Software
The S5 product line is usually programmed with a PC based software programming tool called Step 5. Step 5 is used for programming, testing, and commissioning, and for documentation of programs for S5 PLCs.
The original Step 5 versions ran on the CPM operating system. Later versions ran on MS-DOS, and then versions of Windows through Windows XP. The final version of Step 5 is version 7.2. No further development of this product line has occurred since that time, due to its announced obsolescence.
In addition to Step5, Siemens offered a proprietary State logic programming package called Graph5. Graph5 is a sequential programming language intended for use on machines that normally run through a series of discrete steps. It simulates a State machine on the S5 platform.
Several third-party programming environments have been released for the S5. Most closely emulate Step5, some adding macros and other minor enhancements, others functioning drastically differently than Step5. One allows Step5 programs to be cross-compiled to and from the C programming language and BASIC.
Read more about this topic: Simatic S5 PLC