Lesman Tech Tips

PDM is Siemens’ Windows-based HART configuration tool.  My copy of PDM is a single point license that I use with a HART modem to configure field instruments using the “Lifelist” quick start app.

When I recently changed from Windows XP to Windows 7, the LifeList app would launch but the upload/download buttons were greyed out and it wouldn’t even attempt HART communication to field instruments.   Grrrrr, what to do?

I discovered two check boxes in the compatability tab of LifeList’s properties that when checked allowed PDM’s Lifelist to run and communicate.

Navigate to the compatability tab like this:

Start button > All programs > Simatic > Simatic PDM > right click on LifeList> select ‘properties’ > select ‘compatability’ tab

I checked the check boxes for
– “Run this program in compatability mode for:”
and selected Windows XP (Service Pack 3) from the drop down list
–  Privelege Level: “Run this program as administrator”
and clicked the OK button at the bottom.

Then LifeList launched and now runs HART communications like it did on XP.

Maybe this will work for you, too.

If you have other programs that run under Windows XP,  but stall in Win 7, give this approach a try.

Dan