Library Management

The Project Library stores reusable items (Master Copies and Types) that can be shared across the project. Open the TIA Portal view container from the Activity Bar and use the Project Explorer in the Side Bar — the Project Library appears as its own branch of the tree (with its Master Copies and Types folders). All Library operations are reached by right-clicking a node in the Project Explorer and opening the Library submenu.

Available Operations

1. Copy to Library (Create Master Copy)

1. Right-click a block in the Project Explorer
2. Open the Library submenu and select "Copy to Library"
3. Creates a Master Copy of the selected block in the Project Library
4. The copy can later be instantiated in any PLC

2. Instantiate from Library

1. Right-click a Master Copy under the Project Library node
2. Open the Library submenu and select "Instantiate to Project"
3. Creates a new block in the PLC from the Master Copy
4. The original Master Copy remains unchanged

3. Export Type Version

1. Right-click a Library Type
2. Open the Library submenu and select "Export Type Version"
3. Exports the latest committed version to an XML file

Note: Only committed versions can be exported; InWork versions cannot be exported.

4. New Folder

1. Right-click the Master Copies folder, Types folder, or any library sub-folder
2. Open the Library submenu and select "New Folder"
3. Creates a new organizational folder

5. Rename

1. Right-click a Master Copy, Library Type, or folder
2. Open the Library submenu and select "Rename"
3. Allows changing the name of the selected item

6. Delete

1. Right-click a library item
2. Open the Library submenu and select "Delete"
3. Permanently removes the item from the library (with confirmation)

7. Clean Up Library

1. Right-click the Project Library node
2. Open the Library submenu and select "Clean Up Library"
3. Removes unused types and versions to keep the library organized

Known Limitations

• Master Copies cannot be exported to XML files (Siemens API limitation)
• Only committed Library Type versions can be exported (not InWork versions)

AI Assistant Support

Library operations are reached only through the right-click Library submenu described above. The built-in TIA-aware tools available to the AI chat cover general project and block actions, but none of them is library-specific, so the assistant cannot create, instantiate, rename, delete, export, or clean up Master Copies or Types on your behalf. For how the AI chat reaches tools, see AI Integration.