Glossary Updates12 new terms added to the glossaries · October 2, 2026, 22:44 CEST
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Glossary · Distributed automation and IEC 61499

Portability profile

Also known as: Portability (IEC 61499)

German: Portabilitätsprofil

In IEC 61499, portability is the ability of software tools to accept and correctly interpret library elements, such as function block types and applications, produced by other tools; a portability profile, as part of a compliance profile, specifies the exchange formats and supported features.

  • IEC 61499
  • Standards

In one sentence

An IEC 61499 portability profile specifies how function block types and applications can be exchanged correctly between tools.

Example

A function block library created in one IEC 61499 tool is imported into another tool without changes, because both follow the same exchange format and feature set.

How it applies

  • Engineering: IEC 61499 defines XML-based exchange formats for library elements. A portability profile specifies which parts of them tools must support, so that exchanged types keep their behavior.
  • Reuse: Portable libraries protect investment: function block types can outlive a specific tool. That depends on avoiding tool-specific extensions or documenting them.
  • Testing: After importing library elements from another tool, run the type tests again to confirm behavior.
  • Documentation: State which profile and exchange format version a library follows, and list tool-specific features it uses. Library release notes should mention changes that affect portability.

Portability vs. interoperability

Portability concerns moving software between tools. Interoperability profile concerns devices working together at runtime. A third aspect, configurability, concerns how tools configure devices from different suppliers.

By knowledge.aitechdoc.world · Published September 26, 2026 · Last reviewed

Source: IEC 61499-4, Function blocks — Part 4: Rules for compliance profiles

Definitions follow the cited standards and specifications. Where a source is a copyrighted publication, such as an ISO, IEC or EN standard, the definition is a close paraphrase, not a verbatim quotation, so as not to infringe copyright. We recommend reading the original publication. The sections “How it applies” are editorial commentary by AI TechDoc Knowledge and are not part of any standard.

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