Release S7NetPlus 0.6.0

Release highlights:
- Added support for DateTimeLong

.nuget/NuGet.Config

@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<configuration>
-  <packageSources>
-    <add key="nuget.org" value="https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json" protocolVersion="3" />
-  </packageSources>
-</configuration>

GitVersion.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+assembly-informational-format: '{NuGetVersion}'
+mode: ContinuousDeployment
+branches:
+  master:
+    tag: rc
+    increment: Minor
+  feature:
+    regex: features?[/-]
+    tag: rc-{BranchName}
+    increment: Minor
+  pull-request:
+    regex: (pull|pull\-requests|pr)[/-]
+    tag: rc-pr-{BranchName}
+    increment: Minor
+  hotfix:
+    regex: hotfix(es)?[/-]
+    tag: rc
+    increment: Patch
+  develop:
+    regex: dev(elop)?(ment)?$
+    tag: b

S7.Net.UnitTest/ConnectionRequestTest.cs

@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
                 destTsap1, destTsap2, //Destination TASP
                 192, //Parameter Code (tpdu-size)
                 1, //Parameter Length
-                9 //TPDU Size (2^9 = 512)
+                10 //TPDU Size (2^11 = 2048)
             };
         }
     }

S7.Net.UnitTest/Helpers/S7TestServer.cs

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest.Helpers
         static private byte[] DB1 = new byte[1024];  // Our DB1
         static private byte[] DB2 = new byte[64000]; // Our DB2
         static private byte[] DB3 = new byte[1024]; // Our DB3
+        static private byte[] DB4 = new byte[6] { 3, 128, 1, 0, 197, 104 }; // Our DB4
 
         private static S7Server.TSrvCallback TheEventCallBack; // <== Static var containig the callback
         private static S7Server.TSrvCallback TheReadCallBack; // <== Static var containig the callback
@@ -36,9 +37,10 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest.Helpers
                                 1,                   // Its number is 1 (DB1)
                                 DB1,                 // Our buffer for DB1
                                 DB1.Length);         // Its size
-            // Do the same for DB2 and DB3
+            // Do the same for DB2, DB3, and DB4
             Server.RegisterArea(S7Server.srvAreaDB, 2, DB2, DB2.Length);
             Server.RegisterArea(S7Server.srvAreaDB, 3, DB3, DB3.Length);
+            Server.RegisterArea(S7Server.srvAreaDB, 4, DB4, DB4.Length);
 
             // Exclude read event to avoid the double report
             // Set the callbacks (using the static var to avoid the garbage collect)

S7.Net.UnitTest/Helpers/TestClassWithNestedClass.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
+using System.Text;
+using System.Threading.Tasks;
+
+namespace S7.Net.UnitTest.Helpers
+{
+    class TestClassInnerWithBool
+    {
+        public bool BitVariable00 { get; set; }
+    }
+
+    class TestClassInnerWithByte
+    {
+        public byte ByteVariable00 { get; set; }
+    }
+
+    class TestClassInnerWithShort
+    {
+        public short ShortVarialbe00 { get; set; }
+    }
+
+    class TestClassWithNestedClass
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// DB1.DBX0.0
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool BitVariable00 { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// DB1.DBX0.1
+        /// </summary>
+        public TestClassInnerWithBool BitVariable01 { get; set; } = new TestClassInnerWithBool();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// DB1.DBB1.0
+        /// </summary>
+        public TestClassInnerWithByte ByteVariable02 { get; set; } = new TestClassInnerWithByte();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// DB1.DBX2.0
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool BitVariable03 { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// DB1.DBW4
+        /// </summary>
+        public TestClassInnerWithShort ShortVariable04 { get; set; } = new TestClassInnerWithShort();
+    }
+}

S7.Net.UnitTest/PLCAddressParsingTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
+using S7.Net.Types;
+using System;
+
+namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
+{
+    [TestClass]
+    public class PLCAddressParsingTests
+    {
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T01_ParseM2000_1()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("M2000.1");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Memory, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for M2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for M2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.Bit, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for M2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(2000, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for M2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for M2000.1");
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T02_ParseMB200()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("MB200");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Memory, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for MB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for MB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.Byte, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for MB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(200, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for MB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for MB200");
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T03_ParseMW200()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("MW200");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Memory, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for MW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for MW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.Word, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for MW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(200, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for MW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for MW200");
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T04_ParseMD200()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("MD200");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Memory, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for MD200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for MD200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.DWord, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for MD200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(200, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for MD200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for MD200");
+        }
+
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T05_ParseI2000_1()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("I2000.1");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Input, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for I2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for I2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.Bit, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for I2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(2000, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for I2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for I2000.1");
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T06_ParseIB200()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("IB200");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Input, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for IB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for IB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.Byte, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for IB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(200, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for IB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for IB200");
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T07_ParseIW200()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("IW200");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Input, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for IW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for IW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.Word, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for IW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(200, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for IW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for IW200");
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T08_ParseID200()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("ID200");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Input, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for ID200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for ID200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.DWord, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for ID200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(200, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for ID200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for ID200");
+        }
+
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T09_ParseQ2000_1()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("Q2000.1");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Output, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for Q2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for Q2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.Bit, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for Q2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(2000, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for Q2000.1");
+            Assert.AreEqual(1, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for Q2000.1");
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T10_ParseQB200()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("QB200");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Output, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for QB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for QB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.Byte, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for QB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(200, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for QB200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for QB200");
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T11_ParseQW200()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("QW200");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Output, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for QW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for QW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.Word, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for QW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(200, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for QW200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for QW200");
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T12_ParseQD200()
+        {
+            DataItem dataItem = DataItem.FromAddress("QD200");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(DataType.Output, dataItem.DataType, "Wrong datatype for QD200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.DB, "Wrong dbnumber for QD200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(VarType.DWord, dataItem.VarType, "Wrong vartype for QD200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(200, dataItem.StartByteAdr, "Wrong startbyte for QD200");
+            Assert.AreEqual(0, dataItem.BitAdr, "Wrong bit for QD200");
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net.UnitTest/S7.Net.UnitTest.csproj

@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@
   <ItemGroup>
     <Compile Include="ConnectionRequestTest.cs" />
     <Compile Include="ConvertersUnitTest.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="Helpers\TestClassWithNestedClass.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="PLCAddressParsingTests.cs" />
     <Compile Include="ProtocolTests.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Helpers\ConsoleManager.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Helpers\NativeMethods.cs" />
@@ -78,6 +80,11 @@
     <Compile Include="S7NetTestsSync.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Properties\AssemblyInfo.cs" />
     <Compile Include="Helpers\TestLongStruct.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="TypeTests\ClassTests.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="TypeTests\DateTimeLongTests.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="TypeTests\DateTimeTests.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="TypeTests\StringExTests.cs" />
+    <Compile Include="TypeTests\StringTests.cs" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <Content Include="snap7.dll">

S7.Net.UnitTest/S7NetTestsAsync.cs

@@ -160,6 +160,31 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.DWordVariable, tc2.DWordVariable);
         }
 
+        [TestMethod]
+        public async Task Test_Async_ReadAndWriteNestedClass()
+        {
+            Assert.IsTrue(plc.IsConnected, "Before executing this test, the plc must be connected. Check constructor.");
+
+            TestClassWithNestedClass tc = new TestClassWithNestedClass
+            {
+                BitVariable00 = true,
+                BitVariable01 = new TestClassInnerWithBool { BitVariable00 = true },
+                ByteVariable02 = new TestClassInnerWithByte { ByteVariable00 = 128 },
+                BitVariable03 = true,
+                ShortVariable04 = new TestClassInnerWithShort { ShortVarialbe00 = -15000 }
+            };
+
+            await plc.WriteClassAsync(tc, DB4);
+            TestClassWithNestedClass tc2 = new TestClassWithNestedClass();
+            // Values that are read from a class are stored inside the class itself, that is passed by reference
+            await plc.ReadClassAsync(tc2, DB4);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable00, tc2.BitVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable01.BitVariable00, tc2.BitVariable01.BitVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00, tc2.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable03, tc2.BitVariable03);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00, tc2.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00);
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Read/Write a struct that has the same properties of a DB with the same field in the same order
         /// </summary>
@@ -226,10 +251,8 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
                 IntVariable111 = 201
             };
             plc.WriteStruct(tc, DB2);
-            Assert.AreEqual(ErrorCode.NoError, plc.LastErrorCode);
             // Values that are read from a struct are stored in a new struct, returned by the funcion ReadStruct
             TestLongStruct tc2 = (TestLongStruct)await plc.ReadStructAsync(typeof(TestLongStruct), DB2);
-            Assert.AreEqual(ErrorCode.NoError, plc.LastErrorCode);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable0, tc2.IntVariable0);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable1, tc2.IntVariable1);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable10, tc2.IntVariable10);
@@ -292,11 +315,9 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
                 IntVariable111 = 201
             };
             await plc.WriteClassAsync(tc, DB2);
-            Assert.AreEqual(ErrorCode.NoError, plc.LastErrorCode);
             // Values that are read from a struct are stored in a new struct, returned by the funcion ReadStruct
             TestLongClass tc2 = new TestLongClass();
             await plc.ReadClassAsync(tc2, DB2);
-            Assert.AreEqual(ErrorCode.NoError, plc.LastErrorCode);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable0, tc2.IntVariable0);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable1, tc2.IntVariable1);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable10, tc2.IntVariable10);
@@ -571,7 +592,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
 
         [TestMethod]
         [ExpectedException(typeof(NullReferenceException))]
-        public async Task Test_Async_ReadBytesThrowsExceptionIfPlcIsNotConnected()
+        public async Task Test_Async_ReadBytesReturnsNullIfPlcIsNotConnected()
         {
             using (var notConnectedPlc = new Plc(CpuType.S7300, "255.255.255.255", 0, 0))
             {
@@ -667,6 +688,28 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             }
         }
 
+        [TestMethod]
+        public async Task Test_Async_ReadClassWithNestedClassAfterBit()
+        {
+            Assert.IsTrue(plc.IsConnected, "Before executing this test, the plc must be connected. Check constructor.");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(6, Types.Class.GetClassSize(new TestClassWithNestedClass()));
+
+            TestClassWithNestedClass tc = new TestClassWithNestedClass();
+            tc.BitVariable00 = true;
+            tc.BitVariable01.BitVariable00 = true;
+            tc.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00 = 128;
+            tc.BitVariable03 = true;
+            tc.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00 = -15000;
+
+            TestClassWithNestedClass tc2 = await plc.ReadClassAsync<TestClassWithNestedClass>(DB4);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable00, tc2.BitVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable01.BitVariable00, tc2.BitVariable01.BitVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00, tc2.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable03, tc2.BitVariable03);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00, tc2.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00);
+        }
+
         [TestMethod]
         [ExpectedException(typeof(NullReferenceException))]
         public async Task Test_Async_ReadStructThrowsExceptionPlcIsNotConnected()
@@ -741,7 +784,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             };
             plc.WriteClass(tc, DB2);
 
-            int expectedReadBytes = Types.Class.GetClassSize(tc);
+            int expectedReadBytes = (int)Types.Class.GetClassSize(tc);
 
             TestClass tc2 = new TestClass();
             // Values that are read from a class are stored inside the class itself, that is passed by reference
@@ -831,11 +874,9 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
         {
             double test_value = 55.66;
             await plc.WriteAsync("DB1.DBD0", test_value);
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.NoError, "Write Double");
             var helper = await plc.ReadAsync("DB1.DBD0");
             double test_value2 = Conversion.ConvertToDouble((uint)helper);
 
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.NoError, "Read Double");
             Assert.AreEqual(test_value, test_value2, 0.01, "Compare Write/Read"); //Need delta here because S7 only has 32 bit reals
         }
 
@@ -844,11 +885,9 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
         {
             float test_value = 55.6632f;
             await plc.WriteAsync("DB1.DBD0", test_value);
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.NoError, "Write Single");
             var helper = await plc.ReadAsync("DB1.DBD0");
             float test_value2 = Conversion.ConvertToFloat((uint)helper);
 
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.NoError, "Read Single");
             Assert.AreEqual(test_value, test_value2, "Compare Write/Read"); //No delta, datatype matches
         }
 

S7.Net.UnitTest/S7NetTestsSync.cs

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
     {
         #region Constants
         const int DB2 = 2;
+        const int DB4 = 4;
         #endregion
 
         #region Private fields
@@ -81,8 +82,14 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
         {
             if (plc.IsConnected == false)
             {
-                var error = plc.Open();
-                Assert.AreEqual(ErrorCode.NoError, error, "If you have s7 installed you must close s7oiehsx64 service.");
+                try
+                {
+                    plc.Open();
+                }
+                catch (Exception e)
+                {
+                    throw new Exception("If you have s7 installed you must close s7oiehsx64 service.", e);
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -257,10 +264,8 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             tc.IntVariable110 = 200;
             tc.IntVariable111 = 201;
             plc.WriteStruct(tc, DB2);
-            Assert.AreEqual(ErrorCode.NoError, plc.LastErrorCode);
             // Values that are read from a struct are stored in a new struct, returned by the funcion ReadStruct
             TestLongStruct tc2 = (TestLongStruct)plc.ReadStruct(typeof(TestLongStruct), DB2);
-            Assert.AreEqual(ErrorCode.NoError, plc.LastErrorCode);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable0, tc2.IntVariable0);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable1, tc2.IntVariable1);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable10, tc2.IntVariable10);
@@ -321,11 +326,9 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             tc.IntVariable110 = 200;
             tc.IntVariable111 = 201;
             plc.WriteClass(tc, DB2);
-            Assert.AreEqual(ErrorCode.NoError, plc.LastErrorCode);
             // Values that are read from a struct are stored in a new struct, returned by the funcion ReadStruct
             TestLongClass tc2 = new TestLongClass();
             plc.ReadClass(tc2, DB2);
-            Assert.AreEqual(ErrorCode.NoError, plc.LastErrorCode);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable0, tc2.IntVariable0);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable1, tc2.IntVariable1);
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.IntVariable10, tc2.IntVariable10);
@@ -596,19 +599,14 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
         }
 
 
-        [TestMethod]
-        public void T13_ReadBytesReturnsEmptyArrayIfPlcIsNotConnected()
+        [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(PlcException))]
+        public void T13_ReadBytesThrowsIfPlcIsNotConnected()
         {
             using (var notConnectedPlc = new Plc(CpuType.S7300, "255.255.255.255", 0, 0))
             {
                 Assert.IsFalse(notConnectedPlc.IsConnected);
-
-                int expectedReadBytes = 0; // 0 bytes, because no connection was established
-
                 TestClass tc = new TestClass();
                 int actualReadBytes = notConnectedPlc.ReadClass(tc, DB2);
-
-                Assert.AreEqual(expectedReadBytes, actualReadBytes);
             }
         }
 
@@ -642,8 +640,8 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             Assert.AreEqual(tc2.DWordVariable, tc2Generic.DWordVariable);
         }
 
-        [TestMethod]
-        public void T15_ReadClassWithGenericReturnsNullIfPlcIsNotConnected()
+        [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(PlcException))]
+        public void T15_ReadClassWithGenericThrowsIfPlcIsNotConnected()
         {
             using (var notConnectedPlc = new Plc(CpuType.S7300, "255.255.255.255", 0, 0))
             {
@@ -684,8 +682,8 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             Assert.AreEqual(tc2Generic.DWordVariable, tc2GenericWithClassFactory.DWordVariable);
         }
 
-        [TestMethod]
-        public void T17_ReadClassWithGenericAndClassFactoryReturnsNullIfPlcIsNotConnected()
+        [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(PlcException))]
+        public void T17_ReadClassWithGenericAndClassFactoryThrowsIfPlcIsNotConnected()
         {
             using (var notConnectedPlc = new Plc(CpuType.S7300, "255.255.255.255", 0, 0))
             {
@@ -698,7 +696,55 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
         }
 
         [TestMethod]
-        public void T18_ReadStructReturnsNullIfPlcIsNotConnected()
+        public void T31_ReadClassWithNestedClassAfterBit()
+        {
+            Assert.IsTrue(plc.IsConnected, "Before executing this test, the plc must be connected. Check constructor.");
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(6, Types.Class.GetClassSize(new TestClassWithNestedClass()));
+
+            TestClassWithNestedClass tc = new TestClassWithNestedClass();
+            tc.BitVariable00 = true;
+            tc.BitVariable01.BitVariable00 = true;
+            tc.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00 = 128;
+            tc.BitVariable03 = true;
+            tc.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00 = -15000;
+
+            TestClassWithNestedClass tc2 = new TestClassWithNestedClass();
+            plc.ReadClass(tc2, DB4);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable00, tc2.BitVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable01.BitVariable00, tc2.BitVariable01.BitVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00, tc2.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable03, tc2.BitVariable03);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00, tc2.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T32_ReadAndWriteNestedClass()
+        {
+            Assert.IsTrue(plc.IsConnected, "Before executing this test, the plc must be connected. Check constructor.");
+
+            TestClassWithNestedClass tc = new TestClassWithNestedClass
+            {
+                BitVariable00 = true,
+                BitVariable01 = new TestClassInnerWithBool { BitVariable00 = true },
+                ByteVariable02 = new TestClassInnerWithByte { ByteVariable00 = 128 },
+                BitVariable03 = true,
+                ShortVariable04 = new TestClassInnerWithShort { ShortVarialbe00 = -15000 }
+            };
+
+            plc.WriteClass(tc, DB4);
+            TestClassWithNestedClass tc2 = new TestClassWithNestedClass();
+            // Values that are read from a class are stored inside the class itself, that is passed by reference
+            plc.ReadClass(tc2, DB4);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable00, tc2.BitVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable01.BitVariable00, tc2.BitVariable01.BitVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00, tc2.ByteVariable02.ByteVariable00);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.BitVariable03, tc2.BitVariable03);
+            Assert.AreEqual(tc.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00, tc2.ShortVariable04.ShortVarialbe00);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(PlcException))]
+        public void T18_ReadStructThrowsIfPlcIsNotConnected()
         {
             using (var notConnectedPlc = new Plc(CpuType.S7300, "255.255.255.255", 0, 0))
             {
@@ -739,8 +785,8 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             Assert.AreEqual(ts2.DWordVariable, ts2Generic.DWordVariable);
         }
 
-        [TestMethod]
-        public void T20_ReadStructWithGenericReturnsNullIfPlcIsNotConnected()
+        [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(PlcException))]
+        public void T20_ReadStructThrowsIfPlcIsNotConnected()
         {
             using (var notConnectedPlc = new Plc(CpuType.S7300, "255.255.255.255", 0, 0))
             {
@@ -770,7 +816,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             tc.DWordVariable = 850;
             plc.WriteClass(tc, DB2);
 
-            int expectedReadBytes = Types.Class.GetClassSize(tc);
+            int expectedReadBytes = (int)Types.Class.GetClassSize(tc);
 
             TestClass tc2 = new TestClass();
             // Values that are read from a class are stored inside the class itself, that is passed by reference
@@ -883,11 +929,9 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
         {
             double test_value = 55.66;
             plc.Write("DB1.DBD0", test_value);
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.NoError, "Write Double");
             var helper = plc.Read("DB1.DBD0");
             double test_value2 = Conversion.ConvertToDouble((uint)helper);
 
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.NoError, "Read Double");
             Assert.AreEqual(test_value, test_value2, 0.01, "Compare Write/Read"); //Need delta here because S7 only has 32 bit reals
         }
 
@@ -929,19 +973,17 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
             Assert.AreEqual(tc.Bool1, tc2.Bool1);
         }
 
-        [TestMethod]
-        public void T29_Read_Write_ExceptionHandlingWhenPlcIsNotReachable()
+        [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(PlcException))]
+        public void T29_Read_Write_ThrowsWhenPlcIsNotReachable()
         {
             // leave plc Open
             S7TestServer.Stop();
 
             double test_value = 55.66;
             plc.Write("DB1.DBD0", test_value);
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.WriteData, "No Write Error.");
 
             var helper = plc.Read("DB1.DBD0");
             Assert.AreEqual(helper, null, "Value in Read.");
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.ReadData, "No Read Error.");
         }
 
         [TestMethod]
@@ -949,14 +991,26 @@ namespace S7.Net.UnitTest
         {
             float test_value = 55.6632f;
             plc.Write("DB1.DBD0", test_value);
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.NoError, "Write Single");
             var helper = plc.Read("DB1.DBD0");
             float test_value2 = Conversion.ConvertToFloat((uint)helper);
 
-            Assert.AreEqual(plc.LastErrorCode, ErrorCode.NoError, "Read Single");
             Assert.AreEqual(test_value, test_value2, "Compare Write/Read"); //No delta, datatype matches
         }
 
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void T33_ReadWriteDateTimeLong()
+        {
+            var test_value = System.DateTime.Now;
+            var db = 1;
+            var offset = 0;
+
+            plc.WriteBytes(DataType.DataBlock, db, offset, Types.DateTimeLong.ToByteArray(test_value));
+            var test_value2 = plc.Read(DataType.DataBlock, db, offset, VarType.DateTimeLong, 1);
+            Assert.IsInstanceOfType(test_value2, typeof(System.DateTime));
+
+            Assert.AreEqual(test_value, test_value2, "Compare DateTimeLong Write/Read");
+        }
+
         #endregion
 
         #region Private methods

S7.Net.UnitTest/TypeTests/ClassTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
+using S7.Net.Types;
+
+namespace S7.Net.UnitTest.TypeTests
+{
+    [TestClass]
+    public class ClassTests
+    {
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void GetClassSizeTest()
+        {
+            Assert.AreEqual(Class.GetClassSize(new TestClassUnevenSize(1, 1)), 6);
+            Assert.AreEqual(Class.GetClassSize(new TestClassUnevenSize(2, 15)), 6);
+            Assert.AreEqual(Class.GetClassSize(new TestClassUnevenSize(2, 16)), 6);
+            Assert.AreEqual(Class.GetClassSize(new TestClassUnevenSize(2, 17)), 8);
+            Assert.AreEqual(Class.GetClassSize(new TestClassUnevenSize(3, 15)), 8);
+            Assert.AreEqual(Class.GetClassSize(new TestClassUnevenSize(3, 17)), 10);
+        }
+
+        private class TestClassUnevenSize
+        {
+            public bool Bool { get; set; }
+            public byte[] Bytes { get; set; }
+            public bool[] Bools { get; set; }
+
+            public TestClassUnevenSize(int byteCount, int bitCount)
+            {
+                Bytes = new byte[byteCount];
+                Bools = new bool[bitCount];
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net.UnitTest/TypeTests/DateTimeLongTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,171 @@
+using System;
+using System.Linq;
+using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
+
+namespace S7.Net.UnitTest.TypeTests
+{
+    public static class DateTimeLongTests
+    {
+        private static readonly DateTime SampleDateTime = new DateTime(1993, 12, 25, 8, 12, 34, 567);
+
+        private static readonly byte[] SampleByteArray = {0x07, 0xC9, 0x0C, 0x19, 0x07, 0x08, 0x0C, 0x22, 0x21, 0xCB, 0xBB, 0xC0 };
+
+        private static readonly byte[] SpecMinByteArray =
+        {
+            0x07, 0xB2, 0x01, 0x01,  (byte) (int) (Types.DateTimeLong.SpecMinimumDateTime.DayOfWeek + 1), 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00
+        };
+
+        private static readonly byte[] SpecMaxByteArray =
+        {
+            0x08, 0xD6, 0x04, 0x0B,  (byte) (int) (Types.DateTimeLong.SpecMaximumDateTime.DayOfWeek + 1), 0x17, 0x2F, 0x10, 0x32, 0xE7, 0x01, 0x80
+        };
+
+        [TestClass]
+        public class FromByteArray
+        {
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void Sample()
+            {
+                AssertFromByteArrayEquals(SampleDateTime, SampleByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void SpecMinimum()
+            {
+                AssertFromByteArrayEquals(Types.DateTimeLong.SpecMinimumDateTime, SpecMinByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void SpecMaximum()
+            {
+                AssertFromByteArrayEquals(Types.DateTimeLong.SpecMaximumDateTime, SpecMaxByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnLessThan12Bytes()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(new byte[11]);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnMoreTHan12Bytes()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(new byte[13]);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidYear()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(0, 0xa0));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnZeroMonth()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(2, 0x00));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTooLargeMonth()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(2, 0x13));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnZeroDay()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(3, 0x00));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTooLargeDay()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(3, 0x32));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidHour()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(5, 0x24));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidMinute()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(6, 0x60));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidSecond()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(7, 0x60));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidNanosecondsFirstDigit()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(8, 0x3B));
+            }
+
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnZeroDayOfWeek()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(4, 0));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTooLargeDayOfWeek()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(MutateSample(4, 8));
+            }
+
+            private static void AssertFromByteArrayEquals(DateTime expected, params byte[] bytes)
+            {
+                Assert.AreEqual(expected, Types.DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(bytes));
+            }
+
+            private static byte[] MutateSample(int index, byte value) =>
+                SampleByteArray.Select((b, i) => i == index ? value : b).ToArray();
+        }
+
+        [TestClass]
+        public class ToByteArray
+        {
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void Sample()
+            {
+                AssertToByteArrayEquals(SampleDateTime, SampleByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void SpecMinimum()
+            {
+                AssertToByteArrayEquals(Types.DateTimeLong.SpecMinimumDateTime, SpecMinByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void SpecMaximum()
+            {
+                AssertToByteArrayEquals(Types.DateTimeLong.SpecMaximumDateTime, SpecMaxByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTimeBeforeSpecMinimum()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.ToByteArray(new DateTime(1950, 1, 1));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTimeAfterSpecMaximum()
+            {
+                Types.DateTimeLong.ToByteArray(new DateTime(2790, 1, 1));
+            }
+
+            private static void AssertToByteArrayEquals(DateTime value, params byte[] expected)
+            {
+                CollectionAssert.AreEqual(expected, Types.DateTimeLong.ToByteArray(value));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net.UnitTest/TypeTests/DateTimeTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,176 @@
+using System;
+using System.Linq;
+using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
+
+namespace S7.Net.UnitTest.TypeTests
+{
+    public static class DateTimeTests
+    {
+        private static readonly DateTime SampleDateTime = new DateTime(1993, 12, 25, 8, 12, 34, 567);
+
+        private static readonly byte[] SampleByteArray = {0x93, 0x12, 0x25, 0x08, 0x12, 0x34, 0x56, 7 << 4 | 7};
+
+        private static readonly byte[] SpecMinByteArray =
+        {
+            0x90, 0x01, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, (byte) (int) (Types.DateTime.SpecMinimumDateTime.DayOfWeek + 1)
+        };
+
+        private static readonly byte[] SpecMaxByteArray =
+        {
+            0x89, 0x12, 0x31, 0x23, 0x59, 0x59, 0x99, (byte) (9 << 4 | (int) (Types.DateTime.SpecMaximumDateTime.DayOfWeek + 1))
+        };
+
+        [TestClass]
+        public class FromByteArray
+        {
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void Sample()
+            {
+                AssertFromByteArrayEquals(SampleDateTime, SampleByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void SpecMinimum()
+            {
+                AssertFromByteArrayEquals(Types.DateTime.SpecMinimumDateTime, SpecMinByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void SpecMaximum()
+            {
+                AssertFromByteArrayEquals(Types.DateTime.SpecMaximumDateTime, SpecMaxByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnLessThan8Bytes()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(new byte[7]);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnMoreTHan8Bytes()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(new byte[9]);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidYear()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(0, 0xa0));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnZeroMonth()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(1, 0x00));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTooLargeMonth()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(1, 0x13));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnZeroDay()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(2, 0x00));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTooLargeDay()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(2, 0x32));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidHour()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(3, 0x24));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidMinute()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(4, 0x60));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidSecond()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(5, 0x60));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidFirstTwoMillisecondDigits()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(6, 0xa0));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnInvalidThirdMillisecondDigit()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(7, 10 << 4));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnZeroDayOfWeek()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(7, 0));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTooLargeDayOfWeek()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(MutateSample(7, 8));
+            }
+
+            private static void AssertFromByteArrayEquals(DateTime expected, params byte[] bytes)
+            {
+                Assert.AreEqual(expected, Types.DateTime.FromByteArray(bytes));
+            }
+
+            private static byte[] MutateSample(int index, byte value) =>
+                SampleByteArray.Select((b, i) => i == index ? value : b).ToArray();
+        }
+
+        [TestClass]
+        public class ToByteArray
+        {
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void Sample()
+            {
+                AssertToByteArrayEquals(SampleDateTime, SampleByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void SpecMinimum()
+            {
+                AssertToByteArrayEquals(Types.DateTime.SpecMinimumDateTime, SpecMinByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod]
+            public void SpecMaximum()
+            {
+                AssertToByteArrayEquals(Types.DateTime.SpecMaximumDateTime, SpecMaxByteArray);
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTimeBeforeSpecMinimum()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.ToByteArray(new DateTime(1970, 1, 1));
+            }
+
+            [TestMethod, ExpectedException(typeof(ArgumentOutOfRangeException))]
+            public void ThrowsOnTimeAfterSpecMaximum()
+            {
+                Types.DateTime.ToByteArray(new DateTime(2090, 1, 1));
+            }
+
+            private static void AssertToByteArrayEquals(DateTime value, params byte[] expected)
+            {
+                CollectionAssert.AreEqual(expected, Types.DateTime.ToByteArray(value));
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net.UnitTest/TypeTests/StringExTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
+using S7.Net.Types;
+
+namespace S7.Net.UnitTest.TypeTests
+{
+    [TestClass]
+    public class StringExTests
+    {
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void ReadEmptyStringWithZeroByteLength()
+        {
+            AssertFromByteArrayEquals("", 0, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void ReadEmptyStringWithOneByteLength()
+        {
+            AssertFromByteArrayEquals("", 1, 0, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void ReadEmptyStringWithOneByteGarbage()
+        {
+            AssertFromByteArrayEquals("", 1, 0, (byte) 'a');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void ReadA()
+        {
+            AssertFromByteArrayEquals("A", 1, 1, (byte) 'A');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void ReadAbc()
+        {
+            AssertFromByteArrayEquals("Abc", 1, 3, (byte) 'A', (byte) 'b', (byte) 'c');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteNullWithReservedLengthZero()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals(null, 0, 0, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteEmptyStringWithReservedLengthZero()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("", 0, 0, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAWithReservedLengthZero()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("A", 0, 0, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteNullWithReservedLengthOne()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals(null, 1, 1, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteEmptyStringWithReservedLengthOne()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("", 1, 1, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAWithReservedLengthOne()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("A", 1, 1, 1, (byte) 'A');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAWithReservedLengthTwo()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("A", 2, 2, 1, (byte) 'A');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAbcWithReservedLengthOne()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("Abc", 1, 1, 1, (byte) 'A');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAbcWithReservedLengthTwo()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("Abc", 2, 2, 2, (byte) 'A', (byte) 'b');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAbcWithReservedLengthThree()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("Abc", 3, 3, 3, (byte) 'A', (byte) 'b', (byte) 'c');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAbcWithReservedLengthFour()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("Abc", 4, 4, 3, (byte) 'A', (byte) 'b', (byte) 'c');
+        }
+
+        private static void AssertFromByteArrayEquals(string expected, params byte[] bytes)
+        {
+            Assert.AreEqual(expected, StringEx.FromByteArray(bytes));
+        }
+
+        private static void AssertToByteArrayEquals(string value, int reservedLength, params byte[] expected)
+        {
+            CollectionAssert.AreEqual(expected, StringEx.ToByteArray(value, reservedLength));
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net.UnitTest/TypeTests/StringTests.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
+using S7.Net.Types;
+
+namespace S7.Net.UnitTest.TypeTests
+{
+    [TestClass]
+    public class StringTests
+    {
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteNullWIthReservedLengthZero()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals(null, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteEmptyStringWithReservedLengthZero()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("", 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAWithReservedLengthZero()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("A", 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteNullWithReservedLengthOne()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals(null, 1, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteEmptyStringWithReservedLengthOne()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("", 1, 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAWithReservedLengthOne()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("A", 1, (byte) 'A');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAWithReservedLengthTwo()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("A", 2, (byte) 'A', 0);
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAbcWithReservedLengthOne()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("Abc", 1, (byte) 'A');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAbcWithReservedLengthTwo()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("Abc", 2, (byte) 'A', (byte) 'b');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAbcWithReservedLengthThree()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("Abc", 3, (byte) 'A', (byte) 'b', (byte) 'c');
+        }
+
+        [TestMethod]
+        public void WriteAbcWithReservedLengthFour()
+        {
+            AssertToByteArrayEquals("Abc", 4, (byte) 'A', (byte) 'b', (byte) 'c', 0);
+        }
+
+        private static void AssertFromByteArrayEquals(string expected, params byte[] bytes)
+        {
+            Assert.AreEqual(expected, String.FromByteArray(bytes));
+        }
+
+        private static void AssertToByteArrayEquals(string value, int reservedLength, params byte[] expected)
+        {
+            CollectionAssert.AreEqual(expected, String.ToByteArray(value, reservedLength));
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net/COTP.cs

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// </summary>
         public class TPDU
         {
+            public TPKT TPkt { get; }
             public byte HeaderLength;
             public byte PDUType;
             public int TPDUNumber;
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@ namespace S7.Net
 
             public TPDU(TPKT tPKT)
             {
+                TPkt = tPKT;
+
                 var br = new BinaryReader(new MemoryStream(tPKT.Data));
                 HeaderLength = br.ReadByte();
                 if (HeaderLength >= 2)

S7.Net/Enums.cs

@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@
         /// </summary>
         S7200 = 0,
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Siemens Logo 0BA8
+        /// </summary>
+        Logo0BA8 = 1,
+
         /// <summary>
         /// S7 300 cpu type
         /// </summary>
@@ -176,6 +181,16 @@
         /// <summary>
         /// Counter variable type
         /// </summary>
-        Counter
+        Counter,
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// DateTIme variable type
+        /// </summary>
+        DateTime,
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// DateTimeLong variable type
+        /// </summary>
+        DateTimeLong
     }
 }

S7.Net/InvalidDataException.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+using System;
+
+namespace S7.Net
+{
+    #if NET_FULL
+    [Serializable]
+    #endif
+    public class InvalidDataException : Exception
+    {
+        public byte[] ReceivedData { get; }
+        public int ErrorIndex { get; }
+        public byte ExpectedValue { get; }
+
+        public InvalidDataException(string message, byte[] receivedData, int errorIndex, byte expectedValue)
+            : base(FormatMessage(message, receivedData, errorIndex, expectedValue))
+        {
+            ReceivedData = receivedData;
+            ErrorIndex = errorIndex;
+            ExpectedValue = expectedValue;
+        }
+
+        #if NET_FULL
+        protected InvalidDataException(System.Runtime.Serialization.SerializationInfo info,
+            System.Runtime.Serialization.StreamingContext context) : base(info, context)
+        {
+            ReceivedData = (byte[]) info.GetValue(nameof(ReceivedData), typeof(byte[]));
+            ErrorIndex = info.GetInt32(nameof(ErrorIndex));
+            ExpectedValue = info.GetByte(nameof(ExpectedValue));
+        }
+        #endif
+
+        private static string FormatMessage(string message, byte[] receivedData, int errorIndex, byte expectedValue)
+        {
+            if (errorIndex >= receivedData.Length)
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(errorIndex),
+                    $"{nameof(errorIndex)} {errorIndex} is outside the bounds of {nameof(receivedData)} with length {receivedData.Length}.");
+
+            return $"{message} Invalid data received. Expected '{expectedValue}' at index {errorIndex}, " +
+                $"but received {receivedData[errorIndex]}. See the {nameof(ReceivedData)} property " +
+                "for the full message received.";
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net/PLC.cs

@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.Linq;
 using System.Net.Sockets;
+using S7.Net.Types;
 
 
 namespace S7.Net
@@ -15,11 +18,19 @@ namespace S7.Net
         private TcpClient tcpClient;
         private NetworkStream stream;
 
+        private int readTimeout = System.Threading.Timeout.Infinite;
+        private int writeTimeout = System.Threading.Timeout.Infinite;
+
         /// <summary>
         /// IP address of the PLC
         /// </summary>
         public string IP { get; private set; }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// PORT Number of the PLC, default is 102
+        /// </summary>
+        public int Port { get; private set; }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// CPU type of the PLC
         /// </summary>
@@ -39,6 +50,30 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// Max PDU size this cpu supports
         /// </summary>
         public Int16 MaxPDUSize { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>Gets or sets the amount of time that a read operation blocks waiting for data from PLC.</summary>
+        /// <returns>A <see cref="T:System.Int32" /> that specifies the amount of time, in milliseconds, that will elapse before a read operation fails. The default value, <see cref="F:System.Threading.Timeout.Infinite" />, specifies that the read operation does not time out.</returns>
+        public int ReadTimeout
+        {
+            get => readTimeout;
+            set
+            {
+                readTimeout = value;
+                if (tcpClient != null) tcpClient.ReceiveTimeout = readTimeout;
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>Gets or sets the amount of time that a write operation blocks waiting for data to PLC. </summary>
+        /// <returns>A <see cref="T:System.Int32" /> that specifies the amount of time, in milliseconds, that will elapse before a write operation fails. The default value, <see cref="F:System.Threading.Timeout.Infinite" />, specifies that the write operation does not time out.</returns>
+        public int WriteTimeout
+        {
+            get => writeTimeout;
+            set
+            {
+                writeTimeout = value;
+                if (tcpClient != null) tcpClient.SendTimeout = writeTimeout;
+            }
+        }
         
         /// <summary>
         /// Returns true if a connection to the PLC can be established
@@ -48,7 +83,15 @@ namespace S7.Net
             //TODO: Fix This
             get
             {
-                    return Connect() == ErrorCode.NoError;                   
+                try
+                {
+                    Connect();
+                    return true;
+                }
+                catch
+                {
+                    return false;
+                }
             }
         }
 
@@ -74,15 +117,32 @@ namespace S7.Net
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Contains the last error registered when executing a function
+        /// Creates a PLC object with all the parameters needed for connections.
+        /// For S7-1200 and S7-1500, the default is rack = 0 and slot = 0.
+        /// You need slot > 0 if you are connecting to external ethernet card (CP).
+        /// For S7-300 and S7-400 the default is rack = 0 and slot = 2.
         /// </summary>
-        public string LastErrorString { get; private set; }
+        /// <param name="cpu">CpuType of the PLC (select from the enum)</param>
+        /// <param name="ip">Ip address of the PLC</param>
+        /// <param name="port">Port address of the PLC, default 102</param>
+        /// <param name="rack">rack of the PLC, usually it's 0, but check in the hardware configuration of Step7 or TIA portal</param>
+        /// <param name="slot">slot of the CPU of the PLC, usually it's 2 for S7300-S7400, 0 for S7-1200 and S7-1500.
+        ///  If you use an external ethernet card, this must be set accordingly.</param>
+        public Plc(CpuType cpu, string ip, int port, Int16 rack, Int16 slot)
+        {
+            if (!Enum.IsDefined(typeof(CpuType), cpu))
+                throw new ArgumentException($"The value of argument '{nameof(cpu)}' ({cpu}) is invalid for Enum type '{typeof(CpuType).Name}'.", nameof(cpu));
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Contains the last error code registered when executing a function
-        /// </summary>
-        public ErrorCode LastErrorCode { get; private set; }
-        
+            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(ip))
+                throw new ArgumentException("IP address must valid.", nameof(ip));
+
+            CPU = cpu;
+            IP = ip;
+            Port = port;
+            Rack = rack;
+            Slot = slot;
+            MaxPDUSize = 240;
+        }
         /// <summary>
         /// Creates a PLC object with all the parameters needed for connections.
         /// For S7-1200 and S7-1500, the default is rack = 0 and slot = 0.
@@ -104,10 +164,12 @@ namespace S7.Net
 
             CPU = cpu;
             IP = ip;
+            Port = 102;
             Rack = rack;
             Slot = slot;
             MaxPDUSize = 240;
         }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Close connection to PLC
         /// </summary>
@@ -119,6 +181,64 @@ namespace S7.Net
             }
         }
 
+        private void AssertPduSizeForRead(ICollection<DataItem> dataItems)
+        {
+            // 12 bytes of header data, 12 bytes of parameter data for each dataItem
+            if ((dataItems.Count + 1) * 12 > MaxPDUSize) throw new Exception("Too many vars requested for read");
+            
+            // 14 bytes of header data, 4 bytes of result data for each dataItem and the actual data
+            if (GetDataLength(dataItems) + dataItems.Count * 4 + 14 > MaxPDUSize) throw new Exception("Too much data requested for read");
+        }
+
+        private void AssertPduSizeForWrite(ICollection<DataItem> dataItems)
+        {
+            // 12 bytes of header data, 18 bytes of parameter data for each dataItem
+            if (dataItems.Count * 18 + 12 > MaxPDUSize) throw new Exception("Too many vars supplied for write");
+
+            // 12 bytes of header data, 16 bytes of data for each dataItem and the actual data
+            if (GetDataLength(dataItems) + dataItems.Count * 16 + 12 > MaxPDUSize)
+                throw new Exception("Too much data supplied for write");
+        }
+
+        private void ConfigureConnection()
+        {
+            if (tcpClient == null)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            tcpClient.ReceiveTimeout = ReadTimeout;
+            tcpClient.SendTimeout = WriteTimeout;
+        }
+
+        private int GetDataLength(IEnumerable<DataItem> dataItems)
+        {
+            // Odd length variables are 0-padded
+            return dataItems.Select(di => VarTypeToByteLength(di.VarType, di.Count))
+                .Sum(len => (len & 1) == 1 ? len + 1 : len);
+        }
+
+        private static void AssertReadResponse(byte[] s7Data, int dataLength)
+        {
+            var expectedLength = dataLength + 18;
+
+            PlcException NotEnoughBytes() =>
+                new PlcException(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes,
+                    $"Received {s7Data.Length} bytes: '{BitConverter.ToString(s7Data)}', expected {expectedLength} bytes.")
+            ;
+
+            if (s7Data == null)
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes, "No s7Data received.");
+
+            if (s7Data.Length < 15) throw NotEnoughBytes();
+
+            if (s7Data[14] != 0xff)
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.ReadData,
+                    $"Invalid response from PLC: '{BitConverter.ToString(s7Data)}'.");
+
+            if (s7Data.Length < expectedLength) throw NotEnoughBytes();
+        }
+
         #region IDisposable Support
         private bool disposedValue = false; // To detect redundant calls
 

S7.Net/PLCAddress.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+namespace S7.Net
+{
+    internal class PLCAddress
+    {
+        private DataType dataType;
+        private int dbNumber;
+        private int startByte;
+        private int bitNumber;
+        private VarType varType;
+
+        public DataType DataType
+        {
+            get => dataType;
+            set => dataType = value;
+        }
+
+        public int DbNumber
+        {
+            get => dbNumber;
+            set => dbNumber = value;
+        }
+
+        public int StartByte
+        {
+            get => startByte;
+            set => startByte = value;
+        }
+
+        public int BitNumber
+        {
+            get => bitNumber;
+            set => bitNumber = value;
+        }
+
+        public VarType VarType
+        {
+            get => varType;
+            set => varType = value;
+        }
+
+        public PLCAddress(string address)
+        {
+            Parse(address, out dataType, out dbNumber, out varType, out startByte, out bitNumber);
+        }
+
+        public static void Parse(string input, out DataType dataType, out int dbNumber, out VarType varType, out int address, out int bitNumber)
+        {
+            bitNumber = -1;
+            dbNumber = 0;
+
+            switch (input.Substring(0, 2))
+            {
+                case "DB":
+                    string[] strings = input.Split(new char[] { '.' });
+                    if (strings.Length < 2)
+                        throw new InvalidAddressException("To few periods for DB address");
+
+                    dataType = DataType.DataBlock;
+                    dbNumber = int.Parse(strings[0].Substring(2));
+                    address = int.Parse(strings[1].Substring(3));
+
+                    string dbType = strings[1].Substring(0, 3);
+                    switch (dbType)
+                    {
+                        case "DBB":
+                            varType = VarType.Byte;
+                            return;
+                        case "DBW":
+                            varType = VarType.Word;
+                            return;
+                        case "DBD":
+                            varType = VarType.DWord;
+                            return;
+                        case "DBX":
+                            bitNumber = int.Parse(strings[2]);
+                            if (bitNumber > 7)
+                                throw new InvalidAddressException("Bit can only be 0-7");
+                            varType = VarType.Bit;
+                            return;
+                        default:
+                            throw new InvalidAddressException();
+                    }
+                case "IB":
+                case "EB":
+                    // Input byte
+                    dataType = DataType.Input;
+                    dbNumber = 0;
+                    address = int.Parse(input.Substring(2));
+                    varType = VarType.Byte;
+                    return;
+                case "IW":
+                case "EW":
+                    // Input word
+                    dataType = DataType.Input;
+                    dbNumber = 0;
+                    address = int.Parse(input.Substring(2));
+                    varType = VarType.Word;
+                    return;
+                case "ID":
+                case "ED":
+                    // Input double-word
+                    dataType = DataType.Input;
+                    dbNumber = 0;
+                    address = int.Parse(input.Substring(2));
+                    varType = VarType.DWord;
+                    return;
+                case "QB":
+                case "AB":
+                case "OB":
+                    // Output byte
+                    dataType = DataType.Output;
+                    dbNumber = 0;
+                    address = int.Parse(input.Substring(2));
+                    varType = VarType.Byte;
+                    return;
+                case "QW":
+                case "AW":
+                case "OW":
+                    // Output word
+                    dataType = DataType.Output;
+                    dbNumber = 0;
+                    address = int.Parse(input.Substring(2));
+                    varType = VarType.Word;
+                    return;
+                case "QD":
+                case "AD":
+                case "OD":
+                    // Output double-word
+                    dataType = DataType.Output;
+                    dbNumber = 0;
+                    address = int.Parse(input.Substring(2));
+                    varType = VarType.DWord;
+                    return;
+                case "MB":
+                    // Memory byte
+                    dataType = DataType.Memory;
+                    dbNumber = 0;
+                    address = int.Parse(input.Substring(2));
+                    varType = VarType.Byte;
+                    return;
+                case "MW":
+                    // Memory word
+                    dataType = DataType.Memory;
+                    dbNumber = 0;
+                    address = int.Parse(input.Substring(2));
+                    varType = VarType.Word;
+                    return;
+                case "MD":
+                    // Memory double-word
+                    dataType = DataType.Memory;
+                    dbNumber = 0;
+                    address = int.Parse(input.Substring(2));
+                    varType = VarType.DWord;
+                    return;
+                default:
+                    switch (input.Substring(0, 1))
+                    {
+                        case "E":
+                        case "I":
+                            // Input
+                            dataType = DataType.Input;
+                            varType = VarType.Bit;
+                            break;
+                        case "Q":
+                        case "A":
+                        case "O":
+                            // Output
+                            dataType = DataType.Output;
+                            varType = VarType.Bit;
+                            break;
+                        case "M":
+                            // Memory
+                            dataType = DataType.Memory;
+                            varType = VarType.Bit;
+                            break;
+                        case "T":
+                            // Timer
+                            dataType = DataType.Timer;
+                            dbNumber = 0;
+                            address = int.Parse(input.Substring(1));
+                            varType = VarType.Timer;
+                            return;
+                        case "Z":
+                        case "C":
+                            // Counter
+                            dataType = DataType.Timer;
+                            dbNumber = 0;
+                            address = int.Parse(input.Substring(1));
+                            varType = VarType.Counter;
+                            return;
+                        default:
+                            throw new InvalidAddressException(string.Format("{0} is not a valid address", input.Substring(0, 1)));
+                    }
+
+                    string txt2 = input.Substring(1);
+                    if (txt2.IndexOf(".") == -1)
+                        throw new InvalidAddressException("To few periods for DB address");
+
+                    address = int.Parse(txt2.Substring(0, txt2.IndexOf(".")));
+                    bitNumber = int.Parse(txt2.Substring(txt2.IndexOf(".") + 1));
+                    if (bitNumber > 7)
+                        throw new InvalidAddressException("Bit can only be 0-7");
+                    return;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net/PLCHelpers.cs

@@ -2,170 +2,10 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
+using DateTime = S7.Net.Types.DateTime;
 
 namespace S7.Net
 {
-
-    internal class PLCAddress
-    {
-        public DataType dataType;
-        public int DBNumber;
-        public int Address;
-        public int BitNumber;
-        public VarType varType;
-
-        public PLCAddress(string address)
-        {
-            ParseString(address);
-        }
-
-        private void ParseString(string address)
-        {
-            BitNumber = -1;
-            switch (address.Substring(0, 2))
-            {
-                case "DB":
-                    string[] strings = address.Split(new char[] { '.' });
-                    if (strings.Length < 2)
-                        throw new InvalidAddressException("To few periods for DB address");
-
-                    dataType = DataType.DataBlock;
-                    DBNumber = int.Parse(strings[0].Substring(2));
-                    Address = int.Parse(strings[1].Substring(3));
-
-                    string dbType = strings[1].Substring(0, 3);
-                    switch (dbType)
-                    {
-                        case "DBB":
-                            varType = VarType.Byte;
-                            return;
-                        case "DBW":
-                            varType = VarType.Word;
-                            return;
-                        case "DBD":
-                            varType = VarType.DWord;
-                            return;
-                        case "DBX":
-                            BitNumber = int.Parse(strings[2]);
-                            if (BitNumber > 7)
-                                throw new InvalidAddressException("Bit can only be 0-7");
-                            varType = VarType.Bit;
-                            return;
-                        default:
-                            throw new InvalidAddressException();
-                    }
-                case "EB":
-                    // Input byte
-                    dataType = DataType.Input;
-                    DBNumber = 0;
-                    Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(2));
-                    varType = VarType.Byte;
-                    return;
-                case "EW":
-                    // Input word
-                    dataType = DataType.Input;
-                    DBNumber = 0;
-                    Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(2));
-                    varType = VarType.Word;
-                    return;
-                case "ED":
-                    // Input double-word
-                    dataType = DataType.Input;
-                    DBNumber = 0;
-                    Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(2));
-                    varType = VarType.DWord;
-                    return;
-                case "AB":
-                    // Output byte
-                    dataType = DataType.Output;
-                    DBNumber = 0;
-                    Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(2));
-                    varType = VarType.Byte;
-                    return;
-                case "AW":
-                    // Output word
-                    dataType = DataType.Output;
-                    DBNumber = 0;
-                    Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(2));
-                    varType = VarType.Word;
-                    return;
-                case "AD":
-                    // Output double-word
-                    dataType = DataType.Output;
-                    DBNumber = 0;
-                    Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(2));
-                    varType = VarType.DWord;
-                    return;
-                case "MB":
-                    // Memory byte
-                    dataType = DataType.Memory;
-                    DBNumber = 0;
-                    Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(2));
-                    varType = VarType.Byte;
-                    return;
-                case "MW":
-                    // Memory word
-                    dataType = DataType.Memory;
-                    DBNumber = 0;
-                    Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(2));
-                    varType = VarType.Word;
-                    return;
-                case "MD":
-                    // Memory double-word
-                    dataType = DataType.Memory;
-                    DBNumber = 0;
-                    Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(2));
-                    varType = VarType.DWord;
-                    return;
-                default:
-                    switch (address.Substring(0, 1))
-                    {
-                        case "E":
-                        case "I":
-                            // Input
-                            dataType = DataType.Input;
-                            break;
-                        case "A":
-                        case "O":
-                            // Output
-                            dataType = DataType.Output;
-                            break;
-                        case "M":
-                            // Memory
-                            dataType = DataType.Memory;
-                            break;
-                        case "T":
-                            // Timer
-                            dataType = DataType.Timer;
-                            DBNumber = 0;
-                            Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(1));
-                            varType = VarType.Timer;
-                            return;
-                        case "Z":
-                        case "C":
-                            // Counter
-                            dataType = DataType.Timer;
-                            DBNumber = 0;
-                            Address = int.Parse(address.Substring(1));
-                            varType = VarType.Counter;
-                            return;
-                        default:
-                            throw new InvalidAddressException(string.Format("{0} is not a valid address", address.Substring(0, 1)));
-                    }
-
-                    string txt2 = address.Substring(1);
-                    if (txt2.IndexOf(".") == -1)
-                        throw new InvalidAddressException("To few periods for DB address");
-
-                    Address = int.Parse(txt2.Substring(0, txt2.IndexOf(".")));
-                    BitNumber = int.Parse(txt2.Substring(txt2.IndexOf(".") + 1));
-                    if (BitNumber > 7)
-                        throw new InvalidAddressException("Bit can only be 0-7");
-                    return;
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     public partial class Plc
     {
         /// <summary>
@@ -305,22 +145,31 @@ namespace S7.Net
                     }
                     else
                     {
-                        return Bit.ToBitArray(bytes);
+                        return Bit.ToBitArray(bytes, varCount);
+                    }
+                case VarType.DateTime:
+                    if (varCount == 1)
+                    {
+                        return DateTime.FromByteArray(bytes);
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        return DateTime.ToArray(bytes);
+                    }
+                case VarType.DateTimeLong:
+                    if (varCount == 1)
+                    {
+                        return DateTimeLong.FromByteArray(bytes);
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        return DateTimeLong.ToArray(bytes);
                     }
                 default:
                     return null;
             }
         }
 
-        /// <summary>
-        /// Sets the <see cref="LastErrorCode"/> to <see cref="ErrorCode.NoError"/> and <see cref="LastErrorString"/> to <see cref="string.Empty"/>.
-        /// </summary>
-        public void ClearLastError()
-        {
-            LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.NoError;
-            LastErrorString = string.Empty;
-        }
-
         /// <summary>
         /// Given a S7 <see cref="VarType"/> (Bool, Word, DWord, etc.), it returns how many bytes to read.
         /// </summary>
@@ -332,7 +181,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
             switch (varType)
             {
                 case VarType.Bit:
-                    return varCount; //TODO
+                    return varCount + 7 / 8;
                 case VarType.Byte:
                     return (varCount < 1) ? 1 : varCount;
                 case VarType.String:
@@ -348,6 +197,10 @@ namespace S7.Net
                 case VarType.DInt:
                 case VarType.Real:
                     return varCount * 4;
+                case VarType.DateTime:
+                    return varCount * 8;
+                case VarType.DateTimeLong:
+                    return varCount * 12;
                 default:
                     return 0;
             }
@@ -356,7 +209,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
         private byte[] GetS7ConnectionSetup()
         {
             return new byte[] {  3, 0, 0, 25, 2, 240, 128, 50, 1, 0, 0, 255, 255, 0, 8, 0, 0, 240, 0, 0, 3, 0, 3,
-                    7, 128 //Try 1920 PDU Size. Same as libnodave.
+                    3, 192 // Use 960 PDU size
             };
         }
 
@@ -367,7 +220,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
             {
                 // check for Return Code = Success
                 if (s7data[offset] != 0xff)
-                    throw new Exception(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes.ToString());
+                    throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes);
 
                 // to Data bytes
                 offset += 4;

S7.Net/PlcAsynchronous.cs

@@ -14,10 +14,9 @@ namespace S7.Net
     public partial class Plc
     {
         /// <summary>
-        /// Open a <see cref="Socket"/> and connects to the PLC, sending all the corrected package
-        /// and returning if the connection was successful (<see cref="ErrorCode.NoError"/>) of it was wrong.
+        /// Connects to the PLC and performs a COTP ConnectionRequest and S7 CommunicationSetup.
         /// </summary>
-        /// <returns>Returns ErrorCode.NoError if the connection was successful, otherwise check the ErrorCode</returns>
+        /// <returns>A task that represents the asynchronous open operation.</returns>
         public async Task OpenAsync()
         {
             await ConnectAsync();
@@ -26,23 +25,27 @@ namespace S7.Net
             var response = await COTP.TPDU.ReadAsync(stream);
             if (response.PDUType != 0xd0) //Connect Confirm
             {
-                throw new WrongNumberOfBytesException("Waiting for COTP connect confirm");
+                throw new InvalidDataException("Error reading Connection Confirm", response.TPkt.Data, 1, 0x0d);
             }
 
             await stream.WriteAsync(GetS7ConnectionSetup(), 0, 25);
 
             var s7data = await COTP.TSDU.ReadAsync(stream);
-            if (s7data == null || s7data[1] != 0x03) //Check for S7 Ack Data
-            {
-                throw new WrongNumberOfBytesException("Waiting for S7 connection setup");
-            }
+            if (s7data == null)
+                throw new WrongNumberOfBytesException("No data received in response to Communication Setup");
+
+            //Check for S7 Ack Data
+            if (s7data[1] != 0x03)
+                throw new InvalidDataException("Error reading Communication Setup response", s7data, 1, 0x03);
+
             MaxPDUSize = (short)(s7data[18] * 256 + s7data[19]);
         }
 
         private async Task ConnectAsync()
         {
             tcpClient = new TcpClient();
-            await tcpClient.ConnectAsync(IP, 102);
+            ConfigureConnection();
+            await tcpClient.ConnectAsync(IP, Port);
             stream = tcpClient.GetStream();
         }
 
@@ -100,7 +103,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
         public async Task<object> ReadAsync(string variable)
         {
             var adr = new PLCAddress(variable);
-            return await ReadAsync(adr.dataType, adr.DBNumber, adr.Address, adr.varType, 1, (byte)adr.BitNumber);
+            return await ReadAsync(adr.DataType, adr.DbNumber, adr.StartByte, adr.VarType, 1, (byte)adr.BitNumber);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -142,7 +145,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <returns>The number of read bytes</returns>
         public async Task<Tuple<int, object>> ReadClassAsync(object sourceClass, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
         {
-            int numBytes = Class.GetClassSize(sourceClass);
+            int numBytes = (int)Class.GetClassSize(sourceClass);
             if (numBytes <= 0)
             {
                 throw new Exception("The size of the class is less than 1 byte and therefore cannot be read");
@@ -202,15 +205,10 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="dataItems">List of dataitems that contains the list of variables that must be read. Maximum 20 dataitems are accepted.</param>
         public async Task<List<DataItem>> ReadMultipleVarsAsync(List<DataItem> dataItems)
         {
-            int cntBytes = dataItems.Sum(dataItem => VarTypeToByteLength(dataItem.VarType, dataItem.Count));
-
-            //TODO: Figure out how to use MaxPDUSize here
             //Snap7 seems to choke on PDU sizes above 256 even if snap7 
             //replies with bigger PDU size in connection setup.
-            if (dataItems.Count > 20)
-                throw new Exception("Too many vars requested");
-            if (cntBytes > 222)
-                throw new Exception("Too many bytes requested"); // TODO: proper TDU check + split in multiple requests
+            AssertPduSizeForRead(dataItems);
+            
             try
             {
                 // first create the header
@@ -227,19 +225,17 @@ namespace S7.Net
 
                 var s7data = await COTP.TSDU.ReadAsync(stream); //TODO use Async
                 if (s7data == null || s7data[14] != 0xff)
-                    throw new Exception(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes.ToString());
+                    throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes);
 
                 ParseDataIntoDataItems(s7data, dataItems);
             }
             catch (SocketException socketException)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.ReadData;
-                LastErrorString = socketException.Message;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.ReadData, socketException);
             }
             catch (Exception exc)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.ReadData;
-                LastErrorString = exc.Message;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.ReadData, exc);
             }
             return dataItems;
         }
@@ -252,8 +248,8 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="db">Address of the memory area (if you want to read DB1, this is set to 1). This must be set also for other memory area types: counters, timers,etc.</param>
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start byte address. If you want to write DB1.DBW200, this is 200.</param>
         /// <param name="value">Bytes to write. If more than 200, multiple requests will be made.</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public async Task<ErrorCode> WriteBytesAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, byte[] value)
+        /// <returns>A task that represents the asynchronous write operation.</returns>
+        public async Task WriteBytesAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, byte[] value)
         {
             int localIndex = 0;
             int count = value.Length;
@@ -263,15 +259,10 @@ namespace S7.Net
                 //Snap7 seems to choke on PDU sizes above 256 even if snap7 
                 //replies with bigger PDU size in connection setup.
                 var maxToWrite = (int)Math.Min(count, 200);
-                ErrorCode lastError = await WriteBytesWithASingleRequestAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr + localIndex, value.Skip(localIndex).Take(maxToWrite).ToArray());
-                if (lastError != ErrorCode.NoError)
-                {
-                    return lastError;
-                }
+                await WriteBytesWithASingleRequestAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr + localIndex, value.Skip(localIndex).Take(maxToWrite).ToArray());
                 count -= maxToWrite;
                 localIndex += maxToWrite;
             }
-            return ErrorCode.NoError;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -282,19 +273,13 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start byte address. If you want to write DB1.DBW200, this is 200.</param>
         /// <param name="bitAdr">The address of the bit. (0-7)</param>
         /// <param name="value">Bytes to write. If more than 200, multiple requests will be made.</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public async Task<ErrorCode> WriteBitAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, bool value)
+        /// <returns>A task that represents the asynchronous write operation.</returns>
+        public async Task WriteBitAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, bool value)
         {
             if (bitAdr < 0 || bitAdr > 7)
                 throw new InvalidAddressException(string.Format("Addressing Error: You can only reference bitwise locations 0-7. Address {0} is invalid", bitAdr));
 
-            ErrorCode lastError = await WriteBitWithASingleRequestAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, value);
-            if (lastError != ErrorCode.NoError)
-            {
-                return lastError;
-            }
-
-            return ErrorCode.NoError;
+            await WriteBitWithASingleRequestAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, value);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -305,13 +290,13 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start byte address. If you want to write DB1.DBW200, this is 200.</param>
         /// <param name="bitAdr">The address of the bit. (0-7)</param>
         /// <param name="value">Bytes to write. If more than 200, multiple requests will be made.</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public async Task<ErrorCode> WriteBitAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, int value)
+        /// <returns>A task that represents the asynchronous write operation.</returns>
+        public async Task WriteBitAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, int value)
         {
             if (value < 0 || value > 1)
                 throw new ArgumentException("Value must be 0 or 1", nameof(value));
 
-            return await WriteBitAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, value == 1);
+            await WriteBitAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, value == 1);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -324,26 +309,29 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start byte address. If you want to read DB1.DBW200, this is 200.</param>
         /// <param name="value">Bytes to write. The lenght of this parameter can't be higher than 200. If you need more, use recursion.</param>
         /// <param name="bitAdr">The address of the bit. (0-7)</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public async Task<ErrorCode> WriteAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, object value, int bitAdr = -1)
+        /// <returns>A task that represents the asynchronous write operation.</returns>
+        public async Task WriteAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, object value, int bitAdr = -1)
         {
             if (bitAdr != -1)
             {
                 //Must be writing a bit value as bitAdr is specified
                 if (value is bool)
                 {
-                    return await WriteBitAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, (bool)value);
+                    await WriteBitAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, (bool) value);
                 }
                 else if (value is int intValue)
                 {
                     if (intValue < 0 || intValue > 7)
-                        throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(string.Format("Addressing Error: You can only reference bitwise locations 0-7. Address {0} is invalid", bitAdr), nameof(bitAdr));
+                        throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(
+                            string.Format(
+                                "Addressing Error: You can only reference bitwise locations 0-7. Address {0} is invalid",
+                                bitAdr), nameof(bitAdr));
 
-                    return await WriteBitAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, intValue == 1);
+                    await WriteBitAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, intValue == 1);
                 }
-                throw new ArgumentException("Value must be a bool or an int to write a bit", nameof(value));
+                else throw new ArgumentException("Value must be a bool or an int to write a bit", nameof(value));
             }
-            return await WriteBytesAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, Serialization.SerializeValue(value));
+            else await WriteBytesAsync(dataType, db, startByteAdr, Serialization.SerializeValue(value));
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -352,11 +340,11 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="variable">Input strings like "DB1.DBX0.0", "DB20.DBD200", "MB20", "T45", etc.</param>
         /// <param name="value">Value to be written to the PLC</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public async Task<ErrorCode> WriteAsync(string variable, object value)
+        /// <returns>A task that represents the asynchronous write operation.</returns>
+        public async Task WriteAsync(string variable, object value)
         {
             var adr = new PLCAddress(variable);
-            return await WriteAsync(adr.dataType, adr.DBNumber, adr.Address, value, adr.BitNumber);
+            await WriteAsync(adr.DataType, adr.DbNumber, adr.StartByte, value, adr.BitNumber);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -365,12 +353,11 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="structValue">The struct to be written</param>
         /// <param name="db">Db address</param>
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start bytes on the PLC</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public async Task<ErrorCode> WriteStructAsync(object structValue, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
+        /// <returns>A task that represents the asynchronous write operation.</returns>
+        public async Task WriteStructAsync(object structValue, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
         {
             var bytes = Struct.ToBytes(structValue).ToList();
-            var errCode = await WriteBytesAsync(DataType.DataBlock, db, startByteAdr, bytes.ToArray());
-            return errCode;
+            await WriteBytesAsync(DataType.DataBlock, db, startByteAdr, bytes.ToArray());
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -379,12 +366,12 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="classValue">The class to be written</param>
         /// <param name="db">Db address</param>
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start bytes on the PLC</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public async Task<ErrorCode> WriteClassAsync(object classValue, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
+        /// <returns>A task that represents the asynchronous write operation.</returns>
+        public async Task WriteClassAsync(object classValue, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
         {
-            var bytes = Types.Class.ToBytes(classValue).ToList();
-            var errCode = await WriteBytesAsync(DataType.DataBlock, db, startByteAdr, bytes.ToArray());
-            return errCode;
+            byte[] bytes = new byte[(int)Class.GetClassSize(classValue)];
+            Types.Class.ToBytes(classValue, bytes);
+            await WriteBytesAsync(DataType.DataBlock, db, startByteAdr, bytes);
         }
 
         private async Task<byte[]> ReadBytesWithSingleRequestAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int count)
@@ -401,8 +388,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
             await stream.WriteAsync(package.Array, 0, package.Array.Length);
 
             var s7data = await COTP.TSDU.ReadAsync(stream);
-            if (s7data == null || s7data[14] != 0xff)
-                throw new Exception(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes.ToString());
+            AssertReadResponse(s7data, count);
 
             for (int cnt = 0; cnt < count; cnt++)
                 bytes[cnt] = s7data[cnt + 18];
@@ -418,6 +404,8 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <returns>Task that completes when response from PLC is parsed.</returns>
         public async Task WriteAsync(params DataItem[] dataItems)
         {
+            AssertPduSizeForWrite(dataItems);
+
             var message = new ByteArray();
             var length = S7WriteMultiple.CreateRequest(message, dataItems);
             await stream.WriteAsync(message.Array, 0, length).ConfigureAwait(false);
@@ -427,15 +415,14 @@ namespace S7.Net
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Writes up to 200 bytes to the PLC and returns NoError if successful. You must specify the memory area type, memory are address, byte start address and bytes count.
-        /// If the write was not successful, check LastErrorCode or LastErrorString.
+        /// Writes up to 200 bytes to the PLC. You must specify the memory area type, memory are address, byte start address and bytes count.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="dataType">Data type of the memory area, can be DB, Timer, Counter, Merker(Memory), Input, Output.</param>
         /// <param name="db">Address of the memory area (if you want to read DB1, this is set to 1). This must be set also for other memory area types: counters, timers,etc.</param>
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start byte address. If you want to read DB1.DBW200, this is 200.</param>
         /// <param name="value">Bytes to write. The lenght of this parameter can't be higher than 200. If you need more, use recursion.</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        private async Task<ErrorCode> WriteBytesWithASingleRequestAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, byte[] value)
+        /// <returns>A task that represents the asynchronous write operation.</returns>
+        private async Task WriteBytesWithASingleRequestAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, byte[] value)
         {
             byte[] bReceive = new byte[513];
             int varCount = 0;
@@ -471,27 +458,23 @@ namespace S7.Net
                 var s7data = await COTP.TSDU.ReadAsync(stream);
                 if (s7data == null || s7data[14] != 0xff)
                 {
-                    throw new Exception(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes.ToString());
+                    throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes);
                 }
-
-                return ErrorCode.NoError;
             }
             catch (Exception exc)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.WriteData;
-                LastErrorString = exc.Message;
-                return LastErrorCode;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WriteData, exc);
             }
         }
 
-        private async Task<ErrorCode> WriteBitWithASingleRequestAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, bool bitValue)
+        private async Task WriteBitWithASingleRequestAsync(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, bool bitValue)
         {
             byte[] bReceive = new byte[513];
             int varCount = 0;
 
             try
             {
-                var value = new[] { bitValue ? (byte)1 : (byte)0 };
+                var value = new[] {bitValue ? (byte) 1 : (byte) 0};
                 varCount = value.Length;
                 // first create the header
                 int packageSize = 35 + value.Length;
@@ -520,15 +503,11 @@ namespace S7.Net
 
                 var s7data = await COTP.TSDU.ReadAsync(stream);
                 if (s7data == null || s7data[14] != 0xff)
-                    throw new Exception(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes.ToString());
-
-                return ErrorCode.NoError;
+                    throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes);
             }
             catch (Exception exc)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.WriteData;
-                LastErrorString = exc.Message;
-                return LastErrorCode;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WriteData, exc);
             }
         }
     }

S7.Net/PlcException.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+using System;
+
+namespace S7.Net
+{
+    #if NET_FULL
+    [Serializable]
+    #endif
+    public class PlcException : Exception
+    {
+        public ErrorCode ErrorCode { get; }
+
+        public PlcException(ErrorCode errorCode) : this(errorCode, $"PLC communication failed with error '{errorCode}'.")
+        {
+        }
+
+        public PlcException(ErrorCode errorCode, Exception innerException) : this(errorCode, innerException.Message,
+            innerException)
+        {
+        }
+
+        public PlcException(ErrorCode errorCode, string message) : base(message)
+        {
+            ErrorCode = errorCode;
+        }
+
+        public PlcException(ErrorCode errorCode, string message, Exception inner) : base(message, inner)
+        {
+            ErrorCode = errorCode;
+        }
+
+        #if NET_FULL
+        protected PlcException(System.Runtime.Serialization.SerializationInfo info,
+            System.Runtime.Serialization.StreamingContext context) : base(info, context)
+        {
+            ErrorCode = (ErrorCode) info.GetInt32(nameof(ErrorCode));
+        }
+        #endif
+    }
+}

S7.Net/PlcSynchronous.cs

@@ -11,71 +11,61 @@ namespace S7.Net
     public partial class Plc
     {
         /// <summary>
-        /// Open a <see cref="Socket"/> and connects to the PLC, sending all the corrected package
-        /// and returning if the connection was successful (<see cref="ErrorCode.NoError"/>) of it was wrong.
+        /// Connects to the PLC and performs a COTP ConnectionRequest and S7 CommunicationSetup.
         /// </summary>
-        /// <returns>Returns ErrorCode.NoError if the connection was successful, otherwise check the ErrorCode</returns>
-        public ErrorCode Open()
+        public void Open()
         {
-            if (Connect() != ErrorCode.NoError)
-            {
-                return LastErrorCode;
-            }
+            Connect();
+
             try
             {
                 stream.Write(ConnectionRequest.GetCOTPConnectionRequest(CPU, Rack, Slot), 0, 22);
                 var response = COTP.TPDU.Read(stream);
                 if (response.PDUType != 0xd0) //Connect Confirm
                 {
-                    throw new WrongNumberOfBytesException("Waiting for COTP connect confirm");
+                    throw new InvalidDataException("Error reading Connection Confirm", response.TPkt.Data, 1, 0x0d);
                 }
 
                 stream.Write(GetS7ConnectionSetup(), 0, 25);
 
                 var s7data = COTP.TSDU.Read(stream);
-                if (s7data == null || s7data[1] != 0x03) //Check for S7 Ack Data
-                {
-                    throw new WrongNumberOfBytesException("Waiting for S7 connection setup");
-                }
+                if (s7data == null)
+                    throw new WrongNumberOfBytesException("No data received in response to Communication Setup");
+
+                //Check for S7 Ack Data
+                if (s7data[1] != 0x03)
+                    throw new InvalidDataException("Error reading Communication Setup response", s7data, 1, 0x03);
+
                 MaxPDUSize = (short)(s7data[18] * 256 + s7data[19]);
             }
             catch (Exception exc)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.ConnectionError;
-                LastErrorString = string.Format("Couldn't establish the connection to {0}.\nMessage: {1}", IP, exc.Message);
-                return ErrorCode.ConnectionError;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.ConnectionError,
+                    $"Couldn't establish the connection to {IP}.\nMessage: {exc.Message}", exc);
             }
-            return ErrorCode.NoError;
         }
 
-        private ErrorCode Connect()
+        private void Connect()
         {
             try
             {
                 tcpClient = new TcpClient();
-                tcpClient.Connect(IP, 102);
+                ConfigureConnection();
+                tcpClient.Connect(IP, Port);
                 stream = tcpClient.GetStream();
             }
             catch (SocketException sex)
             {
                 // see https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms740668(v=vs.85).aspx
-                if (sex.SocketErrorCode == SocketError.TimedOut)
-                {
-                    LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.IPAddressNotAvailable;
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.ConnectionError;
-                }
-
-                LastErrorString = sex.Message;
+                throw new PlcException(
+                    sex.SocketErrorCode == SocketError.TimedOut
+                        ? ErrorCode.IPAddressNotAvailable
+                        : ErrorCode.ConnectionError, sex);
             }
             catch (Exception ex)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.ConnectionError;
-                LastErrorString = ex.Message;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.ConnectionError, ex);
             }
-            return LastErrorCode;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -133,7 +123,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
         public object Read(string variable)
         {
             var adr = new PLCAddress(variable);
-            return Read(adr.dataType, adr.DBNumber, adr.Address, adr.varType, 1, (byte)adr.BitNumber);
+            return Read(adr.DataType, adr.DbNumber, adr.StartByte, adr.VarType, 1, (byte)adr.BitNumber);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -176,7 +166,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <returns>The number of read bytes</returns>
         public int ReadClass(object sourceClass, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
         {
-            int numBytes = Class.GetClassSize(sourceClass);
+            int numBytes = (int)Class.GetClassSize(sourceClass);
             if (numBytes <= 0)
             {
                 throw new Exception("The size of the class is less than 1 byte and therefore cannot be read");
@@ -231,8 +221,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="db">Address of the memory area (if you want to read DB1, this is set to 1). This must be set also for other memory area types: counters, timers,etc.</param>
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start byte address. If you want to write DB1.DBW200, this is 200.</param>
         /// <param name="value">Bytes to write. If more than 200, multiple requests will be made.</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public ErrorCode WriteBytes(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, byte[] value)
+        public void WriteBytes(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, byte[] value)
         {
             int localIndex = 0;
             int count = value.Length;
@@ -241,16 +230,11 @@ namespace S7.Net
                 //TODO: Figure out how to use MaxPDUSize here
                 //Snap7 seems to choke on PDU sizes above 256 even if snap7 
                 //replies with bigger PDU size in connection setup.
-                var maxToWrite = (int)Math.Min(count, 200);
-                ErrorCode lastError = WriteBytesWithASingleRequest(dataType, db, startByteAdr + localIndex, value.Skip(localIndex).Take(maxToWrite).ToArray());
-                if (lastError != ErrorCode.NoError)
-                {
-                    return lastError;
-                }
+                var maxToWrite = Math.Min(count, MaxPDUSize - 28);//TODO tested only when the MaxPDUSize is 480
+                WriteBytesWithASingleRequest(dataType, db, startByteAdr + localIndex, value.Skip(localIndex).Take(maxToWrite).ToArray());
                 count -= maxToWrite;
                 localIndex += maxToWrite;
             }
-            return ErrorCode.NoError;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -261,36 +245,28 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start byte address. If you want to write DB1.DBW200, this is 200.</param>
         /// <param name="bitAdr">The address of the bit. (0-7)</param>
         /// <param name="value">Bytes to write. If more than 200, multiple requests will be made.</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public ErrorCode WriteBit(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, bool value)
+        public void WriteBit(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, bool value)
         {
             if (bitAdr < 0 || bitAdr > 7)
                 throw new InvalidAddressException(string.Format("Addressing Error: You can only reference bitwise locations 0-7. Address {0} is invalid", bitAdr));
 
-            ErrorCode lastError = WriteBitWithASingleRequest(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, value);
-            if (lastError != ErrorCode.NoError)
-            {
-                return lastError;
-            }
-
-            return ErrorCode.NoError;
+            WriteBitWithASingleRequest(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, value);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Write a single bit from a DB with the specified index.
+        /// Write a single bit to a DB with the specified index.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="dataType">Data type of the memory area, can be DB, Timer, Counter, Merker(Memory), Input, Output.</param>
-        /// <param name="db">Address of the memory area (if you want to read DB1, this is set to 1). This must be set also for other memory area types: counters, timers,etc.</param>
+        /// <param name="db">Address of the memory area (if you want to write DB1, this is set to 1). This must be set also for other memory area types: counters, timers,etc.</param>
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start byte address. If you want to write DB1.DBW200, this is 200.</param>
         /// <param name="bitAdr">The address of the bit. (0-7)</param>
-        /// <param name="value">Bytes to write. If more than 200, multiple requests will be made.</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public ErrorCode WriteBit(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, int value)
+        /// <param name="value">Value to write (0 or 1).</param>
+        public void WriteBit(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, int value)
         {
             if (value < 0 || value > 1)
                 throw new ArgumentException("Value must be 0 or 1", nameof(value));
 
-            return WriteBit(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, value == 1);
+            WriteBit(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, value == 1);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -303,26 +279,29 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start byte address. If you want to read DB1.DBW200, this is 200.</param>
         /// <param name="value">Bytes to write. The lenght of this parameter can't be higher than 200. If you need more, use recursion.</param>
         /// <param name="bitAdr">The address of the bit. (0-7)</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public ErrorCode Write(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, object value, int bitAdr = -1)
+        public void Write(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, object value, int bitAdr = -1)
         {
             if (bitAdr != -1)
             {
                 //Must be writing a bit value as bitAdr is specified
                 if (value is bool)
                 {
-                    return WriteBit(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, (bool)value);
+                    WriteBit(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, (bool) value);
                 }
                 else if (value is int intValue)
                 {
                     if (intValue < 0 || intValue > 7)
-                        throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(string.Format("Addressing Error: You can only reference bitwise locations 0-7. Address {0} is invalid", bitAdr), nameof(bitAdr));
+                        throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(
+                            string.Format(
+                                "Addressing Error: You can only reference bitwise locations 0-7. Address {0} is invalid",
+                                bitAdr), nameof(bitAdr));
 
-                    return WriteBit(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, intValue == 1);
+                    WriteBit(dataType, db, startByteAdr, bitAdr, intValue == 1);
                 }
-                throw new ArgumentException("Value must be a bool or an int to write a bit", nameof(value));
+                else
+                    throw new ArgumentException("Value must be a bool or an int to write a bit", nameof(value));
             }
-            return WriteBytes(dataType, db, startByteAdr, Serialization.SerializeValue(value));
+            else WriteBytes(dataType, db, startByteAdr, Serialization.SerializeValue(value));
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -331,11 +310,10 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="variable">Input strings like "DB1.DBX0.0", "DB20.DBD200", "MB20", "T45", etc.</param>
         /// <param name="value">Value to be written to the PLC</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public ErrorCode Write(string variable, object value)
+        public void Write(string variable, object value)
         {
             var adr = new PLCAddress(variable);
-            return Write(adr.dataType, adr.DBNumber, adr.Address, value, adr.BitNumber);
+            Write(adr.DataType, adr.DbNumber, adr.StartByte, value, adr.BitNumber);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -344,10 +322,9 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="structValue">The struct to be written</param>
         /// <param name="db">Db address</param>
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start bytes on the PLC</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public ErrorCode WriteStruct(object structValue, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
+        public void WriteStruct(object structValue, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
         {
-            return WriteStructAsync(structValue, db, startByteAdr).Result;
+            WriteStructAsync(structValue, db, startByteAdr).GetAwaiter().GetResult();
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -356,10 +333,9 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="classValue">The class to be written</param>
         /// <param name="db">Db address</param>
         /// <param name="startByteAdr">Start bytes on the PLC</param>
-        /// <returns>NoError if it was successful, or the error is specified</returns>
-        public ErrorCode WriteClass(object classValue, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
+        public void WriteClass(object classValue, int db, int startByteAdr = 0)
         {
-            return WriteClassAsync(classValue, db, startByteAdr).Result;
+            WriteClassAsync(classValue, db, startByteAdr).GetAwaiter().GetResult();
         }
 
         private byte[] ReadBytesWithSingleRequest(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int count)
@@ -377,25 +353,16 @@ namespace S7.Net
                 stream.Write(package.Array, 0, package.Array.Length);
 
                 var s7data = COTP.TSDU.Read(stream);
-                if (s7data == null || s7data[14] != 0xff)
-                    throw new Exception(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes.ToString());
+                AssertReadResponse(s7data, count);
 
                 for (int cnt = 0; cnt < count; cnt++)
                     bytes[cnt] = s7data[cnt + 18];
 
                 return bytes;
             }
-            catch (SocketException socketException)
-            {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.ReadData;
-                LastErrorString = socketException.Message;
-                return null;
-            }
             catch (Exception exc)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.ReadData;
-                LastErrorString = exc.Message;
-                return null;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.ReadData, exc);
             }
         }
 
@@ -406,6 +373,8 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="dataItems">The DataItem(s) to write to the PLC.</param>
         public void Write(params DataItem[] dataItems)
         {
+            AssertPduSizeForWrite(dataItems);
+
             var message = new ByteArray();
             var length = S7WriteMultiple.CreateRequest(message, dataItems);
             stream.Write(message.Array, 0, length);
@@ -414,7 +383,7 @@ namespace S7.Net
             S7WriteMultiple.ParseResponse(response, response.Length, dataItems);
         }
 
-        private ErrorCode WriteBytesWithASingleRequest(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, byte[] value)
+        private void WriteBytesWithASingleRequest(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, byte[] value)
         {
             int varCount = 0;
             try
@@ -424,8 +393,9 @@ namespace S7.Net
                 int packageSize = 35 + value.Length;
                 ByteArray package = new ByteArray(packageSize);
 
-                package.Add(new byte[] { 3, 0, 0 });
-                package.Add((byte)packageSize);
+                package.Add(new byte[] { 3, 0 });
+                //complete package size
+                package.Add(Int.ToByteArray((short)packageSize));
                 package.Add(new byte[] { 2, 0xf0, 0x80, 0x32, 1, 0, 0 });
                 package.Add(Word.ToByteArray((ushort)(varCount - 1)));
                 package.Add(new byte[] { 0, 0x0e });
@@ -448,26 +418,22 @@ namespace S7.Net
                 var s7data = COTP.TSDU.Read(stream);
                 if (s7data == null || s7data[14] != 0xff)
                 {
-                    throw new Exception(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes.ToString());
+                    throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes);
                 }
-
-                return ErrorCode.NoError;
             }
             catch (Exception exc)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.WriteData;
-                LastErrorString = exc.Message;
-                return LastErrorCode;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WriteData, exc);
             }
         }
 
-        private ErrorCode WriteBitWithASingleRequest(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, bool bitValue)
+        private void WriteBitWithASingleRequest(DataType dataType, int db, int startByteAdr, int bitAdr, bool bitValue)
         {
             int varCount = 0;
 
             try
             {
-                var value = new[] { bitValue ? (byte)1 : (byte)0 };
+                var value = new[] {bitValue ? (byte) 1 : (byte) 0};
                 varCount = value.Length;
                 // first create the header
                 int packageSize = 35 + value.Length;
@@ -496,15 +462,11 @@ namespace S7.Net
 
                 var s7data = COTP.TSDU.Read(stream);
                 if (s7data == null || s7data[14] != 0xff)
-                    throw new Exception(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes.ToString());
-
-                return ErrorCode.NoError;
+                    throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes);
             }
             catch (Exception exc)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.WriteData;
-                LastErrorString = exc.Message;
-                return LastErrorCode;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WriteData, exc);
             }
         }
 
@@ -518,20 +480,15 @@ namespace S7.Net
         /// <param name="dataItems">List of dataitems that contains the list of variables that must be read. Maximum 20 dataitems are accepted.</param>
         public void ReadMultipleVars(List<DataItem> dataItems)
         {
-            int cntBytes = dataItems.Sum(dataItem => VarTypeToByteLength(dataItem.VarType, dataItem.Count));
-
-            //TODO: Figure out how to use MaxPDUSize here
             //Snap7 seems to choke on PDU sizes above 256 even if snap7 
             //replies with bigger PDU size in connection setup.
-            if (dataItems.Count > 20)
-                throw new Exception("Too many vars requested");
-            if (cntBytes > 222)
-                throw new Exception("Too many bytes requested"); // TODO: proper TDU check + split in multiple requests
+            AssertPduSizeForRead(dataItems);
+
             try
             {
                 // first create the header
                 int packageSize = 19 + (dataItems.Count * 12);
-                Types.ByteArray package = new ByteArray(packageSize);
+                ByteArray package = new ByteArray(packageSize);
                 package.Add(ReadHeaderPackage(dataItems.Count));
                 // package.Add(0x02);  // datenart
                 foreach (var dataItem in dataItems)
@@ -543,19 +500,13 @@ namespace S7.Net
 
                 var s7data = COTP.TSDU.Read(stream); //TODO use Async
                 if (s7data == null || s7data[14] != 0xff)
-                    throw new Exception(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes.ToString());
+                    throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.WrongNumberReceivedBytes);
 
                 ParseDataIntoDataItems(s7data, dataItems);
             }
-            catch (SocketException socketException)
-            {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.ReadData;
-                LastErrorString = socketException.Message;
-            }
             catch (Exception exc)
             {
-                LastErrorCode = ErrorCode.ReadData;
-                LastErrorString = exc.Message;
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.ReadData, exc);
             }
         }
     }

S7.Net/Protocol/ConnectionRequest.cs

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.Protocol
                     3, 0,   //Destination TASP
                     192,    //Parameter Code (tpdu-size)
                     1,      //Parameter Length
-                    9       //TPDU Size (2^9 = 512)
+                    10      //TPDU Size (2^10 = 1024)
                 };
 
             switch (cpu)
@@ -34,6 +34,14 @@ namespace S7.Net.Protocol
                     bSend1[17] = 0x10;
                     bSend1[18] = 0x00;
                     break;
+                case CpuType.Logo0BA8:
+                    // These values are taken from NodeS7, it's not verified if these are
+                    // exact requirements to connect to the Logo0BA8.
+                    bSend1[13] = 0x01;
+                    bSend1[14] = 0x00;
+                    bSend1[17] = 0x01;
+                    bSend1[18] = 0x02;
+                    break;
                 case CpuType.S71200:
                 case CpuType.S7300:
                 case CpuType.S7400:

S7.Net/Protocol/S7WriteMultiple.cs

@@ -20,43 +20,55 @@ namespace S7.Net.Protocol
             var dataOffset = paramOffset + paramSize;
             var data = new ByteArray();
 
+            var itemCount = 0;
+
             foreach (var item in dataItems)
             {
+                itemCount++;
                 message.Add(Parameter.Template);
-                var value = Serialization.SerializeValue(item.Value);
+                var value = Serialization.SerializeDataItem(item);
                 var wordLen = item.Value is bool ? 1 : 2;
 
                 message[paramOffset + Parameter.Offsets.WordLength] = (byte) wordLen;
                 Serialization.SetWordAt(message, paramOffset + Parameter.Offsets.Amount, (ushort) value.Length);
                 Serialization.SetWordAt(message, paramOffset + Parameter.Offsets.DbNumber, (ushort) item.DB);
                 message[paramOffset + Parameter.Offsets.Area] = (byte) item.DataType;
-                Serialization.SetAddressAt(message, paramOffset + Parameter.Offsets.Address, item.StartByteAdr, item.BitAdr);
-
-                paramOffset += Parameter.Template.Length;
 
                 data.Add(0x00);
                 if (item.Value is bool b)
                 {
+                    if (item.BitAdr > 7)
+                        throw new ArgumentException(
+                            $"Cannot read bit with invalid {nameof(item.BitAdr)} '{item.BitAdr}'.", nameof(dataItems));
+
+                    Serialization.SetAddressAt(message, paramOffset + Parameter.Offsets.Address, item.StartByteAdr,
+                        item.BitAdr);
+
                     data.Add(0x03);
                     data.AddWord(1);
 
-                    data.Add(b ? (byte) 1 : (byte) 0);
-                    data.Add(0);
+                    data.Add(b ? (byte)1 : (byte)0);
+                    if (itemCount != dataItems.Length) { 
+                        data.Add(0);
+                    }
                 }
                 else
                 {
+                    Serialization.SetAddressAt(message, paramOffset + Parameter.Offsets.Address, item.StartByteAdr, 0);
+
                     var len = value.Length;
                     data.Add(0x04);
                     data.AddWord((ushort) (len << 3));
                     data.Add(value);
                     
-                    if ((len & 0b1) == 1)
+                    if ((len & 0b1) == 1 && itemCount != dataItems.Length)
                     {
                         data.Add(0);
                     }
                 }
-            }
 
+                paramOffset += Parameter.Template.Length;
+            }
 
             message.Add(data.Array);
 

S7.Net/Protocol/Serialization.cs

@@ -11,6 +11,16 @@ namespace S7.Net.Protocol
             return (ushort)((buf[index] << 8) + buf[index]);
         }
 
+        public static byte[] SerializeDataItem(DataItem dataItem)
+        {
+            if (dataItem.Value is string s)
+                return dataItem.VarType == VarType.StringEx
+                    ? StringEx.ToByteArray(s, dataItem.Count)
+                    : Types.String.ToByteArray(s, dataItem.Count);
+
+            return SerializeValue(dataItem.Value);
+        }
+
         public static byte[] SerializeValue(object value)
         {
             switch (value.GetType().Name)
@@ -31,6 +41,8 @@ namespace S7.Net.Protocol
                     return Types.Double.ToByteArray((double)value);
                 case "Single":
                     return Types.Single.ToByteArray((float)value);
+                case "DateTime":
+                    return Types.DateTime.ToByteArray((System.DateTime) value);
                 case "Byte[]":
                     return (byte[])value;
                 case "Int16[]":
@@ -46,7 +58,14 @@ namespace S7.Net.Protocol
                 case "Single[]":
                     return Types.Single.ToByteArray((float[])value);
                 case "String":
-                    return Types.String.ToByteArray(value as string);
+                    // Hack: This is backwards compatible with the old code, but functionally it's broken
+                    // if the consumer does not pay attention to string length.
+                    var stringVal = (string) value;
+                    return Types.String.ToByteArray(stringVal, stringVal.Length);
+                case "DateTime[]":
+                    return Types.DateTime.ToByteArray((System.DateTime[]) value);
+                case "DateTimeLong[]":
+                    return Types.DateTimeLong.ToByteArray((System.DateTime[])value);
                 default:
                     throw new InvalidVariableTypeException();
             }

S7.Net/S7.Net.csproj

@@ -23,5 +23,6 @@
   
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.SourceLink.GitHub" Version="1.0.0-beta-62925-02" PrivateAssets="All" />
+    <PackageReference Include="SourceLink.Copy.PdbFiles" Version="2.8.3" PrivateAssets="All" />
   </ItemGroup>
-</Project>
+</Project>

S7.Net/Types/Bit.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-using System.Collections;
+using System;
+using System.Collections;
 
 namespace S7.Net.Types
 {
@@ -16,12 +17,27 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Converts an array of bytes to a BitArray
+        /// Converts an array of bytes to a BitArray.
         /// </summary>
-        public static BitArray ToBitArray(byte[] bytes)
+        /// <param name="bytes">The bytes to convert.</param>
+        /// <returns>A BitArray with the same number of bits and equal values as <paramref name="bytes"/>.</returns>
+        public static BitArray ToBitArray(byte[] bytes) => ToBitArray(bytes, bytes.Length * 8);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Converts an array of bytes to a BitArray.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="bytes">The bytes to convert.</param>
+        /// <param name="length">The number of bits to return.</param>
+        /// <returns>A BitArray with <paramref name="length"/> bits.</returns>
+        public static BitArray ToBitArray(byte[] bytes, int length)
         {
-            BitArray bitArr = new BitArray(bytes);
-            return bitArr;
+            if (length > bytes.Length * 8) throw new ArgumentException($"Not enough data in bytes to return {length} bits.", nameof(bytes));
+
+            var bitArr = new BitArray(bytes);
+            var bools = new bool[length];
+            for (var i = 0; i < length; i++) bools[i] = bitArr[i];
+
+            return new BitArray(bools);
         }
     }
 }

S7.Net/Types/Class.cs

@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
 
         }
 
-        private static double GetIncreasedNumberOfBytes(double startingNumberOfBytes, Type type)
+        private static double GetIncreasedNumberOfBytes(double numBytes, Type type)
         {
-            double numBytes = startingNumberOfBytes;
-
             switch (type.Name)
             {
                 case "Boolean":
@@ -61,7 +59,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
                     break;
                 default:
                     var propertyClass = Activator.CreateInstance(type);
-                    numBytes += GetClassSize(propertyClass);
+                    numBytes = GetClassSize(propertyClass, numBytes, true);
                     break;
             }
 
@@ -73,10 +71,8 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="instance">An instance of the class</param>
         /// <returns>the number of bytes</returns>
-        public static int GetClassSize(object instance)
+        public static double GetClassSize(object instance, double numBytes = 0.0, bool isInnerProperty = false)
         {
-            double numBytes = 0.0;
-
             var properties = GetAccessableProperties(instance.GetType());
             foreach (var property in properties)
             {
@@ -89,6 +85,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
                         throw new Exception("Cannot determine size of class, because an array is defined which has no fixed size greater than zero.");
                     }
 
+                    IncrementToEven(ref numBytes);
                     for (int i = 0; i < array.Length; i++)
                     {
                         numBytes = GetIncreasedNumberOfBytes(numBytes, elementType);
@@ -99,11 +96,14 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
                     numBytes = GetIncreasedNumberOfBytes(numBytes, property.PropertyType);
                 }
             }
-            // enlarge numBytes to next even number because S7-Structs in a DB always will be resized to an even byte count
-            numBytes = Math.Ceiling(numBytes);
-            if ((numBytes / 2 - Math.Floor(numBytes / 2.0)) > 0)
-                numBytes++;
-            return (int)numBytes;
+            if (false == isInnerProperty)
+            {
+                // enlarge numBytes to next even number because S7-Structs in a DB always will be resized to an even byte count
+                numBytes = Math.Ceiling(numBytes);
+                if ((numBytes / 2 - Math.Floor(numBytes / 2.0)) > 0)
+                    numBytes++;
+            }
+            return numBytes;
         }
 
         private static object GetPropertyValue(Type propertyType, byte[] bytes, ref double numBytes)
@@ -196,14 +196,8 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
                     break;
                 default:
                     var propClass = Activator.CreateInstance(propertyType);
-                    var buffer = new byte[GetClassSize(propClass)];
-                    if (buffer.Length > 0)
-                    {
-                        Buffer.BlockCopy(bytes, (int)Math.Ceiling(numBytes), buffer, 0, buffer.Length);
-                        FromBytes(propClass, buffer);
-                        value = propClass;
-                        numBytes += buffer.Length;
-                    }
+                    numBytes = FromBytes(propClass, bytes, numBytes);
+                    value = propClass;
                     break;
             }
 
@@ -215,16 +209,10 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="sourceClass">The object to fill in the given array of bytes</param>
         /// <param name="bytes">The array of bytes</param>
-        public static void FromBytes(object sourceClass, byte[] bytes)
+        public static double FromBytes(object sourceClass, byte[] bytes, double numBytes = 0, bool isInnerClass = false)
         {
             if (bytes == null)
-                return;
-
-            if (bytes.Length != GetClassSize(sourceClass))
-                return;
-
-            // and decode it
-            double numBytes = 0.0;
+                return numBytes;
 
             var properties = GetAccessableProperties(sourceClass.GetType());
             foreach (var property in properties)
@@ -232,6 +220,7 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
                 if (property.PropertyType.IsArray)
                 {
                     Array array = (Array)property.GetValue(sourceClass, null);
+                    IncrementToEven(ref numBytes);
                     Type elementType = property.PropertyType.GetElementType();
                     for (int i = 0; i < array.Length && numBytes < bytes.Length; i++)
                     {
@@ -248,9 +237,11 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
                         null);
                 }
             }
+
+            return numBytes;
         }
 
-        private static void ToBytes(object propertyValue, byte[] bytes, ref double numBytes)
+        private static double SetBytesFromProperty(object propertyValue, byte[] bytes, double numBytes)
         {
             int bytePos = 0;
             int bitPos = 0;
@@ -293,21 +284,21 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
                     bytes2 = Single.ToByteArray((float)propertyValue);
                     break;
                 default:
-                    bytes2 = ToBytes(propertyValue);
+                    numBytes = ToBytes(propertyValue, bytes, numBytes);
                     break;
             }
 
             if (bytes2 != null)
             {
-                // add them
-                numBytes = Math.Ceiling(numBytes);
-                if ((numBytes / 2 - Math.Floor(numBytes / 2.0)) > 0)
-                    numBytes++;
+                IncrementToEven(ref numBytes);
+
                 bytePos = (int)numBytes;
                 for (int bCnt = 0; bCnt < bytes2.Length; bCnt++)
                     bytes[bytePos + bCnt] = bytes2[bCnt];
                 numBytes += bytes2.Length;
             }
+
+            return numBytes;
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -315,30 +306,33 @@ namespace S7.Net.Types
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="sourceClass">The struct object</param>
         /// <returns>A byte array or null if fails.</returns>
-        public static byte[] ToBytes(object sourceClass)
+        public static double ToBytes(object sourceClass, byte[] bytes, double numBytes = 0.0)
         {
-            int size = GetClassSize(sourceClass);
-            byte[] bytes = new byte[size];
-            double numBytes = 0.0;
-
             var properties = GetAccessableProperties(sourceClass.GetType());
             foreach (var property in properties)
             {
                 if (property.PropertyType.IsArray)
                 {
                     Array array = (Array)property.GetValue(sourceClass, null);
+                    IncrementToEven(ref numBytes);
                     Type elementType = property.PropertyType.GetElementType();
                     for (int i = 0; i < array.Length && numBytes < bytes.Length; i++)
                     {
-                        ToBytes(array.GetValue(i), bytes, ref numBytes);
+                        numBytes = SetBytesFromProperty(array.GetValue(i), bytes, numBytes);
                     }
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    ToBytes(property.GetValue(sourceClass, null), bytes, ref numBytes);
+                    numBytes = SetBytesFromProperty(property.GetValue(sourceClass, null), bytes, numBytes);
                 }
             }
-            return bytes;
+            return numBytes;
+        }
+
+        private static void IncrementToEven(ref double numBytes)
+        {
+            numBytes = Math.Ceiling(numBytes);
+            if (numBytes % 2 > 0) numBytes++;
         }
     }
 }

S7.Net/Types/DataItem.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-namespace S7.Net.Types
+using System;
+
+namespace S7.Net.Types
 {
     /// <summary>
     /// Create an instance of a memory block that can be read by using ReadMultipleVars
@@ -48,5 +50,42 @@
             VarType = VarType.Byte;
             Count = 1;
         }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Create an instance of <see cref="DataItem"/> from the supplied address.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="address">The address to create the DataItem for.</param>
+        /// <returns>A new <see cref="DataItem"/> instance with properties parsed from <paramref name="address"/>.</returns>
+        /// <remarks>The <see cref="Count" /> property is not parsed from the address.</remarks>
+        public static DataItem FromAddress(string address)
+        {
+            PLCAddress.Parse(address, out var dataType, out var dbNumber, out var varType, out var startByte,
+                out var bitNumber);
+
+            return new DataItem
+            {
+                DataType = dataType,
+                DB = dbNumber,
+                VarType = varType,
+                StartByteAdr = startByte,
+                BitAdr = (byte) (bitNumber == -1 ? 0 : bitNumber)
+            };
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Create an instance of <see cref="DataItem"/> from the supplied address and value.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="address">The address to create the DataItem for.</param>
+        /// <param name="value">The value to be applied to the DataItem.</param>
+        /// <returns>A new <see cref="DataItem"/> instance with properties parsed from <paramref name="address"/> and the supplied value set.</returns>
+        public static DataItem FromAddressAndValue<T>(string address, T value)
+        {
+            var dataItem = FromAddress(address);
+            dataItem.Value = value;
+
+            if (typeof(T).IsArray) dataItem.Count = ((Array) dataItem.Value).Length;
+
+            return dataItem;
+        }
     }
 }

S7.Net/Types/DateTime.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+
+namespace S7.Net.Types
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Contains the methods to convert between <see cref="T:System.DateTime"/> and S7 representation of datetime values.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static class DateTime
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The minimum <see cref="T:System.DateTime"/> value supported by the specification.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static readonly System.DateTime SpecMinimumDateTime = new System.DateTime(1990, 1, 1);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The maximum <see cref="T:System.DateTime"/> value supported by the specification.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static readonly System.DateTime SpecMaximumDateTime = new System.DateTime(2089, 12, 31, 23, 59, 59, 999);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Parses a <see cref="T:System.DateTime"/> value from bytes.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="bytes">Input bytes read from PLC.</param>
+        /// <returns>A <see cref="T:System.DateTime"/> object representing the value read from PLC.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">Thrown when the length of
+        ///   <paramref name="bytes"/> is not 8 or any value in <paramref name="bytes"/>
+        ///   is outside the valid range of values.</exception>
+        public static System.DateTime FromByteArray(byte[] bytes)
+        {
+            return FromByteArrayImpl(bytes);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Parses an array of <see cref="T:System.DateTime"/> values from bytes.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="bytes">Input bytes read from PLC.</param>
+        /// <returns>An array of <see cref="T:System.DateTime"/> objects representing the values read from PLC.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">Thrown when the length of
+        ///   <paramref name="bytes"/> is not a multiple of 8 or any value in
+        ///   <paramref name="bytes"/> is outside the valid range of values.</exception>
+        public static System.DateTime[] ToArray(byte[] bytes)
+        {
+            if (bytes.Length % 8 != 0)
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bytes), bytes.Length,
+                    $"Parsing an array of DateTime requires a multiple of 8 bytes of input data, input data is '{bytes.Length}' long.");
+
+            var cnt = bytes.Length / 8;
+            var result = new System.DateTime[bytes.Length / 8];
+
+            for (var i = 0; i < cnt; i++)
+                result[i] = FromByteArrayImpl(new ArraySegment<byte>(bytes, i * 8, 8));
+
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        private static System.DateTime FromByteArrayImpl(IList<byte> bytes)
+        {
+            if (bytes.Count != 8)
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bytes), bytes.Count,
+                    $"Parsing a DateTime requires exactly 8 bytes of input data, input data is {bytes.Count} bytes long.");
+
+            int DecodeBcd(byte input) => 10 * (input >> 4) + (input & 0b00001111);
+
+            int ByteToYear(byte bcdYear)
+            {
+                var input = DecodeBcd(bcdYear);
+                if (input < 90) return input + 2000;
+                if (input < 100) return input + 1900;
+
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bcdYear), bcdYear,
+                    $"Value '{input}' is higher than the maximum '99' of S7 date and time representation.");
+            }
+
+            int AssertRangeInclusive(int input, byte min, byte max, string field)
+            {
+                if (input < min)
+                    throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(input), input,
+                        $"Value '{input}' is lower than the minimum '{min}' allowed for {field}.");
+                if (input > max)
+                    throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(input), input,
+                        $"Value '{input}' is higher than the maximum '{max}' allowed for {field}.");
+
+                return input;
+            }
+
+            var year = ByteToYear(bytes[0]);
+            var month = AssertRangeInclusive(DecodeBcd(bytes[1]), 1, 12, "month");
+            var day = AssertRangeInclusive(DecodeBcd(bytes[2]), 1, 31, "day of month");
+            var hour = AssertRangeInclusive(DecodeBcd(bytes[3]), 0, 23, "hour");
+            var minute = AssertRangeInclusive(DecodeBcd(bytes[4]), 0, 59, "minute");
+            var second = AssertRangeInclusive(DecodeBcd(bytes[5]), 0, 59, "second");
+            var hsec = AssertRangeInclusive(DecodeBcd(bytes[6]), 0, 99, "first two millisecond digits");
+            var msec = AssertRangeInclusive(bytes[7] >> 4, 0, 9, "third millisecond digit");
+            var dayOfWeek = AssertRangeInclusive(bytes[7] & 0b00001111, 1, 7, "day of week");
+
+            return new System.DateTime(year, month, day, hour, minute, second, hsec * 10 + msec);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Converts a <see cref="T:System.DateTime"/> value to a byte array.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="dateTime">The DateTime value to convert.</param>
+        /// <returns>A byte array containing the S7 date time representation of <paramref name="dateTime"/>.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">Thrown when the value of
+        ///   <paramref name="dateTime"/> is before <see cref="P:SpecMinimumDateTime"/>
+        ///   or after <see cref="P:SpecMaximumDateTime"/>.</exception>
+        public static byte[] ToByteArray(System.DateTime dateTime)
+        {
+            byte EncodeBcd(int value)
+            {
+                return (byte) ((value / 10 << 4) | value % 10);
+            }
+
+            if (dateTime < SpecMinimumDateTime)
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(dateTime), dateTime,
+                    $"Date time '{dateTime}' is before the minimum '{SpecMinimumDateTime}' supported in S7 date time representation.");
+
+            if (dateTime > SpecMaximumDateTime)
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(dateTime), dateTime,
+                    $"Date time '{dateTime}' is after the maximum '{SpecMaximumDateTime}' supported in S7 date time representation.");
+
+            byte MapYear(int year) => (byte) (year < 2000 ? year - 1900 : year - 2000);
+
+            int DayOfWeekToInt(DayOfWeek dayOfWeek) => (int) dayOfWeek + 1;
+
+            return new[]
+            {
+                EncodeBcd(MapYear(dateTime.Year)),
+                EncodeBcd(dateTime.Month),
+                EncodeBcd(dateTime.Day),
+                EncodeBcd(dateTime.Hour),
+                EncodeBcd(dateTime.Minute),
+                EncodeBcd(dateTime.Second),
+                EncodeBcd(dateTime.Millisecond / 10),
+                (byte) (dateTime.Millisecond % 10 << 4 | DayOfWeekToInt(dateTime.DayOfWeek))
+            };
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Converts an array of <see cref="T:System.DateTime"/> values to a byte array.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="dateTimes">The DateTime values to convert.</param>
+        /// <returns>A byte array containing the S7 date time representations of <paramref name="dateTime"/>.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">Thrown when any value of
+        ///   <paramref name="dateTimes"/> is before <see cref="P:SpecMinimumDateTime"/>
+        ///   or after <see cref="P:SpecMaximumDateTime"/>.</exception>
+        public static byte[] ToByteArray(System.DateTime[] dateTimes)
+        {
+            var bytes = new List<byte>(dateTimes.Length * 8);
+            foreach (var dateTime in dateTimes) bytes.AddRange(ToByteArray(dateTime));
+
+            return bytes.ToArray();
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net/Types/DateTimeLong.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+using System;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
+using System.IO;
+
+namespace S7.Net.Types
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Contains the methods to convert between <see cref="T:System.DateTime" /> and S7 representation of DateTimeLong (DTL) values.
+    /// </summary>
+    public static class DateTimeLong
+    {
+        public const int TypeLengthInBytes = 12;
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The minimum <see cref="T:System.DateTime" /> value supported by the specification.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static readonly System.DateTime SpecMinimumDateTime = new System.DateTime(1970, 1, 1);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The maximum <see cref="T:System.DateTime" /> value supported by the specification.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static readonly System.DateTime SpecMaximumDateTime = new System.DateTime(2262, 4, 11, 23, 47, 16, 854);
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Parses a <see cref="T:System.DateTime" /> value from bytes.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="bytes">Input bytes read from PLC.</param>
+        /// <returns>A <see cref="T:System.DateTime" /> object representing the value read from PLC.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">
+        /// Thrown when the length of
+        /// <paramref name="bytes" /> is not 12 or any value in <paramref name="bytes" />
+        /// is outside the valid range of values.
+        /// </exception>
+        public static System.DateTime FromByteArray(byte[] bytes)
+        {
+            return FromByteArrayImpl(bytes);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Parses an array of <see cref="T:System.DateTime" /> values from bytes.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="bytes">Input bytes read from PLC.</param>
+        /// <returns>An array of <see cref="T:System.DateTime" /> objects representing the values read from PLC.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">
+        /// Thrown when the length of
+        /// <paramref name="bytes" /> is not a multiple of 12 or any value in
+        /// <paramref name="bytes" /> is outside the valid range of values.
+        /// </exception>
+        public static System.DateTime[] ToArray(byte[] bytes)
+        {
+            if (bytes.Length % TypeLengthInBytes != 0)
+            {
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bytes), bytes.Length,
+                    $"Parsing an array of DateTimeLong requires a multiple of 12 bytes of input data, input data is '{bytes.Length}' long.");
+            }
+
+            var cnt = bytes.Length / TypeLengthInBytes;
+            var result = new System.DateTime[cnt];
+
+            for (var i = 0; i < cnt; i++)
+            {
+                var slice = new byte[TypeLengthInBytes];
+                Array.Copy(bytes, i * TypeLengthInBytes, slice, 0, TypeLengthInBytes);
+                result[i] = FromByteArrayImpl(slice);
+            }
+
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        private static System.DateTime FromByteArrayImpl(byte[] bytes)
+        {
+            if (bytes.Length != TypeLengthInBytes)
+            {
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bytes), bytes.Length,
+                    $"Parsing a DateTimeLong requires exactly 12 bytes of input data, input data is {bytes.Length} bytes long.");
+            }
+
+
+            var year = AssertRangeInclusive(Word.FromBytes(bytes[1], bytes[0]), 1970, 2262, "year");
+            var month = AssertRangeInclusive(bytes[2], 1, 12, "month");
+            var day = AssertRangeInclusive(bytes[3], 1, 31, "day of month");
+            var dayOfWeek = AssertRangeInclusive(bytes[4], 1, 7, "day of week");
+            var hour = AssertRangeInclusive(bytes[5], 0, 23, "hour");
+            var minute = AssertRangeInclusive(bytes[6], 0, 59, "minute");
+            var second = AssertRangeInclusive(bytes[7], 0, 59, "second");
+            ;
+
+            var nanoseconds = AssertRangeInclusive<uint>(DWord.FromBytes(bytes[11], bytes[10], bytes[9], bytes[8]), 0,
+                999999999, "nanoseconds");
+
+            var time = new System.DateTime(year, month, day, hour, minute, second);
+            return time.AddTicks(nanoseconds / 100);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Converts a <see cref="T:System.DateTime" /> value to a byte array.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="dateTime">The DateTime value to convert.</param>
+        /// <returns>A byte array containing the S7 DateTimeLong representation of <paramref name="dateTime" />.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">
+        /// Thrown when the value of
+        /// <paramref name="dateTime" /> is before <see cref="P:SpecMinimumDateTime" />
+        /// or after <see cref="P:SpecMaximumDateTime" />.
+        /// </exception>
+        public static byte[] ToByteArray(System.DateTime dateTime)
+        {
+            if (dateTime < SpecMinimumDateTime)
+            {
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(dateTime), dateTime,
+                    $"Date time '{dateTime}' is before the minimum '{SpecMinimumDateTime}' supported in S7 DateTimeLong representation.");
+            }
+
+            if (dateTime > SpecMaximumDateTime)
+            {
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(dateTime), dateTime,
+                    $"Date time '{dateTime}' is after the maximum '{SpecMaximumDateTime}' supported in S7 DateTimeLong representation.");
+            }
+
+            var stream = new MemoryStream(TypeLengthInBytes);
+            // Convert Year
+            stream.Write(Word.ToByteArray(Convert.ToUInt16(dateTime.Year)), 0, 2);
+
+            // Convert Month
+            stream.WriteByte(Convert.ToByte(dateTime.Month));
+
+            // Convert Day
+            stream.WriteByte(Convert.ToByte(dateTime.Day));
+
+            // Convert WeekDay. NET DateTime starts with Sunday = 0, while S7DT has Sunday = 1.
+            stream.WriteByte(Convert.ToByte(dateTime.DayOfWeek + 1));
+
+            // Convert Hour
+            stream.WriteByte(Convert.ToByte(dateTime.Hour));
+
+            // Convert Minutes
+            stream.WriteByte(Convert.ToByte(dateTime.Minute));
+
+            // Convert Seconds
+            stream.WriteByte(Convert.ToByte(dateTime.Second));
+
+            // Convert Nanoseconds. Net DateTime has a representation of 1 Tick = 100ns.
+            // Thus First take the ticks Mod 1 Second (1s = 10'000'000 ticks), and then Convert to nanoseconds.
+            stream.Write(DWord.ToByteArray(Convert.ToUInt32(dateTime.Ticks % 10000000 * 100)), 0, 4);
+
+            return stream.ToArray();
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Converts an array of <see cref="T:System.DateTime" /> values to a byte array.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="dateTimes">The DateTime values to convert.</param>
+        /// <returns>A byte array containing the S7 DateTimeLong representations of <paramref name="dateTimes" />.</returns>
+        /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">
+        /// Thrown when any value of
+        /// <paramref name="dateTimes" /> is before <see cref="P:SpecMinimumDateTime" />
+        /// or after <see cref="P:SpecMaximumDateTime" />.
+        /// </exception>
+        public static byte[] ToByteArray(System.DateTime[] dateTimes)
+        {
+            var bytes = new List<byte>(dateTimes.Length * TypeLengthInBytes);
+            foreach (var dateTime in dateTimes)
+            {
+                bytes.AddRange(ToByteArray(dateTime));
+            }
+
+            return bytes.ToArray();
+        }
+
+        private static T AssertRangeInclusive<T>(T input, T min, T max, string field) where T : IComparable<T>
+        {
+            if (input.CompareTo(min) < 0)
+            {
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(input), input,
+                    $"Value '{input}' is lower than the minimum '{min}' allowed for {field}.");
+            }
+
+            if (input.CompareTo(max) > 0)
+            {
+                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(input), input,
+                    $"Value '{input}' is higher than the maximum '{max}' allowed for {field}.");
+            }
+
+            return input;
+        }
+    }
+}

S7.Net/Types/String.cs

@@ -6,11 +6,21 @@
     public class String
     {
         /// <summary>
-        /// Converts a string to S7 bytes
+        /// Converts a string to <paramref name="reservedLength"/> of bytes, padded with 0-bytes if required.
         /// </summary>
-        public static byte[] ToByteArray(string value)
+        /// <param name="value">The string to write to the PLC.</param>
+        /// <param name="reservedLength">The amount of bytes reserved for the <paramref name="value"/> in the PLC.</param>
+        public static byte[] ToByteArray(string value, int reservedLength)
         {
-            return System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(value);
+            var length = value?.Length;
+            if (length > reservedLength) length = reservedLength;
+            var bytes = new byte[reservedLength];
+
+            if (length == null || length == 0) return bytes;
+
+            System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(value, 0, length.Value, bytes, 0);
+
+            return bytes;
         }
         
         /// <summary>

S7.Net/Types/StringEx.cs

@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-namespace S7.Net.Types
+using System;
+using System.Text;
+
+namespace S7.Net.Types
 {
     /// <summary>
     /// Contains the methods to convert from S7 strings to C# strings
@@ -19,8 +22,39 @@
             int size = bytes[0];
             int length = bytes[1];
 
-            return System.Text.Encoding.ASCII.GetString(bytes, 2, length);
+            try
+            {
+                return Encoding.ASCII.GetString(bytes, 2, length);
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                throw new PlcException(ErrorCode.ReadData,
+                    $"Failed to parse {VarType.StringEx} from data. Following fields were read: size: '{size}', actual length: '{length}', total number of bytes (including header): '{bytes.Length}'.",
+                    e);
+            }
+            
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Converts a <see cref="T:string"/> to S7 string with 2-byte header.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="value">The string to convert to byte array.</param>
+        /// <param name="reservedLength">The length (in bytes) allocated in PLC for string excluding header.</param>
+        /// <returns>A <see cref="T:byte[]" /> containing the string header and string value with a maximum length of <paramref name="reservedLength"/> + 2.</returns>
+        public static byte[] ToByteArray(string value, int reservedLength)
+        {
+            if (reservedLength > byte.MaxValue) throw new ArgumentException($"The maximum string length supported is {byte.MaxValue}.");
+
+            var length = value?.Length;
+            if (length > reservedLength) length = reservedLength;
+
+            var bytes = new byte[(length ?? 0) + 2];
+            bytes[0] = (byte) reservedLength;
+
+            if (value == null) return bytes;
+
+            bytes[1] = (byte) Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes(value, 0, length.Value, bytes, 2);
+            return bytes;
         }
-        
     }
 }

appveyor.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+image: Visual Studio 2017
+configuration: Release
+install:
+  - choco install gitversion.portable -y
+before_build:
+  - cmd: gitversion /l console /output buildserver
+  - nuget restore
+build_script:
+  msbuild /nologo /v:m /p:AssemblyVersion=%GitVersion_AssemblySemVer% /p:FileVersion=%GitVersion_MajorMinorPatch% /p:InformationalVersion=%GitVersion_InformationalVersion% /p:Configuration=%CONFIGURATION% S7.sln
+after_build:
+  - dotnet pack S7.Net -c %CONFIGURATION% /p:Version=%GitVersion_NuGetVersion% --no-build -o ..\artifacts
+artifacts:
+  - path: artifacts\*.*