Problem Overview
When printing an alarm log via WinCC AlarmControl using ButtonCommand = 1048576 (Print Current View), the printed output renders with the same font size configured on the runtime Alarm Control object. This causes columns to overflow, data to truncate, and landscape layout changes to have no effect on font scaling. The print job Report AlarmControl-CP in Report Designer appears to offer font size properties, but applying them either crashes Report Designer or reverts on next open.
Root Cause
The WinCC AlarmControl is an ActiveX object. When ButtonCommand = 1048576 is triggered, the control renders itself directly to the printer DC using its own internal font metrics — it does not use the Report Designer table formatting as a style override. The Report Designer print job acts as a container/wrapper for the control's self-rendered output.
| ButtonCommand Value | Hex | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1048576 | 0x100000 | Print current view |
| 524288 | 0x080000 | Print preview |
| 2097152 | 0x200000 | Export to CSV |
Because the font is injected by the ActiveX control itself, Report Designer's table font property targets the static report table object, not the embedded AlarmControl output. Changing font in the Report Designer layout therefore has no effect on live/archived alarm print output.
Verified Workarounds (Priority Order)
Workaround 1 — Suppress Font Inheritance via Report Designer Connect Property (WinCC 7.0 SP2+)
- Open Report Designer and open the Report AlarmControl-CP layout.
- Right-click the AlarmControl table object → Properties.
- Navigate to the Connect tab.
- Double-click Properties of the Table.
- In the popup, locate the "Do not print" section.
- Check the Font checkbox.
- Click OK and save the layout.
Workaround 2 — Resize the AlarmControl Window to Match Page Dimensions
The AlarmControl scales its printed output proportionally to its window dimensions on screen. If the control occupies a large screen area, the font renders large on paper. Resize the AlarmControl object to match the target print area:
- Determine your print page dimensions. For A4 landscape at 96 DPI: 1122 × 794 px; for Letter landscape: 1100 × 850 px.
- In the WinCC Graphics Designer, resize the AlarmControl object to approximately match these pixel dimensions.
- If the control must remain large for operator use, create a second hidden AlarmControl (visible = false, small size) connected to the same alarm class/filter, and trigger print from that object.
Workaround 3 — Reduce Font Size Directly on the AlarmControl Object
If neither workaround above is acceptable, reduce the font size on the AlarmControl itself:
- In Graphics Designer, open AlarmControl object properties.
- Go to Font tab → reduce font size to 8 pt or 9 pt.
- Verify operator readability at the reduced size (use display zoom or test on target resolution monitor).
This is the most direct fix but affects the runtime HMI appearance. Use only if the display resolution and operator workflow permit small text.
Workaround 4 — Script-Based Print via WinCC Report Engine (Advanced)
Use a VBScript button to call the Report Engine directly, bypassing the AlarmControl's print method:
' WinCC VBScript — Trigger Report Engine print job
Dim oPrintJob
Set oPrintJob = HMIRuntime.Reports.OpenJob("Report AlarmControl-CP")
oPrintJob.Print
Set oPrintJob = NothingThis triggers the Report Designer layout engine and respects all formatting set in the layout, including table font overrides — provided the "Do not print font" flag (Workaround 1) is also set. Without that flag, the font is still overridden by the ActiveX.
Report Designer Font Configuration Reference
| Location | Property Path | Effect on AlarmControl Output | Works? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report Designer Table Object | Properties → Font | Sets static report table font | No effect on ActiveX output |
| Report Designer Connect | Connect → Properties of Table → Font | Overrides inherited ActiveX font | Yes (SP2+ with "Do not print" checked) |
| AlarmControl Object (GD) | Object Properties → Font | Sets runtime + printed font | Yes — affects both HMI and print |
| AlarmLogging Archive Config | Font tab in Alarm Logging | Archive display only | No effect on AlarmControl print |
Verification
- Apply Workaround 1 or 2 as appropriate.
- In WinCC Runtime, trigger the print job using the
ButtonCommand = 1048576button or the VBScript method. - Use Print Preview (
ButtonCommand = 524288) first to verify layout without consuming paper. - Confirm all columns (Time, Date, Class, Number, Message Text, Status) are fully visible within page margins.
- Check Report Designer log at
%WinCC_INSTALL%\Diagnose\for any rendering errors if crashes persist.
References
- Siemens Industry Support — WinCC Alarm Control Print Configuration
- WinCC V7.0 SP2 Release Notes and Known Issues
- WinCC Report Designer System Manual (V7.x)
- WinCC AlarmControl ButtonCommand Property Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't changing the font in WinCC Report Designer affect the printed alarm log?
The WinCC AlarmControl is an ActiveX object that renders directly to the printer device context using its own font metrics. Report Designer's table font property targets static report objects, not the self-rendering ActiveX output. Use the "Do not print Font" flag in the Connect → Properties of Table dialog (WinCC 7.0 SP2+) to suppress the ActiveX font override.
What ButtonCommand value prints the current WinCC Alarm Control view?
Set ButtonCommand = 1048576 (hex 0x100000) to trigger Print Current View. Use 524288 (hex 0x080000) for Print Preview to verify layout before printing.
How do I print the alarm log in landscape without the font being too large?
Landscape page orientation alone does not reduce the font — it only widens the printable area. You must either (1) reduce the font size on the AlarmControl object itself, (2) resize the AlarmControl window to a smaller pixel size so it scales proportionally to the page, or (3) use the Report Designer "Do not print Font" option in WinCC 7.0 SP2+ and apply a smaller font to the report table object.
Report Designer crashes when I change the font in the AlarmControl print layout — how do I fix this?
This crash occurs in WinCC 7.0 and 7.0 SP1 when applying font changes via the Connect dialog. Upgrade to WinCC 7.0 SP2 or later to resolve the crash. As a workaround on earlier versions, resize the AlarmControl runtime window to control print output size instead of modifying Report Designer font properties.
Can I print the WinCC alarm log without changing the font visible on the HMI screen?
Yes — create a second hidden AlarmControl object (set Visible = False) at a smaller pixel size (e.g., 600 × 400 px) connected to the same alarm filter/class. Assign the ButtonCommand = 1048576 trigger to this hidden control. Operators see the full-size control; the hidden smaller control drives the print output at a proportionally smaller font size.