tia-openness-roadmap

name	tia-openness-roadmap
description	Entry point for ALL TIA Portal engineering automation tasks. Always load this skill FIRST when the user mentions TIA Portal, TIA Openness, TIA Scripting, Siemens PLC, Siemens HMI, TIA Portal Add-In, or any automation/engineering task targeting TIA Portal. This skill routes to the correct domain skill and selects MCP, Python, or C# implementation.
license	MIT

tia-openness-roadmap

Goal

Route the task to the correct implementation path and load the right skill files.

Mandatory policy

1. Prefer TIA Portal MCP for interactive, single-step read/write operations when the MCP server is available.
2. Prefer TIA Scripting Python for scripted or multi-step automation.
3. Use C# TIA Portal Openness only if Python is insufficient.
4. Do not invent Python wrapper methods.
5. For multi-domain tasks, select all required skills.

Implementation paths

MCP path

Direct tool calls — no code generation. Use when the TIA Portal MCP server is available.

Skill	Location
tia-portal-mcp	skills/tia-portal-mcp/SKILL.md

Python path

Single skill owns all Python implementation:

Skill	Location
tia-python	skills/tia-python/SKILL.md

tia-python contains its own reference file table that routes to the correct references/*.md file based on the task domain (PLC, HMI, library, project, portal).

C# path

Always starts with the common foundation skill, then domain skill(s):

Skill	Location	Role
tia-csharp-common	skills/tia-csharp-common/SKILL.md	Mandatory first load for every C# task
tia-project-general	skills/tia-project-general/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-devices-general	skills/tia-devices-general/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-hmi-operations	skills/tia-hmi-operations/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-plc-operations	skills/tia-plc-operations/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-networks	skills/tia-networks/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-simatic-drives	skills/tia-simatic-drives/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-import-export	skills/tia-import-export/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-multiuser	skills/tia-multiuser/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-teamcenter	skills/tia-teamcenter/SKILL.md	Domain skill
tia-testsuite	skills/tia-testsuite/SKILL.md	Domain skill

Add-In path

Standalone skill for TIA Portal Add-In development (always C#, VS Code workflow):

Skill	Location
addin-operations	skills/addin-operations/SKILL.md

Routing rules

Task pattern	Implementation	Skill
browse / explore project tree structure	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
read a single PLC block (view logic / generate code)	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
targeted single-block edit	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
list tag tables and tags	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
inspect hardware topology / IP addresses	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
cross-reference diagnostics / unused objects	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
prerequisite / environment / missing install diagnostics	Diagnostic probe	tia-doctor
add a single device to the project	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
configure device network identity (IP, PN name)	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
compile check / view errors and warnings	MCP	tia-portal-mcp
open/create/save/archive/retrieve project	Python	tia-python
project server / local session / portal attach	Python	tia-python
PLC blocks / tags / UDTs / sources / compile	Python	tia-python
PLC online / download / compare-to-online	Python	tia-python
HMI tags / screens / scripts / alarms / lists	Python	tia-python
HMI import/export / compile	Python	tia-python
library types / versions / instantiate / update	Python	tia-python
XML / SimaticML / AML / CAx import/export	Python	tia-python
generic device compile / upgrade / properties	Python	tia-python
topology / subnet / node / IO-system / port	C#	tia-networks
Startdrive / SINAMICS / drive controller	C#	tia-simatic-drives
device item slot/subslot/module manipulation	C#	tia-devices-general
advanced PLC online/security/upload services	C#	tia-plc-operations
deep Unified HMI / screen items / runtime	C#	tia-hmi-operations
VCI / version control interface	C#	tia-project-general
multiuser engineering / server projects / local sessions	C#	tia-multiuser
Teamcenter integration / managed projects	C#	tia-teamcenter
automated testing / TestSuite / application test / style guide / system test	C#	tia-testsuite
TIA Portal Add-In / addin-project / .addin	C#	addin-operations

MCP vs Python vs C# decision rule

Choose MCP when:

• the task is a single read or targeted write (one block, one device, one compile check)
• the user wants to explore or inspect a project interactively
• no looping, no bulk changes, no code generation is needed
• the tia-portal MCP server is available (check mcp__tia-portal__* tools)

Choose Python when the exact required operation exists in the tia-python reference files. Choose C# when:

• the required operation is absent from the Python reference catalogue
• the task needs low-level object model traversal
• the task needs topology/network object manipulation
• the task needs drive-specific APIs
• the task needs advanced online/security/session/event APIs
• the task needs Teamcenter, VCI, advanced multiuser, or unsupported safety/Unified features

Multi-skill execution order

1. project / portal
2. device selection
3. domain work
4. import/export
5. compile / compare / download / validation

Required response format

Use this exact structure:

• Use skill(s): ...
• Implementation path: MCP or Implementation path: Python or Implementation path: C# Openness or Implementation path: Diagnostic probe
• Reason: ...
• Execution order: ...

Post-routing action — MANDATORY

If Diagnostic probe: read skills/tia-doctor/SKILL.md and run its probe command. Report the probe output and remediation items. Do not create or modify projects.

If MCP: read skills/tia-portal-mcp/SKILL.md. Use the MCP tools directly — no code generation.

If Python: read skills/tia-python/SKILL.md, then load the reference file(s) it points to for the task domain. Do NOT load domain skills — they are for C# only.

If C#:

1. Read skills/tia-csharp-common/SKILL.md first — always, for every C# task.
2. Read the SKILL.md of each selected domain skill, then load only the references/*.md file(s) that skill's own reference table (or its reference_catalogue.md, where present) points to for the task.

If Add-In: read skills/addin-operations/SKILL.md. No other skills needed.

Do NOT write code based solely on the routing response — always load the skill files first.

Escalation rule

If implementation starts in Python and the required call is not documented:

• stop
• switch to the corresponding C# domain skill
• load tia-csharp-common first, then the domain skill
• keep the same task decomposition

Hard escalation triggers (always C#)

• device item slot/subslot operations
• subnet/node/IO-system/port/channel/address manipulation
• Teamcenter / ConnectSSO
• VCI / advanced multiuser
• advanced PLC online/security services
• advanced Unified internals
• drive-specific engineering
• diagnostics / event handlers / self-description APIs