tia-python

TIA Scripting Python – Skill

Library: siemens_tia_scripting (v1.1.0) Requires: Python 3.12.x, TIA Portal V17+, TIA Portal Openness V17+

Installation

Do not use pip install siemens_tia_scripting or pip install siemens-tia-scripting from PyPI. Download TIA Scripting Python from Siemens Industry Online Support, unzip it, then choose one Siemens-supported setup path:

• File import: set the TIA_SCRIPTING environment variable to the extracted binaries directory and append it to sys.path.
• Wheel install: navigate to the extracted binaries directory and install the matching wheel file, for example:

cd C:\Path\To\Your\TIA_Scripting_Python\binaries
py -3.12 -m pip install .\siemens_tia_scripting-x.x.x-cp312-cp312-win_amd64.whl

Replace x.x.x with the version in the downloaded wheel filename.

Setup Boilerplate

import os
import sys

# Option A – environment variable (file import method)
sys.path.append(os.getenv('TIA_SCRIPTING'))
import siemens_tia_scripting as ts

# Option B – installed as pip package
import siemens_tia_scripting as ts

Object Hierarchy

siemens_tia_scripting (Global functions)
└── Portal
    └── Project
        ├── Plc
        │   ├── ProgramBlock / SystemBlock
        │   ├── PlcTagTable → PlcTag / UserConstant
        │   ├── UserDataType
        │   ├── ExternalSource
        │   ├── ForceTable / WatchTable
        │   ├── TechnologyObject
        │   ├── SoftwareUnit (contains same sub-objects as Plc)
        │   └── SafetyAdministration
        ├── Hmi
        │   ├── HmiTagTable → HmiTag
        │   ├── HmiScreen / HmiScript / HmiCycle
        │   ├── HmiAlarm / HmiAlarmClass
        │   ├── HmiConnection
        │   ├── HmiGraphicList / HmiTextList
        └── ProjectLibrary
            └── LibraryType → LibraryTypeVersion

Portal
└── GlobalLibrary
    └── LibraryTypeFolder → LibraryType → LibraryTypeVersion

Accessing any object requires: Portal open → Project open → device retrieved.

Shared Traits (apply to most classes)

These methods behave identically across all classes that have them. Do NOT repeat their full docs in reference files — refer here instead.

get_name() → str

Returns the name of the object.

get_property(name: str) → str

Returns a single property value as string. Non-string values are auto-converted.

val = obj.get_property(name="CreationDate")

get_properties() → List[str]

Returns all property names of the object.

set_property(name: str, value: str) → int

Sets a property. Value must be passed as string regardless of underlying type:

• bool → "True" / "False"
• int → "42"
• float → "3.14"
• enum → index string "0" or name string "OptionA"

obj.set_property(name="Name", value="MyNewName")

get_identifier() → str

Returns a unique identifier string for the object.

export(target_directory_path, export_options=None, export_format=None, keep_folder_structure=None)

Exports the object. Shared signature across PLC/HMI data objects.

• export_options: Enums.ExportOptions (WithDefaults=0, Nan=1, WithReadOnly=2)
• export_format: Enums.ExportFormats (SimaticML=0, ExternalSource=1, SimaticSD=2)
• keep_folder_structure: bool — if True, folder hierarchy is preserved

obj.export(target_directory_path="C:\\ws\\export",
           export_options=ts.Enums.ExportOptions.WithDefaults)

delete()

Deletes the object from TIA Portal.

get_path() → str / get_path_full() → str

• get_path() → path up to the parent system folder
• get_path_full() → full path up to project root

get_fingerprints() → List[str]

Returns fingerprint data for the object.

get_supported_export_format() → List[str]

Returns a list of export format strings supported by the object.

show_in_editor()

Opens the object in the TIA Portal editor UI.

is_consistent() → bool

Returns True if the object is consistent (compiled, no errors).

Enums Reference

ts.Enums.PortalMode          # WithGraphicalUserInterface=0, WithoutGraphicalUserInterface=1, AnyUserInterface=2
ts.Enums.UmacUserMode        # Project=0, Global=1
ts.Enums.ExportFormats       # SimaticML=0, ExternalSource=1, SimaticSD=2
ts.Enums.ExportOptions       # WithDefaults=0, Nan=1, WithReadOnly=2
ts.Enums.CleanUpMode         # PreserveDefaultVersionOfUnusedTypes=0, DeleteUnusedTypes=1
ts.Enums.LibraryExportOptions # Nan=0, WithLibraryVersionInfoFile=1, OnlyLibraryVersionInfoFile=2
ts.Enums.HarmonizeOptions    # HarmonizePathsAndNames=0, HarmonizePaths=1, HarmonizeNames=2
ts.Enums.DependenciesMode    # DoNotAutomaticallyCreateOrReleaseDependencies=0, AutomaticallyCreateOrReleaseDependenciesIfRequired=1

Logging

ts.set_logging(path="C:\\ws\\tiascripting.log", console=True)

Call early in the script, before opening a portal.

Reference Files

Load only the file(s) relevant to the task at hand:

| File | When to load | |------|-------------| | skills/tia-python/references/global_portal.md | Opening/attaching portal, project management, UMAC, credentials | | skills/tia-python/references/plc.md | Working with PLC devices, blocks, tags, UDTs, technology objects, software units | | skills/tia-python/references/hmi.md | Working with HMI devices, screens, tags, scripts, alarms, connections | | skills/tia-python/references/library.md | Working with GlobalLibrary, ProjectLibrary, LibraryTypes and versions | | skills/tia-python/references/project.md | Project-level operations, ProjectServer, transactions, TestSuite |

For pipelines that span multiple domains, load all relevant files before generating code.

General Coding Guidance

• One function per device type — keep PLC logic and HMI logic in separate functions.
• Always check compile/download return values — compile_hardware() and compile_software() return True if there are errors.
• Use folder_path parameters — most get_* methods accept an optional folder_path: str using "group1/group2" syntax to scope retrieval.
• import_* methods take a directory path, not a file path — point to the folder containing exported XML files.
• Transactions — use project.start_transaction() / project.end_transaction() for bulk changes that should be undoable.
• set_property values are always strings — even for booleans and numbers.

Destructive-operation safety

These rules are mandatory for generated Python TIA Scripting code:

• Treat delete() and any bulk overwrite/import operation as destructive.
• Never call delete() as a bare one-line mutation. Wrap destructive changes in project.start_transaction() / project.end_transaction() when the API supports that operation inside a transaction.
• Ensure transaction cleanup is explicit. If generated code starts a transaction, it must end or roll back the transaction on every error path.
• Run or request a compile_check through MCP after generated block, tag, hardware, or HMI changes. Do not present generated project changes as deployable until that check passes.
• If Python TIA Scripting cannot provide transaction or exclusive-access safety for a destructive operation, route the task to C# Openness or MCP instead.