Problem Overview
When configuring the Media Player object in TIA Portal V12 SP1 (or later) for a Siemens Comfort Panel such as the TP700 Comfort, the Properties window does not expose a native file browser dialog that points to the panel's runtime file system. Engineers attempting to select a video file via the standard Windows file dialog inside the TIA Portal engineering environment find that the path is left blank, restricted, or fails to load when the project is downloaded to the panel. The same video file plays correctly when launched directly on the panel through its Windows CE (or Windows Embedded Standard 7) file explorer, confirming that the file format, codec, and storage medium are valid.
This behavior is by design: the TIA Portal engineering client cannot browse the panel's internal storage and the Media Player control must be configured with a manually entered absolute path. The official Siemens FAQ on this topic is documented in entry 62101921 - How can you play videos on the Comfort Panels and what settings do you have to make?
Affected Products and Versions
| Component | Variant / Part Number | Firmware Required |
|---|---|---|
| TP700 Comfort | 6AV2 124-1GC01-0AX0 / -0AX1 | V12.0.0.0 or later (V14+ recommended for H.264) |
| TP900 Comfort | 6AV2 124-1JC01-0AX0 | V12.0.0.0 or later |
| TP1200 Comfort | 6AV2 124-1MC01-0AX0 | V12.0.0.0 or later |
| TP1500 Comfort | 6AV2 124-1QC02-0AX0 | V12.0.0.0 or later |
| TP1900 Comfort | 6AV2 124-1UC02-0AX0 | V12.0.0.0 or later |
| TP2200 Comfort | 6AV2 124-1XC02-0AX0 | V12.0.0.0 or later |
| TP700 Comfort Outdoor | 6AV2 124-1GC01-0AX1 (Outdoor variant) | V13.0.0.0 or later |
| TIA Portal | V12 SP1 / V13 SP1 / V14 SP1 / V15 / V15.1 / V16 / V17 / V18 | WinCC Comfort or WinCC Advanced |
Root Cause
The Media Player object in WinCC Comfort / Advanced is designed to address media files on the HMI device's local file system at runtime. The configuration dialog inside TIA Portal only browses the engineering PC's local drives (C:\, D:\, network shares) and cannot enumerate the contents of the SD card, USB stick, or internal flash of the target panel. The runtime path therefore must be entered as a string property. The behavior is documented in the Siemens FAQ 62101921.
If the path field is left empty, or if a PC-style path (e.g. C:\Videos\demo.wmv) is entered, the Media Player control will fail to start playback in runtime and the screen may show a black box or an error overlay depending on the firmware version.
Three Playback Methods on Comfort Panels
The Siemens FAQ distinguishes three independent mechanisms to play video on a Comfort Panel. Choosing the correct one depends on the use case:
- Standalone playback outside Runtime - Open the file directly from the Windows CE / WES7 file explorer on the panel. No TIA Portal project is required. This is the method used to verify that the codec and storage medium are functional.
- Media Player control embedded in a screen - Drag the Media Player object from the WinCC Comfort toolbox onto a screen and configure its source path, autoplay behavior, and control bar visibility. This is the recommended method for in-process visualization.
- Event-driven launch of the system player - Use the StartProgram function on a button event to spawn the system Media Player with a command-line argument pointing to the file. This is the fallback when the embedded control does not expose required events (e.g. on older TIA Portal versions prior to V13).
Comfort Panel File System Layout
Classic Comfort Panels running Windows CE 6.0 or Windows Embedded Standard 7 expose the following mount points that can be referenced in the Media Player path property:
| Runtime Path | Physical Medium | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
\Storage Card\ |
SD card slot on the rear of the panel | Primary location for user video files |
\Storage Card USB\ |
USB stick plugged into the panel's USB-A port | Temporary / swappable media |
\flash\ |
Internal flash memory | Project data, firmware; not recommended for large videos |
\SIMATIC\ |
Reserved system partition | Do not write user data here |
\Network\ |
SMB / CIFS network share (firmware V14+) | Network video sources |
\Storage Card\Videos\Demo.WMV and \storage card\videos\demo.wmv refer to different files. Always match the exact case used on the storage device.Video Format and Codec Support by Firmware
Codec support has expanded over successive firmware versions. Use the table below to determine the maximum usable format for your panel:
| Firmware | WMV7/9 | MPEG-4 ASP (DivX/Xvid) | MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 | Recommended Container |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V12.0.0.0 | Yes | No | No | WMV |
| V13.0.0.0 | Yes | Yes (limited profiles) | No | WMV, AVI |
| V14.0.0.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes (Baseline / Main profile) | WMV, MP4 |
| V15.0.0.0 and later | Yes | Yes | Yes (up to High profile, level 4.0) | WMV, MP4 |
Maximum supported resolutions are panel-dependent: TP700 / TP900 are limited to 800 x 480 native, so any video larger than 800 x 480 is downscaled by the decoder. TP1200 supports 1280 x 800, TP1500 / TP1900 / TP2200 support up to 1920 x 1080. Maximum sustained bitrate is approximately 6-8 Mbit/s on a TP700 and 12-15 Mbit/s on a TP2200 with H.264 hardware acceleration.
Prerequisites
- TIA Portal V12 SP1 (or later) with WinCC Comfort or WinCC Advanced installed.
- Comfort Panel with firmware matching the codec requirements above. Update firmware using ProSave if needed.
- Video file converted to a supported codec/container. WMV9 is the universal safe choice.
- Storage medium (SD card or USB stick) formatted as FAT32. exFAT and NTFS are not reliably recognized on Windows CE-based panels.
- Panel IP address configured and reachable from the engineering station for project transfer.
Step-by-Step Configuration
-
Copy the video to the panel's storage medium. Place the file in a known subdirectory, e.g.
\Storage Card\videos\demo.wmv. Verify by opening it through the panel's Windows CE file explorer. - Open the TIA Portal project containing the Comfort Panel device.
- Open the target screen in the WinCC Comfort editor.
- Insert the Media Player object from Toolbox > Controls > Media Player. Drag it onto the screen and resize to the desired playback area.
-
Configure the source path in the Properties window under General > Source. Type the absolute runtime path, for example:
\Storage Card\videos\demo.wmv
Do not browse. Manually type the string. For a USB stick use:
\Storage Card USB\videos\demo.wmv - Set autoplay behavior under Properties > General > Autoplay. Enable to start playback as soon as the screen is loaded.
- Configure the control bar visibility (play/pause/scrub) under Properties > Appearance > Control Bar. Disable for kiosk-style loops.
- Optionally bind playback to a tag in Properties > Animations > Visibility or wire a button event to Stop / Play methods (firmware V14+).
- Compile the project (Project tree > panel > right-click > Compile > Software (rebuild all)).
- Download to the panel via Online > Download to device. Ensure the runtime path on the panel already contains the video file (download transfers project data, not media files).
Verification
- Power-cycle the panel and start Runtime.
- Navigate to the screen containing the Media Player.
- Confirm that playback starts within 1-3 seconds (autoplay) or that the control bar is visible (manual mode).
- If the player area is black: open the configured file directly on the panel via Windows CE. If it plays there but not in the control, the runtime path string is wrong - recheck spelling, backslashes, and case.
- Use the panel's diagnostic page (Control Panel > OP > System Information) to verify the storage medium is mounted and accessible.
Alternative Method: StartProgram Event
On TIA Portal V12 SP1 the Media Player control exposes a limited set of events. If a true event-driven Play/Stop binding is required, use the StartProgram function on a button:
- Insert a Button on the screen.
- In the button's Events > Click, add the function StartProgram.
- Configure the Program Name field with the system Media Player executable and the file argument:
\Windows\wmp.exe "\Storage Card\videos\demo.wmv" - Compile and download. Clicking the button at runtime launches the standalone Windows Media Player, which closes when the user exits.
StartProgram is blocked by default on Comfort Panels with security level 2 or higher. Lower the security level in Runtime Settings > Security or sign the executable via the Panel's whitelist. The Siemens FAQ 62101921 describes this caveat.Troubleshooting Matrix
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Corrective Action |
|---|---|---|
| Media Player area is black, no error | Incorrect path string or storage medium not mounted | Re-type path exactly; verify SD card / USB presence in Control Panel |
| "File not found" or "Cannot open file" dialog | Typo in path, wrong case, or file in PC path | Switch to runtime path \Storage Card\...; respect case |
| Audio plays, video stutters | Bitrate too high for panel CPU | Re-encode at 4-6 Mbit/s, baseline profile |
| Only first frame shows, no playback | Codec not supported on installed firmware | Update firmware or convert to WMV9 |
| File plays in Windows CE but not in Runtime control | Engineered path is empty or PC-style | Manually type the panel path in Properties > Source |
| Video loops indefinitely, cannot stop | Control bar hidden and no event bound | Enable control bar or wire a button event to Stop method |
| Playback freezes after a few seconds | Slow SD card (Class 2 or lower) | Use Class 10 or UHS-I SD card; avoid USB 1.1 hubs |
| StartProgram button does nothing | Security level blocks external programs | Adjust Runtime Settings > Security or whitelist the executable |
File Size and Performance Limits
Internal flash on Comfort Panels is typically 12-24 MB of writable space; large video files should never be placed there. SD cards up to 32 GB (FAT32) are fully supported. The Media Player reads video as a streaming source, so seek time and random access are poor on Class 2 / 4 SD cards - use a Class 10 card for smooth playback of H.264 streams above 5 Mbit/s. Maximum simultaneous Media Player objects on a single screen is one; multiple objects on different screens are allowed but each one holds a decoder context and consumes CPU.
Migrating to Unified Comfort Panels
If the project is being migrated to a Unified Comfort Panel (MTP series), the Media Player object is replaced by the "Media Player (RT Unified)" control. Path syntax and supported codecs differ - Unified panels accept container formats such as MP4 (H.264 / H.265) and MKV natively on firmware V17+. Refer to the TIA Portal help at Media Player (RT Unified) for the V21 reference.
Related Configuration: Audio Output
Audio is output through the panel's internal speakers or the line-out jack (on TP1500 / TP1900 / TP2200). Enable audio in Runtime Settings > Audio > Enable and adjust volume via a tag. If audio plays in Windows CE but not in the embedded Media Player, the tag AudioOn is not set, or the bitstream contains an unsupported audio codec (e.g. AC-3, E-AC-3, DTS). Use WMV9 with WMA2 audio for maximum compatibility.
FAQ
Why does the Media Player in TIA Portal not show a file browser for selecting a video?
The WinCC Comfort / Advanced Media Player object can only browse the engineering PC's file system, not the panel's runtime storage. The correct procedure is to manually type the absolute panel path, for example \Storage Card\videos\demo.wmv, into the Properties > Source field. See Siemens FAQ 62101921.
Which video formats are supported on a TP700 Comfort panel?
WMV9 is supported on all Comfort Panels with firmware V12.0.0.0 or later. MPEG-4 ASP requires V13.0.0.0 or later, and H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC requires V14.0.0.0 or later on TP700 / TP900 / TP1200. WMV9 is the safest universal format.
Why does my video play in Windows CE on the panel but not in the TIA Portal Media Player control?
The path string in the Media Player object is either empty, points to a PC drive (e.g. C:\), or has a case mismatch. Manually enter the runtime path (e.g. \Storage Card\Videos\Demo.WMV) exactly as it appears on the storage device.
Can I trigger video playback from a button event on TIA Portal V12 SP1?
Yes - configure the button's Click event with the StartProgram function and pass the system Media Player executable plus the file argument: \Windows\wmp.exe "\Storage Card\videos\demo.wmv". Note that StartProgram may be blocked by the panel's security settings; whitelist the executable or lower the security level if required.
What is the maximum storage size and card type for video files on a Comfort Panel?
SD cards up to 32 GB formatted as FAT32 are fully supported. Class 10 (or UHS-I) cards are recommended for H.264 streams above 5 Mbit/s. Internal flash is limited to roughly 12-24 MB of writable space and should not be used for video files.