== Structure ==
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A structure is a way of organizing multiple variables, often of different types, into a group. For example, the characteristics of several devices, such as motors, can be described using the same data groups.

Take an electric motor, for instance. Such a motor can have many technical parameters, but for simplicity, let's narrow down the range of these parameters.

{{:automation:structure_example_1.png|Structure example 1}}

In this case, the motor has a text identifier, typically a KKS identifier in larger installations. Then there are voltage and current measurements, an operating mode, and a status indication. These data belong together and describe a motor. In the example above, this motor is, for example, the first motor of a hydraulic block. In the case of multiple motors, this structure remains—only the parameters change, as this makes it easy to handle the data uniformly:

{{:automation:structure_example_2.png|Structure example 2}}

This is what it looks like in the TIA Portal when the structures are open:

{{:automation:structure_example_3.png|Structure example 3}}

The display of structures can be limited to just their names, with an arrow placed in front of the name to close the content:

{{:automation:structure_example_4.png|Structure example 4}}

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More information: \\ 
TIA Datatypes: [[#tia_types|S7 data types summary table]] \\
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