Install the software and familiarize yourself with it.
Create basic input and output structures related to PLC-based processes.
Explore the intermediate functions of the HMI terminal.
Hone your design skills.
First, install the software and begin by familiarizing yourself with the essential drawing tools. These tools are similar to those you would see in visual design software such as Microsoft Paint, but do create a different way of interacting with the elements.
Next, create the basic input and output structures associated with a PLC-based process. A beginner's project might be to create a simple street light system that allows the user to initiate the process and display the appropriate street lights based on the direction of the road.
Third, once you are comfortable with this, we recommend that you explore the intermediate capabilities of the HMI terminal. In practice, the user should design a navigation system, a way to access screens based on button and/or icon presses, a way to display general system faults, etc.
Advanced features of a stand-alone HMI terminal may include system-reported alarms, a security system based on user permissions, a set of elements hidden from the operator but available to the maintenance team, etc.
Mastering HMI programming requires you to build your design skills in addition to your technical skills. Professional HMI developers will create layouts that are pleasing to the eye and reflect the state of the system.
For example, this could mean the difference between a value inserted into a tank level and the actual level displayed via a filling scale.