plc connection

Hi

we are using CVI 2012 and we want to read out variable values from a Siemnes PLC.

We got a recommendation to see the PLC as OPC server and establish a connection to it to read out the values.

Now I wonder if it is possible to see the variables from the PLC as shared variables and read them out like variables from VBAI?

Does anyone know if it is possible to establish the variables of a PLC as shared variables?

thanks

Oliver