Version Information
Release Notes, Update information, Certifications and Frequently Asked Questions.
Concepts
Your first step into modern and powerful process visualization.
Deployment
Topics, you need to know, before using WinCC OA.
Security
Go beyond the norm in cybersecurity.
Engineering
Powerful tools for easy or complex engineering tasks.
Data Management
Classify, structure and archive your data.
Business Logic / Control
Endless possibilities in data processing for your projects.
- Introduction to CTRL
  An introduction to the product's own programming language Control(CTRL).
- Control Classes
  The overview of classes available in Control.
- Types of Control Functions
  An overview of the types of functions distinguished within Control.
- Control graphics
- CONTROL Functions
- CtrlExtension
  The CtrlExtension allows the addition of custom C++ code.
- CTRL Debugger
  You can use the CTRL debugger to debug the Control programming language. The debugger can be used via its own panel, which also enables the monitoring and setting of variable values during the execution of a script.
- SQL in CONTROL
  The database functions enable you to quickly carry out value queries on data points and elements.
- API Manager
  The WinCC OA API (Application Programming Interface) offers a number of functions adding special Managers to this process control system.
- NextGen Archiver Backend-API
  This chapter describes the NextGen Archiver Backend API
Data Visualization
User interfaces, Trends and Reports for every purpose and device.
Southbound Interfaces
The process connection to the actual machines/sensors.
Northbound Interfaces
Your portal to the cloud or supervising systems.
Web Connectivity / Network Interfaces
Data exchange, APIs and web technologies
User Management
All about authorization, authentication and login-customization.
Availability
How to get your system uptime to the maximum.
Reporting
Create state of the art project reports without limits.
Addons
Useful tools and enhancements for special demands.
Reference Tables
Detailed and extensive content for special project adaptation.
Videos & Tutorials
Explore the capabilities of WinCC OA with our carefully selected collection of video tutorials and guides.
WinCC OA Documentation
Basic information about terms and functions within the documentation.
Disclaimer
A brief clarification of liability exclusions or legal notices.

Introduction to CTRL

An introduction to the product's own programming language Control(CTRL).

A Control program ("script") is used to control WinCC OA, and can be programmed by the actual user of the control system. In this way the user is employing a script to specify the response of WinCC OA to an event. The syntax of the internal controller language "Control" has a similar structure to that of the C programming language.

The Control program is capable of multi-program operation (multi-threading). Blocks can be defined in the CTRL script that are processed when a specific event occurs (for example, message that a data point attribute has changed). Since WinCC OA can process more than one data point at once, the Control program must also be capable of letting different processes run in parallel. The Control program must perform the following functions:

Control functions for technical processes

Enable dynamic handling of graphics objects

The Control program processes data points and controls the visualization of process states. The Control syntax is based on the procedural programming language C. Control, however, is implemented as an interpreter, so that the user does not have to perform compiling or linking. This means that changes can be tested immediately. Control provides optimum support for the flexible data point concept of WinCC OA.

Note: Only special characters from the iso88591 character set can be used in CTRL scripts. Special characters within variable names are not permitted.