CODESYS

AnyAutomation Studio can open a CODESYS project, show the objects inside it as a tree, and export them to PLCopenXML files – the open, vendor-neutral exchange format for IEC 61131-3 code. This lets you get CODESYS blocks out as standard files you can archive, compare, or bring into another tool.

CODESYS support opens in the side bar, on the left. Open it in any of these ways:

• Click the CODESYS icon in the Activity Bar (left edge).
• Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and run CODESYS.
• Click the CODESYS entry in the status bar (bottom left).

Requirements

• A Pro plan or higher. CODESYS is available on Pro, Pro+ and Enterprise. On the free tier or the Basic plan, opening CODESYS shows an upgrade prompt instead.
• CODESYS installed on your machine. AnyAutomation Studio works with your own local CODESYS Development System (3.5). If CODESYS is not installed, the view shows a "CODESYS is not installed on this computer" message and the rest of Studio keeps working normally.

Connecting

When the CODESYS side bar opens it shows a Connect button. Click it (on the welcome screen, or in the toolbar at the top of the view) to connect to your local CODESYS installation. Connecting starts CODESYS in the background and takes a few seconds; while it runs, a progress indicator appears with a Cancel option.

If the connection is ever lost, click Connect again.

Opening a Project

1. Click Open Project in the toolbar at the top of the CODESYS side bar.
2. Pick a CODESYS project file (.project) in the file dialog.

The project's objects load into a tree below.

A project that is already open in another CODESYS session cannot be opened at the same time – you will see a clear "already open in another session" message. Close it in the other session and try again.

Browsing Objects

The tree shows the objects in the open project – applications, devices, folders, and program blocks (POUs) – each with an icon for its kind, nested the same way as in CODESYS. Expand and collapse the branches to navigate, and start typing to filter the tree to matching names.

Select one or several program blocks (hold Ctrl or Shift for a multi-selection). Use Refresh (the toolbar button at the top of the view, or F5 while the view is focused) to reload the tree from CODESYS after the project has changed.

Opening a Block's Code

Click a program block (a POU) in the tree to open its Structured Text code in the editor, with syntax highlighting. The code opens read-only, for viewing rather than editing, and shows the block's declaration and implementation together. Folders, devices, and applications do not open, only blocks that hold textual code do.

Editing a block and writing your changes back to CODESYS is not part of this version yet.

Exporting Objects

To export, select the program blocks you want in the tree, right-click, and choose Export Selected. Studio writes one PLCopenXML file per object into a folder you choose.

If you have not set a default export folder, a folder picker opens each time. After the export a message tells you how many objects were written and where, for example Exported 12 object(s) to C:\Exports.

Default Export Folder

To skip the folder prompt, set a default export folder once: open Settings (Ctrl+,), search for CODESYS, and enter a folder path. Exports then go straight to that folder. Leave it empty to be asked for a folder each time.

Closing a Project

Use Close Project in the toolbar at the top of the CODESYS side bar to close the current project. You can then open a different one.

What Is Not Supported Yet

• Editing a block and saving it back. You can open a block's code for viewing, but changing it and writing your changes back to CODESYS is planned for a later version.
• Password-protected projects. If a project needs a password to open, CODESYS support shows a "this project is password-protected, protected projects are not supported yet" message. Open such a project in CODESYS itself for now.
• Import, compile, download, and compare are not part of CODESYS support yet – this version opens a project, browses its objects, opens a block's code for viewing, and exports objects.

Notes

• CODESYS support connects only to the CODESYS installation on your own machine; it never reaches out to any PLC on its own.
• Object names in CODESYS use plain ASCII identifiers; accented characters in names are rejected by CODESYS itself, while accented characters inside code content are preserved.
• Siemens-specific surfaces (Safety, HMI, Software Units) do not appear in the CODESYS view – they apply only to TIA Portal.