zkbindings

One of Zeugwerk’s CI/CD tools for TwinCAT. Integrating PLCs with C# or C++ apps usually means string-based ADS and runtime surprises when the PLC changes. zkbindings produces type-safe C# or C++ bindings from your PLC so external apps get compile-time errors instead of runtime failures. Use zkbindings-action in GitHub (30 runs/month for public repos) or contact us for more runs, private repos, or on-premises licensing.

What you get

C# - Enums, structs, and wrapper classes that mirror your PLC types and use Beckhoff.TwinCAT.Ads. Change the PLC layout and your C# project gets compile errors instead of runtime failures.
C++ - Headers and classes (e.g. with QAds) for Qt or other C++ stacks.

Quick start

Register - Register here. Store username and password in GitHub Secrets (e.g. ACTIONS_ZGWK_USERNAME, ACTIONS_ZGWK_PASSWORD).
Add a workflow - Example .github/workflows/bindings.yml:

name: Bindings
on:
  workflow_dispatch:
jobs:
  Build:
    name: Bindings
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: Build
        uses: Zeugwerk/zkbindings-action@1.0.0
        with:
          username: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_ZGWK_USERNAME }}
          password: ${{ secrets.ACTIONS_ZGWK_PASSWORD }}
          project: 'Untitled1'
          tmc: 'Untitled1/Untitled1.tmc'
          filter: ''
      - name: Upload
        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
        with:
          name: Bindings
          path: archive/**/*

Set inputs - Point tmc to an up-to-date .tmc file from your PLC project. Use project for the generated class/file names. Optionally set filter and languages (see below).

Inputs

Input	Required	Description
`username`	Yes	Zeugwerk account username
`password`	Yes	Zeugwerk account password
`project`	No	Project name used for generated files/classes
`tmc`	Yes	Path to the `.tmc` file (must match your PLC)
`filter`	No	Space-separated list of datatypes to generate bindings for; if empty, all are generated
`languages`	No	Space-separated list: `cs` and/or `cpp`
`version`	No	PLC version string written into the generated version file

Store username and password in GitHub Secrets; do not commit them.

Generated output

C#

*_Enums.cs - Enumerations from the PLC (directly in filter or used by them).
*_Structs.cs - Binary-compatible DUTs/structs.
*_Classes.cs - Wrapper classes that mirror PLC types and use Beckhoff.TwinCAT.Ads.
*_Version.cs - Version info to compare bindings to the running PLC.
*_Unittest.cs - Unit tests for the generated code (Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting).

C++

*_Enums.h, *_Structs.h, *_Classes.h - Same idea as C#; classes use QAds.
*_Version.h - Version comparison.
*_Unittest.cpp - QtTest-based tests.

(Replace * with your project name.)

Example (C#)

From the zkbindings-action example:

_ads = new TcAdsClient();
_ads.Connect(851);

_quickstart = new PLC.Mirror.QuickstartCom("ZGlobal.Com.Unit.Quickstart", _ads);

_quickstart.Subscribe.Equipment.LimitSwitchLeft.Sync = new PLC.Types.ZApplication_DigitalComSubscribe { Enable = 0, Write = 1 };

Access is type-safe; if PLC symbols change, the C# build fails at compile time.

Pricing and licensing

Free - 30 runs/month for public repositories (via the GitHub Action).
Commercial - More builds, private repos, or Zeugwerk Bindings on your own CI/CD (GitHub or on-premises). contact us.

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