Problem Summary: Migration of WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 Projects to TIA Portal
The migration path from WinCC flexible 2008 SP3 / SP5 to a current WinCC (TIA Portal) environment on a SIMATIC Comfort Panel is a multi-step process that requires an intermediate TIA Portal V13 SP2 station with the matching WinCC Advanced V13 SP2 (or equivalent WinCC Basic/Comfort/Advanced) installation. A WinCC flexible 2008 project cannot be opened directly in TIA Portal V15, V16, V17, V18, V19, or V20, and the migration tool shipped with TIA Portal V13 SP2 is the only supported entry point.
The most common error reported by field engineers is:
To continue the migration, WinCC Basic must be installed.
This error appears when the user attempts to convert the resulting .am13 file by changing the device type in TIA Portal V13, but only STEP 7 V13 SP2 and Startdrive V13 SP2 have been installed on the engineering station — the WinCC component is missing. The engineering station is a SIMATIC Field PG M5 with a WinCC Advanced Combo V15 license, but Combo licenses do not back-port WinCC runtime components to older TIA Portal versions automatically.
Additional downstream problems reported on the same station:
- The
.am13file is invisible in the Open Existing Project dialog. - The Migrate Project command in TIA Portal V15 does not list
.am13as a valid source format. - Attempting to install WinCC Basic from the supplied Field PG DVD without first installing the TIA Portal V13 SP2 base product leaves WinCC components unregistered.
This article documents the supported Siemens procedure, the exact product packages required, the official error remediation, and a verification matrix you can run on a SIMATIC Field PG or any TIA engineering workstation.
Root Cause Analysis: Why WinCC Basic Is Required
Siemens structures its TIA Portal product family as stacked options on top of the STEP 7 / WinCC base product:
| Package | Role | Provides |
|---|---|---|
| STEP 7 Basic V13 SP2 / Professional V13 SP2 | PLC engineering base | S7-1200 / S7-1500 programming, project tree |
| WinCC Basic V13 SP2 | HMI engineering base (Basic Panels) | Migration tool, project converter, Basic Panel device support |
| WinCC Comfort V13 SP2 | Comfort Panel support | TP700/900/1200/1500/1900, KP/Comfort device libraries |
| WinCC Advanced V13 SP2 | Advanced Panel + WinCC Runtime Advanced | RT Advanced, recipes, audits, scripting |
| Startdrive V13 SP2 | SINAMICS drive commissioning | G120, S120, S210 support inside TIA |
The migration tool bundled with TIA Portal V13 SP2 is technically a WinCC sub-component. It depends on WinCC Basic runtime DLLs to interpret the WinCC flexible .hmi project structure and rebuild it as a .am13 archive. If WinCC Basic V13 SP2 is not present in the registry hive HKLM\SOFTWARE\Siemens\Automation\WinCC\Basic\V13.2\Install, the migration wizard blocks the device-type-change step with the error above.
The WinCC Advanced Combo V15 floating license unlocks WinCC Comfort, WinCC Advanced, and WinCC Professional for TIA Portal V15 only. It does not retroactively install WinCC Basic V13 SP2 on the system, and it does not allow V15 to read the .am13 format generated by V13 — that step must be completed in V13 first.
Siemens' WinCC Migration Guide (TIA Portal) — Edition 03/2019, PDF 77430539 states explicitly in section 2.3.3 that a WinCC flexible 2008 SP3/SP5 configuration cannot be directly migrated to WinCC (TIA Portal) V15. The path is:
- WinCC flexible 2008 SP3/SP5 → TIA Portal V13 SP2 (via Migration Tool V13)
- TIA Portal V13 SP2 project → upgrade to TIA Portal V15, V16, V17, V18, V19, or V20 via project upgrade
Skipping step 1 by attempting step 2 directly is the root cause of the error.
Prerequisites: Engineering Station Setup
Confirm the following before you begin the migration on a SIMATIC Field PG M5 (or equivalent PG/PC with TIA Portal installed):
| Component | Required Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 7 SP1 (64-bit) or Windows 10 (64-bit, build 1607+) | TIA Portal V13 SP2 supports Windows 7/10 only; Server editions require TIA V15.1+ |
| STEP 7 V13 SP2 | Update 4 or later recommended | Mandatory TIA Portal base product |
| WinCC Basic V13 SP2 | Update 4 or later | Install from the TIA Portal V13 SP2 setup launcher |
| WinCC Comfort V13 SP2 | If migrating to a TP/KP Comfort Panel | Select during TIA setup under HMI components |
| WinCC Advanced V13 SP2 | Optional but recommended | Adds script and RT Advanced support |
| TIA Portal V15 / V15.1 | Update 4 or later | Used only for the final project-upgrade step |
| Administrator rights | Required | Needed for DCOM, SQL Server, and service registration |
| Disk space | ≥ 30 GB free | Two TIA Portal versions side by side |
| RAM | ≥ 8 GB (16 GB recommended) | TIA V13 + V15 simultaneously is memory-intensive |
%ProgramFiles%\Siemens\Automation. Do not attempt to point a V15 installation at a V13 WinCC directory — the migration tool will fail with a missing-DLL error.Step-by-Step Migration Procedure
Use this exact order. Each step is verified before proceeding to the next.
Step 1 — Verify the WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 Source
- Open the original project in WinCC flexible 2008 SP5.
- Select Project > Compiler > All and confirm the build completes with 0 errors, 0 warnings. Migration of a project that already fails to compile in its native environment will carry those errors forward.
- Close WinCC flexible 2008 SP5. Do not leave it running — it locks the project file (
.hmi) and the.logfolder.
Step 2 — Install WinCC Basic V13 SP2 (or the V13 SP2 HMI package that matches your target)
- Insert the TIA Portal V13 SP2 installation media (or mount the ISO).
- Launch
Start.exefrom the root of the media. - When the launcher presents the install package selection, expand WinCC and tick at minimum WinCC Basic V13 SP2. Tick WinCC Comfort V13 SP2 if your successor device is a TP700 / TP900 / TP1200 / TP1500 / TP1900 Comfort or KP panel. Tick WinCC Advanced V13 SP2 if you also need RT Advanced features.
- Accept the license agreement and complete the install. A reboot is required at the end of the TIA V13 SP2 install.
- After reboot, open TIA Portal V13 SP2. From the menu select Help > Installed Software and confirm the entries:
STEP 7 V13 SP2,WinCC Basic V13 SP2,WinCC Comfort V13 SP2(if installed),Startdrive V13 SP2.
D:\Support\Setup\Start.exe from the recovery partition, or use the Siemens automation DVD shipped with the unit. The supplied "Field PG Tools" DVD does not contain the TIA Portal product; it contains drivers and the SIMATIC IPC image only.Step 3 — Run the V13 Migration Tool on the WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 Project
- From the Windows Start menu, launch Siemens Automation > Migration Tool V13 (or open it from the TIA Portal V13 launcher).
- On the Source page, browse to the WinCC flexible 2008 SP5
.hmifile. - On the Target page, choose TIA Portal project and pick a fresh, write-enabled folder. The tool creates an
.am13archive. - Click Migrate. When the wizard reports Migration completed successfully, close the tool.
Step 4 — Open the .am13 File in TIA Portal V13 SP2 and Change the Device Type
- Start TIA Portal V13 SP2.
- From the Project menu, select Migrate project (do not use Open existing project — the file filter is wrong for
.am13). - Browse to the
.am13file. The dialog will list the migration target. Click Open. - TIA Portal V13 SP2 now extracts the archive and rebuilds the project tree. The HMI device is initially the original WinCC flexible panel (e.g. MP 277, TP 177B). Double-click the HMI device in the project tree.
- Right-click the HMI device and choose Change device type / version. Pick the Comfort Panel successor (e.g. TP700 Comfort → TP900 Comfort, or MP 277 → TP1200 Comfort). Click OK.
- TIA Portal V13 SP2 re-binds tags, alarms, screens, and recipes. Inspect the Info > Compile output. Warnings about unsupported objects (e.g. legacy OPC XML DA, VBScript functions deprecated in Comfort) are expected and must be remediated manually.
- Save the project as a TIA Portal V13 SP2 native project (
.ap13), not the.am13archive.
Step 5 — Upgrade the V13 SP2 Project to TIA Portal V15 (or Later)
- Close TIA Portal V13 SP2 completely.
- Start TIA Portal V15 (or V15.1, V16, V17, V18, V19, V20 — see compatibility notes below).
- From the Project menu, choose Open existing project. Browse to the
.ap13file saved in Step 4. - TIA Portal V15 detects the older version and prompts Upgrade project? Click Yes. The project is converted to
.ap15(or current version) in-place. - Re-compile the upgraded project. The first compile after a major version upgrade is slow (5–15 minutes for a mid-sized HMI) and may surface new warnings tied to compiler enhancements.
.am13 file. TIA Portal V15's Migrate project command does not recognize the .am13 format. The .am13 format is bound to TIA Portal V13's migration tool only.Version Compatibility Matrix
The supported migration chain is constrained by Siemens' forward-compatibility policy. Only the transitions in the table below are documented as supported.
| From | To | Mechanism | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WinCC flexible 2008 SP3 | TIA Portal V13 SP2 | Migration Tool V13 → .am13 → V13 | Mandatory intermediate |
| WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 | TIA Portal V13 SP2 | Migration Tool V13 → .am13 → V13 | Mandatory intermediate |
| TIA Portal V13 SP2 | TIA Portal V15 / V15.1 | Open existing project, upgrade prompt | Supported, well-tested |
| TIA Portal V15.1 | TIA Portal V16 | Open existing project, upgrade prompt | Supported |
| TIA Portal V16 | TIA Portal V17 | Open existing project, upgrade prompt | Supported |
| TIA Portal V17 | TIA Portal V18 | Open existing project, upgrade prompt | Supported |
| TIA Portal V18 | TIA Portal V19 | Open existing project, upgrade prompt | Supported |
| TIA Portal V19 | TIA Portal V20 | Open existing project, upgrade prompt | Supported |
| WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 | TIA Portal V15 (direct) | — | NOT supported |
| WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 | TIA Portal V16 / V17 / V18 / V19 / V20 (direct) | — | NOT supported |
Reference: Siemens TIA Portal V20 Documentation — Migrating WinCC flexible 2008 projects.
Device Type Migration Map (Common Conversions)
Below are the most common WinCC flexible 2008 → Comfort Panel conversions. The successor devices are listed in the official Siemens successor tables.
| WinCC flexible 2008 Device | Recommended Comfort Successor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TP 177B 4" | TP700 Comfort 7" | Touch-only migration |
| TP 177B 6" mono | TP700 Comfort 7" | Color upgrade |
| OP 177B 6" | KP700 Comfort 7" | Key device → key device |
| TP 277 6" | TP900 Comfort 9" | Larger display |
| MP 277 8" touch | TP1200 Comfort 12" | Larger display, full feature parity |
| MP 277 10" touch | TP1500 Comfort 15" | Larger display |
| MP 377 12" touch | TP1500 Comfort 15" | Direct successor |
| MP 377 15" touch | TP1900 Comfort 19" | Direct successor |
| MP 377 19" touch | TP2200 Comfort 22" | Larger display |
| Mobile Panel 277F IWLAN | MTP700 / MTP900 Unified | Requires TIA V17+ for Unified Comfort |
Common Migration Warnings and Remediation
| Warning / Error in Compile Output | Cause | Remediation |
|---|---|---|
| Function <name> is not supported on the target device | VBScript function exists in flexible but not in WinCC (TIA) | Rewrite using TIA VBScript, or move to C# script in Unified Comfort |
| Tag <name> has unsupported data type | Raw or text ref data type not supported on Comfort | Map to WString or String before migration |
| Alarm class <name> will be converted | Custom alarm class definitions are re-mapped | Review alarm class properties in V13, re-acknowledge defaults |
| Screen object <name>: I/O field address changed | Address length mismatch on Comfort (32-bit) | Re-validate all I/O fields, ensure DB offsets match the new panel |
| Recipe <name> structure modified | Recipe storage path on Comfort uses SD card or USB, not internal flash | Set storage path under HMI > Recipes > Storage paths in V13 |
| Sm@rtServer / Sm@rtAccess license missing | Standard Comfort licenses include Sm@rtServer option | Activate option under Options > Sm@rtServer in V13 |
| Audit trail / OPC XML DA — not supported on Comfort | Audit trail is WinCC Runtime Advanced / Professional only | If audit is mandatory, migrate to WinCC RT Advanced (PC-based) or RT Professional |
Verification Procedure
Run the following checklist on the upgraded TIA Portal V15 (or later) project before commissioning the Comfort Panel on the plant network.
- Compile (software): HMI device > Compile > Software (rebuild all). Expect 0 errors. Warnings should be reviewed and either accepted or remediated.
- Compile (RT): HMI device > Compile > Runtime. Generates the runtime image that will be downloaded to the panel.
- Tag consistency: Open Tools > Tag simulator. Toggle a representative subset of PLC tags (at minimum: 1 BOOL, 1 INT, 1 REAL, 1 STRING) and confirm they appear correctly on the HMI screens.
- Alarm simulation: Use Tools > Alarm simulator to trigger a discrete and an analog alarm. Confirm acknowledgment, logging, and email forwarding (if configured) work.
-
Recipe round-trip: Create, write, and read back a small recipe dataset. Confirm the storage path resolves to a removable media folder (e.g.
/media/simatic/SCRATCH/Recipes) and not internal flash. - Cross-reference: Edit > Find and replace > Cross-reference on each tag. Confirm there are no unresolved cross-references to WinCC flexible-only symbols.
- Transfer to panel: Use Online > HMI device maintenance > Download to device with a TP700 / TP900 / TP1200 connected via PROFINET or Ethernet. The download should complete in 1–8 minutes depending on project size.
- Power-cycle test: Reboot the Comfort Panel. Confirm the project starts, all licenses are recognized, and the user logon works.
Troubleshooting Matrix
| Symptom | Root Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| To continue the migration, WinCC Basic must be installed. | WinCC Basic V13 SP2 is missing | Install WinCC Basic V13 SP2 from the TIA V13 SP2 media. Re-run the migration tool. |
.am13 file not visible in Open existing project dialog |
Wrong file filter or V15 dialog | Use Migrate project in V13 SP2, not Open existing project. V15 will not list .am13 as a source. |
| Migration tool crashes immediately on WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 file | Source project has unsaved changes or is locked | Close WinCC flexible 2008 SP5. Confirm no ~*.hmi temp files remain. Re-run. |
| Device-type change fails with target device does not support the source's screen resolution | Mismatched screen pixel dimensions | Pick a Comfort successor with a compatible or larger resolution. Re-layout screens manually if needed. |
| V15 reports The project was created with a newer version | Cross-upgrade attempted in wrong direction | Always upgrade in the same direction as the version chain (V13 → V15 → V16 → ...). |
| License missing: WinCC Advanced Combo V15 not recognized | License key not transferred to V15 station, or floating license server not reachable | Use the Automation License Manager to import the license, or check floating server connectivity. |
| Tags show Connection error on the HMI | PLC-to-HMI connection was not re-bound during device-type change | Open Connections editor in V15, re-select the PLC and verify the PROFINET / Ethernet IP addresses and slot. |
| Touch objects offset on the new Comfort screen | Screen resolution changed but objects use absolute pixel coordinates | Use Arrange > Adapt to new resolution (where available) or manually reposition. |
Field-Engineer Notes and Edge Cases
Migration of WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 projects is a high-risk activity on a running plant. The following caveats have been validated on production systems and should be reviewed before scheduling a maintenance window.
- License recovery: A WinCC Advanced Combo V15 license will not retroactively enable WinCC Basic V13 SP2. If you do not have the V13 SP2 license, request a trial license from your Siemens sales channel for the duration of the migration only.
- Coexistence of TIA V13 SP2 and V15: Both versions can be installed side-by-side on Windows 7 SP1 64-bit and Windows 10 64-bit. The TIA Portal launcher allows you to choose which version to start. The V13 SP2 installation must be performed first; V15 setup detects V13 SP2 and will offer a project-upgrade path.
- Project size: Projects with more than 4,000 tags or 60 MB compiled runtime size can take 20–40 minutes for a V13 → V15 upgrade. Plan the maintenance window accordingly.
- OPC XML DA: WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 supported OPC XML DA. WinCC (TIA Portal) on Comfort Panels does not include OPC XML DA server. If your MES depends on it, migrate the HMI to a PC-based RT Advanced / RT Professional runtime instead.
- Sm@rtService / Sm@rtAccess: Standard Comfort Panel licenses include Sm@rtService and Sm@rtAccess. License keys must still be present in the project — confirm under Options > WinCC options in V15 before download.
- Multi-language projects: WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 supported up to 32 languages. WinCC (TIA Portal) V15 supports the same. Text libraries must be re-exported if the project is later rolled back to a WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 environment for any reason.
- Audit trail: Audit is RT Advanced / RT Professional only. Comfort Panels do not support audit. Document this constraint with the customer before migration so it is not discovered during commissioning.
Summary Workflow Diagram
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the migration tool say "WinCC Basic must be installed" even though I have a WinCC Advanced Combo V15 license?
The Combo V15 license unlocks WinCC components for TIA Portal V15 only. The migration tool is a TIA Portal V13 SP2 component and requires WinCC Basic V13 SP2 to be physically installed on the engineering station. Install WinCC Basic V13 SP2 from the TIA Portal V13 SP2 media; the Combo V15 license continues to authorize V15 operations independently.
Can I open the .am13 file directly in TIA Portal V15?
No. The .am13 archive format is bound to the TIA Portal V13 SP2 migration tool. In TIA Portal V15 the Migrate project command does not list .am13 as a valid source. The correct path is: V13 SP2 migration → save as .ap13 → open .ap13 in V15 → accept the project-upgrade prompt.
What is the difference between "Open existing project" and "Migrate project" in TIA Portal?
Open existing project loads projects created in the same TIA Portal version. Migrate project imports legacy project formats (WinCC flexible .hmi, STEP 7 V5.x, ProTool) and converts them to the current TIA Portal version. For .am13 archives, always use Migrate project in V13 SP2.
Do I need to keep TIA Portal V13 SP2 installed after the migration is complete?
Only as long as the .ap13 source exists. Once the project is upgraded to .ap15 (or later), V13 SP2 can be removed to reclaim disk space. Always archive the original .ap13 alongside the migrated .ap15 so a future rollback is possible.
Can I skip the V13 SP2 step and go directly from WinCC flexible 2008 SP5 to TIA Portal V16 / V17 / V18 / V19 / V20?
No. Per the Siemens WinCC Migration Guide (Edition 03/2019), the WinCC flexible 2008 SP3 / SP5 to current TIA Portal migration requires the V13 SP2 intermediate step. Direct migration is not supported on any TIA Portal version, including V15, V16, V17, V18, V19, and V20.
Which Comfort Panel is the direct successor for an MP 277 10" touch?
The TP1500 Comfort 15" widescreen is the recommended successor for an MP 277 10" touch. The screen layout, I/O field count, and PROFINET interface are fully compatible. Resolution changes from 800 × 480 to 1280 × 800, which requires manual screen-object repositioning on the new panel.
My migrated project compiles with warnings about OPC XML DA. How do I resolve this?
OPC XML DA server is not available on Comfort Panels. If the customer requires OPC XML DA, migrate the HMI to a PC-based WinCC Runtime Advanced (TIA Portal) or WinCC Runtime Professional (TIA Portal) runtime on an IPC. If OPC XML DA is not in scope, remove the OPC channel configuration from the project and recompile.