Beckhoff Target Browser

A C# Windows Forms application for browsing PLC symbols and reading or writing values through Beckhoff TwinCAT ADS.

This industrial software project connects a desktop interface to a PLC runtime: discover symbols, inspect their metadata, and work with their values from one window.

Capabilities

• Connect to a target by AMS Net ID using ADS port 851.
• Browse symbols under MAIN and GVL in a hierarchical or flat view.
• Search by symbol-name segment or look up a symbol directly.
• Inspect name, data type, byte size, index group, and index offset.
• Read symbol values and write values back to the selected symbol, including Boolean values.

Technology

Component	Implementation
Language and UI	C# and Windows Forms
Target framework	.NET Framework 4.6.1
PLC communication	TwinCAT.Ads assembly, referenced as version 4.3.20.0
Target runtime	TwinCAT 3 PLC Runtime 1, ADS port 851

Build from source

Requirements:

• Windows with Visual Studio and the .NET desktop development tools.
• The .NET Framework 4.6.1 targeting pack required by the existing project.
• A compatible TwinCAT ADS .NET library installed locally.
• A reachable TwinCAT PLC runtime and a configured ADS route.

git clone https://github.com/umutkonmus/BeckhoffTargetBrowser.git
cd BeckhoffTargetBrowser

1. Open TargetBrowser.sln in Visual Studio.
2. Check the TwinCAT.Ads reference in TargetBrowser/TargetBrowser.csproj. Its current HintPath is relative to the original development machine; update it to your installed TwinCAT.Ads.dll.
3. Build the solution and run TargetBrowser. A Release build produces TargetBrowser/bin/Release/TargetBrowser.exe.

Connect and inspect

1. Add the target route using the TwinCAT route configuration tool.
2. Start the application and enter the target AMS Net ID. Leaving it empty attempts a connection to the local TwinCAT system.
3. Connect and load symbols. Choose the flat or hierarchical view.
4. Select a symbol to inspect its metadata and current value, or use the symbol lookup controls.
5. If needed, enter a compatible value and use the write control.

The write control changes the PLC value. Use a test runtime or an explicitly authorized target when exploring the application.

Route configuration

Application interface

Implementation guide

• Form1.cs: ADS connection, symbol traversal, lookup, value reads, and writes.
• Form1.Designer.cs: Windows Forms controls and event bindings.
• TargetBrowser.csproj: framework target and ADS assembly reference.

The integration uses TcAdsClient, TcAdsSymbolInfoLoader, ReadSymbol, and WriteSymbol.

Scope and limitations

This is a focused desktop integration example. The current source uses a fixed ADS port and filters the initial symbol list to MAIN and GVL. It does not implement a configurable multi-runtime connection manager or a durable monitoring service.

The project retains its original .NET Framework and ADS API dependencies. Building on a new machine requires resolving the local assembly reference; compatibility with newer ADS API generations has not been verified. There is no automated test suite in this repository.

Troubleshooting

• ADS assembly missing: correct the TwinCAT.Ads reference path before building.
• Connection fails: check the AMS Net ID, ADS route, network connectivity, and target runtime port.
• Symbol list is empty: confirm the target exposes symbols under MAIN or GVL.
• Read or write fails: check the selected symbol, supported data type, and supplied value.