TIA Selection Tool is Siemens's free hardware selection and configuration tool. Use it to choose SIMATIC S7-1200 or S7-1500 CPUs, add local or ET 200SP distributed I/O, select suitable HMI and SINAMICS drive components, validate compatibility and power requirements, generate a complete product list, and transfer the supported hardware configuration into TIA Portal. It is available in cloud and desktop versions; the best choice depends on whether you need browser-based collaboration or offline project work.
- Select Siemens S7-1200, S7-1500 and ET 200SP hardware according to I/O, communication, memory and performance requirements
- Compare the TIA Selection Tool cloud and desktop versions and choose the correct workflow for office, training or site work
- Check module compatibility and power requirements before generating the bill of materials or transferring hardware to TIA Portal
- Use MLFB order numbers to verify exact Siemens product variants, replacements and spare parts
What Is Siemens TIA Selection Tool?
TIA Selection Tool (TST) is Siemens's free engineering configurator for building the hardware side of a project before you buy or program anything. You drag a CPU onto a virtual rack, add I/O, communication and power modules into free slots, and the tool checks that everything you've picked is actually compatible — correct slot rules, current draw against the power supply's budget, and firmware/order-number matches. The output is a parts list you can quote or order, plus a configuration file you can bring straight into TIA Portal.
It's easy to confuse TST with two other tools in the Siemens ecosystem:
- TIA Portal is where you write and download the actual program logic — TST never touches program blocks, only hardware.
- Industry Mall is where you actually place the purchase order once your parts list is final — TST can hand off the list there directly.
- TIA Selection Tool is the only one of the three built specifically to catch selection mistakes before hardware is ordered or wired.
Want to practice this on real hardware?
Live TIA Portal session covering hardware configuration, TIA Selection Tool exports, and commissioning — Pune classroom or online.
How to Read Siemens MLFB Order Numbers
Every Siemens module carries an MLFB — short for Maschinenlesbare Fabrikatebezeichnung, or "machine-readable product designation" — printed on its nameplate and shown against every item inside TIA Selection Tool. Learning to read it is what lets an engineer glance at a rack, or a part number on a purchase order, and know instantly whether they're looking at a power supply, a CPU, or an I/O module, and which sub-variant it is — without opening a catalog. This is arguably the most-used, everyday function of TST on the plant floor: pasting or searching an MLFB to confirm exactly what a module is before it's wired in or reordered.
A standard SIMATIC S7 MLFB follows a fixed digit pattern after its product-series prefix (for example 6ES7). Three digit positions in that block carry the meaning engineers look up day to day: the 1st identifies the CPU/product family, the 2nd identifies the module type, and the 3rd identifies the specific sub-type within that module type.
1st Position — Product Family
| 1st Digit | Product Family |
|---|---|
| 2 | S7-1200 |
| 3 | S7-300 |
| 4 | S7-400 |
| 5 | S7-1500 |
2nd Position — Module Type
| 2nd Digit | Module Type |
|---|---|
| 0 | Power Supply (PS) |
| 1 | CPU |
| 2 | Digital Module |
| 3 | Analog Module |
| 4 | Communication Module (Comm) |
| 5 | Function Module (FM) |
3rd Position — Sub-Type (Read Together With the 2nd Digit)
The 3rd position only makes sense once you know the 2nd digit's module type — it narrows that type down to the exact sub-variant:
| Module Type (2nd Digit) | 3rd Digit / Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 — PS | 5 or 7 | Power supply sub-variant (by output rating/build) |
| 1 — CPU | 211, 215 ... 217 | Specific CPU model number within the family |
| 2 — Digital | 1 / 2 / 3 | 1 = DI, 2 = DO, 3 = Combo (DI/DO) |
| 3 — Analog | 1 / 2 / 4 | 1 = AI, 2 = AO, 4 = Combo (AI/AO) |
For example, an MLFB starting 6ES7 214-1AG40-0XB0 breaks down as: 2 (1st digit — S7-1200 family), 1 (2nd digit — CPU), 4 (3rd digit — specific CPU model, e.g. CPU 1214). A digital module such as 6ES7 221-1BH32-0XB0 reads as 2 (family), 2 (Digital), 1 (DI — digital input). Once you can read all three positions, you can sort a box of unlabeled spares, verify a spare-parts order against the panel, or confirm a nameplate photo from site — all without searching the full catalog.
Inside TIA Selection Tool, every module tile shown while you build a rack displays its full MLFB alongside its description, so the tool doubles as a live reference for this exact decoding skill while you configure.
TIA Selection Tool Cloud vs Desktop
TIA Selection Tool is available as a browser-based cloud application and a Windows desktop application. The cloud version is convenient for quick access, shared projects and browser-based work, while the desktop version is better for offline engineering, site visits and locally stored project files. Before starting either version, confirm the following:
- mySiemens account: free to create, and required to save a project in the web version or place an order from your finished parts list.
- Web vs. offline app: the browser version needs a stable internet connection; the offline desktop app is better for site visits with poor connectivity and keeps projects as local files.
- Product family in mind: know roughly which CPU family you're configuring — SIMATIC S7-1200, S7-1500, drives, or SIMOCODE — before you start, since the module catalogue is filtered by family.
- Process requirements on hand: a rough I/O count and communication protocol (PROFINET, PROFIBUS, etc.) so you don't have to restart the rack halfway through.
Three Ways to Access TIA Selection Tool — and When to Use Each
TST is available in three forms, and picking the right one saves you from redoing work:
| Method | When to use it | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Web-based TIA Selection Tool | Quick configuration from any machine with a browser, no install needed | Cloud-saved project with the same rack-building features |
| Offline installed application | Working without reliable internet, e.g. at a customer site | Full functionality with local file storage, faster for large stations |
| Import from an existing TIA Portal project | You already have a project and just need a matching parts list | TST reads the hardware config and generates the bill of materials automatically |
Configure S7-1200, S7-1500 and ET 200SP
- Open TIA Selection Tool in your browser, or launch the offline desktop app, and sign in with your mySiemens account.
- Click Create new project > Add new station.
- Choose your product family (for example, SIMATIC S7-1500) and drag the CPU you need onto the rack.
- Add signal, communication and power modules into the free slots, watching the power budget bar as you go.
- Resolve any red compatibility warnings TST raises before continuing — these flag slot or firmware conflicts.
- Click Check configuration to validate the whole rack in one pass.
- Generate the parts list, export the configuration, and save the project with a clear, dated name.
- Cross-check the parts list against the physical panel or spec sheet before placing an order.
S7-1200 PLC Selection Checklist
- Confirm the required digital and analog I/O count, including future expansion.
- Select the CPU according to program memory, communication ports, motion functions and fail-safe requirements.
- Add signal boards, signal modules and communication modules only after checking CPU support and available expansion capacity.
- Verify the supply voltage, field-voltage requirements, front connectors and memory-card requirements in the generated product list.
S7-1500 PLC Selection Checklist
- Choose between standard, compact, technology, fail-safe, redundant or other supported CPU variants according to the application.
- Compare processing performance, work memory, PROFINET interfaces, motion-control resources and diagnostics.
- Add S7-1500 or ET 200MP modules in the correct rack order and monitor the station power calculation.
- Reserve capacity for future communication processors, technology modules and additional I/O.
ET 200SP Remote I/O Configuration
For distributed I/O, add an ET 200SP station and select the interface module that matches the required network. Then add BaseUnits, digital and analog I/O, technology modules, motor starters or other supported modules in the correct sequence. Check potential groups, load-group requirements, server-module placement and station-width limits before final validation.
Select Siemens HMI and SINAMICS Drives
TIA Selection Tool is not limited to PLC racks. Use the relevant product configurators to include visualization and drive components in the same engineering workflow. Available product options can vary with the current catalog and selected region, so always validate the final order numbers before purchase.
SIMATIC HMI Selection
- Select the panel family according to screen size, resolution, touch operation and installation environment.
- Check the required PROFINET, Ethernet or other supported interfaces and confirm compatibility with the selected controller.
- Include mounting accessories, memory media, cables and power-supply items needed for the complete panel installation.
- For new projects, compare the supported SIMATIC HMI Unified panel options with the application and TIA Portal engineering version.
SINAMICS Drive Selection and Dimensioning
- Enter the motor rating, supply voltage, load characteristics, duty cycle and control requirements.
- Select the suitable SINAMICS drive family and check communication options such as PROFINET or supported fieldbus interfaces.
- Add required operator panels, braking components, filters, reactors, cables and installation accessories.
- Review the generated drive-system data and confirm environmental derating, overload capability and motor compatibility.
Generate a Bill of Materials and Export to TIA Portal
Generate the Siemens Hardware Bill of Materials
After the configuration check returns no unresolved warnings, generate the product list or bill of materials. Review every MLFB order number, quantity, successor-product note, connector, BaseUnit, memory card, mounting accessory and power-supply item. A technically valid rack can still be incomplete for purchasing if installation accessories are missing, so compare the generated list with the electrical drawing and panel specification.
Transfer the Hardware Configuration to TIA Portal
Use the supported import/export workflow to transfer the validated hardware configuration between TIA Selection Tool and TIA Portal. The imported station pre-fills the device configuration with the selected CPU, modules and slot layout. Program blocks, tags, HMI screens and control logic are not created by this hardware transfer; they must still be engineered and downloaded in TIA Portal.
| Error / symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Module shows as incompatible (red highlight) | Module placed in an unsupported slot, or a firmware/order-number mismatch | Move the module to a supported slot, or check the required firmware version against what's selected |
| "Power budget exceeded" warning | The rack draws more current than the power supply can provide | Add a larger power supply, or split the rack across an additional segment |
| Import into TIA Portal fails | Exported file's TIA Portal version is newer than the version installed | Update TIA Portal, or re-export the station in a compatible version from TST |
| Item shown as unavailable or discontinued | Product has been replaced by a successor part | Apply the Siemens-suggested replacement shown next to the flagged item |
| Configuration not saving | Session expired, or not signed in to mySiemens | Sign back in to your mySiemens account and save the project again |
Step-by-Step Lab: Try It Yourself in TIA Selection Tool
Hands-on- Internet access and a free mySiemens account (or the offline TST app installed).
- A rough idea of the I/O count for a small demo panel — for example, 2 digital inputs and 1 analog output.
- No TIA Portal or hardware required for this lab; TST runs standalone.
- Estimated time: 10 minutes.
Create a project and add a CPU
Sign in to TIA Selection Tool and click Create new project > Add new station. Choose the SIMATIC S7-1500 family and drag a CPU onto the rack.
Add I/O modules and watch the power budget
Drag a digital input module and an analog output module into the next free slots. Keep an eye on the power budget bar as each module is added.
Trigger a compatibility warning on purpose
Try dragging a module from a different CPU family, or one that isn't rated for the slot type, into an occupied or unsupported slot.
Fix the warning and export the configuration
Remove the incompatible module, click Check configuration, then generate the parts list and export the station.
If Step 3 showed a clear red warning and Step 4's "Check configuration" came back clean after you removed the conflicting module, you've correctly demonstrated the core value of TST: catching a hardware mistake on screen instead of discovering it after the parts arrive. Make "Check configuration" a standing habit before every export, not just this lab.
Frequently Asked Questions About TIA Selection Tool
What is Siemens TIA Selection Tool used for?
It is used to select and configure Siemens automation hardware, check supported combinations and power requirements, generate product lists, and transfer supported hardware configurations to or from TIA Portal.
Is TIA Selection Tool free?
Yes. Siemens provides cloud and desktop variants of TIA Selection Tool without a separate engineering licence fee.
What is the difference between TIA Selection Tool cloud and desktop?
The cloud version runs in a supported web browser and is convenient for shared or browser-based work. The desktop version runs on Windows, supports local project storage and is useful when offline access is required.
Can I configure S7-1200, S7-1500 and ET 200SP?
Yes. You can select supported CPUs, local modules, communication options and distributed I/O components, then validate the station configuration before generating the product list.
Can TIA Selection Tool help select HMI and SINAMICS drives?
Yes. The available configurators can support Siemens visualization product selection and SINAMICS drive-system dimensioning. Final options depend on the current product catalog, region and selected application data.
Can I export a TIA Selection Tool project to TIA Portal?
Yes. Supported hardware configurations can be transferred between TIA Selection Tool and TIA Portal. The transfer covers hardware configuration data, not PLC program logic or HMI application screens.
Does TIA Selection Tool generate a bill of materials?
Yes. It can generate a product or parts list containing the selected order numbers and quantities. Review accessories, connectors, BaseUnits, memory media and successor-product notes before ordering.
What is an MLFB number?
MLFB is Siemens's machine-readable product designation or order number. It identifies the exact hardware variant and is useful for verifying modules, spare parts and purchasing data.