEM Programming Tutorial | Cause & Effect Matrix Explained13:22
Quiz 05
TIA Portal SCL Programming Tutorial | Structured Control Language for PLCs17:51
Quiz 06
TIA Portal Graph Programming Tutorial | Sequential Function Chart (SFC)13:12
Quiz 07
Siemens TIA Portal GRAPH Language Explained | Steps, Interlocks & Events8:39
Quiz 08
TIA Portal GRAPH Language Part 3 | Supervision, Events (L0/L1) & Step Control5:38
Quiz 09
TIA Portal S7-1200 I/O Mapping Tutorial | Data Blocks vs Direct Addressing9:57
Quiz 10
TIA Portal Optimized vs Non-Optimized Data Blocks | Memory Structure Explained6:25
Quiz 11
Why PLC Math Gives Wrong Results | INT vs REAL vs LREAL Explained5:43
Quiz 12
TIA Portal Trace Tool Explained | Real-Time PLC Signal Analysis7:37
Quiz 13
How to Download HMI Project via USB in TIA Portal | Siemens KTP400 Step-by-Step6:02
Quiz 14
How to Backup & Restore Siemens HMI via USB | TIA Portal Complete Guide7:22
Quiz 15
TIA Portal VARIANT Data Type Explained | Handle BOOL, INT & REAL in a Function9:12
Quiz 16

Requirements

Basic understanding of PLC fundamentals and industrial automation concepts Familiarity with Siemens TIA Portal environment
Basic knowledge of Ladder Logic (LAD) programming
Experience creating simple PLC programs, tags, and Data Blocks
A computer capable of running Siemens TIA Portal software
Basic-to-intermediate PLC programming experience is strongly recommended

Description

This course is designed for PLC programmers and automation engineers who already understand the basics of Siemens TIA Portal and are ready to advance to professional, industrial-level PLC programming.

If you are comfortable with ladder logic, tags, and basic function blocks, this course will help you move beyond the fundamentals and develop the skills used in real-world automation projects with Siemens S7-1200 and S7-1500 PLCs.

In this masterclass, you will learn how to design, structure, and optimize complex PLC applications using advanced Siemens programming techniques. The focus is on practical engineering methods used in industry, not just theory.

You will begin by mastering advanced data handling techniques such as Arrays, Structures, User Defined Data Types (UDTs), and VARIANT data types. You will also understand the difference between optimized and non-optimized data blocks and how to structure memory efficiently for scalable PLC systems.

Next, you will move into advanced programming concepts including Organization Blocks (OBs), interrupt handling, Structured Control Language (SCL), and Siemens GRAPH for sequential automation processes. You will also learn Cause & Effect Matrix (CEM) design used in process and safety-critical applications.

The course also covers PLC diagnostics, troubleshooting methods, and trace tools for analyzing system behavior in real time. You will learn how to migrate projects between TIA Portal versions and use VMware to build virtual PLC environments for testing and development.

To reinforce learning, the course includes PLCSIM and Factory I/O simulations so you can practice in realistic industrial scenarios without requiring physical hardware.

Finally, you will learn professional engineering practices such as HMI deployment, project backup and recovery, and structured programming techniques used in industrial automation teams.

By the end of this course, you will be able to confidently design, implement, and troubleshoot advanced Siemens PLC systems and apply professional standards used in modern industrial automation projects.

Prerequisites:

Students should already understand basic PLC programming, Siemens TIA Portal navigation, ladder logic, and function blocks. This course is intended for those who have completed a beginner or intermediate Siemens PLC course or working professionals looking to upgrade their skills.

Who this course is for:

PLC programmers who already understand Siemens TIA Portal and want to advance to professional-level programming
Students who have completed a basic or intermediate Siemens PLC programming course
Engineers who want to learn advanced Siemens tools such as SCL, GRAPH, diagnostics, and Trace
Anyone preparing for real-world industrial automation projects using Siemens PLCs